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Panthers Basketball

Everyone can join in the game!

Panthers Basketball

Panthers Basketball is an extensive YMCA basketball program for children and youth ages 5 to 18 who are interested in skills development, teamwork, and a recreational or competitive basketball program.

Our highly popular YMCA Panthers Basketball programs ensure all youth have the opportunity to learn, play and develop their basketball skills at a variety of levels, regardless of their social, economic or educational standing. The program focuses on skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship in a safe environment.

We aim to ensure that every participant has an experience that is positive and fosters a sense of belonging and the development of valuable life skills through basketball. Participants are also encouraged to keep up their schoolwork and build confidence and character. Confidence is developed through weekly interactions with peers and coaches.

Our program offers a full range of basketball developments programs from beginner to rep teams spanning ages 5 to 18. Panthers Basketball Registration opens Monday, August 21, 2023 at 9:00am

Register Here

At the YMCA, youth and adult members are welcome to either drop in and join a pickup game, or become part of a more formal basketball program.

 

Please note, U10 Girls and U10 Boys Panthers Basketball tryouts are now full. No further registrations can be accepted.

For more information on schedules or on how to register contact: Christine Buckley Technical Director of Panthers Basketball – [email protected]
902-471-1822

Panthers 2023/24 Tryout Schedule:

Monday

September 11th, 18th and 25th

U10 Girls
5:30 to 6:30 

U10 Boys 
6:30 to 7:30

Tuesday

September 12th, 19th, & 25th

U12 Girls
5:45 to 7:30

U12 Boys
7:15 to 9:00

Wednesday

September 13th, 20th, & 27th

U14 Girls
5:45 to 7:30

U14 Boys
7:15 to 9:00

Thursday

September 14th, 21st, & 28th

U16 Girls
6:15 to 7:30

U16 Boys
7:15 to 9:30

  • U10 Girls and U10 Boys Panthers Basketball tryouts are now full. No further registrations can be accepted.
  • Please note, the final tryout for U14 Boys will be held on September 27th
    Please note, the final tryout for U16 Boys will be held on September 28th

2023/2024 Season

Frequently Asked Questions about the Community Y Panthers Basketball Program:

  • Click Here 
  • Click on “Sign-In” at the top right hand side of the page. 

 

  • Enter the email that you would have used on last year’s registration and then click on “forgot your password”. Or choose “create an account” if you are new.

  • You will then get a link sent to your email address that will prompt you to create a password. Once you have created a password go back to the login screen and enter your email address and new password that you just created and logon to your account.
  • Click on “Programs” located at the top of the screen.

 

  • In the search bar type “Basketball” and click “search”

  • Select which Basketball division you are signing up for and select “Enroll Now”.

  • Select who you are enrolling from the participant drop down and select “add to cart”.

  • If you are enrolling more than one child do not proceed to check out, repeat steps 5-8. If you are only enrolling one child and are ready to pay, select “Check out” and enter your payment information.

The registration fee for the 2022/23 season is $325 for each division U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18. This fee covers gym costs, one practice per week and one weekly Metro Basketball Association (MBA) game. Registration fees are due at the time of registration. If you are unable to pay the full fee at the time of registration, please contact the Basketball Technical Director to discuss a payment arrangement or other options such as the YMCA Financial Assistance Program, the KidSport sport funding and the JumpStart Sport Relief Program.

Participants accounts must be paid in full or be in an active payment arrangement prior to the first game of the MBA season to participate.

At the time of registration please choose the category that pertains to your child’s age. If your child is 10 and will turn 11 in January within the current season, please register your child under the U12 category as U10 pertains to children who will remain 10 and under during the season.

The term “current season” shall be defined as the normal period of operation for the MBA extending from September of one year until May of the following year. Please visit MBANS.ca https://www.mbans.ca/ for rules a full list of rules pertaining to age requirements.

You will be notified by email of when evaluations will occur, they normally begin around mid-September. This information will also be available on our website https://ymcahfx.ca/panthers-basketball/. During the evaluation process the YMCA coaching staff will group players together and form teams made up of players of more or less equal ability. This will increase the chance of your child’s basketball skill development and ensure they have a positive experience with minor basketball by entering our teams into the appropriate MBA divisions, which are tiered.

The registration period will run from late August thru early September, information as to which night your child will be practicing will not be available until all team evaluations are complete. Practice schedules will be available after the teams are confirmed. Teams will practice once or twice a night per week during weeknights (unless coaches request weekends) because of limited gym availability and volunteer coaches’ schedules. Exacts dates and times will be confirmed when team rosters are posted. As basketball is a team sport, we ask that you notify the coaching staff immediately if your child is not available to practice or play during schedule times.

The MBA games will be played at numerous gym locations within the Halifax Regional Municipality on Saturday or Sunday at any time during the morning or afternoon. These games are not scheduled by the Community YMCA Panthers, they are scheduled by MBA coordinators. Please visit https://www.mbans.ca/ for all game schedules.

This answer depends on if your team decides to participate in additional basketball club tournaments. At times, the Community YMCA Panthers are invited to enter into a variety of different tournaments that take place at during the Christmas Holiday break as well as during the break between the completion of the MBA season and the Basketball Nova Scotia Provincial tournaments. Entry fees for these tournaments would be an additional cost and typically cost between $250 and $300 for the ENTIRE TEAM to enter.

Basketballs are provided for all practices and are the property of the Community YMCA. However, at times coaches may ask participants to practice individual skills while not at practice, therefore having their own basketball is encouraged. Remember that basketball size is very important! U10 and U12 use size 5, U14 use size 6, U16 and U18 girls use a size 6, whereas U16 and U18 boys use size 7.

Jerseys and shorts are provided once teams are assembled and are usually handed out at the first practice.

In most cases the season runs into February with the MBA playoffs wrapping-up around the third week in February. However, after the MBA playoffs complete, many teams will continue to practice into March if they will be entering Basketball Nova Scotia’s Provincial tournament or the Junior Mini Jamboree.  

If your child makes the high school “A” team (Varsity), they cannot play for both the school team and the Community YMCA Panthers.  If they make their school “B” team (Junior Varsity), then playing for both is allowed.

Refunds will be provided for withdrawals prior to October 18, 2021 for U10, U12,U14, U16, U18. All requests must be made in writing (by email) to the YMCA. Once a player is registered and attends a practice or game, they are considered to be a member of the Community YMCA Panthers Basketball Program. It is very difficult when players decide to withdraw at this point, or switch to other clubs. At this point, refunds will NOT be given. We may consider medical or family reasons, and requests should be made in writing to the YMCA to be considered by the YMCA General Manager of Child and Youth Programs. When a player has registered with and is selected to a Division 1 or 2 High School team (A or B) and does not play any games with the Community YMCA Panthers Basketball Program, a refund will be provided.

Jr. NBA is the nationally recognized introductory basketball “skills and drills” program for our youngest players. The program is geared towards the Grade 1- 2 age group (ages 5-7). Practices will be 45 minutes long starting on Mondays or Tuesdays late October and will run for 10 weeks. All of our coaches will be trained and certified to run this skills program. Children must turn 5 by December 31 of the current year in order to register for this program. Space will be limited to 20 participants per session. rules. Players that have completed 2 years of the skills and drills program OR the Jr. NBA program will be allowed to enter the U-10 program early with permission from their coach.

Dispute Resolution Policy – – It is the policy of Community YMCA Panthers Basketball Program that, in the event of a dispute (e.g., between a parent and a coach), the matter be treated according to our “24-72 hour rule”. This rule dictates that, provided the incident is not an emergency, the complainant wait 24 hours before making their case. The communication should be made directly to the General Manager of Child and Youth Programs at the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth, either in writing or verbally. Once the message has been received, the General Manager of Child and Youth Programs will review the communication and respond to the person who initiated it with a decision, clarification, or request for more information. This response will be made within 72 hours.  

In the event of an unresolved disagreement between the Program and a player and/or parent, the Program reserves the right to refund the player’s fee and rescind their membership. The YMCA Community YMCA Panthers Basketball Program will do everything possible to resolve the issue. 

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