FAQ: General Information

K-W YBA offers basketball programs at the house league and rep or all-star levels. The YBA house league program begins for players 7 and older. We have allowed some 6 year olds if they are prepared for the team environment. Our oldest division groups players aged 15-18. The all-star program has various teams for players ranged from 8 to 19 years
of age.

There are two main areas of focus for the YBA program- to have FUN and to develop the basketball skills and knowledge of its participants. Our youngest age group does not keep score for most of the season, focusing on the play on the court, not on who may have won or lost. We are developing young players, coaches and officials at that level. We offer coaching clinics to all our coaches and we are striving to enhance their development as well.

The house league season kicks off the week of Thanksgiving and runs until the first weekend of March. Typically, there is one practice at the beginning of the week with a game at the end, each lasting about one hour. We try to hold practice times on Mondays or Tuesdays, with the same school and time being used throughout the year. Games normally are played on Friday nights. The juvenile division typically plays games Wednesdays or Thursdays to allow for their part-time jobs and hectic lives. The first week or two of each season involves evaluation nights, where convenors and coaches work to gauge the skills and abilities of the players and sort them into equal and balanced teams. This year, there will be several age groups playing together and tiered into two divisions to better develop the enjoyment and skills of all players involved. YBA house league runs on an "equal play for all" policy.

There will be weekly games for each team and the season ends with a set of playoffs and the top two teams in each division playing on Championship Day in March. The age divisions for house league will be as follows:

Minor Novice and Novice ages 7-9
Minor Atom and Atom ages 10-11
Minor Bantam and Bantam ages 12-13
Midget age 14
Juvenile I and Juvenile II ages 15-18

All-star or rep is a program that has teams traveling to various other cities playing teams in their respective leagues. Players are selected by team coaches and staff with try outs being open for all YBA registered players. Each player must be registered before they are
allowed to participate in all-star try outs. Registration fees vary each year, with budgets decided by tournament fees, gym costs, length of the season and the size of teams. Each player must pay their respective house league fee and will be billed the balance upon making the team.

The all-star program takes more of a time investment for players and parents. There are normally 2 practices each week and one game. Games can be in K-W or away in cities like Guelph, Cambridge, or Hamilton. There are 3 to 5 tournaments each season in cities throughout Ontario with the OBA Finals held in May. Age divisions are as follows:

Novice ages 8-9
Atom ages 10-11
Bantam ages 12-13
Midget ages 14-15
Juvenile ages 16-17
Junior ages 18-19

Note: Novice, Atom and Bantam play October to May, while the Midget, Juvenile Junior teams begin play at the end of the high school season and can play house league.

We are always looking for volunteers for our program. Parents can help out by offering to coach (we offer clinics before the season starts to cover the basics and will follow up during the season) or score keep and time games. YBA is based on volunteers- with out them, the program does not exist, and in order to grow and improve, we always need people to come on board.