Chad Celaire is the founder of Little Ballers Basketball, a developmental basketball program for kids. Celaire, a father of two, shared how his passion for the game and early exposure to basketball led to the creation of a program in the Pembina Valley that teaches both basketball skills and valuable life lessons.
“I played basketball from grade two up through university. It taught me a lot of life skills—teamwork, discipline, and staying healthy,” Celaire said. Now, his 6-year-old son is following in his footsteps, sparking the idea that young kids can also start learning the sport at an early age. "When my son was dribbling a ball at 2 1/2 years old, I thought, ‘why not create a program for other kids to start early too?’ That’s how Little Ballers came about."
Since launching in September 2022, Little Ballers has expanded, with a successful run in Winnipeg, Brandon, and now the Pembina Valley region. Their first local semester was held outdoors in Winkler, where kids and parents embraced the opportunity. “We did a free awareness class on the new outdoor basketball court in Winkler. We formed some great relationships, and many parents wanted us to continue,” Celaire explained.
Now, the program is gearing up for a second semester in the area, this time at Prairie Dale School, where it will run from September 7th to November 9th. Celaire emphasized that spots are still available, with 25 kids signed up but room for more. The classes cater to children ages 10 months old to 8 years old, with different programs like Baby Ballers and Big Ballers designed for each stage of development.
"We also have a Little League program for kids aged 4-8, where they do fundamental drills for 45 minutes and scrimmage for the last 15 minutes,” Celaire added. This is already offered in Winnipeg and Brandon, and Celaire hopes to bring it to the Pembina Valley soon.
Beyond teaching basketball, Celaire is passionate about the life skills that kids can learn through the sport, such as teamwork and practice discipline. "Basketball taught me that you’ve got to work at your craft. That work ethic transfers to everything else in life."
Celaire, who previously spent 20 years as a youth minister, sees his work with Little Ballers as a continuation of the mentorship he and his wife have provided to youth. The program also serves as a training ground for coaches, with over 100 staff members involved across various locations.
For parents interested in signing up their children, registration is open through the Little Ballers website: littleballersbasketball.com. The program’s Instagram, @littleballersmb, is another great resource for updates and important dates. “We’d love to see more kids join. It’s about so much more than basketball,” Celaire said.
Celaire also mentioned that they are on the lookout for coaches and volunteers in the Pembina Valley and are eager to find additional facilities, especially in Morden, to expand the program further.
In a final note, Celaire revealed that Little Ballers has a theme song available on their website and is currently working on a full album of basketball-themed music for kids—a first of its kind!
With a growing presence in the Pembina Valley, including Winkler, Morden, Carman, and Schanzenfeld, Little Ballers Basketball is offering kids more than just a game—it’s giving them skills they can use for life with a unique blend of sports, life lessons, and even music.
Classes began September 7th, and run until November 9th. Registration is still open. Late comers are welcome.
~ With files from Tyler Hildebrand. ~
