Basketball Midnight Madness in Tauranga

Fun for all the family. Supplied photo.

The hugely popular Midnight Madness event run by Tauranga City Basketball is on again this month.

It's a unique opportunity for different ages and genders to play ball together and to run rings around their parents on court.

Tauranga City Basketball general manager, Mark Rogers, says it's held every year as a fun break-up for the kids in the Navigators' development programme.

'Kids from seven to 17 are put into mixed teams via a draft just like the NBA.

'It's great role model training for the older players who look after the younger ones in their team. On the night they play basketball, have three point and free throw shootouts, and get to play against their parents in special parents v kids games.”

The event is the brainchild of Tauranga City Basketball's Director of Development, Rachel Gwerder, who has been running these nights for more than 20 years.

'Teams are made up of different age-groups, and coaches have to coach to a prescribed rotation. Having the older players play alongside the younger players is a fantastic way to create role models and a sense of community,” Rachel says.

'As most of our older players attended the event as youngsters themselves, they understand their role is to ensure the little guys have as much fun as they did when they were little guys. It is a bit of giving back to the sport and to TCBA.”

For just $30 entry fee the budding young basketballers get pizza, drinks and ice cream during the night plus a Christmas gift that includes a tee-shirt. There are spot prizes after each round of games and MVP prizes for each game. The first picks from the draft will all get a special prize.

Music is going throughout the night and Tauranga City Basketball's dedicated volunteer rep coaches and managers will also be honoured on the night.

Rachel says the Midnight Madness event is by invitation only.

'Those that attended TCBA activity in Term 4 get first right of invitation. We can only cater to a maximum of 144 players – 12 teams x 12 players - and as we have 425 players involved in Term 4 these spots went like hotcakes.”

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