It’s that time of year again! Time for kids basketball!!

Scarborough Youth Sports Forum is pleased to announce its 7th season of kids basketball for children ages 4 through 7.

The most popular of the 12 kids sports programs run annually by SYSF, basketball is a great team sport and cardiovascular workout for kids. It gets them out of the house and off the couch during winter months!

The SYSF hoops program will return this winter to Camp Ketcha, 336 Black Point Road, Scarborough, after two years in elementary school and church rec hall settings. The focus of the program will be on teaching the kids the most important basics and fundamentals of basketball in a fun setting.

The coaches and helpers will break the kids into small groups. The kids will rotate every few minutes to one of several learning “centers” devoted to the basics of passing, rebounding, dribbling, shooting and defense. The atmosphere is fun and energetic; the kids enjoy when the coaches blow the whistle and signal a time for a “switch!” to another center.

The final two sessions will involve scrimmages between the kids. A “Kodak Moment” to be sure, and absolute bedlam! (We deflate the balls to encourage passing in the first scrimmage, then let the kids all loose to play as is in the final one). The final night is devoted to an awards presentation night with the kids getting an informational booklet and a nice commemorative item.

SYSF has for a slogan: “Better human beings make better athletes.” With this in mind, our programs are more than just sports. We will have a short “community service” project opportunity for families that want it; we anticipate this being a visit to a local retirement home for some holiday caroling.

We will also be putting together a special Martin Luther King Day service for the MLK Day holiday. Kids will be invited to sing non-denominational songs at a special service, and learn more about the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King. We will tie some basketball into this day as well!

We will also shoot for a visit to an SHS basketball game; there are many players and coaches at the high school who are great role models for your children.

The SYSF kids basketball program starts Monday Dec. 5. The first session is 5 to 5:50 pm. A second session is also offered from 6 to 6:50 pm (we provide for a gap in time to allow for a “changing of the guard” in parking lot, and sneaker-changing time.). Tentative dates are: Monday Dec. 5; Monday Dec. 12; Monday Dec. 19; Monday Jan. 16 (Martin Luther King Day kids service); Monday Jan. 23; Monday Jan. 30; and Monday Feb. 6.

Registration fee is $65 per child. Send check payable for that amount to Scarborough Youth Sports Forum at PO Box 1270, Scarborough 04070. Deadline for signups is Nov. 30.

Registration fee includes an SYSF hoop t shirt, and free participation for your child in “healthy snack nights” we provide from time to time – fresh fruit and water bottles are offered to the kids. Reminders about eating right are good for all our kids to hear.

Let me know if you have questions at 799 9793 or by e mail at: dwarren@jwlawfirm.com. See you Dec. 5!