Wild firing

Times Reporter       

 

Wheatland Wildfire basketball began its sixth season in the beginning of April, and hosted their first tournament at home from April 11-12. The program has been consistently growing; roughly 80 kids are involved with the U13 and U16 levels – both boys and girls.

“It’s not like high school stuff where kids are totally committed. This is skill development. If you can make it, you can make it,” Coach Kyle Larson said.

Larson focuses on fundamentals with the younger groups, but tries to train the older players to perfect their skills. He often splits the groups due to the large age range.

“It’s hard because so many of our kids, especially the high school kids, are multi-sport. I’ve got kids playing rugby and badminton,” he said.

Right now, the boys and girls play on separate nights once a week. After spring break, up until the end of May, practices will move to twice a week.

“Lots of clubs will run right into summer and do stuff in July, but I’ve kind of always told our parents that we want to finish at the end of May so kids have June to do exams,” Larson said.

The Wildfire teams will also travel for tournaments – specifically Okotoks and Chestermere – but play Calgary-based teams as well.

“They’ve been playing since November. Their club’s focus is much different from our focus,” Larson said of one Calgary team they hosted on April 12.  “We had a little girl this past weekend, where it was the first game she’d ever played. Whereas, this club, is playing all the time. They’re very good.”