Travel Team Players

Boys and girls who demonstrate a strong ability, knowledge, and commitment to basketball are encouraged to try out for AYBA travel teams. This program provides great opportunities for players who wish to compete at an advanced level of competition!

AYBA travel team teams compete in the Ventura Country Youth Basketball Conference ("VCYBC"), which consists of the neighboring cities and towns of Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Ventura, Simi Valley, and Moorpark.

Currently, Boys Divisions consist of Grades 4 through 8, and Girls Divisions Grades 5 through 8.  Players can "play up" (above their age and grade level) but not below their grade level.  Each team typically has ten players, and those players do not play in the intramural league.  Although we try to field a team in each grade level, boys and girls, sometimes we do not have a team in a given grade level because of lack of players. 

Eligibility for travel team players is determined completely by residence, and by grades.  Youngsters who reside in the Las Virgenes or Oak Park School Districts are eligible for our travel teams.  Those who attend school in the Las Virgenes or Oak Park School Districts, but live elsewhere, are not eligible for our travel teams but may be eligible for another community's team.  Unfortunately, waivers are not granted.  Also, travel team players must have a "C" average or better on their most recent report card to be academically eligible.

Players who are selected are expected to make a firm commitment to their team and to not allow other sports or activities to prevent them from practicing or playing in games.  Due to the competitive nature of the travel league, playing time is not guaranteed except during the first year of play.  Coaches allocate playing time based upon their good faith judgment of which players will put their team in the best position to compete.

Travel team players are charged an extra fee (because travel team expenses are higher to AYBA) and also separately purchase their own uniforms.  Parents who are undergoing financial hardship may request a partial or full reduction in fees, according to the same procedures as those of the intramural league.

Travel Team Coaches

AYBA is always looking for qualified volunteer travel team coaches.  Head coaches and assistant coaches with a knowledge of basketball and who work well with youngsters are invited to apply to coach AYBA travel teams. 

Coaches who are interested should indicate their interest during the fall signups.  All coaching candidates are interviewed by a committee headed by the Travel Teams Director, and coaches are selected in September for the winter season.  When a coaching applicant has a child on the team, the Travel Teams Director and committee will make sure independently that the child's game is at a travel team level. 

Coaches and assistant coaches who are selected will generally coach their teams through the winter season and then the following summer season before coaches are selected again the following September.  All coaches are expected to conduct themselves professionally, to work with youngsters in a positive way, to exhibit good sportsmanship at all times, and to adhere to the policies that govern both AYBA and VCYBC  We look at our travel team coaches and players as representing our community, and so we hold them to a high standard.

The Travel Team Season

The VCYBC (travel teams) season is similar to the AYBA intramural league season. 
After travel team coaches are selected in September, tryouts are conducted immediately and teams are selected in October, before the intramural league draft.  Regular practices are held in October and November before the VCYBC season begins, usually in early December.  The VCYBC regular season ends in late February or early March and then a round of playoffs begins in each age group ending with a championship game.

The summer VCYBC season also parallels our intramural season.  Summer season is generally mid June to late July, and usually coaches and teams are the same as in the winter.  Sometimes coaches add players for the summer, because of players who have left or players who are unavailable for part or all of the summer season.

Travel Team Guidelines can be found here. Click on the link below to access the VCYBA site (including game schedules)

Ventura County Youth Basketball Association
Travel Team Website: http://thevleague.org/