Obviously, at the time of posting this, nobody knows for sure just when we will all be allowed back to playing basketball, let alone competitive matches, but for now the YBL is forecasting a late November/early December start to the 2020/21 season.
YBL JUNIOR SECTION
When ever the new YBL season starts it will be a different regular season set up to previous years with the Junior section (that's the U13s, U15s and U17s) being split into ability divisions.
PRIGIS Divisions
The top division in each age group will be known as the PRIGIS Division ("Prigis" is Latin and is pronounced "Pree-giss" and means 'Premier'). Each Prigis division will consist of approximately six to eight teams. These will be the elite YBL teams for each age group and is designed to be the stepping stone between the YBL in an odd season age (i.e. U13, U15 or U17) and a National league even season age (i.e. U14, U16 and U18).
ZONAL DEVELOPMENT Divisions
Beneath the Prigis Divisions will be the Zonal Development Divisions and as suggested in the title these will be organised on a regional basis. There are intended to be three regions in both the U13s and the U15s - East (covering the East Midlands and Warwickshire), the South West (covering Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire) and the West (covering Birmingham and the West Midlands).
The split into ability centred divisions is a new attempt to avoid some of the very lopsided scorelines registered in the YBL over the last few seasons.
ADULT SECTION
In previous seasons the YBL has run with U19 and U23 leagues but the number of entries for these competitions have been disappointing. So this coming season the YBL will be instigating two divisions in both their Men's and Women's leagues.
In each case their will be a top division, again called the Primis Division, and a second division, called the Praegressus Division ("Praegressus" is Latin for 'Development').
The Primis Division will be for teams who have already played within the adult section of the YBL or can prove that the quality of their squad merits inclusion within the top division. It is also intended as being a feeder into the higher rated West Midlands Basketball League.
The Praegressus Division will be for new adult teams and/or teams of players re-engaging with basketball after a period of time away from the sport.
At the end of the season their will be promotion and relegation between the two divisions.
FINALLY
The YBL will again be running its Mini Section for Under 9s and Under 11s with the regular season comprising of a series of mini tournaments played at central venues with the best teams progressing through to the post season play-offs.
And once again the YBL will be running its adult wheelchair basketball leagues.
_____________________________________________________