Garden City Basketball - Update

A big thank you to our Garden City Basketball coaches that spent six precious hours on a beautiful Saturday attending one of the best coaches clinics on Long Island.

An intramural coaches meeting will be held Wednesday October 25th at 7:30pm at Cluett Hall/St Paul's. This is an open meeting and interested participant parents may also attend. Visit our "Upcoming Events" tab on our website for other important announcements/events.

As a proud member of the jrNBA and jrWNBA, we suggest you visit www.nba.com/jrnba/ for information about NBA Cares, free summer camps, and pledge to be a S.T.A.R. (sportsmanship, teamwork, attitude, & respect). Check out the links for Coaches, Players, and Parents. Each link will lead you to an awesome guide that provides valuable basketball information that everyone should read.

For boys in the 5th, 6th, and 7th grades, if you don't have too many things to do with other sports and are interested in joining a number of kids playing at one of our parks...please contact JosephPAmato@aol.com

The registration deadline is approaching. If you are still on the fence, join the hundreds of participants that have signed up for Garden City Basketball. If have enjoyed basketball at St Paul's over the last six years, it is important to know that John Skramko is no longer running the GCAA program and has launched a new organization.

Garden City Basketball is the only local program that is endorsed by, recommended by, and has partnered with the Island Garden. The Island Garden is our nationally respected Amateur Athletic Union regional entity.

A number of organizations have existed for a long period of time. The individual with the overwhelming experience of running youth basketball in Garden City at St Paul's is John Skramko. While running the GCAA basketball program for the last six years, John was directly responsible for the building, growth, and success of that program.

Garden City Basketball is NOT running a similar program to any other group.

We are the FIRST local basketball program:

* that is a member of the AAU, USA Basketball, the JrNBA, and the JrWNBA

* to provide the capability to register online

* that has invested in a website that sets us apart from all other basketball programs

* that is using sponsors to help keep our costs down.

The birth of Garden City Basketball has created an organization solely focused on basketball. We have raised the bar and have injected activity, effort, and excitement for the sport of youth basketball in the village. We believe that Garden City Basketball has the vision, dedication, and sets the standard for youth basketball in the village.

If size is important...It is possible that Garden City Basketball will have the largest program in the village. However, our goal is NOT to be the largest. Our goal is simply to have a great program that is our version of fun for children.

The focus of Garden City Basketball is our intramural program. Our greater mission is to provide a wonderful experience for all of our participants so that a love of the life long game of basketball will be nurtured and grow.

There will be clinics for all participants led by:

* The Island Garden's expert AAU instructors

* George Bruns former Nets professional basketball player and Varsity coach at Manhasset High School

* The Garden City Varsity team led by Coach Larry Steimer

The Garden City Basketball intramural program is open to boys 1st through 9th grades and girls 1st through 7th grades and is held in the St. Paul's Field House. Our intramural program begins in mid-November and runs through March 2007.

Register online at www.gardencitybasketball.org for the upcoming season. The registration fee is $50. Paper applications may be obtained from our website, St. Paul's-Cluett Hall, the Island Garden, and/or the village of Garden City Recreation Office. The registration deadline has been extended to October 15th. Late fees are being waived.

Please visit our website at www.gardencitybasketball.org for a wealth of information. You may contact us at jskramko@optonline.net or 746-9659 with any questions.