A new children’s basketball program is coming to Niverville, geared toward kids as young as ten months and up to eight years, a much earlier age than is typical in the sport.

Founded in Winnipeg by Chad Celaire and his wife Kim, Little BALLERS has now expanded across the prairies. Its introductory event was held in Niverville on March 21 ahead of its official launch in early May.

Hosted at the Niverville High School gymnasium, the free awareness day introduced local families to a program focused on building confidence and skill through play. The event was filled to capacity with families who came to experience the program firsthand.

Basketball nets with Little BALLERS logos were set up across half of the gym, ranging in height from as low as three feet up to six feet six inches, alongside brightly coloured balls, cones, hula hoops, and activity stations that invite participation and remove intimidation.

While organized basketball programs typically begin later, often around middle school with higher nets that can feel daunting, Little BALLERS introduces children to the sport through scaled equipment and developmentally appropriate activities.

Celaire led the event and guided a group of local high school student coaches through the program’s structure as the community experienced it for the first time.

Sessions began with a custom Little BALLERS theme song, incorporating movement and actions like high-fives.

The classes flowed quickly, with music marking new activities and creating a sense of familiarity. Engagement was built through positive affirmation, simple skill-building, and small, achievable goals.

“A lot of the activities we’ve created have songs that go along with what the kids are doing,” says Celaire. “There is real power in combining instruction with music. We go over the top in encouraging kids. We clap, use verbal affirmation, and show them how to do things, not just tell them. We believe in the power of positive affirmation and really focus on building kids’ self-esteem.”

Classes wrap up with what he calls a “sticker shot,” where children take a turn shooting on a lowered hoop before receiving a sticker.

Celaire has been involved in basketball as both an athlete and coach for more than three decades, including playing for the University of Regina and Rochester College in Michigan. He later spent 15 years as a youth minister.

The idea for the program was sparked after Celaire became a stay-at-home dad with his first child and noticed that he needed to find ways to meaningfully engage with his infant son.

“My son was the impetus for starting Little BALLERS,” he says. “I didn’t know how young kids could start, and I wanted to create something that met them where they’re at.”

He envisioned a program that introduced children to basketball in an engaging way, one that sets attainable goals, develops skills, and builds confidence.

“The Baby Ballers class is an opportunity for parents to learn ways to interact with their children,” he says. “It’s very family-oriented. It brings people together.”

That approach is reflected in how local parents responded to both the program and its environment.

“It was even better than I was expecting,” says Salina Breton, a teacher and junior high and junior varsity basketball coach who attended with her family. “There were lots of stations to keep kids interested, and it wasn’t the same thing the whole time. I also noticed it was run by local students, which I thought was really cool.”

Breton added that her children have tried a variety of activities, including dance, gymnastics, and soccer, but they were drawn to the program based on what they had seen online.

“It seemed like an opportunity to try something different,” she says. “And it felt like they were actually learning something.”

Another attendee, Jeni-lee Nacci, said that she had long been considering enrolling her child in a Winnipeg program and was excited to see it arrive locally.

“I was really impressed with the coordination, the colours, and the activities,” says Nacci. “It felt structured, and the coaches were extremely good with the kids. I think it will be helpful developmentally for my son.”

Since launching in 2022, Little BALLERS has expanded across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, with more than 5,000 children participating in the program.

The student coaches will launch the first eight-week semester Little BALLERS session in Niverville on May 2 at the Community Fellowship Church, one of the few spaces in town able to accommodate the program.

For children looking to further develop their skills, the program also offers a Little BALLERS League, with 60-minute in-depth classes, offered during the winter.