You're twenty three and in basketball athletic prime right? Unfortunately you are not Lebron twenty three, probably meaning basketball your face isn't gracing the TV screen that often. Maybe you're a college basketball player who took the extended stay package and has a nice warm gym to perfect your stroke. However,the majority of us are stuck with a winter time problem. The NBA is starting along with the NCAA, and our basketball fever is slowly becoming a product of the cold weather. So what do the out of high school, out of college kids do with the blacktop not really being an option? Here is a guide to making sure you don't lose a step during street ball off season.
You can sign up at a YMCA or a 24hour fitness. YMCA's the place to find some of the Bay Area's best pick up. From some of the best high school basketball players in your area to bone bruising 40 year old men, YMCA's host some tough competition. 24 Hour Fitness's are good places for active indoor runs. However the courts are sometimes very small and packed with 2- 5 team waits. Signing a contract with either one of these gyms can be relatively expensive but very much worth it since you are almost guaranteed to find basketball players to play with.
You can sign up for Fall/Winter Recreation Leagues. Connect with your local YMCA or Community Center to inquire about sign ups. Players can find access to league information through their city's park and recreation websites. From there find the main contact, that is responsible for the sign up process. Ask about the rules, regulations, competition level, price and schedule of the league; these will give you a better indication if the league is right for you.
Local churches have runs all the time, especially in San Francisco. Just make sure to understand the requirements. Sometimes you have to be part of the church or have to pay a small fee. Whatever you do be well behaved...you're in church.
Recreation Centers are great for competitive open runs. At some rec or community centers you can play at anytime for free. Others you may have to pay a small amount. And others may have set times for open runs. Make sure you check with your local recreation center to understand their hours and guidelines. Also check out our courts page to find a recreation center near you.
Your final option is to suck it up and play outside. The blacktop is open all year round!
Brenton Gieser is a contributing blogger to BlackTopHoops, the ultimate blog for street, recreation and pick up basketball. On Blacktop Hoops you will find articles on: improving your game, the newest basketball kicks and gear, the best leagues, tournaments and courts to play at and much more!
For more tips on how to improve your basketball game for the blacktop or the hardwood visit http://BlacktopHoops.com and subscribe to our free feeds.
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