Inaugural trial weekend proves the Force is on the rise in Portsmouth

Portsmouth Force held its first trial weekend with over 200 players from all age groups turning up to get involved in basketball and try out for the team.

The Ravelin Centre played host to the event between the 8^th and 9^th of July which allowed for prospective players to get a taste of playing on the same court where the senior men’s team play their National Basketball League games.

Chairman, Rob Milner, wants this to be the first of an annual event where players from the surrounding areas can get involved with the club.

He said: “I think all basketball clubs should go through this trial process. We would love to have our homegrown players going from under-12, 14, 16, 18 right through to the men’s senior team.

“In reality there is always going to be new players coming to the city, new players to basketball and players from surrounding towns, Southampton, Winchester, Guildford and they want to come and play for Portsmouth now because we have got the best offering.”

The weekend was an opportunity for kids to showcase their skills and for the club to find the best fit for them going forward.

Andy Rowlands, a coach and player at the club, said: “We want to give all these players somewhere to play. We have National League teams for them at youth level, but we also have got local youth teams.

“We are not looking to send any kids back. We also run a Fun and Fundamentals session so if there was somebody that came along that wasn’t quite ready now, we would get them into those sessions, build their skillset so that part of the way through the season, or next season, they are good enough to go into one of the teams.”

Rahma Derzi of Portsmouth has been taking her two boys to the club for a number of years and heralded the trial weekend as a success:

“It has been fantastic; it has been a really great experience for them to play on the Ravelin Court because we have been coming here to watch the men’s games, so it is nice for them to take that step up.

“It has run really smoothly; it has been really friendly and it’s a lovely environment. Everyone seems to be rooting for basketball in the city.”

The club continues to grow and this year they are starting a women’s team in addition to the under-12 and under-14 girls’ teams.

Jessie Rowlands is the head of the girls and women’s programme:

“Last season we had a lot of interest for the women, so we thought it was time to create a team.

“Quite a few of them are mums from the area that have children playing in the younger teams, they have played before and want to get back into playing.

“We have got a few that are new to basketball or haven’t played in a long time, and I just want them to get back into the swing of playing again and playing competitively.

She added: “We are always looking for players, girls, women, anyone who wants come, please come along.”

The trials weekend was not the only opportunity for players to get involved. The club run a weekly Fun and Fundamentals session where kids up to the age of 16 of any experience or skill level can attend.

Details can be found on the club’s website as well as on their social media: https://linktr.ee/portsmouth_f...