NEAA Sponsors Small Fry Basketball League at Nazzaro Center

The North End Athletic Association, celebrating its 50th Anniversary, is once again partnering with the Nazzaro Center sponsoring the popular Small Fry Basketball League at the Center.

The league, for boys and girls ages 5-13, consists of two divisions.

The younger division 5-8 year olds will use 8 foot baskets and meet most Saturdays from 11am to 12 noon and participate in a half hour of instruction in the fundamentals of shooting, passing, dribbling and defensive skills.

The older kids are split into four regular teams on a fixed schedule playing standard games with referees and coaches.

Teams also receive a half hour of instruction/warm ups before each game.

These teams also play on Saturdays either at 12:30 or 2pm.

All game results are recorded, with the season culminating in the spring with the NEAA version of "March Madness", according to the Center’s Director Carl Ameno who oversees the league and compiles all the statistics.

"All participants are provided league shirts which must be worn at each session," Ameno said.

"Attendance is kept for both divisions with each participant receiving an award at a season ending banquet with the size of their trophy directly related to their attendance," Ameno said.

Play for the 9-13 year olds starts on October 30 with the 5-8 year olds starting on November 7.

The Small Fry Basketball League is for Nazzaro Center members only.

However the league is still accepting players who sign up for membership at a cost of $20 per person. Membership includes involvement in all of the Center’s free programs.

For more details about Nazzaro Center membership and what it entails call Carl Ameno or Laurie D’Elia at 617-635-5166.