Sev Saiz, Brian Moran, Jack Willet & Davis Smith
Guest Bloggers
Perhaps the greatest athletic forum our generation will ever see comes about every wintertime in New Canaan. It is the pantheon in which men are turned into champions, legacies are built and memories are etched in the collective minds of those involved. YMCA basketball, undoubtedly the most competitive sporting event known to man, is the culmination of years of serious training and development, highlighted by the fast paced, intense action of a Yball game.
For many, YMCA basketball offers less structure while affording players the ability to take the game exactly as seriously as they want to. No parents, no coaches, no pressure to represent the Rams out on the big stage. But what Yball does have is a certain competitiveness to it that is unique to any other sport or activity offered by the high school. For some, this means a change of pace from the boring monotony of high school sports and a fresh new take on a game we all love. But for others, Yball serves as the place to channel all their competitive energy. This mix creates an environment that perfectly balances the fun of a care-free pick up game and the competitiveness of an official basketball league.
Yball runs through the YMCA starting as early as grade one and continuing on throughout the high school. Leagues are divided by age, grouping by twos until high school where every player in grades 9-12 is in the same league. Within the high school division, there are 16 teams with 8-10 players on each team. Registration this year was upwards of 140 players, making it one of the largest ever. Games are scheduled typically once a week from late December to late February, with playoffs beginning after the last week of the season.
In short, Yball is the perfect stage for anyone looking to enjoy themselves through athletics. It’s far less intense than high school sports yet just as competitive; it’s more fun than anything the high school has to offer while still maintaining the passion that other recreational sports lack. The pursuit of a Yball Championship Ring fuels trash talkers and competitors alike, making way for countless hours of lunch table discussion and on court back and forth. It’s something that all involved truly enjoy, which is why one can make the argument that Yball is the perfect high school sport.
