Who Are We
The EPWBA in partnership with the Prince William County Park Authority provides youth basketball leagues. The EPWBA was formed in 1971 and is now in its 53rd year. EPWBA is a non-profit organization, and is staffed entirely by volunteers. The programs operate during the winter season, serving eight separate age groups.
| Novice | Boys and Girls | 1st Graders |
| Instructional | Boys and Girls | 2nd/3rd Graders |
| Prep Boys | Boys | 4th/5th Graders |
| Prep Girls | Girls | 4th/5th Graders |
| Middle Boys | Boys | 6th/7th Graders |
| Travel - EPWBA Boys | Boys | 6th - 8th Graders |
| Middle Girls | Girls | 6th/7th/8th Graders |
| Travel - EPWBA Girls | Girls | 6th - 8th Graders |
| Freshmen | Boys | 8th/9th Graders |
| High School Boys | Boys | 10th/11th/12th Graders |
| High School Girls | Girls | 9th/10th/11th/12th Graders |
*Note: Players who have graduated high school are eligible to play if they have not already turned 19
Our Development Philosophy
We believe in developing the players in our community to be the best basketball players they can be. We do not believe in short cuts. Our work starts with our youngest age group which is the Novice Training. This is our grassroots program along with our Instructional League to introduce these players to the sport. We hope to continue to work with our players through the years and develop them for either school play or travel basketball with our league. This path is called "The Pipeline".
When do we play?
Prep Girls will have a 8- game regular season. Instructional, Prep Boys and both Middle Age Groups play a 10-game regular season. High School and Freshmen Age Groups play a 12-game regular season. All Age Groups except Instructional have a postseason. The Instructional and Prep Girls leagues, owing to its emphasis on instruction rather than competition, has fewer games and more practice sessions. With the exception of the Middle Girls age group, the season runs from late November through approximately the first week of March. Middle Girls season has been shifted to start earlier (early October to Mid-January) to not coincide with the Middle School Girls' Basketball Season. Each league usually has two events per week (either game or practice). One of the events is on the weekend, and the other is on a weekday evening.
Our travel teams will begin in October. Their FCBYL season will end in March. The travel teams will continue from March - July with several tournaments leading into the summer.
Where do we play?
The EPWBA serves the eastern part of Prince William County Virginia. Most of the participants are from Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Dale City, Triangle, Montclair, Dumfries, or parts of Manassas; but participants are welcome from any area of the county. We will use the basketball facilities at Fred Lynn, Lake Ridge, Potomac Shores, Potomac, Hampton, Saunders, and Benton Middle Schools. For our Instructional League use Kyle Wilson and Kilby Elementary Schools.
Our travel teams will play with the FCBYL for the Winter season. Locations can vary throughout the Northern Virginia region. During tournament season, they are likely to play in tournaments that are in a drivable distance from the Prince William County area.
Prince William County Parks and Recreation Department
The Parks Department maintains supervisory authority over use of the county facilities for recreation programs. The Department allocates gym time to various groups and provides supervisory personnel to be present at all events. They exercise final authority over use of the facility. The EPWBA pays a per-player cost to the county for its services.
Member of the FCYBL
EPWBA is a member of the FCYBL (Fairfax County Youth Basketball League). This is a not-for-profit organization comprised of 25 registered member youth clubs and recreation centers, exists to enable the youth of its member organizations to learn, grow, and develop skills via basketball competition by playing on their neighborhood teams. EPWBA travel teams will compete against teams from Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, Prince William Counties, as well Alexandria and Manassas Park cities during the Winter season.
Coaches
We have a core group of veteran coaches returning each year, but always need a few new coaches to join our ranks. Please consider volunteering to coach when you register your child to play, or contact the EPWBA Commissioner or any league officer using the Contact Us Page. Any volunteers must pass a background check.
Referees
Paid referees are engaged each year for the Prep through High School leagues. We have employed our officials from outside organizations who are not directly affiliated with the league. In the Instructional League, volunteer players from the older age groups will referee the games.
Parent volunteers
Aside from serving as assistant coaches, parents can volunteer as scorekeepers and clock operators. Scorekeeping is a paid position. The EPWBA is an all-volunteer organization, and can only function if people step forward to handle these tasks.
Sponsors
Part of the EPWBA's expenses have been defrayed through sponsorships paid by local businesses and organizations. Players are not asked to participate in any kind of fund-raising activities. The program is fully funded by the registration fees and sponsorships.
Goals
The bylaws of the EPWBA state that the "explicit purpose of the Association is to promote, develop, and teach, both its Adult Volunteers and Player Participants the principles of GOOD CHARACTER, PHYSICAL HEALTH, SPORTSMANSHIP, TEAMWORK, DISCIPLINE and FAIR PLAY. This purpose will be accomplished by providing the maximum opportunity to participate in the sport of basketball, on an organized basis, under the leadership and guidance of Adult Volunteers."
As the above statement indicates, participation and sportsmanship are key elements of EPWBA's program.
Participation
All leagues, except High School, follow "minimum play" rules which guarantee each player participant fair and sufficient playing time. The rule for the all leagues (except Instructional) specifies that each team member play at least 3/8 of the game. To assure "quality" playing time, a game is subdivided into 8 play periods of equal length, and participants must play at least 3 full periods, with at least one such period occurring in each half.
The Prep Leagues also have a "maximum play" rule which requires that each player must "sit out" at least one full time period.
Sportsmanship
The teaching and promotion of good sportsmanship is an important aspect of the EPWBA program.
Coaches are required to follow the rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations regarding "sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity." Parents (and other fans) are asked to abide by EPWBA's "Parent/fan code of conduct", a copy of which will be provided to each family at registration.
As sanctions against negative behavior, any player or coach ejected from a game for fighting or any other unsportsmanlike act, or for the accumulation of two technical fouls during a game, will receive a one-game suspension. A second such instance will result in suspension for the remainder of the season. No refund of registration fees will be made in such cases.
Even Competition
Teams are composed of 8 to 10 players. Teams are determined by a draft system, by which coaches take turns choosing players, in the five "older" leagues. In the Instructional, Prep and Middle Girls Leagues teams are formed administratively. The "Skills Evaluations" involves players performing various shooting, dribbling, and passing drills, or participating in scrimmages, so that the coaches may evaluate their skill levels as a basis for the draft or administrative composition of the teams. The objective of both methods is to achieve competitive balance among the teams, to assure that each team is a blend of more-skilled and less-skilled players. The EPWBA does not accept pre-assembled teams into its leagues. Each participant is selected to a team through the draft or as assigned by league administrators.
Cost
Registration fees for the Winter 2024-25 season are:There is a $10 discount for each additional registrant in a family.
The program is fully funded by the registration fees and sponsorships. Players are not asked to participate in any kind of fund raising activities.
The fees cover EPWBA's expenses to:
- hire referees (the largest expense);
- pay scorekeepers (assigned to Prep Level and Up Games)
- purchase equipment including uniforms, basketballs, and scorebooks;
- purchase trophies for league and tournament winners and runners-up;
- pay fees to the county Park Authority;
- pay other operating costs such as postage and printing.
- league website and TeamSideline App
Guidelines
To help preserve the gym floors, shoes that will be used to play in, must be carried to the gym and put on AFTER arrival to the gym.
Players can bring WATER to the gyms to drink when thirsty during the games - PLEASE ONLY BRING WATER.
Information about possible weather-related cancellations can be obtained by visiting the school system website www.pwcs.edu.