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Every Thursday evening athletes around the Coast practice basketball skills with their Special Olympic teams in Gibsons and Sechelt. I play for the Gibsons team where our coaches are Samantha Mills & Laurie Miller. Under their tutelage our team does drills and fun exercises and has powerful scrimmage games all in anticipation of our first friendly games against the Sechelt Teams. At the moment our practices are taking place in the Langdale Elementary Gym but we will be moving back to our home location once Gibsons Elementary Gym is completed.
In Sechelt, there is such an interest in BBall that two separate teams have been formed. The coaches for the Sechelt teams are Marylin Downey and Chuck Bertrand. Practice times for the A & B teams as they are being called are Thursday nights in the Sechelt School Gym from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. and then from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m.
Volunteers, like the coaches are highly appreciated as all these people dedicate their free time to make it possible for us to play basketball.
We hope there will be a tourney this year at Elphinstone Secondary so other teams can attend from off Coast. We also want to travel for some competitions as well.
I’m sure I speak for all athletes whether they are from Gibsons or Sechelt the rush of adrenaline that one feels charging down the court looking for that perfect shot is pure exhilaration.
By: Mike Oswald, BC Special Olympics
