“First, master the fundamentals!” That quote from basketball legend Larry Bird is the guiding principle of Britton’s youth basketball program. For years, both the boys’ and girls’ programs have instilled that mindset in young athletes while continuing to grow and thrive. Everyone who goes through the program is taught this principle as they develop their skills on the court.
The boys’ program was established over 20 years ago, while the girls’ program started about a decade ago. The girls’ season runs from October through December, while the boys’ season takes place from January through March. This year, 40 girls and 28 boys participated. Teams practice twice a week for 1.5 hours per session and play 15-20 games each season.
“The goal is to develop fundamentals, create interest, introduce competition, good sportsmanship, and teamwork,” said one of the organizers Jill Zuehlke. “The hope is to give our kids the foundation to be successful.”
Jeff Mills, who has been involved with the program for over a decade, agreed. “We try to teach fundamentals—dribbling, handling the ball, passing, shooting—things they’ll need regardless of what position they play later. If they can dribble well, it will help them later.”
While skill development is key, fun is just as important. “It is important to have fun,” stressed Zuehlke. “You have to ‘suck them in’ so they don’t think they are ‘working.’ It can’t be a chore; kids don’t like chores! If they are having fun doing it, then they start to take it upon themselves to want to be better.”
Both programs participate in the YMCA league in Aberdeen, along with hosting and visiting other local teams. “As far as scheduling, we take what we can get,” said Andrea Rabenberg, who helped organize the girls’ program. “Not every town has a team for every grade level, so we often will host or attend a local game for one or two grade levels.”
Each program also hosts a jamboree—girls in November and boys in February—which provides additional playing time and helps raise funds for expenses like YMCA fees, tournament costs, and other operational needs. “The jamborees have been a fun way to get playing time for our athletes and also raise money for the programs,” said Rabenberg.
Seeing players improve throughout the program is one of the most rewarding aspects of it. “It’s obvious year to year but even week to week during the season,” said Zuehlke. “In these young kids, you can see different parts of the game click. Sometimes it’s improvement in hand-eye coordination, sometimes it’s mastering defensive positioning or layup footwork. There are so many different levels of development.”
The program also fosters leadership, encouraging older players to mentor younger ones. “We encourage our older kids to help the younger kids and try to create the confidence it takes to be a leader. We remind them that they may all be on the same team at some point and that we are all in this together,” added Zuehlke.
Mills concurred. “I like to see the kids succeed, learn a skill, and have fun doing it. It’s okay if they choose not to continue to play later too, but it’s fun to watch them progress to varsity basketball.”
A program like this certainly does not function without the help of many. The role of volunteers in the program cannot be understated. The program is entirely run by volunteers. “Coaches, referees, score table workers, jamboree workers—everyone is volunteering their time,” said Zuehlke. “Ultimately, everyone has the same goal of providing opportunities for the youth in our community, and it is truly something to be proud of—the number of people who have stepped up over the years.”
“We are spoiled with the facilities we have available, and being able to showcase these during some of our youth events has been fun,” she added. “Between practices a couple times a week, home games, and jamborees, we have lots of community members, parents, and high school athletes volunteering to coach, ref, and help with practices and games.”
“We are so appreciative of this great support, and these programs would not be possible without it,” emphasized Rabenberg.
The organizers are proud of the skills the youth learn from the program. But even more so, they are proud of the values it instills. As a tradition, sixth graders receive a warm-up shirt featuring their school name, last name, and graduation year. “When the shirts are handed out,” said Zuehlke. “They are given the speech about every time they go on the court as they get older, to remember they are playing for the name on the front of their shirt, the name on the back, and who they are representing,”
With strong community backing and a commitment to fundamentals, Britton’s youth basketball program continues to make an impact—on and off the court.
