Welcome to AABL Online! PRACTICES FOR COLLEGE AND PRO TEAMS WILL RESUME ON MONDAY, JANUARY 5TH, WHEN THE SCHOOLS RE-OPEN. COLLEGE & PRO GAMES BEGIN:  JANUARY 17, 2009 JUNIOR PRACTICES/GAMES BEGIN:  JANUARY 17, 2009 MANDATORY COACHES CLINICS TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009 at Overlook Middle School:      JUNIOR COACHES AND ASSISTANT COACHES:  9am - 11am      PRO & COLLEGE COACHES AND ASSISTANT COACHES:  1pm - 3pm This year we will be conducting coaches clinics for all of our volunteer coaches. This is a great opportunity for coaches to learn and share new drills, as well as go over all of the new rules and sanctions of competitive basketball.  All coaches are respectfully required to attend.  Please have your assistant coaches attend as well if possible. COLLEGE, PRO & JUNIOR TEAM ROSTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE BY CLICKING THE RESPECTIVE "TEAMS" LINKS ON THE MENU BAR. We are looking forward to a very fun and exciting 2009 season!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ashburnham Area Basketball League or as it is more commonly known, The AABL, is an instructional coed league open to Ashburnham and Westminster (and surrounding area) children in grades 1-9. It's mission is to teach young players the fundamentals of basketball in a structured and nurturing environment. The league continually strives to help children develop their skills, while teaching the importance of commitment, teamwork and good sportsmanship. THANK YOU LAST YEARS SPONSORS!   We'd like to thank the following businesses for sponsoring teams last year. If you would like to sponsor a team this year please contact any of the board members listed on this site. We hope to have you back for 2008-2009! LVI Print Optimization Rick Ruberti Auto Sales Peterborough Oil & Mr. Mike's Calvano Sealcoating Patrick Durkee Painting Ashburnham Family Practice NEPACO (Northeast Promotion and Apparel Company Inc.) Advanced Glass & Mirror Paul's Plate Glass The Care Takers The Art Of Beads Mainfare Bed & Breakfast Wildwood Farm Village Pizza Creative Connections And a special thanks goes out to Dimacale Real Estate for providing a scholarship donation for a child in the league. LEAGUE STRUCTURE There are 3 Divisions in this league. The Pro Division - The Pro Division consists of players in the 7th through 9th grade. This division has one evening practice each week and a game on Saturday. Each player will receive a game uniform (jersey & shorts) to keep. The College Division - The College Division is made up of 4th through 6th graders. The College Division has an evening practice each week and a game on Saturday. Each player will receive a game uniform (jersey & shorts) to keep.  The Junior Division - The Junior Division is for 1st through 3rd graders. There are no weekday practices. Each Saturday they will have a practice/scrimmage session. These sessions are devoted to learning the rules and developing skills. Each player will receive a team shirt. The Junior teams will be randomly divided. Please let us know on your registration form if there is a particular friend (not friends!) that your child would like to have on their team. DRAFT The College and Pro draft is set up to try and create teams of equal playing abilities. Please be sure that you want to play before signing up. It is very unfair to the other children on the team when a player drops out after the draft has taken place. A missing player can disrupt the whole dynamics of the league. This is very important! Please do not sign up if you are not committed to playing. Thank you. BUILDING USE RULES 1. ONLY water is allowed in both gyms (Overlook & Oakmont). This means no sports drinks or any other kind of drinks - and this includes coffee, parents! There is no food of any kind permitted. 2. There is NO bouncing of basketballs in the hallways or off the walls or in any other place in the schools except for the gyms. The league will provide balls for games and practices. Please leave all personal balls at home. 3. All children must be under adult supervision at all times. Parents - please do not drop children off until the coach is present. Siblings are not allowed to play in the halls or other area of the schools. These rules apply to everyone. We will lose gym privileges if these rules are not followed! If we lose the gyms then there will be no league. CODE OF ETHICS All parents signed a Code of Ethics when registering their children. These rules are very important and they must be followed. Please treat officials  and coaches with respect and support all players in a positive way. Here is the Code of Ethics. Please review it and support it. Thank you! AABL CODE OF ETHICS The "Code" is a "covenant" between parents, players, and coaches of the AABL and is meant to be a way of ensuring that the league can fulfill its mission of teaching young players the fundamentals of basketball in a structured and nurturing environment. If any terms of this agreement are violated during the course of the season, the league reserves the right to rescind a child's PRIVILEGE to play. By signing this form, I acknowledge and agree to abide by the following: 1. I understand that the AABL is an instructional league, whose mission is to teach young players the fundamentals of basketball while having FUN. 2. I understand that the AABL continually strives to teach the importance of commitment, teamwork, and true sportsmanship that should be exhibited not only in this sport, but in all athletic activities. 3. I understand that the AABL will not tolerate foul or abusive language/behavior from any player, coach, parent, or spectator (this would include, among other things: heckling, yelling, taunting, harassment, or the berating of officials or coaches). 4. I will set an example for the players by being a courteous and respectful spectator at all practices and games. I understand that I may be asked to leave a practice and/or game if I cannot fulfill this obligation. 5. I understand that gym time throughout the District is at a premium and that the league is very fortunate to have use of District facilities. I will honor the "practice rules" that have been established at each school and will help my child to adhere to these rules. 6. I understand that all coaches are giving freely of their time and talents and under no circumstances will I do or say anything to undermine their efforts. If I have a problem with a coach or coaches, I will bring this concern to the attention of the "AABL Board of Directors."