Information from the Diocese

CYO Basketball Program in the Diocese of Santa Rosa

Currently the CYO program in the Diocese of Santa Rosa is a basketball program for boys and girls from third through eighth grade. The sign ups are in September, (contact the local participating parish for registration information at the beginning of September) with the tryouts for teams in October and then practices and games that run through the end of February, usually with playoffs in March.

The program averages about 3000 children and about 480 volunteers (coaches, etc.) from the parishes that participate, mostly in Napa and Sonoma counties. The coaches are required to participate in a coaches’ clinic each fall in order to coach. The philosophy of CYO as well as policies and rules, and techniques are reinforced at that time. The Athletic Director for each parish program must be approved in writing by the pastor each year.

Julie Sparacio (707-566-3308) is the liaison with the Diocese of Santa Rosa for this program and attends the CYO Board meetings when appropriate. Pastors are welcome at the meetings and have specifically been invited to attend at times when issues of parish concern are on the agenda. The Board members try to encourage the Catholic identity of the program.

The cost of the program varies by parish, depending on whether the parish has its own gym space or has to rent space. Each parish may conduct its own fundraising activities.