Welcome to Ohtani Basketball.
The Berkeley Ohtani Basketball program exists thanks to the sponsorship and generous support of the Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple. The program is a church-sponsored community activity for youth and families. We make every effort to support the youth and teach the values of the organization, which are the importance of family, education, and good moral character. The organization provides a place for players to develop individual skills, as well as promoting good sportsmanship, teamwork, and fair play.

Values
Ohtani Basketball promotes sportsmanship, teamwork, and an appreciation of each individuals’ special contribution to the team. Every child is encouraged to do their best and to help their teammates do their best. Ohtani Basketball families are encouraged to support their children as they work to improve their basketball skills, and respect and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of their teammates and the teams they play against.

Activities
Ohtani Basketball families form a community whose origins and identity are closely linked to the Berkeley Higashi Honganji Temple. Ohtani Basketball activities provide opportunities for Temple and Basketball families to work on the common goal of supporting the Temple and the Ohtani Basketball program. To keep registration fees reasonable, and to provide opportunities for Temple and Basketball families to interact and support each other, participation is required in our major fundraisers: Mochitsuki (December), the Annual Ohtani Jamboree (February), and the Ohtani Summer Bazaar (July).

Registration

Registration is CLOSED for boys teams for the 2023-2024 season.
Please check this page in July, 2024 for next season’s registration details

We are still recruiting for 2023-2024 GIRLS only, grades K-8, no experience necessary! Please email ohtaniregistrar@gmail.com if you are interested.

Age Groups
B-boys (grade 10-12)
C-boys & C-girls (grade 7-9)
D-boys & D-girls (grade 4-6)
E-boys & E-girls (grade K-4)

Basketball Season Expectations and Details

Practices begin at the end of September and are generally held on Friday nights in Berkeley and Oakland. League games run December through February on Saturday evenings and/or Sunday afternoons, with post season tournaments through March. EE division for kindergarteners is instructional and does not include league games; however, they may enter tournaments. As a recreational basketball organization, Ohtani recommends all coaches to provide minimum playing time for every player in every game.

Volunteer Requirements

The Ohtani Basketball organization could not function without participation from every family. The organization would not exist today without the tireless hours donated by families past, present, & future. Participation includes working a two-hour shift at the Temple Mochitsuki event, working at the Ohtani Jamboree, working a three-hour shift at the Temple Bazaar, helping your child's team with scoring, timekeeping, and snacks, and working an Ohtani job.

The four volunteer requirements are:
1. Mochitsuki: in December
2. Jamboree: the last Sunday in February
3. Summer Bazaar: the 4th Weekend in July
4. Ohtani Family Job: coach, team manager, Jamboree committee, board member, end-of-season banquet planning, and many additional options available

Each player must submit a $250 participation deposit check dated the next year to ensure compliance. Upon completion of volunteering activities, we will destroy the check.

Health and Safety

Please note THE FOLLOWING Gym and COVID PROTOCOLS
(2022-2023 Season): 

• Only basketball shoes with non-marking soles are allowed on the courts.

• Parents are allowed in the gym and are welcome to stay during practices.

• Parents should pick up their players inside the gym. Players must stay with the coaching staff until they have been released to a parent/guardian.

• Please no food in the gym.

• Ohtani follows CPDH and local-health departments’ guidelines. Ohtani games occur in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

• As of now, Ohtani strongly recommends everyone wear masks indoors.

• Sick players should not attend practice regardless of COVID test results. A player who tests positive may not return to play until after their Infectious Period as defined by the CDPH:

  • For symptomatic infected persons, 2 days before the infected person had any symptoms through Day 10 after symptoms first appeared (or through Days 5-10 if testing negative on Day 5 or later), and 24 hours have passed with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms have improved.

  • For asymptomatic infected persons, 2 days before the positive specimen collection date through Day 10 after positive specimen collection date (or through Days 5-10 if testing negative on Day 5 or later) after specimen collection date for their first positive COVID-19 test.

• As a courtesy, positive cases should be reported if teammates could have been exposed.