Westchester Wave
Westchester Wave is a new program in Westchester County, forming this past summer and playing in the Zero Gravity Fall circuit. Check out some information on one of the fastest risers in the Tri State area!
When did each program start?
Some of the teams have been together but the Wave program started the summer of 2019 with 6 teams.
How big was it when it was first established? We started the program with 120 kids between our teams, clinics and Rec leagues!
What’s the biggest difference from your program now, to 5 years ago?
It’s the Wave and it’s run better!
Where is the program based out of?
Our program is based in Rye New York!
What is your favorite memory with your program?
Seeing all the kids have moments where everything they have practiced has started to click and they see improvement!
What is the hardest part about having your own program? Managing everyone’s schedule in the fall and spring with outdoor sports is the most difficult part!
What do you think your program excels in? Stressing the fundamentals and getting our kids consistent repetitions doing things the right way.
How can you elevate your program to the next level? Time. We are confident in what we are doing at practice and the more time we have with these kids the better they will get!
What separates you from other programs? We have a staff of coaches that cares so much about each kid on every team. The kids are our number one priority.
Where do you see your program in 2 years? Competing at the highest local and national level! We want to have kids all across Westchester and beyond grow to have a love for basketball.
What, in your opinion, is the biggest factor to your program’s growth/success? We have a great group of coaches and families involved in The Wave. Wave practices usually have 3 coaches to 12 kids. Coach Marty Durkin who has over 30 years of coaching experience either is the head coach or assists with every practice that the Wave has. The Wave is a team effort from our coaches to our families that sign up!
What is your favorite ZG tournament? Spooky nook is always a fun event because of the high level of competition and the team bonding that takes place over the weekend.
What would you say is your program’s mission statement? We want our players to feel confident on the court and be great people off it as well!
We teach valuable life lessons throughout our program and we want our kids to grow on and off the court.
What are you looking forward to most about the Spring 2020 ZG season?
Seeing all our kids progress since our inaugural fall season!
What’s been your proudest moment as Director?
Seeing the positive impact that the kids have on their community. We have a selfless group of players who are not only becoming great players but great people as well! It’s also amazing to see the kids buy into our systems. Seeing the process and the progress from the beginning of the season to the end is an amazing thing to witness.
What impact has your program had in your local community?
We have strong partnerships with the places we practice at. We are able to do a lot of good with both the Rye Ymca and at The Salvation Army in Port Chester. Our gym rentals are able to help enroll underprivileged children in sports classes, music classes and more! Look for Wave Coaches and players ringing the Salvation Army bell this winter volunteering their time to help those less fortunate around the holidays! The Wave also hosts a weekly wheelchair basketball game with the Barrier Breakers. Wave players and families attend every weekend to cheer on the team!
What is your favorite aspect of being a program director?
I love being able to have the confidence every day that we are going to offer a program that gets kids better and is a lot of fun.
What made you start the program?
I had been working with kids and coaching for 5 years and I saw an opportunity to create a program with some likeminded coaches who genuinely care about the kids and their development as players and people.
What role model do you have your players look up to?
We believe that all our coaches are role models for our players. Wave coaches have an amazing work ethic and we believe that it in infectious on all the kids who are coached by us!
