Reading Rockets

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Reading Rockets are a basketball team from Reading, Berkshirereally, officially called Atlantis Reading Rockets from Sponsorship, and they compete in the English Basketball League, Division 1.

It was only in 1997 that Rockets were launched and Reading first acquired a Senior men’s basketball team, since when the team has gone from strength to strength. The heart of the Rockets club is passion, vision, quality, motivation and commitment - unified with family values and standards. The club has a vision to give children from 6 years of age upwards an opportunity to play at the highest level, perform to the very best of their ability and be coached professionally. It has just finished its fourth season in the highest level of English Basketball, where Rockets reached the Championship Play Off finals in May 05, finished 3 rd in the league and won the National Cup. They have also been league runners up in 04, runners up in Div. 1 01 and the winner of the Championship Play Off Final at Wembley in May 01. The team plays its home games at the Rivermead Leisure Complex in Reaiding and comprises players with experience of the USA game, Europe and of Div. 1 and Div. 2 coupled to young blood - the vision being for youngsters to come up through the ranks of the junior section and play in the Senior National League.

The Senior teams represent the target for the 1000 or so youngsters that are coached each week by the Rockets development arm. There are some 50+ coaching sessions run in the locality for children of all ages and abilities, with some specific ones for girls only. Rockets takes children from complete beginners, coaches and develops their individual talent with team dynamics. Those who wish to pursue the game competitively and maximise their development are encouraged to attend the Junior section coaching sessions for their specific age group. Depending on their age and abilities, boys and girls participate in local, regional and national competitions. The Junior section has squads that play at Under 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18 and a development squad for Under 9s.

Rockets have been represented by both boys and girls at county, regional and national level. There are also girls only squads - Under 14, Under 18 and an Under 12 development squad. Last season a Junior scholarship programme was set up to give three selected 18 year old players the opportunity to take a year out from education to ‘be the best players they could possibly be', two are now on scholarships in the USA.

As a stepping stone into the Senior Men’s team, there are men’s teams that play in the National Division 3 and in the Regional Wessex leagues. These give an opportunity for those who are not able to make the necessary demanding training schedule of the seniors and for young folk who are seeking to break into senior basketball whilst a 'social' basketball session takes place weekly for parents to participate, have fun and socialise.

Rockets are actively involved with the Active Sports and Active Communities Managers within the local authorities as well as coaching in specialist educational units and on holiday programmes. We are also leaders within the evolving Community Sports Partnerships and School/Club programmes.

Rockets are at the heart of the explosion in female basketball in the UK and in three short seasons have established junior squads that play locally, regionally and nationally whilst a Ladies squad has just completed its first season on the national stage.

ACHIEVEMENTS '''National Trophy Winners 2007 - beating Worthing Thunder''', Sureshot National Cup Winners 2007 (Reading Rockets Under 18 premier team, '''EBL Division 1 Play Off Champions - 2005/2006''', EBL Division 1 Runners up - 2005/2006, '''National Cup Winners 2005'''