Before school training and a three on three league are two of the unique elements of Believe Basketball Academy. (Believe Basketball)

By Dan Marshall

Believe Basketball

Local basketball program helps student athletes excel on the court

Aug 7, 2021 | 11:53 AM

NANAIMO — The Believe Basketball Academy is looking to fill a void for school age kids who want more individual coaching and training.

Many of the programs offer skill development opportunities for primarily the U11 to U18 age group. A wide variety of sessions include one on one and group training as well as club play and even a three on three league.

Director Chris Russell said the ‘5 a.m. Club’ is borrowed from the ice hockey model of having kids getting reps before they head to school.

“We haven’t really done that in basketball before where we get gyms early in the morning. We usually have about 15-20 guys who come out between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.”

The Believe three on three program is something Russell hasn’t seen in other places in Nanaimo.

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“Kids get on a team of four and in that format they get a lot more ball touches, about 40 per cent more opportunity with the ball in their hand. I find it helps with both development and confidence.”

When Russell himself was a student athlete at Wellington Secondary he felt the coaching focus was on the team, not the player.

The major benefit of working with kids at the academy level is more individual attention.

“For kids who want to chase down their goals they can have someone who’s there to mentor them and guide them, to give really good feedback and opportunities”.

Believe Basketball Academy has been operating out of the Nanaimo Christian School since 2019 and is continuing to grow with about 50 players in the summer programs.

Those will wrap up in August with fall sessions ramping up in mid-September until November.

November is typically the beginning of the high school season.

Russell believes the late fall start allows athletes to hit the ground running for their various school teams.

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