The 2026-27 edition of our flagship Winter League season is around the corner. Once again we will be running leagues for boys and girls in grades 3rd through 8th.
Winter City League has been a cornerstone of youth basketball in Palo Alto since 1984, giving elementary and middle school players a chance to compete with friends while building skills for the high school level. Over the years, more than 15,000 local kids have competed in this league.
Each winter, 400 players take the court, coached by dedicated parent volunteers and guided by professional 4CITY coaches. Games are held in real gyms with certified high school referees, creating a true game-day experience. The league features six divisions: 3rd/4th grade, 5th/6th grade, and 7th/8th grade, with separate boys and girls divisions. During the regular season, top players are selected to form All-Star teams that represent 4CITY in regional tournaments in March.
We hope you can join us for another exciting Winter City League season!
Skills development: The 4City Pro Coaching staff will be working closely with our players and volunteer coaches to make sure all players are developing the necessary skills to be competitive at their age level.
Balanced teams: Teams are formed through a weighted draft process so that teams are balanced by skill level. This makes the season fun and competitive.
End of season championship: All teams qualify for our “City Championshp” tournament in February which is always full of incredible games, Cinderella teams, and lots of fun.
Program Highlights
There are six divisions of Winter League:
Boys 3rd-4th
Boys 5th-6th
Boys 7th-8th
Girls 3rd-4th
Girls 5th-6th
Grils 7th-8th
Age Divisions
All teams will be assigned one weeknight practice time slot and one weekend time. Once teams are formed you will find out your assigned times.
Weeknight practices. Weeknight practices are 60 minutes and “optional” but strongly recommended. While no new material is taught on the weeknight practices it is when the players get critical “reps” to sharpen their skills.
Weekend practices (Saturday). Each team will have a 90 minute mandatory practice each Saturday. These practices are half led by 4CITY pro coaches and half led by your volunteer team coach.
Practice Schedule
Returning Families: Opens Wednesday, September 23rd at 9 am.
Referred Families: Opens Thursday, September 24th at 9 am.
General Public: Opens Friday, September 25th at 9am.
Limited Spots! Similar to previous season, we anticipate that spots will fill up quickly. Early registration is encouraged to avoid the waitlist. Unfortunately we can only accommodate a finite number of players in eage age group.
Game Schedule
Registration Details
October 31st/November 1st: Mandatory evaluations
November 7th: First Saturday Practice
Week of November 9th: First weeknight practices
November 23 - 28: NO PRACTICES THANKSGIVING WEEK. Note there will be practice on Saturday 11/21 and scrimmages on Sunday 11/29.
December 19 - January 1: NO PRACTICES (HOLIDAY BREAK)
January 3rd: First games after holiday break
January 30 - 31: Girls tournament (Boys have regular games)
February 6 - 7: Boys tournament (Grils do not have games)
Week of February 8th: All star practices begin (invitation only)
Key Dates
All teams will play an 8 games season including one doubleheader weekend (date different for each team)
The following Sundays will be game days: Dec 6, Dec 13, Jan 3, Jan 10, Jan 17. Jan 24, Jan 31.
Girls teams will play 8 games on 6 Sundays (two doubleheaders) to accommodate participation in an area-wide league tournament with our partner organizations in Los Altos, Redwood City and Almaden on January 30th - 31st.
Boys teams will play their "city championship" tournament on February 6th & 7th.
Base Fee: $750 until 10/15, then $825.
Uniform Promotion: Get the awesome new 2026 4CITY jerseys for FREE if you register by 10/15. After 10/15 a $75 uniform fee will apply.
Financial Aid: We are dedicated to providing all families access to our programs regardless of ability to pay. If you need financial aid please apply here.