Registration for '22/23 is now open

 

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IMPORTANT CHANGES STARTING THIS SEASON !!!

 

(1) - Players who are 50+ will automatically be placed in the Masters Division. The number of teams in Masters will expand as necessary.

 

(2) - Returning Elite players will be guaranteed a spot in the league, but not necessarily in the Elite division. Players not drafted in Elite draft will be put in the Champions draft. No refunds will be offered to players who elect to leave after being moved to Champions.

 

THE FUTURE OF THE MARKHAM MEN'S BASKETBALL LEAGUE

 

For over 35 years, the MMBL has existed as a place for us to enjoy the game we all love. We've made various changes to the league over time. To ensure its existence for another 35 years, we need to make additional changes to evolve the league. 

 

ISSUES

 

The Masters Division was created for players to graduate into as their speed and agility diminished over time. This division has done well for many years and has the highest annual return rate of any of the divisions. In recent years, the number of players has decreased through attrition and the division is not being renewed by players coming up from the younger divisions. This could eventually lead to the collapse of the Masters Division, but we feel this can be prevented with some foresight and planning.

 

Many older players in the Elite and Champions Divisions, who may be aging but are still skilled, have elected to stay in what are arguably the more competitive divisions. Because of this, we are slowly developing into a league with three divisions, all of which have players 50+ in age. As we try to attract more skilled younger players into Elite and Champions, they see the two younger divisions populated with older players, which makes our overall league look less desirable to them. In order to prevent this impression (or reality), many other leagues have age restrictions so that players automatically graduate to a Masters Division as they age.

 

The league's executives have been discussing this situation for several years and, after our latest meeting, we have decided on the following changes that will restructure our league. These changes will be in effect for the start of the 2020-2021 season in September of this year. 

 

CHANGES STARTING SEPTEMBER 2020

 

1   

At the start of each season, all players aged 50+ will automatically be placed in the Masters Division. This will ensure healthy numbers in the Masters Division indefinitely. That being said, it is possible that there may be exceptional 50+ players whose skills and fitness make them suited to remain in the Elite or Champions Divisions. These players will be granted exemptions. Currently, there are some players of that caliber in the Elite and Champions Divisions. These players will be notified that they may elect to stay in their current divisions or advance to the Masters Division. We will not be taking applications for exemptions from other players in the league. The decision to offer an exemption is solely at the discretion of the league executive and the criteria for that decision will be what we consider to be best for the league, not the individual. 

 

 

2

If you register to play in the Elite Division, we cannot guarantee that you will be placed or drafted on a team in the Elite Division. As has been our practice, a draft is held at the start of each season during which players are chosen by the Elite captains to the Elite Division teams. The new draft process will be as follows: if your name has not been chosen at the end of the Elite draft, then your name will automatically be placed into the Champions draft. This will eventually lead to a stronger, and more aptly named, Elite Division. 

 

3

If you wanted to play in the Elite Division but were placed in the Champions Division, there will be NO REFUND to anyone who then elects to drop out of the league. 

 

4

All returning players are guaranteed a spot in the league but not necessarily in the division they request. Any new players in the Champions Division or Masters Division drafts are not guaranteed a spot in the league and places are subject to availability. 

 

5

The number of teams in each division will be dependant on demand and may change from year to year. We are currently projecting eight teams in both Masters and Champions while Elite is projected to have six teams. This will increase the competitive level of Elite Division, while still leaving the door open for the Elite Division to grow to eight teams. 

 

6

The strongest players from the Champions Division are encouraged to consider playing in the Elite Division but we are not requiring them to do so. This time of transition is a perfect chance for these players to consider playing in a more competitive division, thereby allowing the remaining players in Champions to take on a more impactful role. 

 

As with any changes, there will be trepidation from many corners. Older Masters players may be worried about the influx of new players from the younger divisions. We encourage you to give this change a chance. There will be, on average, two new players on each Masters team and they will all be 50+ years of age, not the twenty- and thirty-year-olds that drive the lower divisions. 

 

 If you’re in the group that is graduating to the Masters Division, you may be concerned about the quality of play.  We encourage you to give it a chance as well. There are many former CIS, NCAA and college players already playing in Masters and they are a great group of guys.

 

We started this league with the intent of providing a place for all of us to play basketball for as long as we enjoy it and it is this thought that underpins all our efforts in directing this league into the future.

 

Thanks for your cooperation and understanding,

 

Gerry

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About markham men's basketball league

 

The Markham Mens’ Basketball League has been providing an organized team environment with carded referees since 1984. The league is an individual entry league where teams are redrafted every year by their assigned team captains. There are no team entries permitted. Your teammate one year may be your opponent the next year. In this way, all players get to know each other. This leads to competitive games which rarely result in player animosity towards opponents.  There are 3 divisions that you can register in:Elite (most competitive)Champions (competitive)Masters (Age 50+)