Shea's Youth Basketball Association

My name is Jonah Shea and I am the president at Shea’s Youth Basketball Association Inc. I am a 31-year-old quadriplegic, stemming from a diving accident in July of 2007.Although I love to coach basketball, I'm even more interested in being a mentor to kids. I feel as though I have the ability to relate to people in difficult situations, due to my own personal struggles. This is the bigger idea behind Shea’s YBA. We plan on using basketball as a way to teach the kids camaraderie, teamwork, hard work, and most importantly respect for one another.

I came up with the idea for Shea’s YBA because I felt like we could offer the kids a more complete basketball program than is currently available in most recreation leagues. The reason we feel we will be able to do this is because we are willing to go the extra mile and raise the funds necessary to do so. Since we are putting in ample time and effort, we expect a little extra from the kids as well. They will be expected to follow our conduct policy and also be asked to help out in community outreach programs from time to time.

These leagues will always stress conduct and camaraderie first and foremost and teaching basketball second. Upon entering each season, the players will be asked to attend our "Beyond Basketball" event. This is a mandatory event that will focus on the connection between sports, education, and living a healthy lifestyle. From drug awareness, to focusing on your diet and exercise, and also how academics relate to successful athletic careers as well as opening many doors outside of sports. This is where our mentors and tutoring program will be implemented.

We are hoping to always have at least one tutor (hopefully 2 or 3) there from 2 PM till 7:30 PM on Saturdays and noon till 5:30 PM on Sundays. The reason we picked these times and days is because during the season each Saturday we have games from 3 PM till 9 PM and Sundays we have games from 1 PM to 7 PM. The reason the tutoring starts at 2 PM Saturday is because the 1st game starts at 3 PM and we hope to offer an hour before each game for tutoring for the kids that need it. The tutor/Mentor's have no reason to be there after 7:30 PM on Saturdays because at 7:30 PM the last game starts, which means there's no one left to tutor. The same thing pertains to Sunday. Since the 1st game starts at 1 PM, and the last game starts at 5:30 PM, the tutors will be asked to stay from 12 PM (1 hour before the 1st game) to 5:30 PM (the start of the last game) to give all kids a fair opportunity to be helped with their homework.

The reason it is called an Association is because it involves many people to make this work. Though I came up with the idea, none of this would be possible without the help of the board members, volunteers, and also the generous donations of the townspeople and businesses. The members in this Association share the same passion that I do to give the kids the best possible basketball experience, as well as a positive place to hang out where the kids don't have to worry about other kids picking on them. We have a 3 strikes and you're out policy for kids that disrespect other kids. This policy is stated under the rules section of our website.

The thing that sets us apart from most recreational basketball leagues is that we are a legit 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporation in the state of Massachusetts (please click on the number to the right of the EIN link at the top of each page of the website, to view our certificate). With the help of business donations, online solicitations, grant writing, fundraising, etc. we plan on giving the kids a fully funded league at the best possible facility to allow kids from all over Cape Cod to participate. The name of the facility is the Hyannis Youth and Community Center (HYCC). This is a state-of-the-art recreation center offering full-court basketball, ice skating and hockey, pool table and ping-pong tables, a computer/education room as well as a nicely-stocked snack bar.

The main reason we decided to enter in contract with the HYCC is its location. It is located in the center of Cape Cod but more importantly it's positioned right next to some of the lowest income neighborhoods on Cape. These areas also have some of the highest crime rates and are regularly watched and patrolled by the police of Barnstable and Hyannis. Due to these reasons we felt like it was important to create something that the kids could walk to no matter their families financial situation and or issues. At least 1 league board member/volunteer and/or 1 coach will always stay until every last kid has gotten a ride home.

With the help of the board members, volunteers, and my own personal love for the game and motivation to help the kids, we feel very confident in our efforts to complete our goals. If anyone wants to help with anything (refereeing, coaching, donations, advertising, becoming a mentor to the kids, or anything else) feel free to contact us through the phone number on the website or by simply sending an e-mail to sheasyba@sheasnolimit.org