In the midst of last season, Alex Wright had an inkling something was up with coach Trevor Bligh.
Bligh, who has led the Edward Milne Community School Wolverines senior boys basketball team for 19 years, was giving subtle clues that this might be his last season.
“I had a hint he wanted to take a new direction,” said Wright, who served as co-coach this year.
Then midway through the season the message came: he wanted to retire as the senior boys’ basketball coach and develop the junior program.
EMCS’ basketball program has never seen a team advance to the provincial championships.
The reason, says Wright and Bligh, is that Sooke doesn’t have a junior program that feeds into the senior program.
“Teaching basic skills at the Grade 8 to 10 level will put us on par with other elite programs in B.C. We have gone as far as we can with teaching these skills in Grade 11,” Bligh said.
For Wright, who takes over as the Wolverines’ head coach next season, it’s the right approach.
It will allow the program the opportunity to develop core coaching skills, from defensive stance to simple shooting and ball handling skills, something missing now with some players heading into their senior high school years.
“The problem with Sooke is most of the kids don’t get to try basketball on a competitive level until they’re 15 (Grade 10). You lose that developmental period because they’re not coming out early,” Wright said.
“Our goal is to eventually have it that when kids are coming up through elementary school, they’re getting into middle school, they’re seeing basketball as a primary sport.”
The transition to the development program is already starting, with plans for spring ball.
The idea is to set the foundation and create a love for the game early. (Any boy interested in the spring league who’s in Grade 7,8 or 9 can email Bligh directly at blighs@gmail.com).
The next step is to link up with Journey Middle School’s basketball program next season.
The team is expected to play in the Junior B league, but will have teams in the Junior A and B leagues the following year.
Bligh will co-coach the EMCS junior boys next season.
The plan will help coaches at all four levels of high school basketball, Bligh said.
Wright already sees merit in the plan where coaches will be able to communicate more effectively and develop a program that is understandable for players from Grade 7 to 12.
“We’re trying to avoid taking one step forward and two steps back,” he said.
Don’t think you’ve seen the end of Bligh as the Wolverines’ head coach. He plans to return in two years.
“We aim to be sending a senior team to the provincials in two to three years from now. If I was a Grade 8 kid into basketball, I’d be getting very excited for what will be available to them in the years to come,” Bligh said.
