Two experienced local coaches are teaming up to bring the game of basketball to a new generation.
Mark Francis and Wade Hicks are taking the lead on Athabasca Minor Basketball, a new program for kids in Grades 1-7 that will begin on Thursday, Oct. 4 at the Edwin Parr Composite school gymnasium.
Kids can register on that first night for $60, and thereafter they’ll be able to hit the floor at the gym every Thursday night from 6:15-7:15 p.m. to learn the basics of the sport.
The program will wrap up on Nov. 29.
“The intention is to introduce basketball in a drop-in setting,” explained Mark Francis.
The hour-long program will feature 30 minutes of skill development followed by 30 minutes of game type activities. This way, the kids will be introduced to teamwork and competition while being able to put their new skills to good use.
Both Francis and Hicks agreed that the younger generation in Athabasca could use an opportunity to get to know the game of basketball and competitive sports in general.
“It’s a sport I truly love, and I think kids are exposed to it in gym class, but not until they get to LTIS are they exposed to it as a team option. This is a great way to introduce it,” said Francis.
With such young participants, the focus will be on teaching the basics of the game, with not much concern for advanced techniques or plays.
“Ninety per cent of our focus is on basic skill. We’re not playing in a league and we’re not planning any games. This is completely recreation-based basketball,” he said.
“It’s to get kids to like and understand the sport, so everyone can have some fun.”
Francis and Hicks, who coach EPC’s senior boys and girls basketball teams respectively, expect to see some of their players out to lend a hand in teaching the game to the youngsters.
“The senior kids are pumped to come out and work with the younger kids,” said Hicks.
A similar program was run a few years ago, and the two coaches are happy to be bringing it back.
“I think there’s a real need to introduce kids to sport a little bit earlier. It’s really good to be introduced to activities early on in life,” said Hicks.
Local kids seem to be pretty active in general, so Francis wouldn’t be surprised to see the program become quite popular.
“Why do so many kids play soccer? Because there’s an opportunity to do it. Basketball can do the same thing; it’s another option for kids in the winter,” he said.
For more information on the program, contact Hicks at [email protected].
