BNB is the parent organization to over 30 Minor Associations and Clubs around the province - all of whom had to end their 2019-2020 seasons early due to the global pandemic. When it came to restarting again in September, many are still waiting for that opportunity due to a lack of school facility access in New Brunswick.
Several Associations have managed to find alternative facilities to run modified training or have needed to come up with temporary and unique ways of getting kids in the gym.
Typically, Miramichi has two Minor Associations, the Miramichi Tommies and the Miramichi Hoops, but when gym time was sparse, they came together as one to service all the kids in their community as best as possible.
BNB reached out to some of the basketball leaders in the Miramichi community, Dennis Lirette and Kim Cook-Corlett, to learn more about how they are making it work during an unprecedented season.
River Hoops U12 Boys
"September has traditionally been the time of year that we begin to ramp up our preparations to kick off a new year of basketball which begins with clinics held in mid October, ensuring the executive is in place for the year, identifying the number of teams and coaches for each age category, as well as reserving gym facilities for practices and games."
What have been the biggest challenges to overcome with getting your programs restarted after the initial wave of the pandemic?
It became evident early on that gym facilities would likely be the biggest obstacle for our 2020-21 season. With school gymnasiums not approved for outside use, we had to look to other “community use” facilities in the Miramichi area. Miramichi has two associations (Miramichi Hoops and Miramichi Tommies) that can field up to 10 teams each in any given year. With each team looking for at least 2 practice times per week, plus game times (if we are so lucky), there was certainly going to be a shortfall of gym time without the use of our school gymnasiums.
The second challenge was providing our kids with a competitive basketball environment. With the restrictions and challenges around travel, hosting events and competitive play outside our training bubbles, it was clear that competitive basketball games might not be possible during this season.
What are some creative solutions you've come up with to deal with the current "normal"?
To address the issues around gym facilities and providing the kids a competitive basketball environment, the Miramichi River Hoops Program was born. The idea was to combine both associations into one program with one training group becoming a “bubble” for each of the age categories. This would, in effect, reduce the amount of gym time required to ensure each team had access to 2 practice time slots through the week. The larger training groups also allowed us to add competitive inter squad games (while in the Yellow Alert Level) within our training bubble once per week. As a result, we have continued developing our athletes to some degree, as well as providing them with a competitive environment to apply what they have learned in practice sessions.
How have the two Associations worked together to make sure the kids still have somewhere to play?
Recognizing the issues outlined above, both associations first met in early September to discuss what the 2020-21 season could look like. From this initial discussion, and several that followed, the River Hoops Basketball Program was born. We currently have 164 athletes registered for our U10, U12 and U14 Boys and Girls programs. On average, we have between 25-30 athletes for each training group with each team scheduled for two practice times per week and one inter-squad scrimmage day (when permitted in the Yellow Alert Level).
How are the athletes responding to the changes?
We think both the athletes and parents are just relieved that there is a place to play the sport that they love in a safe environment. At this point, many are also training with their middle school teams in our ASDN league, so they are now getting even more time in the gym, all under the restrictions detailed in the school and district operating plans.
How are the coaches/volunteers handling the changes?
Both associations agreed that each age category/division should have one coach to develop and oversee the sessions, supported by other coaches and parent volunteers, and there have been no shortage of those. On average, we have at least four coaches working with players at each session.
Do you have any additional comments to share?
Perhaps the most integral element in the success of our River Hoops Program has been having one point person diligently working on our behalf to get our kids back into the gym. In our case, it was Jim Watters, who is the ASDN Physical Education Mentor. He developed the Miramichi Hoops Program Operational Plan (with the necessary adjustments and amendments required through the shifting phases), secured all of the city gym time he could track down, developed our weekly practice schedules, combined press releases and registrations, and even managed to develop a logo and order reversibles and team gear for all of our players. Jimmy has bridged the gap between age-class city programs and our school programs: he has been the driving force behind the Miramichi Hoops Program, and has also developed our District middle school basketball league.
(NOTE: All photos were taken when Zone 7 was still in the Yellow Alert Level.)
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