Ramona's "Bitty Ball" Yields More Than Bits and Pieces for Some Local Youth
By: Tracy Rolling

A happy Bitty Ball participant. Photos from file

The Boys and Girls Club of Ramona has an introductory basketball program called "Bitty Basketball."

This co-ed program is designed to help teach youngsters the fundamentals of basketball and establish an interest for the indoor winter sport.

As with all of the Boys and Girls Club programs, Bitty Ball is motivating, safe, educational and offers an excellent opportunity for youth fitness. Under the direction of a parent volunteer, participants are coached by boys and girls from the Ramona High School basketball teams.

Bitty Ball is open to children in first or second grade, or to a kindergartners who turn 6 by April 3, 2007. The class is held once a year in the spring and each participate receives an end of season trophy or medallion.

Nichole Swafford, a seventh-grader at Olive Peirce Middle School sings some strong praises about "Bitty Ball." Swafford says, "It was Bitty Ball that first introduced me to the game and had such a positive impact on my life."

"If I lean over just so, I know it'll go in!"

Swafford is one of 11 girls to make the OPMS seventh-grade basketball team. She says there were about 50 girls who tried out and attributes much of her success to the early start she received in Bitty Ball.

Sign ups for Bitty Basketball were held last month at the Ramona Boys and Girls Club. The first game will be played on Tuesday, April 10 at Wilson Gym.

The Boys and Girls Club is located at 622 E. St. and offers a variety of other programs including an Easter Egg Hunt and Carnival that will be held at Collier Park at noon on Friday, April 6. The egg hunt will begin at 2 p.m.

For more information about events and programs offer by The Boys and Girls Club of Ramona, please call 760-788-7564.

Nicole Swafford (#4) practices her free throws at Wilson Gym.