IT WAS tip-off for The Northam Amateur Basketball Associations’ 2015-16 season last week when 408 registered players made up of 34 junior teams and 19 senior teams hit the courts.
A new-look committee has put in an enormous amount of work since forming only last month to ensure the competitions were off to a smooth start.
Special mention must be made of the efforts of committee registrar Mareesa Robertson who, assisted by Troy Robertson, tackled the huge task of managing player and team registrations over the tight timeframe.
Due to a shortage of umpires within the association some new changes to the umpiring rostering system have been implemented this season to encourage, particularly junior players, to gain experience and develop their skills as game umpires.
A three-umpire-per-game system has an experienced association umpire teamed with two team-supplied umpires in a mentoring and support role.
The committee hopes this will build the number umpires in the association and encourage them to undertake training courses and gain formal qualifications.
Tuesday evening last week saw boys and girls teams from Northam, Toodyay and York representing the 11s, 13s and 16s age groups playing games on both inside and outside courts at the Northam Recreation Centre over three time slots.
It was great to see the energy and enthusiasm from all juniors on the night and the excellent first-up efforts of many new team umpires.
On Thursday it was the senior men and women on court with players travelling from York, Cunderdin, Toodyay and Goomalling.
Once again, the games were played to a high level of sportsmanship and the numerous tired players seen at the final buzzers were testaments to the fast pace and competitive nature of the games.
The association would like to advises current and future coaches of all ages there will be a coaching course at the Northam Recreation Centre on Saturday November 14 between 1-3pm.
The course facilitator is Michael Clarke, who is the current development officer for the Kalamunda and Districts Basketball Association.
Clarke has recently received his master of education in sport leadership from a top basketball college in the United States.
The course cost is only $10 per person and registrations must be received by November 7.
To register and secure a place please email ellie_press@me.com or phone 0451 457 716
Results Round 1:
11s
Boys: Joeys beat Blazers 38-2.
Thunder beat Raiders 18-6, York Roos beat Rockets 21-7.
Girls: Hotshots beat York 18-6.
Tornadoes beat Dragon Files 44-10.
13s
Boys: York Jets beat Vipers 26-6.
Hurricanes beat Toodyay 18-13.
Girls: Sparks beat York Brumbies 44-8.
Burdiya beat Slammers 48-6.
16s
Boys: Tigers beat York Jets 27-21.
Tiapans beat York 24-21.
Barons beat Sharpshooters 60-13.
16’s Girls: Tornadoes beat York Stars 47-16, Demons beat Toodyay 27-15.
Seniors
Men: Gomalling White beat Panthers 44- 30.
The Feds beat Toodyay 64-19.
York Roos beat Kulbardies White 52-29.
Kulbardies Red beat York Jets 33-16.
Goomalling Blue beat Envy 36-33.
Madcatz beat Sparks 41-21.
Women
York One beat York Rebels 19-13.
Renegades beat Wildkittenz 40-5.
Madkittenz beat Waalitj 20-14.
