NWAYBA is a competitive youth basketball development league for players from 1st grade through High School. We accept players of all skill levels and have evaluations to gauge each player's abilities (no one is "cut" based on the evaluations), from which we form balanced teams*.
In normal years, practices start in late October and the season culminates with a tournament in mid February. There are typically two events per week, an event being a practice or a game. Events are held at our partner facilities including Murchison and Lamar Middle Schools, Doss and Hill Elementary Schools, Hyde Park Baptist Church Quarries campus, the Northwest Austin Recreation Center, Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, and Upbring School (38th & Red River). Events are scheduled for weekday evenings 6-9:30pm, Saturdays 9am - 5pm, and Sundays 2pm-6pm, with younger players scheduled as early as possible on weekday evenings.
NWAYBA's Divisions are:
- Rookies Co-Ed- 1st and 2nd Grade
- Rookie Girls - 1st and 2nd Grade girls only
- Juniors Co-Ed - 3rd and 4th Grade
- Junior Girls - 3rd and 4th Grade girls only
- Seniors Co-Ed - 5th and 6th Grade
- Senior Girls - 5th and 6th Grade girls only
- Advanced Seniors Co-Ed - 7th and 8th Grade
- Advanced Senior Girls - 7th and 8th Grade girls only
- High School Co-Ed - 9th through 12th Grade
NWAYBA coaches are volunteers. While most are parents of the players, we occasionally accept volunteer coaches from the community without an affiliated player. Each team has a head and assistant coach. Coaches participate in annual sportsmanship training as part of our partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance, as well as on-court coaching training. All coaches are background checked.
*Following player evaluations, NWAYBA commissioners form balanced teams in all divisions younger than High School. High School players may form their own teams, or register as individuals and be assigned to a team. There are no evaluations for High School players.
In Rookie and Junior divisions, all players get equal playing time. In Senior and older divisions, each player plays at least half of each game.