08/05/2026
π A New Era for East Longmeadow Youth Basketball Travel π
As we continue to evaluate and improve our travel basketball program, weβre excited to announce an important change beginning with the 2026-2027 season.
For 3rd & 4th Grade Boys and Girls Travel, we will no longer have βAβ and βBβ teams. Instead, teams will be organized by grade level:
β
3rd Grade Team
β
4th Grade Team
Why the change?
We believe this new structure provides several benefits for our players and program:
π Keeps players competing and developing alongside their classmates and peers.
π Creates stronger team chemistry as players build relationships over multiple seasons.
π Allows coaches to focus on long-term player development rather than short-term team placement.
π Provides a more consistent pathway for skill growth as players progress through the program.
π Reduces the pressure and stigma often associated with βAβ vs. βBβ team labels, allowing every player to develop with confidence.
We believe this change better supports our mission of developing players, fostering teamwork, and creating a positive basketball experience for every athlete. We look forward to growing together as one program and canβt wait to see what the future holds!
* We will continue to examine how this model may scale into future grade levels as we evaluate its success and determine what is best for our players and program.