Basketball practice for the YMCA of Selma Dallas County youth league got started this past Tuesday afternoon. According to program director Vanessa Felts, about 130 kids have signed up to play basketball this year.

“Everyone was excited,” Felts said. “All the kids seemed like they were having a great time, and it was really good. It felt like a sense of community with all the parents sitting on the bleachers and supporting their kids all together.”

On the first day, Felts had the gym ready for practice and kept everyone on schedule. Each team got an hour of court time, and Felts gave them a 10-minute warning before their time was up.

The 14-team league is split into three divisions based on grade level. There are five teams for kindergarteners through second grade, five teams for third and fourth graders and four teams for fifth through sixth graders.

The teams are full and registration for the league is completely closed.

“Practices are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I close the gym from 5-8 p.m.,” Felts said. “On Saturdays, we offer the gym from 12 p.m. to close for practice if coaches want to come in on Saturday afternoon and practice with their team.”

The kids will have plenty of time for practice since the first game isn’t scheduled until the new year. Felts hasn’t completed the schedules, but the first games will be on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

It takes a community effort to help the YMCA basketball league, and according to Felts, that’s what makes it great.

“The best part about this is every team, except for one, is coached by a parent-volunteer,” she said. “The parents have really stepped up this year to coach their children.”

By Felt’s count, 18 parents are volunteering their time to coach this season.

“I already have all the help that I need for the basketball season at this time, but I’m always accepting volunteers for anything here at the Y” she said with a laugh.