Changes are coming to the Chilliwack hoops landscape this spring as 3D Basketball makes its Fraser Valley debut.
Founded in North Vancouver 17 years ago with a focus on the girls’ game, 3D offers high level training to a membership of 1000+ athletes.
3D is taking over the popular Junior Cascades program previously run by University of the Fraser Valley women’s basketball coach Al Tuchscherer.
“We’ve known Al for a long time and his main focus has been his university team,” said 3D’s Ramin Sadaghiani. “I think it got to a point where running the Junior Cascades was taking time away from what he’s trying to do at UFV, which is win a national championship.”
“He knew us through the basketball community and was looking for somebody he could trust to continue what he’s done building basketball in Chilliwack in Abbotsford.”
Sadaghiani’s group previously expanded into Burnaby, and he’s been looking forward to a move east, describing Chilliwack as a hot-bed for basketball.
“Back in the day, girls’ basketball was really strong, and we’re hoping to bring that back with development at the younger ages,” Sadaghiani said.
3D plans to offer training for girls as young as Grade 4 and carry it through to Grade 12.
Sadaghiani said it will look similar to what Tuchscherer was doing with the Junior Cascades.
“Al’s program was mostly focused on the spring/summer where we’ll be able to offer programs in the fall and throughout the winter,” Sadaghiani explained. “We’re looking to offer more of a year-round program as opposed to a seasonal one.”
Tuchscherer believes in the 3D plan and will stay involved.
He plans to coach at the U-13 level but he’s happy handing off administrative duties.
“The club basketball scene has drastically changed in the past few years and it was either go in a new direction with our club or align with someone who was willing to run with the changes,” he noted. “Our club has always been about development, getting in the gym with kids and helping them become better basketball players and teammates.”
“But the shift these days is to exposure — promising kids scholarships, what trips is this club or that club taking, is this club wearing Nike or Adidas gear and the list goes on.”
“It’s not that we are against all of it, but we don’t have the time to administer that type of operation and essentially recruit middle school kids and their families to be part of what we do.”
A key component of this will be 3D’s partnership with TransCanada Basketball.
While 3D handles the girls’ side, TransCanada will (mostly) focus on the boys.
TransCanada offers a two-month co-ed spring camp for its youngest players (U-5 to U-9), and boys-only programs exist for the U-11 to U-17 age groups.
“Last year in Chilliwack we had our largest numbers ever combining the Junior Cascades and TransCanada, reaching over 300,” said TransCanada’s Jake Mouritzen. “We plan to work with 3D in the same capacity that we have worked with Junior Cascades in the past.”
“We will continue to encourage our girls to play 3D while 3D comes to Chilliwack with the intention to support TransCanada any way they can and encourage boys in this region to get involved with TransCanada.
“Ultimately, the goal of both programs is to provide kids in our city with additional opportunities to improve their basketball skills as an individual and as a member of a team.”
3D will make its official debut later this month.
From March 29 to April 29, 3D will offer a training camp for girls in the U-10 to U-17 age groups.
Online registration is open at 3Dbasketball.net/chilliwack-spring-programs.
TransCanada’s spring training camp runs April 4 to May 28.
Get more information online at tcathletics.ca
Selected players from both camps will be invited to join TransCanada and 3D elite travel team programs which carry on into the summer.
