This is a paid piece from the Sioux Falls Family YMCA.

Simplified: The Sioux Falls Family YMCA's Tri-State Basketball Tournament has been bringing the community together to support young athletes for nearly a century. Here's a closer look at the tournament and its multi-generational impact on Sioux Falls.

Why it matters

  • The Tri-State Tournament started in 1930 with only 16 teams. Today, it has about 100 teams including boys and girls in 2nd through 8th grade. Each team plays a minimum of three games over the course of the 24-hour tournament in gyms across town.
  • The tournament also relies on dozens of volunteers – some of whom have been volunteering for decades. The Archer family has played a pivotal role in finding the volunteers who make the event possible, starting with Will Archer who used to track everyone helping with the tournament on a yellow legal pad – his "Tri-State bible," his grandson Mike Archer recalled.
  • Today, Will's son John Archer leads the charge on finding volunteers – a baton he plans to pass on to his son Mike. Both men have been involved in the tournament their whole lives, and they've seen it become a family affair not just for them, but for many families in the region. People who played in the tournament as kids now get to watch their own kids (and even grandkids) participate in the same experiences.
"A lot of these people that are volunteering or helping out have some tie to Tri-State," Mike said. "They've coached. They played as kids. They have a grandson, niece, nephew playing. Almost every volunteer we have has been impacted by Tri-State."

Tell me more

For the Archer family, Tri-State Tournament weekend has always been a big deal.

"It became a family affair," John said. "The Tri-State weekend was the Archer weekend. It was all hands on."

John recalls playing as a kid, coaching his little brother's team, volunteering as a referee during his time in college, seeing his own kids play, coaching and reffing alongside his kids, and, last year, for the first time ever he got to see his grandson play in the tournament.

"The YMCA is very thankful for the time and commitment that the Archer family has put forth to grow the Tri-State Tournament," YMCA Sports Director Nicole Bissell said. "They've brought 96 years of family leadership, countless games, and one enduring commitment: keeping this tournament alive, thriving and rooted in tradition."

John also knows that experience isn't unique to the Archer family. The longevity of the Tri-State Tournament means many families have seen the multi-generational impact.

One of the things that sets the Tri-State Tournament apart is the commitment to making kids feel like they're a part of something big.

  • All participating kids get a t-shirt, a "player pass" lanyard to wear as an official participant, and their names are all listed in the tournament program. Winners also receive trophies.
  • In addition, the Tri-State Tournament has a three-point shooting contest that gives kids a chance to show off their skills just like the basketball pros.
"Growing up it was always the tournament to look forward to at the end of the year," Mike said.

How can I get involved?

Teams can learn more and register here to participate in the tournament.

The YMCA is also actively recruiting volunteers. The entire tournament relies on adult volunteers, which allows the parents of players to focus on enjoying watching the game.

You can contact contact Nicole Bissell at tristate@siouxfallsymca.org or call (605) 336-3190ext 4757 to learn more about volunteer opportunities or the tournament as a whole.

"If you want to be part of something bigger than you are, volunteer," John said. "It's one of those things when you volunteer, you see what impact it is – it just makes you feel better."