BASKETBALL Junior League Begins At Y.M.C.A. Tomorrow

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30542, 10 September 1964, Page 18

BASKETBALL Junior League Begins At Y.M.C.A. Tomorrow

In an effort to provide an opportunity for boys not at school to play basketball and to help promote the sport generally from a lower level, a junior league is to be held by the Canterbury Men’s Basketball Association during the next six weeks, at the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium in Cambridge terrace. The first evening of the competition is tomorrow, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. There is no entry fee and it will be open to all boys between the ages of 11 and 17, but there will be some tolerance with the upper limit as players with some experience will be needed to help, at least, in the Initial stages. This is the first time that basketball officials in Christchurch have attempted to interest younger persons in the sport, the lowest age grade previously catered for in the normal Inter-club competitions being under 20. The man behind this progressive scheme is Mr M. A. McDougall, a former New Zealand representative, the current president of the New Zealand Men’s Basketball Referees’ Association, and one of the most, knowledgeable personalities in the game. Mr McDougall brought the proposal before the Canterbury association off his own initiative and offered to organise the league. He has since obtained the services of Mr P. Doogue, the coach-selector of the Can-

terbury representative team, and Mr A. Forrester, another very prominent coach.

It was planned to give the players as much playing experience in the time available as was possible, Mr McDougall said yesterday. In officiating over the games, they would point out any mistakes to the boys and give instruction on how to correct them. Organised teams as well as individuals would be accepted for the league. Those arriving individually would be formed into teams, which would remain static for the entire competition, he said. If there is sufficient interest in the league, another competition will be started just before the start of the normal winter com petitions and will continue throughout the winter months.