Practice begins this week for the Murfreesboro Youth Basketball League sponsored by the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department. The draft for the upper division teams has taken place and the coaches meeting for all divisions has been held at McFadden Community Center where the coaches picked up their rosters. 

The teams now take to the hardwood for two weeks of work before the Christmas break. 

Second year coach Zach Randolph returns to lead the Sixers in the 13-15 year old age group and will be assisted by Nick Fish. "Last year was the first year that I have coached and it is very different being a coach and not a player," said Randolph who played is high school basketball at Eagleville and is credited with hitting eight three-pointers in one game. "Trying to relate and communicate  with the kids and to teach them the basics is my main goal. I want them to have fun and enjoy the game but learn some things also." The Sixers only won two games last season but that the win-lose is not why Randolph is involved with the MYBL. 

"Last year we didn't go to the evaluations the players went through but this year we did," said Randolph. "So we came into the draft this year better prepared. We had an idea who we might want to draft. And we did okay. As long as they have fun, learn from us the basics, then I do not care about our record because the season will be a success."

Ray Metcalf is a veteran of the league. Beginning his 18th year in the league. He walked out of the draft with a good feeling about his picks. "I think I did okay but we will wait and see," said Metcalf. "I like the draft because it is fair but you never know until practice starts. But we get a good idea from the evaluations the league gives us. The league does a good job with that. "I have three players returning from last year and in the supplemental draft I was able to pick up some players that I think will help." 

For Metcalf, coaching in the MYBL is a way for him to give back to the community. "I haven't had a child in the league for ten years now," said Metcalf. "But I just like doing this. I like working with the kids. I try to help them develop into good citizens for the city of Murfreesboro though basketball."

Gary Arbit is the Commissioner of the Murfreesboro Youth Basketball League. "We have 126 teams in the league this year," said Arbit. "Over 1100 kids will be involved from 5-years old to 15 years old. That is a record number of teams and players for the league's 50-year existence. "The coaches have an opportunity to go to the evaluations, plus they get a player evaluation list on each player so they can make some decisions before the draft happens. We have been doing the draft for six years and it seems to work. The draft is a an effort to make the upper divisions as equal as possible."

Sites for the games this season will be Sports*Com, John Pittard Elementary School, Siegel  Elementary School, Patterson Park Community Center, Black Fox Elementary School, Northfield Elementary School and Cason Lane Academy.

The season will begin in January 2014.

BELOW PHOTO: Ray Metcalf pencils in his draft selection during the Murfreesboro Parks and Rec.  Youth Basketball League player draft.  Photo by Jim Davis/Murfreesboro Parks & Rec.

BELOW PHOTO: Thomas Laird, Athletic Superintendent for the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department, addresses the coaches involved in the Youth Basketball League during the meeting held at McFadden Community Center. Photo by Jim Davis/Murfreesboro Parks & Rec.