AYBA teaches kids the basics of basketball
League home to 1,100 players, most of whom are in elementary or middle school
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers PUSHING THE PACE- Jack Greenbaum of the Spurs, center, races ahead of teammate Zach Menegat, left, and Celtics player Max Maynak during an Agoura Youth Basketball Association First Grade Division game Sunday afternoon at Medea Creek Middle School in Agoura Hills.

Anyone looking to get in touch with Mitch Mandell from November through March can probably find him on a local basketball court.

Mandell, the second-year president of the Agoura Youth Basketball Association (AYBA), loves basketball. Now he's doing his best to make sure local kids feel the same way.

Besides serving as the league's president, Mandell is also a coach and referee. The AYBA features an enrollment of 1,100 athletes, with participants ranging from first-graders to college students.

"I don't turn down anyone in this league," Mandell said. "Whatever you can pay, you will play. I remember riding my bicycle to the gym and playing as a kid, and I just want everyone else to experience the same thing."

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers FOCUSED- Michael Pollack of the Spurs dribbles the ball across the court during an AYBA game against the Celtics.

Dan Burch, the executive director of the boys' division, said the league is good for the community.

"You know you're doing a good job when the first people to sign up for the league are the first ones to sign up the following year," Burch said.

"Some kids just love basketball, and this league gives them an outlet to play it, rather than watch television or hang out in the streets and cause trouble."

Mandell said the main purpose of the AYBA is to get youngsters to enjoy the game, not necessarily to win games.

"I've tried to get the teams as equally balanced as possible," Mandell said. "I've also done my best to get all the players equal playing time.

"Earlier this year, I was a ref for a game where a team was ahead by about 40 points. The losing team's coach came up to me and said, 'You know, we'd really like to find a way to have No. 50 on our team score one basket.' We found a way to have her score, and the fans just went nuts."

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers TENACIOUS DEFENSE- Spurs player Zach Menegat, right, and Eric Engelhardt of the Celtics battle for a loose ball last weekend.

Mandell said other highlights this year included a one-armed player in the 8-year-old league scoring a couple baskets in a game and having a deaf girl thank him for helping her on the court.

"She told me that the entire game she was reading my lips," Mandell said. "I was trying to help her out by telling her where to be on the court. After the game she thanked me, and that's what makes it all worth it to me- that they're enjoying themselves."

Mandell's 12yearold daughter, Kelsey, and 10-year-old son, Justin, also play in the AYBA. Justin Mandell, whose favorite player is Los Angeles Clippers star Elton Brand, said his best AYBA memory came last season when his fourth-grade team won a championship.

"It was fun because I met some of my best friends on that team," Justin Mandell said. "After we won the championship, our team threw water at our coach. I also like the league because I get to watch my older sister play."

Lately, Kelsey Mandell has noticed her dad has become somewhat of a local celebrity.

"We go to the grocery store and it seems that everyone is saying hello to him," Kelsey Mandell said. "Or we'll go to the gym to watch a game, and six people will come up to him during the game and thank him."

Although Mitch Mandell says the majority of the league has appreciated what he's done, he admits the hardest thing to do is please everyone.

"My biggest challenge is appeasing all the players, parents and coaches of this league," Mitch Mandell said. "I want to accommodate everyone, and sometimes that can be difficult to do."

Burch echoed Mandell's statements.

"I just wish some parents would realize that we're trying to run this league for everyone, not just one player," Burch said. "Sometimes I have to tell a parent that the rules are designed to benefit the entire league, not just their son or daughter."

Melissa Smooke, who has one of the longest tenures on the league's board of directors, said she got involved to help improve many areas of the AYBA.

"Originally, the scheduling was always delayed," Smooke said. "The coaches would get schedules in subsets of three weeks at a time. That made it very difficult for the parents and coaches. Now we're able to print out schedules for the whole year before the first game of the season."

While the job may be difficult, Mitch Mandell was quick to point out that the main reason for the league's success has been the hard work of its board of directors.

"Nobody on the board gets paid a cent, and they still do a great job," Mitch Mandell said.

"They're doing it because they want the kids to have a good time. The league runs like clockwork because of them. Aggie Kogel, Steven Steele, (Smooke) and (Burch) have especially gone above the call of duty this year."

Mitch Mandell also gave credit to Monte Traficante for starting the adult league this season.

Traficante "came in and petitioned the board for some older teams, and we decided to take him up on his idea," Mitch Mandell said. "Our overall league increased because of it, and the younger kids like to watch them play at the end of the day."

For more information on the AYBA, visit the website www.agourayouthbasketball.org.