 We are forming a new select team for 7th grade in the fall. This whole select stuff is new and confusing. Am I right in thinking there are basically two leagues, Washington Girls basketball and NWSBA? My husband has coached CYO with his daughter since 2nd grade. Our daughter and a few other players on the team who are really good want to play more and want to be able to play in high school. It seems like the better players start select and if she and the others want that chance they have to play more. We are having open tryouts soon, so any advice would be appreciated!
Stacey
Dear Stacey:
You are on the right track. If your daughter and her friends want to play in high school, select basketball will give them some great experience and make them more competitive.
I can sympathize with your confusion, however, since starting a select team from scratch isn’t easy. You have to organize tryouts, find a gym that is available for regular practices, decide on a fee structure to cover your costs, develop a list of rules for your players and parents to follow – all before you hold your first practice! Not to mention all the other decisions like what league and/or tournaments to play in and what types of uniforms to buy.
Here are some thoughts to keep in mind when forming a select team:
Look for gym space immediately. You can’t have a select team without regular practices and gym space is at a premium, especially in the Seattle area. Visit your local middle schools and high schools now, before school ends, and see if you can reserve gym time beginning in September. Other places to try if schools are not available include recreation centers and community colleges. Remember that you will have to pay for gym rental, so make sure to budget for that cost when setting your player fees.
Develop a monthly budget. Estimate what is will cost to run your team on a monthly basis. In addition to gym rental, factor in league registration, tournament fees and equipment needs like team basketballs, practice pinnies and first aid supplies. Uniform costs can be built in to this fee, but are usually a separate one-time expense covered by each family.
Decide how many players you want. Some teams like to go with smaller rosters – 8 or 9 players – to allow more playing time for each girl and more individual attention during practice. Other teams prefer teams of 11 or 12 girls to cover injuries, illnesses, sports conflicts or other unexpected events that can reduce your roster size in a hurry.
Choose the parents as well as the players. When selecting players, many coaches place as much weight on the attitude and commitment of the girl’s parents as they do on the girl herself. That’s because select basketball requires many sacrifices of time and money, and you need parents who will take responsibility for getting their daughters to practice and games, traveling to tournaments, helping with fundraising, and otherwise pitching in as necessary. It’s also important that parents exhibit a positive attitude and are willing to see basketball for what it is: a team sport rather than an individual showcase for their superstar daughter.
Here’s one way to ensure there are no surprises about the commitment level you are looking for: at tryouts, distribute a one-page summary of your team’s practice schedule, estimated number of games you plan to play throughout the year and financial obligations for each family. If your goal is to qualify for a national championship, state that upfront. It may make a difference for parents who don’t want the financial responsibility (hotels, airfare, etc.) that accompanies such a lofty aim. Each parent should sign the form before his or her daughter goes through the tryout, acknowledging he/she has read the summary and agreeing to meet the commitment if his/her daughter is selected.
Develop a written team policy before the first practice. It’s essential that every team have a written manual that is distributed to players/parents at your first practice of the year. This policy should cover every possible issue that you can think of related to team operations: for example, when it’s appropriate for a player to miss practice and/or games (a school science fair may be OK but a friend’s birthday party is probably not); whether girls can participate in other sports besides basketball; appropriate behavior on and off the court; expectations for pre-game preparation (i.e. no slumber parties the night before a game); and disciplinary measures for players who violate any of the policies listed in the manual. Encourage parents to ask questions and obtain clarification if they are not clear about your expectations.
Do your research before choosing a league to play in. In Western Washington, you have your choice of three leagues: Hoops Northwest, Northwest Select Basketball Association and Washington Girls Basketball. Each league has its own set of pluses and minuses, ranging from the caliber of teams that play (Washington Girls Basketball is viewed as a “beginner’s” league while NWSBA is seen as more competitive) to the format of the games – for example, running halves vs. stop-clock quarters.
Talk to parents and coaches who have played in these leagues and get their recommendations. Read the www.hoopgurlz.com’s Girls Hoops message board and see what people like and don’t like about the various leagues and their organizers. Running leagues and tournaments is no easy task, and the people in charge generally do the best job they can under sometimes challenging circumstances. But remember that they would not be in business without your money, so you have a right to expect the best possible environment for your team: high quality officiating, games that start on time, regulation-size gyms in good condition and strict adherence to age and/or grade requirements.
Most important, have fun and enjoy this time with your daughter. Organizing and running a select team requires a substantial commitment, but your reward is knowing that you are providing the girls on your team with the best possible foundation for a successful high school basketball career.
Hoop Mom
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 teresawippel@attbi.com
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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
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