• Establish and develop a love for the game of basketball
• Establish a healthy, positive culture of sportsmanship
• Teach and develop an understanding of the game and its fundamentals
• Make meaningful connections with local schools, while educating local community members about the VABA Mission
• Prepare for potentiality of participating in the VDBL

This is a recreational league. However, beyond just participating or playing the game, the JBL provides an environment where devoted, professionally-trained coaches and young athletes can sincerely focus on developming fundamental skills. Ultimately, VABA's goal is to strive toward maximizing participants' potential on and off the court while developing a love for the great team sport of basketball.

There are three (3) boys divisions; grades 1-2, grade 3, and grade 4, and three (3) girls divisions; grades 1-2 , grade 3, and grade 4.  All teams, comprised of 10 players each and taken on a first come first serve basis, are divided based on the public high schools where they would be districted to attend (also applies to private and home-schooled students). The JBL ("Junior League") is not run directly by the schools or their athletic directors and coaches. Games and practices take place at local elementary, middle and high schools.

For questions or more info, please email info@playvaba.org or call 434-806-3436.

Three (3) Boys Divisions: Grades 1-2, 3, and 4 
Three (3) Girls Divisions: Grades 1-2, 3, and 4

Serving Charlottesville, surrounding counties and the valley!

*All private schools must have enough participants from their school to form a school team - otherwise, they will be placed within their public school district. 

*Grades 3 and 4 registrants, even those on a wait list, will take part in the "Winter League Pre-season/Team Formation Evaluation" dedicated to their League and Group in the fall in order to create balanced teams. Coaches & assistant coaches will be able to help at the evaluation nights.

Interested in being a head or assistant coach? Please email us today!

• Trained Coaches/Coaches Clinics: All JBL Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches are trained, through a series of "Coaches' Clinics," on a specific basketball curriculum of Coaching Ethics, Defensive and Offensive Play. All coaches are volunteers. Team Managers and coaches are typically parents of participants. Parents assist with various volunteer roles and serve to help support the league mission. 

• Evaluations: All participants in grades 3 and 4 (boys and girls) are required to attend ONE EVALUATION staff by our trained evaluators and coaches. Find dates here!

• 13+ week program (10+ games, 1 practice/week): Games are played on Saturday mornings/afternoons/evenings.  Usually teams play one (1) game per week (unless a division has an odd number of teams, in which case, one team in the odd-numbered division can play two games in a given week).  

• Mesh Jerseys (Grds 3-4), Shooting Shirt (Grds 1-4): All young athletes in grades 3 - 4 are outfitted in a reversible mesh jersey and shooting shirt. 

• Practice & Game Schedule: All teams practice once-a-week (on weekdays) with games on weekends (Saturdays).

• League Rules: In the 1st – 2nd Grade Division, the rims are at 8’ and there is no score kept for games.  In the 3rd  grade Division (both boys and girls), the rims are at 9’ and the score is kept.  In the 4th grade Division (both boys and girls), the rims are at 10''  and the score is kept.  All Junior League divisions require equal playing time for all participants.

• SCHOLARSHIPS: Cost should not prevent anyone from signing up! In order to provide the highest quality organization and league, it requires significant costs. The Junior League is a program of the Virginia Basketball Academy, a non-profit organization whose mission is to "build character and shape lives through the game of basketball" - ensuring opportunities to all potential participants is critical to its purpose and success.  APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP TODAY!

• Registration Cost: 
       JBL 1-2 = $209 (approx. $14/week)
       JBL 3 & JBL 4 = $245 (approx. $16/week)