Best of Hoop Mom: Looking for a Team

In her seventh column for HoopGurlz.com, Teresa Wippel provides some things to explore when looking for a select team.

I have an eighth-grade, soon-to-be-14-year-old daughter who loves basketball. She's played in the Seattle Park Department league for the last four or five years and varsity on her middle school team since the sixth grade. Her team won the Seattle School championship game this year. She'd like to play more ball and perhaps on a Select or AAU team. I have no idea how to go about finding one that will suit her and one that might accept or need her. Can you provide some insight about how one accomplishes this task?

Wondering

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Dear Wondering:

Before starting your search, have a discussion with your daughter about the type of team that fits both her needs and those of your family. Coaching styles and philosophy vary widely, and it’s key to find a team that suits your daughter’s personality. Some girls don’t mind a tough-talking coach with strict discipline, for example, but others don’t perform well under those circumstances. In addition, some coaches are very flexible about girls who play multiple sports, while others insist that basketball always comes first.

For families with busy schedules, it may be important to find a team that practices close to home. If the family budget is tight, you may not want to become involved with a team that does a lot of long-distance traveling, as the costs associated with that – from airfare to lodging to meals – can really add up. Some teams do have fundraisers to help offset these costs, while others expect parents to shoulder most or all of the expenses. Also, some teams set up to play by grade level or age, with the AAU cutoff being the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1 (it appears your daughter would be eligible for 13u).

Once you have made a checklist that constitutes the “ideal” team for your situation, it’s time to begin looking. Start with the “Teams” link at the top of the www.HoopGurlz.com website, which has links to websites and contact information for most girls’ teams in the Puget Sound area. In addition, check the HoopGurlz.com message board (Girls Hoops Message Board), as many teams post messages here regarding tryouts and/or openings for new players. Teams also sometimes will place notices of tryouts in the sports calendar section of local newspapers.

You may also want to attend some local tournaments where teams in your grade level are playing. Note the style of play and the coaching. Also take time to observe the behavior of the parents. Are they supportive and positive about the team or do they generate constant negativity and bad form, such as continued berating of the referees or members of the opposing team?

Once your daughter has attended a tryout and has been offered a spot, spend some time talking with the coach about expectations and goals before you agree to join the team. For example, is the coach committed to individual player development as well as team success, and are practices structured to allow for both? What role does he or she see for your daughter – as a starter or coming off the bench, playing one position or several? If the team is very high caliber and is working toward a regional or national championship, what does that mean for your daughter in terms of playing time, and for your family in terms of time and money?

These steps are time-consuming, but are well worth it to protect the investment that you and your daughter will be making in select basketball.

Hoop Mom

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Teresa Wippel is team manager of the Warriors Basketball Club, a 5th Grade girls' team from the Seattle area, and mom to Warriors post player Amanda Waldron. In her other life, she is a freelance writer and editor. To ask Teresa a question, email her at

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More Dear Hoop Mom:
Hoop Mom on Fundraising
Hoop Mom on Playing Up
Hoop Mom on Starting a New Team
Hoop Mom on Surviving a National Tournament
Hoop Mom on Bench Behavior
Hoop Mom on Surviving the Road
Hoop Mom on Coaches
Hoop Mom on Jealousy
Hoop Mom on Nutrition on the Run
Hoop Mom on Looking for a Select Team
Hoop Mom on Commitment to Team
Hoop Mom on Talking to Coach Dad
Hoop Mom on Starting Select Ball
Hoop Mom on Subbing for Coach's Daughter
Hoop Mom on Subbing for Injuries
Hoop Mom on Sleepovers