Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When was the Gay Basketball League formed?
The league was formed in the Fall of 2006. 2. Why was the league formed? In 2006, a group of sports enthusiasts noticed that New York City had a number of athletic teams for those in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community but yet no structured basketball league. Thus, they took it upon themselves to create New York's first official gay basketball league. 3. Where are games held? Men's Division games are held the Field House at Chelsea Piers.
Women's Division games are held at LREI (Elisabeth Irwin Little Red School). 4. How many levels are there? There are three divisions, Men's A and B, and Women's. Division A is for the more competitive/advanced player. Division B is for recreational/intermediate and beginner player. The Women's Division is comprised of Women of all skill levels, divided up onto equal strength teams. 5. What days are games held? Men's Division games will be on Sundays from 2pm-8pm at the Field House at Chelsea Piers. The Fall 2009 Season begins in September 2009. Women's Division games will be Saturday afternoons at LREI. 6. Are there games on other nights? Not at the present time. 7. I don't know that much about the game, can I still participate? Absolutely. Beginners are always welcome, as are players of all experience. 8. Is there a beginner's clinic? Coming soon. There will be a beginner's clinic as soon as we have enough beginners to make it cost-effective for us to rent court space and hire a coach. If you're interested in getting on our growing list, please email us at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. 9. How are the teams picked? When people convey interest in playing with the league they are initially asked their skill level. They are all then asked to play in an assessment game. There, league captains can get a sense for skill levels. Players are then chosen through a draft system by the league captains before the league begins. In order to keep the teams even, advanced players are placed in Division A; while recreational, intermediate and beginner level players are placed on Division B teams. 10. Are there playoffs? Yes. At the conclusion of each season the teams battle it out in playoffs to win their division championship. 11. Is there a women's league? You betcha! If you are interested in playing in the women's league send an email to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. 12. Is there open play? From time to time. Please join our mailing list to be notified. Send an email to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. 13. Are there practice sessions? Unfortunately, there aren't practice sessions scheduled. 14. How much does it cost to participate? To be determined soon. 15. How many seasons do you play? The league is in session for two seasons; Fall and Spring. Fall season starts in September. Spring season starts in March. 16. Are there "Meet the League" events? Yes. Ever so often we will host a "Meet the League" night at establishments around New York City. Stop by the main page from time to time to for more details on our "Meet the League" events. 17. Do you have to be gay to play in the league? No. The league fosters an athletic environment free of discrimination for members and friends of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. It also promotes positive values in our community and will fight to eliminate negative stereotypes associated with LGBT athletics. 18. How does one become a sponsor of a team? They teams are sponsored by a number of businesses around New York City. To inquire about sponsorship and its benefits, send an email to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. 19. Who is on the Board of Directors of the NYC Gay Basketball League? Officers
Michael Kokell, Commissioner
Anthony McGilchrist, Vice-Commissioner (Men's A-Division) Geoffrey Schenker, Vice-Commissioner (Men's B-Division) Caroline Hoang, Vice-Commissioner (Women's Division) Jeremy Munro, Secretary Jeff Kagan, Treasurer Fred Gonzalez, Board Member Troy McGilchrist, Board Member Rachel Nord, Board Member Burnie Du Rant, Jr., Board Member Eileen Herr, Board Member
20. Who do I contact to sign up? Send us an email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
with your contact details and we'll provide you with more information. | 
