Black Mountain Recreation discontinues youth basketball league

Lack of available facilities cited as primary factor

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 12, 2021

The Black Mountain Recreation Department has announced the cancellation and discontinuation of its winter youth basketball program. Photo by Fred McCormick

The Black Mountain Recreation Department announced, Oct. 12, the cancellation and discontinuation of its winter youth basketball program, which offered organized competition for around 150 kindergarten- through middle school-age children. 

The decision, according to recreation director Josh Henderson, was due primarily to the department’s inability to find suitable facilities in the area. 

Youth basketball was cancelled in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which also prompted changes in the availability of school facilities. 

“Last year, and into the first part of this year, the schools made a decision that third parties couldn’t come in and use their facilities,” Henderson said. “Which is understandable, because of cleaning, not knowing who is coming and going and what protocols are being observed when they’re used.”

Youth basketball games have typically been played at Owen Middle School, while practices alternated between Black Mountain Primary and Elementary Schools, but the department did not contact them regarding the winter season. 

“There were already other facility-related issues with the league itself,” Henderson said. “The goals at the schools where we practice are not adjustable, and that doesn’t work for younger age groups. So, for as long as we’ve done youth basketball, we’ve had to install these drop-down goals that require an employee to climb a ladder, and attach it to the goal.”

The risk of injury associated with setting up and taking down the temporary goals, which weigh approximately 70 pounds, according to Henderson, was a potential liability for the Town. 

“That’s not exactly the safest situation for children or staff,” Henderson said. “That’s something we didn’t feel we should continue to pursue, due to safety.”

The closure of the league for its second straight season places its future in jeopardy.

“It’s hard to say if it will come back,” Henderson said. “One of our real needs here is a gym for this community.”