The Newtown Titans Blog

We have moved!

2009-05-09T16:30:00.002+01:00

http://www.midwalesbasketball.blogspot.com

UPDATE!

2008-09-12T15:29:00.002+01:00

It's been a while since an update but just so all of you know, the Saturday basketball club is continuing under the fine supervision of coaches Dominic McQue and Tim O'Brien. That means if you are between the ages of 8 and 18, you can play basketball at the Flash Leisure Centre in Welshpool every Saturday from 10.00am-11.30am, at a cost of £3. For more information, e-mail guyevans@newtowntitans.com.

In other news, it looks as though the Titans U16 team will reform for a friendly fixture in October against a club from England. Watch this space.

Guy

TIME CHANGE FOR SATURDAY CLUB (THIS WEEK ONLY)

2008-08-14T23:44:00.002+01:00

Hello all,
Please note that the Saturday club at the Flash will start at the revised time of 1.00pm and will finish at 2.30pm THIS WEEK ONLY. Next week we will be back to our usual time of 10.00am-11.30am. Thanks!

REMINDER: SATURDAY OPEN SKILLS SESSION TOMORROW

2008-08-08T16:14:00.001+01:00

Where? Flash Leisure Centre, Welshpool
Time? 10.00am-11.30am
Cost? £3 per player

See you there!

Basketball in Newtown tomorrow night (Wednesday)

2008-08-05T19:20:00.001+01:00

Please take note that there is an open basketball session tomorrow night (Wednesday) at NEWTOWN YOUTH CENTRE from 7.30pm-9.00pm at a cost of £1 per player. Thanks!

2 NEW BASKETBALL CLUBS BEGIN THIS WEEK

2008-07-28T23:33:00.005+01:00

Hi,
Just passing on to everybody a message that from this point on we have a new club taking place in NEWTOWN on Wednesday nights from 7.30-9.00PM at the Newtown Youth Centre.

In addition, we will be visiting RHAYADER YOUTH CLUB for the first time this week for weekly sessions each Thursday, from 7.00-9.30PM.

For information on both the sessions and others near you, contact Guy Evans at guyevans@newtowntitans.com

Throwback: The Art of Rebounding

2008-07-22T15:23:00.003+01:00

Originally written by myself in 2006...

Check it out here.

Basketball this week

2008-07-22T12:33:00.002+01:00

FLASH LEISURE CENTRE THURSDAY BASKETBALL CLUB
Flash Leisure Centre, Welshpool
Every Thursday (starts this week)
9-10am Primary school age
10-11am Secondary school age
Phone The Flash on 01938 555952 for more information

LLANYMYNECH YOUTH CLUB
Friday (3-5pm)

SATURDAY OPEN SKILLS SESSION
Flash Leisure Centre, Welshpool
Every Saturday
10.00am-11.30am
Ages 8-18 (different age groups)
Male and female
£3 per player
E-mail guyevans@newtowntitans.com for more information

No Saturday club this week, returns 26th July

2008-07-13T14:25:00.001+01:00

First of all, we had a great turnout (17 players) to the Saturday club yesterday, but for everyone's information, there will be no session next Saturday (19th). Instead, the club will return as usual on the 26th July. Check the posts below for more opportunities to play in the meantime.

Guy

Basketball at the Flash every Thursday from 24th July

2008-07-11T21:00:00.001+01:00

Hello all,
More good news --- there will be basketball sessions ran at the Flash leisure centre in Welshpool every THURSDAY in the holidays from 9-11am, starting on the 24TH JULY. You can ring the Flash on 01938 555952 to find out cost and more information. Thanks!

Basketball coaching in Llanidloes

2008-07-09T22:16:00.001+01:00

Hello all!

On Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th of August, there will be basketball coaching at Llanidloes Sports Centre from 10.30am-12.30am each day. E-mail Guy Evans at guyevans@newtowntitans.com for more information.

Improve your passing with Steve Nash

2008-07-06T16:25:00.002+01:00

Part of the TNT fundamentals series...Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash outlines the different types of passes in the game of basketball. Enjoy!

Saturday basketball club to run throughout summer

2008-07-04T22:08:00.002+01:00

Newtown Titans Basketball Club can now announce that a weekly club will run at the Flash Leisure Centre in Welshpool. The session will be on Saturdays, starting at 10.00am and ending at 11.30am. The coaching is open to all abilties, ages 8-18, male and female. There will be a charge of £3 per player.

For more information, visit NewtownTitans.com.

Ray Allen shows you how to shoot the jump shot

2008-07-04T22:04:00.001+01:00

Learn how to improve your shot from one of the greatest three-point shooters of all-time:

A proper introduction/role models

2008-07-04T21:37:00.008+01:00

Hello all once again. I received some nice e-mails from people regarding the post on Basketball in Mid Wales (I think you have to register with Blogger.com or something to post a comment on the blog itself), so I've decided to try to update this at least every other day from now on with new content.

For those that don't know me, my name is Guy Evans. I have set this blog up to promote my basketball club, the Newtown Titans. My basketball background, playing-wise, includes being a Welsh international, winning the British Universities' Championship at the University of Worcester and being one of only 4 Welsh players to attend the Great Britain U20 trials. This past season I also became the youngest coach in the EBL (English Basketball League) as player-coach of the Worcester Wolves II's. There's about 8000 things I could say to continue here but I'm not going to bore you (I'm boring myself already). From September, I will be working at the University of Worcester on the School of Sport and Exercise staff, assisting with the delivery of the Sports Studies course specifically. In the short-term (before September), I'm working out about 4 hours a day for the next basketball season, and doing my darndest (I never use that word in real life) to increase the numbers of young people participating in basketball in Mid Wales. The latter has become more or less my personal mission statement for a while now.

Which leads me on to my topic for today. This one is directed to the adults out there. You know, those 18 and up? I want you to think about how you act, and how the outside world perceives you (Editor's note: I'll be talking about a lot more than basketball in this blog). A lot has been written over the past two years or so about the damaging effects today's youth has on society, and there's no doubt that there's a lot of troubled kids out there. However, has anyone stopped to realise that these 'thugs' will very shortly be the next band of 'grown-ups' shaping the world that we live in? And, in the meantime, these same young people have today's adults to look up to for an example.

I'm writing this because if I think of the people that have had a positive impact on my life, they all have the same things in common: at heart, they are good people; they are responsible; and they command respect just by being who they are. As a kid and later as an adolescent, I was fortunate enough to have so many positive 'role models' to look up to. These people all knew that they were in a position to be viewed in this way, and behaved accordingly. They were themselves. They were honest. They were good people.

With each passing day, we get closer to the world being owned by the youth. That's a lot of responbility. Who's going to be the one to show them how to handle it?

Basketball in Mid Wales: You are the solution

2008-07-03T11:33:00.008+01:00

In this post, I will address the problems that have traditionally plauged basketball's lack of development in Mid Wales. It should be noted that I am approaching this (brief) analysis from a local point of view, using personal experience, both from playing and coaching the game, to inform my opinions. Therefore this post is relevant for not only players, but parents, teachers, and coaches also. I also make specific reference to Mid Wales throughout, but it is relevant for those in all areas.

Before I begin, let me say thankyou to all those who have helped me over the years try to rectify these things, and improve my own game in the process. There are too many people to mention from teachers, coaches, and other school/council workers but I most definitely appreciate the help.

If you are a young person either playing or contemplating playing basketball in Mid Wales, the message of this column should be: You are the solution. As alluded to in the previous paragraph, people are willing to help and do their part, but in the end, it is up to you to cause the real change.

Learning a new sport is hard enough. A new learner is barraged with information and stimuli from all angles and directions. Understanding of the rules, fundamental techniques, principles of play, and the activity's ethics are just some of the innate considerations that take place in a novice's brain when starting out in a new game. These factors are even more prevalent when the beginner fails to possess a 'foundation' of knowledge or appreciation of the purpose of the game. Basketball in Mid Wales is a great case study for this.

Why is this the case?

In Mid Wales, our preferred sports have generally been/always will be rugby and football. This fact is due to social aspects, access, availability of coaches, and the high visibility of both games in the media. We are introduced to these popular games by our parents, other family members, or friends from an early age. We all play rugby and football in school, on the playground, with our friends, and at home (well, maybe not rugby), illustrating how widely accessible these activities are. We receive instruction from teachers and qualified coaches on how to improve. Finally, major international events (if we qualify) and tournaments such as the Six Nations are broadcast nationally to millions of people. In short, these games have become part of our culture.

Of course there are other sports that achieve some of those things to varying degrees, but basketball is most definitely one that fails to tick any one of the boxes. Mention the word 'basketball' to many in the area and you have a good chance that someone will believe you are talking about netball, or possibly will believe that you are calling them a basketcase. However, every secondary school gym has what I regard as three essential requirements to play the sport: two basketball hoops, a supply of basketballs, and conscious humans. Therefore, there should be no excuses into why basketball can't be played in Mid Wales.

But there are excuses. 'We don't play it in school', 'I don't know how to play', and 'What's basketball?' are three responses I usually receive from those not already involved in the game. Well, pick up a ball for a second and throw it at a hoop, and you'll be amazed at how quickly those thoughts disappear.

1997 NBA Finals Game 1 Ending (YouTube)

2008-07-03T11:05:00.003+01:00

In 1997, the Chicago Bulls faced the Utah Jazz in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series, looking to win their fifth championship of the decade. Utah was seen as a credible contender to halt the Bulls' consistent dominance of the NBA, possessing the league's Most Valuable Player in Karl Malone and one of the greatest point guards ever, John Stockton. Game 1 was close the whole way, and it became clear that the result would come down to which team could execute the best, under pressure, in the final moments.

Click here to watch the final 2 minutes of this legendary contest.

SUMMER BASKETBALL CAMP IN WELSHPOOL

2008-07-03T11:00:00.002+01:00

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM IN ENGLISH AND WELSH

Summer Holiday Basketball Coaching
For 7-11 Year Olds on 27th August 2008
And 12-16 Year Olds on 28th August 2008
Come and have a go at basketball, learn the skills required to play the game, fun games and drills. All abilities welcome from beginners to more experienced, we have something for everyone, boys and girls.

VENUE - The Flash Leisure Centre, Welshpool
TIME: 9am-3pm both days
COST: £12 per child
*Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis*

To receive more information, don't hesitate to contact the Sports development unit on 01686 627971, or e-mail Guy Evans here.

New website

2008-06-10T23:50:00.003+01:00

Hello everybody out there in computer land (which pretty much means the whole world by this point), thought I'd encourage you to check out the new and vastly improved NewtownTitans.com! I recommend the informative schedule section to start, which will give you all the information you need on upcoming basketball events in Powys! Enjoy!

Lots of updates coming soon!

Today's quote: "You must expect things of yourself before achieving them."

Introduction

2008-05-28T21:58:00.000+01:00

Hello everybody out there and welcome to the new Newtown Titans blog! I thought it would be a good idea to give you an insight into what we do as a club, particularly with a big summer coming up. Over the weeks and months to come, you will hear from me about anything and everything related to the Titans, as we travel around the county delivering basketball sessions. I will also attempt (key word: attempt) to make this blog an entertaining read, so prepare yourself for bad jokes, random observations, and dry humour.

Other topics that may or may not be addressed in the future include how I got started in basketball, my experiences thus far playing and coaching the game, and global warming. I’m not going to write too much in the opening stanza of this blog because a) we are still a week or so away from the start of our summer timetable, and b) that would probably use up material for the next 17 blogs.

So stay tuned for the world’s most entertaining blog…beginning in the next edition!

GUY EVANS

NEWTOWN TITANS HEAD COACH
guyevans@newtowntitans.com