This Jackson Friends Church Youth Basketball League is a Co-Ed League for grades K - 6th. The league is recreational and will focus on developing youths' basketball skills, as well as their relationship with Jesus Christ. Youth will learn good practice techniques and develop interpersonal and teamwork skills. We want to make sure participants have an enjoyable experience with the game, learn about Jesus, and increase their basketball skills! Jackson Friends Sports Leagues give equal playing time for all kids!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4th, 2024 (last evaluation night)

SEASON DATES: January 5th - February 28th (eight weeks)

Registration Cost Breakdown (includes t-shirt, pizza party on last practice night and end of year gift):

Kindergarten Division: $87

1st/2nd Grade Divisions: $90

3rd/4th Grade Division: $92

5th/6th Grade Division: $95

Jersey Cost : $20

*JERSEYS ARE THE SAME AS LAST YEAR. YOU DON'T NEED TO BUY A NEW ONE IF YOU HAVE YOURS FROM LAST YEAR.*

The league will be split up into five divisions:

Kindergarten Division

1st - 2nd Grade A Division (Division for more experienced 1st/2nd graders)

1st-2nd Grade B Division (Division for beginners or less experienced 1st/2nd graders)

3rd - 4th Grade Division (IF enough teams, we will split into an A and B Division again. League Director will split kids)

5th - 6th Grade Division

*NOTE - Those signing up for 1st/2nd Grade Divisions A or B. IF after evaluations, we feel your participant would be better suited switching to the opposite division, we will reach out to you. We want to make sure each division has similar enough levels of talent. For those in the 3rd/4th and 5th/6th grade divisions, IF it works out, we may split those divisions into an A and B Division as well. Will assess after evaluations.

Teams will practice once weekly (Monday, Tuesday or Thursday), with games on Saturdays (starting with K in the morning and running until 5th/6th in the evening). The league will run from January 5th - February 28th. There will be 8 practices and 8 games. The first practice depending on each player's team will be January 5th, 6th or 8th. First game will be on Saturday, January 17th. We will also have ONE Saturday practice on SATURDAY, January 10th. This also means that to get our eighth game in, we will have games in place of practice the very last week of the season, which would be February 23, 24 or 26 (depending on your normal practice night). And then we will finish off the season with games on Saturday, February 28th!

There will be THREE evaluation dates options that league participants may choose from, to be evaluated before teams are created. The first evaluation opportunities for grades 1st – 6th will take place on Monday, November 17th AND Tuesday, November 18th from 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM. IF you cannot make one of these early evaluation nights, we will have ONE LAST OPPORTUNITY on Thursday, December 4th, 5:00 - 7:00 PM. It is preferred though that you could to one of the first chances on Nov. 17th or 18th. You only need to attend ONE evaluation night. Participants can come ANY TIME between timeframes to be evaluated (ex. – 1st grader John could come at 5:45 PM, but 4th grader Sarah shows up at 6:30 PM). Participants will go through a number of drills (with other participants of the same age group) and should be finished in roughly 15 minutes or so. The KINDERGARTEN age group does NOT evaluate, as many of these kids are on similar skill levels, just picking up the game for the first time or being fairly new to it. Parents will have an opportunity to give an assessment of their kindergarten child’s skill level in the registration questions. Evaluations for 1st-6th grade will be at Jackson Friends Church inside our gym. Immediately following the Nov. 17/18 evaluation nights, we will have a brief coaches meeting at 7:30 PM in the generations room, just off the lobby area, for any parents interested in coaching or that have already signed up (only need to attend one meeting). We will have a coaching application/background check to fill out for new coaches and we will go over the league rules, expectations, etc. We always need more coaches, so please sign up! Expectations for parents will be sent out through email, and addressed in the first game week.

As always, we will do our best to keep the facilities clean and safe for kids, parents and fans alike!

We hope you will join us this season!

Joel Bankert

Director of Sports & Recreation

Jackson Friends Church