Y seeks to score b-ball coaches

IF you’ve got an understanding of the game of basketball and a desire to support others in the community, Y Ballarat South needs your help.

They’re seeking volunteer coaches that can teach basic basketball skills and run drills with young people as part of their Monday evening drop-in basketball sessions at Doug Dean Reserve, Delacombe.

Youth impact facilitator Caitlin Clark said volunteers don’t need to have experience in formal coaching, or playing basketball at a high level, they just need to have a confident grasp of the rules and be ready to have lots of fun.

“We’re looking for volunteers aged 18 and over who are willing to obtain a Working With Children check,” she said.

“They’ll be helping to provide a space where young people between the ages of 10 and 21 can drop in for free, socialise, and play a bit of basketball.

“Drop-in basketball means young people have a place to hang out indoors for an hour-and-a-half, be active, and socialise with their friends, or new people they may not usually socialise with, in a safe and supervised environment.

“It’s about building up their friendship groups, and their community connections.”

Ms Clark said once The Y has a few volunteers on board, they can rotate them through the weeks, and potentially look at expanding the program to other areas of the city.

“I’m looking for multiple coaches, and once we get things going, we will be able to create more drop-in basketball spaces in Wendouree or Brown Hill, for example,” she said.

“We can also cater to as many young people as we get, because we can always rent another court, or put on a second night. That would be fantastic.”

Drop-In Basketball is set to run from 4.30pm to 6pm on Monday evenings and will start in the coming weeks.

Contact [email protected] or 0448 608 961 to express interest in being a volunteer coach.