Victoria private school launches basketball academy for girls 

A Victoria private school has announced that they will be introducing a new basketball academy for girls in  kindergarten to Grade 12 to train with professional coaches.

The academy, launched by St. Margaret’s School (SMS), has been developed in collaboration with Canada Basketball.

The school says that the academy will build on the popularity of established partnerships with Victoria Academy of Ballet and Pacific FC, which have brought in students from around the world in pursuit of high-level competition in sport.

“This is a defining moment for women’s sports,” said Sara Blair, CEO and head of school at SMS.

“By expanding our academy offerings we are creating more accessible, intentional pathways that support student-athletes at every stage of sport and leadership development, while providing an individualized, world-class education.”

The basketball academy will hope to combine on-court skills with off-court social, emotional and mental development by working with coaches who are respected for their success at their respective levels and who are dedicated to growing the sport of basketball in Canada, according to the school.

“We are excited that St. Margaret’s School is introducing a Basketball Academy built on a shared commitment to developing the whole athlete, from a student’s earliest days in the programme through to high performance,” said Steve Bauer, general manager of Women’s High Performance at Canada Basketball.

“Through this K-12 model, students will receive high-quality basketball training alongside the academic and leadership foundations that will support them well beyond the court.”

This academy, along with the academies in partnership with Pacific FC and the Ballet Academy of Victoria, will offer a pathway from introducing skills to high-performance competition, combined with the International Baccalaureate education that the school provides.

The basketball academy will come in three stages, starting with a grassroots programme intended for students in kindergarten to Grade 3 and Grades 4 to 7.

The grassroots programme is intended to be an introduction to the game, where students will build foundational skills one day a week. This will be complimentary for SMS students.

The next stage will focus on skill-building with intention for students in grades seven to nine.

The final step for girls will be available for students in Grades 10 to 12.

Student-athletes will train at a high level, while juggling rigorous academics.

The school says that all student-athletes across each academy will have access to professional coaching and instruction, academic support and intentional leadership development, ensuring their success both on and off the field.