Court Access for All - Subsidizing Pathways to Athletic Training

Our idea is to remove barriers and expand access to elite basketball development for youth in Grades 8–11 by hosting a series of affordable, high-impact two-day camps led by guest coaches. These camps will provide athletes with direct access to top-level instruction, mentorship, and skill development opportunities that are typically priced far beyond what most families can afford.

Over the course of the year, HPAD Basketball will host three to four camps, each designed to serve 30–40 athletes, for a total reach of 120–150 youth. Camp registration fees will remain affordable ($50–$100 per athlete, with bundle options for multiple camps), and an accessibility fund supported by this grant will subsidize 15–20 youth who face financial barriers. By structuring camps this way, no athlete is turned away due to cost, ensuring that access to sport remains equitable and inclusive.

The camps will combine technical basketball training, guest coach instruction, and team-building activities that emphasize more than just sport. Athletes will be challenged to grow in discipline, confidence, teamwork, and resilience, qualities that extend far beyond the court into their schools, homes, and communities. To support long-term retention, athletes will be encouraged to return for multiple camps, creating a cycle of continued engagement and growth during the critical Grade 8–11 years when dropout rates are highest.

This idea is both practical and impactful. With the grant funding, we can cover facility rentals, guest coach honoraria, program equipment, and evaluation tools. Every dollar goes directly to creating access for youth and building a sustainable program that our community can rally behind.

Our ultimate vision is to keep youth active, confident, and connected through basketball. By offering professional-level training at grassroots prices, HPAD helps students stay in sport, develop life skills, and build pathways that strengthen our community as a whole.

This project will primarily benefit youth athletes in Grades 8–11 (ages 13–17) across Edmonton and surrounding communities, with a focus on those who face financial, logistical, or opportunity-based barriers to elite basketball training. These are the critical years when dropout rates spike in organized sport, often due to high costs, limited access to skilled coaching, or competing academic and personal demands. By providing affordable two-day camps led by guest coaches, HPAD ensures that youth from all socio-economic backgrounds can access top-level training and mentorship that would otherwise be out of reach.

Secondary beneficiaries include families of participating athletes, who gain peace of mind knowing their children are in a safe, supportive, and structured environment that fosters both athletic and personal growth. Parents also benefit from affordable, high-quality programming that reduces financial strain while keeping youth engaged in positive, supervised activities.

Beyond participants and families, the broader community benefits through stronger youth engagement, increased retention in sport, and the development of life skills such as confidence, teamwork, resilience, and discipline, that extend beyond the basketball court. Our alumni athletes who have completed previous programs often become role models, mentors, or volunteers, helping sustain a pay-it-forward cycle within local communities.

This project is designed to reach 120–150 youth athletes annually, with 15–20 scholarships reserved for those facing financial barriers. Through pre/post skill assessments, attendance tracking, and self-reported surveys, we will measure improvements in athletic ability, confidence, and retention rates. By making youth our core service sector, HPAD Basketball addresses both immediate access challenges and longer-term outcomes, ensuring youth stay active, develop holistically, and are prepared for post-secondary and community engagement opportunities.

In short, this project will empowers youth, supports families, strengthens community ties, and creates a lasting pathway for students to thrive in sport and in life.