The Tribune

MICHAEL Clark, owner and originator of the Under 6 Feet Basketball league, has sanctioned the U6F 242 Basketball League.

The U6FL here in the Bahamas is now in the formation phase and is looking forward to starting the league before the summer.

It is hoped that the U6FL will fall under the purview of the NPBA and the season will start after the NPBA season is completed ending before the start of the 20-21 season in October.

The reasons for starting the 242 U6FL here in the Bahamas are many and varied.

Why should the tall guys have all the fun? Everyone should be able to play above the rim.

After years of frustration as a basketball player under six feet tall, Clarke (from Perth, Australia) decided to do something about it and create a league where guards can post up, be on the receiving end of an alley-oop, and finish a drive to the hoop with a jam.

Clarke has joined forces with Asia Pacific Sports Management Pte Ltd to bring the exciting new league to Singapore and now to the Bahamas.

U6F Basketball, with its combination of variations to the traditional game, is an innovative competition for players under six feet tall.

• Here’s the basic concept:

• players must be 182cm tall or less in bare feet

• the rings will be lowered to 9 feet

• a size 6 ball will be used

• a dunk is worth 3 points

• “illegal defence” is a violation much like in the NBA

These variations will level the playing field. They will effectively add a foot to each player’s height and allow them to grip the ball like the tall guys. A simple pleasure like dunking the ball during warm-ups will be given to players who, through no fault of their own, have been excluded from the most exciting aspects of the game until now.

This league is designed to be fast, high scoring and encourage lots of dunking, it’s how basketball is meant to be played rather than the slow, half-court basketball that is all too common these days.

The league will be exciting to play in and watch. It will also provide a legitimate career path for players who are not able to maximise their potential in the traditional game.

U6F Basketball in the 242 is in discussions now to secure a gym for games Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon for the inaugural season. It is hoped that the U6F 242 League’s inaugural season will consist of eight teams who will play each other twice during the season.

The four teams with the best records will advance to the conference championships and the two teams that advance playing for the U6F 242 League inaugural season championship.

There’s basketball. And now there’s U6F Basketball in the 242 - Above the Rim for All.

If you are interested in participating in any aspect of the U6F 242 League’s inaugural season or have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email u6f242@gmail.com