United delivering excellence alongside Loyola College

Through a continued focus on using the power of basketball to inspire, entertain and enrich people’s lives, Melbourne United is excited to work alongside side schools to help hone the skills of young athletes on and off the court.

One such school is Loyola College in Watsonia, who have partnered with United to help build on their Basketball Academy.

Senior Boys Sport Coordinator, Peter Ciavarella, explained how the partnership came to be, and some of the benefits he has already seen.

“The partnership came about through a desire to provide students with an authentic, experiential learning experience embedded within the junior Health & Physical Education curriculum,” Peter said.

“Loyola College has an existing Basketball Academy offered to students. In partnering with Melbourne United, we have been able to increase exposure to elite basketball training and make the most of incursion and excursion opportunities that otherwise would not have been possible.”

Through the partnership, Loyola College students have been able to get some firsthand experiences with Melbourne United, which is paying dividends when it comes to personal development.

Charlie, a student and athlete at Loyola, touched on how the program has helped him further his game.

“The main thing that I took away from working with Melbourne United was the leadership on display,” Charlie explained. 

“Watching Jesse Edwards train, who plays the centre position just like myself, helped to improve my game as I could see how he moved on the court creating space for his teammates.

“Through watching his communication on the court with his teammates on both defense and offence, I have gained valuable insights that could help me as a basketball player but also in my pursuit for a student leader position.”

Fellow student Grace elaborated on some of the intangibles they took away from their time with United.

“Having the opportunity to witness the Melbourne United players in action at one of their training sessions, demonstrated the high level of dedication and commitment required to reach this highest level in Australia,” Grace said. 

“The players' values embodied team work, communication, passion and dedication to constantly improve. These are such important qualities to have as an individual, but even more important when working in a team environment. 

“You can see how the more experienced players encourage the younger players, sharing their knowledge and helping to grow their confidence. In a team environment, these are the best qualities of a leader.”

If you want to enquire about how your school can partner with Melbourne United, contact community@melbourneutd.com.au 

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