Hey guys, this is Colin again detailing the progress of our two integrated basketball teams here in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

As part of our fundraising to provide for our two teams traveling to America this summer, we staged a sponsored walk on Sunday. All the guys on the team were given a minimum of three weeks to go out into their communities, to reach out to friends and family members, and to pester teachers or anyone else that might cross their paths in order to obtain donations that will help fund their highly anticipated trip across the Atlantic. When the day of our long trek through Belfast arrived, we could see how zealously they worked to raise the necessary money. Though some of it is still being collected, we are expecting to have raised upwards of 2000£. To all those who helped the guys out with donations both big and small, we are very grateful. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited the guys are for the opportunity this summer to play, travel, sight-see, and experience America. Your help is essential for all these plans to come into fruition.

On Sunday, TJ and I accompanied the Belfast Bulldogs on the sponsored walk, beginning at Dunmurry High School. Blessed with a sunny day, though a bit chilly, we set out, and after gathering the team members from Dunmurry (we also had to wake up a couple of the guys who had forgot to set their clocks forward), we walked on over to St. Colm’s in Twinbrook. Then, with the whole team together, we hit the road and began making our way into Belfast City Centre. Meanwhile, Dave Tierney was leading the Belfast Blazers into town, winding their way from Orangefield to St. Joseph’s on Ravenhill Road and then onto our shared destination. Three or so hours later, the two teams met up, and after taking a few photos outside City Hall, arrived at the Victoria Square Shopping Mall.

The guys were glad to sit down and have some lunch for a while, and we actually ended up just hanging out together at the Mall for over an hour and a half. I know TJ, Dave, and I thoroughly enjoyed spending the time with the guys, and they seemed to be enjoying each other’s company too. That was really cool for me to see, a true testament to how these lads have fused together to form teams.

Anyway, I’ll update again soon, and hope all is well with you and yours.

- Colin

Hey everyone, this is Colin checking in with an update on our basketball program here in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

This week brought the best four sessions of training that I can remember since I've arrived in Belfast. The energy, effort, and quality of play have really seemed to jump forward in recent days, and the practices of both the Bulldogs and Blazers this week have only magnified that sentiment. I'm seeing real team play emerge and real team leaders step up. Watching the guys yesterday, I stopped for a few moments to think about where they were in Septemeber and was genuinely awed by the progress they have made. The assertiveness and confidence I'm witnessing on the court is such a jump from the hesitancy of the fall.

The lads are slagging on each other, playing hard, calling team huddles, encouraging their teammates, etc. Though there is a lot of work still to do, they are quickly transforming into the team I hoped they would become.

Mike Evans, the co-founder of Full Court Peace, arrived over last week to take a look at the program, plan for the future, and help out at the practices. He also came bearing gifts, bringing with him the eagerly anticipated uniforms that the guys will be sporting out on the court as members of the Belfast Bulldogs and Belfast Blazers, respectively. The guys were thrilled to be handed over their jerseys and shorts, infusing them with an even higher level of enthusiasm in their play this week. They seem to take a lot of pride in the jersey they are wearing and the team they are playing for. I couldn't have asked for anything more.

TJ, Dave, Mike, and I will be leading the guys on a sponsored walk this Sunday to help raise money for our trip to America this summer. We will finish the walk at the Victoria Square shopping centre in the heart of the city. I'll be sure to update you on what should be a great day.

Also, our friend Marc Mulholland has been following the Belfast Bulldogs for a good chunk of the season, taking photos and putting together short documentary pieces that detail their evolution as a team. Please check out www.myspace.com/fullcourtpeacedocumentary to see his great work.

Until next time, take care.

- Colin

Some of you may have been expecting commentary on the recent tragic events here in Belfast, and understandably so. The killings of last weekend were shocking and disturbing for a place that has made such a genuine effort at pushing passed a history riddled with conflict, violence, and death. That being said, a few of the schools we work in requested at the beginning of the year that we do our best to stay out of the political discussions that inevitably emerge in a place as divided as Belfast. I completely recognize their perspective. No matter how earnestly one attempts to address a topic in a non-partisan manner, each and every word that is written can be construed to suggest a particular allegiance to one side or another. It is always dangerous territory.

With that for context, all I will say is that the series of shootings executed by the Real IRA and Continuity IRA, respectively, are distressing, disappointing, and heartrending. Beyond a few misplaced attempts at bravado by Catholic and Protestant youths that I’ve overheard, nearly all of Belfast rejects these murders in act and rationale. The vast, vast majority of people are appalled, and perhaps these atrocities may even help to unite Catholics and Protestants in solidarity. This city has worked and will continue to work to progress into a better, more open-minded, more equitable society, and the actions of a few radicals hopefully will not rattle that resolve.
Anyway, that’s my two cents, and I’ll be posting any updates as they come along.

Take care

Colin

Hey guys, this is Colin checking in again about the progress of our basketball teams here in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The level of play for both of our teams, the Belfast Blazers and the Belfast Bulldogs, has really jumped ahead in the past few weeks. As far as particular skills go, shooting form and accuracy have made the greatest leaps, but more impressive has been their increasing understanding of how to move and space the court as a team. Both groups of guys have moved away from simply following the ball and standing in expectance of a pass. They’re now cutting through to the basket and replacing on to the open spots on the court, and even setting and using an occasional screen here and there. Guards are driving to the basket with their heads up as the bigger lads step in to make themselves available for a quick pitch and shot. They are held back from establishing real continuity on the court because of the limits in their dribbling and passing development, but the growth from September to now is truly staggering.

It’s also great to see chemistry build between particular players from the different schools. As it always happens in sport, there are just certain people that you click with and seem to inherently move together with an awareness of where the other person is. It’s cool to see that kind of relationship foster between kids who never would have seen each other without this team. Their cohesion on the court can also be seen translating into camaraderie off of it.

The guys have all also stepped up and committed themselves to our fundraising efforts. We have scheduled a sponsored walk for Sunday, March 29, and the lads have eagerly been recruiting financial aid through out their communities. It should be a great day.
Hope all is well, and I will be posting again soon