By John Devereaux
WABC Liaison
The Westford Youth Basketball Association is taking Westford Academy by storm. This season, there are 174 students playing recreational basketball, or “rec ball,” at the high school level. At this level in the program, a player’s height or skill level is not a major factor. The league is designed for high school students who enjoy the sport and didn’t make the school team, but want to play in a competitive league with their friends and fellow classmates.
“A few years ago, we changed the [High School Basketball] Division to grades 10-12, and broke down our middle school boys’ league to a 6th and 7th grade league and 8th and 9th grade league because there are so many boys who want to participate,” said Westford Recreational Basketball League President Sue Hanly.
With 53 seniors playing their last season with the league this year, the stakes are high, whether students are playing for bragging rights over their friends or for the championship title.
“Some of our players also play other varsity sports at WA. Even during the winter they may run track or play hockey, but they still love basketball. They are competitive athletes… and of course, when they are facing their friends on the court, intensity will always peak. Sports and athletics is the greatest outlet for the stressors that teenagers face,” said Hanly.
This year isn’t the only year that the league has been popular, as the program has been a hit for the past decade. This league is so popular that kids from other towns ask to join in because their town doesn’t have an organization like the WYBA.
The intensity of the league is caused by players who want to win and want the glory to show off to their friends. Players enjoy playing in the league because they can have fun playing basketball every week with friends in organized games.
Parents also enjoy watching their kids play in this league because it not only gives the kids a place to play basketball in the winter, but allows them to enjoy themselves with other players within their community. Parents also indulge in the league, acting as coaches to help keep the organization more controlled and making sure that all the participants have equal playing time.
In the past, students from the boys’ Freshman, Junior Varsity, and Varsity team have stepped down and decided to play recreational instead. Some former players wanted to only play one sport, so they dropped basketball. Others joined because they no longer wanted to play as competitively with the school team. Since only around 40 players can make the school’s basketball team, the ones who didn’t make it still have a place to play competitively within the Westford Community.
“Rec Basketball is a relaxed league that can be competitive, and it’s where you can pour out your emotions for the sport of basketball,” said junior and rec ball participant Amaan Khimani.