Winters in Central New York are cold, and the snow can really pile up. Kids can only have so many snowball fights before they get bored or in trouble for ambushing the neighbor while he is shoveling his driveway.

Mom is not letting them sit in front of the television to play video games. So the question is "What else is there to do?" Answer, plenty! Come on down to the Auburn YMCA.

During the fall, winter and spring months, the YMCA opens its B-Gym for members, ages 9 to 16, after school and on the weekends. There is a trained staff person on hand to provide equipment for, and to facilitate games such as basketball, touch football, floor hockey, dodgeball, and soccer.

In addition to the four basketball baskets on the walls, there are four baskets that are not only mobile, but also height adjustable so they can be changed to accommodate different height and ability levels. If you do not know how to play a particular sport, don't worry, the staff is more than happy to explain the rules, give you some pointers, and then get you playing.

The YMCA is a family-oriented organization and you can see that in the B-Gym more than anywhere. It is a good place for parents to take their children to play a few games before they go workout in our weight training facility. There will be children like Connor and Zach Siracusa playing catch, or pitching practice, with their father. Ken Byrd and his son, Ken Byrd Jr. have been known to play a very enthusiastic game of one-on-one basketball.

You can also find Greg Stowell, the YMCA Youth Sports Director and the person who oversees the B-Gym, in there either running the Super Sports program, or getting challenged to a game of one-on-one.

Just recently, the dodgeballs were put out so the kids could play an alternative sport. Just like the league the YMCA hosts, dodgeball proved to be popular with the kids. The turnout was overwhelming and the rules had to be amended slightly so we could have more players on each team.

After the teams were picked, the players lined up and started throwing. The action was fast and furious. This may have been a pick-up game but they played like it was a world championship. Danny Rabuano was just in time, dodging a ball that was thrown by Salma Arif. The YMCA's own Mike Maurillo was just a little too slow when Jesse Infante Jr. fired a bullet at him.

As more kids showed up, the teams got bigger. Casey Hicks and Abby Valentino, both jumped on a team and began dodging as the balls flew in. Mike Hutchings showed up fresh for the last two games, catching a throw by Josh Brown to bring his team closer to victory. It was a fun time, and we will be bringing the dodgeballs out again soon.

So if you want to practice your free throws for next season or if you just want have a place to go to that is out of the cold, come on down to the Auburn YMCA, pick up a basketball or hockey stick and have fun.

Herring is a YMCA staff member