Smith is set to coach Team Nova Scotia at the upcoming Junior East championship
Cher Smith was first introduced to wheelchair basketball 18 years ago through a work colleague and was immediately hooked on the sport.
Smith, who grew up playing field lacrosse, quickly shifted to coaching wheelchair basketball and then became a classifier as well.
“I think wheelchair basketball is such a fantastic sport,” Smith said. “I can’t think of a more inclusive sport than wheelchair basketball in Canada. Over and over, we consistently hear how dynamic, fun, and fast-paced the sport is and how it is ever-evolving.
“The thing that we hear the most when people come out and try wheelchair basketball is that they’re surprised at how fun and fast-paced it is. I think in Canada, we have a great wheelchair basketball community, too. That has had a big impact on me.”
Smith played field lacrosse at the University of Toronto where she completed her undergraduate degree in occupational therapy. After moving east in 1998 to work at the Nova Scotia Rehab Center, Smith was introduced to wheelchair basketball by colleague Ben Marston, now her husband of 15 years.
“Soon after I started playing, I started classifying with Anne Lachance,” said Smith. “In 2011, the Canada Games were hosted in Halifax. Clary Stubbert was part of the organizing committee, so I worked on the event with him. That’s when I started getting into coaching. Then, in 2013, I started doing my coaching levels and started coaching with Steve Sampson in 2015.”
Smith spent 26 years working as an occupational therapist at the Capital District Health Authority in Nova Scotia. She is now an Interprofessional Practice Learning Leader at Nova Scotia Health.
Her professional experience has helped her as a classifier and wheelchair basketball coach in the province.
“I think it helps with the classification piece,” Smith explained. “I think my area of research interests, looking at motor learning and adult learning, really helps me as a coach—my work with wheelchair skills training. I think OT as a profession itself is very solution-focused, it’s very inclusive, it’s very creative, and I think all those things are helpful when coaching.”
During her time as a classifier, Smith has seen many changes to the system and the athletes’ characteristics. The Gaspereau, N.S. resident calls the evolution of the classification system an interesting and challenging aspect of the game.
“The whole area of classification has changed over the years and continues to change,” Smith explained. “I think there’s still lots of room for evolution there because the athlete has been evolving. Wheelchair basketball was very much designed for people who did not have use of their legs or limited use of the legs. Hand function and upper extremity function weren’t so much of a consideration.
“Now, the treatments that are being provided increase the likelihood of incomplete injuries, and that plays a role. I think it’s a very interesting field. I think the changes that are happening internationally are going to continue for a while.”
This month, Smith will wear her coaching hat as she leads Team Nova Scotia to the 2024 Junior East Championship (March 8-10) in Montreal.
The Junior East Championship is an inclusive 3×3 tournament and features athletes with and without disabilities competing together. It is the first event in the Canada Games cycle.
“We’re happy to have a new athlete (Anneka Siegel) come out whose previous sport was sailing,” said Smith. “She’s been coming out to practices, and she’s a really dynamic young woman, and we’re happy to have her on our first trip out. We’re bringing three female athletes and one male to Montreal.
“A new coach, Staphane Roy, will be joining us as we’re trying to do a lot of coach development. He’s from B.C. and will join us on his first Team Nova Scotia trip.”