Winnipeg’s Basketball Teams Face Uncertain Future Without More Coaches

Image Credit, Keith Johnston

Winnipeg is facing a troubling shortage of basketball coaches, a challenge affecting middle and high schools across the city. As the new season nears, concerns are growing that many teams may be left without proper guidance. This issue is more than a logistical problem—it’s a call for better support, recognition, and sustainable solutions to ensure youth sports programs continue to thrive.

Coaching at the youth level is often seen as a volunteer effort, a way for people to give back to their community while helping young athletes grow. However, the demands on those who step into this role can be overwhelming. Balancing practices, games, and preparation with full-time jobs, family responsibilities, and other commitments requires an enormous investment of time and energy. Beyond the hours spent on the court, there’s the added responsibility of staying informed about strategies, techniques, and the administrative aspects of managing a team.

What’s frequently overlooked is the financial cost associated with becoming a coach. Criminal record checks, child abuse registry checks, and certification courses all come with fees that are often paid out-of-pocket. For many, these costs can be a significant hurdle, especially when combined with the time commitment. Volunteering to lead a team shouldn’t come with an added financial burden, yet many individuals find themselves paying to ensure their qualifications meet required standards.

This situation leaves many coaches—particularly first-timers—juggling their enthusiasm for the sport with the practical realities of the role. Often, they step in not because of prior experience but because they want to ensure kids have the chance to play. While they may not bring years of expertise, their willingness to step up ensures young athletes have opportunities to participate and grow.

It’s clear that new measures are needed to tackle this shortage. Most of these mentors who are also parents, take on their responsibilities without financial compensation, motivated by their passion for the game and the satisfaction of making a difference. However, this model is increasingly unsustainable. A potential solution is offering a modest honorarium for each game, much like referees receive. While not a major financial incentive, such compensation would help ease the financial strain and make coaching a more feasible option for many. It would also demonstrate that their time and effort are valued, encouraging more individuals to consider volunteering.

The provincial government must address this crisis head-on. While the demand for youth sports programs continues to grow, the resources provided to support those running them remain insufficient. Significant funding flows to sports organizations across Manitoba, but much of it goes toward administrative costs and executive salaries, leaving little for grassroots programs. This disparity must be addressed. Youth sports are about more than competition—they play a critical role in keeping kids active, fostering a sense of community, and helping them develop important life skills.

However, it is not just the province of Manitoba’s responsibility to fixing this problem. The City of Winnipeg also has a significant role to play. The city manages many of the community centers and recreational facilities that serve as venues for basketball games and other sports. These facilities are directly linked to the availability and effectiveness of these programs, making it imperative for the city to step up. City Hall, often criticized as a hotbed of inefficiencies, must prioritize this issue. Winnipeg’s municipal government must allocate more funding to programs that encourage and compensate coaches, ensuring they have the resources needed to succeed.

Don Woodstock, a former mayoral candidate and an advocate for recreational sports, has long called for increased funding to support coaches. As the owner of JamRock Security and an expert in the field, Woodstock also highlights the direct correlation between crime and the lack of resources for youth activities. “Idle hands are a playground for trouble,” he says, pointing to the importance of keeping young people engaged in positive pursuits. “If there aren’t enough resources allocated to this issue, we’re setting up a system that fails our kids and our community. At the end of the day, if Mayor Scott Gillingham and the City of Winnipeg thought this was important, they would have addressed it. But when your home or area isn’t being burglarized, set on fire, or facing a homeless encampment, it doesn’t make it onto the radar.”

Now is the time for action. The provincial government and the City of Winnipeg must prioritize measures to support basketball coaches, whether through modest honorariums, better funding for training programs, or other forms of assistance. Addressing the shortage isn’t just about ensuring teams have leaders—it’s about valuing the people who make youth sports possible. This issue reflects a broader challenge within the community. If Winnipeg is to continue providing meaningful opportunities for young people, these roles must be made more accessible and sustainable. The young athletes deserve it, and so do the dedicated individuals who give their time and energy to support them. This call to action cannot wait any longer.