Amanda Fisher, a teacher at Liverpool Regional High School (LRHS) and an organizer with the association, says it had been many years since Queens County had basketball camps outside of school programming. After speaking with LRHS boys basketball coach Gerry Faber, the two of them decided to bring camps back to the community. Their first camp took off.
“We started it last spring and we were really expecting 15 kids and we got 45,” says Fisher.
The association’s goal, says Fisher, was to get basketballs back in young people’s hands and help prepare them for being on school teams.
The association uses the Steve Nash Youth Basketball Program in the spring, which is a ten-week program. They also do their own programming and offer an eight-week program in the fall.
Another program was also started recently by the association, which was named Ball for All. Ball for All is an eight-week course inspired by the Steve Nash program and it is intended for children on the Autism Spectrum. Fisher says that program was driven by local parents who were looking for sport programming for their children.
“That was a great group, we had a ton of fun with it and we’re going to offer it again in the spring,” she says.
The LRHS boys basketball team provides many of the volunteers needed to run the programs however, for now the association can only cater to children from grades primary through five. They hope with the addition of more volunteers, they can branch out to older participants.
Amanda Fisher, a teacher at Liverpool Regional High School (LRHS) and an organizer with the association, says it had been many years since Queens County had basketball camps outside of school programming. After speaking with LRHS boys basketball coach Gerry Faber, the two of them decided to bring camps back to the community. Their first camp took off.
“We started it last spring and we were really expecting 15 kids and we got 45,” says Fisher.
The association’s goal, says Fisher, was to get basketballs back in young people’s hands and help prepare them for being on school teams.
The association uses the Steve Nash Youth Basketball Program in the spring, which is a ten-week program. They also do their own programming and offer an eight-week program in the fall.
Another program was also started recently by the association, which was named Ball for All. Ball for All is an eight-week course inspired by the Steve Nash program and it is intended for children on the Autism Spectrum. Fisher says that program was driven by local parents who were looking for sport programming for their children.
“That was a great group, we had a ton of fun with it and we’re going to offer it again in the spring,” she says.
The LRHS boys basketball team provides many of the volunteers needed to run the programs however, for now the association can only cater to children from grades primary through five. They hope with the addition of more volunteers, they can branch out to older participants.
Shortage of coaches
Although the programming has been a big success, the group is struggling now with the lack of basketball at the middle and high school levels.
Fisher says LRHS is lacking a girls basketball team coach and South Queens Middle School (SQMS) is without both a boys and a girls coach.
Fisher says the time commitment for basketball at that level can be daunting, as the season runs from October to March. She is hoping that the schools find coaches soon. The LRHS boys team has their first game on Nov. 18.
If you’re able to help LRHS find a coach, contact them at 902-354-7600 or their website http://www.lrhs.ednet.ns.ca/
