Wolf Pack Basketball
U7 Player Development Program · Ages 5-6 · Fall 2026

Overview
The U7 Player Development Program is where it all begins. Through fun, engaging, and functional movement activities and small-sided play, our youngest players are introduced to the game of basketball in a positive, encouraging environment. At this stage, the goal is simple: help every child enjoy the game and build the movement skills that set them up for a lifetime of activity. This is the first step on the Wolf Pack development pathway, built on Canada Basketball's Player Development Model and Canada's Long-Term Athlete Development framework. We build people first, players second. Person before player.

Objectives
Introduce the game of basketball through fun, engaging, and functional movement skill-building activities and play.

What players will develop?
Players will be introduced to the following life skills: having fun, confidence, communication, mindfulness, emotion management, resiliency, teamwork, leadership, concentration, goal setting, imagery, and self-talk. While building these skills, they will develop the fundamental basketball skills of ball-handling, passing, shooting, footwork, and lay-ups, all through fun games that build toward small-sided and 3-on-3 play. Players will also grow their fundamental movement skills: agility, balance, coordination, and speed.

How we coach
Our sessions are built on fun, activity, and lots of touches on the ball. We teach through games rather than long explanations, using conditioned games and guided discovery so players learn by playing. Every session follows a simple, consistent shape: a warm-up game, a main block of games and skill-building, and a cool-down, so children always know what to expect. We keep coach talk to a minimum, avoid long lines, and lean on small-sided play so every child is moving and involved. Above all, our coaches create a positive, encouraging environment where effort is celebrated, and mistakes are treated as part of learning.

Program details
For: Boys and girls, ages 5 to 6
Length: 9 weeks (9 Saturdays)
Day and time: Saturday mornings, 10:00 to 10:50 am
Location: Canada Games Centre
Runs: Saturday, October 3 to Saturday, December 12, 2026

Session dates (Saturday mornings)
Oct 3 · Oct 10 · Oct 17 · Oct 24 · Nov 7 · Nov 14 · Nov 21 · Dec 5 · Dec 12

Coaching
Sessions are led by NCCP-trained and certified Wolf Pack coaches following our LTAD-aligned curriculum, adapted from the Jr. NBA Ages 7 to 9 program.

Enrollment will be limited to 16 participants