Where Can I Play Recreational Basketball in Ottawa?
With the COVID-19 lockdown nearing the 2020 Fall Season, there are many basketball fanatics wondering if they will be playing basketball at all this year.
Everyone including the league organizers are on stand-by, but they are likely ready to start playing once given the green light.
Let's hope that the game day comes sooner rather than later.
In the meantime, you might want to familiarize yourself with the most current list of basketball leagues that are available to join at the drop of a dime.
Below, I dug as deep as I could to trace down all the organized and pick-up leagues in Ottawa that you could reach out to.
I've inlcuded each of the league names, venue locations, time slots, league size and more.
Some of these leagues will also provide online player stats, team standings, referees, regular & playoff season format - for those longing for that a competitive edge.
Once you've reviewed the list, you can register to your preferred league with the submission form below.
Submission Form
Here is the list of 6 Ottawa Basketball Leagues:
League Name | Format | Teams | Divisions | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ottawa Intermediate Men's Basketball League | 5x5 | 24 | 6 Divisions | Nepean |
With 24 teams divided into 6 separate divisions, OIMBL is the biggest private basketball league in Ottawa. For players looking for the right level of competition, this league is your top candidate. They will fit you right in whether your a seasoned veteran or just starting out.
All games are played at the Algoquin College located in Nepean.
The OIMBL website includes both yearly stats and standings for those looking to keep track of their season.
Lastly, they keep a gallery of past winners - so you know who you must beat to take over as champions!
2. RA Centre
League Name | Format | Teams | Divisions | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
RA Centre | 5x5 | 8 | 1 Division | Ottawa |
The RA Ball Hockey League is one of the many sports offered by the RA Sports Leagues which is a not-for-profit organization in Ottawa.
Games are played in the RA Dome Gymnasium on Tuesday evenings. Start times range from 6:45-9:30pm weekly, while games last about 1h 20min each.
The league is made up of 8 teams in a single division.
Check out their website for the latest stats and standings.
League Name | Format | Teams | Divisions | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ottawa Sports & Social Club | 4x4 | - | 2 Divisions | Ottawa |
The Ottawa Sport & Social Club is a non-profit organization serving the community of Ottawa. As part of their adult curriculum, they offer various sports league to join - including Basketball.
Venue locations include Robert Bateman Public School for the Open Gender division and Albert Street Mustang Gym for the Refereed division.
Games are played 4x4 and the league is active for the Winter 2020-21 season under new COVID-19 guidelines.
Make sure to visit the website for registration details. You can join individually, with friends or field your own team.
League Name | Format | Teams | Divisions | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rideau Sports Centre Basketball | 5x5 | Pick-up/Rental | - | Ottawa |
The Rideau Sports Centre is also offering court time this 2020-21 season under new COVID-19 guidelines.
There are 2 ways to get your basketball fix.
You can either contact them to find out when they offer pick-up basketball games or you can rent out the court with a group of friends. Prices and available time slots are provided on their website.
As for Pick-up basketball times, the Rideau Sports Center is finalizing the schedule for the Fall/Winter season.
All games are hosted at Rideau Sports Centre located in downtown Ottawa, east of the Rideau River.
League Name | Format | Teams | Divisions | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Carleton Rec Basketball | 5x5 | Pick-up | - | Ottawa |
During last season, Carleton was offering pick-up basketball daily during the week.
The hours were Mon-Thurs: 11:30am-2:30pm and also Fri: 10am-12pm.
Games were all played at the Raven's Nest, home to the Carleton Ravens Basketball team.
There's been no new announcements for the upcoming season on their website, so you might want to reach out to them beforehand.
League Name | Format | Teams | Divisions | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
uOttawa Intramural Basketball | 5x5 | League/Pick-up | - | Ottawa |
University of Ottawa has offered basketball for various groups including men, women and mixed divisions.
Games were played at weekdays Monday through Thursday.
Once the intramural website is updated, we'll find out if they will begin the Fall/Winter season and if there are any COVID-19 measures in place.
As a note, they also offer drop-in basketball hosted at Monpetit Hall, located in downtown Ottawa.
Final Thoughts
This Fall/Winter season will be an interesting one considering the 2020 year we've had so far. Some leagues have already given the go ahead to play, but with strict new COVID-19 guidelines.
I hope that all the players who decide to participate have a happy and healthy season.
Let me know if I missed out on any other basketball leagues in Ottawa or greater area.
Please leave a comment below.
And don't forget to fill out the submission form above if you're interested in reaching out to multiple leagues at once. We'll be glad to do some of the legwork to ease your registration process.
