By T. Scott Boatright
Area youth looking to learn the correct way to hoop it up will get the opportunity to do so this summer by playing in the Bearcat Ballers Youth Summer League overseen by Ruston High School boys basketball coach Ryan Bond and RHS girls basketball coach Meredith Graf.
“Players will learn the rules, and about teamwork and sportsmanship through in-game experience while playing with age appropriate goals and equipment,” Graf said.
In order to participate, children must be at least 7 by June 1 and no older than 13 by July 1.
“If the numbers work out then the boys and girls will be separated,” Graf said. “But if participant numbers are unbalanced the league will look to merge some boys and girls teams within the same age division, as long as appropriate skill levels can be maintained. After or even during the first week of play, there may be some trading of players to better balance the teams.”
The divisions will be:
• Division I – Ages 7 and 8 playing on adjusted court sizes and goals
• Division II – Ages 9 and 10 playing on adjusted court sizes and goals
• Division III – Ages 11-13 playing on regulation court sizes and goals
Each child will be assigned a team and coach for the four-week league which will run from June 1-24. Each team will play twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Games will be played at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. if necessary, in each of the RHS gyms.
Cost for the league is $50 per child and includes a T-shirt that will serve as the jersey for each game. After a first child is paid for, a second will cost $40 and a third will cost $30. Cash, money orders or checks made out to RHS will be accepted.
Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. Monday followed by an evaluation clinic that will run from 6-7 p.m. in the RHS main gym. The clinic will serve as a time for the players to be evaluated in order to help divide up the teams as well as serving as time to teach players the rules that will be stressed the most during league play.
To fill out pre-registration information, go online to https://forms.gle/BF5nhxxezbiC31W46
