The development of a comprehensive network of facilities, to address the requirements for a major indoor international team sport, remains the biggest challenge facing England Basketball in its efforts to meet the demand for court-time to play and to practice, and thereby increase participation and improve performance.

 

The Active People Survey (2005/2006) provides participation numbers that illustrate that basketball is the third largest team sport, and the largest indoor team sport, in England. There is a large latent demand from people of all ages, who wish to play basketball, which is placing increasing pressure on clubs to obtain access to affordable, suitable facilities. The basketball community identified access to affordable, appropriate facilities as the most important ingredient for success in the 2006 online basketball survey commissioned by Sport England.

 

England Basketballs' National Facility Strategy 1999-2004 and the subsequent Facilities Investment Strategy 2005-2009 both outlined that substantial investment was necessary for club-managed basketball facilities. However, to date there are less than ten basketball clubs who can claim to be managing their own facility.

 

In recent years the Capital Lottery Fund, New Opportunities PE & Sport, and Building Schools for the Future have provided for significant investment in the building of new facilities, administered by Local Authorities or schools. These have improved the opportunities for community use by basketball clubs; however the improved availability of basketball facilities has been countered, in many cases, by significant increases in hire charges for basketball courts.

 

The development of increased indoor basketball provision is still a priority for 2009-2013. We are primarily looking to support club managed indoor sports halls with a minimum of 2 basketball courts.