Derby Wheelblazers are a wheelchair basketball club based in Derby. We offer anybody the opportunity to try out what is a truly fantastic sport.

We have a number of different training sessions tailored to different ages and abilities; there’s a progression route for people that want to improve in the sport and more of a focus on fun for everyone else.

Juniors

Our Juniors sessions are for players aged up to 16 years old with players starting as young as 9 or 10. These sessions are perfect for players of all levels of impairment and ability. We have had players in the past that have struggled even holding a ball on their first day to being able to dribble and shoot with some development.

Each year we look at the possibility of entering a team into the junior league depending on the mix of players we have at the time. If you or your child is interested in what’s involved please feel free to come down and watch a session and talk to the coaches, players and other parents about the benefits available

Development

Our development sessions are for players very early on in their life as a basketball player. These are nice and gentle sessions looking at the basics of playing and chair handling – ideal for anyone lacking in confidence or perhaps players with more restrictive impairments. A number of junior players also join in on these sessions as part of their development

Senior

Our senior sessions are for over 18s or particularly strong young players. There is more of an emphasis on fitness, the technicalities of the game and more involvement in competitive games

1^st String

The first string team play competitively in the National League and as such their training sessions are highly demanding and only suitable for players quite advanced in their game. It is of course the goal that all players involved with Derby Wheelblazers have the opportunity to develop to 1^st String.

We have players at all levels of the team with all kinds of different impairments, the beauty of wheelchair basketball is that you’d be surprised at just how much you’re capable of. This also includes non-disabled people – we have a number of players who just love the game and the opportunity to compete on a level playing field.

We can only tell you so much on this site – the only way to really find out about the Blazers is to come and join us one Sunday at a practice session at Derby College, Prince Charles Avenue, Mackworth.

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History

Derby Wheelblazers was formed in August 2007 after a trial period by Derby City Council B Sporty team.

To help the club set up, Mansfield Maulers and Gordon Perry kindly loaned the club some Sports Wheelchairs to help get of the ground and GBWBA donated £1000.

In December 2007, the charity Local Network Fund gave Derby Wheelblazers a grant to purchase 8 junior wheelchairs. A grant was also awarded from Derby City Council.

In Sept 2007, Derby Wheelblazers entered the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association League for the very first time.

This is how our progress has looked to date:

2007 / 2008 | Development League | 3^rd Place | Promotion to 3^rd Division Central

2008 / 2009 | 3^rd Div Central | 2^nd Place | Promotion to 2^nd Division North

2009 / 2010 | 2^nd Division North | In progress

Proud Sponsors of Derby Wheelblazers