ABOUT

The Programme

The University of Worcester (UW) Basketball programme is established, successful and wide ranging, providing students with significant playing, coaching, volunteer and placement opportunities.

The Basketball programme operates from the University of Worcester Arena, home of the Worcester Wolves, a basketball club who competed in the British Basketball League (BBL) as recently as 2020-2021 season. Our inclusive programme is designed to engage all levels of basketball players from beginners all the way to elite level performers.  So whether you want to shoot hoops for fun in friendly welcoming environment with friends or you aspire to be professional, our programme has something to offer you. 

Over 70 players at University of Worcester Arena 2019-2020 season

The unique relationship between UW Basketball and the Worcester Wolves provides our elite student athletes an opportunity to train and play in a professional basketball environment on a daily basis. As the programme has developed, a number of University players have made significant contributions to the Worcester Wolves when they competed in the BBL. Notably in 2014 the Worcester Wolves included five student athletes who helped the team secure the BBL National Trophy at the Emirates Arena and the BBL Playoff Championship at Wembley Arena. The 2019/20 season’s team also included five student athletes, with one player in particular regularly featuring in former head coach Matt Newby’s game day rotation, that secured the BBL Cup.

PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME

The Performance Programme is designed to assist our elite players improving on and off the court.  Many students come here in the hope of becoming professional Basketball players.  Whilst we have a professional environment and operate with professional expectations and sensibilities, we can not promise any student athlete will attend here and then become a professional.

Our students from right to left Daniel Johnson Thompson, Matei Baltenau, Gytis Povlinunas, Wayne Kitenge, Nathan Ramsdale-Owen, Lucas Mcgregor and Matthew Willaimson. Soaking up the celebrations as part of the Worcester Wolves victory in the BBL Cup in January 2020.
Daniel Johnson-Thompson, Matei Baltaneau, Gytis Wayne Kitenge, Nathan Ramsdale-Owen, Lucas McGregor and Matthew Williamson celebrating at Utilita Arena Birmingham after winning 2019-20 BBL Cup Final as part of the Worcester Wolves

What we can and will guarantee is that our coaching staff will work hard with student athletes on a daily basis to support you in reaching your goals.  With several weekly team practices, multiple individual skill development sessions per week, to go alongside strength and conditioning and access to sports therapy we offer a lot of resources to aid the development of our student athletes during their time here at University of Worcester.

The Performance Programme currently consists of 3 teams ( 1 Men’s and 1 Women’s and 1 Wheelchair), competing in top BUCS Leagues.  Additionally our Men’s performance players play in the NBL as Worcester Wolves.  Our Women performance players also suit up as Worcester Wolves women competing in WNBL Division 1.

Worcester Wolves celebrating winning midlands region of NBL3

RECREATIONAL PROGRAMME

For the 2023-24 season we currently offer 2 recreational teams.  Our Men’s team compete in BUCS 3A and 4A.  Both teams practice at least twice a week and have access to individual skill development sessions.

INTRAMURAL BASKETBALL COMPETITIONS AND LEAGUES

Our 3×3 league commences in semester 2, comprising of 2 conferences.  Teams of 4 compete in 3 games per week to enable each team to compete a 30 game season, resulting in conference champions.  Semester 3 begins our conference playoffs, where top plays bottom in a best of 3 game series, regular playoff seeding applies until we end up with finalists which is typically held the week before Varsity.