The Virginia Amateur Basketball Association (VABA) program is about much more than basketball—it’s about community, mentorship, and building confidence, both on and off the court. The program connects UVA student volunteers with two key community partners: Virginia Basketball Academy (VABA) and the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation youth basketball league.
Madison House youth basketball program directors are AK Canavos and Chloe Pfefferman.
As Program Director AK Canavos explains, “We are the Madison House Youth Basketball partnership! We serve two community partners, Virginia Basketball Academy (VABA) and the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation youth basketball league.” Alongside co-director Chloe Pfefferman, AK coordinates volunteer placements, ensures smooth operations during the season, and even co-coaches a third-grade girls’ team.
For UVA students, volunteering is a weekly commitment that makes a big impact.
“Volunteers serve two hours per week from November to February (with a pause for Winter Break), one hour for practice, one hour for a game,” AK notes. “Our volunteer numbers fluctuate but tend to be between 20-40 volunteer placements.”
The directors don’t just stay behind the scenes, they stay connected to the players.
“Chloe and I are the co-directors for the program, so we coordinate all volunteer placements on the front end and ensure coaching runs smoothly throughout the season. We also co-coach a team for 3rd grade girls!” says AK.
For AK, the most meaningful part of the role is simple: “For me, it’s just the practices with the girls. It’s so fun to get to see their personalities shine through and connect with community members outside of UVA! It’s the most rewarding part of my week.”
Competition keeps things exciting, too. Asked about her goal for the year, AK answered with a smile, “To win the league championship! We came in 2nd last year. A revenge tour is on the way!”
But VABA is not just powered by directors. Volunteers bring their own love for the game and a commitment to giving back. Kathleen Dowdall, a third-year Economics and Government double major, first joined VABA last fall. She remembers her favorite moment clearly.
“My favorite memory of the program was definitely my team’s first win. We started off the season a bit slow and lost a few games to start the season. But the first game we won was such a thriller!” exclaims Kathleen. “It was so exciting to see all the girls on my team's spirit go up as the game started to wind down and we had a sizable lead. It was also exciting from the perspective of my assistant coach and I, as we felt like our coaching was aiding in the win because we had been improving throughout the season. But most of all it was so awesome to see how happy all the girls on my team got. It was a great first win as a coach!”
Kathleen’s passion for coaching is rooted in her own history with the sport.
Program Director Chloe Pfefferman
“I played basketball from 3rd grade all the way through high school. At one point I was on a travel team, but for the most I just loved playing recreational basketball with my friends each winter,” she says. “It was also very special to me because my dad was my coach throughout middle and high school. It was always something that brought me joy, so my first year, when I wasn’t playing basketball in the winter, it felt a little bit odd. When I discovered VABA my second year, I thought it would be the perfect way for me to reignite my love for basketball—but this time as a coach! I also love working with kids and teaching, so this seemed like the perfect mix of the two.”
This blend of leadership, passion, and teamwork is what makes VABA such a special part of the Charlottesville community. And the program is always looking for more students to get involved.
AK encourages, “Please have people reach out to me or Chloe if they are interested in getting involved. We highly encourage friend groups of around two to three to coach together. The only caveat is that coaching teams need to have at least one personal vehicle per group.”
The biggest slam dunk is the impact we make together, so reach out today!
By Cecilia Murphy