Member Clubs
Ontario Basketball (OBA) affiliates approximately 175 clubs and associations each year. Any not-for-profit organization that is involved in the development and growth of amateur basketball can apply to become an affiliated member club of Ontario Basketball.
The Ontario Basketball (and club insurance) season runs from September 1 through August 31 every year.
Club Membership Definitions
Competitive Club Membership: Clubs that develop athletes with the intention of having them compete at the regional and/or provincial level against outside Ontario Basketball member clubs. Club teams participating in league games, exhibition games and sanctioned tournaments are considered competitive member clubs.
House League Development Club Membership: Clubs that develop athletes with the intention of having them compete within their own club structure (House League). Participants do not play any games against outside Ontario Basketball member clubs.
Application Process for New Clubs
The application process for new clubs is now open for the 2023-24 season.
2023-24 Application Timeline for New Clubs
- July 6-26, 2023: Applications accepted from potential clubs.
- Beyond July 26, 2023: Applications to be reviewed, interviews scheduled with club candidates, and then application results communicated to all candidates.
Application for New Clubs
All new club candidates were to have submitted the application form linked below, and attach a business case, by Wednesday, July 26, 2023 by 5:00pm to be considered for the 2023-24 season.
A club’s business case should include the following information:
- Club Mission Statement: Provide a statement reflecting your club’s overall program mission.
- Club’s First-Year Goals: What does your club wish to accomplish in its first year?
- Club’s Five-Year Goals: What does your club wish to accomplish in its first five years?
- Type of Programs: What programs will your club run in its first year (competitive, house league, adult league, etc.)?
- Age Categories: What age categories will you target in year one?
- Gym Space: Which school boards/community facilities will you use for gym space?
- Relationships with Schools: Describe your club’s working relationships with schools (e.g., secondary, post-secondary).
- Membership: What areas of your community will you target for your membership?
- Number of Participants: How many participants do you hope to have by year five?
- Club Executive: Name your year-one executive members and their positions. (Provide a minimum of three specific people.)
- Volunteer Screening Requirements: How do you plan to complete the volunteer screening requirements for your club (i.e., checking references and ensuring all volunteers provide a current police check)?
- Coach Certification: How will you ensure all your coaches are certified with the appropriate NCCP certification before your first competitive practice?
- Development Philosophy: Describe your club’s philosophy about fundamental basketball development. (Please reference Canadian Sport for Life and Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD).)
- LTAD Knowledge: Describe the knowledge and understanding your club’s leaders have about LTAD.
- LTAD in Club Programming: How does your club incorporate LTAD into its programs?
- LTAD Training: How does your club plan to train coaches and parents about Canadian Sport for Life and LTAD?
- Differentiation: What will set your club programming apart from others?
- Rationale: If your community already has an existing Ontario Basketball member club, why do you feel there is a need for another club in the community?
DEFINITION OF ONTARIO BASKETBALL CLUB
An Ontario Basketball Club (OBA Club) is an approved affiliated member of the Ontario Basketball Association that delivers basketball programming in a community setting in the province of Ontario. An OBA Club supports the NSO AND PSO governance model to enable a safe and inclusive sports environment, developmentally appropriate skills programs and competition model, and strives to ensure a positive experience in sport at all levels of its programming.
NEW CLUB AFFILIATION ELIGIBILITY
REP SPECIFIC
Canada Basketball Verification Program
- Full compliance in one year.
- In-progress – Began the process to complete required pillars (Safe Sport & EDI, Technical Skills and Governances & Administration). Coaching requirement can be on-going throughout the year.
Established House League and/or Training Program aligned with LTAD or JR NBA program
- Curriculum review and program audit by OBA staff.
- Please note: JR NBA will be mandatory for new clubs that do not have any established house league and/or training program.
Non-negotiable criteria
- Safe-sport training and instruction on how to approach safety issues. Must have a way to report issues.
- Organizational structure must be determined.
- Financial plan must be established. Programs must be financially sustainable. Achieving financial sustainability necessitates a keen awareness of processing fees. Employing a card machine comparison can prove invaluable, facilitating the evaluation of processing fee variations and supporting sound financial decision-making.
New rep clubs that apply will need to demonstrate an established house league and/or training program. New rep clubs that do not have an established house league and/or training program will be mandated to sign-up for the JR. NBA program.
- Curriculum and membership numbers will need to be provided. OBA staff to attend and evaluate house league and/or training sessions.
- Canada Basketball Verification Program status that are in “in-progress” will result in new rep clubs not being able to participate in OBA Championships until full compliance is met.
- An exception can be made if a team’s coaching staff has met all NCCP requirements.
Probationary Period
- New rep clubs will be on a probationary period for a minimum of 1 year.
- New rep clubs applying will have to meet the following probationary requirements:
- Full compliance of the CB verification program.
- Maintain a clean FairPlay record.
- One of the following registered with OBA: House League, Training Program and/or JR. NBA.
- New rep clubs that are non-compliant after the probationary period will have to re-apply for the following year.
- Please note: OBA can choose to disqualify any applications based on the merit and history of the application.
HOUSE LEAGUE
CAMPS
ADULT LEAGUES
TRAINING PROGRAMS
Canada Basketball Verification Program
- Full compliance in one year.
- In-progress – Began the process to complete required pillars (Safe Sport &EDI, Technical Skills and Governances & Administration). Coaching requirement can be on-going throughout the year.
First-Year Obligations for New Clubs
All first-year clubs have a one-year probation period with a review at the end of the first season.
First-year clubs must submit a $1,000 performance bond and ensure that they follow all Ontario Basketball policies and procedures to be considered for affiliation in their second year.
How to Apply
To apply to become an affiliated club, please click here.
Contact
If you have any new club affiliation questions, please email Tristan Cave.
Member Camps
Ontario Basketball affiliates numerous camps each year. Any organization that offers a camp that is involved in the development and growth of amateur basketball can apply to become an affiliated member camp of Ontario Basketball.
Ontario Basketball camp affiliation runs from September 1 through August 31 every year.
Ontario Basketball offers camp affiliation as a special feature for our members. Affiliation ensures maximum promotion and cost-effective insurance.
The benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Adherence to standards set by Ontario Basketball encourages higher demand.
- Promotion on the Ontario Basketball website.
- A direct link from the Ontario Basketball website to your organization’s website.
- Discount on group camp insurance.
To become an affiliated member camp of Ontario Basketball, please register your camp through TeamSnap here.