Programs

LYBA Summer Youth Basketball Training Program:

The LYBA Summer Youth Basketball Training Program is designed to enhance the skills of rising 4th through 6th graders eager to excel in competitive basketball for the upcoming winter season. Over the course of eight weeks, participants will engage in eight 1.5-hour sessions, focusing on essential skills and drills tailored to their developmental needs. Each session will include a combination of skill-building exercises, small-sided games to foster teamwork and strategic thinking, and in-house scrimmages that provide in-game experience in a supportive environment. This program not only aims to improve individual performance but also to instill a love for the game and build camaraderie among young athletes.

Training Program Logistics:

Where: Loveland Middle School gym
When: Starting week of June 9th through end of July
- 4th Grade Boys – Mondays 5:30 – 7:00pm
- 4th-6th Grade Girls – Mondays 7:00 – 8:30pm
- 5th Grade Boys – Thursdays 5:30 – 7:00pm
- 6th Grade Boys – Thursdays 7:00 – 8:30pm
Cost: $75 per participant

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

1st Grade Little Tigers

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.

2nd Grade Instructional Program

Our 2^nd 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 2^nd 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

3rd Grade Recreational League

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.

4th, 5th, 6th Grade Recreational League

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.

7th and 8th Grade Recreational League

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 7th and 8th against other local communities. 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 up to 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.

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)

4th, 5th, 6th Grade Select Program

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

What is LYBA Select Basketball?

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.

What is LYBA Rec Basketball?

What is the difference between Rec and Select?

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.

When does the season begin and end?

What if my child does not make a Select team?

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.

My child is trying out for the Middle School team. If they do not make the school team can they be placed on an LYBA rec team?

If I am a Head Coach and I need to change/cancel a scheduled practice or game, who do I contact?

Programs

LYBA Summer Youth Basketball Training Program:

1st and 2nd Grade Instructional Programs:

3rd Grade – 8th Grade Recreational Teams:

General Information

Bring a Basketball to Practice

General Information

Travel candidates are not selected to play on a Travel Team

Bring a Basketball to Practice

General Information

For 7th & 8th Graders (LMS) trying out for their School Team

Bring a Basketball to Practice

4th, 5th, and 6th Select Teams:

Select Team Tryouts

Required Commitment

Links

FAQ's

Contact Info