Welcome to the Bloomington Athletic Association (BAA) website. BAA is focused on making youth sports available to all children in the community with one of the longest-standing volunteer athletic organizations in the country, established in 1954. We are a 501(c)3 which relies upon the donations of individuals, companies, and organizations that provide the critical funds to ensure all children can participate. BAA provides scholarships, athletic equipment, referees (substitute umpires, scorekeepers, judges,), fields and facilities, community engagement activities, and a college scholarship program for our student-athletes.
Known as the largest volunteer sports organization in the United States, serving over 3,000 youth in 12 sports annually. Here, you’ll be able to get news, information, schedules, game results, directions, and much, much, much more.
VISION | MISSION | VALUES
Vision: Bloomington Athletic Association aspires to provide every child with the opportunity to be active and build life skills through participation in sports.
Mission: Bloomington Athletic Association delivers fun, affordable, and safe youth sports experiences, fueled by our passionate volunteers and partnerships with the City of Bloomington and Bloomington School District
Values: Fun, Community Centric, Fair Play, Cost Conscious, Safety
BAA HISTORY
The Bloomington Athletic Association was organized in 1953 by Arnie Johnson after once again cutting youth from a baseball team. He resolved to find a way that would give ALL kids the opportunity to participate in organized sports.
In 1954, Arnie presented a plan for the formation of an athletic program based on the tenet that if youth boys wanted to play a sport, he should play, without regard to ability and at an affordable cost. In the early 1960s, through the efforts of Betty Lokken, girls’ sports were added. The outcome of these efforts was the formation of the Bloomington Athletic Association (BAA).
Through the years, BAA’s philosophy has remained the same for over 4 decades: offer youth organized sports programs to participate in without tryouts, without regard to ability, and at a cost affordable to all. If the fees are an issue, BAA offers scholarships, based on ability to pay, to provide equal opportunity to play for all youth. Parents, guardians, relatives, and friends are strongly encouraged to volunteer to help their childs team as a Coach, Assistant Coach, Co-Coach, Timekeeper, Scorekeeper, or in some other way assist the Coach and Team.
