The first Southwest Sydney wheelchair basketball training program is in full swing with our rookie players learning the finer points of this challenging sport.
Five eager participants Shanaya, Baden, Jesse, Damien and Behnam arrived at The Disability Trust’s Campbelltown office intrigued about what lay ahead for the opening session.
They travelled to Minto Indoor Sports Centre where program coordinator Cherie Moulage and Campbelltown sport and recreation officer Jason Voncina were ready and waiting to put them through their training drills.
Jason played in the National Wheelchair Basketball League and has also represented Australia in wheelchair rugby league.
The rookie players got acquainted with their basketball wheelchairs and were shown how to manoeuvre it in all different directions, how to bounce the ball while pushing their wheelchair, how to pass correctly and to shoot from certain areas of the court.
The players were working up a sweat as the session stepped it up a notch with more intense physical drills that focused on teamwork.
Jason said everyone was thrilled to embark on a new journey in wheelchair basketball.
“Hearing the participants talk with true excitement between each other about the training session on the drive back to Campbelltown office truly made my day,” he said.
