Hoop Mom: Playing Up

In her 15th Dear Hoop Mom column for HoopGurlz.com, Teresa Wippel offers thoughts on playing up a year.

We have tryouts next week for select basketball. My daughter has two years in so far; she is a strong player and leading scorer. Here's my issue: She loves the sport and wants to pursue basketball for the future (college & beyond?).

This past season, however, we had a REALLY difficult time getting enough girls to stick with it. In our most recent games, we've had six players! We want to have her play with like-minded (really committed) girls and families. She will be in eighth grade in the fall, but we were thinking that we might have her try out for a ninth grade team. We anticipate that the bulk of last year's players will be on the eighth grade team again, and we don't want to repeat that struggle! We thought that she'll get more of a challenge with older players, and we may find a greater commitment level amongst them. What cautions or considerations would you advise we take in addition? Thanks so much!

To Play Up - Or Not

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Dear To Play Up:

It’s clear that both you and your daughter will be happier if she plays on a different team, one that shares your level of commitment to basketball. What’s less clear is whether the solution to your frustration is having her play up a year.

You need to honestly assess your daughter’s basketball skills and her maturity level. If she is really performing at higher level than most girls in eighth grade, and feels like she is not getting enough competition by playing against other teams here age, then it is probably time for her to play with ninth graders.

If the issue is more a matter of lack of commitment on behalf of other players and parents, then you have a couple of options. First, talk with the coach about his or her approach for the coming year. Chances are, if only six girls are routinely showing up for a game, the coach isn’t happy with the situation either and is likely to be making some changes in the team roster. New players may be just the infusion of energy that you need to restore a positive team dynamic. If the coach is unresponsive to your concerns, or is OK with the status quo, then it’s time to go shopping for another team.

This could be a team at your daughter’s grade level where the commitment level of both parents and players is high, or an older team if that’s what you decide to pursue. If after attending tryouts you and your daughter are unsure if the team is the right fit, attend a few games or practices and talk with other parents before agreeing to accept a spot.

The bottom line is, automatically playing up is not going to guarantee a higher level of commitment – you can find the same problem on teams of any age. The real question is whether your daughter is ready, physically and emotionally, to compete in an environment with older girls.

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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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