Learn how teams form, what participation costs, how coaches are screened and how our travel programs work alongside community recreation.
Scenic Valley Athletic Association (SVAA) is an Iowa nonprofit corporation and IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity supporting youth travel baseball and USSSA fastpitch softball. Founded in Boone, Iowa on August 1, 2026, SVAA helps players, coaches, and families form teams and prepare for USSSA and other Iowa tournament opportunities. Our travel programs are designed to complement local recreational and Little League play, not replace it.
SVAA was founded by Boone County residents and is rooted here, but that isn't a boundary. Athletes, families, coaches, and teams from surrounding communities are welcome when SVAA is the right fit. Our governing documents authorize operating youth baseball and softball programs throughout the State of Iowa.
No. Scenic Valley Athletic Association is an independent Iowa nonprofit corporation and is not affiliated with any other club or organization.
Yes. Scenic Valley Athletic Association is an Iowa nonprofit corporation recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 42-4212045, with exemption effective August 1, 2026. Contributions are deductible under IRC Section 170 to the extent allowed by law. Donors should consult their own tax advisor.
SVAA will help build teams at any age level. Rather than running a fixed set of age groups, we work with the players, coaches, and families who come to us — as enough interest gathers at a given age, we help form a team around it. If you don't see a team for your child's age yet, that's usually a starting point rather than a closed door.
SVAA does not own or lease a facility. Teams have three options. They may arrange indoor practice space with organizations in town. They may register with the local Little League and use Little League resources under that organization's own bylaws. Or they may use the public ball fields in the City of Boone, which are available first-come, first-served at no cost.
No. SVAA encourages athletes to keep participating in their local Little League and recreational leagues whenever possible. Travel competition is meant to complement strong community programs, not replace them, and staying connected to hometown teammates matters to us.
Recreational and Little League programs are community-based and open to all registered players in the area. Travel ball adds a competitive layer — teams prepare for USSSA and other Iowa tournaments, typically with more focused practice and a longer season. SVAA positions travel play as something a family adds alongside their local season, not something they leave it for.
USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) is a national organization that sanctions youth baseball and fastpitch softball tournaments, including throughout Iowa. SVAA teams are organized for USSSA baseball and USSSA fastpitch play.
SVAA collects a $50 registration fee per player. That is the only fee SVAA itself collects. Beyond that, costs are set at the team level and vary by team depending on tournaments entered, uniforms, equipment, and practice space — your coach will explain what that team's season costs look like. Teams may also fundraise to offset those costs.
Yes. SVAA maintains a General Scholarship Fund that helps families cover a player's required costs for the season — registration fees, required uniforms and equipment, and tournament or league entry fees that are part of the team's approved schedule. Families apply through a short, confidential written application submitted to a designated reviewer, never to their own child's coach. Applications and award decisions are kept confidential. Eligibility is based on objective, documented financial need rather than a reviewer's personal judgment, with a limited pathway for families facing sudden hardship such as job loss or a medical situation. Awards depend on the Fund's available balance and are capped per player, so eligibility does not guarantee an award. To request an application, email info@svaa.us.
Start with the player interest and registration form on this site. Registration is per player, and the $50 fee covers your child's registration with SVAA.
Once a player registers, one of two things happens. If a team is forming at that age level, we reach out to arrange an individual tryout. If there aren't yet enough players at that age, we hold the registration and get in touch once enough interest has gathered to form a team. Either way, a registered player hears from us.
Before working with players in any capacity, an SVAA coach must submit a coach application to SVAA, complete a USSSA background check, complete a Little League background check, and complete the Little League Abuse Awareness Training Program. Coaches must also sign and acknowledge SVAA's Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy. All of these requirements renew annually. A coach who has not completed them may not be rostered, may not be listed on any SVAA team roster, and may not be present with players unless a credentialed coach is supervising.
SVAA maintains a reporting channel for conduct, governance, financial, discrimination, and sportsmanship concerns at scenicvalleysports.org/report-concern. Reports may be submitted with your name or anonymously — the choice is yours at submission. Concerns involving suspected abuse, harassment, or player safety should be reported immediately rather than held.
Local businesses can support SVAA through sponsorship, which helps fund equipment, tournament costs, and opportunities for local athletes. See the Sponsors page or contact us at info@svaa.us.
Email info@svaa.us, or use the contact form on this site. To report a conduct or governance concern, use the report-a-concern page instead.