Sports
Overview
The Leeds Beckett Basketball Club has had representative teams in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) competitions on a number of levels of the pyramid.
This makes the club a rich community catering for students who are developing and those who wish to compete in the performance domain. The men’s programme boasts three teams and the women field two.
The basketball programme has consistently offered young domestic talent locally, regionally, nationally and internationally an opportunity to develop in a well-supported environment.
The performance tiers train between six to ten hours a week on court and access world class strength and conditioning, in addition to high-level sports science services.
Furthermore, selected male athletes have the additional opportunity of training and playing with the Leeds Force BBL franchise who are quickly establishing themselves as a competitive team in Britain’s top flight.
The men’s second and third tiers and women’s programme consistently train in season four to six hours a week and also have access to recreational basketball, which includes five-on-five and the popular 3 x 3 format.
Coupled with the fact that the Headingley Campus sports facility boasts a fantastic arena with spectator seating with two practice courts and one show court - perfect for BUCS game day when spectators come to watch.
There is additional value for students who wish to pursue coaching, officiating and volunteer options as there is a strong relationship with the Leeds Force Basketball Foundation who deliver community initiatives, central venue competitions and operate Junior National League teams for the youth of West Yorkshire.
Coach profile
Head Coach Matt Newby has been at the helm since the programme’s inception and continues to drive many of the core interests of the Leeds Basketball fraternity.
He is also Director and Head Coach of the Leeds Force who play home games on Leeds Beckett’s Headingley Campus and compete in the British Basketball League (BBL) - the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom.
Matt also drives the work of the Force foundation, its community interests and the Allerton Force Basketball Academy. Over the last decade he has dedicated himself to building a performance and development pathway for the sport in Leeds and West Yorkshire. Matt is currently a Basketball England Level 3 Advanced Coach as well as being a qualified coach educator.
On the back of this delivery he has led on the development and growth of a Junior National League club which now boasts 10 junior teams who participate in Basketball England’s national league structure. Whilst directing community development, he has taken Leeds Beckett University from NL D4 to NL D1, collecting consecutive promotions and multiple accolades.
Matt has a long-standing relationship with US basketball group Five-Star having worked for over a decade on the prestigious camps through the summers and also co-directing the UK camps which were launched five years ago.
The Leeds Beckett Basketball programme’s honours (last decade):
2013-14 National League Division 1 Playoff Champions
2012-13 National Cup Winners
2012-13 BUCS Championships Playoffs Silver Medal
2011-12 BUCS Championships Playoffs Bronze Medal
2010-11 National League Division 1 Playoff Finals Runners Up
2010-11 National Trophy Runners Up
2009-10 Leeds Metropolitan University Coach of the Year Matt Newby
2009-10 National League Division 1 3rd Place
2009-10 BUCS Championships Playoffs Gold Medal
2009-10 BUCS Premier (North) Winners
2008-09 National League D2 League Winners
2008-09 National League D2 Playoff Finals Runners Up
2008-09 Patrons Cup Winners
2008-09 BUCS Premier (North) Winners
2008-09 BUCS Championships Playoffs Bronze Medal
2008-09 EBBA D2 Coach of the Year
2007-08 National League D3 (North) League Winners
2007-08 National League D3 Play Off Champions
2007-08 BUCS Premier (North) Winners
2007-08 BUCS Championships Playoffs Bronze Medal
2007-08 EBBA D3 Coach of the Year Matt Newby
2006-07 National League Division 4 (North) League Winners
2006-07 National Shield Winners
2006-07 BUCS 1A (North) Winners
2006-07 EBBA D4 Coach of Year Matt Newby
Basketball in the community
We currently offer Basketball coaching qualifications through our Coach Education team.
Leeds Force Basketball train and play in our Arena, providing great volunteering and spectator opportunities.
USA Sports Programme
Recreational campus sport taster sessions are held weekly, with separate men’s and women’s sessions, on a turn up and play basis.
For more information on Recreational Basketball sessions please contact d.bottomley@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.
