Basketball

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Contact Information:
Kristen Zales - Old Tappan Basketball President
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Basketball is one of our most popular sports in town. It is a sport that requires skills that we develop in our youngest players and continue through the 8th grade. The very nature of the sport includes jumping and running and use of fine motor skills in addition to the opportunities for social interaction with a child's peers; something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. The Recreation program is for players of all skill levels and our coaches tailor each practice and skill based on the skill level of the players they are working with. While we encourage even the weakest players to continue to play and enjoy themselves every year, we also challenge and advance the best players to allow them to continue to grow and excel.
Volunteerism is a big part of our program here in Old Tappan. We rely on parents to coach, operate our scoreboards and scoring books, assist in registration, operate our snack bars in the summer season and help in overall administration of our program.

Winter Indoor Basketball

Old Tappan Recreation - Grades K, 1, & 2
Typically, a program lasts 8 Saturdays that begins in early December and ends in February. The sessions are held at the TBD School and are instructional in nature. A variety of skills are taught and the children are gradually introduced to game type situations. Boys and girls receive an Old Tappan Basketball T-Shirt that they can keep.

Old Tappan Recreation - Grades 3 to 8
This program begins in December and will run until early March with divisions as below:
 Girls Grades 3/4   
 Boys Grades 3/4   
 Girls grades 5/6
 Boys Grades 5/6
 Girls Grades 7/8
 Boys Grades 7/8
These groups are then separated into teams with one practice and one game each week. Equal playing time is stressed to all coaches. Games are officiated by High School players who graduated from our Recreation program. Playoffs are held at the end of each year as well as our Annual Skills Competitions Day. Each player receives a reversible tank top that can be kept.

Registration:
Old Tappan Recreation registration for the fall season usually occurs in October. Flyers are handed out in school, emailed to previous year participants, and a registration form can be found online at the Borough web site. Registrations should be received prior to November 1, and while it is not too late after that, on-time registrations often receive perks such as a discounted rate and pre-season basketball clinic announcements. Please do yourself a favor and register on time.

Old Tappan Winter Travel Basketball:
The "Travel" team offers qualified players an opportunity to compete at a higher level of competition. A player must be registered in our Recreation program to qualify to tryout for the "Travel" team. This program is more competitive in nature and requires an increased level of interest, talent, and commitment. Depending upon the interest, teams are fielded by grade from Boys Grade 3 through Grade 8 and Girls Grade 3 through Grade 8. The Boys teams compete in the Bergen Travel Basketball League and the Girls teams compete in the Northern Bergen/Passaic Travel Basketball League. With this program, winning is an important component and helps prepare players for high school and beyond. This program has try-outs with some children being turned away, and carries a registration fee in addition to the Recreation Basketball fee. Competition is among towns in Bergen County and travel is required for away games.


Summer Outdoor Basketball

This has always been a popular program in our town. Registration is held in May. Teams are formed as follows:
Girls Grades 3/4
Boys Grades 3/4
Girls grades 5/6
Boys Grades 5/6
Girls Grades 7/8
Boys Grades 7/8
Play is against other towns in our area. Some travel is required. There is a separate fee for Summer Basketball. The season begins in Mid June and extends through the month of July. Home games at Stone Point Park are a fun setting with large crowds watching all the games.