By Bobbie Cantu, Athletics Supervisor
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to rethink and create new ways to safely enjoy and play sports. With the arrival of November, you may wonder what the City of College Station’s winter youth basketball season will look like.
Youth basketball provides boys and girls in two age divisions — 8-10 and 10-12-year olds — a chance to learn basic skills such as strategy, teamwork, and leadership. The program will be slightly different this year due to facility restrictions and safety procedures at the Lincoln Recreation Center.
Rest assured that the Parks and Recreation Department follows CDC and local guidelines regarding COVID-19 and youth sports. Specific safety protocols include:
- You must cover both the nose and mouth to enter and stay on the premises unless you are actively participating.
- Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the LRC.
- On-site staff members are subject to a verbal wellness screening when they arrive and will be required to wear appropriate PPE during their shifts.
- The facility is thoroughly sanitized before and after each practice or game with EPA-approved products.
- Participants and coaches are allowed to bring only one spectator inside the facility for each game or practice.
Registration runs through Jan. 3 and is limited to 160 participants for each division to ensure safe social distancing. You are encouraged to sign up early. The league runs from Jan. 11-March 11, with age divisions assigned based on players’ ages as of Jan. 1.
Register online or by calling 979-764-3486 or stopping by the Central Park office at 1000 Krenek Tap Road between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays. The cost is $70 per participant.
Games are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 6:30-9:30 p.m. Practices are on Saturdays between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Times are subject to change based on the final number of teams. Practices and games will take place at the Lincoln Recreation Center. Each player accumulates at least two quarters of playing time for each game they play.
Volunteer Coaches Needed
Parents are their kids’ greatest fans, and we encourage you to get involved as a volunteer coach. Without dedicated volunteers, our programs can’t grow and prosper. We need coaches for every age division. No experience is required, and we provide you with the help and resources you need for a fun and successful season
To apply as a volunteer coach, complete the form at cstx.gov/sportsvolunteer. Volunteers must also complete a background check.
About the Blogger Athletics Supervisor Bobbie Cantu is in her third year with the Parks and Recreation Department. A native of Weslaco, she earned bachelor’s (2017) and master’s (2019) degrees in Sport Management from Texas A&M.
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