Boca Hoops Farewell
Dear Boca Hoops Family
In 1989, three of us met in a kitchen, in the hope 0f developing a youth basketball program for the children of Boca Raton. So, after much discussion, Boca Hoops was born. We created our mission statement, in the hopes of instilling in the coaches and players the following motto:
Teaching the Game…
Learning the Game…
Respecting the Game…
Respecting each other.
In 1989, we enrolled 340 children to play recreation basketball. We told our wives, that we would do this for 8 weeks a season, for only 4-5 years. However, in reality, it became 365 days per year, for 36 years. Over those 36 years, the program has been more than a recreation basketball experience. It became the “Boca Hoops Family”. The program enrollment peaked at 1300 players, and averaged 1000 players per season.
Over the 36 years, Boca Hoops has had more than 50 boys and girls play Division I, II, and III college basketball. Three of our Hoopsters went on to play professional basketball overseas. And one Hoopster, was selected in the NBA Draft. More importantly, numerous Boca Hoops Alumni have their children playing “Generation 2” Boca Hoops, and a number of Alumni have returned to coach and sponsor their children in Boca Hoops. That’s “Family”.
Boca Hoops is proud to have established the Boca Hoops Camps, teaching the game while having fun. We are proud of creating a travel program, Boca Hoops Select, that took our Hoopsters to the next level of the game of basketball. We are also proud of the Boca Hoops Academy Clinic, taught by the Lynn University men’s coaching staff and players.
Special thanks to Bob Mullin the “third wheel” of the trio that started of Boca Hoops.
Special thanks to Robert Mufson, who helped create the Robert Mufson Sportsmanship Award. An award recognizing the attribute of sportsmanship in our players, rather than their athleticism.
Special thanks to the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Parks for giving us the state of the art Sugar Sand Park Field House and letting us help design the facility. Thank you to the City of Boca Raton with its inter-local agreement with our usage of our public schools.
We give special thanks to Gary Cohen for creating in 2003, the High Five program for our special needs athletes. Boca Hoops was the first recreation program in the state of Florida for the special needs athletes, enrolling players from Hollywood to Jupiter.
Thirty-six years, is a long time to devote to the making of a successful youth basketball program. We think Boca Hoops is an example of the best, recognized, in 2005, by the national organization, Positive Coaching Alliance, winning the outstanding youth recreation program “ Honor the Game” Award. Boca Hoops, solely run and sponsored by volunteers, was the only organization to receive this award.
Special thanks to the many volunteers and sponsors (too numerous to name) who, over the years, helped make Boca Hoops possible and so successful.
After much soul searching and consideration, we are announcing, that after 36 years, the closing of the doors of our Boca Hoops Camps, and Boca Hoops has completed its final season.
We hope that over the years, our Boca Hoopsters learned the skills of basketball, team camaraderie, and have many great memories of their time being a part of the Boca Hoops Family.
Thank you to the Boca Hoops Family. It’s been a Blast!
Sincerely
Jody & Mike