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E.D.G.E. youth hoops back for 2nd season

STEUBENVILLE — Tri-State Area youth again will have an opportunity to get a basketball E.D.G.E. this winter.

EDGE Sports will begin taking registrations soon for the second season of its basketball league. EDGE is an acronym for Education + Determination + God = Excellence.

“The emphasis of the league is to build Christian values through competitive sports,” said the Rev. Jason Elliott of First Westminster Presbyterian Church and a member of the EDGE steering committee. “In addition, we want to make sure we have excellent fundamentals in basketball and good coaches.

“On the Christian values side, we have chaplains from area Christian churches, regardless of denomination, who offer the kids value lessons on 10 core scriptural values — humility, respect those sorts of values. The chaplains break down for the kids what the values mean in day to day life and how they can live these values out.”

Registration is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 9 in the Steubenville High School Commons. A second registration will be held on Oct. 16 during the same time period and the final opportunity is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 22. The cost to participate is $40. Youth registering for the league also must attend one instructional clinic planned for the Big Red gymnasiums. Clinics are planned for Oct. 30 and Nov. 6 with the following schedule: Grades 1-2, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Grades 3-4, 2:35 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Grades 5-6, 3:35 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Elliott stressed the league is to open to anyone in the Tri-State Area, grades one to six.

“Boys will play with boys and girls will play with girls,” he stated. “All players are drafted and will receive equal playing time. Teams will play 10-game schedules with a single-elimination tournament planned for the end of the season.

Games will be played on Saturdays and Sundays, starting Dec. 4. During the inaugural season, the league had 250 players.

“Before each practice, we take five minutes and have a devotional session led by the chaplains, the practice begins,” said Elliott. “Then on game day, there is a theme for each week. The value we study at practice will be reinforced at the game.

“We also get fans and participants involved. Everyone attending games received a sheet detailing the weekly value. It’s the same information they kids receive. That allows us to pull the parents into bigger focus of our mission.”

Ray Saccoccia, Clyde D’Angelo and Bobby Radakovich, all former coaches, serve on the E.D.G.E. steering committee along with Elliott. So too does Mike Florak of Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Elliott noted E.D.G.E. Sports is taking a “proactive approach to mentor youth in our community.”

“When we look at the community, we can all see our youth need as many positive touches as they can receive,” he continued. “EDGE Sports and this basketball league becomes one of those unique points to where you can reach out and make a little impact on a kid’s life.

“Part of the blessing of year one was you were able to see kids from the league throughout the week and those kids would tell you how they really love EDGE Sports. We also had parents saying thank you.

“The partnership with the city schools and Franciscan University is a motivating factor. It’s so nice to see community partners coming together. When you see folks who are vested, it really encourages you to keep plugging way and make a difference.”

The league had numerous corporate sponsors a season ago including Teramana Enterprises, Barium & Chemicals, WTOV-TV, Anthony Mining and the Hindman Family Companies. Elliott noted the league also received a grant from the Christian Fellowship Foundation which helped offset costs for any youngsters who couldn’t afford to participate.

When it comes to coaches, Elliott stressed E.D.G.E. is looking “for someone who has a working knowledge of basketball and who can teach core fundamentals.”

“At the same time, they need to understand the real mission of the league,” he pointed out. “We want to teach our kids how to compete but at the end of the day, we want them to understand what core values are and how they blend into life.

“Finding coaches who can fit that and grow into that is a key. The coaches are the backbone of the league as are the chaplains.”

For information, contact Radakovich at (740) 381-2644.

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