Nether Swarthmore Hoops League

Recreational league for boys in grades 2-9 and girls in grades 2-8

Nether-Swarthmore Hoops is SRA’s most popular program, serving over 500 players each year in elementary, middle, and high school. We welcome players of all skill and ability levels in every division.

DIVISIONS

GIRLS 2/3 and BOYS 2/3

• Geared for players who have participated in skill clinics and are ready for a more competitive atmosphere (for basketball beginners, see Instructional and Developmental programs)
• 1 week night practice per week, beginning week of November 30
• Games begin December 6, 2026 and run through Championship Weekend, currently scheduled for February 6/7, 2027
• No practices or games during WSSD Winter Break
• Games will be played on January 16/17, 2027 (MLK Jr. Day Weekend)
• Plays 4v4 games each week on Sundays

GIRLS 4/5, BOYS 4/5, GIRLS 6-8, and BOYS 6/7

• 1 week night practice per week, beginning week of November 30
• Games begin December 5, 2026 and run through Championship Weekend, currently scheduled for February 6/7, 2027
• No practices or games during WSSD Winter Break
• Games will be played on January 16, 2027 (MLK Jr. Day Weekend)
• 5v5 games each week on Saturdays

BOYS 8/9

• 1 week night practice per week, beginning week of November 30
• Games begin December 6, 2026 and run through Championship Weekend, currently scheduled for February 6/7, 2027
• No practices or games during WSSD Winter Break
• Games will be played on January 17, 2027 (MLK Jr. Day Weekend)
• 5v5 games each week on Sundays

TEAM FORMATION: All players should attend evaluations conducted by division commissioners and coaches. All players will be placed on a team after evaluations which are designed to form teams that are equally balanced by skill and age. Evaluations will be in November and will be posted on this page. Following evaluations, you will receive your team assignment through TeamSnap.  

We do not make any team placements based on friend/carpool/coach request. No team changes will be made for an undisclosed conflict or second conflict. No exceptions.

CONFLICTS: One conflict night per player will be honored when setting teams/practice nights. This information is added to the registration form. DO NOT ADD MORE THAN ONE CONFLICT NIGHT. No changes to the conflict night after evaluations will be honored.

COACHES

The foundation of Nether Swarthmore Hoops is made up of our volunteer coaches, most of whom are parents of players. This year, registration is discounted for the coach’s player. Please sign up to help – we strive to have 2 coaches per team to lighten the load. If you have questions, please reach out to eric@swarthmorerecreation.org.

In an effort to ensure that teams are as even as possible, no coach pairings are guaranteed until after evaluations and teams are made. We will make every effort to pair coaches with the preferred coaching partner as long as the pairing does not defeat the main goal of evenly matched teams in each division.

Player Evaluations for Winter 2025-26: TBD

GYM LOCATIONS: SRS and CADES in Swarthmore; SHMS and WES in Wallingford

FAMILIES’ RESPONSIBILITIES: For each game, coaches will be asking for team parents (or middle/high school-aged sibling) to (1) work the game clock or (2) keep the game book. EVERY FAMILY SHOULD EXPECT TO WORK ONE GAME DURING THE SEASON.

REGISTRATION FEE: $200. Opens Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 9AM and closes Sunday, October 25th. Fees have increased for 2026-27 due to the increased rental costs SRA pays for use of local facilities (fields, gyms, and classrooms).

LATE REGISTRATION: $220. Begins Monday, October 26, 2026 space permitting.

COACH REGISTRATION: $175. The discount code for coaches 26cd25

Enter the code in the “Discount Code” field, which is in the “Additional Player Info” section of page 1 of the registration form. The discount will be applied on the Checkout screen (page 3). If you use the discount code at registration, you are committed to coaching a NS Hoops team this year, which includes obtaining and submitting the necessary background clearance documents. If you decide not to coach, we will make a full refund and your player will need to be re-registered.

CLEARANCES: Under Pennsylvania law, all volunteer coaches must complete specific background checks. You may not coach a practice or game until SRA has all your completed clearances on file.  For coaches who have lived in Pennsylvania for at least ten years, this is a fairly simple task that can be completed online.  For coaches who have not lived in Pennsylvania for ten years, the process involves getting fingerprinted. We will provide detailed instructions for all background checks. Clearances are generally valid for five years.  If you have already submitted clearances for past seasons, we will be in touch if they have expired. Questions about clearance requirements should be directed to nika@swarthmorerecreation.org. 

SCHOLARSHIPS/FINANCIAL AID: If your family needs some financial assistance in order to make it possible for your child to play, please fill out our scholarship request form.

updated 2026.10.02