The YMCA expects a team roster and fee by a deadline. The YMCA expects the roster to include players to fill a team with a coach. YMCA membership discounts do not apply. Fees have gone up this year! There is an individual fee of $50.00 for each sport. Basketbal fees are $51.00. This fee has been agreed upon to meet the team fees, equipment & practice area costs, and any other operating expenses.

Team T-shirts must be provided by the school teams. We have agreed to keep the blue with gold emblem (Eagle) as our sports T-shirt. (Cost is $8.00) A # must be on the front and back for basketball. Youth Sports will have that # put on with no expense to you.

There must be a volunteer coach for every team! Sports specific knowledge is helpful to be a coach, but not mandatory. Enjoying children and wanting to teach and be a positive role model are the most important qualifications. He or she must be able to hold practices once a week. The YMCA at times will hold coaching clinics.

Registration dates will be published, twice in advance of the registration date, in the News & Notes. Registrations will be taken on a first come - first serve basis. We will first try to make teams on each age level. When a team is full, we will try to form a second team if needed. Late registrations will be accepted if team rosters are not full, with a $10 late fee!

If enough kids sign up to make two teams in an age group, they will be split fairly by the committee. This will prevent stacking the teams, after all, the YMCA is a recreational (not a competitive) league. If we need to combine grades to make a team, the committee will make the necessary decisions. All efforts will be made to have all the kids that sign up be put on an OCA team. For incomplete teams, the YMCA has agreed to allow those players to go to a YMCA team with other Y players. An additional shirt fee may be needed. (Parents will be contacted first if this is the situation.) Note: We are a Sports program for OCA families. Only if there are openings, after our sign-up date, will kids from other schools or home schoolers be permitted to participate in our program. We welcome this participation; often rosters have been filled in this way.

Practices will be twice a week before the season (after the coach’s meeting at the YMCA), once a week after the season begins with the coaches picking the dates and time. (Basketball practices are scheduled with the availablity of the gym.) Everyone will play at least 1/2 of every game and there will be an emphasis of participation, teamwork and fair play. Your child will come away with learning something of the sport, playing as a team & hopefully find it a very enjoyable experience. Winning is not, and should not be, emphasized at the recreational level. There are other leagues that provide a competitive atmosphere for the competitive player.

No child shall be denied to play on an OCA Youth sports team because of an inability to pay. Contact the Youth Sports Co-ordinator before the sign-up date for details if there is a need.