WITH Northam Amateur Basketball Association (NABA) nearing its mid-season break, there has been plenty going on down at the Northam Recreation Centre courts.
Tuesday afternoons has seen the Mini-ball (ages three to four) and Vicinity Aussie Hoops (five to 10) programs in full swing with over 60 very keen kids practising their basketball skills.
Our dedicated co-ordinator Katie Leeder has done a fantastic job, along with her two assistant coaches, Jelena Manuel and Matt Clarke and parent coaches led by Chanda Oakley.
The highlight of the program was last month when an excited group of 11 Aussie Hoopers attended a Perth Lynx game, met the Lynx players and played a half time demonstration match at the Bendat Basketball Centre.
There was lots of enthusiasm and it was great to see the next generation of local players taking over the centre court.
Basketball WA’s 2016 Country Week Championships are under way soon and the NABA committee has been hard at work organising representative teams for what is the highlight of the basketball year.
Over the past month coaches and committee members have been training a large squad of boys and girls in age groups ranging from u12s to u16s.
With only one squad trial remaining before team selections, NABA thanked all players for their dedicated attendance and all the best in their follow up training and the championship weekend itself.
The NABA would like to remind all members that a level 0 umpiring course will be held on January 20 next year for anyone interested in furthering their skills with a formal qualification.
This course will assist with the committees push to encourage and develop more people to undertake umpiring duties for the association this season and into the future.
The now familiar yellow vests worn by the team umpires each week is an encouraging sight and the increasing confidence of many, especially the juniors, can only help strengthen the NABA’s umpiring ranks in the future.
Special thanks to Matt Woods for his Tuesday night, white-board umpiring theory sessions which have been well attended and received.
The Level 0 umpiring course cost is only $20 per person and registrations must be received by December 19.
To register and secure your place please email NABA committee president Ellie Press on ellie_press@me.com or call 0451 457 716.
The NABA committee wishes all players, coaches and managers a safe Christmas and New Year and looks forward to seeing everyone back on court for the second half of the season in 2016.