After months of hard work, sweat, and tears...no wait there were no tears - just a whole lot of fun! In any case, for a group keen and talented players from the Warrandyte Venom Future Forces program, they will finally get to demonstrate their skill in on court action at the Nunawading Spectres junior tournament this weekend.

In it's fourth straight year, the Venom Future Forces program continues to go from strength to strength in helping bridge the gap between domestic and representative basketball for promising junior boys.  The program has been an integral key in the emergence of the junior boys program, a program that in just three years has seen the Venom grow from having two under 12 teams in action, 3 last season, and now a club record 4 in season 2008.  In fact, the Venom Future Forces program has accounted for more than 75% of the Venom's younger age group playing numbers!

Conducted in line with the 2008 Victorian Junior Basketball League season, the program focusses on teaching the kids the core skills they need in order to become successful players at representative level.  Time end effort is spent in teaching kids the correct shooting technique, defensive principles and how to do a layup with their non-preferred hand - and a lot of fun is had by everyone in the process!

With more than 24 participants in 2008, most of these budding representative players are aiming to pull on a Venom uniform in 2009.  For some they get a chance at Nunawading this coming weekend in what is for most their first ever taste of tournament action as they tackle the under 11 division. Send me a message if you wish to know more about this development program for young boys.

Joining the Future Forces boys at the tournament are all 4 of Warrandyte Venom's under 12 boys teams. The 12.1 boys will be facing stiff opposition in A grade, the 12.2 side are entered in the B2 division, whilst the 12.3 and 12.4 boys will be taking on C grade in opposite sides of the draw. 

The tournament this weekend promises to be a fund and enjoyable experience for all, and a time where the coaches and tams can focus on new plays, tactics and player development. Good luck to all the teams - don't forget to have fun!