The Lake Erie Basketball League is a developmental travel basketball league for community-based teams of fourth, fifth and sixth grade students. For the 2008-09 season, there were 118 teams (boys and girls) in the various divisions, representing 27 mainly western and southern suburbs of Cleveland. Each team plays 10 regular season games, and there is a post-season league tournament. The LEBL was founded in 1997 to give younger players an opportunity to play competitive basketball against talented players from other communities in a league setting. The League emphasizes individual and team fundamentals. To encourage the development of ball handling and court skills, zone defenses are not allowed at the fourth and fifth grade levels. Poor sportsmanship by players, coaches, or spectators is not tolerated.