What can the Saucon Valley community do in the winter months to provide a fun, wholesome activity for roughly 250 rambunctious kids in grades one through eight? Well, if you would ask Eric or Teather Royse, they would tell you there is no problem doing this. They have it covered. You see, Eric and Teather work together to lead the Saucon Valley Youth Basketball organization. SVYB offers multiple options to accommodate the many Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township families that are currently involved in the organization.
Saturday morning basketball in the Saucon Valley Middle School gym
The program starts with the coed Minors division that offers both first and second grade boys and girls a great first experience in organized basketball. According to Teather, the goal of this division is to “introduce young kids to the game of basketball (by) emphasizing the fundamentals of the game and the concepts of teamwork.” Minors have six teams that play in the elementary school cafeteria using 8.5 foot baskets. Players in this division usually practice once per week and play games on Saturday mornings. It is an “in-house” league that is entirely coached and officiated by Saucon Valley parent-volunteers.
Next is grades three and four, who use regulation height baskets. Three and four offers “REC” and “Travel” groupings that are gender-specific. REC Boys has a total of 14 teams. Five teams represent Saucon Valley players, with about 10 boys each. The Saucon teams compete against five teams from Southern Lehigh and four “Canes” teams from Bethlehem. On the Girls’ side, three Saucon teams play against two from Southern Lehigh and three others from Bethlehem. Using qualified referees, these games are mostly played in the Saucon Valley Middle School gym.
Saucon Valley Youth Basketball parent-volunteer Reggie Robertson gets ready to deliver his pregame pep talk.
SV 3-4 REC does involve preseason “tryouts” for the purpose of determining abilities, after which the teams are divided up “as equally as possible,” Teather said.
Royse said this division, which includes a “Super Saturday” tournament at the end of the season, is at “a slightly more competitive level, yet the emphasis is still on equal playing time, mastering the fundamentals and team play.”
The 3-4 level also includes a boys “Travel” team this year. This team is subject to tryouts in which players are assessed by several unbiased evaluators. The Travel players are expected to practice a bit more and participate in the Lehigh Valley League against other area travel teams.
“Here the level of competition is higher and there is more exposure to advanced concepts like pressing, man to man and zone defenses and tracking fouls,” Teather said. Saucon Travel teams play both home and away games throughout the Valley.
SVYB offers a 5-6 level as well. Five and six Boys includes four equally divided REC teams that compete primarily at Nitschmann Middle School (Bethlehem) against teams from Fountain Hill, Southern Lehigh and Bethlehem.
Five and six also includes two SV boys and two SV girls Travel teams. Five and six SV Travel teams compete in the more competitive Lehigh Valley League as well.
Unfortunately, the Grade five and six numbers for the SV girls are down a bit this year, and there are no REC teams at this level. According to Royse, Saucon Valley usually offers four teams that would play both REC and Travel.
Finally, SVYB offers 7-8 Travel teams for both boys and girls, which are in addition to the teams from Saucon Valley Middle School. The middle school teams participate primarily in the Colonial League, whereas SVYB 7-8 teams compete all over the Lehigh Valley against municipalities of all sizes.
So, if you and your kids are looking for some future healthy winter fun and excitement, you may want to give basketball a try next season. SVYB has a lot to offer kids of all ages. For more information, check out www.svyb.org.
A Southern Lehigh 3-4 REC team inbounds against a Saucon team.
About the Author: Keith Riefenstahl is a deeply rooted sports fan, former coach and freelance writer. A Penn State grad and veteran educator, he resides in Saucon Valley with his wife Jill and four children: Brooke, Kiele, Travis and Tanner.
