: Current News

Beginning with the fall 2008 basketball season, Middletown Recreation will be changing its name to East Louisville Sports. MRA's name is changing to better reflect the players and families represented within our organization.
New name is: East Louisville Sports
Website will be: EastLouisvilleSports.com

Please read below for further information regarding the name change and the upcoming 2008 basketball season. If you have any comments or questions, please contact ELS President Jack Kelley at 502-500-0750.

East Louisville Sports (MRA) Basketball
What is ELS?Fall 2008 is when MRA will roll out East Louisville Sports as the new name for Middletown Recreational Association. It’s just a new, updated name for the same organization that has served Middletown and eastern Louisville for many decades. When are Practices?5/6/7 yo leagues 45 min practice one night a week.8-yo leagues and older. 1 hour practice on 1 night a week is provided by the league. Practice night is selected by the coach. When are Games?10 regular season games with a post season single elimination tourney. Games are on Saturday. Games are Sunday’s for the 5/6/7-yo leagues. When does the Season Begin?A brief tryout is held in early November for coaches to assess the player’s individual skill level, NOT to cut. All players are selected to a team. Practices begin late November. Games begin early December and end by the first of March. What about Playing time?ELS (MRA) rules provide for “equal” playing time. With 8 players on a team, every player will play a bit more than half the game. Can I become a Coach?We are always looking for coaches. Since we are involved with youth sports, all coaches are required to submit to a police background check.

The policy change affects 19 organizations, including more than a dozen youth baseball and soccer leagues (including Middletown Recreation Association). "It would be different if they told us in November so we could find a way to pay, but it's different when you've already taken all the sign-ups," Johnson said. Previously, the leagues paid flat fees of up to $500 a year to lease the parks for games, practices and tournaments, getting exclusive use of the facilities.

In return, the leagues agree to maintain the fields they use. Metro Parks used the fees to help pay for electricity costs at the fields. With the new policy, Metro Parks will waive most of the flat fee, Cissell said. The change comes at a time when leagues are renewing contracts with Metro Parks for the next year. Earlier this month notices were sent to league officials about the new payment requirements. "The timing was bad, and we regret that, but as soon as we knew this was a cost-saving strategy we sent out notices," Cissell said.