Storm to reposition junior programme

Hemel Storm are excited to announce a repositioning of our junior development programme, which will see our community offering improved alongside the introduction of competitive junior basketball from September. 

Further details will be announced in due course, but the plans will be in place in time for the new basketball season and academic year. 

As an inclusive club that cares greatly about providing opportunities for as many young people as possible, we are aware that we have more work to do in this area. This includes optimising community development sessions, as well as offering high-level development pathways alongside organised competitive games.

The Storm management team are constantly trying to balance finances to ensure the

success of our men’s and women’s teams, but recognise their success has generated great interest and demand for Hemel Storm to establish a more integrated junior playing section.

While recognising this need, delivering a high-level solution is challenging.

It requires new sponsors to help with funding and a wider team of people, including qualified coaches, welfare officers and financial experts, to help execute this venture to the quality we expect of ourselves. It also means securing facilities that are already in high demand, while remaining conscious of the cost to each participant. 

This new offering will see our in-curriculum school partnerships repurposed and community sessions upgraded, which will provide the foundation for two Storm junior teams to compete in competitive games from September. 

Additionally, we will also be overseeing coaching qualification courses to meet our need for increased coaching capacity. 

This new look will be under the guidance and management of Club Programme Development Lead and BCB Men’s Head Coach Tom Baker. 

Baker said: “Junior basketball has to be a major part of the future of Hemel Storm. 

“The principle is simple: young people, boys and girls, should have a clear, positive and local route into basketball through the Storm name. 

“We want to build something that supports schools, improves the player experience, develops coaches and creates a stronger connection between our junior programme, senior teams and wider community. 

“We know this has to be built carefully and sustainably, but we are ambitious, and this is an important first step in shaping something the whole club and community can be proud of.”

Chairman Tony Humphrey added: “Thanks to the effort of so many over the years, we have a fantastic foundation upon which to grow our junior section. 

“However, I feel a real sense, from feedback that we receive, that our community wants us to go further and we are going to do our best to deliver this, step by step and in a sustainable way and in a manner that protects our current programme commitments.  

“We are going to need help to do this and some new faces and sponsors will need to join us in our journey here and this initial expression of interest (below) is therefore vital to us. This is an important and exciting development for our club.”

Keep an eye out for further details coming soon, but at this stage we are looking for parents or organisations, to register their interest in the following areas: 

• Sponsorship association
• Helper (welfare, admin etc)
• Team managers (kit, logistics etc)
• Coaching (qualified, or an interest in gaining qualification)
• Player interest only via a parent or guardian (stating school and age group)
• School (if you’d like to start working with us)

Please fill out the form linked here to make your name known. 

Written by Callum Humphrey