20 years ago, a group of friends got together to play wheelchair basketball every week. From those humble beginnings arose the Suncoast Spinners, a wheelchair basketball club on the Sunshine Coast whose mission is to provide inclusive wheelchair sport to the Sunshine Coast community and greater region.
The Suncoast Spinners have provided important leadership through active engagement in the community. They raise awareness around wheelchair sport through demonstrations at local schools and community groups in a fun and educational environment that seeks to break down barriers and tackle misconceptions surrounding wheelchair sports.
Sport and support– Suncoast Spinners motto
The club has around 25 participants who meet weekly at the Sunshine Coast University Sports Stadium for a social competition to promote health and fitness. The training session runs from 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm on Wednesday nights. These sessions are open to members of all abilities and include:
- 45 minute drills and skills training
- 1 hour 15 minute skrimmage and games
There is a place for you whether you would like to participate as a player, coach, referee or official. If you are interested in joining in, feel free to sign up and come along and have fun.
In line with their passion for creating an inclusive space, the club is open to players of all abilities. They are leaders of the practice of ‘Reverse Inclusion’ which, as per the club:
Reverse inclusion activities aim to increase aim to increase participation of able-bodied people in wheelchair basketball as a form of health promotion and social inclustion on the Sunshine Coast and beyond. Reverse inclusion activities can increase access to sport, physical activity and new friends for people of all abilities.
Reverse inclusion is a totally inclusive sporting environment where everyone is on an equal sporting playing field. Many people with physical disabilities are restricted from participating in able-bodied team sports. In reverse inclusion, inclusion is created through enabling people to play sport together, regardless of whether they are a person with a disability or an able-bodied person. In this sense, the wheelchair is a piece of sporting equipment.
The Suncoast Spinners are a valuable asset to Queensland sport, and they appreciate all the support they get from the community. If you would like to support them, please consider donating at: https://asf.org.au/projects/suncoast-spinners-wheelchair-basketball/
ANNUAL SUNCOAST SPINNERS WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
The Suncoast Spinners Wheelchair Basketball Tournament is the premier wheelchair basketball tournament in Australia. The 2020 tournament is set to be the biggest yet.
The tournament is held over three days at the Caloundra Indoor Stadium. The tournament caters to all levels of skill and ability with a three grade competition, B Grade Beginners, A Grade Developing, and Premier Grade Experienced.
Teams from Perth, Adelaide, Victoria, NSW and QLD have competed in the event, the largest wheelchair basketball tournament in Australia to date. With 20 teams and 92 games over three days of action packed wheelchair basketball, the 2019 tournament was full of spectacular sport.
The Australian Gliders and the Australian U23’s Men’s team utilise the event as a training camp in the lead up to the World Championships and Paralympic events.
The tournament relies on volunteers to staff roles on the tournament committee, score bench and administration. If you would like to help out, please sign up:
REVERSE INCLUSION CONFERENCE
This year, the Suncoast Spinners are holding a conference on reverse inclusion to promote the benefits of this innovative approach. The keynote speaker for the conference is Mike “Frog” Frogley, National Academy Director and Head Coach for Wheelchair Basketball Canada.
Sign up for the reverse inclusion conference
COACHING CLINIC
During the tournament, Mike Frogley will also be holding a coaching clinic to engage with coaches who are interested in applying reverse inclusion in their own programs.
Sign up for the coaching clinic
There has never been a better time to get involved in this dynamic organisation.
