The Two Associations Will Join Forces; Tryouts for the 2015-16 Season Begin Oct. 19 for Westport Boys & Girls in Grades 4-8
This basketball season, the two local associations that organize Westport’s youth travel teams for play in the Fairfield County Basketball League are joining forces.
The Westport Police Athletic League (PAL) and the Westport Weston Family YMCA will conduct joint tryouts for the 2015-16 season, share coaching staff and collaborate with scheduling practice time and league play on basketball courts in Westport schools and the Family YMCA.
Tryouts will take place at the YMCA, Bedford Middle School and Long Lots Elementary School beginning Oct. 19. The specific tryout dates, times and locations will be posted on westporty.org and www.westportpal.org. Online registration will open soon at westportpal.org.
Following the joint tryouts, Westport Travel Basketball players in grades 4 through 8, boys and girls, will be invited to play in a variety of FCBL divisions, competing as Westport PAL in Association with the Westport Family YMCA teams. In all, Westport PAL and the Family YMCA expect to field 15 teams.
“Collaborating with PAL through the whole process of tryouts, forming teams and creating coaching staff is a win-win-win for both organizations, the Town of Westport, and we think an even bigger win for the players and their teams,” says Jay Jaronko, Senior Program Director for the Family YMCA.
For Howie Friedman, President of the Westport PAL Basketball program, the partnership with the Family YMCA is in line with the PAL’s focus on maintaining the proper balance between competitiveness and fairness. “Our PAL creed of ‘it is all about the kids’ will truly be served by this collaboration," says Friedman.
For more information about the Family YMCA’s youth travel basketball programs, please contact Jay Jaronko at 203-226-8981 or jjaronko@westporty.org.