The St. Albert Youth Basketball (SLAM) is a community-driven, volunteer-based organization. SLAM is affiliated with the Edmonton Youth Basketball Association (EYBA). We welcome players of all abilities.
The executive roles in SLAM are unpaid, voluntary positions.
St. Albert SLAM is open to young players aged 6 to 17 who either reside in St. Albert or attend a school in St Albert. Additionally, youth from surrounding communities that do not have a local basketball program are also eligible to participate in St. Albert SLAM.
The basketball season typically kicks off with practices commencing in mid to late September, followed by the start of regular games in early October. The season progresses towards the playoffs, which wrap up by the end of February or early March. Teams that qualify will then advance to compete in the ABA Provincials held in March. Your assigned coach will be in contact with respect to your practice schedule sometime in mid-September. For our U7 and U9 divisions, sessions are held on Saturdays, starting the first Saturday of October. They will continue every Saturday, except when the school gym is unavailable due to holidays or school events. The final Saturday session will be in late February or early March.
Due to rising operational costs, we've had to adjust our fees. A significant factor is the occasional need to rent additional gym spaces for practices when our usual facilities are unavailable. This demand has driven up the costs associated with gym rentals, as well as the expense of renting storage for our equipment. Alongside these, the prices for essential items like basketballs, uniforms, and safety gear continue to rise. Additionally, the costs for maintaining adequate insurance and adhering to safety standards are increasing. Inflation plays a critical role, affecting the overall cost of running our basketball program and impacting everything from facility rentals to equipment prices.
Our Commitment
We understand that the recent fee adjustments may prompt concerns, and we deeply value your ongoing support and understanding. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a high-quality basketball program. Our team is actively implementing strategies to manage these cost increases effectively, ensuring the sustainability of our program for the community. We are excited about the upcoming season and sincerely thank you for your continued engagement and participation.
Signing Up: To register, you'll need to fill out the forms on our RAMP registration platform. We'll announce the opening of registration periods on our website and/or social media, so keep an eye out for updates. Your registration is officially complete once we've received your payment.
Joining a Team and Attending Practices: Team slots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. After you're registered, you're welcome to start attending practice sessions and you'll be assigned to a team.
Handling the Unexpected: Should a player be unable to participate due to injury, illness, or a family member’s illness after registering but before the season begins, we will issue a full refund.
Our goal is to ensure the registration process is as seamless as possible and to provide support in case of unexpected events affecting participation.
U11: Games are typically played in the Saville Community Sports Centre or at a school gym in and/or around the City of Edmonton.
U13/U15/U18: Games are typically played in the Saville Community Sports Centre, the EYBA Centre, Legacy Athletics, Buckets Basketball School or at a school gym in and/or around the City of Edmonton.
Size 5 (27.5 inches) for U7, U9, and U11 Boys and Girls.
Size 6 (28.5 inches) for U13 Boys and Girls, U15 Girls, and U18 Girls.
Size 7 (29.5 inches) for U15 Boys and U18 Boys
Currently, St Albert SLAM does not handle direct registrations for Spring League.
However, SLAM coaches are permitted to form teams independently and can continue to use St Albert school gyms and SLAM jerseys if they opt to do so.
Please be aware that this arrangement may change in future years. We encourage you to regularly visit our website and follow our social media channels for the latest updates.
For further details about the EYBA Spring League, including FAQs, please visit the EYBA website.
At SLAM, our teams are coached by dedicated volunteers, who are often parents of the players. The availability of our teams' hinges on the number of volunteers stepping forward to coach, emphasizing the integral role coaches play in our program.
For additional details, we invite you to explore the coaches' information section on our website.
Each coach is required to submit a criminal record check annually. As part of the coaching commitment, they will be responsible for:
For additional details, we invite you to explore the coaches' information section on our website.
Coaches in the SLAM program are committed to providing equitable playing time for all athletes, in accordance with EYBA participation rules.
The EYBA is dedicated to promoting player development across all areas. To fulfill this goal, it is stipulated that each player should receive reasonable playing time, defined as participating in at least two (2) shifts per half. Exceptions to this rule may occur due to injury, illness, disciplinary measures, disqualification, fatigue, decisions by coaches, managers, or responsible adults, or if the player is in foul trouble.
We are committed to resolving incidents impartially and systematically. Our established process begins with a compulsory 24-hour cooling-off period immediately after any incident occurs. For specific procedures, please consult our bylaws page.
Your fees contribute to a variety of essential components that enhance your child’s basketball experience, including:
For those in U7 and U9, the fees are reduced as these levels are part of our house leagues and do not incur EYBA fees. Additionally, the fees for these leagues cover participation in the Jr NBA program, a participation award, a size 5 basketball and jersey that each player gets to keep.
These fees ensure that we can provide a well-rounded and effective basketball program for all our participants.
The Edmonton Youth Basketball Association (EYBA) plays a pivotal role in our basketball operations by providing:
EYBA is dedicated to improving the basketball experience for all players and fostering the sport's growth. Learn more about EYBA at their website: eyba.ca.
Q: Why are you holding U11 evaluations this year?
We want every athlete to have the best possible season. U11 is a key stage for skill development and confidence-building. Evaluations help us place players on teams where they can grow, feel successful, and love the game—by playing with and against others at a similar level.
Q: Are evaluations mandatory?
No—but they are strongly encouraged. If your child is hoping to be placed on a more competitive team, evaluations are the best way to ensure they’re considered. We want to give every athlete a fair and equal chance to show what they can do.
Q: I’ve heard mixed opinions about evaluations. Do we really need to attend?
Yes—we strongly recommend attending. Evaluations give your child a fair opportunity to be placed on a team where they can grow, be challenged appropriately, and enjoy the game. We understand that change can raise questions, but evaluations are not about exclusion—they’re about setting kids up for success, no matter their current skill level.
Q: My child just wants to play with friends. Will they be split up?
We understand how important friendships are at this age. We always try to balance development with fun and familiarity. But fair, skill-based placement helps all players enjoy the game more—not just now, but in the long run.
Q: What if my child has a bad day?
That’s okay. Our coaches don’t judge based on a single moment. We look at effort, attitude, potential, and coachability. We also consider past feedback where available.
Q: Will kids be cut?
Never. Everyone who registers will make a team. Evaluations are about fit—not exclusion.
Q: My child didn’t make the top tier. Does that mean they’re stuck there?
Not at all. Kids develop at different paces. Just because they’re not on the highest-tier team this year doesn’t mean they won’t be next year. Evaluations are a snapshot—not a final destination.
In fact, many of our strongest SLAM players today started on lower-tier teams. With hard work, commitment, and the right mindset, they grew into top-tier athletes—and your child can too.
Q: How should we prepare?
Bring your best effort, a good attitude, gym clothes, water, and a size 5 basketball (required for U11).
Q: When and where are evaluations?
Late August/early September. Final dates and times will be shared by email, on our website, and on social media.
Q: How will I know what team my child is on?
We’ll email placements shortly after evaluations. Coaches will then reach out with season info and schedules.
Practices: Each practice session lasts approximately 1.5 hours and is scheduled between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM, Monday through Friday. We schedule younger players for earlier sessions and older players later in the evening, depending on coach availability. Practices are held once a week, with a possibility of a second session if additional gym space is available. All practices take place in the evenings at local school gyms across St. Albert. Please note, there will be no practices on days when schools are closed for professional development, statutory holidays, or when the gyms are needed for school events like concerts. Your head coach will provide a detailed practice schedule.
Games: Game schedules are managed by the Edmonton Youth Basketball Association (EYBA) and are independent of SLAM's internal scheduling. Your coach will keep you informed about the specific times and locations of games. You can also check the game schedules on the EYBA website at eyba.ca. Community teams generally play every Saturday, while competitive teams (Tier 1/2) usually have their games on weeknights.
If your question isn't covered in the information above, we encourage you to consult our Club Bylaws page for more detailed guidance. Alternatively, feel free to reach out to us directly at admin@stalbertslam.com.
We aim to respond promptly, but please be aware that during peak periods or high volumes of inquiries, it may take a few days to receive a reply. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.