About The Sport

The universities and colleges organise basketball competitions through their national sports association British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) and British Colleges Sport (BCS).  The University of London Union (ULU) organises an intra-college ULU Basketball League....  read more...

 

Someone under the age of 18 (for the 08/09 season born after 31/08/90) is identified as a youth player by England Basketball...  read more...

Since the demise of the London and Capital BB Leagues toward the end of the 20th century, the remainng long standing Leagues in London are LMB, MBL, LJBL and more recent EMBL.  As London expanded (redefined boroughs in 1965, it now enconpasses areas served by the surrounding...  read more...  Download: London Basketball Leagues 2009

For links to information - Click on the underlined words!

The History of the Game is presented in detail on the EB webpages. A Calendar of Major Events for the sport is provided on the Try My Sport website.  Note: Representing Great Britain in 1924, London Central YMCA won the championship of basketball...  read more...

The universities and colleges organise basketball competitions through their national sports association British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) and British Colleges Sport (BCS).  The University of London Union (ULU) organises an intra-college ULU Basketball League.  Institutions of Further and Higher Education may participate in the Southern England Students Sports Association (SESSA)  Basketall League, 

In London we also have the London Pioneers College Basketball League.

 

School Leagues

 

Someone under the age of 18 (for the 08/09 season born after 31/08/90) is identified as a youth player by England Basketball (EB), the governing body for the sport. EB further classify players by age as follows: Junior (U-18), Cadet (U-16) Passerelle (U-15) (Note: as of 2009 passerelle no longer exists)  and Mini (U-12). Note: Passerelle and Mini basketball have modified playing rules.

Many opportunities exist in London for youth to participate in basketball. EB provides National League (EBL) competitions for Junior, Cadet and Passerelle teams. Some of the most established EBL Clubs for development of boys (i.e. Brixton Topcats, East London Royals, London United, Westminster Warriors, White Heat) are in London. The best players from these Clubs may obtain scholarships to attend colleges in America.

 

London Active Sports, provided by Lottery funding in 2002, included a five-year Basketball Development plan for the 12-13 year old age group. Local leagues cater for EB youth teams as noted below:

The London Junior Basketball League was organised by the London Area Basketball Association (LBA) in 1988 with grant aid from the Sports Council. In the first year the competition consisted of six junior women's teams. The past fifteen years it has been a central venue league, cvl (i.e. the league provides venue and officials for Sunday matches) consisting of junior (U-18) and cadet (U-16) sections for men and women, currently held at Britannia Leisure Centre. League matches are played with 15-minute halves so more matches are played within the available court time.

Other Youth Leagues in Greater London:
CVL - London also operates a Sunday competition for U20's through U-12s.  For more information contact cvl-london@hotmail.com.

Mini Toutnaments  -  info provided later

The Surrey Basketball Association (SBA) operates a central venue programme for youth at the Chessington Sports Centre in southwest London. This includes teams for U16, U14, U12 and U10 players within the London boroughs of Richmond, Kingston, Merton, Sutton and Croydon. 

North of London the Hertfordshire Youth League? also provides central venue fixtures at various locations on the weekends for U16, U14 and U12 teams.

Further each year the London boroughs prepare boys and girls teams at U17 age group and a Mini (U12) team for part

Since the demise of the London and Capital BB Leagues toward the end of the 20th century, the remainng long standing Leagues in London are LMB, MBL, LJBL and more recent EMBL.  As London expanded (redefined boroughs in 1965, it now enconpasses areas served by the surrounding counties, e.g. Surrey League in SW London.  In the 21st century more Leagues have emerged:  e.g. ANZSAC, London CVL, LABL, Polish (PEBL). 

For on-line links and contacts for the Basketball Leagues in London see the attached

For links to information - Click on the underlined words!

The History of the Game is presented in detail on the EB webpages. A Calendar of Major Events for the sport is provided on the Try My Sport website.  Note: Representing Great Britain in 1924, London Central YMCA won the championship of basketball as a demonstraton sport at the Paris Olympics.
 
The Enlglish Basketball Assocaton (EB) was formed in 1936 at a meeting at the London Central YMCA. London Polytechnic were runners-up in the inaugrual National Championship. In 1986 the 50th anniversary of EB was celebrated at the London Central YMCA.

1984 was a low point for the sport in London as government policy increased the cost of facilities (i.e. school sports halls) in London thereby significantly reducing the number of Clubs, . In the late 20th Century, the original Leagues (London BB League and Capital BB League) for the sport ceased to exist. The 21st Century has seen the increased popularity of the sport especially with the foreign nationals in the transient international London community.  The lack of access to suitable facilities is still a major issue in London.