First centre in England dedicated to dodgeball opens for business in Hartlepool

The converted building in West View is understood to be the first facility of its kind in the country.

It is to be the new home for Hartlepool’s Mavericks Dodgeball Club which has numerous adult and junior teams and is planned to be the base for a new North East academy to nurture young talent in the game.

The centre adjacent to the Iceland Food store, off Skerne Road, opened for the first time this week when excited children took part in a training session on Monday night.

Project manager Paul Hewitson said: “It has been three years in the making. There’s nothing else like it in the country.

"We are the first town to have its own dedicated dodgeball centre with the right sort of floor and court.

"It has been quite a special project for everyone.”

The centre has one full size dodgeball court, along with three smaller courts, a coaching area, activity room and a waiting area for parents.

It was the idea of Mavericks’ head coach Lucinda Stott and has been supported by organisations including Sport England, PFC Trust, Impetus Environmental Trust and Sir James Knott Trust.

Construction was carried out by Adam Readhead.

When planning permission was sought in 2019, the applicants said there was a demand for the sport in the area including a notable demand for children’s dodgeball.

Previously, the club was restricted in what it could do having to rent hall space from community venues which limited the number of sessions they could hold.

Sessions for players under 18 are now taking place every week night at the new centre in line with Covid guidelines.

Coach Stephanie Robson said of the first session: “It was incredible. The kids were bouncing up and down and desperate to get in.

"We had a lot of lovely messages from parents afterwards saying the kids love it.

"It was just great to open especially after all the hard work and challenges.”

The centre is also set to be used for other exercise including adult fitness sessions, zumba and pilates.

For more details about how to take part in dodgeball visit The Dodgeball Centre or Mavericks Facebook pages, call 07762 702222 or email [email protected].

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