Island Swish is offering club and recreational programs for local youth basketball players. A coaching clinic with several high profile coaches is also set for Oct. 22-23. (Island Swish)

By Dan Marshall

Bouncing Back

Coaching clinic key element of fall basketball season for Island Swish

Sep 9, 2021 | 4:14 PM

NANAIMO — The Island Swish youth basketball program will focus on improving skills and developing coaches this fall.

Boys and girls club teams and a fall rec league will get players into game action while also teaching life skills through sport. One of the major highlights of the season is a coaching clinic planned for Vancouver Island University on Oct. 22-23.

Island Swish’s Avneet Brar said the event featuring three former national team basketball coaches is scheduled on a professional day to give teachers a chance to attend.

“We have Ken Shields who is the former University of Victoria men’s basketball coach. Allison McNeill is a former senior women’s national team head coach who also coached at SFU and the University of Oregon. Ian Hyde-Lay is well known for coaching Steve Nash in high school.”

Other coaches and guest speakers will be part of the session as well.

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The aim is to attract teachers and coaches who want to learn more about sports psychology, sport specific training and basketball.

On the court, the club program is the more competitive of the two avenues available to young athletes.

Tryouts are slated for Sept.10 for boys and girls teams ranging from U11 to U17 while the rec league begins Oct. 9 for kids from kindergarten to Grade 8.

Brar said interest in youth basketball continues to grow in Nanaimo.

Major events like the Toronto Raptors winning the 2019 NBA title, men’s Olympic qualifying games in Victoria and the Canadian women’s team participating in the Olympics have driven interest.

“There’s definitely a concerted effort to have community engagement and involvement where players from our programs are out coaching in the community.”

Information on the coaching clinic as well as fall youth basketball is available on the Island Swish website.

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by Dan Marshall

Coaching clinic key element of fall basketball season for Island Swish

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