How to Find Gym Time for Youth Basketball Practice

If you are like most youth coaches, it is a challenge to find an open gym to conduct basketball practices. In reality, there are open gyms in your community. The focus of this article is to provide some tips on how to capture those open gym times for free or at a low cost.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet
• Telephone
• Networking skills

1. Check with your local school district. In your community there are several schools that have gymnasiums. Your tax dollars are helping to pay for those gymnasiums. Most school districts allow taxpayers in their community to sign up for open gym time at the schools. The school programs typically have first rights to gym time, but after that it is open to the taxpayers of the community. Contact your local school district Buildings/Grounds supervisor to get the details.
2. Check with local places of worship/private schools. Many of these institutions have gymnasiums that sit idle. If you are a member of a place of worship you can typically get the gym time at no cost. Otherwise, you may pay a small fee or exchange service for gym time (e.g. the team landscapes or works a school fundraiser).
3. Check with the local community center. The mission of many community centers is to build a stronger community. You may have to provide some money or service in exchange for the gym time, but the community centers want to bring people into their centers.
4. Check outdoor courts. If you live in a warm climate there are some great outdoor courts that you can utilize. Although it is not ideal, you can achieve many of your goals on an outdoor court.

Tips & Warnings

• Be open to practicing during non-peak times and for shorter periods of time.
• Be willing to share gym space with others.