Welcome to WHBA Season 16 which runs Nov. 19-April 9th. Students in grades 3-8 are invited to play basketball at the WHS Gym on Whitney Avenue. Please wear sneakers and bring a basketball (labeled with the student’s name), if you have one. All registered students are welcome regardless of ability to play or ability to pay.

Season Kickoff Clinics

At the kickoff clinics, parents can ask questions about how to register, and students can check out what practices are like, informally try out for the travel team if interested and have fun:

·       Grades 3-4: Tuesday, November 19, 5:45-7pm

·       Grades 5-6: Monday, November 18, 6-7:30pm

·       Grades 7-8: Wednesday, November 20, 6-7:30pm

Regular Season Practices

There are no practices during the week of Thanksgiving (with the exception of students in grades 5/6, who will practice Monday, Nov. 25) or when school is closed for inclement weather or holidays. Regular practices begin the first week in December and end on a date to be determined by coaches (mid-March or early April):

·       Grades 3-4 – Tuesdays, 5:45-7pm

·       Grades 5-6 – Mondays, 6-7:30pm; Thursdays, 6-7pm (when no games)

·       Grades 7-8 – Wednesdays 6-7:30pm; Fridays, 6-7:30pm (when no games)

Travel Team Games

Coaches will select a group to compete in citywide games. These game days and times are subject to change: Grades 3-4 – usually Thursdays or Fridays at approximately 5:30; Grades 5-6 – usually Thursdays at approximately 5:30; Grades 7-8 – usually Fridays at approximately 5:30.

Registration Open In November – Due by December 2^nd

Register: online at here--use the links on the right side of the page. Registration is due by Dec. 2^nd. There are three steps to register: (1) fill out the medical waiver (please email it to gowhba@gmail.org or turned in to WHS office); (2) fill out online registration form using the links to the right; and (3) pay online or bring payment to the WHS office.

Cost: The cost is $60 for students on the travel teams or $40 for students just practicing. If payment is a hardship, please let us know so we can waive the fee.

Thank you: to all coaches and parents! This is an all-volunteer parent-led program. We need more coaches, especially on Tuesdays—please let us know if you are willing to help out!

Questions? Josiah Brown (josiahbrown@yahoo.com) or Millie VandenBroek (goWHBA@gmail.com)

Season 15 Concludes with Appreciation

The WHBA is grateful to the families and players who made possible another successful season of this volunteer enterprise in 2018-19, the fifteenth year of the league. Kids developed their skills and sportsmanship while having fun. They experienced challenges of overcoming disappointment and becoming more resilient. They cultivated teamwork and friendships.

Grades 3 and 4 benefited from the coaching of James Forman Jr., who led the intramural squad, and Sheldon Hay--the WHBA Coach of the Year for 2017-18 who proved in 2018-19 that he could lead the team to a winning record in City Parks and Recreation competition!

Additional thanks to Millie VandenBroek and Matt Grossman, who were named MVPs (Most Valuable Parents) for the entire WHBA this year. Matt was one of the Grades 3/4 coaches, while Millie served as the league's co-commissioner for the second straight year!

Grades 5 and 6 were coached by Paul Van Tassel and Josiah Brown. Coach Paul mainly worked with the team, which won three games and competed closely in others including a one-point loss to Edgewood in which the WHS group valiantly overcame a 10-point deficit only to be defeated by a last-second shot. Josiah worked with several intramural players, who showed spirit and patience as they cultivated their skills, and supported Paul in coaching the team.

Grades 7 and 8 adjusted impressively to an early-season coaching change. Coaches Marc Wortman and Reggie Savage rallied an experienced team that displayed character and skill in competing (and often winning) against several of the city's top teams--in part through a pressing style of defense that rattled opponents. The team celebrated with not only a season-ending party but also a game that brought together classmates at WHS, with the valued support of Principal Gethings.

Until 2019-20...

The Worthington Hooker Basketball Association (WHBA) welcomes you to season 15!

November 2018 - March/April 2019

Boys and girls of all skill levels, grades 3-8, are encouraged to participate in intramural play on weekday evenings at the Hooker School gym on Whitney Avenue. Please wear sneakers and bring your own basketballs if possible. Please print your name on your ball if you bring one.

Season Kickoff Clinics 
Stop by to sign up for the coming season, have fun, and practice basketball basics!

Grades 3-4: Tuesday, Nov. 13, 5:30-7 p.m.
Grades 5-6: Thursday, Nov. 15, 5:30-7 p.m.;
Grades 7-8: Wednesday, Nov. 7, 5:30-7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 16, 5:30-7 p.m.

Regular Schedule Begins Nov. 26
The regular schedule for practices, intramurals, and eventually games (usually at other schools) will begin the week of Nov. 26. The schedule below is only tentative until teams are set and the City league schedule announced. Please note that on days when school is cancelled due to snow or other reasons, basketball is cancelled as well.

Grades 3-4: Tuesdays, 5:30-7 p.m.; Thurs./Fri., approx. 5:30 p.m. (game night)
Grades 5-6: Mondays, 6:30-8 p.m.; Thursdays, approx. 5:30 p.m. (game night)
Grades 7-8: Wednesdays, 5:30-7 p.m.; Fridays, approx. 5:30 p.m. (game night)

To Register
Registration begins November 1 and is due by November 19.

There are three steps.
1. Fill out the online form on this website (in the right hand column, labeled "REQUIRED Registration").
2. Download and fill out the medical release. (also located in the right hand column, labeled "REQUIRED Medical Permission Form"). This can be emailed to goWHBA[at]gmail.com or submitted in paper form at school.
3. Please pay online (link on the right) or submit a check at school made out to "WHBA." Cost: $60 for "travel team," otherwise $40. If your child is trying out for the travel team, you may wait to pay until travel teams are set and you know what rate to pay.

Financial aid is available on request. We do not want payment to be a barrier to participation, so please let us know if you need the fee waived. 

Each player receives a T-shirt and participates in a season-ending awards/pizza party.
Tryouts for competitive Travel Teams will be held by the week of November 26, when practices officially begin.

K-2 Basketball
Students in grades K-2 may play Saturdays at J. Martinez School, starting in December, and should please register separately through Parks & Recreation:
(https://www.newhavenct.gov/gov/depts/parks.) If you are interested in coaching a K-2 program at WHS next season, please let us know!

Questions or Concerns

Please email Josiah Brown (josiahbrown[at]yahoo.com) or Millie VandenBroek (goWHBA[at]gmail.com)

Thank You!
Many thanks to various coaches and parents for their volunteer service already! Additional parents -- please join us! Several will be continuing to volunteer as coaches, but more are needed to help out whenever possible. We hope to see you and your children on the court!

WHBA welcomes you to its 14th season in 2017-18

November 2017-April 2018

Boys and girls of all skill levels, grades 1-8, are encouraged to participate in intramural play, on weekday evenings at the WHS gym on Whitney Avenue, to wear sneakers and to bring their own basketballs (with names printed on them) if possible.

There will be Season Kickoff Clinics where your child can register for the coming season, have fun, and learn some basketball basics:

Grades 1-2: Monday, Nov. 13, 5:30-6:45 p.m.

Grades 3-4: Thursday, Nov. 16, 5:30-7 p.m.

Grades 5-6: Tuesday, Nov. 14, 5:30-7 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 16, 7-8 p.m. (if necessary)

Grades 7-8: Wednesday, Nov. 15, 5:30-7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 17, 5:30-7 p.m. (if necessary)

(Kindergartners may play Saturdays 9-10:30 a.m. at J. Martinez School, starting December 2);

Regular Schedule for practices, intramurals, and eventually games (usually at other schools) will begin the week of Nov. 27 (on days when school is canceled, these sessions will also be canceled):

Grades 1-2: Mondays, 5:30-6:45 p.m.

Grades 3-4: Mondays, 6:45-8 p.m.; Thurs./Fridays, approx. 5:30 p.m. (game night)

Grades 5-6: Tuesdays, 5:30-7 p.m.; Thursdays, approx. 5:30 p.m. (game night)

Grades 7-8: Wednesdays, 5:30-7 p.m.; Fridays, approx. 5:30 p.m. (game night)

Register between November 1-November 20 (please submit registration/medical release info and payment at http://www.gowhba.blogspot.org/ ). Cost: $55 for "travel team," otherwise $35, online (highly recommended) or by check. Each player receives a T-shirt and participates in a season-ending awards/pizza party.

    

Tryouts for competitive Travel Teams will be held the week of November 27, when practices officially begin.

For more information, please email questions to:

Josiah Brown (josiahbrown[at]yahoo.com) or Millie VandenBroek (goWHBA[at]gmail.com)

Many thanks to various coaches and parents for their service already as volunteers!

Additional parents – please join us!  Several will be continuing to volunteer as coaches, but more parents (and/or grandparents) are needed to help out whenever possible.

We hope to see you and your children on the court!

Welcome To The WHBA 2016-17 Season