The best and most popular youth basketball leagues in the area!

Limited/Delayed fall evaluations for VDBL (grds. 5-8):

Normally, throughout September & October, VABA would host 10-12 large-scale, open,
in-person evaluations in order to assess each player’s abilities/skill-level/etc. in an effort
to balance teams and determine playing level. For the ’20-’21 season, VABA will be
using last season’s team assignments as well as comprehensive post-season coaches
evaluations (from the ’19-’20 season) for team assignments in order to balance teams.
With the VDBL (grades 5-8) “Gold/Silver” leagues, based on coaches evaluations
invitation-only, small-scale, socially-distanced skill evaluations will be held in December.

(Dates & times listed chronologically.)

BOYS EVALUATIONS

TBD (Time & Location)
-->for Warriors ONLY

TBD (Time & Location)
-->for Mustangs, Flucos, Eagles, Archangels, Panthers, Saints

TBD (Time & Location)
-->for Patriots, Dragons, Cardinals
-->Miscellaneous (anyone not listed or unable to attend their assigned date)

TBD (Time & Location)
-->for Black Knights

TBD (Time & Location)
-->for Black Knights and any LAST CALL VDBL make-up evals.

GIRLS EVALUATION/CLINIC

"GIRLS NIGHT OUT!"
TBD (Time & Location)

-->for ALL GIRLS REGISTERED OR INTERESTED IN PLAYING BASKETBALL THIS WINTER!
-->Required for all Girls registrants!
-->Open to anyone who wants to attend (grades 1-8)
-->Invite a friend or a classmate! 

Boys will be placed on either a VDBL-Gold or Silver roster.  Email notifications go out around November 1 which include team assignments, practice info.  No REFUNDs are given after team assignments are made (please check cancellation/refund policy online).  All VDBL participants must attend at least one tryout.

It is required for all Boys participants to attend a minimum of one (1) evaluation (All Girls must attend the Girls Clinic).  Unlike past seasons, there will NOT be a Parent Orientation Presentation.  Parents will be sent an online version of the presentation which will be required viewing for all parent/guardians.  Parents will have until November 1 to view the video.  All those on a WAITING LIST should attend the evaluation.

The VABA Mission is to build character and shape lives through the game of basketball. Organized and run by the Virginia Basketball Academy the VDBL is set on VABA’s two main goals: SKILL & CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. The VDBL is designed to help young basketball players prepare for life and the relevant possibility of playing high school basketball. As a program of VABA, a recognized 501c3/non-profit organization, the VDBL maintains the same mission and purpose, aiming to serve the extended Charlottesville-Albemarle community by funding scholarships for all interested participants. Donations and sponsorships are vitally important to sustaining our costs and are always welcome! (Apply for a Scholarship)

This is not a “recreational” basketball league; rather, this is a “developmental” league. We aim to provide a controlled, focused environment where devoted coaches and student-athletes can sincerely focus on developing their skills, strive toward maximizing their potential on & off the court, and ultimately prepare for the possibility of playing HS basketball.

Full & Partial Scholarships!!
**Cost should NOT PROHIBIT any student-athlete from trying-out/signing-up!!**
In order to bring the highest quality organization & league, it requires significant costs – listed above. The VDBL is a program of the Virginia Basketball Academy, a NON-PROFIT organization, whose mission is to use basketball to teach life and ensure opportunities to all participants is critical to its purpose AND success. Click here to APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP.

There are four “divisions” within the VDBL: 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade (two within VDBL-Girls, 5-6 & 7-8). All teams, comprised of 10 players each, are divided based on the high school the players would (eventually) be attending. The VDBL is not run directly by the schools, the high schools, or their athletic directors and coaches. It has been designed with their knowledge, input, consent and support. Local high schools stand to benefit from the development of their future athletes therefore they are very supportive and excited about the VDBL and its approach! All games and practices will be taking place at the projected high school or middle school. Participating schools include Albemarle HS, Charlottesville Catholic, Charlottesville HS, Covenant, Fluvanna County HS, Greene County HS, Louisa County HS, Monticello HS, Nelson County HS, St. Anne's-Belfield, Tandem Friends School, Western Albemarle HS, (and other private schools and home-school students). Students will participate as Black Knights, Dragons, Eagles, Flucos, Governors, Lions, Mustangs, Patriots, Saints, or Warriors.

Small PRIVATE SCHOOLS (w/ no HS)  *All private school must have enough participants from their school to form a school team - otherwise, they will be placed within their public school district. 
*All other local private school or home-schooled students interested in participating have the choice of trying-out for either their local, districted high school mascot team or the “Eagles” or “Saints.”
*If you would like to enter a team not listed within the schools above, you may do so with the consent of the League Director (provided you have a minimum of 8 players all of whom would attend the same HS).

Trained Coaches/”Coaches Clinics:” All VDBL Head Coaches are trained, through a series of “Coaches’ Clinics,” on a specific basketball curriculum of Coaching Ethics, Individual Skill Development, Defensive & Team Offensive play. There is no charge to VDBL Coaches for Coaches Clinics.

 10-12 Games: Games are played on Saturday/Sunday 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 Uniforms, Shooting Shirt & T-shirt: All student-athletes are outfitted in full uniform, including a reversible mesh jersey and shorts, shooting shirt & league t-shirt in the respective colors of their future high school (student-athletes keep all apparel).  STOCK ORDERS ARE MADE FOR EACH TEAM so individual sizes are not taken.  
 

 Two practices/week: Gym space has been reserved for each team practice (90-minutes in length) in order to ensure the optimum environment for teaching and learning. All practices take place at the program’s respective high school or middle school gymnasium.  IMPORTANT NOTE: All practices are subject to change due to inclement weather and/or school/varsity/JV scheduling.  Game locations rotate each week so each team receives, in most cases, two home games during the season (usually at the high school).
 

Two, Certified, High School Officials for Games: All games are officiated by certified high school officials, usually three-man crews. All VHSL rules are applied and enforced, including 6-minute quarters, using stop-time (Freshmen rules).

 

 Single-elimintaion tournament: The season is culminated by an end-of-the-season single-elimination tournament including all teams (all teams qualify for the tournament).

 

 Championship Games at University Hall: The final game of the season in each division is played at the legendary University Hall on the campus of the University of Virginia.  Only the final two teams playing the championship game play in this game.  

It is required for any VDBL participant to attend a minimum of one (1) clinic (with a parent/guardian) - see dates and times below.  No RSVP necessary - just show up.

Albemarle County Teams/Residents:
Times: TBD 
Dates: TBD

Charlottesville City Teams/Residents:Times: TBD 
Dates: TBD
 

Girls participating in the VDBL (Grades-5-8) are required to attend at least one (1) clinic date.  These are not evaluations per se.  Rather, these are free instructional clinics with our league directors and supervisors whose main emphasis will be skill development.  League Staff will also be assessing areas of strength as well as where more skill work may be needed as skills session and scrimmages are conducted.