Granny Basketball League Gains Popularity

The Granny Basketball League is continuing its steady growth.

"It's a league of a non-profit organization founded in Iowa in 2005," explained Granny Basketball League Director Michele Clark. "It is a game inspired by the way women used to play a century ago, and it's a gentler form of the game, which is just perfect for ladies age 50 or more."

Granny Basketball rules include no running (but "hurrying" is allowed), no jumping, two dribbles, no physical contact at any time, and a player is disqualified after the third foul.

And players must be at least 50 years old.

Most of the teams are in the central part of the country. In states such as Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota and Texas, the style of play has been and continues to be very popular.

"In Oklahoma and Iowa, six-on-six was big for many years," Clark said. "I mean, it was king."

There are three teams in California, the Columbia Gold Diggers, the Oakdale Broncos, the California Poppies, which are based in Sonora.

"We have a lot of interest from individuals all over the nation," Clark said. "In fact, we even had a new team form in Toronto last year."

Building a Team

Teams aren't usually formed through senior centers, senior homes, gyms or the YWCA, according to Clark.

"Let's say your wife wanted to start a team," Clark said. "She would pull together some friends, learn about the league, contact the league, help them with the information that they need. And then a new team would need to be approved by the league board of directors before they're officially welcomed and become a part of the league.

"We have granny basketball rules and procedures and all that stuff," she said. "So we need to be sure everybody's familiar with the league and can be a good participant in it.

"We just want to be sure that they've seen the games, that they understand that the game is a gentle game," she said. "We want to be sure that they really know the style of play and that they are aware of the league and what's involved in being a part of it."

Fortunately for anyone interested, Granny Basketball League games can be seen online.

"You can search online for Granny Basketball," Clark said. "There's some video clips out there. We also have a Facebook page, facebook.com/grannybasketball."

There is more information about the league at grannybasketball.com. You can learn about the teams there, including the three California teams in the league's Frontier Division.

"We've got some information that we can share with individuals who are interested in pulling together a group of ladies who are eligible to play, to form a team and become a part of the league," Clark said.

"It takes the right person and takes a good organized communicator, or a group of good organizers and communicators to put a team together," she added.

But the process is pretty simple, according to Clark.

"I think that the most challenging part for a lot of folks, depending on where you are, is finding gym time that's affordable and at a time that works for your team to practice," she said.

"So, let's say you get your team up and running and learning the rules, learning how to play," he continued. "I'm sure the California teams would love to help as much as they can to invite people to come over and see how the game is played."

But would a Granny Basketball League team in Visalia, Tulare, Hanford or Porterville really be welcomed by the other three California teams?

"Of course!" said Barb Trammell, coach of the California Poppies, who wrote the booklet The Joy of Six about the league. "We would be willing to come to your location and visa-versa to play some games. We'd love a road trip!"

"Absolutely 100%," agreed Oakdale Broncos Captain Lisa Lou about hosting games or making the drive south.

Trammel recalled how her Granny Basketball team began.

"The Columbia ladies were surprised at first to learn there was such a thing, then amused and then delighted," she said. "We started with just a few ladies, but they told all their friends and pretty soon we had 16 on our roster.

"Most had never played basketball before and had to learn fundamentals, but they all found the game very fun – lots of giggles and excitement," she said. "We played several exhibition games and fundraisers at first against junior high teams since there weren't any other nearby teams to play against."

The Oakdale Broncos joined the league in October 2024.

"The Oakdale community has received the Oakdale Broncos fabulously," said Lisa Lou. "We have been in our local newspaper, The Oakdale Leader, magazine Greet Oakdale, and on social media. We have a Facebook page, Oakdale Broncos."

The team has been busy on and off the court.

"We had a fundraiser to kick off Oakdale Rodeo week," said Lisa Lou. "We played the Oakdale Saddle Club Cowboys in a basketball game. It was fun. We had 258 guests in our stands. The Cowboys had to carry a stick horse while they played.

"We have been in three parades, Oakdale Veterans, Riverbank Christmas and Oakdale Rodeo parades," she added.

When is Granny Basketball League Season?

"It varies depending on location, but typically runs the first five months of the year," said Clark. "For example, where I live in Kansas, we wait till after the holidays and we'll start practices in January, and then we'll start weekly league games February, March and April. We're usually done by the first of May in time for Mother's Day and graduations and all that stuff that happens in May. Then we've got some tournaments that are available for people to play in June, July, September, and then recruitment's usually in the fall.

"We also have teams that will do fundraising events, help nonprofit organizations doing family fun games, play local celebrities or faculty or the pastors or the fire department," she added. "We have done a lot of things throughout the league to help raise money. We do have a nonprofit charitable mission."

Most teams have at least 10 or 12 players, Clark said. "When we do a tournament, the rosters are limited to 16. "

Clark's team has more players, however.

"We've got a lot of people that have other commitments and can't be there every week so we have more people on our team because we know no matter what, we'll have enough," she explained. "And it allows for people to do their other commitments."

What motivates women to play in the league?

"I think the league is really for women who are active and want to continue playing basketball," Clark said. "Maybe it's been a long time since they've played."

This describes Clark's interest in the league.

"I was a Title IX girl, so when I was a sophomore in high school, all of a sudden our high school had a full court girls' basketball team and nobody knew how to play," she said.

"A lot of women never had a chance to play sports or play basketball," she added. "Their schools didn't include basketball curriculum.

"So we've got women that played six-on-six," Clark said. "We have women that have never played before. Now, women that are 50 or over, a lot of them have played in middle school and high school and college. And so we have a wide range of abilities of women who have played basketball a little or none or a lot.

"But no matter what, our basketball rules are really designed so that everyone can play safely and play the gentler way that women played a century ago," she said. "And it allows us to continue to stay active and have fun, be on a team, and enjoy being a part of Granny Basketball League."