Matt Christensen
Hoopers Coaching Team

MATT CHRISTENSEN - Matt is "born and breed" a basketball player and coach. Having begun as a player with the Gloster Jets National League Program, Matt represented the Club and Gloucestershire county as a schoolboy. He began coaching his first National League Team in 2001 leading them to an undefeated league season and final 8 position.

He continues to play and coach in the England Basketball leagues. He has directed a number of Basketball Camps, worked with Regional level teams and the South West Area Performance Centre (APC), coached and played on 4 continents with extensive experience in continental Europe. He is currently completing his Level III Advanced Coaching Qualification from England Basketball having already gained a Level II Head Coach qualification.

Founder and Director of "Academy Coaching", Matt is currently a member of team staff for the England National Team for boys born 1992.

Gemma Hale
Hoopers Coaching Team

GEMMA HALE - Gemma loves sport but basketball is her passion! She was Captain of her basketball team at School, a member of her Uni team (which came in the top eight in the Country, reaching the BUSA finals in Sheffield) and Captain of her College team. She still tries to play as much as possible but now spends most of her time on court coaching other players.

Gemma has coached lots of teams, boys and girls, including the Brighton Bears U16 and U18 girl's teams and various School and Youth teams. Gemma also coaches Trampoline and Street Dance. She is currently working towards her Level III England Basketball Coaching qualification... while also doing a PGCE, running clubs, taking trips etc!!

Having attended and worked on a number of basketball camps Gemma is all set to ensure everyone on this year's Hoopers Summer Camp in Spain has a great time while progressing their basketball to the next level. She's also a handy person to know out and about in Barcelona - she speaks Spanish too!

Rob Newson
Hoopers Coaching Team

ROB NEWSON - Rob lives and breaths basketball, he is hardly ever off court! As the Sussex Community Basketball Coach he coaches a large number of teams every week and is Coach of the Brighton Junior Bears.

Captain of his University basketball team while studying for a BSc in Sports Science and Coaching, Rob has wide playing experience in UK and abroad, including the BUSA North Premier League, EBL3 League, BUSA North and the EBL 1 League which he won with the Worthing Thunder Senior Men 2005-2006.

Rob has over 7 years coaching experience, primarily in the Southeast and was recognised as SYL Coach of the Year at the Shoreham Sharks 2000-2001. He is looking forward to sharing his experience and passion for the game with everyone on the Camp this year.

Andy Evans
Tourparty Staff

ANDY EVANS - Andy's main love is freestyle and freeride skiing and he is a qualified freestyle ski instructor, but he's into a lot of other sports too, so when he's not going off massive kickers or hurtling through the Half Pipe in the mountains he is normally helping out with other Camps as one of our counselors, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

RICK HUTCHINGS
Tourparty Staff & Official Photographer

RICK HUTCHINGS - Rick knows everything there is to know about snowsports, his first love, but has done just about everything Summer time too, especially watersports. So when he's not busy being a freestyle/freeride ski instructor, ski guide, shop manager and sales manager he is normally being a professional photographer, team manager and major organiser! he is the official photographer for our Camps and a big force behind making things happen... if it needs doing he's probably doing it!

Incidentally Rick also has a coach driving licence, an addiction to Nestle's Elevenses bars and sometimes shaves his head… together with his heavy Scottish accent this makes him seem a lot scarier than he really is. (But we still suggest you don’t get on the wrong side of him!)