Competitive basketball. Built on community, teamwork and sportsmanship.

While the HBA is a nonprofit organization that relies on volunteers, we have numerous substantial costs, the biggest of which is gym rental. There also are league fees, referee fees, insurance, equipment, etc. Also keep in mind that our season is much longer than most other sports in town, lasting over four months from the first practice to the close of the season.

If you require financial support in order for your child to participate, we will work with you and try to make it possible. We may ask for supporting material (such as tax returns) to validate your request. Email the HBA for more information.

Travel players are expected to have their own basketball, which they should bring to every practice. Girls in Grade 4 and Grade 5 (new for 2026-27) use a 27.5 ball. All other girls teams use a size 28.5 ball. Boys in Grades 4-6 use a size 28.5 ball. Boys Grades 7 and 8 use a 29.5 ball (full size).

For the in-town program, players can bring a ball but don't have to, as coaches will have extras. For the K-2 clinics, players use a 27.5 ball. For Grades 3-4 girls, players use a 27.5 ball. Older girls use a 28.5 ball. Grade 3-6 boys use a 28.5 ball, and Grade 7 and older boys use a 29.5 ball (full size).

Put your child's name on their basketball before bringing it anywhere. Players also should bring a water bottle with their name on it to every practice and game.

For travel basketball, coaches will be looking for volunteers to run the scoreclock at home games and keep a scorebook at all games. Also, please check out our Parent Expectations page so you understand our policy on improper parent/fan conduct, including sideline coaching.

If you sign up your child for a travel team, you are expected to make this team your extracurricular priority for the winter. If you cannot do so, please do not sign up your child. In most grades, kids are being cut. It's not fair for someone to accept a spot and then not take the commitment seriously. It's also not fair to the rest of the team that your child doesn't know the team's plays well enough because they haven't been at practice. To that end, we have the following policy: If your child misses more than two games and/or three practices for reasons other than illness, injury, emergencies or other commitments pre-approved by the coach, the HBA reserves the right to take away playing time — or in drastic cases remove your child from the program at any point in the season without a refund. You will receive warning if you are not adhering to our policy. The HBA board will consider each case individually, and the decision of the board is final.

For in-town basketball, players are encouraged to show up to as many practices and games as they can, but there is no attendance requirement.

Travel practices typically begin the first week in November. The Hopkinton Tap-Off Tournament, which kicks off the season for all our teams, is the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. Metrowest League games are Sundays, starting the first weekend in December, and they could be anytime — early morning through evening. There are no league games during winter break, but there are games both weekends of February vacation. Then every team makes the Metrowest playoffs in early March. Playoff games could be any day of the week. Team schedules will be announced by the league in late November. All dates are subject to change at any time. Each team gets 11-12 league games, with half in Hopkinton and half away. Away games could be anywhere — from neighboring towns to locations an hour away. The schedule is set by the league, and the HBA does not have a say in where away games are scheduled or what time they take place.

For the in-town leagues (Grades 3-8), practices begin the week after Thanksgiving, and games start the first weekend in December. There are no games over winter break. Playoffs start in late January/early February, and the season ends the week before February vacation.

The K-2 clinics start the first weekend in December and end in early/mid-February (before February vacation).

The high school pickup basketball program starts in January and ends in early/mid-February (before February vacation).

For the travel program, your child will have one weekly team practice plus one weekly skills practice. The practice schedule is determined in early October. Most teams practice on Saturday mornings or early afternoons (prior to in-town games so that there is no conlict), while one or two might have a weeknight practice. Coaches cannot accommodate requests from players/parents to avoid certain nights. The skills practice is not mandatory (unlike the team practice) but is strongly encouraged, especially early in the season. A coach might schedule an occasional extra team practice, especially in November when there is more gym availability.

For the in-town Grade 3-8 leagues, all girls teams practice on Wednesday nights. Boys Grades 5-8 practice on Thursday nights. Boys Grades 3-4 practice on Friday nights.

For the travel program, coaches are instructed that for regular-season games (for 10-player teams) no player should play less than 40 percent or more than 60 percent of regulation time. There are exceptions to this, for reasons such as injury, foul trouble, behavioral issues or missed practice time. For the Metrowest League playoffs, we lower the minimum to 25 percent of regulation time to give our coaches more leeway against other towns that might not have similar restrictions.

For the in-town Grade 3-8 leagues, coaches are required to use a playing time matrix and there are definied substiution breaks to ensure all players get close to equal playing time.