Over the weekend of 23/24 March, the FIMBA GB +55 women had their first taste of a full length match against the +50 Women as they both continue their preparations for the European Championships in Pesaro, Italy in June 2024.
Saturday’s +55 Women training focused on individual skills for posts, forwards and guards, with their new assistant coach taking the guards for their ‘master-class in advanced guarding skills’! The posts and forwards practiced using physicality on their own terms and reacting to a defender in close proximity, whilst using good footwork to deceive and provide options. The +50 Women meanwhile worked on their individual and team set plays. It was an intense and high paced session preparing for the best opponents in Italy.
These advanced skill sessions showed that players can always learn something new and were extremely well received by the players. As always, we enjoyed a good social evening but we had to say goodbye to our bio-mechanics expert, Martin Haines, who is having to focus on his thriving private practice. The team were sad to say goodbye but we all wish him well for the future and hope to repay his efforts over the last 2 seasons with silverware in June!
Stu Coffey – +55 Head Coach
The players showed good commitment to the programme and demonstrated their skills well
Mal Gander – +50 Head Coach
On Sunday the +50 women and +55 women combined for a joint session, starting with some set drills before having a competitive match. With the +55 women starting strong, they stayed in the lead until well into the second half but the +50s eventually ran out as worthy winners. However, both sides took the opportunity to road-test new options and plays with their new personnel for the season and much quality was on display by both teams. Both sides seem well placed to be competitive for silverware in the coming tournaments with the quality improvements made since last year.
The +50 team is shaping up nicely and is combining well with unselfish play
Hazel Shaw – +50 Captain
The next event for the +55s is a training session 27/28 April at Kirkby Leisure Centre, culminating in a full match against a local league side, before travelling to Dublin in May for some tournament practice.
So preparations are going well and the future is looking bright for these committed and dedicated players.
If you are interested in partnering FIMBA GB and support their journey in 2024, you can find all the relevant details on our partners page or you can support their journey with a personal donation by clicking here or for the +55 Women directly by clicking here.
