Another Fall, another season of Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association (WMBA) Basketball. Players from as young as 5 all the way up to 18 take their place on teams, playing, practicing, learning skills and teamwork, being physically active, and most importantly making friends. The WMBA runs on an incredible volunteer base of parents and basketball enthusiasts who convene, coach, and drive players to the gyms every weekend. Thank you for your commitment to the League, and basketball in general. Youth basketball is mushrooming throughout the city, and the WMBA has been a vital cog in this development.
As President, I look forward to working with the committed individuals on the WMBA Board to continue to grow the league, while remaining true to the principles that the league was founded on, fair play, equal opportunity, every kid can play, Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD), FUN and fellowship. The torch has been handed down from Mike Ruta to Dwight MacNeil to Ted Fardoe to me. I am humbled by the opportunity to continue the hard work that they have started.
The WMBA continues to have over 200 teams under their umbrella. The league has introduced the Junior NBA program for players 5-7, as well as the revised Steve Nash Youth Basketball divisions for the ages 8-10. As always, community centres are a fundamental part of youth basketball in Winnipeg. For the more competitive players, the WMBA offers the Manitoba Basketball League, a club basketball league run by individuals interested in the competition as well as developmental parts of the game of basketball. The WMBA is also the launching pad of a number of young basketball referees. Many referees in Manitoba have received their start in the WMBA. Thank you to Reid Kenyon and Neil Gottfried for their efforts in scheduling and developing young officials. The WMBA Foundation goal to build an outdoor court in every corner of Winnipeg has been completed. It is with great excitement that the WMBA will be in on the ground floor for the new Sport For Life gymnasiums, and hopefully the WMBA Community will see games played there next Spring.
The Board strives to provide the best experience possible for the players, parents, coaches and referees, as well as other volunteers and participants. The WMBA will remain a league for the collective community.
I encourage all interested people to get involved in the league. The reward that volunteering brings is shown in the faces of the young players scoring their first basket, blocking their first shot, or making their first breakaway pass. Let's keep this the goal of basketball and all youth sports.
Sincerely,
Terry Wolowiec, President
Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association