The West Maui Youth Basketball League will begin regular season play on Jan. 7, 2017.

LAHAINA – The West Maui Youth Basketball League will hold first-come, first-served registration for its 33rd year of hoops action here on the West Side at Lahaina Civic Center on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As this youth sports program annually fills up and forms a waiting list to fill open spots on rosters for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade, WMYBL Commissioner Sean Gordon advises interested families to be sure to sign up on the designated day.

“All together, we had around 400 kids signed up in the Termite, Tiny Mite, Peewee, Midget, and Menehune Division rosters last year. We try to accommodate as many youngsters as we can, but space is limited, so we hope everybody will come out to sign up,” he said.

Gordon went on to say that after registration, teams will be formed in the Termite (kindergarten), Tiny Mite (grades 1-2), Peewee (grades 3-5), Midget (grades 6-8) and Menehune (select travel squads) divisions for regular season play that begins on Jan. 7, 2017.

All games will be played at Lahaina Civic Center on the sparkling court that is also home to the Maui Jim Maui Invitational basketball tournament that is played annually during Thanksgiving week. Practice will begin in early December.

He also noted that the primary sponsor of this model youth sports program is the Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation, with its mission statement to: “Provide safe, satisfying and cost effective recreational opportunities for residents and visitors to Maui County.”

WMYBL is also a partner with the National Alliance For Youth Sports (NAYS), which emphasizes sportsmanship in all aspects of athletic programs for children.

The Termite Division will be made up of four teams and practice mostly drills and concepts of basketball, followed by controlled scrimmages later in the season.

The Tiny Mites will have eight teams and play seven games; the Peewees will consist of 12 teams and play 11 games; and the Midget Division will have seven teams and play 12 contests. The Menehune League for intermediate age boys and girls will compete in the Maui County program across the island.

Gordon noted that the program is actively looking for coaches and sponsors for all divisions.

“Our thanks goes out to all of our loyal sponsors that have been supporting this league for all these years,” he said. “Especially to the County of Maui Parks and Recreation and longtime sponsors like Leilani’s on the Beach and Jim Falk Motors, we send out our sincere thanks. And to all of the volunteers and staff of Parks and Recreation, including Danae Marin, Alvin Kametani, Yolanda Dukes, Kupono Hong, Steve “Specs” Ashfield, Coach Al Dasugo, Anela Gordon, Michelle Gordon, Nani Kenolio, Steven McCabe and Casey Smythe, thank you for your continued support.”

The season will climax with the annual WMYBL All-Star Games and Award Ceremony in mid-March. All-star contests will be held in the Tiny Mite, Peewee and Midget divisions, and every player in the program will receive a trophy. Sportsmanship and Coach of the Year award presentations will take place in between the games.

For more information, or to volunteer as a coach or official, call West Maui Parks and Recreation at 661-4685.