The 2003-2004 basketball season is almost upon us and with the first round of tryouts for the league behind us, prospective players only have one week to get their league dues in and show the coaches what they can do.

“We are really excited about the league getting started up this year,” Bonnie Coerner, the league’s first female commissioner told the Gay and Lesbian Times. “We have our tryouts coming up and then our draft party. We are going to try something new with that this year and make it more fun for everyone involved.”

The final day for new player registration is this coming Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the Golden Hills Recreation Center. The league is open to all skill levels and the “tryouts” are designed to give coaches an idea of each individual player’s skill level. Prospective players need only show up with a completed registration form, available on the league website (for a link, visit the online version of this story at www.gaylesbiantimes.com) and a check for $60 to cover league dues.

The coaches will be hard at work taking notes at the tryouts for the draft party, to be held at Pecs. The draft party is scheduled for Sept. 21 staring at 5:00 p.m. The league board is planning on having a beer bust, raffles, Jell-O-Shots and entertainment for the event, turning the night into a fundraiser for the league and an opportunity for players to meet their new teammates.

The season officially gets started on Wednesday, Oct. 15, but there will be scrimmages the two weeks prior to the start of the season to give teams some time on the court together to gel and prepare for league play.

In addition, there is a whole new board in place to make sure things run smoothly.

“Were excited about the communication between the board members,” said David Valenzuela, the league’s new assistant commissioner. “Last year a lot of us couldn’t help, but [this year] we are getting a lot of feedback from the league….”

The league also has established itself as a non-profit organization, one of the major goals that the league’s former commissioner Mike Letendre had set for the league during his two-year tenure. The new status gives the league the opportunity to raise money and host fundraisers. Best of all, the donations are tax deductible.

This year’s league sponsors include Moby Dick’s, The Loft, Powerhouse Gym, Kickers, Morgan Stanley, Hummingberg Confections, Brian’s American Eatery, Bourbon Street and Lips. For more information on the league or sponsorships visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to the San Diego Hoops league website.