Location: The Thacher School Volt Gym
Attendance: ~25 participants

To kick off the 2025–2026 school year, Way to Play hosted a lively 3v3 basketball tournament for local youth in Ojai. As our first event of the year, we wanted to start with something fun, fast-paced, and community-building—and the tournament delivered exactly that.

Why a 3v3 Tournament?

Mr. Carney, the basketball coach at our school and a longtime supporter of youth athletics, has seen firsthand how much kids enjoy 3v3 play. He regularly runs basketball clinics for local athletes, and he says the final-day 3v3 tournaments are always the highlight for the players. Inspired by that excitement, we chose to bring the same energy to Ojai for our fall kickoff event.

Event Highlights

• Strong Youth Turnout:
  About 25 kids joined the tournament, forming competitive and enthusiastic teams.

• Fast-Paced, High-Energy Games:
  The 3v3 format kept every player involved, encouraged teamwork, and created a fun, supportive environment for athletes of all skill levels.

• Community Spirit:
  Parents and friends came out to cheer, transforming the event into a vibrant community gathering filled with encouragement and connection.

A Successful Start to the School Year

The tournament was a great reminder of why we do what we do: bringing kids together through sports, confidence, and healthy competition. The event ran smoothly, the athletes had a blast, and the energy was exactly what we hoped for.

What’s Next?

This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for our next Way to Play event happening in December—we’ve got more exciting programming on the way!

The tournament was a great reminder of why we do what we do: bringing kids together through sports, confidence, and healthy competition. The event ran smoothly, the athletes had a blast, and the energy was exactly what we hoped for.