A University of Worcester graduate has been appointed to a coaching role in the national basketball programme, helping to develop talented young players.
Graduate Charlie Haynes - picture credit Todd Lindley
Charlie Haynes is now the Basketball England Under 15 Girls Assistant Coach, working within the England Talent Pathway.
“I’m delighted,” said the 23-year-old. “Representing my country is a massive honour and something that deserves maximum commitment. I am so thankful to Basketball England for the trust they have shown in me with such a fantastic role and for the learning I will gain from this amazing opportunity. As a young coach, it is a huge privilege.”
The Sports Coaching Science graduate will assess and help in the development of players identified as the best in their age group through national team experiences, such as international tournaments. He will combine this position with his day-to-day employment as a basketball coach.
As a junior, Charlie, of Katesgrove, Reading, played in the Plymouth Raiders junior teams, then in the Exeter College Basketball Academy. However, he fell in love with coaching while getting some initial coaching qualifications in his last year at college and moved his focus to that. During his university studies, he was a Basketball Wales National Team coach for the Under 23, Under 15 and Under 16 male age groups.
Now Charlie works at the John Madejski Academy as a Performance Basketball Coach and leads the school’s Basketball Youth Academy. He is also a coach for club Reading Rockets, working with various age groups such as Under 18 men and overseeing the girls’ junior teams.
In his England role, he will collaborate with other team coaches and be analysed and assessed by senior members of Basketball England. He said: “The England Talent Pathway, and the support that comes with it, is something I feel will have a really great impact on my own development as a coach and will help me continue to grow my knowledge. I am very excited to work with a great group of coaches and support staff who I am able to learn from and share ideas with.”
Charlie said he was extremely grateful for his experience at the University. “I had fantastic lecturers who went above and beyond to help me achieve my goals inside and outside of university,” he added. “Education at university is so much more than what you’re taught in a classroom. Many members of staff showed an interest in my development, making sure I always felt supported whilst pushing me to the highest standards in my course modules, university coaching and national team coaching with Wales.”
Charlie particularly enjoyed basketball opportunities during his university years; coaching various university teams, Basketball Wales national teams and having involvement with the Worcester Wolves British Basketball League side as a team manager. He also praised the Sports Coaching Science course. “It gave me a chance to apply classroom learning in real-world practical experiences, and in-turn, I used my real-world coaching experiences for my university assessments” he said. “This was a great way to build up my knowledge base and develop my coaching.”