The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson intramural basketball league kicks off next month, and now’s the time to register for it and other basketball opportunities available to service members.
The intramural league will begin with the preseason tournament Oct. 1, said Katherine Hunt, a sports specialist with Buckner Physical Fitness Center.
“The deadline for the letter of intent is Sept. 23,” Hunt said. “And we have the organizational meeting on Sept. 30 at 1 p.m.”
Teams that register for the tournament by the 23 are expected to bring their rosters to the organizational meeting, Hunt said.
“We won’t know how many teams we have until we get the rosters in,” said Al Alston, BPFC sports director. “That will determine the schedule.”
The tournament will be double-elimination, teams of five, but with an unlimited number of subs, Hunt said.
After the tournament, the intramural season will begin wherein teams will compete for victory from Oct. 17 until Feb. 20, determined by win/loss ratios, Hunt said.
The tournament has one rule stricter than the season: games start at game time with no exceptions. Any team not ready to hit the court at game time forfeits. The season itself will have a five-minute grace period, Hunt said.
Additionally, the Alaska Grudge Match, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 1, is in the works, at which players from Fort Wainwright, Eielson Air Force Base, JBER-E and JBER-R will compete in a mini-tournament for the best military team in Alaska.
All matches will be at BPFC. Letters of intent can be obtained from the front desk at either fitness facility on base, Hunt said.
“The season requires some type of military affiliation, whether that be active duty, retired or dependent, they can play as long as they are over 18 years of age,” Hunt said. “That goes for all of our programs.”
If local events won’t sate that competitive thirst, Air Force Sports is looking for Men’s Basketball athletes to represent the Air Force at the Armed Forces Championship and an international military basketball tournament.
Interested parties should complete an AF Form 303 “Request for USAF Specialized Sports Training” from www.myairforcelife.com/sports/ and submit it to myPERS by Sept. 27.
“If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the JBER sports office; Katherine at 384-1312 or Al at 384-1304,” Hunt said. “It’s usually very good competition, so I think it’s not just fun, but it’s rewarding.”