Laurie Ethier has been coaching and refereeing public school and high school basketball on a volunteer basis in Belleville for the last 12 years.
Ethier fell in love with the sport after her daughter Cassandra began playing at Prince of Wales public school in her grade seven-eight year. Cassandra is now 24.
Although her daughter played for many years and has since moved away from the sport, she explained that her passion will always continue.
"I love the sport of basketball. But in the big picture I love teaching girls to be strong and independent and I can do that through volunteering through the school, I do that when I'm on the court myself reffing basketball."
Ethier said that one of her favorite parts about refereeing and coaching is being able to watch the girls grow and succeed over the years.
"Now with Cassie’s age, I see some of these kids go up to college and university level and I’m like wow, I was a part of that."
One example Ethier gave of growth and success was a woman who she dealt with while coaching at the highschool level.
"I didn't teach her in public school but I dealt with her a lot through the high school system when she was coming up as a basketball player and then to see her go and have two children and then come back and play for Loyalist College... There's a kid who kind of had a rough life but because of her love for basketball it made it work."
Ethier says she believes that the love and passion for the sport comes at a young age. She says she wishes that basketball and other such sports would be taught earlier than they currently are.
"I'd like to get my hands on them when there in grade 4 or 5," she said.
The team Ethier is currently coaching only has seven players, a number she says was unheard of 12 years ago.
"When Cassie was playing we had to cut players. Now with technology the way it is, and girls, and social media, most of them are unathletic."
Ethier says she believes that by being a female mentor to these girls it will empower them and give them someone to look up to.