Programs
1st and 2nd Grade Instructional Programs:
1st Grade Little Tiger’s Program
- Introduction to basketball skills (No teams)
- 7-8 one-hour sessions on Saturday mornings
- This program is limited to 100 participants
2nd Grade Instructional Program
- Target 8-10 athletes per team
- ~7 practice/game sessions 90 minutes on weekends starting in January
Our 1st grade instructional program’s goal is to introduce players to the game of basketball in a structured, fun, and educational method. Please, note this IS a skills development program, and need to stress this is only for a general introduction to basketball. Children in this program will be divided into two groups and will not form teams. Beginning in January each group will have a 1-hour instructional session on Saturday mornings. There will be 7-8 sessions, weather permitting. Each participant will receive a basketball and should bring them to all sessions. If interested in helping coach these sessions please sign-up during registration.
For more information contact Dave Wesner via Lovelandyouthbasketball@gmail.com.
Our 2nd grade instructional program’s goal is to introduce players to the game of basketball in a structured, fun, and educational method. Please, note this is NOT a skills development program, and need to stress this is only for a general introduction to basketball. Children in this program will be placed on a team and will have a limited number of practices in December, before the season starts in early January. In January each team will practice on a weekend day for 45 minutes and then immediately play a game against another 2nd grade team. There will be 7 practice/game sessions, weather permitting. So, the commitment starting in January is just one weekend day for 90 minutes. A high school-aged referee will provide guidance to the rules during the game. Each participant will receive a player jersey and end of season award. Again, the focus is on introducing and learning the game of basketball in a fun environment.
For more information contact Dave Wesner via Lovelandyouthbasketball@gmail.com.
See the 2nd Grade Basketball Rules for more information.
3rd Grade – 8th Grade Recreational Teams:
- Target 8-10 athletes per team
- 1 weeknight practice for grades 3-8 (occurring sometime between the hours of 5-9:00 pm)
- Typically, 1 game per week. 3rd grade and 7th and 8th grade will play games on the weekends.
- 8-10 game season; plus season ending tourney
The LYBA offers an in-house Recreational League for 3rd graders living in the Loveland (Ohio) School District. Players will be required to attend an evaluation where coaches will evaluate players in order to form balanced teams.
General Information
The season will begin with 2 practices per week during the preseason until the winter break, starting in early November. Once games begin in early January, there will be one weeknight practice and one game on Saturday or Sunday. The regular season consists of 8-10 games, runs through the end of February, and it concludes with a tournament in late Feb/early March. Practices are 1-hour and may not always be on the same night of the week.
Bring a Basketball to Practice
Many ball handling drills require that every player has their own basketball during the drill; therefore, we ask that all players bring a basketball to every practice. A 28.5″ ball is used for grades 3-6. Please notify your coach if you are unable to provide a ball for your child. By request from the schools, sports drinks are not allowed in the gyms, water only please.
See the 3rd Grade Basketball Rules for more information.
The LYBA offers a Recreational Program for youth living in the Loveland (Ohio) School District, that will play in the Cincinnati Premier Youth Basketball League (CPYBL) for grades 4th, 5th, and 6th against other local communities. Players are required to play at their current grade-level. Players will be required to attend an evaluation where coaches will evaluate players in order to create balanced teams via a blind draft.
General Information
The season begins with 2 practices per week during the preseason, starting in early November. Once games begin in early December, there will be one weeknight practice and one game on Saturday or Sunday. The regular season consists of 10 games, runs through the end of February, and it concludes with a tournament in late Feb/early March. Practices are 1-hour and may not always be on the same night of the week. Games will occur in Loveland and surrounding communities.
Travel candidates are not selected to play on a Travel Team
Players who registered for Travel Team tryouts, but do not get selected, must register separately for our Recreational Program.
Bring a Basketball to Practice
Many ball handling drills require that every player has their own basketball during the drill; therefore, we ask that all players bring a basketball to every practice. A 28.5″ ball is used. Please notify your coach if you are unable to provide a ball for your child. By request from the schools, sports drinks are not allowed in the gyms, water only please.
The LYBA offers an in-house Recreational League for 7/8th graders living in the Loveland (Ohio) School District. Players will be required to attend an evaluation where coaches will evaluate players in order to form balanced teams via a blind draft.
General Information
The season begins with 2 practices per week during the preseason until the winter break, starting in early November. Once games begin in early January, there will be one weeknight practice and one game on Saturday or Sunday. The regular season consists of 8-10 games, runs through the end of February, and it concludes with a tournament in late Feb/early March. Practices are 1-hour and may not always be on the same night of the week.
For 7th & 8th Graders (LMS) trying out for their School Team
Register as soon as LMS teams are announced if you plan to play LYBA Rec basketball. Registration will be left open for ~48 hours after the LMS team is formed.
Bring a Basketball to Practice
Many ball handling drills require that every player has their own basketball during the drill; therefore, we ask that all players bring a basketball to every practice. A 28.5″ ball is used for grades 7-8. Please notify your coach if you are unable to provide a ball for your child. By request from the schools, sports drinks are not allowed in the gyms, water only please.
4th, 5th, and 6th Select Teams:
- Target 8-10 athletes per team
- Teams formed after mandatory tryouts
- 2 weekday practices (occurring sometime between the hours of 5:30-8:30pm)
- 2 games each weekend (20+ games)
The LYBA sponsors Select teams for both boys and girls in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades that live in the Loveland (Ohio) School District. Players must register to play at their current grade level. The number of teams at each grade level is dependent upon the number and quality of the participants. If selected to a Team, the player will be placed on a team to play games against other area select teams.
Select teams will play up to 20 games in the Cincinnati Premier Youth Basketball League (CPYBL). Typically, there are at least two practices per week, and two games on most weekends. The LYBA has secured some weekly outside gym time for our travel teams which could require players to drive 15-25 minutes to practice or play games. All Select teams participate in the season-ending tournament. In addition, at the coach’s discretion, travel teams have the option to play in a pre-season tournament and/or a holiday tournament over the Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays.
Select Team Tryouts
Tryout results will be posted on our website. Results will not be listed by player name as players will be identifiable only by their tryout number. Participants will also be notified by email. Players will be given a 48-hour window to reply with their intention to participate on the team, as well as pay their registration fees for the season. Please be advised that at this time, the player will be advised whether they have been chosen to participate on the A (Orange) Team, or the B (Black) Team (if there are two teams at that player's grade-level).
Coaches for the Select Teams will be selected by the board after players have accepted their position on a team. The board will review the candidates that have registered to coach (Head and Assistant).
Required Commitment
There is no fee to register for the Select tryouts. Once a player is selected to a team the Select registration fee will be due within 48 hours. In addition to the Select registration fee you will be required to purchase a new, non-refundable travel uniform (~$70).
If an individual is selected to play on a LYBA Select Team, that individual is required to maintain 100% commitment to that team. In the event of missed LYBA practices or games due to the participation in any other activity, it is at the discretion of the Select Coach and/or Select Team Director to conduct a review. If the review does not find a satisfactory commitment from that individual to his/her LYBA Select Team, dismissal from the team will occur with no refund of registration fees.
Any player that withdraws from the Select Program once practices start will not receive a refund. Refunds may be considered and/or prorated after practices begin should LYBA be forced to modify or cancel the season based on factors out of their control.
FAQ's
LYBA sponsors Select teams for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade boys and girls. Select teams consist of a select group of players that will play games in the Cincinnati Premier Youth Basketball League (CPYBL) or equivalent. The number of teams at each grade level for each gender is dependent upon the number and quality of the participants at each grade level for each gender. Participation for these teams is on a tryout basis.
Any boy or girl who resides in the Loveland School District and who is in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, may tryout for the Select teams. If selected, you will be placed on a select team to play games against other area select teams. Opponents will generally be within a 30-minute drive from Loveland.
There will likely be at least 2 practices per week and 2 games on most weekends. Select teams will participate in the season-ending tournament usually lasting one weekend. In addition, most travel teams will play in a holiday tournament or possibly two over the Thanksgiving and/or Christmas holidays.
For Loveland, Ohio youth enrolled in, or living in, the Loveland City School District, we offer a Recreation League for grades 3-8 and instructional programs for 1st and 2nd graders. Players in grades 3-8 will be assigned to a team after a skills assessment/evaluation & draft have been conducted.
The LYBA Select program is intended for a higher level of competition and requires a tryout process. Not all players will make the Select team. Select teams will play against more competitive teams across the Cincinnati area from other schools and communities. Select teams do NOT travel outside of the Cincinnati area or have overnight stays. Travel teams play 20 games and have approximately 1-3 practices per week.
LYBA Rec teams (4-6th grades) play a 10-game regular season, an end of the season tourney, and with typically 1 practice per week. Games will be played against other communities in both Loveland school gyms and other local communities. Teams are constructed to create an even competition in each grade.
The LYBA Select season typically begins practicing in October. League (CPYBL) games typically begin in early December and may also include a pre-season tournament in late November. The travel season ends in late February/early March.
The LYBA Rec season typically begins practicing in early November. The rec season ends in late February/early March.
Boys Division: If your child does not make a LYBA Select team we strongly encourage them to play in our Rec league. You will need to register separately for the Rec league as your Select tryout registration does NOT automatically register your child for the Rec league.
Girls Division: Because evaluations for Select and Rec teams will occur together, if your child does not make a LYBA Select team they will be placed on a LYBA Rec team. You will not need to register for Rec league separately.
The 7/8th rec registration will remain open for a minimum of 2 days after school teams are announced. You will need to register for our rec program to be placed on a team.
