Competition on court is very healthy
School squads battle it out for glory in Tesco Finals
TEAMS from four Newcastle primary schools showed off their basketball skills at the Tesco Bank Junior Players Finals at Newcastle’s Sport Central.
Teams from Gosforth East Middle Primary, Walkergate Primary, St John’s Primary and Byker Primary had booked their places in the finals after coming out on top against 500 pupils at a tournament the previous week.
Tesco Bank Junior Players is a community coaching programme jointly led by the Newcastle Eagles’ Community Foundation, Sunderland AFC’s Foundation of Light and the Newcastle United Community Foundation.
The programme gives young people in the North East the opportunity to not only become fit and active through physical activity but also to receive expert tuition from highly-qualified coaches.
It is first time the three Foundations have collaborated on such a project.
The Tesco Bank programme, in its second year, also encompasses Hoops 4 Health - a programme delivered to primary or middle schools with four themed sessions delivered by the Eagles’ players.
These focus heavily on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle with subjects such as hydration and the importance of water, the effects of sugar, fitness and learning to play basketball.
Eagles’ Community Foundation Chief Executive Sam Blake said: “It is so important to get children active and educate them on leading a healthy lifestyle, which is what Tesco Bank Junior Players is all about.
“There was great action at the tournament and this was an exciting opportunity for the children to perform in front of the Eagles’ fans.
“Tesco Bank Junior Players continues to be an important initiative and we thank them for their support.”
Gillian Fairweather, Tesco Bank Community Investment Manager, said: “Through these tournaments it has been fantastic to see so many children getting active and having fun.
“Our focus is to create opportunities for young people and encourage healthy choices, which we know is an objective shared by the Community Foundation.”
The winning team on the night was Byker Primary.