In an effort to build up Wareham’s girls basketball program, Kyle Erha — the girls basketball coach at the high school — is launching a free 3 on 3 instructional league open to girls in grades one through eight. 

The league is open to any girl who wants to play basketball, regardless of experience or skill level. To register, visit the group’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/warehamgirlsbasketball/posts/1745868978936873. 

Erha said he is still working out the details of the league, but an initial survey indicated that two divisions — one for girls in grades one to four and another for girls in grades five to eight — would work best.

The grade five through eight group will meet on Fridays in the afternoon or early evening. Friday, Oct. 1 will be the first session from 4 to 6 p.m. at the courts behind Town Hall, but the time could change later on.

The grade one through four group will meet on Saturday mornings, beginning Sat. Oct. 2. Although the time is not yet set in stone, 9 to 11 a.m. was Erha’s ballpark time. The younger girls’ division will meet at the park at Point Rd. in Marion because the park has a single 8 ft. tall hoop on a side court, which is well-suited to smaller players. 

So far, he said those who have expressed interest in the league are “all over the place” in terms of experience. 

“But that's the cool thing about what we're building,” he said. “Because those with no experience are having that experience now, in this setting, as opposed to showing up to the high school in eighth or ninth grade with no experience.”

Erha said the biggest goal of the league is “to increase participation and enjoyment in girls basketball in town,” which will eventually help strengthen the high school’s girls basketball program. 

“Our long term goal is to build a development pipeline to the high school program,” he said. “We just need to keep creating a great and fun experience for our younger girls to not only learn the game but to learn to love the game and we’ll get to watch them make names for themselves in a Vikings uniform down the road.”

Participants in the league should bring water and a basketball if they have one. 

Anyone with questions should contact Erha at kyleerha@gmail.com.