Renowned skills coach Irv Roland Coming to Vancouver for Basketball Clinic
Something special is happening in the Lower Mainland for all you young ballers out there.
Irv Roland, renowned skills development coach, is coming to Vancouver at the end of the month for a clinic that is sure to be a one of a kind experience. Roland has been a skills development coach in the NBA for the past decade, and for the last three years has worked exclusively with James Harden. He’s also worked with Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul, and Kevin Durant.
Matt Sacks — the organizer behind this fantastic event — has worked with Steve Nash the past couple of years. Through this, he’s gotten to know some high-level trainers and when Roland mentioned he wanted to visit Vancouver, it made this type of event a no-brainer.
“For me, I’ve had the opportunity the last couple of years to work with a bunch of high-level coaches, guys in and around the NBA,” said Sacks talking to BC Sports Hub. “That just doesn’t happen very often for kids in Vancouver. So when Irv mentioned that he wanted to come up here, I thought it was a no brainer to try and make something happen.”
Sacks was a former player at Collingwood in high school. After, he played at Wilfred Laurier University in Ontario before moving back to BC to play at Douglas College. He’s been invested in the basketball community here in BC for quite some time, and hope kids who attend will take some skills with them even if they don’t directly translate onto the hardwood.
“I hope they can learn some new skills and develop their games a little bit more” explained Sacks. “It’s a unique opportunity to get some coaching from a very high-level coach.
"Whether any of them play in the NBA is not the issue, it’s about having someone of Irv’s calibre coming in and showing them the different ways to make a name for yourself in the game of basketball,” he continued. “There’s only so many James Hardens and NBA MVPs but maybe it’s about being a coach or assistant, there are so many ways to do it. Having been around Irv he’s a very motivational guy and will really be a good example for the youth as well.”
Spots are still available for what is sure to be a memorable event. If you’re serious about basketball, you will not want to miss this.
What: Irv Roland Basketball Skills Clinic
When: September 26th (in partnership with Dynamite Basketball), September 28th and September 29th
Where: Blessed Sacrament School on September 26th, Collingwood School on the 28th and 29th
Time: 5:30-7:30 pm, 7:30-9:30 pm on September 26th
10:30 am-1:30 pm September 28th and 29th
Registration link: Click here for September 26th, here for the 28th and 29th
Written by: Nick Bondi