Junior Provincial Program
The Team Ontario Junior Provincial Wheelchair Basketball Program provides high performance training & competition opportunities for the province’s Junior-age athletes.
The program operates on a four-year competition cycle leading up to the Canada Winter Games in the final year of the quadrennial. A regional or national level competition is held at the end of each season in Year 1-3 of the cycle.
Athletes will have the opportunity to try out for Team Ontario at the beginning of every season from Year 1-3 in order to be selected to represent Ontario at the season’s regional/national championships. Year 4 tryouts will be by invite only. Tryout details & selection criteria will made available online and will be communicated to club coaches and athletes prior to selection camps.
The Junior Provincial Program is led by a knowledgeable, qualified, enthusiastic, and dedicated coaching staff tasked with overseeing athlete development and program growth.
Junior Provincial Program 2019-2023
Head Coach: Kathy Ludwig
Assistant Coaches: Josh Davies & Andrea Foessel
Team Manager: Josée Matte
Year 1 – Junior East Regional Championship (New Brunswick) cancelled
Year 2 – Junior East Regional Championship (Québec) cancelled
Year 3 – Junior National Championship (Prince Edward Island)
Year 4 – Canada Winter Games (Prince Edward Island)
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for the 2023 Canada Games, Junior athletes must be born on or after January 1, 1999. Team Ontario is open to athletes of all genders, both with and without physical disabilities.
Additional Requirements for 2021-2022:
- Must be members in good standing with ONPARA
- All players must be born between January 1, 1999 – December 31, 2009
- All players must be double vaccinated for COVID-19* and be willing to follow designated COVID-19 protocols (if required by facilities)
- All players must be willing and able to travel and care for themselves independently
- All players must attend at least ONE training camp between July – October to be considered for Team Ontario for the 2023 Canada Winter Games
- However, athletes should attempt, to the best of their ability, to attend all camps throughout the season.
*Proof of vaccination may be required for all athletes, coaches, and team staff at Wheelchair Basketball Canada-sanctioned events, such as the 2023 Canada Winter Games. Policies around medical exemptions have not yet been determined.
Selection/Training Camps 2022-23 & Team Selections
The Junior athlete pool for the 2022-2023 season will be made up of athletes considered by coaches to be at the necessary level of development. Therefore, all selection camps will be by invitation only for the duration of the season. A total of four (4) selection camps will be held between July – October. Final team selections will take place in October 2022 where the top 12 athletes will go on to represent Ontario at Canada Winter Games in February 2023.
A total of four monthly training camps will be held between October – February in preparation for the Games.
View the 2022-23 Selection Criteria here
Athlete Registration
All athletes who wish to be part of the Team Ontario Junior Program for the 2022-2023 season will be required to register online and pay their season fee prior to attending their first training camp.
2022-2023 Team Ontario Junior Schedule
| Training Camps | |
| Selection Camp #1 – Summer Camp
Dates: Thursday July 28-Sunday July 31 Location: Exact schedule to be communicated to registered participants |
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| Selection Camp #2 – Ontario NextGen Camp in partnership with Wheelchair Basketball Canada Date: Saturday August 27-Sunday August 28 Location: Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre 875 Morningside Ave, Scarborough |
Selection Camp #3 Date: Saturday September 17 Time: 1:00-5:00pm Location: Abilities Centre, 55 Gordon St, Whitby |
| Selection Camp #4 – Final Selections Date: Saturday October 1 Time: 1:00-5:00pm Location: Abilities Centre, 55 Gordon St, Whitby |
Training Camp #5 – Top 12 & Alternates only Date: Saturday October 22 Time: 1:00-5:00pm Location: Abilities Centre, 55 Gordon St, Whitby |
| Training Camp #6 (overnight camp) Date: Saturday November 26-Sunday November 27 Location: Abilities Centre, 55 Gordon St, Whitby |
Training Camp #7 (overnight camp) Date: Saturday Dec 10-Sunday Dec 11 Location: Abilities Centre, 55 Gordon St, Whitby |
| Training Camp #8 (overnight camp) Date: Saturday Jan 14- Sunday Jan 15 Location: Abilities Centre, 55 Gordon St, Whitby |
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| Competitions | |
| 2023 Ontario Parasport Games February 3-5, 2023 Durham Region Open to all Junior pool athletes |
Canada Winter Games 2023 February 17-26, 2023 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Final selections (Top 12) only |
Sponsors and Supporters
ONPARA would like to thank the following companies and organizations who have generously supported the Team Ontario Junior program and our athletes during the 2021-2022 season.
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Best Safety Training & Consulting Ltd. St. Thomas, ON |
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Doug Geoffrey Construction Exeter, ON |
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Royal Canadian Legion Lord Elgin Branch 41 St. Thomas, ON |
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Little, Masson & Reid Exeter, ON |
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Robert Vanderwyst Trucking Central Elgin, ON |
Thank you to all the family members, friends, and individual supporters who have also contributed to our various fundraising initiatives for the team.
Contacts
Kathy Ludwig, Head Coach, Junior Program – blazerskl@hotmail.com
Josée Matte, Team Manager – jmatte12@gmail.com
2021-2022 Team Ontario Junior Roster Announcement
Past Rosters:
View the 2019-2020 Team Ontario Junior Roster here
View the 2018-2019 Team Ontario Junior Roster here
View the 2017-2018 Team Ontario Junior Roster here
View the 2016-2017 Team Ontario Junior Roster here
View the 2015-2016 Team Ontario Junior Roster here