May 2013 will mark the end of the second successful year of the local yeshivas’ sixth grade boys’ basketball league.  Still in its infancy, the league has shown tremendous growth. The original league consisted of Yeshivat Noam, Yavneh Academy, Moriah and Solomon Schechter of Bergen County. The numbers doubled in the second year:  Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey, SAR in Riverdale, Ben Porat Yosef and RPRY all joined as well.

The league is a competitive one, with high school referees, a playoff structure and a final battle for the championship by the top two contenders.

In this league every coach devotes tremendous time and effort into teaching and developing basketball fundamentals.  According to RYNJ coach Steve Gutlove, “For most of these boys this is their first exposure to organized basketball. Until now they played mostly pick-up games and as a result picked up many bad habits.” The skills that are taught and drilled at this level will help these boys as they progress to the eighth grade league.

Although team building and on-the-court skills are important, the main message of the league mirrors that of the yeshivot it serves. Dov Glickman, parent of a first time participant, told JLBC, “I was pleased to see that the values the schools represent were reflected in the conduct of the players on the court.”  Another parent said, “It was amazing to witness the whole gym silenced when one of the boys took a foul shot.”

The midot tovot and respect for each other will last with these boys long after their yeshiva basketball careers are over.