Over 400 Salvation Army Rookie Basketball players got to hit the hardwood on Wednesday night to practice with UMD Women’s and Men’s basketball teams at Romano Gym.

“Each season practice with the Bulldogs has grown, we had over 200 kids in 2023”, said RBA Director, Kris Mallett.  “While some of the success may be due to their success in the area and nationally on the court, I believe it comes more from what these two teams are about. The character Coach Pearson and Coach Wieck draw out of their players on the court makes a difference off the court in who their players are in the community. That holistic approach to basketball is in direct alignment with Rookie Basketball’s mission of training the body, mind, and heart to benefit youth in sports and in everyday life. Spending time in the gym with the Bulldogs gets players more excited about basketball and teamwork and makes them want to dream big and play hard, all things that translate to life off the court.”

Each year over 650 youth participate in The Salvation Army’s Rookie Basketball Association. This year, in the 36^th season, over 75 volunteer coaches helped make an impact on youth in Duluth through basketball.