Our HISTORY
Anna joined the inaugural Samford “Bullpups” Team the summer before her 3rd grade year. To join the team, you had to be able to spin the ball on your finger for 30 seconds. They had matching outfits all the way down to our red high top Converse® shoes.
December 1995 - March 1995
Anna grew and became a teacher. After graduation she moved to Atlanta to begin her first teaching job. The principal asked teachers to commit to starting a club for the betterment of the school and community. This ignited Anna’s vision for Halftime Hoopers, initially called the Chalker Dribbling Team.
The first year they performed at the local high school halftime for one of the varsity basketball games. The second year they performed at the halftime of a Kennesaw State University basketball game halftime!
2006-2008
Later Anna moved to Florida where she and her husband, Bradford, raised their three kids. She was a volunteer basketball coach for many years as well as the travel basketball team coach of 5th grade boys/girls and 8th-9th grade boys.
2018
When the pandemic came to be, discussions were being had about how kids could do sports. Anna offered the Dribbling Team idea since the kids would only touch their basketball. They could form a team and have something to work on during the pandemic. The principal agreed and the Island Kids Dribbling Team was formed.
The first team was sponsored by a local parent and the team received uniforms and matching basketball shoes, in honor of the red Converse® high top shoes Anna wore as a Samford Bullpup. The first year they performed for the local community and had lemonade stand to raise money for the school.
2020 - 2021
The next year, the team grew and they were able to perform at a local high school basketball tournament, as well as, a Strawberry Festival, and a School Bingo Night.
December 2021
Even though Anna and her family moved to Alabama last year, the volunteer coaches from the previous years are continuing the fun.
Anna is back home ready to bring Halftime Hoopers to schools in Birmingham and continue to spread the positive program that unites communities while supporting their youth.