There is no right time to start playing basketball. Some kids pick up a ball at six and never put it down. Some adults find the game at thirty and fall completely in love with it. The age you start does not determine how far you go. What matters is finding a basketball club that actually knows what to do with you once you show up.
If you are serious about getting into the game, whether for your child, for yourself, or both, here is what you need to know.
Starting Young: Ages 6 to 17
Kids who start early have one real advantage over everyone else: time. Not time to grow taller or stronger, though that happens too. Time to build the habits that make basketball feel natural. Footwork, court vision, the instinct to make the right pass under pressure. These are not things you learn in a month. They are things you absorb slowly, through repetition, over years. A young player who gets proper coaching early is not just better at basketball. They are building a relationship with the game that tends to last a lifetime.
CSC Basketball at Can Sports Center runs a March Break Camp for players aged 6 to 17. Here is how the day is structured:
- Morning sessions: 9 AM to 12 PM
- Lunch break: 12 PM to 1 PM (optional)
- Afternoon sessions: 1 PM to 4 PM
- Choice of full basketball focus or a mixed basketball and badminton day (non-competitive stream)
That last option matters more than it sounds. A kid who is not yet ready to commit to one sport still develops athleticism, coordination and a training mentality that carries into everything they do.
The Teenage Window
Coaching teenagers is a different challenge. The physical development is happening fast, the stakes feel higher, and the gap between players who have had real coaching and those who have not becomes very obvious very quickly. This is the stage where a lot of promising players plateau, not because they lack talent, but because no one ever taught them properly.
CSC Basketball offers two private training paths for this age group:
Private Skills Training (Pure Court Work) For players who need to lock in the fundamentals. Sessions cover:
- Footwork and shooting mechanics
- Ball-handling and dribble combinations
- Situational decision-making and game IQ
Elite 1-on-1 Athlete Development For players chasing something specific — a school team spot, a competitive league, or just the confidence to hold their own on any court. This program combines:
- On-court skill development
- Gym-based strength and conditioning in the same session
- A fully personalised training plan built around where you actually are
Both programs are structured around where you actually are, not where you are supposed to be.
Adults: The Game Does Not Have an Expiry Date
There is a version of this where someone spent years telling themselves they would get back into basketball when life slowed down. It never slowed down. And now the question is not whether it is too late but whether there is still a place for them. There is.
The Adult Group Training program is open to everyone 16 and up, beginners included. Sessions run:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 PM
- Sunday sessions available depending on scheduling
Each one is a full-court workout covering conditioning, shooting and game situations. Real basketball, not a fitness class dressed up as one. Training alongside other people who are taking the game seriously changes the quality of your own effort in ways that solo court time simply does not.
The program is led by Kevin Shand, Basketball Director at Can Sports Center. Kevin is 6’10” and brings 13 seasons of professional basketball to his coaching, having played in Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, France, the USA, Canada, Mexico, China, Bahrain and Kuwait. He won championships in Bahrain and Mexico, represented Canada nationally, and helped the national team win the Jones Cup in Taiwan. For anyone wondering whether they will get quality coaching at a community basketball club in Markham, Kevin is the answer to that question.
Beyond group training, adults also have access to:
- Private 1-on-1 sessions for focused skill development
- Small group training for those who prefer a tighter environment
- Drop-in sessions and court rental for those who want to play without committing to a schedule
A Basketball Club That Actually Covers the Whole Range
Most clubs serve one type of player well and quietly ignore the rest. The kids program does not connect to anything when those kids grow up. The adult program assumes everyone already knows the game. The result is a lot of people who fall through the gaps.
CSC Basketball is built to avoid that. Here is what the full range looks like in one place:
| Who | Program | Entry Point |
| Ages 6 to 17 | March Break Camp, Clinics | Structured coached days |
| Teens | Private Skills Training, Elite 1-on-1 | Individual development sessions |
| Adults 16+ | Adult Group Training | Mon / Wed / Fri / Sun evenings |
| All ages | Drop-in, Court Rental | Book online anytime |
A six-year-old starting at camp and a thirty-five-year-old joining adult group training are both in the right place. The programming is different because what they need is different. The quality of coaching and the seriousness of the environment is the same.
If you are in Markham, Scarborough, Richmond Hill or anywhere in York Region and looking for a basketball club that takes the whole game seriously, Can Sports Center is worth a look.
FAQs
Q: What is the minimum age to join a basketball club at CSC?
The March Break Camp accepts players from age 6. It runs full structured days with morning and afternoon sessions, making it a genuine starting point for young players new to the game.
Q: Do adults need experience to join the adult training program?
No. The program is open to all skill levels from age 16 up. Sessions are built to work across the full range, so a beginner and an experienced player can both get real value from the same session.
Q: What is the difference between group training and private training?
Group training is scheduled, full-court and community-driven. Private training is individually scheduled and focused on your specific development, either pure court skills or a combination of on-court work and gym-based strength and conditioning.
Q: Who leads the basketball programs at CSC?
Kevin Shand, Basketball Director, brings 13 seasons of professional international experience to his coaching. Stephen Yan serves as Elite Basketball Trainer alongside him. Both work across all ages and skill levels.
Q: Where is CSC Basketball and how do I get started?
Can Sports Center is at 1443 Denison Street, Markham, ON L3R 5V2, serving players from across York Region and the Greater Toronto Area. Book a session or browse the full program at cansportscenter.com.
CSC Basketball at Can Sports Center1443 Denison Street, Markham, ON L3R 5V2 Phone: 647-963-3999
