Numbers add up to revive park youth basketball effort

Youth basketball is alive and well and under way for the Greencastle Parks and Recreation Department.

More than 140 youngsters have signed up for the 2013-14 version of the basketball program, more than twice as many children as a year ago when the park program was canceled because of lagging numbers.

"That's enough for running a program," Park Director Rod Weinschenk told the Park Board at its December meeting. "We're not where were in the past but we're way more than the last two years."

Three years ago the park's youth basketball program had 270 participants. But numbers took a nosedive when a competing program started and appeared to siphon off many of the more experienced players.

However, extending the registration deadline this fall seemed to work well for the Park Department basketball program, which has now begun practice sessions in anticipation of playing games after the first of the year.

Meanwhile, Director Weinschenk announced other information about the youth basketball program as follows:

Grades 4-6

· Girls in grades 4-6 will practice Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. in the Deer Meadow gym.

· Boys in grades 4-6 will practice Mondays and Wednesdays from 7-8 p.m. in the Deer Meadow gym.

· For both boys and girls, Monday practices will be structured as team practices while Wednesdays will focus on fundamental skills.

· Additional practice set for Saturday morning, Jan. 4 (times TBA).

· First games for both groups will be Saturday, Jan. 11. Game times are Saturdays at 9, 10, 11 a.m. or noon at Deer Meadow.

Grades 1-3

· Girls and boys in grades 1-3 will practice one time per week at Tzouanakis School. Practices will be either Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays, for one hour determined by the coach of the team and the basketball board of directors.

· Saturday, Jan. 4 will be reserved for practices at Tzouanakis gym (times TBA).

· First games will begin on Saturday, Jan. 11. Game times are Saturdays at 11 a.m., noon, 1 or 2 p.m. at the Tzouanakis gym.

Kindergarten

· "My First Shot!" basketball is a Saturday-only program. All meetings will be on Saturdays at 9 or 10 a.m. at the Tzouanakis gym.

· Saturdays, Jan. 4 and 11 will be practice sessions. On Jan. 11, the last 10 minutes will include a scrimmage.

· Skill review sessions/games will begin Saturday, Jan. 18. Skill review sessions will get shorter and games will get longer as season progresses.

Other announcements

· Youth basketball players are to arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before their scheduled practice time at either gym site. If the gym is being used, players are to sit quietly in the Deer Meadow cafeteria or wait quietly in the hall at Tzouanakis until the gym is vacated and your team's coach has arrived.

· With the sleet and snow season upon us, players are asked to carry their basketball shoes into the gym to keep gym floors clean.

· Players, parents and spectators are asked not to bring food or beverages into the gym at either school. Bottled water, with lid, is the only beverage allowed in the gym.

· The Greencastle Community School Corporation has graciously allowed use of its facilities, so it is imperative that children stay in designated areas.