Developing complete athletes, not just basketball players.

Basketball is an easy game to play, but a hard game to play well. Coach Tim McGarrigle builds every lab around the philosophy of live competition so that players learn skills that are transferable to games. Small groups, honest feedback, and high-touch coaching will help athletes make decisions, and use their skills while under the pressure of real defense. Built for athletes who already compete, not an intro-to-basketball program.

Voices from the gym

From former players, parents, and coaches who’ve seen Tim’s impact up close.

  • “Three seasons with Coach Tim completely transformed my game, confidence, and life.”

    Lydell Husbands
    Halifax Grammar School alumnus. Now playing at Dalhousie University

  • “Tim teaches the fundamentals, builds confidence, teamwork and a love for the game.”

    Kathy Spurr
    Former Senior Girls Basketball Coach, Halifax Grammar School

  • “Coach McGarrigle understands basketball & what players need to succeed.”

    Sven Stammberger
    Halifax Grammar School alumnus, Now playing at Dalhousie University

  • “No coach has shaped my basketball journey and character more than Tim.”

    Campbell Colpitts
    Halifax Grammar School alumnus
    Coach, Sackville High School ·

With more than 40 years of coaching experience across every level of the game, Coach Tim McGarrigle has built a reputation as a teacher, leader, and program builder whose impact stretches far beyond the court.

Coach Tim McGarrigle:

Coaching basketball can be broken down into two schools of thought. You can teach players so that they learn the plays, or you can teach players how to play. It has been my belief and developmental strategy that I want to teach players how to play.

The most basic truth about getting better as a basketball player is that if you practice better you’ll develop your talent, and you won’t develop your talent, unless you practice better. 

Basketball players do not decide their futures; they decide their habits, and their habits decide their futures.

A Lifetime Devoted to the Game

Inside the McGarrigle Basketball Lab

McGarrigle Basketball is where young athletes learn to think the game, love the work, and lead on and off the court.Tim coaches in the quiet moments most people never see: the extra rep after practice, the adjustment on a missed read, the questions that turn confusion into confidence.

Every session is built on teaching, not shortcuts. Athletes slow the game down, understand the “why,” and build habits that hold up when pressure rises. What they learn in the Lab travels with them, into school, teams, friendships, and life.

Groups are small, the coaching is honest, and every rep has a purpose: helping players who love the game learn how to play it well.

“He makes learning basketball fun. Not easy, but fun.”
Madeleine (13)

Parents can expect:
Short check-in after Week 1 and a final note in Week 6 with strengths and next steps.

  • Reads, spacing, decision-making for 13–15 year-old athletes. When to pass, drive, or shoot. See help early. Drive-and-kick, swing-swing, 0.5-second decisions in small-sided games.

  • Change-of-pace, retreat and split dribbles, protect with hips and shoulders, keep the ball out of traps.

  • Stance and angles, closeout footwork, staying in front without fouling, hit first on the box-out, team talk.

  • Shot pocket and line, balance, 1–2 and hop footwork, catch-and-shoot vs off-the-dribble, shot prep on the move.

  • Jump stop and stride stop, pivots, rip-throughs, jab series, start-stop without traveling.

  • Simple counters that work at this level: hesitation, punch-drag, step-back as a counter only, protect the pickup.

  • Learn what it means to be a competitor.
    Effort, communication, next-play focus. Respect for teammates and opponents.

  • Quick activation → skill block → small-sided game with constraints → finisher/compete → debrief with one takeaway.

Pick A Lane:

Choose the lab that fits where your athlete is right now. Six weeks. Small groups. Game-speed reps. Real defense. These sessions are built for committed athletes already competing on school or club teams, not for beginners.

ELITE ATHLETE PROGRAM

Female athletes ages 13-15.

You want hands-on coaching and rapid improvement. Semi-private, 6-week lab with Coach Tim, includes 1:1 evaluations.

SOLD OUT

VARSITY PREP PROGRAM

Female athletes ages 12-15.

LIMITED SPOTS

A space where girls are pushed and supported. 6-week varsity prep lab with Coach Tim to sharpen shooting, footwork, and decision-making.

WHEN: SATURDAYS
FEBRUARY 21 - MARCH 28TH

TIME: 9:15AM - 10:45AM (90MIN)
( 9 hours of on-court work)

VARSITY PREP PROGRAM

Male athletes ages 13-15.

CAPPED AT
12 SPOTS ONLY

You want a plan, confidence, and real game experience. 6-week varsity prep lab with Coach Tim to sharpen shooting, footwork, and decision-making.


WHEN: FRIDAYS
JANUARY 9TH - FEBRUARY 13TH

TIME: 9:00PM - 10:30PM (90MIN)
( 9 hours of on-court work)

Coaches Corner:

Bring Elite Coaching Directly to Your Gym

A rare chance for coaches to bring four decades of university, pro, and national team experience into your practice. Perfect for new coaches looking for guidance, and for seasoned coaches who want to unlock more from their team.

Bring Coach McGarrigle into your gym.
$350.00

Coaching can feel like a lot to carry on your own — especially if you’re new to the role, juggling systems, subs, and player development all at once. Coaches Corner is a way to bring four decades of university, pro, national team, and high-school experience right onto your bench and into your practices.

This is not a clinic in a lecture hall. It’s Tim beside you, with your team, in your gym.

One game. Three practices. Real feedback that fits the way you and your players actually play.

How Coaches Corner works:

1. Game-side assessment

Tim attends one of your games, sits on the bench, and quietly takes notes on:

  • Team habits on offense and defense

  • Spacing, decision-making, and tempo

  • Communication in huddles and on the floor

  • Sub patterns, roles, and body language

After the game, you’ll get a short debrief on what he saw, what’s working, and where the biggest opportunities are.

2. Practice One – Set the foundation

The first practice is about priorities and clarity.

  • Tim shares key findings from the game

  • You agree on 2–3 focus areas for this stretch (for example: transition defense, ball movement, late-game execution)

  • Practice time is shared between your usual work and targeted teaching segments led by Tim

  • Players hear the “why” behind the adjustments

Coaches are encouraged to ask questions throughout, not just watch.

3. Practice Two – Build better habits

The second practice leans into teaching and repetition.

  • Live and small-sided games to address the focus areas

  • Simple, high-yield drills your team can keep using all season

  • Emphasis on communication, spacing, and decision-making under pressure

You’ll see how Tim layers drills, corrects details, and keeps players engaged without losing standards.

4. Practice Three – Handoff and next steps

The final practice is about reinforcing habits and handing you tools you can keep.

  • Short review of what’s changed since Practice One

  • Progressions and game-like drills you can run on your own

  • Space for coach Q&A on systems, rotations, and player roles

  • Clear next steps for the rest of your season

The goal is that when Tim steps away, your team — and your coaching — are stronger and more confident than when he arrived.

Who Coaches Corner is for:

New and developing coaches who want another set of eyes on their team

  • Experienced coaches who want a fresh perspective or new practice ideas

  • School and club programs looking to tighten standards and habits

  • Any coach who cares as much about teaching and character as winning

You don’t have to run a fancy system. You just have to care about getting better.

Investment:

Coaches Corner package: 1 game + 3 practices — $350 + HST

Includes:

  • Pre-game zoom call with coach

  • One game on the bench with your team

  • Three full practices in your gym

  • Pre-visit email or call to confirm details and goals

One coach books online and parents share the cost. You know your group best, some teams split it evenly, others have one or two families cover more. However you handle it, the payment is made once by the coach.

Once you book, Tim will follow up by email to confirm dates, gym location, and a quick overview of your team.

(Travel within the Halifax area is included. If you’re outside HRM, get in touch and we can talk about options.)

Help Us Grow the Community

Basketball gets better when it’s shared. If you know an athlete, parent, or coach who’d value great reps and great coaching, send them this page. And if you want to stay in the loop on new labs, pop-up sessions, and openings, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Contact Tim

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and I’ll be in touch shortly. Looking forward to hearing from you!