Program Information

• Players born between 2009 and 2020 are eligible to play in our 2025-26 season. 
  • Proof will be required in the registration via birth certificate, Alberta Health Care Card or passport.
  • A most recent photo of the player is also required.
  • Players may NOT play under their age bracket. Players may only play above their age bracket if there is room in the division.
• Players must live or go to school within the boundaries of St. Albert
• All players and coaches must be members of the Alberta Basketball Association and Canada Basketball
  • ABA fee and CB fee will be added to your registration
• Players will not be placed on a team or provided a practice date until all required documents are provided, and registration fees are paid in full.

All participants in the U11 to U18 basketball programs must have the following items, clearly labeled for identification:

• Indoor basketball shoes with non-marking soles.
• Appropriately sized basketball (see below for details)
• Basketball socks/athletic socks.
• A clearly marked water bottle.
• It is advisable to have a bag to keep a player's gear organized for games and practices.
• Basketball shorts are required attire (black preferred).

Team jerseys will be issued for the season's duration and must be returned afterward. It's important to note that failure to return the SLAM jersey will result in ineligibility to register for the subsequent season. If a player does not participate the following year and fails to return their jersey, the credit card on record will be charged accordingly.

SLAM branded merchandise will be on sale for a limited time early in the season.

The basketball size varies by age group:

Size 5 (27.5 inches) for U7, U9, and U11 Boys and Girls.

Size 6 (28.5 inches) for U13 Boys and Girls, U15 Girls, and U18 Girls.

Size 7 (29.5 inches) for U15 Boys and U18 Boys 

Season and League Details

U7 & U9
Our Under-9 (U9) program, a coeducational initiative designed to nurture budding talent. Each week, players convene in St. Albert for a vibrant, 60-minute session dedicated to skill enhancement. The highlight of our program is the end of season tournament, offering our teams the opportunity to showcase their growth against peers from across Edmonton. Practices are mostly on Saturdays and starts in October till early March. 

Practice Schedule (U11 - U18):
Your exact practice times are to be determined, but please be ready for 1.5 hour practice sessions scheduled between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm, Monday through Friday. We prioritize fitting practice times into the coach's schedule and generally arrange for the younger players to practice earlier in the evening, while older players are scheduled later.

U11 Competitive Division:

Evaluations:
All U11 players will have the opportunity to participate in evaluations in late August/earlySeptember. These sessions help us place players on balanced teams based on skill level. Attendance is strongly encouraged.

Team Formation:

Teams will be created based on evaluation results. A competitive team will only be formed if registration numbers and skill levels support it. Players not placed on the competitive team will be placed on balanced community-level teams.

Game Schedule:
Practices are expected to begin in mid to late September as regular season games are expected to begin in October, with playoffs running through February. ABA Provincials may be available depending on team results and division placement.

Venues:
Games are played at various locations across Edmonton and the surrounding area, including the EYBA Centre, school gyms, and private basketball facilities (Legacy Athletics, Buckets Basketball).

Game Nights:
U11 games are typically scheduled for Saturday mornings/afternoons, though exact times may vary.

Re-seeding:
EYBA will re-seed U11 teams during the season to ensure appropriate competition levels and balanced matchups.

U13 and U15 Competitive Division (Tier 1 and Tier 2):
Team Evaluations:
Evaluations are planned for late August/early September, with the goal of forming teams. Attendance at evaluations is mandatory for all U13 and U15 players.

Team Formation:
Teams will be assembled based on the skill level of the players. A competitive team will only be formed if enough players have signed up for the program. Teams may be transitioned from a competitive to a community level depending on their performance (re-seeding).

Game Schedule:
Teams will participate in the EYBA seeding tournament in September to determine their placement for the upcoming season. Regular season matches are expected to begin in the first week of October, with playoff games wrapping up by the end of February or the start of March. For teams that qualify, the ABA Provincials take place in March.

Venues:
Games are hosted at a variety of locations, including the Saville Center, Legacy Athletics, the EYBA Centre, Buckets Basketball Academy, and various school gyms throughout the Edmonton area.

Game Nights:
Competitive division games for the Girls program are typically on Wednesday nights, while the Boys are typically on Tuesday nights.

Re-seeding:
Teams will undergo several re-seeding assessments by the EYBA throughout the season, which may result in moving to the community division (i.e., Tier 3).