| Sports activities in full swing
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Basketball is up and running on several levels while soccer and track and field are on deck as the City of Fontana offers athletic programs as part of the overall campaign for a healthy Fontana.
Community Services supervisor Rob Bock said the city’s largest program -- pee wee basketball with 667 boys and girls age 4 to 15 -- is already fully underway.
“We just had a coaching clinic January 6 to help train more than 100 volunteer parents that help,” Bock said. “Keith Howard with the Inland Empire basketball program helped our volunteers with techniques about how to coach at the youth level.”
Bock said the participants receive uniforms as well as trophies at the end of the program. The season was preceded by a fast break basketball camp just after Christmas at Jack Bulik Park with 85 participants, ages 7 to 15, receiving instruction in the skills of dribbling, footwork, defense and shooting to help prepare them for a positive basketball experience. Competitive games were held at the end of the 3-day camp.
“This year, as an enhanced feature with our youth basketball program, our participants receive a full uniform,” Bock said.
Bock said Fontana is also continuing its new men's basketball program which began a second season in mid-January.
“We have eight teams participating representing companies, neighborhoods, businesses or just playground friends,” Bock said. Team fees are $250 plus $20 per team, per game to pay officials. Games will be played at Almeria Middle School on Saturdays.
“So far the league has gone really well,” Bock said. “Our hope is to get to the point where we have three levels of play - novice, intermediate and more advanced, like players who played college or recent high school basketball. Right now we have just one 8-team adult league,” Bock said. “We want it to grow and eventually also include women in categories under and over 40 years of age.”
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| Pee Wee soccer sign ups now taking place.
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Pee Wee soccer, for children 5 to 7 years old, starts in April with signups February 1 through March 8 for Fontana residents. Non-residents may sign up March 1 through March 8. Fontana children can participate for $28 fee and proof of residency. The non-resident fee is $38 per child.
The soccer season will begin April 2 and continue for 7 weeks at Southridge Park, McDermott Park and the newly renovated multi-sport complex at Ralph M. Lewis Park.
A teen basketball league is scheduled for Spring. Participants have an opportunity to register March 1 through April 12 with a $45 fee, non-residents $55. Games will be played at Almeria Middle School Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. Youths born between 1990 and 1993 are eligible.
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| Youth Track and Field scheduled for April.
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Following soccer and basketball, Fontana will have a youth track and field season for the “older” kids, with those born in 1992 through 2000 eligible to register. Registration runs March 1 through April 13. For non-residents, registration runs April 2 through April 13. Fee for residents is $6, non residents is $16. Meets will be held at Fontana High School.
Spring will also include a youth roller hockey league with registration taking place March 1 through April 2 for residents, and March 26 through April 2 for non-residents. The fee for residents is $45, for non-residents $55. The league will hold games at Jack Bulik Park in Paul Biane Pavilion. Youths born between 1991 and 2001 are eligible to register. More information is available by visiting the community services website at www.fontanarecreation.org or by calling 909-350-6604.
Year-round men's and co-ed adult softball leagues play on Thursday and Friday evenings at Southridge Park. Team fees are $350, plus game umpire fees.
Further information on the community sports programs is available online at www.fontanarecreation.org or by telephone at 909-428-6644. For information on adult sports, the phone number is 909-350-6540.
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