Herndon Optimist Youth House Basketball (HOYHB) is a recreational/developmental youth sports program organized under the Optimist Club of Herndon Virginia. HOYHB offers an adapted basketball program called "Buddy Basketball" that pairs elementary-middle-high school youth who have physical and/or developmental disabilities with high school "buddies" who assist them one-on-one to play basketball.

Participant Eligibility

• All boys and girls in grades 1 thru 12 who have physical and/or developmental disabilities are eligible to participate in the program
• There are no geographic or school attendance boundaries.

Program Manager, Program Assistant, and Buddy Eligibility

Managing or assisting with running the program and assisting players as a Buddy are volunteer positions. Program Managers must be at least 21 years old; Program Assistants must be at least 14 years old; Buddies must be at least 12 years old.

Program Managers, Program Assistants and Buddies are provided with program supplies.​

All adult volunteers must complete a background check and a child abuse prevention online training course and exam before leading or assisting in any Buddy Basketball activity.

In addition, Program Managers must:

• Complete the Fairfax County Volunteer Building Director (VBD) online training course and exam
• Enforce our HOYHB Code of Conduct with program participants
• Implement and enforce Fairfax County/HOYHB health and safety protocols
• Complete administrative tasks by the deadlines given by HOYHB management team

Program Schedule

Practice/game days begin in early January and conclude in late February. Practices/games are played on Saturdays mornings at a local school gym

Note: Basketball practices/games are canceled when FCPS closes schools for inclement weather or other reasons.

Fees

• Registration Fee: FREE
• Program T-Shirt Fee: FREE
• Participants must provide own shorts/socks/sneakers and water bottle

Registration for the Winter 2024-2025 season opens July 5th.

Buddy Basketball practices/games begin Saturday January 11th and conclude Saturday February 22nd. Each session is held at Herndon Elementary School from 8:30am - 9:30am.

For more information about our Buddy Basketball program please contact Layna Cook (laynagriffin@hotmail.com)