Gym Rats Basketball

What Gym Rats Basketball does

Gym Rats Basketball is a for-profit youth basketball organization founded in 1992 and headquartered at PSM Fieldhouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The company organizes and sanctions competitive basketball events — including tournaments (Augusta Live, Brawl For The Ball, GRBA National Championship, Bill Hensley Run-N-Slam Classic), seasonal leagues (Summit Summer League, PSM Back To School League), and individual showcases (See You on the Court) — for players in 3rd through 12th grade across the Midwest and select southern and western states. Operations are run through a franchise/sanctioning structure under the Gym Rats Basketball Association (GRBA), created in 2010 after separating from USSSA, with franchisees operating events under the GRBA brand in 12 states.

The technology stack is built around third-party platforms rather than proprietary infrastructure: registration is handled via LeagueApps (gymratsbasketball.leagueapps.com) and Exposure Events (basketball.exposureevents.com), live game coverage is provided by BallerTV and Summit City Sports with designated college coach viewing areas, and tournament logistics are supported by My TBD Sports for hotel accommodations under a "Stay to Play" policy. The company operates a mobile app for in-tournament schedules and results. There is no disclosed proprietary software, API, or AI/ML capability.

Revenue is generated entirely through event-based transaction fees and franchise royalties. Pricing is unit-based: tournament team registration runs $375–$595 depending on grade level, individual league fees are $150 per player, team league fees are $550, summer league is $279 per player (includes jersey and live streaming), showcase registration is $150 per athlete, and spectator admission is $15–$20 per day. Franchisees pay fees to operate under the GRBA brand. Customer segments include youth basketball players (3rd–12th grade, primarily), college-bound athletes seeking NCAA certification and recruiter exposure, organized youth basketball programs/teams, and franchisee operators in regional markets.

Name

Gym Rats Basketball

Legal name

Gym Rats Basketball Association

Website

https://gymratsbasketball.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gym Rats Basketball is a Fort Wayne, Indiana-based for-profit youth basketball organization founded in 1992 that operates sanctioned tournaments, leagues, and showcases for 3rd–12th grade players across 12 states via its GRBA franchise network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Basketball Event Management

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Spectator Sports (71121), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Collegiate & Scholastic Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAG), Youth & Amateur Sports Tournaments (MPAGAMAF), Team Training Facilities & Bootcamps (Pro/Am Team Houses, Practice Centers) (MPAFALAG), Sports-Specific Group Conditioning (HSADABAK)

Keywords

• Youth basketball tournaments
• Basketball league programs
• Youth sports event management
• Grassroots basketball network
• Basketball showcase events

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Tournament Team Registration Fees: Teams pay registration fees to participate in tournaments such as the 2026 Augusta Live ($595 per team), 2026 Brawl For The Ball ($375-$575 per team depending on grade level), and GRBA National Championship.
2. League Registration Fees: Individual player fees ($150 for Back To School League) and team fees ($550 for 3rd-8th grade teams) for participation in league programs.
3. Summer League Fees: Per-player fees for the Summit Summer League ($279 per player) which includes reversible jersey and live streaming.
4. Showcase Registration Fees: Individual showcase events such as See You on the Court Showcase charge $150 per athlete with digital media downloads included.
5. Spectator Admission: Spectator admission fees at tournaments such as Brawl For The Ball ($15-20 per day depending on day of week).
6. Franchise Fees: The company operates through franchisees who pay to operate tournaments, camps, and leagues under the Gym Rats brand in Texas, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Kansas, Missouri, Oregon, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gym Rats Basketball organizes and operates competitive youth basketball events — including multi-day tournaments (e.g., 2026 Augusta Live, 2026 Brawl For The Ball, GRBA National Championship, Bill Hensley Run-N-Slam Classic), seasonal league programs (Summit Summer League, PSM Back To School League), and individual showcases — for players in 3rd through 12th grade. The company also runs the Gym Rats Basketball Association (GRBA), a sanctioning and franchise network enabling operators across 12 U.S. states to run GRBA-branded tournaments, camps, and leagues.

Product overview

Gym Rats Basketball is a for-profit youth basketball organization (founded 1992) operating as both an event provider and franchise network. The core offering consists of tournament events (2026 Augusta Live, 2026 Brawl For The Ball, GRBA National Championship), league programs (Summit Summer League, PSM Back To School League), and individual showcases (See You on the Court Showcase). The organization runs the GRBA sanctioning body which franchises tournaments and leagues across 12 states under the Gym Rats brand. Events are hosted at PSM Fieldhouse in Fort Wayne, IN and through franchisee-operated venues. Tournament registration is managed through LeagueApps and Exposure Events platforms, with live streaming provided via BallerTV.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Indy Heat Gym Rats: Youth basketball team program operating under the Gym Rats brand

Products and services

• 2026 Augusta Live Multi-day youth basketball tournament held at the Augusta Convention Center in Augusta, Georgia. Open to 9th-11th Grade Boys with a team registration fee of $595. Includes NCAA certification information requirements for participants seeking college recruitment visibility.
• 2026 Brawl For The Ball Multi-venue basketball tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan featuring MSA Fieldhouse, MSA Woodland, Courthouse, Cornerstone University, Grandville High School, and Byron Center High School. Covers 3rd-11th Grade Boys with team fees ranging from $375-$575 depending on grade level, with early registration discounts available.
• GRBA National Championship Annual national championship tournament hosted at PSM Fieldhouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Features 3rd-8th Grade Boys (3-game guarantee) and 9th-11th Grade Boys (4-game guarantee) with championship rings and team trophies for winners.
• 2026 Summit Summer League Summer league program for 9th-12th Grade Boys held at PSM Fieldhouse on Wednesday evenings. Features 24-second shot clock, all games live streamed by Summit City Sports, weekly team swaps, and a reversible jersey included per player at $279.
• 2026 PSM Back To School League Fall league program for 3rd-12th Grade Boys and Girls held on Sundays. Features JV and Varsity divisions with 4-10 minute quarters. Individual fee $150, team fee for 3rd-8th Grade is $550.
• See You on the Court Showcase Individual showcase event emphasizing foundational skill instruction with competitive games and media tools. Athletes receive digital downloads of live stream content for college recruiting purposes. $150 registration fee per athlete.
• Bill Hensley Run-N-Slam Classic Elite tournament event named after former Gym Rats owner Bill Hensley. Features live streaming on Courts 1 & 2 with play-by-play, plus full coverage via Ballertv.com. One of the most competitive events sanctioned through the GRBA.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 8,000 teams participated in USSSA basketball programs under Gym Rats leadership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Gym Rats Basketball Association (GRBA)coreOthers · 1 January 2010GRBA is the sanctioning and insuring organization created in 2010 when Gym Rats separated from USSSA. It serves as the national network of event operators, teams, and directors. Over 5,000 teams participated in GRBA sanctioned events in 2010-2011 season across 12 states.
• TBD Sports / My TBD SportscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTBD Sports provides hotel and travel accommodation services for tournament participants through a 'Stay to Play' policy. Teams and families must book housing through My TBD Sports to ensure tournament placement. This is a complimentary service that facilitates travel logistics for participants.
• BallertvcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBallertv provides live streaming coverage of tournaments and games. College coaches use Ballertv for recruiting visibility. The platform streams most venues during tournament weekends with designated college coach viewing areas.
• PSM (Parkview Sports Medicine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSM Fieldhouse (3946 Ice Way, Fort Wayne, IN 46808) serves as the headquarters and primary event venue. PSM sponsors leagues like the PSM Back To School League and PSM Summit Summer League. The partnership includes co-branded facilities and sports medicine/performance training integration.
• Summit City SportscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSummit City Sports provides live streaming for the Summit Summer League events, ensuring all games are broadcast for player exposure to college coaches.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hoop Group: Long-standing youth basketball event organizer running showcases, tournaments, and the Hoop Group Tip-Off and Jam Fest. Comparable to Gym Rats in offering college-recruitment-focused events with live game coverage for evaluators.
• Zero Gravity Basketball: Northeast-based youth basketball tournament and league operator with a multi-state circuit. Closely comparable to Gym Rats in product mix (tournaments, leagues, showcases) and target customer (grades 3-12 travel teams in the Midwest/Northeast).
• AAU (Amateur Athletic Union): The dominant national youth basketball organizer in the U.S., running the AAU basketball circuit across all age groups. Gym Rats was previously part of the USSSA partnership and now competes directly against AAU-affiliated events for youth teams and tournament registration dollars.
• USSSA Basketball: United States Specialty Sports Association's basketball division, which Gym Rats previously operated (2001-2010) and grew to 8,000+ teams in 15 states. Same core offering of sanctioned youth basketball tournaments and leagues — a direct comparable for event scale and franchise-style delivery.

Emerging players

• Made Hoops: Digital-first youth basketball exposure and tournament platform catering to elite travel teams. Comparable to Gym Rats' showcase and NCAA-certification offerings but with a stronger digital/video content orientation.

Regional players

• Prep Hoops: Midwest-based youth basketball scouting, rankings, and tournament coverage platform. Comparable to Gym Rats in Midwest regional focus and serving the grassroots-to-elite youth basketball audience, though with a media-first model rather than event operation.

Others

• PSM / Parkview Sports Medicine: Strategic partner and sports-medicine provider that co-brands Gym Rats' flagship leagues (PSM Back To School League, PSM Summit Summer League) and hosts PSM Fieldhouse. Embedded in Gym Rats' operations as a venue and sponsorship partner rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Adidas Gauntlet: Adidas-sponsored elite youth basketball tournament series targeting top travel teams. Comparable to Gym Rats' flagship events (e.g., Bill Hensley Run-N-Slam) in offering elite-level competition with brand sponsorship exposure.
• Nike EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League): Nike-sponsored elite youth basketball circuit running the highest-profile grassroots events in the U.S. While Gym Rats operates more broadly across grade levels, EYBL competes for the same college-bound athletes and travel-ball families at the premium end of the market.
• Under Armour Association: Under Armour's nationwide elite youth basketball league and tournament circuit. Competes for the same college-recruitment-focused families and teams that Gym Rats targets with NCAA certification and live-streamed showcase events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gymratsbball
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5vQ4GxV0y4JT3K5C0n1D2A
• Facebookfacebook.com/gymratsbasketball
• Instagraminstagram.com/gymratsbasketball
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gym-rats-basketball-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gym Rats Basketball