Lack of courts leaves young basketballers out of action in Ringwood

HUNDREDS of disappointed youngsters in Melbourne’s east are being knocked back by basketball teams because of a lack of courts.

Ken Harrington from Hawks basketball reports that 556 young Basketballers have registered but the facilities are so small that only 350 kids will be able to play.

HUNDREDS of disappointed youngsters in Maroondah have been knocked back by basketball teams this year, because facilities are too small to cope with demand.

Spectators are even being locked out of representative games because there is not enough room at Ringwood’s sports stadium The Rings.

Ringwood Hawks Basketball Association coaching director Ken Harrington said he was losing sleep over the dire situation, after having to tell dozens of youngsters they could not take part next year.

He said the centre on Canterbury Rd needed to be doubled in size to cater for the need.

The centre, which was built in 1996, has four courts servicing scores of Maroondah’s netball, basketball, volleyball and other sporting/recreational clubs. Nearby stadiums in Knox and Kilsyth boast six indoor courts and double the amount of centre court seating.

The Hawks are renting five schools’ courts each week to compensate for lack of space.

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But even so, Mr Harrington said 190 children were “out in the cold” next year because there was no room for them to play.

“(The Hawks) have 40 male and female teams from under-12s to under-20s but there could easily be 20 more teams,” Mr Harrington said.

“We’ve even had record registrations for 2016, with 556 young people applying, which would be great for the sport if we had the right facilities.”

Mr Harrington is now calling on Maroondah Council to build more courts either at The Rings or nearby.

“I challenge (council officers) to come to the stadium and see the disappointed looks on the children’s faces,” he said. “We’re the biggest sporting association in the area by 10 times but the money just isn’t being put into the facilities.

“It drives me absolutely mad.”

The association’s seniors are also scrambling to find space.

Hawks’ Big V president Tim Mottin said the club was always turning people away, including spectators who wanted to watch senior games.

The club streams live games online because so many people miss out on attending.

Mr Mottin said the Maroondah basketball and netball communities were “screaming out” for more space.

Mayor Tony Dib was unable to commit to extended facilities but encouraged The Hawks to use the two courts at Croydon’s Aquahub for its representative competition on weekends.

He said the council would also ask schools to offer their indoor basketball court facilities when available.

But Mr Harrington said those facilities were not up to standard.

“We want something done but unfortunately it’s too late for those kids who have already missed out.”