One of the cool parts of my job as Director of Activities at St. James UMC is running a youth basketball league during the winter months. Our gym is one of 11 different gyms that have teams participate in the overall league. This season, there are 12 different teams participating from our church. The age range is from 7-14 years old. The teams are broken down by age brackets of 7/8, 9/10, 11/12 and 13/14.

Back in October, we began to recruit coaches/assistant coaches as well as opened online registration. Typically the last Saturday in October, we host tryouts and draft the teams. By the second week in November, practices have begun in our gym. Games begin the first Saturday of January and run for 8 straight Saturdays.

Between scheduling the courts, hiring and training scorekeepers, hiring refs, ordering jerseys, communicating with coaches and parents about game times and practice times, maintaining the basketball goals, courts and balls…there is quite a bit to do. But watching the kids play and have fun, plus the connections we are building in the surrounding community of Brookhaven/Buckhead, makes it all worthwhile.

We are 2 weeks away from playoff Saturday and after 5 months, the season will be wrapping up. It’s been a rewarding season for us at St. James UMC and our gym/activities building.