Since its establishment in 2010, the Tahoma Basketball Association has had great success with both winning and creating a fun atmosphere for kids to improve at their game. TBA serves young athletes in the Tahoma School District, offering kids in 4th through 8th grade the opportunity to play competitive feeder basketball.
TBA Vice President and head of community relations, Steven Meyer explains, “Our mission at Tahoma Basketball Association is to provide athletes the opportunity to prepare for high school basketball while also teaching them life skills for future success as a student-athlete and beyond” (Meyer).
A feeder program means that the program is designed to “feed” into a specific high school basketball program. As the official feeder program of Tahoma High School, TBA aims to help develop fundamental skills at an early age and provide a fun, team-oriented environment. This early involvement in basketball directly translates to the success at the high school level that Tahoma has been known for in recent years.
Emma Balmores, a 5-year TBA alumna and now Tahoma High School athlete was greatly impacted by the program. She explains, “The influence that TBA had on me was amazing, it really made me want to continue a career with basketball and try out for Tahoma High School. It also just made me love the sport in general” (Balmores).
A big part of TBA’s success is offering two teams per grade level when possible. This means that fewer kids are turned away, increasing participation and growth of the sport. Tryouts for these teams take place annually in mid-September and the season runs from October to March.
In addition to the regular season, TBA has also recently created a developmental 3 v. 3 league for 3rd and 4th graders only, who are just learning the game. Every Sunday from mid-April to May, players get the opportunity to participate in a 30-minute group skills clinic, followed by two short 3 v. 3 games. This new edition has only furthered TBA’s commitment to player development and getting kids involved as early as possible.
Balmores urges, “I would recommend TBA to others because it is such a welcoming environment where you can begin your journey with basketball” (Balmores).
For more information regarding the Tahoma Basketball Association, you can visit their website at Tahomahoops.com or email inquiries to [email protected].
