Haley Smith Basketball, also known as Herndon Optimist Youth House Basketball (HOYHB), is a member sports league of the Herndon Optimist Club of Herndon, Virginia. We are a recreational, developmental youth basketball program that focuses on skill development, equitable player participation, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. Our ideal team size is 8 players. Exact team sizes depend on the number of players who register in each division and the number of adults who volunteer to coach, so please consider registering as a volunteer coach!

Please note there is a separate registration program for players with disabilities that want to participate in our BuddyBasketball program.

Player Eligibility

• All boys and girls in grades 1 thru 12 for the 2022-2023 school year are eligible to play in HOYHB games; players are grouped into divisions based on their gender and grade.
• There are no geographic or school attendance restrictions.
• A player who is a member of a high school basketball team, Herndon Optimist Youth Travel Basketball (HOYTB) team, or another team in the Fairfax County Youth Basketball League (FCYBL) is not eligible to play in HOYHB games.
• Players who register after the date of their division's final player evaluation session may be wait-listed for a team in their division.

League Schedule

• Player skills evaluations are held by gender and grade division; grades 5-8 in mid-October, grades 1-4 in late October-early November, and grades 9-12 in mid-November. All registered players who attend their player evaluation session will be placed on a team; the evaluation is for the purpose of ensuring evenly distributed skills/experience across the teams in the division. If a player does not attend their player evaluation session, they may be wait-listed for a team or, if there is still space available on a team, will be randomly assigned to a team.
• Practices begin mid-late November and are held one night a week for 1.5 hours in a local school gym between the hours of 5:30-10pm (indicate in registration the nights your child is available to practice). We try to schedule the younger kids for earlier practices and the older kids for later practices. The specific practice day, time, and location for each team will be determined after the team draft is complete and we know the size and needs of each division, the availability of coaches, and our gym assignments from Fairfax County.
• Regular season games begin in early December and are approximately one hour long; elementary and middle school grade division games are held on Saturdays between 8am-8pm; high school grade division games are held on Sundays between 11am-9pm; games are held at local school gyms.
• We take a break during the school winter break period, then resume games in early January.
• All Star Games are held in early February.
• Playoff and championship games start mid-late February and go through mid-March for elementary and middle school grade divisions. Playoff and championship games are held in late February for high school grade divisions.

Player Fees

• Registration Fee: $125 (Multi-Player Family Fee: $115 for 2nd player; $105 for 3rd player)
• Player Reversible Game Jersey: $30
• Player must provide own game shorts/socks/sneakers and water bottle; if player brings their own ball, it must be clearly marked with their name.

Registration Fees cover the cost of equipment, county gym use fees, game official fees and supplies, and sports league insurance. All the coaches and league board members are unpaid volunteers, so please treat them with respect and appreciation for volunteering their time.

Registration Fee Payment Options

• Credit/Debit Card
• Check
• Scholarship (Fairfax County Residents Only; Player Game Jersey payment is still required)
• Head Coach Fee Waiver (Only one child per Head Coach; Player Game Jersey payment is still required)

Registration Fee Refunds

• If a player is selected for a high school or travel basketball team, the Player Fees will be refunded if Registrar is notified prior to house basketball team draft.
• If a player is wait-listed and not placed on a HOYHB team prior to the first HOYHB regular season game in December, the Player Fees will be refunded.
• If a player withdraws and notifies Registrar prior to the first HOYHB regular season game in December, the Registration Fee will be refunded; if the game jersey is returned clean and in good condition, the Game Jersey fee will also be refunded.
• If a player or family is removed from the league for refusing to adhere to the Code of Conduct or Fairfax County/HOYHB health and safety protocols, no Player Fees will be refunded.
• If Fairfax County cancels our access to FCPS gym space, the amount of Player Fees refunded, if any, will depend on the costs already incurred by the league.

Base Cost: $155.00

Opened: 08/01/2022
Closes: 12/03/2022

Open to:
born between: 10/02/2002 and 10/01/2016

In Grades: 1 to 12 for 2022-23 School year

The Haley Smith Basketball / Herndon Optimist Youth House Basketball (HOYHB) program is a recreational, developmental youth basketball program that focuses on skill development, equitable player participation, teamwork, and good sportsmanship.

For grade 1-8 teams and BuddyBall, Head Coaches must be at least 18 years old and Assistant Coaches must be at least 14 years old as of December 1, 2022. For grade 9-12 teams, Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches must be at least 21 years old as of December 1, 2022. There are no fees to register as a adult volunteer, but you will be required to:​

• Provide additional personal information and complete a background check before participating in HOYHB events involving youth (link will be sent to you after you register)
• Complete a youth abuse prevention online training and exam before participating in HOYHB events involving youth (link will be sent to you after you register)
• Complete the Volunteer Building Director (VBD) online training and exam by the deadline given (see link provided under "Links")
• Enforce the Haley Smith-HOYHB House Rules and Code of Conduct with your team members, parents, and spectators (see documents provided under "Forms and Documents")
• Complete team administrative tasks by the deadlines given by the league
• Attend required coaches meetings and training/clinics
• Assist with league special events (e.g., Player Evaluations, Skills Challenge, All Stars Game)
• Implement and enforce Fairfax County/HOYHB health and safety protocols

​Please make sure to provide your birth date when completing your member profile information. If you leave birth date blank, the system will prevent you from completing the volunteer registration because it will think you are too young to meet the age requirement. If the system indicates you are ineligible, select the "Access Your Account" menu option, sign in, and on the "Family Members" page, click on your name to access and update your member record with a birth date.

Opened: 08/01/2022
Closes: 03/01/2023

Open to:
born between: 12/02/1946 and 12/01/2004

The Haley Smith Basketball / Herndon Optimist Youth House Basketball (HOYHB) program is a recreational, developmental youth basketball program that focuses on skill development, equitable player participation, teamwork, and good sportsmanship.

For grade 1-8 teams and BuddyBall, Head Coaches must be at least 18 years old and Assistant Coaches must be at least 14 years old as of December 1, 2022. For grade 9-12 teams, Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches must be at least 21 years old as of December 1, 2022. There are no fees to register as a youth volunteer, but you will be required to:​

• Adhere to the Haley Smith-HOYHB House Rules and Code of Conduct with your team members and spectators (see documents provided under "Forms and Documents")
• Complete team administrative tasks by the deadlines given by the league
• Attend required coaches meetings and training/clinics
• Assist with league special events (e.g., Player Evaluations, Skills Challenge, All Stars Game)
• Adhere to and assist with the Fairfax County/HOYHB health and safety protocols

​Please make sure to provide your birth date when completing your member profile information. If you leave birth date blank, the system will prevent you from completing the volunteer registration because it will think you are too young to meet the age requirement. If the system indicates you are ineligible, select the "Access Your Account" menu option, sign in, and on the "Family Members" page, click on your name to access and update your member record with a birth date.

Opened: 08/01/2022
Closes: 03/01/2023

Open to:
born between: 12/02/2004 and 12/01/2008

This registration is for YOUTH interested in scorekeeping during house basketball games. Scorekeeper is a paid position and scorekeepers are expected to be on time and bring a pencil for their assigned games, dress appropriately, and submit availability and activity reports by the deadlines specified.

You must be at least in grade 7 and 12 years of age as of December 1, 2022.

There are no fees to register or receive training as a Scorekeeper. However, successful completion of the scorekeeper training and evaluation session is mandatory prior to being paid to scorekeep at games. The training is conducted in mid-late November through early December prior to the first regular season games. The evaluation is conducted during a Saturday team scrimmage and will be used to set your pay grade (Candidate $10/game, Junior $15/game, Senior $25/game). 
 

Please make sure to provide your birth date when completing your member profile information. If you leave birth date blank, the system will prevent you from completing the referee registration because it will think you are too young to meet the age requirement. If the system indicates you are ineligible, select the "Access Your Account" menu option, sign in, and on the "Family Members" page, click on your name to access and update your member record with a birth date.

Opened: 08/01/2022
Closes: 12/03/2022

Open to:
born between: 12/02/2003 and 12/01/2010

In Grades: 7 to 12 for 2022-23 School year

This registration is for YOUTH who are interested in refereeing house basketball games. Referee is a paid position and referees are expected to be on time for their assigned games, dress appropriately, and submit availability and activity forms by the deadlines specified.

You must be at least in grade 7 and 12 years of age as of December 1, 2022.

Both new and returning referees must complete the mandatory training in mid-late November through early December and pass a floor evaluation in early December before they will be paid to referee a game. The training varies from 2-4 nights depending on whether you are a new or returning referee. The floor evaluation will be held during a Saturday team scrimmage and will be used to set your pay grade (Candidate $15/game, Junior $25/game, Senior $35/game, Director $45/game).

There are no fees to register or receive training as a Referee. Once you pass your training, you will be provided free of charge one referee shirt and one game whistle. You must provide your own black shorts/sweatpants and gym shoes, all of which must be in good condition.

Please make sure to provide your birth date when completing your member profile information. If you leave birth date blank, the system will prevent you from completing the referee registration because it will think you are too young to meet the age requirement. If the system indicates you are ineligible, select the "Access Your Account" menu option, sign in, and on the "Family Members" page, click on your name to access and update your member record with a birth date.

Opened: 08/01/2022
Closes: 12/03/2022

Open to:
born between: 12/02/2004 and 12/01/2010

In Grades: 7 to 12 for 2022-23 School year

This registration is for ADULTS who are interested in refereeing house basketball games. Referee is a paid position and referees are expected to be on time for their assigned games, dress appropriately, and submit availability and activity forms by the deadlines specified.

Both new and returning referees must complete the mandatory training in mid-late November through early December and pass a floor evaluation in early December before they will be paid to referee a game. The training varies from 2-4 nights depending on whether you are a new or returning referee. The floor evaluation will be held during a Saturday team scrimmage and will be used to set your pay grade (Candidate $15/game, Junior $25/game, Senior $35/game, Director $45/game).

There are no fees to register or receive training as a Referee, but you will be requested to provide additional personal information so that a background check can be performed prior to being assigned to a Referee position in the HOYHB program. Once you pass your training, you will be provided free of charge one referee shirt and one game whistle. You must provide your own black shorts/sweatpants and gym shoes, all of which must be in good condition.

Please make sure to provide your birth date when completing your member profile information. If you leave birth date blank, the system will prevent you from completing the referee registration because it will think you are too young to meet the age requirement. If the system indicates you are ineligible, select the "Access Your Account" menu option, sign in, and on the "Family Members" page, click on your name to access and update your member record with a birth date.

Opened: 08/01/2022
Closes: 12/03/2022

Open to:
born between: 12/02/1946 and 12/01/2004