Westmount Y needs basketball volunteers

The popular program, which offers youths 13 to 17 an opportunity to play pick-up basketball every Friday evening, needs volunteers to keep it going.

“I am afraid that I might have to temporarily shut it down if I don’t find the support I need to keep it running,” said Tracy Kamel, Community Development Coordinator for the Y.

“I’d like volunteers who are interested in basketball, interested in youth, and are free Friday nights,” said Kamel. “I would be willing to give them a free membership at the Y.”

YMCA volunteers also receive a variety of free training, including a CPR course. Both male and female volunteers are welcome, but should be over 21 years of age. Some experience with basketball is necessary to volunteer, Kamel noted. “Volunteers are expected to get in there and play. Not necessarily all the time, but it is more than sitting in a room making sure nobody gets hurt ... It’s a mentor sort of role.”

The Open Basketball program has been running for several years, not only giving teens a chance to improve their basketball skills, but also providing them with a free activity for their Friday nights. From 6 to 7:30 p.m., the Y runs a ‘Skills and Drills’ class, which focuses on teaching and improving basic basketball skills. From 7:30 to 10 p.m., volunteers conduct scrimmages and pick-up basketball games. Although volunteers are in place for the Skills and Drills class, help is needed for the scrimmages. “It’s my hope to keep it till 10,” said Kamel.

Starting March 28, teens will have to register for the program. The cost of registration is $5.65 for a full year, starting from the date of registration, not necessarily March 28. But by that date, said Kamel, the Y needs to have volunteers in place to conduct the Open Basketball sessions, or else the program will be cancelled.

Kamel, a big fan of the program, hopes that doesn’t happen. “It encourages teamwork, physical fitness, it’s great!” she said, although she does recognize the difficulty facing her. “It’s difficult volunteering long-term on Friday nights,” she added. “But if I could get two or three volunteers, and they can share it between them, then nobody has to give up every Friday.”

Anyone interested in volunteering with the Open Basketball program should contact Tracy Kamel at the Westmount YMCA, at 514-931-6770 ext. 248, or by e-mail at tracy.kamel@ymcamontreal.qc.ca.

“Experience is good,” said Kamel. “But willingness is better.”