By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

 

The YMCA of Selma-Dallas County is welcoming children to come take to the court as youth basketball season is fast approaching.

The deadline to register children is Wednesday, Nov. 30 and there is a $25 registration fee for members of the YMCA and a $35 fee for non-members, and there will still be time to register after the deadline.

“Registration ends Nov. 30, but we have extended registration through mid December,” said Kasey Burton, fitness and program director at the YMCA of Selma-Dallas County. “It’ll be a $10 late fee charged to register during that time.”

Parents can go to the YMCA to register their child for the youth league.

The league is for children ranging from first grade to sixth grade, and Burton said the YMCA is hoping for as many teams as possible.

“We’re looking at anywhere from five to six (teams) for each age group,” Burton said. “But, of course, more is always a plus.”

Evaluations for the youth basketball league will be held on Dec. 5 with the first through second grade going at 5:30 p.m., third through fourth grade at 6:15 p.m. and fifth through sixth grade going at 7 p.m.

Games will begin after the Christmas holiday in the first week of January.

Games will be played at the YMCA on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will start at 5:30 p.m. with the younger teams playing first.

Burton said basketball is a good teaching tool that will help children develop a multitude of skills.

“Basketball helps them develop the basic skills for basketball and also helps them develop self discipline and teamwork,” Burton said. “It kind of teaches them about youth sports and how to be competitive.”

Burton said the YMCA is also looking for coaches for each of the league’s teams.

“Coaches are always needed, of course,” Burton said.

“They can just call and let me know they’re interested in being a coach, I’ll put them on a list and I’ll contact them and they’ll come and evaluate the players on the day of evaluations. Then we’ll kind of have a draft and the coaches will pick their teams.”

For more information, contact Kasey Burton at the YMCA at 874-9622.