CITY of Birmingham Rockets captain Martyn Gayle previews a Saturday’s double header with two home games featuring Rockets Women, followed by the Men’s team taking to the court. But next week also sees the Bmet Rockets Trials for girls and boys – which could lead to an exciting career in basketball.
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WE’VE spoken many times in this column about building for the future at City of Birmingham Rockets.
And next Tuesday is a great chance for any young people to get involved in basketball when we hold the Bmet Rockets Trials for girls and boys.
The details can be found below, but this is a great opportunity for anyone who has an interest in the sport to get on the pathway to making it work for them.
Yoou can expand and explore the depths of basketball and the academic enrichment that could come with it.
Rockets are part of the DISE programme – the Diploma in Sporting Excellence. That can result in a diploma award as student athletes. So, on top of that, it adds additional UCAS points, that helps when you go to university.
Also, you can be playing high level college basketball. If you want to play the sport and enrol in our programme, you could break through to the first team one day, or maybe go beyond that.
But, you can maybe find different avenues in sport or in basketball, of which there are many.
🚀 Join us next Tuesday for our BMet Rockets Academy Trials!
ℹ️ All players MUST register below in advance of attending.
If you have any questions about the trials process please contact us at academy@cobrockets.co.uk.#WeAreRockets pic.twitter.com/ogwBB1hr1j
— City of Birmingham Rockets (@cobrockets) February 13, 2025
There’s coaching, merchandise, marketing, officiating – it’s not just the playing side.
We’re looking at students from age 11 or 12 and upwards. So you can go to the trials, find out what can happen and see if you can make progress.
If you’re part of this programme, and have a genuine love for basketball, perhaps in 10 years’ time, maybe you’re not a high level basketball player, but you might be a high level referee or coach.
There are so many different things that can happen, and it’s a starting point for a professional career.
The trials are open. It’s any talent level. We would love the highest level of talent, but we can cater for beginners and basketball enthusiasts – whether you have little bit of an interest in basketball, or you’ve been playing for your entire life. We can cater for it all.
But back to Saturday night, and there’s some great value for the fans with two home games featuring Rockets Women taking on Milton Keynes at 5pm, before we play Bristol Hurricane at 7.30.
🏀 Rockets are back on home court this Saturday!
Catch TWO games with just ONE ticket – you won’t find better value for money in Brum this Saturday night!#WeAreRockets pic.twitter.com/KlqICGUhQB
— City of Birmingham Rockets (@cobrockets) February 12, 2025
The women’s team are looking to jump up the league and fight for promotion. They have just made a new signing with Sekinat Shobowale joining Rockets.
As for the men, we’re trying to fight for a playoff position and up the ante a little bit. We lost out at Loughborough last weekend, but we’ve had a great week of training along with the women.
We always try and put on a show. We’re always trying to entertain. But at the end of the day, we’re there to do a job. We want to win. The results have been a bit frustrating at the moment, we’re struggling to get just over that line.
🚀 Welcome to Rockets, Sekinat!
Rockets are pleased to confirm the addition of Sekinat Shobowale to our women’s first team roster for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.
Come and support Sekinat and the team tomorrow against Milton Keynes Breakers – tip off is at 5pm! pic.twitter.com/QgEfoKvtSK
— City of Birmingham Rockets (@cobrockets) February 14, 2025
We’ve made a few changes in practice and the coach has made a few changes. We’ve all pulled up our socks, and we hate losing. We don’t want to keep losing. We’re not playing this game just because it’s fun. We’re playing this game because we want to compete.
We need to tighten up some of those loose ends and just make sure that we can come out with our heads held high knowing that we gave absolutely everything while we’re out there on the floor.
Bristol acquired a few BBL players from last season when Plymouth Patriots folded, and they acquired some real high level talent to go alongside their already decent squad.
Yes, they’ve got some amazing players on their squad, but we’ve got a game plan for them, and hopefully we’re ready for them when they come to our home.
