Hoop It Up

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

The sea of young people wore t-shirts in an array of bright colors but they all proudly announced the same slogan in triumphant golden letters: “Kickin’ Butts Smoke-Free in 2007!” Welcome to the first weekend of the 2007 Hoop It Up Tournament.

Each spring, the EECM Children and Youth program staff host a three-weekend basketball tournament for local teams, with players from grades 3 through 12. This year, 16 teams and approximately 172 young people are taking part in the Hoop It Up Tournament. The teams are divided by school level (elementary, middle, high) and by gender. EECM staff coach six of the teams (including the Fulton Wildcats) which are comprised entirely of students enrolled in EECM after-school recreation programs. The remaining 10 teams are primarily formed through local schools, with a few community teams added for good measure. Many of the players on these teams are also involved in EECM programs, but are coached by non-staff members.

The games played this past weekend were preliminary match-ups to determine the tournament seeding. Play-off games will take place on April 14th and the championship will be April 21st.

As the t-shirts indicate, the Hoop It Up Tournament has an ulterior motive beyond simple recreational enjoyment: it’s part of a larger healthy lifestyles curriculum that is woven into all of EECM’s recreational programs. The tournament focuses specifically on preventing tobacco use. All participants are given handouts about the risks of smoking as well as smoking cessation information. Additionally, there are educational presentations interspersed with the games throughout the day. The goal of the program is to encourage students to establish healthy behaviors in their daily routines.

If you would like to get involved in the Hoop It Up Tournament, volunteers are needed to sell concessions, referee and help with scoring. Please call our volunteer coordinator Emily Huck (412-361-5549 ext. 403) if you’d like to help!