FAMILY & PLAYER RESOURCES

The Gahanna Basketball Academy serves players in grades 3–6 who reside within the Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools district, regardless of whether they attend public school, private school or are homeschooled.

Participation costs vary based on roster size, facility expenses, uniforms, officiating fees, tournament entry fees and other program-related expenses.

As a general guideline, families with a player on a COBA competitive team of approximately 10 players can expect seasonal costs ranging from $350–$500 per player. This estimate includes typical team-related expenses, including tournament entry fees, but excludes personal travel, meals and fuel associated with games and tournaments throughout the region.

One of the Academy's long-term objectives is to make youth basketball more accessible and affordable for Gahanna families.

In many cases, increased participation allows shared program expenses to be distributed across more players, helping reduce individual costs. By building a sustainable program with strong participation, the Academy aims to create more opportunities for children throughout the Gahanna-Jefferson community.

The Blue Shirt developmental pathway may have a different fee structure based on its activities, facilities, and program needs. 

Actual fees will be communicated as program and team arrangements are finalized.

The Gahanna Basketball Academy is our comprehensive player development system. COBA competitive teams are one pathway within that system, providing appropriately matched opportunities for players to apply their skills through competitive games.

All Academy players share the same commitment to fundamentals, basketball understanding and continuous improvement.

Blue Shirt is an Academy pathway for players who are continuing to develop competitive readiness or who do not have an appropriately matched competitive roster opportunity available.

Blue Shirt players remain fully integrated into the Academy's development curriculum, participate in structured Academy practices and receive consistent instruction while preparing for appropriately matched competitive experiences.

Coaches evaluate players using multiple forms of assessment, including measurable basketball skills, basketball IQ, live competitive play and coachability.

Evaluations are designed to identify each player's current strengths, areas for improvement and competitive readiness. No single drill, measurement or score determines a player's overall evaluation.

Competitive team placement considers each player's readiness, the number of participating players and the roster opportunities available within each grade.

Teams may be organized at different competitive levels when participation and player readiness support those opportunities.

A player may demonstrate competitive readiness without an appropriately matched roster opportunity being available that season.

Following the October 12 and 14 evaluations, coaches will review player readiness and available roster opportunities. Competitive team placement offers may begin as early as October 15, 2026. Additional decisions will be communicated as evaluations and roster planning are completed.

Families will be contacted directly with placement opportunities and next steps. Not all decisions will necessarily be communicated on the same day.

Yes. Player development and competitive readiness are evaluated throughout the Academy experience.

Movement between pathways depends on demonstrated readiness and available roster opportunities. Because competitive rosters must be established and declared in advance for the season, changes will generally be considered during designated roster formation periods rather than during the season.

The Academy's goal is to provide players across all pathways with appropriately matched competitive experiences where they can demonstrate their development and apply the skills and principles taught during practice.

The Academy is committed to providing meaningful development and competitive experiences appropriate to each player's readiness.

Game opportunities depend on team placement, scheduling, participation and available competition. Specific numbers of games or playing time are not guaranteed unless expressly communicated for a particular program or team.

The Gahanna Basketball Academy is built around a unified player development curriculum designed to provide consistent instruction across all grades, teams and competitive pathways.

Our goal is to establish a common foundation of basketball fundamentals, decision-making, movement, defensive principles and team concepts that progressively prepares players for the expectations of middle school basketball.

During the season, our general practice standard is two 90-minute sessions per week, subject to facility availability and team scheduling. Additional practice opportunities may be offered when appropriate.

Practices are intentionally structured to introduce new concepts, reinforce fundamental skills and progressively challenge players to apply what they learn in competitive situations.

While instruction and expectations advance with each grade level, the Academy's core teaching principles remain consistent.

One curriculum. Progressive development. A shared standard of preparation.

Families should visit the Teams page and select their player's grade-level team hub.

Available team hubs provide access to schedules, practices, announcements and other season information.

Individual coaches may also use designated team communication and scheduling platforms, such as GameChanger or Google Calendar, to share updates and coordinate team activities. Coaches will communicate their specific procedures with families.

Players are expected to demonstrate consistent effort, maintain a positive attitude, support their teammates, accept coaching and compete to the best of their abilities.

Our emphasis is on developing fundamental skills, making good decisions, demonstrating coachability, supporting teammates and competing with respect and sportsmanship.

Parents and families play an essential role in the development of young athletes. We encourage families to support consistent attendance, reinforce positive attitudes, promote at-home fundamental practice and give players the opportunity to learn through both successes and mistakes.

Our focus is on effort, improvement, coachability and long-term growth rather than individual statistics, playing time or game results.

We ask families to approach practices and competitions with the same respect they would give their child's classroom. Coaches are educators, practices are learning environments and games provide opportunities for players to apply what they have learned.

Just as parents would not interrupt a teacher's lesson to provide competing instructions, we ask families to allow coaches to teach and players to learn without conflicting direction from the sidelines.

Positive encouragement is always welcome. Instruction, corrections and in-game decisions should remain with the coaching staff. We encourage families to communicate questions or concerns directly with coaches at appropriate times outside of practices and competitions. 

When parents and coaches reinforce the same expectations, players gain the confidence, consistency and support needed to develop.

Coaches and Academy organizers will share important information through designated team communication channels and available team hubs.

Families should regularly review team announcements, follow their coach's established communication procedures and notify their coach when attendance or scheduling conflicts arise.

Game schedules are developed based on roster composition, player readiness, available opponents and appropriate competitive opportunities.

As a general guideline, a Gahanna COBA competitive team may schedule 6–8 home games and a similar number of away games during the season.

Additionally, COBA typically participates in three designated tournaments, with approximately three games anticipated per tournament. Coaches may schedule additional games and tournaments based on team readiness, scheduling availability and developmental objectives.

For planning purposes, COBA competitive teams may target approximately 20–30 game opportunities over a full season. This is a planning estimate, not a guaranteed schedule, and actual participation will depend on grade level, roster composition and scheduling availability. Blue Shirt competitive opportunities will be organized separately based on player readiness and available competition. Actual game schedules vary and are not guaranteed. 

The Academy recognizes that meaningful player development requires an appropriate balance between instruction, practice, competition and recovery.

Coaches will regularly evaluate practice-to-game ratios and consider age-appropriate participation recommendations from recognized organizations, including USA Basketball.

Player safety, healthy development and long-term participation will remain priorities when establishing competition schedules.

For team-specific questions, families should begin with their player's coach.

For Academy-wide questions, registration or general program information, families should use the contact information provided through this website.