Get'cha Head in the Game with the Sycamore Youth Basketball League

If you find yourself in the Sycamore High School Fieldhouse on a Saturday morning during January or February, chances are it will be anything but quiet. Instead, you will be met with the sounds of sneakers scuffing on the floor, referee whistles, and the games of the Sycamore Youth Basketball League.

The history of this league can be traced back about 16 years ago, when Brett Goff and Joe Ryan first founded the program. At the time, the only league for kids to play basketball in the community was at the YMCA. Both Goff and Ryan saw this need for another basketball program, while also wanting to provide Sycamore students with the opportunity to learn the sport within their community. So, with enough students for a few teams at each age division, the Sycamore Youth Basketball League was able to kick off its first year. 

The league has since grown, still remaining strong even after a couple of years impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A large part of that growth can be attributed right back to Goff and Ryan, who helped to cultivate the program from its inception around 2006 through 2010 and made it into what it is today. The league has seen several different coordinators over the years, with Brett Goff and Drewe Davey coordinating from 2010 to 2015, followed by Drewe and Dan Wheeler (who stepped up after Goff) from 2016 to 2020. Then, following a silent season during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jake Winters stepped into a coordinator role alongside Davey and Wheeler in 2021. No matter the year though, the mission of the league has stayed the same: provide a learning opportunity for students, no matter their level of skill or experience, to play basketball–a sport that can be intimidating to get into and learn. 

The youth league is currently in season and being overseen by Davey, Wheeler, and Winters. Wheeler and Winters are both teachers at South Prairie Elementary, teaching fifth and fourth grade classes respectively. Davey teaches fifth grade at West Elementary. In addition to teaching in the Sycamore community, all three program coordinators are also alumni of the Sycamore School District.

A standard season for the league starts in late October and November with registration. Then, in December each student goes through a quick evaluation to help coaches determine fair teams for the season. Finally, once January arrives, it’s sneakers-to-the-court with one practice during the week, followed by games on Saturday mornings. Over 370 students in 1st-6th grade are involved, with 205 boys and 165 girls participating.

It takes more than just students to make the league possible, though: it takes an entire community. Each of the 40 teams within the league is coached by one or two parents, teachers, board members, or other community members. The referees on the court for each game are none other than Sycamore High School’s Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball Team players. This acts as a unique opportunity for younger students to look up to the high school students, while providing a teaching opportunity for those same high school players to share their passion for the sport. While the high schoolers are refereeing, members of the Sycamore Golf Team run the scoreboards for each game. Principals coordinate building schedules alongside the help of custodial staff to welcome families into their elementary schools for practices. Custodians at the high school make sure that the fieldhouse is set up each Saturday morning for thousands of community members to attend league games. 

The Sycamore Youth Basketball League also has the support of three community sponsors as well. This year’s sponsors are First State Bank, the Sycamore Fire Department, and Weaver Construction. These organizations help provide financial scholarship support to families who need them, which keeps costs low for all families who wish to participate.

Dan Wheeler is very grateful for this support of the community. Speaking about the program, Wheeler remarked “Overall, the league brings to life what the word community means to us. The Sycamore community comes together to provide an opportunity for kids to have fun and learn a new skill. Saturday mornings in the fieldhouse are a highlight of ours each year.”

So, if you find yourself free on a Saturday morning between now and February 25, come to the fieldhouse between 8:00 AM and noon to check out this amazing community organization in action. And, if you are interested in learning more about or signing up for the league, be sure to keep your eyes peeled in the fall for registration information to get involved!