It's Fast Break time at Bridgeport Parks and Recreation. 

 

Registration is open through Sept. 18 for the popular youth basketball league, open to area high school and middle school students. 

 

"Although area kids play other fall sports, this is kind of a lull for those kids," said Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Joe Shuttleworth. 

 

The program also serves as a warm-up activity for those trying out for middle school and high school basketball. For those who do not play school sports, it's a nice league to follow some of the younger youth sports programs.

 

"That's true especially for kids who come up through our K-3 program and play Jerry West, staying active for all that time and then aging out of the program," Shuttleworth said. "They hit this middle school/high school age group and that's where a lot of kids tend to drop off organized sports because they don't want to play school teams or don't make their school teams. This helps them stay active." 

 

Evaluations will be held Thurs., Sept. 24 at Heritage Christian School gymnasium, after which a draft will take place.

 

"We've always gotten two levels of play - the more serious ball players and some who just want to have a good time," Shuttleworth said. "That's why we do the draft the way we do so we don't have high school starters playing against kids who are just out for the fun. We do our best to mix the skill levels up and coaches normally do a pretty good job of that." 

 

Volunteer coaches are needed. Interest can be indicated on the attached registration form. 

 

"There are 10 officiated games and a few practices at the beginning of the season," Shuttleworth said. 

 

Middle school games will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and high school games on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Games will run late-September through early-November. Registration is $85 per player. 

 

Registration forms are available at the Benedum Civic Center or can be downloaded HERE. For more information, call Bridgeport Parks and Recreation at 304-842-8240.