Granny Basketball Comes to Visalia

A Granny Basketball League exhibition game was played at the Anthony Community Center in Visalia on April 10, on the last day of the Visalia Games.

The game, which featured members of two league teams, the California Poppies and the Oakdale Broncos, was arranged by Barb Trammell, founder of the 800-player league with teams representing 57 cities in 11 states and one Canadian province, and Holly Ellis, Visalia recreation supervisor.

Several Tulare County residents who were watching the game found themselves on the court, playing their first basketball game under 1920s-style women's rules.

Granny basketball is different than the basketball that most people are used to.

"You have to stay in your third of the court," Trammell said. "There's no running and jumping and no physical contact, and you can only dribble twice.

"You always have to keep one foot on the floor when you go in for layups or shots of any kind," she said.

"The other difference is our three-point shots, our 'granny shots,' you know, between your legs and throwing it underhanded towards the basket," she said.

And you can't run, but you are allowed to "hurry."

Informational Meeting Planned

The game created enough local interest for a meeting to be scheduled at the Visalia Branch of the Tulare County Library, 200 W. Oak Ave., Visalia, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.

For more information about the Granny Basketball League, visit http://www.grannybasketball.com. For more information about the May 16th meeting, call (559) 690-5423.

Trammell stresses that no previous basketball experience is necessary to play.