The History of SHYBA

 
 
Many people were contacted in order to try to correctly remember how SHYBA began as an organization.  Unfortunately, people have moved away, memories have faded, and other factors exist which make it impossible to acknowledge all those who have helped make SHYBA one of the premier youth basketball organizations with approximately 1400 youths of ages 7 through high school. 
 
For an alternate account of SHYBA history, click here ==>>> The Alternate History Of SHYBA
 
SHYBA has existed since 1990, when it began with approximately 50 to 75 boys, ages 10 to 14. The following is what has been gathered regarding SHYBA”S beginning….
 
In 1989 Bill Michuda was the boys basketball coach at Souderton (he’s still a guidance counselor at the high school) and was unhappy in that he was not getting enough students trying out for the team who had the skills or experience to grow a successful high school program. Most kids simply never had a chance to play any team basketball except for a limited number who made the school teams. He contacted Jack Holderbach, the then President of the Harleysville youth baseball league and asked for help in order to start a youth basketball league. Jack, along with a few others, are the “charter” SHYBA board members:
 
The individuals who are believed to be  “Charter” members starting the league were:
           
            Frank Custer
            Rich Farina
            Wayne Blanchard
            John Bergandino
            Roland Meinhardt
            Jack Holderbach
 
It seems like Frank Custer was the driving force, who spent a lot of time getting the league up.  Frank spent many years in politics..

 

Significant events:
  • In 1993 John Bergandino initiated getting the girls started in the league. In while 5 to 6 girls played as co-ed teams in the second or third year of SHYBA, John started a separate girls program with travel teams.
  • 1998 was the first year electronic clocks and scoreboards were used. Prior to then, a parent volunteer held an egg timer in his or her hand and yelled the time occasionally (this led to many arguments at the end of close games!) Score was kept by flip charts.
  • 1999 was the year the girls finally split entirely from the boys, with the creation of the 7 & 8-year-old girls league. This year SHYBA also decided to do away with playoffs in the 7 & 8-year-old league, since it was felt the players (and some parents) weren’t quite ready for the intense playoff pressure.
  • From 1998 to 2002 the league almost doubled in size  
  • 2000 - League extended its age limit from 14 to 15 and eventually each year after that to its current age limit of 17 (high school seniors included)
  • 2001 was the first and only boys travel team championship in the “A” league
  • 2002 was the first year paid referees were used, and were only used in the new older boys league ages 15-17.
  • 2003 & 2004 were the years that paid referees were expanded to all leagues except 7 & 8-year-old leagues
In addition to the presidents, others that should be noted who gave tremendous amounts of time in growing SHYBA are:
            Mike Stadnicki
            Larry Hill
            Dave Pyrz
            Bob Flosdorf
           
Further discussion and accomplishments of the Travel Program can be found on the Travel Accomplishments section of this page.
 
Please contact the current Presidet or other board member to add to any of the SHYBA history.