Free youth basketball program open for registration

The Fairfield Park and Recreation Department is taking registration forms for its Fairfield Youth Basketball Program, open to all children in third through sixth grade.

The program is broken up into skill clinics and Saturday morning games. Along with several volunteers, former Fairfield girls? basketball coach Dan Breen leads the program.

The skill sessions are divided by age and gender and will be held in Pence Elementary School?s gym.

Boys in third and fourth grade will meet from 5:30-6:45 p.m. Mondays, Oct. 24-Feb. 6, while boys in fifth and sixth grade will meet from 6:45-8 p.m. Mondays, Oct. 24-Feb. 6. Girls in third and fourth grade will meet from 5:30-6:45 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 20-Feb. 9, and sessions for girls in fifth and sixth grade will be 6:45-8 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 20-Feb. 9.

?Our skill sessions are probably a little more intense than most people would anticipate, but it?s the only way I know how to do it. I think most kids really like it that way,? explained Breen, who led Fairfield teams to state final four appearances from 1982-1986, including a state championship in 1983.

Scrimmages for all ages will be held 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, on Nov. 19, Dec. 3, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17.

?Kids don?t have to come out every time,? Breen said. ?It?s open to everyone, and everybody who wants to play will play a lot of basketball.?

Breen said he launched the program three years years ago because it was an obvious need in Fairfield.

It didn?t take long for his program to become a hit in its first year, so Breen opened the gym up to more classes the following year, and it kept growing, growing, growing.

?It just reached the point where it was big enough where we would become a park and rec program,? said Breen.

Last year, a little more than 100 children participated in the program in its first year overseen by the Fairfield Park and Recreation Department. Breen anticipates a turnout of about 125 children this year.

Breen said he doesn?t want to exclude any children from coming out, so he?s kept the program free through its transition.

?When I started this I certainly wasn?t doing it to make money, and I was always worried I would lose kids if it cost money,? Breen added.

Registration for the program is required, however. Registration may be completed online, or forms may be picked up at the Roosevelt Recreation Center.

An informational and sign-up meeting for parents will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Fairfield Middle School commons.

For information about the program, call the Park and Rec office at 472-6159.