Welcome to the Young Ballerz Basketball Blog

Hi Ballerz,

I’m excited to launch the first Young Ballerz Basketball blog. This will be a space where we share what we’ve been up to, what’s coming next, and our thoughts on grassroots basketball here in the UK.

Young Ballerz Basketball began in Southend at Hamstel Junior School in September 2021. It would have started sooner, but like many things, the global pandemic forced us to wait before finally launching. The drive behind Young Ballerz comes from my own lack of opportunities growing up. I didn’t get the chance to play basketball until I was much older, and when our own sons wanted to play, we quickly realised there were zero options for them at a young age. That’s when my wife and I decided to create something different, a family-run company that could give children the start in basketball that I never had.

It’s been amazing to see our boys, along with hundreds of other children, getting into the sport at such a young age. In just four years, we’ve gone from one class to over 400 children attending weekly sessions across multiple locations in Essex. Our age-specific groups – Minis (3–5), Littles (6–8) and Bigs (9–14) – mean every child has a place where they can develop at their own pace, no matter their experience or ability.

We’ve been proud to see the response from families, schools, and the wider basketball community. From end-of-term events to school assemblies and taster sessions, the focus has always been on making basketball accessible, fun, and inclusive.

As we’ve grown, so has our ambition. This year, we’ve taken an exciting step forward by opening up franchise opportunities. Our first franchisee has signed in North Essex, and our second in Mid Essex, with many more ready to follow. Like everything in business, it’s a process, and timing is key, but the momentum is there, and we’re excited to see the Young Ballerz Basketball family grow across the UK.

This blog will become a monthly update where we’ll highlight stories from our sessions, share tips for families and players, and keep you posted on the progress of our franchise network. At the heart of it all is our commitment to one thing: growing the game of basketball in the UK from the ground up.

Thank you for being part of our journey so far. We’ve achieved a lot in four years, but in many ways, this feels like just the beginning.

Carl Robertson
Founder, Young Ballerz Basketball