History

Newman Youth Basketball has a proud history which dates back to the opening of Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School on Cromwell Crescent in 1976. The founding fathers of the program were comprised of teachers from Cardinal Newman which included Jack Maga, Bruno Sergi, Dominic Calouri, and Mark Baldasaro. Each of these individuals possessed a passion for the game of basketball, yet, more importantly, dedicated themselves to building a program which reached out to the youth of Stoney Creek and encouraged their participation in the game of basketball. The philosophy of Newman Youth, as it remains today, was to promote fundamental skill development, provide youth with positive opportunities for growth, and build a strong sense of community.

From its inception, participation in Newman Youth was open to all grade levels, attracting participants from kindergarten to high school. Activities were modified to meet the various age and skill levels of all participants. Each participant was equipped with a uniform t-shirt and most importantly, a basketball. Great care was taken to ensure that all players had a ball in their hands at all times. This proved beneficial in developing the necessary ball handling skills which are so fundamental to the game. Once the fundamental component was completed, the remainder of the time was dedicated to playing games, providing each player with the opportunity to utilize the skills they had been taught. Providing a balanced approach of practice and play proved to be a successful formula as participation in the program was very positive.

Members of the Senior Boys' Basketball Team at Cardinal Newman assisted in teaching and monitoring the drills while also serving as role models for the younger participants. Their involvement brought generations of ball players together and contributed significantly to the development of our school community.

Getting the program off the ground was not without its challenges. As a means for subsidising the costs to each participant, a grant was provided by the Ontario Government (Wintario Corporation) and Cardinal Newman High School donated the gym every Saturday morning. The involvement of a number of community volunteers was also necessary to help deliver a quality program.

As one can see, Newman Youth Basketball is a program with a very proud history. We intend to build upon this history and are very excited about the opportunity of working with our youth for generations to come.