Unlike a lot of other sports, basketball is a game where even late bloomers can have a great deal of success. For an example, look no further than VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Steve Nash.
The two-time NBA MVP and eight-time All-Star didnB次元官网网址檛 even start playing basketball until he was nearly a teenager, but his skills at other sports, including soccer, helped him improve rapidly.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a sport that a lot of kids get into late and itB次元官网网址檚 not like hockey where if you donB次元官网网址檛 start playing it when youB次元官网网址檙e five, youB次元官网网址檙e going to be behind,B次元官网网址� said Brad Lidstone, one of Westshore BasketballB次元官网网址檚 two co-directors. B次元官网网址淲e really make sure that kids, regardless of their age and ability, are having a positive experience.B次元官网网址�
Westshore Basketball hosted a two day skills development program over the weekend at the Belmont secondary gym, with one day set aside for boys and another for girls.
The session served as a chance for returning players to get back into the gym and work on their skills, while for others it was an opportunity to sink their teeth into a new sport.
Westshore Basketball has seen solid growth over the last several years, with an estimated 10 per cent registration increase in each of the organizationB次元官网网址檚 last three seasons. This year, it is expected that the Westshore will send 15 teams into the regional Night League, which runs from October to March.
Lidstone credits the sportB次元官网网址檚 relatively low registration fees as one factor in the organizationB次元官网网址檚 growth. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 very limited equipment required so the financial commitment to get going is very small,B次元官网网址� he said.
Another factor is the organizationB次元官网网址檚 commitment to ensure that its participants are placed in the best environment for them to have fun and improve their skills.
B次元官网网址淲e put them on a team thatB次元官网网址檚 going to match their competitive nature as well as their individual skills. We really try and level the teams so that any kid, regardless of experience, has the opportunity to play,B次元官网网址� Lidstone noted.
In particular, Westshore basketball has had a lot of success with its girlsB次元官网网址� program, with a lot of girls from the region performing well at both the Night League and school level.
The organization also has a program thatB次元官网网址檚 designed specifically for new players called Westshore Rain.
Kids as young as four and five have participated in what Lidstone calls a B次元官网网址淭imbits-inspiredB次元官网网址� program for youngsters. Now entering its fourth year, a lot of the kids who started out in the Rain program are now graduating to the Night League.
All of this development is encouraging for Lidstone, who sees future school success as a by-product of the rapid development within the organization.
B次元官网网址淭he main goal of our organization is to have success with the kids at the Night League, but also to have the highest amount of success at the school level,B次元官网网址� said Lidstone, who also coaches high school girls at Belmont secondary. B次元官网网址淯ltimately weB次元官网网址檇 like to bring a provincial championship in basketball to the West Shore.B次元官网网址�
For more information on Westshore Basketball, including registration details, visit .
joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com
