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.

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 1st.

Buddy Basketball practices/games begin Saturday January 11th and conclude Saturday February 22nd. The specific start/end time and location is TBD until we receive our winter gym allocations from Fairfax County NCS in early November.

Buddy Basketball activities are canceled if FCPS closes the school for inclement weather or other reasons.