Harwood hosts Girls Night Out Oct. 9 for youth players
September 15, 2026 | By Waterbury Roundabout
Youth players get in some hoops during a halftime break at a Harwood varsity game. File photo by Gordon Miller
Harwood Girls Youth Basketball has a special Girls Night Out event planned for Oct. 9 to spread the word and recruit new players in grades 4 through 6 for the upcoming recreation season.
The get-together will take place in the Harwood Union High School gym from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Any girl interested in trying the sport or playing this year is encouraged to attend. The first 45 participants to sign up will receive a free T-shirt, and pizza will be served at the end of the event.
“The goal is to get more girls playing the sport,” said Coach Tommy Young, who organizes the youth program and coaches the high school girls varsity basketball team.
Many girls, even in elementary grades, might think they already need to be skilled players in order to get involved, which is not the case.
Young explained that recruiting events such as this are a way to introduce potential new players to the sport for free. And to make it fun, Young said players from the Harwood girls high school team will help run the event.
“The goal is for the girls to have such a fun time that they will want to try the sport for the rec season,” he said. “I want to have 15-20 girls from across the district in each grade.”
Young noted that girls’ participation in basketball across the U.S. is in decline, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations. “Data from the National Sporting Goods Association shows an even steeper 45% drop for girls aged 12 to 17,” he said.
The youth players will take part in skill drills with the high school players. Young will talk with parents about the overall Harwood girls program spanning grades 2-12. Members of the recreational Harwood Youth Basketball Association will also attend to answer questions about the upcoming season, which runs from November until February school break.
The cost to participate in the recreation program varies by age and fees -- which cover uniforms – are being set for this year, Young said.
Attendees are asked to sign up in advance using this online form.