No. 1 | January 2020 LONDON’S BIGGEST BASKETBALL CLUB FOR WOMEN JOIN OVER 200 WOMEN OF ALL LEVELS AND PLAY IN ONE OF OUR LEAGUES, DIVISION 1 OR SUPERLEAGUE WITH VENUES ALL ACROSS LONDON Love Basketball Academy at the o2 Arena for the 2019 BBL and WBBL Playoffs final womensbasketballlondon.co.uk PLAYER’S HANDBOOK 3 LOVE BASKETBALL STORY The main reason I started coaching women’s basketball is because I had two daughters, Luna and Matilda, and I wanted them to play basketball. In Spain it is very easy to find places to play but in the UK it’s a real challenge. So I decided to post an advert on internet and I built up a first team: the Putney Penguins. 4 PLAYER’S HANDBOOK LOVE BASKETBALL ACADEMY “...we are the biggest women’s basketball club in the UK with over 300 players...” fter the first year, the response was teams; Bumblebees, Koalas, Kangaroos, Zebras and Vikings. so overwhelming and the club was In 2020, we are starting a new competitive league called expanding. I decided to build a the LOVE BASKETBALL JR. LEAGUE. In the coming years, as basketball academy specialised in interest continues to grow, we are excited to add more kids training girls and women, so that teams to this league. A when my daughters grow up they have a place to play. Over the years we have built up strong We are involved with the local community and support links with basketball teams and organisations from all access to promoting basketball and developing skills for around the world. children. Myself and other Love Basketball Coaches run after school mentoring programmes and in house clinics We are currently the biggest women’s basketball club in the for primary and secondary schools. UK with over 300 players and two leagues; the SUPERLEAGUE and Division 1. We play and train at 5 different venues My dream for my little girls to have access to and share their purpose built basketball courts across London. passion for basketball has turned into a successful and exciting Academy. Over the years, it has been truly inspiring to see this At the Love Basketball Academy, everyone is welcome. We little club grow into something amazing and rewarding. provide playing and coaching opportunities for girls and women of all ages; irrespective of ability, experience or Thank to everyone for making our Academy so unique nationality. Love Basketball Academy is more than a club, and special. it is a big family. Among our players we have teachers, nurses, lawyers, waiters, photographers, personal trainers, See you at the court! singers, pilots, models, students and many more, all united and dedicated to playing the sport that they love. Jose Martin In 2018 we launched our Love Basketball sessions for FOUNDER & DIRECTOR kids, which has been hugely successful. There are now five Love Basketball Academy womensbasketballlondon.co.uk PLAYER’S HANDBOOK 5 OUR TEAMS THE SUPERLEAGUE 6 PLAYER’S HANDBOOK LOVE BASKETBALL ACADEMY OUR TEAMS THE DIVISION 1 VIKINGS womensbasketballlondon.co.uk PLAYER’S HANDBOOK 7 The Superleague is the biggest Women’s Basketball League in London. We have a total of 7 teams with regular season games and play offs. We welcome players from all nationalities, ages and backgrounds. Our ultimate goal is to provide a competitive and friendly basketball league that you and your teammates will look forward to playing in, season after season. Here is why you should join: • You Love Basketball! • You want to train and play games at some of the coolest basketball venues in London. • You are looking for a flexible league that is compatible with your work/studies. • You used to play, but haven’t played for a while and you are keen to hit the court again. • You want to have fun, get fit and meet new people in London. 2019/20 8 PLAYER’S HANDBOOK LOVE BASKETBALL ACADEMY Welcome to the Division 1! This is a recreational and social Women’s Basketball League in London. Teams and players in this league are focused on having fun and improving their basketball skills. We welcome players of all levels of abilities, ages and experience. In this league, you will have plenty of chances to play games, train with great teammates and shoot hoops with friends! Whether you are an experienced player or a complete beginner, if you Love Basketball and you want to be part of the Division 1 get in touch with us and we will save you a spot. You should join our League if: • You want to have fun, get fit and meet new people. We organise several social events with all our teams every month. • You have played netball, football, handball or any other sport and you would like to learn how to use and transfer these skills to a new sport: Basketball! • You are looking for a flexible league compatible with your work. • You want the option to attend multiple trainings per week. You will have the opportunity to train 4 times per week, with sessions across London to fit in with busy lifestyles. 2019/20 womensbasketballlondon.co.uk PLAYER’S HANDBOOK 9 PLAYER OF THE MONTH What’s hard work After games and training sessions, we like to get the teams together to have without a little reward some food and drinks. Every month, we have a raffle with prizes and one lucky Love Basketball Academy player is chosen as the ‘Love Basketball Player of – Love Basketball the month.’ Academy has a great We have amazing partners and sponsors such as Nike, Wilson and NBA store social side too! who provide incredible prizes for the lucky winners. 10 PLAYER’S HANDBOOK LOVE BASKETBALL ACADEMY OUR PARTNERS Nike Our mission is what drives us to do everything possible to expand human potential. We do that by creating groundbreaking sport innovations, by making our products more sustainably, by building a creative and diverse global team and by making a positive impact in communities where we live and work. Based in Beaverton, Oregon, NIKE, Inc. includes the Nike, Converse, Hurley, and Jordan brands. www.nike.com NBAstore.eu NBAstore.eu is the only place to get Nike NBA Jerseys, NBA Nike Fashion and new Era Snapbacks. The NBA store stock all 30 teams from Eastern & Western conferences, so whichever NBA team you support, get your jersey, fashion, equipment, headwear and souvenirs here. www.nbastore.eu Wilson Wilson is the world’s leading manufacturer of ball sports equipment and the official game ball for the NCAA Championships, NCAA March Madness and FIBA 3X3 World Cup. Love Basketball Academy is proud to announce a 2 years partnership agreement with the American brand Wilson which is the official ball of the SUPERLEAGUE. www.wilson.com WBBL The Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL) is the top-level women’s basketball league in the United Kingdom. WBBL was founded on 5th June, 2014, as the women’s counterpart to the British Basketball League (BBL). The league’s headquarters are in Leicester alongside the offices of the men’s BBL. www.wbbl.org.uk HEX HEX is dedicated to the best sports and team logos, branding and creativity. instagram.com/hexbranding womensbasketballlondon.co.uk PLAYER’S HANDBOOK 11 BASKETBALL “...basketball is not only a sport I play, but a huge influence in my life...” “MY ONE BY GIULIA ZECCHINI CONSTANT” 12 PLAYER’S HANDBOOK LOVE BASKETBALL ACADEMY iving across four countries and seven lawyers, we have the most incredible global network, cities, Basketball has been the one something that I can’t say I have experienced before in a constant in my life. From school, to sporting setting. L university life and now working life, I feel lucky enough to have a passion that I can maintain Basketball is not only a sport I play, but a huge influence everywhere. Moving to London however, was a little in my life. Most of my childhood was spent watching AND1 trickier, with basketball not being a popular sport and mixtapes, copying the way Allen Iverson dressed and women’s teams being few and far between. Luckily, I found emulating the stars I saw on TV. Unsurprisingly, sneakers Love Basketball Academy, as did the other 200+ girls in became a big part of my life, from Jordan launching the Club. I actually chose my house in London based on his most famous silhouette, the Jordan 1, through key proximity to the court to make sure I could attend all moments in the sport such as the “Shattered Backboard sessions planned and make the most of the academy. I game” in Trieste and the “Banned” colour way. I started have been in the club over three years now and it is the collecting young, and pride myself in a precious collection, first time since living in Italy that I have been able to play heavily influenced by my love of the game. From Jordan’s to basketball five times a week with a bunch of incredible Lebron’s, Kyrie’s to KD’s, basketball has truly shaped what women from all walks of life. During my time at the my collection now looks like, and will forever play a part in Academy I have made friends for life, and what amazes me my aesthetic. every day is the amount of nationalities and careers present in the club. From Texas, to Australia, teachers to Follow Giulia on instagram @giuliaz12. womensbasketballlondon.co.uk PLAYER’S HANDBOOK 13 LOVE BASKETBALL AMBASSADORS Natalia Bucyk Diana Voynova Natalia started playing professional basketball at the Diana has had an incredible basketball career.