Henfield Heat basketball team was set-up in 2010 by Charlotte and John Curran with an Under 11’s team. The first season was a tough learning curve for the team, many of whom were under nine years old and they lost all their games. With much hard work and determination, two seasons later that same team won the U11’s Sussex League!
Coached by Charlotte, John and Martin Lee, the club has since gone from strength to strength. What started as an after-school club now has 40 playing members and they field teams from Under 8’s through to Under 16’s. Over the last few years many players have reached the National League, Sussex County, South East England team and regional programmes. Last year two players were also named National Champions.
The 2016 season has been particularly successful with both the Under 11’s and the Under 16’s reaching the Sussex playoff semi-finals, and the Under 14’s winning the Sussex Cup and runners-up in the Sussex League. As we went to print we heard that the Under 15’s became regional champions having won a very exciting final with a ‘golden basket’ in extra time!
Basketball is increasingly popular and Charlotte explained the appeal of the sport: “It’s a very fast-paced sport and extremely good for keeping fit. The squad has between 10 and 12 players and although there are only five players on court at any one-time, everyone gets an opportunity to play as they are subbed in and out.” She went on: “The main difference with other team sports is that there are no set positions: everyone also gets to shoot and defend and that’s very appealing for children.”
As well as the immediate benefits of fitness and teamwork, youth basketball also offers opportunities for leadership and coaching. Some of the older Henfield Heat members have already taken a referee course and are helping out with coaching the younger members. At 14 years old players can take the table official course and at 16 they can start the formal coaching course.
For the past three seasons Henfield Heat are the only UK team to have been invited to participate in an Under 13 FIBA international tournament in Ardres in France. “It’s an amazing experience for the team” explained Charlotte. “It’s a truly international and multi-cultural event and this year they played teams from Bulgaria, Martinique and Burkina Faso. The team stay with host-families in the town and they often keep in touch afterwards.”
Henfield Heat is open to both boys and girls, whatever their level of experience. “Our aim is to coach the fundamental skills of basketball and to equip our players to the highest standard they can be” said Charlotte. “We always have spaces in our squads for new players and we welcome everyone, from beginners through to more experienced players.”
For more information about joining Henfield Heat, see their Facebook page or
The club trains every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Henfield Leisure Centre and Oakmeads Community College in Burgess Hill. Henfield Heat are very fortunate to have secured sponsorship for next season from Amazing Space, Planet and Southdown Truck & Crane enabling the club to buy new home kit.
Sarah Butler
