THE OFFICIAL PARTNER OF MARIETTA BLUE DEVILS BASKETBALL

Kindergarten SIGN UP HERE

1st & 2nd GradeSIGN UP HERE

Kindergarten SIGN UP HERE

1st & 2nd GradeSIGN UP HERE

What parents are saying...

“Having attended camps with professional coaches, I was amazed at how Little Hoopers kept my daughter and the other kids far more engaged and excited from start to finish. My daughter, who’d never dribbled a ball before, walked away beaming, asked for a hoop for Christmas, and can’t stop talking about her new lifelong love of basketball thanks to the coaches’ contagious energy, encouragement, and fun, hands-on drills. Can't wait to sign up again!”

Jane L.

“Little Hoopers is a fantastic way to introduce your little one to basketball. The coach found new and fun ways to show young players the fundamentals of basketball in a new and entertaining way. My family is looking forward to another season of Little Hoopers!”

Steven F.

“My Little Hooper absolutely loved his first season! Coach’s kindness, energy, and hands-on approach made every child feel like a star on the court. He turned each practice into a fun adventure, sparking their love for basketball and filling the gym with nonstop smiles and excitement for the next practice.”

Victoria S.

“We have boy/girl twins who both wanted to try out basketball and Little Hoopers was exactly what they needed! Throughout their time, they grew in skill, confidence, and always had so much fun! I can’t brag enough about Coach Ian and his dream team of coaches for their patience & knowledge they brought to the court each week. Both of our kids’ favorite day of the week was “basketball day”, and our (very non-athletic, but super spunky) daughter decided that Little Hoopers is helping her become the next Caitlin Clark!”

Kelsie P.

“Little Hoopers was the perfect introduction to basketball for our six-year-old! The practices were fun and well organized with great instruction lots of exercise and scrimmages after every practice. We loved the mix of familiar and new teammates. We highly recommend little Hoopers.”

Genevieve R.

“Coach King has done such an amazing job coaching our son this year and I really appreciate his efforts. He really does have a gift for coaching!"

Scott T.

“Joining Little Hoopers has been an incredible experience for our son. From day one, the coaches and volunteers created a fun, supportive, and inclusive environment where every kid could grow and feel like part of a team. We’ve watched our child not only improve their basketball skills, but also build confidence, learn teamwork, and make lasting friendships. The emphasis on sportsmanship and encouragement over competition sets this program apart. We’re so grateful to have such a positive program in our community!”

Andrew E.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Little Hoopers good for beginners?

YES! Little Hoopers provides fundamental instruction to teach all players the skills and drills to become better basketball players.

What is the time commitment for parents and players for Little Hoopers?

Little Hoopers is designed to introduce basketball to aspiring young athletes where they will practice and compete in 1 session a week. Kindergarteners will participate in 6 sessions total for 60-75 minutes each session. 1^st & 2^nd graders will participate in 10 total sessions, 3 with mixed age groups K-2, to develop their skills and be assessed on their skill level so they can be placed on evenly matched 3 on 3 teams. The final 7 sessions will last for 90 to 120 minutes, the first hour is dedicated to teaching fundamental offensive & defensive skills while the remaining time, they will participate in 3 on 3 play.

What are the policies on cancellations?

Inclement wintry weather is always possible here in Marietta. Our cancellations will be based on Marietta City School District’s school cancellations. If school is cancelled due to weather on a Friday, League Play will be cancelled on Saturday and makeup games will be rescheduled. Little Hoopers’ cancellations are dependent on a Monday school cancellation.

What are the policies on refunds?

Gem City is a registered non-profit. Refunds are not available after the registration period has closed. Please pay it forward so we may continue serving the community.

Can I request my child to be on the same team or group as their friend for Little Hoopers?

Groups and teams will be split by skills and ability after the first week. We accommodated placement requests in the first year and what we found is that being in line with friends caused more distractions than focused learning. Most players are MCS students, this is a great opportunity to make friends from one of the other 7 elementary schools.

My child doesn’t attend Marietta City Schools, can we still sign them up?

Yes. Little Hoopers happily welcomes non-MCS students, although, Gem City Athletic League is designed to be a true feeder program for MCS students.