Registration is open until Monday, Nov. 27, for the winter Sedona Parks and Recreation Grasshopper Youth Basketball league for children in grades one through eight. 

Parents and guardians are encouraged to register their kids before Monday, Nov. 13, to receive a lower registration fee of $35, with a $3 discount when siblings also sign up. After that date, the registration fee will increase to $40 per player and the sibling discount will not be available.

“Growing, teamwork, sportsmanship and teaching the fundamentals are the things we’re working on in our league,” Parks and Recreation athletics and aquatics supervisor Carmen Brashier said. “Yes, there’s always going to be a focus on competition whenever you’re playing sports, but our goal is to really work on teamwork and fundamentals and building and teaching them to love the game.”

Team practices will start following Thanksgiving, with the eight-week season being played on Saturdays at West Sedona School unless otherwise noted The season will start on Saturday, Jan. 13, and end on Saturday, March 2. Each game is expected to last an hour and 10 minutes.

Games will start at 9 a.m. with the final game of the day tipping off at 2:50 p.m.

Practices will be held once per week for one hour for players in first or second grade; third graders and older students will practice for one hour twice a week.

”Practice days [and] times are determined by the volunteer coach and can be held anytime Monday [through] Friday between 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.,” the city’s website states. “Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate all schedule requests or any team changes to fit a practice schedule.”

The $35 registration fee includes a team jersey as well as an end-of-season award. Players should be sure to bring their own water bottles and appropriate footwear to games and practices.

Brashier said that the league has expanded this year to include seventh and eighth grades because a lot of last year’s sixth graders aged up. She added that she would love to see even more youth come out following last year’s registration of 99 players.

The city is also hiring referees for the games. The job pays $20 to $28.50 an hour depending on experience and applications are accepted via the city of Sedona’s website.

“Applicants should be patient, calm, understanding and empathetic,” Brashier said. “I’m looking for someone that has some experience with basketball. It could be volunteer [or] paid ref experience. Someone that really understands the rules and the game and can help support [our] fundamental league … It’s a fun job.”

Residents with questions about the youth basketball league can contact Brashier at cbrashier@sedonaaz.gov or (928) 203-5077.