BUTLER TWP — Basketball is becoming part of the sporting life at Family Sports Center.

The indoor sports complex off Evans City Road, which already houses soccer, inline hockey, flag football, lacrosse and karate, has added three basketball courts and is preparing for league play in May.

"We want to have a summer league for anyone who wants to play basketball at any age,"Family Sports Center owner Mike Baptiste said. "Our plan is for basketball in the summer to be like soccer is in the winter here."

The facility's indoor soccer field is filled to capacity during the winter and houses more than 100 youth teams.

Boys and girls youth basketball leagues will be available for players in first through 12th grades.

A women's open league, featuring high school, college and recreational divisions, will play Sunday and Wednesday nights.

A men's adult league, featuring premier and recreational divisions, will be played Monday and Wednesday nights. An industrial league for area businesses and a men's over-30 league also are in the works.

"With three courts, we could house 100 youth teams and 50 adult teams,"Baptiste said. "In a 10-hour period on Saturdays, we could get 30 games in. That's 60 teams right there."

Each league will play an eight-game schedule, followed by playoffs. Teams must have their own coaches and each roster must carry a minimum of eight players.

Fee is $55 per player for youth leagues, $300 per team for adult leagues. Registration deadline is May 1 and leagues will begin play in mid-May.

Former Butler High boys and Slippery Rock High girls basketball coach Gene Rodgers, now an assistant coach at George Junior Republic, will be giving summer basketball camps at the facility from June 18 to Aug. 9.

Rodgers also is getting officials from the Butler County association to work games. Each team will have to pay the official $20 per game.

Beginning May 1, Family Sports Center is offering free open gyms from 4 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

"We just want to get people up there using the courts,"Baptiste said. "They don't even have to be in a league to use the open gym time.

"Our mission isn't all about making money, it's about getting kids involved. In this day and time, sports can do so many things for kids. The more kids we can involve, the better off we'll be."

Family Sports Center is seeking a director of basketball operations. Call Eddie Pail at 724-482-2199.