Sports

Girls Recreation Basketball League Seeks Players for 'Feeder Program'

The Fort Lee Girls' Recreation Basketball League, which had more than 260 players last season, is looking for even more this year, with regular registration taking place Monday through Wednesday this week at the Fort Lee Community Center.

Registration for the Fort Lee Girls Recreation Basketball League takes place Monday through Wednesday this week.

League president Michael Klein says he’s looking for more girls in third and fourth grade, in addition to coaches at that level and girls in fifth and sixth grade interested in trying out for the league’s travel team.

“My biggest challenge each year is to get third graders interested in playing basketball,” Klein said. “It is their first year joining the league, and most girls are apprehensive to start a new sport they never tried before.”

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Klein added, “But once they start, most play until the eighth grade and hopefully at the high school level.”

Klein said the high school “feeder program” starts early—not in the seventh and eighth grade level, at which most people would think.

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“We need to start them young and keep them in the program,” he said, adding that he’s sent out more than 1,300 flyers for each registration period to all four of Fort Lee’s elementary schools, as well as Lewis F. Cole Middle School and Christ the Teacher to reach his projected number of about 260 girls in the league.

“I'm in communication with all four Fort Lee [elementary] school physical education teachers, as well to remind the girls about registration dates,” Klein said. “It's all about communicating, which I attribute trying to run a successful league.”

Practices start the week of Dec. 3, according to Klein who said the league registered more than 120 girls during early registration in September, which he called “a nice jump start into the league.”

Registration takes place Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 15-17 at the Fort Lee Community Center from 7 to 9 p.m.

For more information email Michael Klein at MKGATORS22@AOL.com or visit the league’s comprehensive website for up-to-date information and announcements. 


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