2025 Winter Thunder Youth Basketball

Coaches are the backbone of the YMCA. They inspire, mentor, and create a positive environment where young athletes can learn, grow, and thrive. We are currently seeking volunteer coaches for our upcoming sports seasons. Your time and enthusiasm make all the difference in providing meaningful experiences for our players and families. Please note that if we are unable to secure enough coaches, some teams may unfortunately need to be disbanded. We want every child to have the opportunity to play, and we need your help to make that possible. If you’re interested in coaching or learning more about the role, please contact our sports director, Jhon Garcia. Together, we can build a season full of teamwork, growth, and community spirit.

Due to weather conditions, all outdoor sports games at Dickenson and Owasso are canceled today (Saturday, October 25). These games will be rescheduled, and updated information will be shared soon. Indoor sports will still take place as scheduled. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility.

Get ready for an action-packed FALL season at the Tandy YMCA! We’re bringing the fun with Youth Basketball, Youth Volleyball, Youth Soccer, and Youth Flag Football. Registration opens July 26th and closes September 1st – don’t miss your chance to be part of the excitement! Register online at ymcatulsa.org/sports or stop by the front desk at your local YMCA. Practices will begin shortly after registration ends, and games will kick off soon after – stay tuned for full season dates! Whether you're hitting the court, field, or sidelines, there's something for everyone this fall. Let’s make it a season to remember!

This fall, we’re bringing the energy with Thunder Basketball, Volleyball, Flag Football, and Soccer, programs designed for all skill levels. Whether you’re here to grow your game or just have fun, our courts and fields are the place to be! Join us in building friendships, sharpening skills, and creating unforgettable memories, one game at a time. We can’t wait to see you out there! Important Dates: September 4 at 6:00pm – Parents’ Meeting (great opportunity to ask questions) September 6 at 9:00am – Mandatory Coaches’ Clinic presented by Hope Driven Coaching, followed by the Coaches’ Meeting. Coaches, please plan to attend. Week of September 8 – First practices, all practices are held at the Tandy Family YMCA September 20 – First games November 1 – Last games and medals distributed to coaches and teams

Hi Sports Families, Quick reminder: our Parents Meeting is this Thursday, September 4 at 6:00pm at the Tandy Family YMCA. Please plan to attend. It’s the best time to get questions answered and fix any roster or registration errors on the spot. Rosters will be posted within the next few days as we finalize the first draft. We’re also recruiting coaches across several sports this season. If you’re interested: 1. Please complete the volunteer registration here: https://ymcatulsa.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog/187 2. Email me at [email protected] and include: o The sport you want to coach o If you have a child or grandchild on a team All coaches must register each season to meet YMCA requirements. I know this hasn’t always been enforced in the past, but we need to be consistent moving forward. New to coaching? No problem. This is a development league for kids and coaches. We’ll support you with tips and resources. Coach Dates to Note: • Coaches Meeting: Saturday, September 6, 9:00–11:00am at Tandy Thanks for being part of the Y community. See you Thursday! René Valadez Executive Director, Tandy Family YMCA [email protected] | 918-728-3944

Dear Parents, Unfortunately, we did not have enough participants to form a league in the 11–12 Basketball division this season. In order to run the program, we need at least three full teams, and we were unable to reach that number. We want to provide your family with options moving forward: Switch to Volleyball: We currently have open spots available in our volleyball program. Credit: We can issue a credit for a future sport season at the YMCA. Refund: We can issue a full refund if you prefer. Please email me at [email protected] your earliest convenience to let me know which option works best for your family. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Thank you for being part of the YMCA community.

Coaches Clinic & Meeting — Tomorrow, September 6 Time: 9:00am–11:00am Location: Tandy Family YMCA Coaches, please join us for a hands-on clinic and season kickoff meeting. We’ll cover league expectations, safety, practice planning, game-day flow, and Q&A. New and returning coaches are encouraged to attend. Before you arrive: Please complete your seasonal coaching registration in Volunteer Matters: https://ymcatulsa.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog/187

Thank you to everyone who attended the Parents and Coaches Meeting. For those who couldn’t make it, here are the key points: Schedules Game schedules will be posted tentatively this Friday or Saturday. Please check YGameTime for weekly matchups, game times, and field assignments. Game Locations: Basketball 3–4: Tandy Family YMCA 5–6: Tandy Family YMCA 7–8: Daily Family YMCA 9–10 Boys & Girls: Hutcherson Family YMCA 11–12: The Y at East Central Volleyball 8–11: Herman & Kate Kaiser YMCA 12–14: Alternating between Daily Family YMCA and Tandy Family YMCA 15–16: Owasso YMCA Football All ages rotate weekly between Dickenson and Owasso Soccer 3–4: Dickenson YMCA 5–6: Dickenson YMCA 7–8: Rotate between Dickenson YMCA and Owasso YMCA 9–10: Dickenson YMCA Practices All teams with assigned coaches now have practice times. Practices started this week, with one practice per week. Games will begin Saturday, September 20th. Coaches Needed We are still looking for coaches in the following areas: Volleyball: 15–16 Soccer: 5–6, two teams in 7–8, and 9–10 Flag Football: 10–12 If you or someone you know is interested in coaching, please email me at [email protected]. Scheduling & Flexibility We understand practice times may not work for everyone, but we have limited space and time slots available. At this point, we are not moving participants unless there is an extreme situation or a team adjustment requires a like-for-like player move. With over 500 participants just at Tandy, we appreciate your flexibility and understanding. Uniforms Thunder Basketball jerseys must be ordered as soon as possible. These are ordered through a third party, so we do not control shipping times. (Shorts are optional.) Volleyball and outdoor sports jerseys are available at the front desk for $25. We’re excited to kick off the season and appreciate your support in making it a great experience for all participants. Please reach out with any urgent concerns, and thank you again for being part of our YMCA family. Thank you Tandy Family YMCA

Most of the Fall sports schedules are now live on YGameTime. Please remember that schedules are posted on the host site’s YGameTime page. Each YMCA branch has its own system, so you’ll need to check the link for your child’s division. Here are the direct links and locations: Basketball Location 3&4 — Tandy https://ygametime.com/branch/tandy/sports/2025-fall-thunder-youth-basketball/24363/ 5&6 — Tandy https://ygametime.com/branch/tandy/sports/2025-fall-thunder-youth-basketball/24363/ 7&8 Boys — Daily https://ygametime.com/branch/daily/sports/2025-fall-youth-basketball/24133/ 7&8 Girls — Daily https://ygametime.com/branch/daily/sports/2025-fall-youth-basketball/24289/ 9&10 Boys — Hutcherson https://ygametime.com/branch/hutcherson/sports/2025-fall-thunder-youth-basketball/24403/ 9&10 Girls — Hutcherson https://ygametime.com/branch/hutcherson/sports/2025-fall-thunder-youth-basketball/24404/ 11&12 Boys — East Central YMCA https://ygametime.com/branch/tandy/sports/2025-fall-thunder-youth-basketball/24376/ Volleyball Location 8–11 — Herman & Kate https://ygametime.com/branch/hermanandkate/sports/2025-fall-volleyball/24477/ 12–14 — Alternate between Daily and Tandy https://ygametime.com/branch/daily/sports/2025-fall-youth-volleyball/24298/ 15–16 — Owasso https://ygametime.com/branch/owasso/sports/2025-fall-youth-volleyball/23775/ Flag Football Location: All divisions rotate between Dickenson & Owasso 5/6 https://ygametime.com/branch/dickenson/sports/2025-fall-youth-flag-football/23931/ 7/9 https://ygametime.com/branch/dickenson/sports/2025-fall-youth-flag-football/23932/ 10/12 https://ygametime.com/branch/dickenson/sports/2025-fall-youth-flag-football/23933/ Soccer Location: 3/4 — Dickenson https://ygametime.com/branch/dickenson/sports/2025-fall-youth-soccer/23927/ 5/6 — Dickenson https://ygametime.com/branch/dickenson/sports/2025-fall-youth-soccer/23928/ 7/8 — Rotate between Dickenson and Owasso https://ygametime.com/branch/dickenson/sports/2025-fall-youth-soccer/23929/ 9/10 — Dickenson https://ygametime.com/branch/dickenson/sports/2025-fall-youth-soccer/24246/ Refunds: Families have until end of day, September 19th to request a refund. Jerseys: Basketball jerseys are sold through a third-party vendor. Please contact them directly for returns. Sportsmanship Reminder: Let’s all work together to model positivity on the sidelines and support the kids in having fun and learning together. Thank you for your patience as some host sites finalize schedules and add last-minute teams. We look forward to a great season.

Our first game of the fall season is approaching! Please take a moment to double check your game location, time, and duration, especially if you are traveling. You can find this information on YGameTime by selecting the Tandy branch and then choosing your sport and age division. Under Announcements you will also find links to all the host sites where your team’s schedule is posted. Required Equipment (Enforced After This Week) • Soccer: Shin guards are required for all ages. • Flag Football: A mouthpiece is required for all players. • Volleyball: Knee pads are required for all players. For Outdoor Sports and Volleyball, if you have not purchased your jersey yet, please do so quickly at the front desk. For Thunder Basketball, if your jersey has not arrived, we will have older Thunder jerseys available to check out. Please see a sports staff member in the gym. Weather Updates We are keeping a close eye on the forecast. As you know, Oklahoma weather can change quickly. Here is what you can expect regarding weather related decisions: 1. Decisions are made the day of the game. For example, Saturday games will not be canceled on Friday night. We will wait until Saturday morning to make the call. 2. Timing: If games are canceled, you will be notified no later than 1.5 hours before the first scheduled game (for an 8:30am start, the decision will be communicated by 7:00am). The only exception is lightning in the area, which may require an immediate decision and shorter notice. 3. Communication: All updates will be posted on YGameTime first. Coaches and parents will also receive an email from their branch sports coordinator. We want to make sure everyone is on the same page and receives timely updates if weather requires us to adjust or cancel games. Let’s have a fun and safe season. I look forward to seeing you all out on the field and court tomorrow!