Pandemic restrictions wiped out a lot of basketball this spring and summer.
AAU seasons which see practices begin shortly after the high school season ends have been shortened considerably. Some organizations chose not to play altogether.
High school workouts? Gone, or severely limited. Recreation leagues? Also gone.
But from these cancellations a new league emerges; one that the organizer hopes brings back a bit of fun and competitive spirit to a summer that has lacked in both.
The Grand View Summer Basketball League begins play Wednesday, August 12 and will take place inside the newly opened Highlands Sports Complex.
Hayden Cook is the lead organize for the GVBL and an associated non-profit which will be better detailed in a coming story on LedeNews.com.
He’s an educator, an experienced coach at multiple level and a parent to athletes. He knows what’s been missed in the valley the last few months and wanted to give not only his kids, but others, a chance to stretch their court legs.
“These kids missed out on a lot of basketball opportunities between AAU season being cut short, all the high school activities that normally take place no longer being available to them,” Cook said. “And the recreation leagues in both Wheeling and St. Clairsville haven’t been able to play basketball.
“This gives them a chance to play in a competitive environment.”
Each team will consist of six players max, with a guaranteed six games per player.
The idea is to keep rosters small, maximize playing time and reduce the number of parents/fans courtside for social distancing purposes.
Additional Info
Cook admitted his kids have played in a few leagues similar to this one outside of the Ohio Valley. It’s basically sign up, show up and play.
There’s an old-school aspect to it to. There are no coaches. The players figure out who will start, a substitution will be made every so often and on a rotational basis for max playing time.
What offense and defense are run is up to the players to figure determine before the game. Think of a full-court pick-up game from your youth, just add the impressive facility, a running clock, scoreboard, and officials.
“I liked the idea of not allowing teams to sign up. This gives the kids a chance to come in and get better and play with kids they may not necessarily know,” Cook said. “They also aren’t being told what to do by a change. They will have to figure some things out on their own.”
The cost to sign up is $50 and the deadline to register is August 5th. Sign-up forms are available by emailing Hayden at HEC217@hotmail.com.
Each game will consist of two, 20-minute halves with a running clock. The Elam ending will be used for all games. Per Cook:
- At the first dead-ball, made basket or a whistle, after the time goes below four minutes in the final half, the clock gets turned off. At that point, a target score is set, equaling the leading team’s point total plus seven
There will be a high school level and a middle school level. Teams will be divided for maximum competitive balance.
The Idea Behind the League
Cook said the thinking behind the GVBL is two-fold.
Around the middle of May, he began getting some of his daughter’s friends together a couple of days a week for an outside pick- up game.
It gave them a chance to continue improving their games, but also a chance to have some fun and be a part of something. He could quickly tell they missed not only the competition, but each other.
“That first time playing, I think they just wanted to socialize for a few minutes it’d been so long,” Cook said. “I think that’s the biggest thing is the time they missed with their friends.”
But Cook also wants to give kids opportunities that he himself didn’t have growing up in the Grand View Manor section of Wheeling.
He’s incorporating his life experiences as well as those obtained through more than a decade as an educator.
“I was that kid who didn’t group up with a lot of money and we missed some opportunities,” Cook said. “I don’t want any kid to feel like they can’t participate because of the money and miss out.”
Cook noted a number of individuals have stepped up to provide sponsor money for players unable to cover the cost of the league. Some are willing to sponsor even two or three kids.
“Money is not going to be an issue,” Cook said. “I know it’s a concern for people. These times are tough, and a lot of people are without jobs. We don’t want that to be a negative for these kids.”
In short, if they want to play, the league will find a way for them to play.
