Readers can keep up with Jaycee basketball in the Southern Standard. Many children play on the numerous teams, usually 50 to 75 every year. Logistically, it takes dedication, commitment and a willingness to work for, well … free.
One such person, McMinnville resident Darrell Austin, has been working diligently for the Jaycee program for almost three decades, and says it’s about time for him to train his replacement.
“It’s given back to me as much or more than I’ve given to it,” Austin said. “I am a retired teacher and have coached during my time in the school system, but much prefer to work with the Jaycee league. It doesn’t seem like work to me because I love my job and I really enjoy being a part of helping the children develop their basketball skills. There can be, at most, 15 players at the high school or a school team. We have sign-ups for both girls and boys who can play regardless of the school process.”
Austin says it takes many volunteers and sponsors to make it all happen. A basic season starts with advertising in the Sports Briefs section of the Standard that a new season is starting. Then there are sign-ups.
“We have to organize who is going to sponsor the teams,” said Austin, who is helped by assistant David Pendagraph who focuses on games played at Hickory Creek. Austin usually mans the Bobby Ray Gym. “Many times I just get a check from a sponsor that always helps us, but we still need to go out and get enough sponsorship to cover the amount of children playing.”
There are five boys age groups and three girls, but there could be more or less teams depending on how many children come out for each group. All that has to be arranged and scheduled, then coaches need to be established who are volunteers as well. Once the teams are set up, there’s an old-fashioned draft day where whoever won last year picks last and whoever was last picks first until the teams are completed.
Communities are always looking for activities which can keep children out of trouble and stay in shape physically. The local Jaycee basketball association has been doing that for years. According to Austin there aren’t any bad kids.
“They always say these kids are no good or getting worse,” Austin said. “But that’s not true. They’re the same now as when I started. Sure there are problems here and there but they just need some help and guidance and I hope we can keep giving it to them for years to come. I’ve been approaching people about what’s to come and volunteered to train someone to replace me. I would hate to see the league cut down so they only played four games a year or something. That would not be a good thing.”
The Jaycee teams are not associated with high school basketball at all. In fact Austin can’t take a player on a Jaycee team who has been on the high school team the same year. They are two totally separate entities.
Jaycees does provide an excellent stepping stone for children who want to hone their skills when they get to the high school level as they can stay with the Jaycee program as long as they wish and get competition among the many teams across the county.