Coaches, volunteers needed for Police Athletic League bball

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Police Athletic League basketball league begins in January for kids 13 to 17.

YPAL is working with the Salvation Army, Heart Reach Ministries, Flying High Inc. and Warriors Inc., said Patrolman Edward Colon, YPAL executive director. Coaches and volunteers are needed. Anyone interested can call Colon at (330) 743-2156 and attend an informational meeting that will be held at 5 p.m. Jan. 3 at the Salvation Army, 1501 Glenwood Ave.

Colon said YPAL is a nonprofit organization with a unique approach to preventing juvenile delinquency. The strategy is to offer young people in the city and surrounding areas recreational and educational activities as an alternative to delinquent acts or criminal behavior, he said.

YPAL includes police officers as participants and supervisors in activities, thereby forging a friendship between young people and police officers and breaking down any adversarial barriers that may have existed between them, Colon said. Youths, he said, learn to respect and appreciate not only the officers but the laws they enforce.

The age range for the basketball league is 13 to 17. Teams may be co-ed, depending on number of registrations. Coaches will inform the players of practice dates and times.

Participants must attend one orientation — either 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Salvation Army on Glenwood or 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 11 at Heart Reach Ministries, 211 Redondo Road.

Games at the Salvation Army will be 5 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 16, 23 and 30 and Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27. The playoffs will be March 5, 12 and 19.

Games at Heart Reach Ministries will be 5 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 18 and 25 and Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. The playoffs will be March 7, 14 and 21.