The Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco has been offering a Pee Wee Basketball League for youth ages 6-14 for the past 26 years. The league’s 28 co-ed teams are broken up into four distinct age groups: Biddy Ball (6 year olds), Jr. Pee Wee (7-8 year olds), Pee Wee (9-11 year olds), and Open League (12-14 year olds). Prior to the start of the season, each volunteer coach is required to take a course by the Positive Coaching Alliance on how to start a beginner basketball team. They go through over 8 hours of training in order to prepare for teaching the fundamentals of the game in the right way.
Regardless of skill level, all youth participants are given a chance to participate in the league’s draft, All-Star game, and playoffs. The coaches host a draft in March like the NBA, and then train their selected players for the next 12 weeks. Midway through the season, the Pee Wee League hosts an All-Star game where the coaches vote for the All League 1st and 2nd teams. The players also complete a project together during the All-Star break. This past season’s project consisted of cleaning up a beach in San Francisco. After cleaning up the trash around the beach for four hours, the age groups attended different sessions. The younger players attended a session on healthy eating and staying hydrated during competition while the older players attended a workshop on how to avoid and treat minor sports injuries.
The Pee Wee League’s philosophy emphasizes equal participation and sportsmanship. The league’s participation rule is that every kid must play a full quarter and sit out a full quarter in every game. In addition, every team makes the league playoffs. With regards to sportsmanship, all kids must take a knee when a player is injured and applaud when the injured player is helped off the court. At the end of the year, each player receives an award. There are sportsmanship awards, hustle awards, and most improved player awards. The BGC of San Francisco is looking to enhance their basketball program by learning new skills and drills through the Jr. NBA, and plans to use the Under Armour gift card to purchase more equipment.
