Kieran, a volunteer coach for BWT’s youth summer camps, has been actively participating in BWT’s programs since he was seven years old. He recently transitioned from being a player in our programs to a volunteer coach in for our youth summer camps. When asked about the transition, Kieran mentioned that when he was a player he was familiarized with how the camp runs and how the drills are set up. As a coach now, he is used to running drills and writing down points for the hustle, sportsmanship, and players improvement. 

“I think I went from the player to a coach sort of quickly. I think that has improved my maturity a lot because I can understand what the players are thinking because I went through the same thing so I think that’s an advantage.”

Kieran started playing basketball when he was seven years old. Growing up, he played a variety of sports, including soccer, hockey, and many more. As he started watching the NBA on TV more and more, he was intrigued by the sport and wanted to try it out. He started by playing in the morning with his dad and found it extremely fun yet challenging. Watching it on TV and playing it recreationally drew him into the sport. Basketball World Toronto is the first league he joined when he realized he wanted to take it to the next level. His mom was looking at camps for him to join and came across BWT, one of the biggest basketball providers in Toronto. After fine-tuning his skills in camp, he eventually started playing rep for BWT. 

Coming from a BWT player background, Kieran now knows exactly how to deal with the kids as he was one not too long ago. Using his experience to his advantage, he understands how to incorporate kids into drills and entertain them for the whole duration of camp. 

When asked about how he liked being a volunteer coach, Kieran said, “I like it because being a coach is very different and there is a lot of responsibility which I like. My favourite part of being a coach is definitely spending time with the campers.”

Tejas, another volunteer for our youth camps, spoke about his experience being involved with BWT: “I wanted to do something this summer and I thought it would be a good idea volunteering for an organization I’ve participated in. Working here keeps me busy and active which is what I’m looking for in the summer.” 

Reid, who worked alongside Tejas, has been participating in BWT summer and March break camps for the past four years. He started volunteering for BWT because he loved the coaches when he played and they made a huge impact on him growing up. He wanted to do the same for others. 

Seeing kids like Kieran, Tejas, and Reid coaching young kids is so inspirational. From actively participating in BWT’s programs to making a difference in other youth’s lives, they truly embody what BWT is all about: developing players mentally and physically.