Basketball coaches for junior boys (Grade 9 and 10) and Grade 8 teams are still required before the season begins Nov. 28.
Grand Forks Secondary School (GFSS) Athletic Director Jamie McKaig stated basketball is the longest season of all high school sports.
“It’s the longest and most chaotic because there are four teams going at once usually and the winter conditions cause cancellations,” he pointed out. “For me it’s a scheduling nightmare usually.
“I’m going to have to meet with the kids who want to play and ask them if they know if their parents are interested, or somebody else.”
Due to declining enrolment and reduced staff, the school needs more help from parents and the community.
“Between staff and community members we’ve been able to find coaches for everything,” said McKaig. “It’s very rare when we’ve had to say, ‘Sorry, no team, no coach.’”
McKaig pointed out that if too many sports are offered, then there are two teams with not quite enough members to play.
“If volleyball and soccer are offered at the same time,” McKaig explained.“ We would have five or six students playing on one team, and 10 on another. There just wouldn’t be enough members for either team to play.”
Coaches would be required before Christmas break at the latest.
“We’d need to have coaches for before Christmas break, otherwise I’d have to tell the kids they won’t have the opportunity to play,” stated McKaig. “I do have some games scheduled but I can postpone those and say, give me until Christmas to find some coaches.
“We’ve had community coaches before,” said McKaig. “As long as they come in and talk to myself and the principal, then we are fine sending them off with our teams.
“Volleyball, soccer, basketball are all (sanctioned by) B.C. School Sports, so they will always be there,” McKaig continued.
“The side sports are what you can get numbers for, such as rugby or Frisbee, and as long as you can get the numbers and you can get a coach, you can run with it.”
For those interested in coaching basketball, contact McKaig at 250-442-8285 ext. 229.