Youth Basketball

It All Started at the Y!

When Dr. James Naismith was a young faculty member at the YMCA International Training School in Massachusetts, he was charged with instructing a group of young men who had little to no interest in the common calisthenics exercises of the day, so he set about developing a new game that would draw their attention and provide the physical activity needed to keep them healthy.

Taking inspiration from other team games, Dr. Naismith created a team sport with a peach basket and a soccer ball played indoors on hardwood. The group loved it, and the game was born. On December 21, 1891, the first-ever game of basketball was played.

The YMCA continues this tradition more than a century later. Basketball at the Y promotes life skills through the value of teamwork, sportsmanship, communication and exercise.

Youth Basketball League

Our Co-ed Youth Basketball League offers a program where participants will be included on teams and play games against one another. Our leagues provide the chance for every player to develop their discipline, sportsmanship, strength and endurance. While practices are geared toward strengthening your child’s individual skills, game time emphasizes each player’s understanding of the sport, game rules and team competition. Y volunteer coaches will focus on developing a sense of teamwork in a setting that encourages fun, healthy, age-appropriate competition. By the end of the season, your child will have gained a better understanding of the sport, its rules and the basic skills. YMCA youth recreational basketball leagues play with modified rules for each age division.

Youth Basketball runs year-round, four seasons per year. Games are held on Saturdays or Sundays, with practice held once per week, on weekdays.

TEAM ASSIGNMENTS

Children are placed on teams depending on their age division and based on skill. While we do our best to accommodate buddy requests, we cannot guarantee that children will be placed on the same team due to skill and number of children per team.

Team assignments will be delivered the week before practices begin for each new season.

Division
Ages
YMCA Member Rate
Non-YMCA Member Rate
Copper
5-6 years
$140
$230
Bronze
7-8 years
$140
$230
Silver
9-10 years
$140
$230
Gold
11-12 years
$140
$230
Platinum
13-15 years
$140
$230
SEASON INFORMATION

Summer 2026 Youth Basketball

  • Registration Opens: Tuesday, June 23
  • Registration Closes: Tuesday, July 14
  • First Week of Practice: July 21-24
  • First Game: Saturday, July 25
  • Picture Day: Saturday, August 15
  • Last Game: Saturday, September 12

Fall 2026 Youth Basketball:

  • Registration Opens: Monday, September 14
  • Registration Closes: Monday, October 5
  • First Week of Practice: October 12-16
  • First Game: Saturday, October 17
  • Picture Day: Saturday, November 7
  • Last Game: Saturday, December 5

Winter 2027 Youth Basketball

  • Registration Opens: Monday, December 7
  • Registration Closes: Wed., December 30
  • First Week of Practice: TBD
  • First Game: TBD
  • Picture Day: TBD
  • Last Game: TBD
The Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation are proud partners with the Santa Monica Family YMCA Youth Basketball League.

Free Play

The Y also offers opportunity for pick-up basketball at several locations association-wide. View the gymnasium schedule on the home page of your local YMCA for free play time.

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