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Gettysburg Optimist Basketball: “Bringing out the best in kids!” for 60+ years.
It began way back in 1965 when the Optimist Club of Gettysburg sponsored the first Optimist Youth Basketball program for youngsters from the Gettysburg area. It sought to teach the fun and fundamentals of basketball to youngsters in grades K through 6, regardless of their individual skill level. At the start of the program, rules were very simple: all kids played, all focused on the fundamentals of the game, no scorekeeping and all participants were required to have fun.
60 years later the Optimist Youth Basketball Program continues to observe the same set of rules and still reaches out to the youth of the community who want to learn the game of basketball, have fun, and share an experience that forms life-long memories. The free program is conducted on Saturday mornings over eight weeks of winter. Each one-hour session is held at the Middle School in Gettysburg on Saturday mornings in January and February. The players are divided by age group into various sessions: kindergarten, grade 1, grades 2-3 and grades 4-6. All participants are encouraged to attend, even if they cannot commit to attending all the weekly sessions. Each participant will receive a free basketball t-shirt as a memento of their experience.
Free basketball sessions begin January 10, 2026, in the Gettysburg Middle School gym and will occur every Saturday through the end of February. The schedule is as follows: Kindergarten from 8:30-9:15 am , Grade 1 from 9:15-10 am, Grade 2 & 3 from 10-11 am, Grades 4-6 from 11 am-12 pm. Children can be registered by completing an online form at gettysburgoptimist.com or by printing the paperwork from our website and mailing the registration to PO Box 3035 Gettysburg, PA 17325. All registration forms must be received prior to children participating in the program. Late registration forms will not be accepted after January 8.
The Optimist Club of Gettysburg Youth Basketball Program is one of the many youth-oriented programs conducted and funded by the local Optimist Club each year. Club members, parents and community volunteers act as leaders, monitors, coaches and mentors. Many of them were once young participants in earlier programs and are now coaching and mentoring their children and grandchildren. The Youth Basketball Program would not be a success without the help of our volunteers. Since its inception more than 5,500 area young people have participated in the annual basketball outings. Consider donating your time as a coach or station leader in order to help this Youth Basketball Program be a positive impact on the youth of the community.
Saturday, January 10
Saturday, January 17
Saturday, January 24 *Picture Day!
Saturday, January 31 *Picture Make-up Day (if needed due to inclement weather)
Saturday, February 7
Saturday, February 14
Saturday, February 21
Saturday, February 28
Since you’ll already be present for the basketball program as your child participates, would you consider volunteering on the courts? No experience needed. We are seeking several coaches for each Saturday session. This commitment will involve encouraging players, ensuring their safety, and running a group of players through a few simple drills (that will be planned for you). During games, you can encourage players and manage substitutes while other volunteers manage the flow of the game. We’d love to have you join us! Please indicate your interest by filling out the following form and we will send you an email on how to apply for the required clearances. We offer many thanks to our volunteers as we truly couldn’t offer this program without the many gracious and generous volunteers.
Adult Optimist Club of Gettysburg Volunteer Waiver
Minor Optimist Club of Gettysburg Volunteer Waiver
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
