History
When
Roger Siuda and L. D. “Mac” McDonald Jr. had dinner together with their
spouses one evening in 1974, there was no reason to suspect that part of
their conversation would be significant 30 years later.
MacDonald wanted Siuda to
enter a 4th grade team in the Olympia basketball league. Siuda agreed; but
when he went to drop off his registration materials, he found that the
league had closed down.
No other programs were
accepting 4th grade teams. Siuda contacted some friends, got some more
teams together and a new league was started. Gym time was secured through
the Shawnee Mission School District. Jack Toomey, who worked for Great
American Insurance, got his employer to write a check to hold the gym
time.
Within three years, it was
apparent that the “dinner league” had grown into something more permanent.
The Great American Basketball League was incorporated as a non-profit
corporation on January 20, 1977. That same year, the league qualified for
tax-exempt status and contributions to the league became tax deductible.
A total of 109 teams in grades 3-7 competed during the 1977-78 season.
The league remained primarily
a volunteer organization until 1995 when Sports Management Associates,
L.C., was hired to handle the day-to-day operations. Rich Hunter was named
executive director.
In 2000-01, GABL began
accepting registrants from areas within Johnson County that were outside
of the Shawnee Mission School District. More than 100 boys from Blue
Valley, DeSoto, Olathe and Spring Hill took advantage of the opportunity
to participate in GABL that year. Registrations from those areas continue
to grow.
That same year, the high
school program was reinstated with the addition of a 9th grade league.
Within three years, the program grew to include all four levels of high
school play.
A 2nd grade developmental
program (3-on-3) for boys began in 2000-01. In 2002-03, the 3-on-3
program expanded to include 1st and 2nd grade for both boys and girls. A
girls 5-on-5 program was also added that year, along with an advanced
5-on-5 program for boys in 2nd grade.
In 2003-04, participation
eclipsed the 4,000 mark (435 teams) for the first time. GABL also offers
spring, fall and summer leagues.
In 2008-09, KidHoops, a
child-development program for pre-kindergarten children (ages 3, 4 and 5)
was added. Children are introduced to basic basketball skills with the
help of a parent and GABL instructors.
In 2009-10,
the 3-on-3 and KidHoops programs were moved under the umbrella of the GABL
Basketball Academy. The girls program included more than 100 teams and
nearly 1,000 participants in 2nd grade advanced through high school. The
high school program was offered for girls for the first time. Nearly,
4,400 boys and girls participated in the winter development and league
programs.
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Philosophy
The Great American Basketball League is a program of the not-for-profit community
service corporation, GABL Youth Sports Foundation, Inc. The league was
founded in 1974 and provides youth in metro Kansas
City with an opportunity to play basketball in a competitive and
learning environment. Since its inception, the league has been guided by
its dedication to high standards and teaching skills, sportsmanship and
fair play, and by its commitment to every participant to play in each
game. The league considers its activities to be a service to the
community and acknowledges that its success is dependent upon the
generous donation of time and expertise by volunteers from the
community.
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Organization
The Basketball League Management Committee is comprised of
representatives for both the boys and girls programs. The committee
responsibilities include organizing winter league divisions,
recommending rules changes and assisting with the
placement of individual registrations or formation of new teams in the winter program. The day-to-day operation of the league is handled through
the GABL office, which is professionally operated by Sports Management
Associates, L.C.
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