WINDHAM ATHLETES PLAY IN SUMMER BASKETBALL LEAGUE

June 29, 2008

Two Windham third graders, Christopher Brown and Ethan Spaulding are members of the Bobcats in the YES! Summer Basketball League in Portland.

The Bobcats played two games over the weekend. Both were high scoring affairs for this age group and saw players from all the teams working hard from the beginning to end.

Christopher's dad, Peter Brown coaches the Bobcats and takes every opportunity to teach the players the nuances of the game.

The Bobcats game against the Clippers on Saturday was filmed as one of the TV games. The league's TV ganes and can be seen on Time Warner Cable's channel 4 on Thursdays from 4-6PM.

The League is about more than training kids to be the next Nik Caner-Medley by playing on a national stage at a big division 1 school.

The league's website says, "The YES! program's mission is to provide a positive environment for student athletes by creating fundamental life experiences and learning opportunities...building student athletes' confidence and self-esteem through teamwork and community recognition.."

The referees and coaches explain why they were called for a foul or violation while enforcing the rules of the game so the young athletes can learn the game and consequences for not following the rules.

The environment during the games is laid back with an emphasis on fun and learning.