A growing North Shore basketball program is not only finding success in inspiring more elementary school students to take up the sport, it's also helping build local youth up as community leaders.
The Buddy Up program was launched last year by the Seymour Basketball Association, an organization of parents and players in the Seymour branch of the Steve Nash Youth Basketball League.
The mentorship program sees local high school and university age students (so far Windsor and Seycove secondary students and grads) offer free after school basketball programs to elementary students, boys and girls, in grades 3-6. So far the association has targeted schools in the Seymour area and programs are being offered this spring at Blueridge, Seymour Heights, Cove Cliff and Lynnmour schools.
"The most inspiring part for me is to witness how great these high school athletes are with the younger kids," says Buddy Up program co-ordinator Theresa Sheldon-Meyers, an association board member. "They make great role models, and it's fun to watch how the younger kids respond to them."
"In my mind, it's win-win from both sides. Not only do little kids get a great free program but I think it's a really positive experience for the high school kids as well so I would love to see more kids involved across the North Shore," she adds.
Their association noticed a drop in numbers in recent years, so launched the program in hopes of exposing more young children to the sport so they're interested in eventually
becoming players and will have the skills and confidence to do so comfortably.
"If we can get in there at the elementary school age and expose them to a sport that they might like taking on. . . then they might find a passion," says Sheldon-Meyers.
The model was inspired by her son Brandon's positive experiences over the last three years assisting a local grade 4-5 team that was in need of a coach.
"The little kids really responded to our son," she says, of Brandon, a Grade 10 student at Windsor.
Since the program's launch, they've already seen an increase in participation in their league, she says.
Hour-long sessions focus on introducing the fundamentals of basketball in a fun-filled and relaxed environment.
Clinics, typically comprised of 20-30 students, incorporate skill building, drills and scrimmages.
In addition to the youth coaches, an association board member is always on hand at each session.
Sheldon-Meyers hopes the program continues to spread across the North Shore and is willing to work with local elementary schools and other basketball associations to get more participants and youth coaches on board.
"I'm more than happy to talk to any school on how to get it going," she says.
It's up to each school when the program is offered and its duration, typically two-three sessions per age group (grades 34 and 5-6).
The program is offered free to participating students and schools. Youth coaches are paid for their time by the association.
For more information or to register, visit seymourbasketball.com or contact Theresa Sheldon-Meyers at 604-657-0113.
