Looking for Teams for the 2007/2008 School Season

The Indiana Athletic Teen Basketball Association is not just about basketball, but IATBA is all for preparing players for college and post high school success. And, many of the players IATBA has had as part of the league have had varsity level potential, and some even greater talent, says co-founder Donna Williams. The founders Wayne and Donna Williams began the league in 1998 after years of fighting for both academic assistance and an opportunity for one of thier sons to play on his high school team. That son had some learning barriers and school was a tremendous struggle for him throughout high school. Coming from a Christian School environment into a much larger public school was tough. However, in their son's first year at Southport he was eligible for the baseball team and made it. Being an exceptional pitcher he gained early fame after knocking off their rival team Perry Meridian in the Big reserve game. Although there was no acolades from the coaches or mention of the new kid during awards the players and student body seemed ecstatic to have him there. Then, before the summer was over their son was basically blackballed by the head coach for making a joking remark that was considered by him to be disloyal to the team. After that, the coach remarked that he would never play sports in the Perry system again, and he was apparently able to make that happen. So although this kid loved sports, particularly baseball and basketball, and although sports was the key to keeping him motivated to remain school in the mist of his continuous acedemic struggles, that carrot was taken away from him forever.

After much anquish and an equal amount of prayer the Williams' were lead to start the Indiana Athletic Teen Basketball Association. The Lord made it clear to Mrs. Williams that her son was not the only young man who needed a chance to showcase his talents in a league of high caliber, while he or she was also being supported academically and often morally by caring coaches and adults who truly wanted to invest in their futures. And, so the IATBA organization was born. In 1998 and for years following, the league has provided the city of Indianapolis with eight to ten teams of high level basketball players, many of whom have gone on to play college basketball and other sports. Over the years players have returned to give back to the league. The participants have had many years of awesome experiences, mentoring, and support from exceptional volunteer coaches, assistants, tutors and friends of the league.

Because of former contributions of all types to the league and league programs IATBA has made a difference in our community. We thank the following contributors: Payton Wells Ford, Eastern Star Church, Indy Parks Watkins & Hill Center, Indianapolis Public Schools Coleman, Crispus Attucks and others, SYPF, Wayne Township Schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, Stern-Hendy Properties, Lilly Endowment, City of Indianapolis, Beulah Missionary Baptist Church - Promise Land Christian Community Church, and a host of others.

The IATBA league was founded in 1998 to showcase Indiana's top notch players who were not player for a school team, to help assure active school enrollment and attendance, and to improve or maintain good grades of the athletes. Eligible players either did not make a school team or did not try out for a school team due to their academic status or other relavent issues.

IATBA players meet for study groups with their coach or team assistants twice weekly. In order to remain an active player on an IATBA team players must show proof of enrollment in a high school level program, must have good school attendance and must agree to follow the IATBA Ten Commandments of Excellence.

The fee for the league and eligibility for all IATBA 2007/2008 events is $125.00 per player. The fee can be paid in installments but must be paid prior to start of the league. Events are as follows: Jamboree - February 2008, League competition February - April 2008, Final Four - March 2008, All Star Game - April 2008