Little Dribblers has been a Mercer Island tradition for generations. The program was started in the late 1960s by legendary Islander boys basketball coach Ed Pepple, with the goal of teaching young boys the game and creating a bridge to the Mercer Island High School basketball program.

While community Select basketball emerged in the 1980s, Little Dribblers has continued alongside it, offering something a little different. High school players coach and officiate the younger players, creating relationships that can last for years.

It's common for a young player to watch his coach play on Friday night and then be coached by him again on Saturday morning. Those connections are one of the things that make Little Dribblers so special. Players often remember their coaches decades later, and as they grow older, they have the opportunity to become those mentors for the next generation.

The program is intentionally more recreational than competitive club basketball. Players are assigned to teams, receive a team T-shirt and play a different team each week. There are no formal practices or complicated plays. Instead, the focus is on getting plenty of game experience, having fun and building confidence in a low-pressure environment.

Third through fifth graders play together, as do sixth through eighth graders. That gives players the chance to be one of the older kids one year and learn from bigger, more experienced players the next. It's another way the program builds community across grade levels.

Perhaps one of the most rewarding parts is seeing those relationships continue into high school. A seventh or eighth grader may be coached by a freshman or sophomore, giving them a familiar face when they eventually enter MIHS. Some of those players may even find themselves sharing the court together someday.

For the coaches, watching a child who started Little Dribblers in third or fourth grade eventually graduate as a senior is incredibly rewarding. The program provides an opportunity to begin a mentorship that, in some cases, continues long after the player leaves Little Dribblers.

Little Dribblers is for all levels of play, and the coaching staff especially hopes to see more third and fourth graders join. The 10 a.m. session is coached by JV boys and gives young players an hour of energetic, fun game reps in a supportive environment.

At its heart, Little Dribblers is about basketball. But after more than 50 years, it's clear that the relationships built along the way are just as important.