CALLING all tall people - York's basketball club wants you.

York Vikings are about to set up a men's adult team, an under-18s side and a second junior team, and are therefore looking for new players to sign up.

And as tall people have a natural advantage when playing the game, the club are asking anyone with extra inches to give it a go.

The Vikings currently have only a junior side, who were runners-up to Sheffield in their first-ever season in the five-team National League Under-13s North.

But, with the help of the York and District Basketball Development Forum, which is behind most basketball initiatives in the area, they are hoping to expand.

Chairman of the forum, Dave Smith, believes many tall people do not try to utilise or even realise the basketball potential their height gives them.

He said: "England's most capped female player only got into the sport after being spotted in a supermarket by a coach who asked if she had ever played before. She said she hadn't - but a year later was playing for England and went on to do great things in the sport.

"If you're tall, basketball is a sport in which you have potential to do really well in.

"You don't have to be tall, as many top players are not massive, but it helps."

The forum is hoping to find more youngsters to follow in the footsteps of 16-year-old Fulford School pupil Les Hartland, who has headed off to the US after winning himself a place at a top basketball camp in Boston.

Standing at 6ft 7in tall, Hartland's height - and his ability since taking up the sport - has attracted the attention of several US coaches as he looks to take up a place at an American high school.

Smith stressed that the Vikings were keen for adults - some of whom at present travel to other parts of Yorkshire to play - to join the club's new first team, which were hoping to begin playing competitively in the forthcoming season.

He added: "We're also hoping that the best youngsters in school teams could try out for the York team, in a similar way that footballers go to a club's centre of excellence."

As part of the drive to get more people involved in the sport, the forum will be holding US-style basketball camps next month, and have brought over American coach Andrea VanderHorst who is currently touring York schools to promote the game and encourage academic achievement.

She will be one of five US coaches at the camps, to be held at York schools Huntington and Burnholme.

She said: "If youngsters have gained an interest or have enjoyed the sessions in school they can come along to these camps, which provide an opportunity to learn more about basketball from American players who have grown up with the sport."

Smith, who this year was appointed director of coaching for the English Basketball Association, added: "We want to highlight the fact there are opportunities for young people to get top tips and coaching from very good coaches and players.

"The main aim of the forum is to increase opportunities for people to play basketball, whether they be male, female, adults or youngsters."

The summer camps will be held at Huntington School (for beginners) from July 31 to August 4, mornings only, and at Burnholme School (for good juniors) from August 7 to 11.

Further details on the basketball camps and the Vikings can be obtained from Dave Smith, on 01904 431161.

peter.martini@ycp.co.uk

PICTURE: BASKET CASE: American basketball coach Andrea VanderHorst (right), gives advice to Andrea Mottram, 15, and Stephen Greenwood, 12, during a coaching session at Huntington School.

Picture: Mike Tipping