By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
Created in February of last year, the Tulalip Go Hard or Go Home community basketball league just completed its third season. Developed and organized by Youth Services staff, with games hosted at the Tulalip Youth Center, the league is a prime outlet for basketball players of every level. And most importantly, everyone is welcome to participate.
“I feel this basketball league brings the community a tad bit closer to our youth by connecting with them, being in our home gym competing and having fun,” says Tulalip Activities Specialist and league co-coordinator Shawn Sanchey. “It’s a great activity to keep our youth and community active while keeping a consistent workout available.”
In its third season there were nine teams playing, with each team carrying eight roster spots. Including the add/drops, there was an estimated eighty players who hooped it up on the Tulalip hardwood on a weekly basis. Ages ranged from early teens to elder statesmen. The league is also co-ed by design, a rule is in place stating each team has to have a female hooper on the court at all times.
“To me, it brings the community together in a positive healthy way,” states fellow co-coordinator of the league Darcy Enick-Grant. “Of course mostly locals participate, but the league gives us an opportunity to welcome other friends and athletes to our reservation. We see families supporting their loved ones, see our youth participating and helping keep score. Overall it brings our community together.”
Giving Tulalip ballers the best bang for their buck has been a priority through the first three seasons. In fact, costs have been minimal and the amount of games plenty when compared to surrounding basketball leagues. This latest Tulalip league charged only $150 per team for a season comprised of ten regular season games, plus playoffs. That’s close to nothing when compared to the near $600 per team fee that most leagues commonly charge for only a guaranteed six to eight games.
“My favorite moments from this league is no matter what the outcome, our people have a good time playing ball and they end up with smiles on their faces!,” adds Shawn. “I think everyone loves the experience of having our own league in Tulalip.”
Going forward, Youth Services staff will continue to look for ways to make the league better and more official. Possibly increasing the team entry fee in order to have patched refs work each game would bring a more organized feel for sure. Also, better planning for rules and regulation would be clutch, so all players and league staff are on the same page at all times.
Be on the lookout for future league notification in the Tulalip See-Yaht-Sub. If you have any questions or would like more information about the Tulalip basketball league, please contact Josh Fryberg, Youth Services Coordinator, at 360-716-4908.