Basketball is back shooting hoops in Carnarvon
Carnarvon Basketball Association is back after a six year hiatus and commenced its first season on Thursday 3 May 2012 with the Breaker's Basketball League.
04 May 2012
The re-emergance of
basketball in the town has come about thanks to Jacqui Snyder of Emu Services. Jacqui is passionate about the sport having
played college basketball for Ottawa's Carleton University Ravens womens basketball team in Canada.
Jacqui has worked hard to asemble an interim committee to get the association back up and running.
"So far we have had a great response to restarting basketball in Carnarvon," Jacqui said. "Sporting clubs cannot operate for our kids without volunteers. I would like to thank everyone who has put their hand up and are working hard to get basketball going again in Carnarvon. However, we need more volunteers to assist with officiating and coaching, so if anyone is willing to volunteer as a referee, scorer or coach please let us know."
The Department of Sport and Recreation Gascoyne was instrumental in helping the Carnarvon Basketball Association in arranging for Basketball WA (BWA) representatives Craig Reynolds, Vlad Alava and Vanessa Lock to visit Carnarvon on 28–30 March 2012. The department's Indigenous Sports Development Officer Keno Phillips said, "Basketball is a sport that people of all ages have been asking about for a long time. This is a great opportunity to engage more people from right across the community in an inclusive manner."
The BWA crew assisted the Carnarvon Basketball Association with their "Basketball is Back" campaign, conducting training sessions including Level 0 Coaching and Beginner Referee courses, plus association development training. They also assisted with the 3 on 3 Beat Ball competition and visited Mungullah Aboriginal Community with a pick-up basketball event. A highlight for the kids was the visit by the BWA team at the schools of Carnravon holding basketball clinics with the children.
The season kicked off with a registration night on Thursday 3 May 2012 from 6pm to 9pm at Carnarvon Centro Shopping Centre. Registration for all age groups is $75 per child, $140 for a family of two and $200 for a family of three.
"Those families who feel they can't afford to pay for their children to play basketball and who have a Health Care Card are encouraged to come along and ask about KidSport funding," DSR Manager Gascoyne Salvatore Siciliano said. "It is exciting to see basketball making a comeback in Carnarvon and the State Government's new KidSport program will help to ensure all kids who want to play basketball have the opportunity to do so."
KidSport is being run by DSR in partnership with local governments across the state and pays up to $200 per eligible child towards fees to join a sport or recreation club.
Teams will be select by the association co-ordinators so that team will start out with a balance of competent and beginner players spread amongst the teams.
"On the registration form we have a section where kids can indicate if there is a friend they want to be in a team with, and another area for parents to indicate if they would be willing to assist the association by volunteering as a referee or coach," said Ms Snyder.
The season will run for 18 weeks up to the end of Term 2, with the first week dedicated to skills training. This first season will be targetting development skills with the view to start a full competitive season at the start of Term 4.
Season One schedule
Mixed Year 4–5 League: Mondays 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Mixed Year 6–7 League: Tuesdays 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Girls' League Years 8 to 10 (16 yr olds): Wednesdays from 3.30pm
Boys' League Years 8 to 10 (16 yr olds): Fridays from 3.30pm
For more information contact Jacqui Snyder on 0459 469 411 or visit: www.carnarvonbasketball.sportingpulse.net
