Picture-The 2012 Punta Gorda Police Department Jammers Youth Basketball League
Summer is approaching, and that means one thing to 10 to 13 year old kids in Punta Gorda – Jammers basketball is around the corner! The Punta Gorda Police Department’s Jammers Youth Basketball League kicks off with a mandatory skills assessment at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 27th at the South County Regional Park located at 670 Cooper Street in Punta Gorda. Each league participant is required to attend this assessment, which is designed to ensure that a competitive balance is reached to maintain parity in competition. Participants also will be registered and fitted for uniforms at that time. Boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 13 are invited to register for participatioin in the league.
Registration forms must be completed and turned in to the Punta Gorda Police Department by Wednesday, April 24th. Space is limited to the first seventy-two (72) participants registered. Registration forms are available at the following Punta Gorda locations:
- Sallie Jones Elementary School, 1230 Narranja Street
- East Elementary School, 27050 Fairway Drive
- South County Regional Park, 670 Cooper Street
- The main office at Gulf Breeze Apartments, 340 Gulf Breeze
- The main office at Seven Palms of Punta Gorda, 1200 Slash Pine Circle
- The Punta Gorda Police Department, 1410 Tamiami Trail
Scheduled practices may begin Monday, April 29th, and games will be held every Saturday starting on June 1st. All games will be played at South County Regional Park. There are no registration or uniform fees for participants.
Punta Gorda Police Officers started the Jammers youth basketball program in 2001 as a way to reach out to at-risk aged youth in the community. Despite a brief hiatus resulting from the devastation caused by Hurricane Charley, the league has expanded every year since its return in 2009. The primary focus of the league is to build character, teach the importance of sportsmanship, enhance the lines of communication between police officers and the youth in our community, and improve youth interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
Individual and corporate sponsorships are still welcomed and are critical to the success of this important community initiative. The cost to sponsor a team is $300, and the sponsor’s name will be prominently displayed on all league uniforms. League sponsorship is $100.00 and your business name will be included on the league’s banner.
For more information on the league or on sponsorships, please contact Administrative Services Lieutenant Joe King at (941) 575-5525 or at jking@pgorda.us.