NECO 3rd-8th GRADE BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Youth Basketball is administered by the SHS Basketball programs. We’re moving to a new league! We will start playing this year in the NECO League, which provides our kids with an opportunity to play more games, get more court time, and play more traditional schools from Northeastern Colorado that they will face through middle and high school.

The priority of the program is to teach the proper fundamentals and skills to our young players to prepare them for our HMS and SHS basketball programs. Our goal is to provide an enjoyable experience for the kids, where they can have fun while taking part in a competitive learning environment. Games are all played at a central league location in Wiggins, Fort Morgan or Brush (may vary between those locations week to week).

PLEASE see our FAQ below for more details and to answer many of your questions.

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WHY ARE WE SWITCHING TO THE NECO YOUTH BASKETBALL LEAGUE? ALL FOR THE KIDS!

• All teams will be guaranteed 12 games plus a double elimination tournament. In our previous league, teams only averaged around 4-6 games per season depending on grade level.

• 3rd and 4th grade teams will play on a shorter basketball hoop! It’s hard for some kids that age to shoot the ball, and this league allows them to play on 9 foot hoops (instead of 10 foot hoops).

• We’ll play against more traditional schools that we continue to play through middle school and high school. We’ll join a league with schools like Wiggins, Brush, Platte Valley, Yuma, Akron, Wray, etc. Many of these are the schools our kids will be facing as they get older.

• We will have professional, paid officials! We heard you loud and clear – volunteer officials at the host schools aren’t ideal. The NECO league pays professional officials for every game.

• LOTS of other reasons – too many to list!

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WHY ARE REGISTRATION COSTS INCREASING?

There are a few things that the NECO league provides that requires additional cost – paying referees, playing at host schools, etc. We’re offsetting some of that cost by not requiring everyone to purchase a new jersey if you have one you can wear from last year.

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WHAT DOES TRAVEL LOOK LIKE?

This league is played at host schools in Wiggins, Fort Morgan and Brush. All of those schools have top-notch facilities and they are all gracious hosts. Yes, players and families will be required to travel a bit more than previous years, but it will be well worth it to play more games against great competition in a fun atmosphere, with professional officials.

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WHEN WILL GAMES BE PLAYED?

• Girls teams will play 2 games every Saturday – lots of playing time in January-February.

• Boys teams will play 2 games every Sunday afternoon.

• The season will be 6 weeks long (2 games every week, 12 games total) with the double elimination tournament being played in weeks 7-8.