Blog | Manchester Bees Dodgeball

20th October 2017Alexandra Charlton

The Youth of Today… the Future of Dodgeball!

It’s official: the 2017/18 dodgeball season is upon us. And now that we’ve caught up with our grown-up Bees’ progress, it’s time to cross over to see what’s going on with the best that the future of dodgeball, has got to offer!

Manchester Bees Dodgeball Academy

The newly formed Mr Dodgeball/Bees academy, open to anyone aged 14-16, is now up and running. The sessions are suitable for all abilities and take place from 7-8pm at St Anne’s High School in Stockport, on Wednesdays – for more information, visit the Bees Academy facebook page!

the Bees' Academy sessions are now well underway! — the Bees’ Academy sessions are now well underway!

The sessions are coached by qualified coaches Sam Wrench and Colm Mallom and take place 7-8 at St Annes High School in Stockport.

Mr Dodgeball and his Junior Bees

Mr Dodgeball’s Junior clubs’ coaching team, Helen Slater, Sam Wrench, George Howard, Victoria Foster, and Chris Riley have been working hard to provide fun, innovative sessions to all young players.

Coaches Chris and Victoria alongside this season's first tournament winners! — Coaches Chris and Victoria alongside this season’s first tournament winners!

Regular sessions have restarted and the uptake, as always, has been fantastic – with both returning players and also lots of new players getting involved.

Weekly sessions

Mr Dodgeball runs weekly sessions at a variety of locations for teams, including the Horwich Heat, Heaton Hurricanes, Altrincham Dodgers, Avondale Avalanche, Handforth Hawks, and new club the Burnage Bruins.

For more information on weekly sessions, visit Mr Dodgeball’s website!

Tournaments

Mr Dodgeball has monthly tournaments running from October 2017 until July 2018, with support and additional coaching provided by Manchester Bees’ Players – and sometimes with very special, surprise guests!

Representative teams

Mr Dodgeball will be entering teams into British Dodgeball’s Junior Tournaments thisseason!

Players will be selected from Mr Dodgeball’s community clubs in the under 11 and under 13 categories, to play for Mr Dodgeball’s Junior Bees team.

At this year’s inaugural Season Open in Leicester in September, the Junior Bees were runners-up in both categories, having played to a brilliant level throughout the day!

Thinking about getting involved? Manchester Bees cater for all ages – Mr Dodgeball’s junior sessions for ages 6-13; the Manchester Bees Dodgeball Academy for ages 14-16; and Manchester Bees Dodgeball for adult players!

6th October 2017Alexandra Charlton

Progress Report: The October Update

It’s October. The long-awaited 2017/18 dodgeball season has begun. Balls have flown. Bees have buzzed. New Season Opens have opened… well, the new season actually. How very apt.

Up here in Manchester, the Hive is as active as ever. Following the New Season Open, the Bees held their first ever Training Camp, complete with team-building, tactic talks and a marathon training session.

Those who felt so inclined were rewarded after Training Camp with the season’s first official social; pizza and drinks followed by more drinks and dancing in the city centre. The social was drawn to a close with a civilised sit down meal at local eatery McDonalds, where one half of dynamic social duo ‘FlanEl’ (AKA E&E) had shown wonderful foresight and reserved a table in the restaurant’s VIP area, meaning complementary hats were provided alongside the various delicacies on offer. Great stuff.

And what of our NewBees, now official members of the Hive and enjoying their maiden voyages to Opens and Bees’ Socials?

Colm, pictured here in action for RoI, is already feeling the Buzz of the Bees!

Enjoying his first year with full Bees’ membership having graduated from student-member status last year, Republic of Ireland’s Colm Mallon says, “I’ve had a great time since joining Bees this season. They have welcomed me with open arms and it’s been a pleasure playing with them. Tournaments are just like a big day out playing dodgeball with mates – isn’t that all you could ask for?!”

Last (and probably worth a mention, we suppose), is the shock announcement earlier this week by Dodgeball’s Governing Body, British Dodgeball. The one and only, Ross McGuigan, has (somehow) been entrusted with the role of ‘British Dodgeball Ambassador’.

Ambassador McGoogs Photo Credit: Adam Dodd, https://twitter.com/adpdportsuk — Ambassador McGoogs
Photo Credit: Adam Dodd, https://twitter.com/adpdportsuk

A very reliable and trustworthy source quotes McGoogs’ response to the news, “I feel truly honoured to be selected as an Ambassador for British Dodgeball. People may think that being third choice for the role would make it less special, but it really doesn’t. Some people even see me as a dinosaur of dodgeball but I’m really looking forward to help the game move forward and develop through my autumn years”. Wow.

So, September has offered a great sample of the club’s antics at the launch of this season, but now we are on to October. With the Manchester Open and Bees hosting the Official British Dodgeball Afterparty on 14 October, there is certainly more excitement and nonsense, just around the corner.

Thinking of trying a new sport? Want to come along and help us work out how McGoogs snaked his way into his new role? Our All-Comers sessions run on Tuesdays, 8-9.30pm, at Manchester Academy School, M14 4PX. We hope to see you there soon!

22nd September 2017Admin

Bees’ Hopes and Fears for the New Season

It’s fair to say that, despite being called ‘off-season’, many Bees just don’t feel right putting their feet up over summer. And what with a summer fitness plan, summer sessions at Sugden and #BeesTour2017, dodgeball has been kept happily close to hand. Now, as the spirit of summer draws to a close with a typically Mancunian downpour (or twelve) it seems a good time to cast an eye towards some of the hopes (and fears) for the upcoming season.

NewBees

With a spark in their eye and a bounce in their dodge, NewBees have swarmed to our Sugden summer sessions recently and jumped straight in! We’re looking forward to seeing lots of fresh faces getting involved in all aspects of the club, and who got off to a brilliant start at the New Season Open last weekend.

Bees, new and old, making their 2017/18 Season Debut at last weekend's New Season Open — Bees, new and old, making their 2017/18 Season Debut at last weekend’s New Season Open

Leagues

The stage is set for our teams to show their Super League divisions what they’re made of in what will seem like no time at all. The Queen Bees are ready to capitalise their league-topping form, while the Killers look to build on their strong performance last season, fitness sessions and all! Our Worker and Honey Bees players have all been working hard during our summer sessions too and it will be great to see the fruit of their labours on court soon, focussing on the development of the teams’ enthusiastic players.

Socials

Like bright beacons signalling some wonderful joyous respite to reward our hard graft and fitnesss drives, many a’social are in the works, courtesy of the legendary social-planning, banterful Flan and Barks. To start us off this season and heralding a fresh season of social frolics, a delightful evening awaits us all after our impending new season Training Camp this weekend. We can’t wait!

Is there a better duo than the incredible pair that are E & E? (The answer is 'No.') — Is there a better duo than the incredible pair that are E & E? (The answer is ‘No.’)

Injuries

Tragically injury cut a grim swathe through the Worker Bees last season, allowing a whole division to breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately due to a “really enjoyable” shoulder rehabilitation programme embedded over summer, this will (probably) not happen again. When recuperating, victorious, after a hard day on the dodgeball court, spare a thought for the benefit of whatever those stretchy exercise-band-things are actually called.

Headshots

The primal fear that never exactly goes away, particularly depending on which Bee is facing you across the court during training (We would usually look at Kearns at this point, But we’re too busy guarding our faces in fear). Channel this fear into every agile dodge during sessions and you’ll find yourself dodging dodgeballs as easily as mundane adult responsibilities. Congrats, you’re a pro.

France's Gremion stands firm against Kearns' best efforts... — France’s Gremion stands firm against Kearns’ best efforts…

Alex Jones – Like King Agamemnon himself, we can but pray for the demeanour of the sporting Achilles that will compete alongside us on the dodgeball court when the time comes.

Fancy your chances? We’re a great bunch, really we are (and we promise we won’t let Kearns throw at your face…) Come along to one of our All-Comers’ sessions, Tuesdays from 8-9.30 at Manchester Academy School, M14 4PX, and give it (and us) a go!

12th August 2017Alexandra Charlton

Feeling dodgy? Get involved!

Dodgeball.

You may have played a bit in school, joined a club at uni or perhaps you haven’t ever tried it before. But, odds are you’ve heard of the sport (even if you thought it was made up just for the film – I did too, to be honest).

If you live in or around Manchester and feel like getting active, meeting people and making friends, trying something a bit different or just fancy coming along to try something a little different, Manchester Bees Dodgeball could be just the club for you.

Our all-comers training sessions are held every Tuesday at Sugden Sports Centre during preseason, from 7.30-9.30. We have qualified and experienced coaches on hand to assist those of all levels of experience and ability, meaning preseason is the perfect time to come along and give it a go!

Head Coach Bru (pictured here in his NI Knights kit) and the wonderful coaching team are always on hand to give tips and advice!

We also hold members’ sessions on Thursdays (also at Sugden Sports Centre from 7.30-9.30 for preseason) which are tailored towards fitness and development, and are suitable for those who are looking to sign up and compete for the club in the upcoming season.

If you’d like to get involved, please do come along! Sessions usually cost £3, but throughout August and September you can come along to your first session for free!

You might even get a chance to meet Manchester Bees' very own Bumble the Bee! — You might even get a chance to meet Manchester Bees’ very own Bumble the Bee!

For more information, you can visit our Facebook page or contact us directly for more information.

We hope to see you soon!

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