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Popularising basketball
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Read on to know more about YMCA's contribution to basketball in the region
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Photo: M. Periasamy.
SHOOTING RIGHT: The coaching classes of the YMCA have helped produce champs .
If basketball continues to hold fort in the city, credit should go to the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) and the late S. Venkatakrishnan.
It all began in the 1930s when the club laid its first `basketball court' between two big trees (one of which has since been felled) behind the YMCA building on the Head Post Office Road. The branches were used to support the boards and the rings. And, the veterans made the best use of this.
Venkatakrishnan, reverently called Vadhiyar by players, urged youngsters to take to the game. They came, but not in the dress code that he wanted. To make it comfortable for them, he relaxed the dress code. It worked wonders and the game soon became popular.
Through periodical refresher courses for teachers, then a regular feature in the YMCA, conducted by veterans like late Dr. G.F. Andrews, the Advisor on Physical Education to the Government of Madras, the game spread to many parts of the district.
Rolling trophy
But, Venkatakrishnan felt it was not enough. Eager that the YMCA have a tournament of its own, he approached a local landlord, V. Sivaramakrishna Chettiar, who readily agreed to donate a rolling trophy in the name of the late Vellingiri Chettiar.
In the first year of its inception, the YMCA boys scored a thrilling victory over Pollachi for the trophy. This tournament was the beginning of basketball in Coimbatore district.
Later, Ted Arnold, an American coach attached to the YMCA College of Physical Education (Madras), conducted coaching and rules clinics. Those were the days when everything was tried out on a trial and error basis.
Soon, Venkatakrishnan was deputed to attend a three-week camp for coaches conducted at Madras by celebrated American coach Frank Kauffman in 1955. Venkatakrishnan learnt the latest techniques and, on his return, changed the way the game was approached to a great extent.
He started coaching more youngsters and imparted scientific training. This helped him put YMCA and Coimbatore on the basketball map of India. Venkatakrishnan decided to sell the game to boys in schools. In 1958, the YMCA conducted its first coaching camp for high school and college students.
Catching 'em young
Thereafter, quite a few high schools took to the game seriously. YMCA also struck upon a novel `Catch and Coach them Young' programme. This resulted in schools creating a strong base and producing talented players.
The players and teams of the Union High School and City Municipal High School, both of which located near YMCA, won innumerable trophies for close to 15 years
Having developed the game, Venkatakrishnan thought it necessary to start an association to serve basketball. Thus, the district basketball association came to be inaugurated at the YMCA Hall in April 1959. From then, the game grew from strength to strength.
The efforts of the YMCA have not only moulded skilled players, but also qualified coaches, referees and leaders in the game across the country.
The 21-day free coaching camp that concluded last week was YMCA Basketball Club's 44th in trot.
"More than the game, we emphasise on discipline and punctuality. We had over 100 boys taking part and they showed great interest in learning the game," says Syril Irudhyaraj, a former State and University player and in-charge of the YMCA Basketball Club.
"Thanks to a few of our past players, our camp has been continuing all these years. Jai Varadaraj, the president of the district association, has also supported us in strengthening infrastructure. What more do we need?" he asks.
RAYAN ROZARIO
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