Rising interest in women鈥檚 basketball is being reflected by increased demand at the Vancouver Bandits third annual Girls & Women in Sports Basketball Camp, which, despite more than doubling the number of spots, was running out of vacancies well in advance.
With more than a month to go before the Saturday, May 25, camp at the 91原创 Events Centre, two of the four sessions were already sold out, as of Tuesday, April 16, reported Andrew Savory, Vancouver Bandits Vice President, Brand & Communications.
鈥淭he first year [we held the event] it was about 30 campers, last year it was 60, and this year it鈥檚 80,鈥� Savory told the 91原创 Advance Times.
Every space in the advanced and intermediate age 14-18 sessions was filled, with limited spots left for the two advanced and intermediate 10-13 sessions.
鈥淚 think the demand has always been there,鈥� Savory commented.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of clubs locally who are doing great work in terms of offering women鈥檚 and girl鈥檚 basketball programming,鈥� Savory said.
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A day of hoops, featuring skill development, drills and more at the 91原创 Events Centre, the event is open to basketball players of varying ages and skill levels.
Camp includes coaching and basketball instruction from university and national team-level athletes, plus tickets to next day鈥檚 4 p.m. May 26th Bandits game against Scarborough Shooting Stars at 91原创 Events Centre, and entry to a pre-game speakers panel on girls and women in sports that day.
鈥淲e just wanted to introduce some of our fans, and the daughters of our fans, to our game day environment, bring them into an arena where they can be surrounded by like-minded girls who want to play basketball for fun or to meet other people or to advance their game,鈥� Savory said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a fun day of advancing their skills and hopefully creating all the inspiration and dreams for where they can go with the sport of basketball, whether it鈥檚 on the court or off of it.鈥�
All campers will receive a free t-shirt, free pair of shorts, and a food voucher.
Savory noted the first round of the WNBA draft on Monday, April 15, saw Canada鈥檚 Aaliyah Edwards selected sixth overall by the Washington Mystics, the second year a Canadians has made the top 10, something Savory described as 鈥渢remendous.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e really proud to see an increased focus on women鈥檚 basketball right now,鈥� Savory remarked.
鈥淚 think the Bandits have a role to play in that conversation. It鈥檚 an opportunity to shine a light on that story and amplify it as much as we can.鈥�
For more information about the camp, and to register, visit .
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