Stafford pupils try out wheelchair basketball

 

On Friday 1st July, Sir Graham Balfour School celebrated Lloyds TSB National School Sports Week with something a little bit different - wheelchair basketball.

 

Two representatives from the Stoke Spitfires Wheelchair Basketball team visited the Stafford school (along with some spare wheelchairs) and worked with pupils. The relaxed, yet competitive atmopshere could have fooled any spectator into thinking they were watching a training session. The coaches umpired the games as they would any normal match, giving helpful advice and feedback to the pupils.

 

Everyone was clearly having fun. Rowan Softley, a Year 9 pupil said: “The best thing about it was gliding along, although turning was difficult. I really enjoyed it!”

 

 

Andrew Flowers, Vice Chairman of the Stoke Spitfires, also plays in a team.  He plays as a guard, whose job is to keep the opposing defence away from his team’s tall attacking players. He also mentioned how he finds that the speed of wheelchair basketball makes it more exciting!

 

When asked how he found working with the Sir Graham Balfour students, he said it was “really good, and enjoyable” whilst also mentioning that anyone can get involved in this unique sport by looking up Stoke Spitfires Wheelchair Basketball Team on Facebook.

 

If you want to find out more about wheelchair basketball in general, visit the Great British Wheelchair Basketball Association’s website at www.gbwba.org.uk.

 

Eden Baker - pupil at Sir Graham Balfour
Sir Graham Balfour Sports Media

 

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Meet Mark Fosbrook

A disabled man who competes in elite level sport
(and plays xBox)!

 

 

Mark was born with no feet or ankles, and two fingers on each hand. But this hardly affects him; as he has never known differently, he has been able to adapt to situations. For example, he can type, write, and even play on his xBox and PlayStation, which has been made easier since a charity called Remap adapted his controller and supplied him with plug in pedals to operate the shoulder buttons.

 

He is currently training to become a part of the Great British Men's Wheelchair Basketball Team, fitting a vigorous training session around a full time job. He manages to cram in over twelve hours of fitness, shooting, and technical training a week, as well as matches at the weekends!

Mark Fosbrook

 

Always competitive, Mark realised from a young age that sport was an ideal platform to show that his disability did not affect or bother him.  Discovering disability sport at about 14, he soon found his talent. His focused mind drove him on to look into going further.

 

Mark loves competing at elite level in sport, because the competition means you push yourself as hard as you can. He also enjoys representing his country and walking out to cheering crowds - who wouldn’t?  Mentioning the connotations people have of elite level sport, he notes how it is thought of as a glamourous lifestyle, full of seeing the world and enjoying yourself. Far from it - don’t forget he is there to do a job, not on holiday. Also, constantly pushing your body to the limit means there are aches and pains that are always there.

 

Finally summing up, he says: "Pain is temporary, but honour is permanent.”

And I couldn’t have chosen better words myself.

  

Eden Baker - pupil at Sir Graham Balfour
Sir Graham Balfour Sports Media