FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

BEFORE YOUR FIRST SESSION

  • Wear comfortable sportswear, such as shorts or joggers and a t-shirt, along with clean, non-marking indoor trainers.

    Please do not wear loose jewellery, watches, bracelets, necklaces or earrings. Players may be asked to remove items before taking part. Where stud earrings cannot be removed, they must be safely covered.

  • Players should bring:

    • A full water bottle

    • Suitable sports kit

    • Clean indoor trainers

    • Any medication they may need, such as an inhaler

    Players do not need to bring their own basketball.

  • No. The club has age-appropriate training and match balls available for sessions.

    Players may bring their own basketball for warm-ups or individual practice, provided it is the correct size for their age group and clearly named. Personal items are brought at the player’s own risk.

  • As a general guide:

    • Age 7-11: Size 5

    • Girls age 12+: Size 6

    • Boys age 12-14: Size 6

    • Boys age 14+: Size 7

    If you are unsure, please ask a coach before buying a ball.

  • For the first few sessions, any clean, non-marking sports shoe is fine, provided the laces are tied properly.

    Once a player decides to continue with basketball, basketball shoes with better support may be useful — but there is no need to buy expensive shoes before they have tried the sport.

  • Yes, older players may bring separate basketball shoes if they wish.

    Please keep personal items to a minimum and make sure any footwear worn in the hall is clean and non-marking. Personal items are brought and left at the player’s own risk.

BOOKING & ACCOUNTS

  • Yes, wherever possible, all sessions should be booked in advance through Coacha.

    This helps us manage numbers, attendance, emergency contact details, medical information and session planning.

    If you are having difficulty booking, please do not worry. You can still come along and speak to a coach or volunteer when you arrive, but we will need to help you register and make sure the correct details are completed before the player can join in.

  • Go to the Book a Session page, then:

    1. Log in or register

    2. Choose the correct session

    3. Complete the booking online

    If you have any problems using Coacha, please contact us or speak to a coach/volunteer when you arrive. We can help you complete the registration process before the player joins in.

  • Yes. New players or parents/carers should register a new member account before booking their first session.

    This ensures the club has the correct parent/carer contact details, emergency contact information and medical information before the player attends.

  • Existing members should log in to their Coacha account and book through the session calendar or list view.

  • Please book in advance through Coacha wherever possible.

    If you are having difficulty booking, you can still come along and speak to us when you arrive. However, players cannot join in until we have helped complete the correct registration details, including emergency contact and medical information.

  • If a session is full, please do not attend without booking. Session numbers are managed for safety and coaching quality.

    You may need to wait for another available date or contact the club for advice.

  • Yes, where PAYG sessions are available, they can be booked individually through Coacha.

    Team players may have different monthly fee arrangements depending on their team and season programme.

  • Yes. You can use the Coacha mobile app to manage bookings, read club notices and update personal information.

SESSIONS & PATHWAY

  • This depends on their age, experience and what they want from basketball.

    As a general guide:

    • ENergize — ages 6–11 / school years 2–6

    • Open Sessions — age 8+ / school years 4–11

    • Development Teams — pathway teams for players building experience

    • Performance Teams — selected competitive teams

    • Academy Basketball — age 16–19 at East Norfolk Sixth Form College

    • Men’s Basketball — age 15+

  • Use the Contact Us page and tell us the player’s school year, basketball experience and what they are looking for. We’ll point you towards the most suitable session or pathway.

  • Yes. Sessions are open to players of all abilities.

    We aim to provide a fun, safe and inclusive environment where players can develop at their own pace. New players are always welcome, and coaches will help guide players towards the most suitable session or pathway.

  • Yes. New players can book an appropriate session or trial opportunity before committing to regular attendance.

    Some team places or league opportunities may involve further selection or a coach discussion.

  • Yes. Girls are welcome to attend all appropriate GYBC sessions, and we would love to see more girls playing basketball with us.

    Our junior sessions are currently mixed. We have previously trialled dedicated girls-only sessions, but there was not enough consistent take-up to make them sustainable. If numbers grow, we would absolutely look to run dedicated girls’ sessions and teams in the future.

    Girls can take part in our open sessions and development pathway, including NYBL Development Teams where appropriate. Girls also regularly play in our U12 Performance Team, and we typically have girls involved at this age group each season.

    From U14 upwards, Basketball England National League competition is split into dedicated boys’ and girls’ divisions. Our current U14 and U16 National League teams are boys’ teams, so until we have enough girls to enter dedicated girls’ National League teams, older girls looking specifically for girls’ National League basketball may be signposted to a specialist girls’ club such as Norfolk Iceni in Norwich.

    This does not mean girls are being pushed away from GYBC — they are very welcome to train with us, develop with us, and be part of the club. We are actively looking at ways to grow girls’ basketball locally, so if girls’ basketball at GYBC is something that interests you, please do reach out to us.

  • Players aged 15+ may be able to attend Men’s Basketball sessions where appropriate, but this depends on ability, maturity and session suitability.

  • Sessions usually run during the main school/college year, but we take a break during the summer exam period, typically from early May to late June.

    For 2026, sessions are due to resume from Monday 29 June, with updated 2026/27 session information being confirmed shortly.

  • Players can continue attending open or development sessions, and where appropriate may be guided towards team opportunities.

    Players interested in representing the club should attend Junior Team Trials or speak to a coach about the most suitable pathway.

JUNIOR TEAMS & TRIALS

  • No. Players do not need to be the finished article.

    We are looking for attitude, effort, coachability and a willingness to learn. Some players may be ready for a Performance Team, while others may be better suited to a Development Team.

  • Performance Teams are for selected players who are ready to commit to regular training, competitive fixtures and representing GYBC in a more demanding team environment.

    Development Teams are pathway teams for players building experience, developing their skills and gaining game experience through the Norfolk Youth Basketball League.

  • Where appropriate, we will aim to offer players a place in one of our Development Teams.

    Our Development Teams compete in the Norfolk Youth Basketball League at U11, U13 and U15 level, giving players the chance to keep developing and gain game experience.

  • Junior Team Trials for the 2026/27 season take place on Saturday 4 July.

    Players must book their place in advance. Full trial details, age groups and timings are available on the Junior Teams page.

  • Yes. Trials are free to attend, but all players must book their place in advance.

  • Parents/carers should attend the information presentation at the start of the trial session.

    The on-court trial itself is closed to spectators so coaches can create the right environment and assess players fairly.

  • Coaches will review each age group after the trials and contact players/parents with next steps as soon as possible.

VENUE, PARENTS & SAFETY

  • All sessions take place at:

    East Norfolk Sixth Form College
    Church Lane
    Gorleston-on-Sea
    Great Yarmouth
    NR31 7BQ

  • Parking is available onsite to the rear of the college, accessed from the left side of the college on Church Lane.

    Head towards the far end of the rear car park, where you should see club signage near the sports hall entrance.

  • This depends on the session, space available and the nature of the activity.

    For some sessions, parents/carers may be able to stay nearby. For others, including trials, parents/carers may be asked not to remain in the sports hall once the session begins so coaches can create the right environment for players.

  • Please make sure all medical information is included and kept up to date in Coacha.

    Players should also bring any medication they may need, such as an inhaler, to every session.

  • Please contact the club Welfare Officer, Tracey-Anne Williamson by using the Contact Us page and selecting Welfare or Safeguarding Concern in the Subject field.

    Welfare and safeguarding concerns are taken seriously and will be handled appropriately.

MEMBERSHIP, FEES & CLUB INFORMATION

  • Players involved in league fixtures will need Basketball England membership for insurance and competition eligibility.

    For regular session players, membership requirements may depend on the session type and level of involvement. Coaches or club administrators will confirm what is needed before a player joins a team or competition.

  • Session costs depend on the session type.

    PAYG sessions can be booked individually where available. Team players may pay monthly fees once selected for a team.

  • Yes. GYBC is a Basketball England affiliated club and operates within recognised club structures, including coaching, safeguarding and competition requirements.

  • GYBC is a volunteer-led, non-profit community basketball club based at East Norfolk Sixth Form College.

    The club is run by its committee, coaches and volunteers, with support from members and families.

Still have a question? Send us your question using the field below, or visit our Contact Us page and we’ll point you in the right direction.