YOUTH BASKETBALL: OA TRIBE ANNOUNCES MORE DEVELOPMENT DIVISIONS (2019-09-18)

Tioga County Sports Report
OWEGO — The Owego-Apalachin Basketball Club now offers Instructional and Developmental Divisions for boys and girls grades K-6 in additional to their Competitive Travel and AAU divisions. 

These new divisions are open to all boys and girls grades K-6 who attend or reside full-time within the Owego-Apalachin Central School District.

The Instructional Division is for grades K-2 and will focus on fundamentals and skills at an introductory level. This division offers eight one-hour sessions Saturdays. Each week will feature different instructors from the OFA boys and girls basketball programs. Each session will have four stations dedicated to teaching different fundamentals and skills that will build progressively each week. 

The Developmental Division is for grades 3-6 and will focus on the continuation of fundamentals and skills at a foundational level. This division offers eight games being played on Saturdays against teams within their own division. 

Developmental divisions are 3/4 Girls, 3/4 Boys, 5/6 Girls and 5/6 Boys. There is no travel associated with this division. 

Practices will be held at Owego Elementary School.

The Competitive Travel Division is for grades 3-6 and will focus on fundamentals and skills at a more advanced and competitive level. This division offers 16 regular season games against teams from around the Southern Tier consisting of eight home games and eight away games. Practices will be held at OES and Apalachin Elementary and home games will be played at Owego-Apalachin Middle School.

The AAU Division is for grades 4-12 and is for more experienced players who wish to continue playing at a very competitive level around New York and surrounding states.

The OABC Tribe practices and plays games at gymnasiums throughout the Owego-Apalachin Central School District thanks to the generosity of the Owego-Apalachin Athletic Department and Athletic Director Andy Buchsbaum. 

All coaches and volunteers will be required to obtain an AAU membership which will include a background check. 

There are scholarship opportunities available so that any child can play regardless of their financial situation. 

Team pictures will be taken at the beginning of the season by Michelle McLaren Photography. 

The Owego-Apalachin Basketball Club is a non-profit organization recognized as a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code through a partnership with the Amateur Athletic Union and is governed by a Board of Directors: President/Treasurer Tom Bronk, Vice President Dan Tavelli, Secretary Anne Smith, Boy’s Basketball Chairperson Chris Evans and Girl’s Basketball Chairperson Luke McEvoy. 

For more information, visit www.oabasketballclub.com, @OAtribe on social media or email oabasketballclub@gmail.com.

Mission Statement
The Owego-Apalachin Basketball Club exists to offer the children of the Owego-Apalachin Central School District the opportunity to play organized basketball at a competitive and developmental level through local leagues and statewide through AAU Basketball. Furthermore, it seeks to promote the game of basketball, offer quality coaching and instruction and work directly towards the goals of the District’s K-12 philosophy. Our primary focus will be on teaching and developing the fundamentals of basketball, improving individual and team skills along with a strong emphasis on values such as character development, teamwork, discipline, respect and sportsmanship.

Vision Statement
To produce fundamentally sound basketball players with the proper values and skills necessary to help continue the growth of the Owego-Apalachin Central School District basketball program with a goal of future success at local, sectional and state levels.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF OWEGO-APALACHIN BASKETBALL CLUB