Middle School Hoops will return to Salem-Keizer
Pilot program to gauge idea of returning district basketball permanently for younger hoopsters
It has been quite a while, but the Salem-Keizer School District once offered competitive basketball at the middle school level. Long-time coach Scott Coburn of Keizer recalls clearly that 1993-94 season marked the last year for the program for both boys and girls.
Back in the 1970s—when I was in what then was called Junior High—before Title IX had been approved—the six Junior Highs at that time had two (boys) teams that played in a competitive city league. Many folks remember watching games played on Tuesdays and Fridays—just like the high schools.
These days, the young teens have a couple of options that don’t involve the schools directly.
Programs such as Salem-Keizer Youth basketball (SKYBALL) provides an opportunity, if your family can afford the cost and get the kid(s) to the various game locations. The same goes for AAU travel teams, which can cost families thousands of dollars. Some high school coaches have established 501(c)(3) non-profit hoops programs which allow students to compete for their feeder high school. Still other families might opt for the Salem Boys and Girls Club program—which is a little less expensive, but requires showing up at the Club gymnasium. Even local churches are involved in hoops, offering the increasingly popular Upward basketball program. Again, low cost—but families have to make plans to get players to the various church sites, even on Saturdays.
With this myriad of opportunities locally, Salem-Keizer Schools Coordinator of Activities and Athletics Lara Tiffin is looking at bringing back district-sponsored teams. It all begins in late spring of this school year—with a pilot basketball program that will include one girls and one boys team at each middle school.
“The goal of this pilot program is two-fold,” explains Tiffin.
“One is to provide the opportunity for students to participate in a healthy, constructive activity, giving them a chance at increasing their sense of belonging and sense of community. The second is to determine how many students are interested in going out for basketball, which will help me in crafting a request to get middle school basketball added into the general budget for next year.”
All eleven middle schools will receive funding for uniforms, basketball equipment, and a coach on the school staff. Transportation will be provided to and from the game locations.
The program will begin in late February, and will include tryouts and team cuts. There will be expectations for grades and school behavior in order to remain on a school team. Very much like the high school model. The games are to be grouped together with three or four teams at a site—and multiple games played that day by all participants.
Local coaches at the high school level generally like the idea of this pilot program.
“I like this because at the end of the day we are giving girls a better opportunity to play basketball,” says South Salem girls coach Adrian Lewis.
“Volleyball has been dominating the youth level because they have it in middle school.”
Lewis says the turnout for basketball at South is typically about 25-30 girls, while volleyball turnout is around 80 kids every year. He says having volleyball at the middle school level has helped that program to get more interested students.
New McNary girls hoops coach Mike McShane is also enthusiastic about middle school hoops.
“it is good to get this sport back into the middle school, because it establishes school pride, gives the kids a sense of belonging and spirit” argues McShane.
“Setting the trajectory for the student’s education and the place is their school community is very important.”
Sprague boys coach Jordan Graneto echoes the sentiments of his coaching colleagues.
“If there is an opportunity for kids in the community to play more basketball and be coached by someone that knows what they are doing—I think it is a good thing.”
All three coaches pointed out that a school district basketball model will cost the kids less money, will make it easier to practice at their own facilities, and will have free transportation that might otherwise eat into the family budget.
There were some concerns voiced about a school district program impacting the other established programs locally, but McShane says the in-school program will be a great character-building experience.
“It will be a good way to work on training them up in treatment of others, performing in the classroom, learning about eligibility,” argues McShane.
“It will help them to understand what is required of them to participate in sports.”
Details about the pilot basketball program will be shared at the individual middle schools in coming weeks. The program’s success will be monitored during the season and analyzed once all the games have been played.
Lace ‘em up and start shooting around now, kids. The season should be fun.