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United Grassroots Stories - Basketball 613

22 Oct
3 mins read

Written By

Melbourne United Media

For over 10 years, Basketball 613 has been providing an opportunity for anyone to hit the court

When people think about basketball at the grassroots level, the immediate response is usually to look at junior sport and how children are engaging with the game.

What often isn’t considered is how the game is embraced locally at the senior level, where adults can be left with minimal options to play organised basketball if they’re not already part of a team.

It was because of this that Bridh ‘Harry’ Athanatos started Basketball 613, which opened the door for organised pick-up basketball, without the need for full-season commitments.

Speaking with Melbourne United Media, Harry explained why he made the decision to start Basketball 613 in 2014.

“It’s very difficult for somebody to jump on the court at a day's notice, you usually need to have a group or team and for a lot of people it just isn’t possible at times,” he said.

“I wanted to create something that opened up that possibility and opened up the social aspect of basketball. 

“We have a lot of shift workers, people who work odd hours, so they may not be able to commit to a season, so this just gives them an outlet to play without being locked in. We try to create a culture of consistency in the moment.”

Taking place at locations across Melbourne, Harry says it’s been special seeing so many people from different communities come together on the court.

The ‘pick-up’ environment of Basketball 613 allows for athletes to come through as much or as little as they want and create relationships with teammates young and old.

After shutting up shop for a period in lockdown, the return to play was much needed for so many.

“I think in lockdown a lot of people really struggled with the lack of social interaction, and for many it was tough to get back to playing in old teams once restrictions eased,” Harry explained.

“The first thing that comes to mind is the mental health aspect. I’ve always found the way I feel before and after a game, regardless of the result, is so drastically different. No matter what’s happening in your life, once you go out and get a run in, things can seem so much more positive.”

If you’re interested in getting involved in Basketball 613, check out their website and calendar here.

Melbourne United are set to celebrate the return of The Grassroots Game this Sunday from 4:30pm at John Cain Arena.

Tickets are available here.

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