GCAA, an entity that has been running sports in Garden City for over 50 years, is now accepting applications for the 2009-2010 basketball season.

The application can be downloaded from the GCAA website, www.gc-aa.com Please sign up early as the number of registrants will determine the amount of court time GCAA receives. Additional court time increases the probability we can hold all our intramural games at St. Paul's on Saturdays. By signing up now, you lock in the discounted rates of $40 for the K-1 Clinics and $60 for intramurals. The rates increase by $10 on Sept 1 and late fees apply after October 1st. The intramural season starts in early December and runs thru the middle of March. Early sign ups help us in securing more court time, structuring our program timeframes and negotiating discounts for uniform orders. In addition, GCAA hopes to avoid the need for using weeknight times at St. Paul's for a limited number of intramural games as we have had to do the last few years.

GCAA Basketball has improved its programs significantly over the last 4 years as we look forward to continued success. GCAA Basketball sets itself apart in the following ways.

GCAA had 52 intramural teams last year in the 2008-2009 season. This season we expect even more. Each team has one head coach and at least one asst.

GCAA has intramural standings, playoffs and incorporates player clinics into the learning process. The standings and rosters are posted on the GCAA website.

GCAA had 17 travel teams in the 2008-2009 season. This season we expect even more.

GCAA runs a Challenger Program for the physically and mentally challenged with over 100 participants.

GCAA runs actual games for 2nd grade boys, 2-3 Girls and 7-8 Boys.

GCAA will have morning times at the St. Paul's facility in the 2009-2010 season.

GCAA, given participation levels, can form viable leagues with fewer grades rather than divisions with wide disparity of ages and less teams.

GCAA has drafts for all intramural teams 3rd grade and up in an effort to make sure teams are balanced and fair.

GCAA has a board of basketball directors and has already lined up coordinators for all divisions.

GCAA's dedicated volunteers are as follows:

Director of Basketball- Chris DeSantis

cmd144@aol.com

Intramural Coordinator- Dan Dignam

dignamfam@optonline.net

Travel Coordinator- Tom Granville

granvill@whitneycap.com

Clinic Coordinator- Scott Paskewitz

scottpask5@hotmail.com

GCAA's intramural grade coordinators are as follows:

BOYS Intramurals

7th/8th Grade Boys- John Lori

john.d.lori@ustrust.com and Tom Granville

granvill@whitneycap.com

5th/6th Grade Boys- John Mixon

johnpaulmixon@verizon.net

4th Grade Boys- John Gallagher

gallagher5@optonline.net and

Brendan Wootten bwoot@optonline.com

3rd Grade Boys- Doug O'Connor

lddirect@optonline.com

2nd Grade Boys- Scott Paskewitz

scottpask5@hotmail.com

1st Grade Boys-Pat McCormack

patrickmccormack@hotmail.com

K Boys- Scott Paskewitz

scottpask5@hotmail.com

GIRLS Intramurals

6th-8th Grade Girls- Dan Dignam

dignamfam@optonline.net

4th-5th grade Girls-John Feyrer

jfeyrergc@aol.com and

Jim Haggerty jimhaggerty65@yahoo.com

2nd and 3rd Girls-Maura Liberopoulos-

liberopoulos@yahoo.com

K-1 Girls Clinic-Scott Paskewitz

scottpask5@hotmail.com

Our anticipated preliminary Sat AM schedule at St. Paul's for 2009-2010 season is noted below. PLEASE NOTE SCHEDULED TIMES and LOCATION ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THESE TIMES AND DIVISIONS MAY CHANGE DUE TO NUMBER OF REGISTRANTS AND COURT TIME ALLOCATIONS. BASED UPON NUMBER OF PLAYERS REGISTERED, GCAA WAS GIVEN AN 8 HOUR BLOCK OF TIME LAST YEAR. ASSUMING THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS REGISTERED STAYS THE SAME ON A PRO-RATA BASIS, GCAA HAS CONFIRMED WITH THE VILLAGE GCAA WOULD RECEIVE A CONSECUTIVE 8 HOUR BLOCK OF TIME FROM 8:00AM to 4:00PM for the 2009-2010 SEASON. WE WOULD EXPECT TO FINALIZE THESE TIMES SOMETIME IN LATE SEPTEMBER/EARLY OCTOBER.

K-1 Boys and Girls Clinic 8:00-9:00AM

2-3 Girls Games9:00-10:00AM

2nd Boys Games9:00-10:00AM or 10:00-11:00AM

4-5 Girls Games 10:00-11:00AM

or 11:00-12:00PM

6-8 Girls Games 11:00-12:00PM

or 12:00-1:00PM

3rd Boys Games 11:00-12:00PM

or 12:00-1:00PM or 1:00-2:00PM

4th Boys Games12:00-1:00PM

or 1:00-2:00PM

5-6 Boys Games 1:00-2:00PM

or 2:00PM-3:00PM

7-8 Boys Games 3:00-4:00PM

Finally, please look out for more information on the GCAA Travel Basketball program. GCAA expects to hold try outs the week of Sept 28th and the week of October 5th. Please note no new travel coaches are selected until after the try outs although we would ask anyone that has an interest in coaching a 4th grade girls travel team or a 3rd grade boys travel team in the 2009-2010 season to let Tom Granville know their interest via email granvill@whitneycap.com. In order to be considered for a GCAA travel coaching position, you must have volunteered in the GCAA Basketball program for at least 2 years prior to the year in which the travel team is formed and your child must make the team thru the try out process. For example, a 3rd grade coach must have coached in the 2nd grade and volunteered at the clinic level in first grade in order to be considered. Most GCAA travel coaches from prior years are asked to return if they have an interest in doing so. GCAA has traditionally formed 2 teams per grade provided there is adequate demand, available coaching and appropriate division for teams to play in. Our plan would be to do the same in the 2009-2010 season. The fee for GCAA Travel teams for the 18 game Island Garden 2009-2010 season plus possible playoffs will be $325 if a player can use last year's uniform. If a player needs a new uniform, the fee will be $375. The travel fee will include the registration fee for intramurals as well.

Should you have any questions regarding the GCAA Basketball program, please feel free to email any of the directors or coordinators listed above. Thank you for continued support of GCAA Basketball.