Monday marks the start of a long journey as winter sports practice begins for high school programs in Colorado. For many, it’s the start of long trek through swimming, hockey, wrestling and especially basketball.

Kids who are in love with hooping will enter their high school gyms hoping be involved with the teams help their school programs during a competitive four-month stretch.

But basketball can be problematic at times because there simply isn’t enough space for everyone. Some coaches will have to make the tough decisions on which kids can fill a limited number of roster spots.

Cuts can be heartbreaking, but that doesn’t mean they’re the end of a kid’s basketball journey. The Gold Crown Foundation has long understood the need to have basketball teams and leagues available to provide the basketball – and life – lessons that will help kids in other avenues of life.

The Gold Crown Prep Development League runs two different leagues for boys basketball teams to allow kids who are not on their high school teams to practice, develop and compete. The first league kicks off the first Monday of December and will run for five weeks (while not playing over the holidays) and then the second season runs from mid-January until the end of February.

(Michael Martin)

“One thing, we don’t like interfering with spring sports,” program director Mark Rusch said. “A lot of these kids play basketball, track, or other sports, so we finish right before the spring period for high school sports.”

That’s the kind of understanding that has made Gold Crown the perfect supplemental avenue for high school athletes. The foundation has tried to make this same basketball program available to girls, but the demand isn’t high.

“Not as many girls go out for their high school teams, which means, of course, not as many girls end up being cut,” Rusch said. “We try to, as we do all our programs, provide opportunities for boys and girls. But this particular program here, there’s just not enough demand.”

Per the CHSAA participation database, around 3,000 fewer girls participate in basketball than boys.

Just like high school teams, the Gold Crown basketball league is instrumental in helping kids develop their basketball skills and experience the life lessons that are learned on the court. Gold Crown hires all the coaches for the league – which is split between freshman/sophomores and juniors/seniors – and stress to them that winning basketball games is not the primary goal for these teams.

“It has to go way beyond basketball, and let’s hope that none of us lose sleep over winning or losing a prep development league on Monday night at the Gold Crown Field House,” Rusch said. “It has to go way beyond that by allowing kids the opportunity to play, whether it’s in a team environment or if we’re just placing one kid. Sometimes the kids don’t even know each other the first night. They’re all from different high schools around the metro area. And sure enough, after five weeks we see that bonding. 
I think some kids become friends off the court and stay in touch.”

Registration for the Prep Development League is open for both seasons and more information can be found at the Gold Crown website.