NASSA’s highly successful schools programme has been running for almost a decade now. It currently provides extra-curricular basketball sessions for 2,000 schoolchildren in 50 schools across the London Borough of Newham every week of the academic year.
Run as either a breakfast club, lunch club or an after-school club, each Ball 2 Success session incorporates NASSA’s award-winning Carry A Basketball Not A Blade (CABNAB) mentoring talks about knife crime.
Schools are consulted individually in a three-way conversation between NASSA, teachers and participants/parents to ascertain each school’s particular needs and shape the programme accordingly.
Each of the 2,000 participants is invited to attend the NASSA club sessions and play in National League competitions. NASSA never selects players – the opportunity is open to all.
Who
Schoolchildren aged 8-16, the majority of whom are from BAME backgrounds – numbers vary between 18-35 participants per session. A team of 8-12 NASSA coaches deliver the 50 weekly sessions between them.
What
Hour-long basketball sessions, featuring warm-up, skills training, games and a 15-minute mentoring talk about the dangers of knife crime and gang culture.
When
Extra-curricular – before school, at lunchtime or after school.
Where
39 primary schools, 10 secondary schools in the London Borough of Newham and the JF Kennedy School which caters for children with special needs.
Benefits
• Health – regular physical activity and sport, as well as healthy eating and lifestyle advice
• Community safety – increased awareness of the dangers of knife crime and gang culture
• Social skills – increased confidence, discipline, timekeeping
• Friendship – many sessions have pupils in different school years, offering up possibilities for new friendships.
