For Burlington's Team La-Rose, basketball is more than just a sport

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic sent local parents searching for outlets that would enable their children to stay active - and sparked the formation of La-Rose Wellness & Basketball operations.

The new venture was a slam-dunk for former Central High School basketball star Michael La-Rose as he set about teaching “physical literacy” to children, utilizing basketball as his teaching tool. He teamed up with wife Joanna to develop a complete physical and mental training program.

“By physical literacy we teach fundamental movements to improve fitness and all they need to know about being active for life,” said Michael. “That will also translate into making friends and gaining acceptance from their peers.”

In 2022, as in-person activities returned to normal, the couple paired up with Decathlon Sports at Mapleview Centre, where they hold daily classes for children ages four to 16. The four- to six-year-olds' group is the most popular, with separate sessions for kids 7-10 and 11-13.        

The programs run for four workouts at a time, allowing clients to sample the program to see if it is right for them, without an eight- or 12-week commitment. In addition to programs running for only four sessions, the group classes are small, allowing for more individualized training.

While learning the fundamentals of basketball, the youngsters develop the skills necessary through movements and drills designed to improve agility.

Both Michael and Joanna are NCCP coaches, and Joanna is also a certified youth counsellor and nutritionist.

Joanna graduated with Honours from Sheridan College as a Correctional Worker and also holds a BPA degree in Human Services from Athabasca University.      Away from the court, she provides group and individual counselling for at-risk youth and other vulnerable members of the community.          

The La-Rose name is well known in the Burlington sports community. Michael was an Ontario Champion in track and high school junior athlete of the year and an OCAA All Star in Basketball at Mohawk College. Through the 1970s and '80s the family excelled in Halton athletics, setting records in Halton which have stood over 30 years. Michael has been an NCCP coach and a personal/basketball trainer for over 20 years.
  
To learn more about Team La-Rose, visit the website or email [email protected].