Dave Poon Tip
- Founder / Head Coach
Dave moved to Vancouver from Phoenix AZ in 2000 to work in the newly forming tech industry in the days before e-mail was a business application. He immediately found a school to volunteer at and coached at the high school level in Burnaby for several years. He was the regional coach for Basketball BC boys U15 team for Burnaby/ New West a number of times and the Senior Boys coach at Burnaby Central Secondary for three seasons where they won their first city championship in 20 years in 2007. During that time the need for the Balloholics arose and came together with Dave’s life skills approach to coaching. Soon after the Balloholics started classes in 2006, kids were coming to our classes from Pitt Meadows and Richmond.
Dave is a Level 3 NCCP basketball coach certified in Alberta’s pioneer Level 3 class in 1994 and is a Learn to Train and Community Coach certified course conductor for Canada Basketball Canada. He attended Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario and was a varsity athlete and a Business major. He has been involved in basketball as a player, coach or referee for over 35 years. In the fall of 2014 he received his FIBA International coaching license and was one of only 68 coaches in Canada with this designation at the time.
Having had the opportunity to travel and play in many countries including France, Belgium, Israel and the USA during his playing days. He has also coached at the college level at both SAIT in Calgary under the late Phil Allen who recorded the most wins in Canadian college history and George Brown College in Toronto where he assisted his college team mate Carl Subban , father of PK Subban. He has coached all age groups from 5 years to college and semi professional men’s basketball in the American Basketball Association headquartered in Indianapolis IN.
Balloholics fielded a senior men’s team in the ABA from 2014-2016. There seemed to be a need for that level at the time and while it was well received by players and fans it was however unable to attract the sponsors needed for long term success.
In 2016 Dave made his first trip to China to talk about the program in Hangzhou and Xian on the importance of the LTAD employed by Sport Canada. In 2018 he traveled twice again to China to talk and lead summer camps in Changshu and Nantong.
Victory Sports Camps provides programs for kids both on and off the court, to build self esteem and propel them in a direction of their passion. We’ve laid the foundation for a good long term program where we are now seeing our oldest students about to graduate university and volunteering to coach and help with our newest students. It has been a wonderful thing to see and watch our kids grow. As one of our long time parents reminded me, ‘it takes a village’.
A big key to success is how early in life someone chooses to sets goals and how they are supported in that choice. Let’s give our kids a solid foundation for future success in a fun environment.
Contact Dave at:
info@balloholic.com