SALEM -- Last week, flyers went home to MSAD #58 middle school kids announcing a basketball program designed to improve the basketball skills and development for boy and girl athletes grades six through eight.

The flyer encouraged kids to come out and be coached by Mt. Abram's top-varsity players. Participants will learn the skills, fundamentals, strategies and drills the way they are learned at MTA and have a chance to sometimes work with top-varsity athletes such as Sam Simpson, Kenni Norton, Jim Barker, Ethan Eisenhaur and Mikayla Burbank as well as others.

The handout was an invitation for a six-week program starting on Wednesday, Feb. 25 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Mt. Abram.

Most games (one per week) will be played at MTA with some practices, no more than one-per-week, at local elementary schools. Participants will be originally organized by local towns, but new teams will be developed within the district by the coaching staff and organizers.

Pre-registration is required by Feb. 20 for this program. Participation will dictate if there will be two age groups or levels of competition.

The cost for this program is $20.

To pre-register by the Feb. 20 deadline, email the athlete's name, school, grade and phone number to: davehart@ live.com or call 670-7167 between 5 and 7 p.m. The registration form and payment is due on the 25th.