Welcome to Ohtani Basketball.
The Berkeley Ohtani Basketball program exists thanks to the sponsorship and generous support of the Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple. The program is a church-sponsored community activity for youth and families. We make every effort to support the youth and teach the values of the organization, which are the importance of family, education, and good moral character. The organization provides a place for players to develop individual skills, as well as promoting good sportsmanship, teamwork, and fair play.

Values
Ohtani Basketball promotes sportsmanship, teamwork, and an appreciation of each individuals’ special contribution to the team. Every child is encouraged to do their best and to help their teammates do their best. Ohtani Basketball families are encouraged to support their children as they work to improve their basketball skills, and respect and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of their teammates and the teams they play against.

Activities
Ohtani Basketball families form a community whose origins and identity are closely linked to the Berkeley Higashi Honganji Temple. Ohtani Basketball activities provide opportunities for Temple and Basketball families to work on the common goal of supporting the Temple and the Ohtani Basketball program. To keep registration fees reasonable, and to provide opportunities for Temple and Basketball families to interact and support each other, participation is required in our major fundraisers: Mochitsuki (December), the Annual Ohtani Jamboree (February), and the Ohtani Summer Bazaar (July).

Registration

2025-2026 Season
We are excited to open up registration soon for the upcoming season!

FOR RETURNING PLAYERS:
Registration for returning players was held between July 1st-July 20th, 2025.

FOR NEW PLAYERS:
The new player interest form is now live here:
2025-2026 Season - Ohtani New Player Interest Form

We will contact those who filled out the form in September after we determine if any teams have openings.

Kindly note that as a small recreational organization, we typically field one team per grade and have very limited spots due to low turnover.

Age Groups
B-boys (grade 10-12)
C-boys & C-girls (grade 7-9)
D-boys & D-girls (grade 4-6)
E-boys & E-girls (grade K-4)

Basketball Season Expectations and Details

Practices begin in September and are generally held on Friday nights in Berkeley and Oakland.

League games run December through February on Saturday evenings and/or Sunday afternoons throughout the East Bay (e.g., Walnut Creek, San Leandro, Concord, Union City, with some girls games possibly in San Francisco). Additionally, many teams will have post season tournaments through March. EE division for kindergarteners is instructional and does not include league games; however, they may enter tournaments.

As a recreational basketball organization, Ohtani recommends all coaches to provide minimum playing time for every player in every game.

Volunteer Requirements

Each player must submit a $350 participation deposit check dated for the next year to ensure compliance. Upon completion of the volunteer requirements below, we will destroy the check.

Family Jobs:
Each Ohtani family is expected to complete a family job for the season. Family jobs include a wide range of roles from serving as a team manager to planning for the annual Jamboree. A full list of available family jobs will be circulated in the coming weeks. Note: families who have only an EE player are exempt from the family job requirement.

Seasonal Volunteer Events:
In addition, each Ohtani family is also expected to volunteer at three events per season:

• Mochitsuki: December 14, 2025 (one adult)

• Jamboree: February, 2026 TBD (two adults* & older players)

• Summer Bazaar: July 26, 2026 (one adult)

*or one adult if you are in a one-adult household

Health and Safety

Please note THE FOLLOWING Gym and COVID PROTOCOLS
(2022-2023 Season): 

• Only basketball shoes with non-marking soles are allowed on the courts.

• Parents are allowed in the gym and are welcome to stay during practices.

• Parents should pick up their players inside the gym. Players must stay with the coaching staff until they have been released to a parent/guardian.

• Please no food in the gym.

• Ohtani follows CPDH and local-health departments’ guidelines. Ohtani games occur in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

• As of now, Ohtani strongly recommends everyone wear masks indoors.

• Sick players should not attend practice regardless of COVID test results. A player who tests positive may not return to play until after their Infectious Period as defined by the CDPH:

  • For symptomatic infected persons, 2 days before the infected person had any symptoms through Day 10 after symptoms first appeared (or through Days 5-10 if testing negative on Day 5 or later), and 24 hours have passed with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms have improved.

  • For asymptomatic infected persons, 2 days before the positive specimen collection date through Day 10 after positive specimen collection date (or through Days 5-10 if testing negative on Day 5 or later) after specimen collection date for their first positive COVID-19 test.

• As a courtesy, positive cases should be reported if teammates could have been exposed.