Basketball
Did you know that basketball was invented over a century ago? Dr. James Naismith,
a PE teacher, medical doctor, and Presbyterian minister invented the game in
1891. The first game was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets attached
to 10 foot railings. The game was introduced around the world through the YMCA
and became an olympic sport at the 1936 Berlin games.
Arizona Youth Basketball is a great sport for developing fitness and skill,
and is very inexpensive. Get your boys and girls started early through the YMCA,
Boys & Girls Clubs, City programs, and competitive leagues. Even if your
kids and teens are in other sports, organized youth basketball develops the
concept of team play and provides cross training for many other sports that
require quickness and agility.
Boys & Girls Clubs
The Greater Scottsdale, Metropolitan Phoenix, and the East Valley Boys & Girls Clubs have a competitive basketball program for boys and girls. Registration usually begins in September and October. Each branch has different dates so if your closest branch is full, check the next nearest branch. There is a $25 annual membership fee and a team fee. Call your local branch for details because the Boys & Girls Club websites do not have schedules shown.
Scottsdale Boys & Girls Clubs
There are 7 Scottsdale branches. Click map. The Barker Branch usually starts basketball later because they have the only Scottsdale Boys & Girls Club tackle football program which runs in the fall.
| Branch | Address | Phone |
| Virginia G Piper Branch | 10515 E. Lakeview Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85258 |
480 860-1601 |
| Fountain Hills Branch | 17300 E. Calaveras Ave. Fountain Hils, AZ 85268 |
480 816-1974 |
| Rose Lane Branch (Pima Indian Community) | 8250 E. Rose Lane Scottsdale, AZ 85250 |
480 948-8020 |
| Red Mountain Branch |
11889 E. Glenrosa Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85256 |
480 947-1798 |
| Hartley & Ruth Barker Branch | 2311 N. Miller Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85257 |
480 947-6331 |
| The Thunderbirds Branch |
20199 N. 78th Place Scottsdale, AZ 85255 |
480 538-9547 |
| Lehi Branch ( Pima Indian Community) |
1231 E. Oak St. Lehi, AZ 85203 |
480 850-4449 |
Metropolitan Phoenix Boys & Girls Clubs
There are 10 metropolitan Phoenix Boys & Girls Clubs. Click locations for map.
| Branch | Address | Phone |
| Warner A. Gabel Branch |
1330 North 15th St. Phoenix, AZ 85006 |
602 252-7968 |
|
I.G. Homes Branch |
1601 West Sherman Street Phoenix, AZ 85007 |
602 254-5814 |
| Herbert Kieckhefer Branch |
548 West Southern Ave Phoenix, AZ 85041 |
602 268-3486 |
|
Harry & Sandy Rosenzweig Branch |
2242 West Missouri Ave Phoenix, AZ 85015 |
602 249-1338 |
| Louis & Elizabeth Sands Branch |
4730 West Grovers Ave Glendale, AZ 85308 |
602 375-0400 |
|
Spencer D. & Mary Jane Stewart Branch |
6629 West Clarendon Ave Phoenix, AZ 85035 |
623 848-1022 |
| Tolleson Branch |
9251 West Washington Tolleson AZ 85353 |
623 936-9020 |
|
Tri-City West Thornwood Branch |
301 East Western Avenue Avondale, AZ 85323 |
623 932-1154 |
|
Jerry & Helen Wisotsky Branch |
11820 North 81st Ave Peoria, AZ 85345 |
623 979-3559 |
|
Glendale Branch |
5850 West Northview Ave Glendale, AZ 85301 |
623 939-6952 |
East Valley Boys & Girls Clubs
There are 7 East Valley Boys & Girls Clubs servicing Gilbert, Mesa, lChandler,
& surrounding areas. Click locations www.clubzona.com/locations.asp for
map and hours.
| Branch | Address | Phone |
| Apache Junction Branch |
1215 South Winchester Apache Junction, AZ 85217 |
480 982-6381 |
| Compadre Branch - Chandler |
300 E. Chandler Blvd Chandler, AZ 85225 |
480 899-8302 |
| Gilbert Branch |
44 North Oak Street Gilbert, AZ 85233 |
480 813-2020 |
| The Thunderbirds Branch - Guadalupe |
9225 South Avenida De Yaqui Guadalupe, AZ 85283 |
480 897-6247 |
| Grant Woods Branch - Mesa |
221 West Sixth Ave Mesa, AZ 85210 |
|
| Ladmo Branch - Tempe |
715 West Fifth Street Tempe, AZ 85281 |
480 858-2400 |
| Williams Campus Branch | 6050 S. Sagewood Mesa, AZ 85212 |
480 279-1406 |
YMCA Basketball
Local Arizona YMCA's offer both recreational and competitive basketball leagues for boys and girls from pre-school (age 3 ) through high school. The Junior Mercury Basketball program is a competitive girl's basketball league. The program is offered to girls in grades 3 through 8th grade. The Junior Suns program is both recreational and competitive. The competitive league begins with 3rd grade and goes through high school. The recreational programs are open to both boys and girls. Registration is usually in August with games beginning in September through November. Call your local YMCA for details and pricing. You do not have to be a YMCA member, however, your fees will be a little higher if you are not a current member.
National Youth Sports NYS Basketball
The NYS mission is to "strengthen the indiviudual, the family and the community through participation in youth sports". In the fall National Youth Sports offers co-ed basketball for ages 4 through 13 as of September 1. Registration is from mid July through early September. You can register on-line or mail to:
NYS
5255 W. Phelps Rd Suite 2
Glendale, AZ 85306
602 843-0791
The age groups are:
4 - 5 years old
6 - 7 years old
8 - 9 years old
10 - 11 years old
12 - 13 years old
Girls Competitive Basketball
There are many opportunities for talented girls to play competitive basketball. Many of these programs are focused on developing the female student athelete who may be looking at college scholarship in the future. Several clubs around the valley have programs for girls starting from 3rd grade through high school. Tournaments are usually sanctioned by AAU or YBOA. These clubs conduct try-outs for the season starting in the fall. Many of these clubs travel, some extensively.
| Club | Age/Level | Contact Email | Phone |
| AZ Elite Girls | Grades 3 through 11 | 480 332-9848 | |
| Phoenix Phenoms Girls Club | Junior and Senior Divisions | President: Steve Cohen | 602 757-2975 |
Arizona Sting Girls Club |
Ages 11 -15 |
City Recreational Youth Basketball
Some of the most inexpensive recreational basketball leagues for youth are
offered by our local cities. The City of Scottsdale offers basketball for
grades 4 through 8 as an after school program on school grounds. The fees
are very reasonable. Check out your local city and get your kids active.
City of Scottsdale