Published on Thursday, December 06, 2012
Last updated on 12:59PM, Thursday, December 6, 2012
By Juan Martinez
During the holiday season, recreation centers and after-school programs to some people provide essential and fundamental opportunities for students of all ages.
As everyone transitions to and prepares for Christmas break, the problem for many parents and children is finding affordable and fun city-wide sports programs to participate in.
If you currently find yourself in this particular predicament, here are some upcoming sports camps, clinics and activities in Oakland that might interest you.
35th Annual Holiday Basketball Tournament
The city of Oakland office of Parks and Recreation will hold its 35th Annual Holiday Middle School and Club Teams Basketball Tournament on Dec. 15-16. The tournament consists of a boys' and girls' division. The boys' division games will take place at Skyline High School - located at 12250 Skyline Blvd. in Oakland. The location of the girls' division games has yet to be determined.
"It is a middle school tournament," Armond Gray, the youth sports coordinator and director for the San Antonio Sports Complex in Oakland, said. "Rosters are due next week. Depending on how many sixth, seventh and eighth grade teams we have, we might need to combine some to complete the tournament."
In order to play in this basketball tournament, an entry fee of $200 and a roster form must be submitted by Dec. 6. The price of admission for those 19 and over is $5, $2 for those between the ages of 6 and 18, and children five years and under are free.
"Kids from all over the Bay Area will have the opportunity to compete against one another," Gray said. "Normally, we get teams from Hayward, San Francisco, San Leandro and Oakland."
Individual awards will be given to every player on the championship and runner-up teams (on their roster) from every division. Each team will also have team trophies for the championship and runner-up teams.
"First and second placed teams get trophies," Gray said. "This tournament gives kids a different perspective of how the game of basketball is played. It is different every year and we've had different champions as far as teams every year."
Gray also said that even though this is his third year being a part of the basketball tournament, he looks forward to it every year because of all of the support from participants, parents, staff and associates in making this tournament possible and a great success.
"You have at Skyline High School, a gym full of parents, families cheering on the kids. It is always a packed house; with hundreds of people."
For more information on the 35th Annual Holiday Basketball Tournament, contact Gray at (510) 238-6279.
City-wide Girls' Sports Programs
Post Me Up Clinic - $30
Tassafaronga Recreation Center
975-85th Ave. in Oakland
From 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12
Max enrollment: 50
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Forward Clinic - $30
Tassafaronga Recreation Center
975-85th Ave. in Oakland
From 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12
Max enrollment: 50
Guard Clinic - $30
Willie Keyes Rec Center
3131 Union St. in Oakland
From 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12
Max enrollment: 50
Susan Mernit is the co-founder of Oakland Local. She is also a circuit rider for The Community Information Challenge, a program of The John S and James L Knight Foundation, a popular speaker and facilitator, and a consultant to media, non-profit and community organizations. Susan lives in North Oakland with a rescue dog named Cazzie, a fat grey cat named Gracie, a very cool housemate, and a yard in serious need of soil remediation. She is an aspiring gardener, a long-time blogger & entrepreneur, and a recovering journalist who's found home in Oakland.
Source: http://oaklandlocal.com/article/need-art-holiday-sports-youth-highlighted-35th-annual-basketball-tournament
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