On August 12, Helping Hoops welcomed the men’s basketball team from Yale University to our Croxton program, where they had some fun with our kids with special needs. The team, which is based in New Haven, Connecticut, is current champions of the Ivy League, and is in Australia on a 10-day visit in preparation for the 2015/16 NCAA Division I season.
The team ran the group of children, who all have an intellectual disability, through a warm up before forming teams and playing games. Yale players were only too happy to assist their younger counterparts, and we were incredibly impressed with their “all in” attitude.
Opportunities like this are important for Helping Hoops participants, but also allow guests the chance to see basketball used for social good and provide a sense of grounding. The Yale University visit was organised through Australian Basketball Travel, which arranges specialised basketball tours to and from the USA. Plans for more Helping Hoops visits by touring US teams and colleges are on the cards, and we look forward to welcoming more new friends in the near future.
