MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / Febuary 3, 1999

RESERVE – In today’s athletic arenas, too much emphasis is often put on winning and winning big. Coaches at all levels are fired despite successesoff the field and in the classroom.

One place where winning is not emphasized is in the Reserve Christian Basketball League. The primary purpose of the league, started by HaroldKeller five years ago, is to give children an opportunity to have fun. Scoresare kept but the emphasis is more on sportsmanship than on who wins and loses.

No fee is charged to play in the league. Already this season, 118 childrenhave registered to play. The league is divided into three age groups – 6-7,8-9 and 10-12 year-olds.

There are four teams in each age group. Tryouts are held and the playersare separated according to their ability. Keller said he and his helpers tryto balance the team equally and that if they are unequalled, players can be switched.

There are no coaches in the league. The teams are led by “helpers” whocoach a different team each week. The helpers as well as Keller refereethe games.

Games are played on Saturday mornings in the Reserve Christian School gym. Games consist of four 10-minute quarters with running time. In thelower age groups, free throws are shot by each player at halftime to help keep games close.

Keller said he is often asked what the rules of the league are and replies that there are none except for sportsmanship and positive encouragement.

The referees explain to the players what they did wrong and all players must play at least two quarters.

“The kids enjoy it, the parents enjoy it,” Keller said. “The number onething is for the kids to have fun with sportsmanship and to encourage the parents to give the kids positive encouragement.”St. John Parish councilman Duaine Duffy and Chris Eichhorn recently gotnine members of the community to donate T-shirts to the league. The T-shirts have Keller’s “Get High on Life, Not Drugs” slogan on the front and the players’ numbers on the back.

Keller gave credit to Duffy and Wade Delaneuville credit for helping him get the league off the ground again this year.

“I think it is a great opportunity for the kids,” Duffy said. “It’s forrecreation. It’s getting better every year. It allows the kids to be part of ateam and without the pressure that athletics often puts on at a young age.

I am glad to be a part of it.”

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