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About Us
Purpose
History
Officers
Personnel
Structure
Registration Fees
How Teams Are Formed
Team Management
Purpose
The objective of the MBA is to implant firmly in the youth of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, courage, loyalty, and reverence so that they may be finer, stronger, and happier children and young adults who will grow up to be good, clean, and healthy citizens. These objectives will be achieved by providing adult supervised competitive athletic events. The supervisors will bear in mind that the attainment of exceptional skill or winning of games is secondary and that the molding of future citizens is of prime importance. The purpose for which this corporation is organized is the development of a youth basketball league for children grades 3rd - 8th. The corporation was formed with the intention of putting the "fun" in fundamentals for children. The corporation will provide quality basketball instruction, the thrills and excitement of competitive games and the enduring benefits of a positive, supportive experience for each child.
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History
The Metro Basketball Association (MBA) was formed in 1989 by three fathers looking for a more competitive program for their young sons. The three men were Kevin Wilkinson, Patrick O'Donnell and Charles Carney. Kevin Wilkinson has served as the MBA President since its beginning and Patrick O'Donnell served through the 2004/2005 season on the Executive Board. Mr. Carney left the program after his kids were too old to play. He has been replaced by Jeff Bradley who serves as the organization's Treasurer and Cliff West who is the Vice President.
In the first season the league was divided into two age groups of 8-10 and 11-12 year olds. Each division had four teams with 8 players per team. The games were played in a local Salvation Army gym, in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. The second year saw a substantial growth from 8 to 20 teams. That raised the number of participants from 64 to 160. In the third year, an additional 80 registrations increased the league to 32 teams and 240 players.
The MBA is now starting its 22nd season. During those years, the MBA has put games on local cable television and also produced an in studio cable show called the MBA Fifth Quarter. MBA Fifth Quarter won several cable awards including Best Show of the Year and Best On Air Talent. The organization has seen over 5,000 boys and girls go through the program. Many of the kids had very successful high school careers in sports and there are several playing college athletics in a number of sports.
In addition to running a basketball league, the MBA has been generous by giving back to the community. We have been active in helping the Salvation Army with cash and food donations; Angel Tree Christmas Program; flood victims in Missouri in the middle 90's were also helped. Our members also raised $3,000 on two separate occasions that was donated to two of our families in our organization who lost everything in a local flood and to a Dearborn Police officicers family when he was permanently injured in an accident. We have donated money to the Naismith International Basketball Foundation to help orphans in the Caribbean islands to attend a life camp. We created and fund the Ian Simpson Scholarship which is for Dearborn High School Thespian Student in memory of Ian Simpson, one of our former players who passed away with Crones Disease. We are members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and hold Coaches, referee Bible Study Huddle Group every Saturday morning before games. We have donated money to the Michigan Food Bank supporting Seniors and homeless people in conjunction with the Detroit Pistons Community Outreach Program.
The long range goal of the MBA is to provide a fun, competitive atmosphere of basketball, while teaching it's young people the value of giving back, discipline, education, and generally how to become a good solid person.
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Officers
President: Kevin Wilkinson
Vice President: Cliff West
Trustee: Jeff Bradley
Trustee: Dave Fritz
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Personnel
The league is made up of an Executive Board of Directors, which includes the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. This is the main governing body and only members of the Executive Board have voting rights. This is only group that can change any of the existing rules or Bylaws. The other personnel of the league are:
* Division Directors
* Director of Officials
* Concessions Director
* Banquet Director
* Fun Day Director
* Sponsorship Director
* Public Relations Director
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Structure
The league is divided into divisions based on grade in school. The Blue Division is made up of players who are in the 3rd and 4th grade. The White Division is for 5th and 6th graders. The Red Division is for 7th and 8th graders. Starting in November the Blue and the White Divisions play their league games. Teams play one game per week on Saturdays. The Red Division begins play the last week of January, as soon as the public Middle School season is over. This allows players to participate on the school team as well as playing in the MBA. At the end of the season all teams enter into the playoffs.
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Registration Fees
Each child pays a registration fee of $275.00 for the season. Registration includes:
* Uniform
* 12 games
* Playoff Games
* Awards Banquet
* Fun Night Competition
* Bi-Weekly Newsletter
* Logo Basketball
* Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Membership
* Lead for Life Program
* Awards for all players
* Organized practice times for all teams
* Insurance
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How Teams Are Formed
Each player participates in a mandatory evaluation day. Coaches evaluate the players in their division and then draft the players onto a team. All teams are formed through the draft. The MBA does not allow organized teams to join our association.
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Team Management and Practice
Players per team: 8
Each player gets a guaranteed amount of playing time. In the Blue Division each quarter is made up of 7 minutes. Each player is guaranteed 10 out of a possible 28 minutes per game. In the White and Red Division each quarter is 8 minutes and players are guaranteed 13 minutes of playing time per game. Each team is given a two hour practice session per week at a gym arranged by the MBA. Each team may have a Head Coach and One Assistant Coach. Other parents may help with coaching duties, but for player protection purposes only the Head Coach and an Official Assistant Coach may protect their child in the draft.
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