Ages 8–10 · co-ed · Mon & Wed 5:30 PM
Minis
The first real team for most of them. Dribbling, passing, and the rule that you high-five the other bench after every game. Games Saturdays at 9.
Fall season · Week 5 of 15
This week in the gym
Free basketball for West Oakland kids, ages 8 to 17. Here is every practice and game this week, and which gym it's in.
Next upSign up a player
Mon5
- 5:30Minis practice · Cypress
- 7:00Seniors practice · Cypress
Tue6
- 5:30Juniors practice · Peralta
- 7:00Ref clinic, part 1 · Peralta
Wed7
- 5:30Minis practice · Cypress
- 7:00Seniors practice · Cypress
Thu8
- 4:30Shoe & jersey night · office
- 5:30Girls' division · Peralta
- 7:30Coaches' huddle, pizza
Fri9
- 6:00Teen open run · 10th St court
Sat10
- 9:00Minis games
- 11:00Juniors games
- 1:30Girls' games
- 3:30Seniors games
Sun11
- Rest day
Divisions
Four divisions, all of them free
Pick the one that matches your kid's age on September 1. Brothers and sisters can practice on the same night if you ask.
Sign up a player
Ages 11–13 · co-ed · Tue 5:30 PM
Juniors
Real positions, a few set plays, and the season most kids start keeping score in their heads. Practice at Peralta Street Rec, games Saturdays at 11.
Ages 11–17 · Thu 5:30 PM
Girls' division
Started in 2015 by six girls who were tired of never getting the ball. Coached by Toni Arceneaux, who played two seasons of college ball. Games Saturdays at 1:30.
Ages 14–17 · Mon & Wed 7 PM
Seniors
Full court, four quarters, teenage refs. Seniors who keep a C average can train as paid refs for the younger divisions. Games Saturdays at 3:30.
The half-game rule
Everybody plays at least half of every game
It's written on the scorer's table at Cypress Gym in permanent marker: every kid on the roster plays two full quarters, win or lose. Mr. Hobbs tracks the minutes, and a coach who forgets hears about it before the buzzer.
We don't hold tryouts and we don't cut anyone. Coaches draw teams by age in August and balance them, so no gym ends up with all the tall kids.
- No tryouts, no cuts, no fees
- Two full quarters for every player, every game
- Court shoes and a jersey for anyone who needs them
- A coach and a second adult at every practice
Said to every new player since 2004
I don't need you to be good yet. I need you in the gym Monday at five-thirty.
From the sideline
Overheard at Cypress Gym
I work Saturdays. The van picks up both my boys at 8:40 and has them home by noon. I don't know how else they'd play.
Free throws first. Then we can talk about your three.
My first season I felt benched even when I was on the floor. Coach Trevon kept putting me back in.
My grandson calls me before every game so I can bless his shoes.
I came for the jersey. I stayed because they handed me a whistle at fifteen.
We hear the whistles from our kitchen every Saturday. Best sound on the block.
Coming up
Big Saturdays this fall
Oct17
Wheels Night
6:00 PM · Peralta Street Rec
Bay Rollers Adaptive Sports bring twenty sports wheelchairs. Everybody plays seated, coaches too.
Oct24
Ref clinic, part 2
10:00 AM · Peralta Street Rec
For teens 15 and up and adults. Pass, and you ref Minis games at $15 a game.
Oct31
Halloween free-throw shootout
4:00 PM · Cypress Gym
Ten shots each, in costume. Candy for every make and every miss.
Nov21
Turkey Tip-off
9:00 AM · Cypress Gym
Every team plays twice. Families bring a side dish and the league brings the turkey.
Dec19
Fall Finals and banquet
1:00 PM · Cypress Gym
Every player gets a medal and one sentence from their coach, read out loud.
Nothing in that category this month.
The Minis are four coaches short
Two evenings and one Saturday morning a week through December 19. We train you, and we pay for your background check.