Family Tides
This winter, Hoops for All kicks off its 20th season, marking two decades of bringing inclusive basketball to athletes of all abilities.
The free Margate Recreation program, designed for players ages 7 and older with physical or intellectual disabilities, offers a space to build friendships, confidence and basketball skills, with coaching tailored to individual needs.
Marianne Christian, coordinator for Hoops For All, volunteered for years as a coach and was actively involved with South Jersey Field of Dreams, a local nonprofit that gives children and adults with disabilities a place to play baseball on its field in Absecon.
Christian, who now serves on the organization’s board, recalled her time volunteering as the “best hour” of her week. So in 2006, she set out to start a basketball league.
“There wasn’t any in South Jersey,” Christian explained. “We started with 40 kids, and we’re up to 140 kids. We have 14 teams. They’re all college-named teams, and it’s all sponsored by local businesses.”
Christian noted that “every penny” is spent on the kids.
“It doesn’t go into the recreation fund or the city fund; it goes to every player,” she said. “It’s a program designed for them — for them to be able to play ball, have fun and enjoy the day.”
Families come from all over Atlantic and Cape May counties, and even as far as North Jersey, to be part of the league. Christian said some of the league’s earliest players, now grown, still show up each season.
The program also offers a unique volunteer opportunity for local high school students. These volunteers, known as “red shirts,” help players during games with dribbling, shooting or moving up the court. They also station themselves under the baskets to grab rebounds and make sure players stay safe. It’s an experience that often leaves its mark on teen volunteers, and many return year after year — some even after they’ve gone off to college.
Often, Christian said, volunteers come in their freshman year “very shy,” and by the time they’re a sophomore or junior, they’re “taking over the gym.”
“I try to get them when they’re a freshman, and they stay until they’re a senior. If they go to a local college, they actually come back,” Christian said. “It’s a six-week program, so we ask them to at least come to four [games], so that this way, the kids get used to the volunteers on the court.”
Christian said all players get a chance to play and an award party at the end of the season, complete with food and trophies.
“Everybody plays,” she said. “It’s designed for them, and they’re all treated special.”
Many friendships form on and off the court. Christian said the league has given families the chance to sit back, root for their loved one and connect with one another, which often proves to be a valuable resource.
“What I’ve seen over the years is that the parents sit on the bench, cheer, and network. Especially as the kids get older, [they’ll talk about] where they can go to get a job, [and] what they’re going to do when they’re 22,” she said. “It’s great for the parents. It really is, and [for] the red shirts and us. I get more out of it than I think I give, to tell you the truth.”
For some parents, getting their child involved with Hoops for All results in a lot of meaningful, first-time moments.
“They’ve never seen their kids be able to run up and down the court — they didn’t think they could run up and down the court,” Christian said.
The league has also become a true family affair for Christian. These days, her son and daughter are both coaches, and her daughter-in-law and grandson volunteer their time, too.
“It’s my best time of year because I see my kids every Sunday,” Christian said.
This season, games will be played on Sunday afternoons for six weeks, from Feb. 22 through March 29, 2026, at Eugene A. Tighe Middle School, 7804 Amherst Ave., Margate.
Registration is now open, and families are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible. Participants can register online at margate-nj.com/recreation.
For more information after registering or to learn about making a donation, sponsoring Hoops for All or arranging high school volunteering, contact Christian at 609-822-2285.
Madison Russ is an award-winning journalist, copy editor and adjunct professor of communication based in Atlantic County. An Ocean City native, Madison is passionate about telling stories that matter to locals, often spotlighting nonprofits and exploring the area’s vibrant arts scene.
