Nothing But Net YMCA Brings New Basketball League to the Area

Nothing But Net

YMCA Brings New Basketball League to the Area

 Sasha Bush

 The Ashland Beacon

            When most people think of the YMCA they typically think “oh it’s just a gym.” But, the Ashland Area YMCA is so much more than just a “gym.” Of course, you will find state of the art gym equipment, personal trainers, fitness classes, health centers, a pool, and everything that one typically associates with a gym. What many people don’t realize is that your local Ashland Area YMCA plays a pivotal role in our community. The YMCA’s staff is always thinking up new ways to give kids in our community something to do from youth rallies, block parties, sports training, and summer camps.

            One of the Ashland Area YMCA’s most recent additions will be a youth basketball co-ed league. This will be a first for the YMCA and is the brainchild of Scott Campbell, Executive Director of the Ashland Area YMCA, and Max Hunter, Coach and Basketball Trainer. Campbell shared, “You know basketball has always been a passion of mine and is actually what made me fall in love with the YMCA when I was just a young boy. So, it’s always been a dream of mine to build a basketball program.”

            The youth basketball co-ed league will be a six-week program that takes place every Sunday afternoon beginning June 25^th through July 30^th.  Each game will consist of two twenty-minute halves with a running clock and will take place in the adult gym. Every player will receive a free YMCA league t-shirt. Registration is open to any child who falls within the following grade levels: 3^rd-4^th grade, 5^th- 6^th grade, and 7^th-8^th grade. Signups are currently going on and the deadline for registration will be June 6, 2023. The cost is $35 for members and $55 for non-members. Just stop by the Ashland Area YMCA’s front desk to sign up.

            The Ashland Area YMCA also offers basketball lessons throughout the year with one of their highly qualified basketball coaches/trainers. The cost for private lessons is $30 for a sixty-minute lesson, $20 for a thirty-minute lesson, or you can purchase a ten-session package for just $285. They also offer a group session rate for $20 per person. You can schedule a lesson by texting or calling one of the Y’s basketball trainers: Darnell Lisath at 606.923.0336 or Max Hunter at 606.922.9884.

In addition to offering private lessons and this new basketball league, the Ashland Area YMCA will also be offering several youth basketball camps that will take place throughout the summer. The first camp will take place June 19^th through the 21^st with Max Hunter. This camp will be for anyone in 1^st through 8^th grade.  After graduating high school, Hunter walked on to Morehead State University basketball team and later transferred to Union College where he played for three years and obtained a bachelor’s degree. Hunter then went on to play two years of basketball in Australia.   

“We offer lessons to kids of all ages and skill levels, from the basics to kids who already have the fundamentals down. We just work with them to improve their game, build confidence, push them to get past being uncomfortable and just learn to push themselves past that,” stated Hunter. Registration forms can be found at the front desk. This camp will help to improve your basketball skills and take your game to the next level. The cost of this camp is $80 for members and $100 for non-members.

The second camp will take place July 17^th through the 21^st and will be open to 8^th through 12^th grade with the Clarence Thompson aka “Mad Bomber” as your coach/trainer. The cost of this camp will be $150 for members and $170 for non-members. Registration forms can be found at the Ashland Area YMCA’s front desk.