PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Minneapolis, MN (November 21, 2023)

Minnesota Youth Athletic Services, Inc. is proud to announce YMCA of the North as a strategic partner and title sponsor of the Rising Stars High School Basketball League (RSHSBL). The RSHSBL is a developmental basketball league that provides boys the opportunity to play high school basketball competitively, regardless of circumstance or skill level. This new partnership will focus on growing and enhancing opportunities for high school students who are not participating in their high school basketball program.

YMCA of the North will play host to and create teams for this winter Rising Stars League. The league aligns perfectly with the Y of the North’s values of Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility. Multiple YMCA branch locations will host games and practices for the Rising Star participants and teams as well as provide athletes access to utilize their facilities with free day passes.

“We are extremely excited for this partnership and the impact it will have on young people who are looking for opportunities to continue to play a game they have grown up with and love,” says Josh Schoaf, Executive Director of YMCA of the North. “We cannot thank MYAS enough for this opportunity and congratulate them on the wonderful success and growth of the Rising Stars High School League.”

“The MYAS Board of Directors and our dedicated staff are thrilled to welcome YMCA of the North as the title sponsor of the Rising Stars High School Basketball League and strategic partner of our organization,” said Dawson Blanck, Executive Director of MYAS. “YMCA of the North has a proven track record of having a wonderful, positive impact through their youth sports programming at all 27 of their locations. Their mission, values, and goals totally align with our organization. We are thrilled to partner with their staff and network to improve and enhance the delivery of youth sports services to every youth athlete, coach, parent, and official and the organizations that serve them.”

The initial shared goal will be on league administration and the recruiting, educating, and retaining game officials/umpires by providing training and development opportunities. These key areas are only the tip-off of what is to come as this partnership will have a profoundly positive impact on both organizations and the athletes they serve. 

MYAS created and operates the RSHSBL, which is a competitive travel basketball league for boys in grades 9-12 in Minnesota. The league is designed for players who did not make their high school basketball team but want to continue playing at a high level. For more information on this league, please visit the MYAS or YMCA of the North  websites.

About YMCA of the North

Local Ys and Camps engage hundreds of communities in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. By nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving health and well-being, and supporting and serving our neighbors, the Y ensures that everyone has the opportunity to become healthier, more confident, connected, and secure.

At the Y, we value what everyone brings to the table. We work to ensure that all segments of our communities are welcome at the Y and have equal opportunities to become connected to other participants, members, staff, and volunteers at all levels of the organization. We make it a priority to educate and empower staff and volunteers to intentionally think, act, and communicate with a diverse, inclusive, and global approach to serving all.

About Minnesota Youth Athletic Services

Minnesota Youth Athletic Services, Inc. (MYAS; www.myas.org) originated in 1991 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving and enhancing youth sports programs and services (leagues, tournaments, events, training/development, and educational offerings and resources) for Minnesota’s youth athletes, coaches, parents, officials/umpires, and parent-volunteer athletic associations. Today, the MYAS is Minnesota's largest multi-sport organization and acts as a central clearinghouse for youth sports with more than 150,000 kids participating in programs and services each year. The MYAS is committed to providing a safe, positive, and productive experience for today’s youth athletes.

In 2019, the MYAS launched the Rising Stars Sports Academy (www.mnrisingstars.org) as an affordable option to fulfill training and development needs for the entire youth sports community. The Rising Stars Minnesota portfolio includes coach and player development, training and skills camps, leagues, player evaluations, tryout evaluations, and skills challenges for all skill levels in the sports of basketball, baseball, and, most recently, football.

Other MYAS services include: www.trustedcoaches.org; www.trustedofficials.org; www.wisportsservices.org; and Minnesota Youth Basketball Alliance