Lewiston, Youngstown teaming up for basketball program

By Village of Lewiston Recreation Department Director Brendan McDermott

The villages of Lewiston and Youngstown recreation departments are working in partnership to offer youth basketball for the winter of 2024-25. The program will be called Red Brick basketball and will offer two distinct programs: instructional basketball for kids in first and second grade; and a house basketball league with multiple divisions for kids in third-eighth grades (boys) and third-ninth grades (girls). These programs will be offered at the Red Brick school gyms in both Lewiston and Youngstown.

The instructional basketball program for first and second graders is our foundational program that provides a recreational basketball opportunity to any and all kids – regardless of experience or talent. This is the level for all kids to learn the game, hone their skills, learn about competition and sportsmanship, and, most importantly, have fun!

Kids are encouraged to play all positions and develop all-around basketball skills. Our goal is to improve every child's understanding and love of the game while they get great exercise.

The season runs from early January through the end of March.

Red Brick house basketball league is our flagship program, which provides a recreational basketball league for kids of any experience or talent level. Kids will get real game experience and practice time each week. All kids will get equal playing time.

Each team will have a one-hour practice and one game per week. Games will be officiated by licensed officials. During the first two weeks, we will have preseason games where we will assess each player's skill level, which will lead toward team assignments for the league. All players will receive a team jersey.

Parent volunteer coaches will lead each team. If you are interested in coaching, please apply on our website. The season runs from Mid-December through the end of March.

The Red Brick basketball program is also planning to expand future offerings to include additional basketball clinics, travel basketball teams and tournaments. For more information or to register for the instructional and house league programs, please go to our website: https://villageoflewistonrecreation.teamsnapsites.com/.