Welcome to the TOUR!

The American Youth Basketball TOUR is a summer, grade-based, youth basketball organization.  The TOUR hosts 5 on 5 basketball events throughout the Midwest and East Coast called District Series Events.  These DSE’s, which guarantee each team five games in a round robin format, are held on weekends starting in May and finishing in mid-July.

The culmination of our summer events is one of our three National Tournaments.  Our National Tournaments guarantee seven games and are held over a four day period one of the last two weeks of July.  All teams have the opportunity to attend a National Tournament of their choice.  Please note some National Tournament sites fill quickly and are filled on first come, first served basis.  Our National Tournaments are set-up to give teams six round robin games with the seventh game starting a single elimination tournament.

Here's How the TOUR Works: 
First, you form your own team.  Teams sign up in their respective grade division and then are rated by their coach and district director.  Our rating system is used to schedule teams against each other of similar ability, thus maximizing each teams’ benefit.  Teams select what DSE’s and National that they would like to participate during the summer.  We also require two alternative selections, as we cannot guarantee your DSE selections.  We encourage teams to choose events within their home district, over an hour away and over two hours away.  This will allow your team to see a variety of teams.  Your DSE and National selection must be turned into your Director April 5^th, 2008.  We do accept teams after this date, but teams may not get the events they want because many events will already be filled.  Around May 5th, you will receive confirmation of the DSE’s that you have been assigned.  Final placement priority goes to teams going to Nationals and playing the most DSE events.  Division balance and skill level is also taken into consideration during placement of teams.

Grade Divisions & Skill Level of TOUR Teams: 
The TOUR is a grade-based program using the current ‘07/’08 school year, not the grade they are going into.  This is why so many school-based teams enjoy the TOUR.  The grade divisions: Boy’s 3rd-4th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th-11^th and Girl’s 4th-5th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th-11^th.  We also ask teams to explain the breakdown of players by grade.

As a coach, you and your director rate your team as “Highly Skilled (HS)”, “Good (G)”, or “Average (A)”.  If you are an all-star team, hold tryouts to select top players, or recruit players because of their skill level, you must play as a Highly Skilled team.  Since there are no trophies or awards at the District Series Events, many teams will choose to play up or down a division, depending on skill level. 

National Tournaments: 
The TOUR offers teams three different National Tournaments.  Our National Tournaments offer an opportunity to play against teams from across several states in a family friendly environment.  Many teams look forward all summer to the last day of our National Tournament’s single-elimination tournament.  During a mandatory coaches meeting at the National Tournament, coaches and directors place teams into brackets based on “True Playing Ability”.  Brackets are from 8 to 16 teams so most grade divisions have two or more brackets, each having a first and second place team trophy and individual medals.  Below is general information about each of our National Tournament sites.  More detailed information may be found at our National Tournament link at the top of the page.

Bloomington, IL (Normal Community & Normal West HS)

• Will fill quickly.  Using state-of-the-art local high schools, Normal Community and Normal West.  Most courts are air conditioned.  There are lots of family activities in this community.

Ft. Wayne, IN (Spiece Fieldhouse)

• Will fill quickly.  Amazing sports complex at Spiece Center and additional gyms in Ft. Wayne allow for 23 courts.  Teams will need to sign up early for this National.

Williamsport, PA (Local Gyms)

• Home of the Little League World Series.  Plenty of family activities.  Games are headquartered at Lycoming College, which houses 7 of the 12 courts used.

How to Form or Sign Up a Team:
To form or sign up a team we recommend registering your team using the registration link at the top of this page.  The Registration Form contains all the available packages.  It is best to start now getting your players and parents together.  If you are unable to put together enough players for a team or require help placing your son or daughter on a team, contact your district director.