KIPLING - Saskatchewan Youth Basketball and Canada Basketball have partnered with Kipling to introduce basketball to children in Grades 3 to 6 through the Junior NBA program.
The Junior NBA Youth Basketball Program (formerly Steve Nash Youth Basketball) is a national youth basketball initiative designed to develop fundamental skills, sportsmanship and a love for the game.
Winter sports aren’t just hockey and skating. There are indoor winter sports including basketball.
Adam Pike, a teacher at Kipling School, has been playing basketball and loving the sport since he was a teenager and he also coaches the senior boys’ basketball team of 11 players.
Pike recruited six volunteers from his senior boys’ basketball team to coach the kids in this program with practices every Friday after school scheduled to begin Jan. 21.
Most of these volunteers grew up in this same program when they were in their elementary grades.
“That was the key to starting the school program,” explains Susan Hengen, leisure services manager who is the community co-ordinator. “So many of these kids played basketball in the Junior NBA program which was then the Steve Nash program.”
“This is a program that we’ve held annually for the past six years.”
This year in Kipling, there are both senior and junior boys teams as well as a junior girls team.
David Bircher coaches the junior boys with 12 on the team.
Ashley Dew, assisted by Camille Pagulayan, coaches the junior girls with 12 on the team.
There is no senior girls team this year.
“It’s great to see basketball back in the schools again,” says Hengen. “It’s been many years since we’ve had a full basketball program. Some years there has been upwards of 25 kids register for this program.”
Pike goes on to explain:
“My senior boys are always so enthusiastic about anything basketball. They just love it. They are a good group to coach.”
“I had six volunteers who are excited about teaching the kids about basketball. They’ll follow lessons and pass on their knowledge.”
“I’ve also wanted them to get some knowledge with refereeing so they all took a refereeing course.”
“These boys love the game so much that they’ll practice outside of my weekly practices,” says Pike, who notes it is very noticeable when it comes to seeing their improvement.
“They love basketball and they’re all such a good positive group. They help each other out. They are all leaders for each other.”
Gabe Farnden, a member on the senior team, comments on being one of the volunteer coaches for the Jr. NBA program:
“I think it’s going to be a good experience for the kids. I was in that program and now I’m playing senior basketball so I think it’s going to be pretty good for them. I enjoy basketball. Hopefully they enjoy it.”
Farnden looks forward to passing on his knowledge of the game to the youngsters. They’ll learn the skills and drills including ball handling, shooting, rebounding and passing.
Unfortunately, all of the basketball games so far have been cancelled due to COVID outbreaks in other schools.
Pike says he’ll carry on with practices but he’s been trying to line up an exhibition game.
“It’s been a hard year.”
The junior girls recently held a game dividing up their players to play against each other. They had the refs, the scoreboard and the fans, so why not try a game instead of just a practice?
Pike has been pondering whether or not he’ll do the same with his senior team.
“I’ve been promoting the Jr. NBA program throughout the school and a lot seem to be excited about it,” says Pike.
At the end of the season there’s a Jr. NBA windup tournament planned to be held in Rocanville in April.
Pike sees a lot of kids just loving the game of basketball and hopes the sport will continue on.
