More
Info About Us
COSTS -The Cost of traveling basketball
ranges from $190 to 300 per player. The cost is determined by the number
of tournaments each team enters and the number of players on a team.
The cost includes uniforms, warm up shirts, duffels for new players
and all other costs associated with traveling basketball. *Admissions
to tournaments (excluding our home tournament), are an additional cost.
Typically, adult pay $3-4 dollars and school age children and seniors
pay $2-3 dollars for admission. If you play AAU in the fall or spring
that is an additional cost.
There are many opportunities for families to cut the cost of traveling
basketball by volunteering their time and talent to our organization.
We won't turn families away who's child makes a team but can't afford
the fees.
TRYOUTS - We have specific tryout policies and procedures
that will be handed out prior to tryouts. These policies are in written
form and can be requested from our web site in written or electronic
format.
Tryouts are held every year in the fall usually right after school starts.
Our web site is the best place to check for this information. Flyers
are handed out at the elementary and junior high schools. We also supply
this information to our local papers. If you know of anyone who might
be interested in traveling basketball please tell them about our web
site at www.flhoops.com, www.flaaa.org also links to our web site.
PICKING TEAMS - How many teams we have depends on how
many kids try out for each age group AND how many coaches we have available.
As a rule we don't want to cut kids. We aim for 9-10 per team as a general
rule but we have had teams with 11 players. A situation where more than
10 kids are on a team is totally up to the coach of the team. When we
have more than 10 kids tryout for a team, we will try to recruit a coach
and players for another team. We have had 3 teams for a few age groups
in the past.
COACHES - Hoops club makes sure we get qualified candidates
for coaching positions. More often than not coaches are parents of players.
We do try to find non-parent coaches for the older teams, but this is
hard to do. It's hard to find people without a personal involvement
with a player who are willing to give up the time necessary to coach
a traveling basketball team. We appreciate our coaches and our proud
to say they are a very qualified group of people. We are striving to
have a 2-3 year limit for a coach to have a team. However if a coach
has had a team for 3 years and we do not have another qualified coach
to fill their space, they may coach a team longer than 3 years. When
more than 1 qualified candidate wants , they go through an interview
process.
TIME COMMITMENT - includes the following for parents and
players. Practices - 2 practices a week. Many practices are scheduled
at our junior high schools, but younger teams may also have practices
at elementary schools. We must share court availability with other sports
and community activities. We try to offer get consistent practice schedules
for coaches but this is not always possible. Practices are usually 90
minutes long and may start no earlier than 4:30 pm and as late as 8:30
pm. We encourage kids who play traveling to also play for their junior
high teams. During their in-house season, kids who are involved in the
traveling program will most likely practice ONCE a week. In order for
your child to learn the game and improve they must be at practice. Coaches
do their best to work around players schedules, but realize this is
not always possible. Coaches set their own practice/play policy. As
a general rule if you don't practice, it comprises your playing time.
Hoops club believes that our kids should not be specializing in one
activity when they are younger, so we recognize that being involved
in music, church, or other sports may interfere with a practice or tournament
now and then. We encourage kids to be multi-talented, but want to remind
everyone who joins traveling basketball that in order to improve it
does take time and dedication from each the family and the child. Many
parents try to share carpooling responsibilities for getting players
to practices and games. This works out very well for families who have
many activities to attend. We encourage parents to get to know each
other and try to help each other out. It makes the season easier on
everybody.
TOURAMENTS - How many and what tournaments your children
are in depend on the coach and coordinator. Younger teams will play
fewer tournaments and may also have more 1 day tournaments. Fifth and
sixth grade teams will be limited to 10 or less tournaments during our
season, which is November 1 through 3rd weekend in March. Fundraising
-Hoops club considers our home tournaments as our major fundraising
events. Our home tournaments keep the costs of traveling basketball
down. Each family is expected to work 6-8 hours over one weekend during
the season. Our home tournament dates are found on our web site. Their
may be more opportunities to work other tournaments held at our facilities
to reduce team fees, this will be on a volunteer basis.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - This organization was built
by volunteers dedicated to the sport of basketball. It continues to
grow and improve because of the many talented and hardworking people
who take the time to volunteer their time to the Hoops Club. From coaches
and board members to tournament coordinators, webmasters, parent representatives,
equipment, concessions, and practice coordinators, there are many things
we do to make this organization successful. These jobs require anywhere
from 2- 10 hours a month. They give anyone who is interested, an opportunity
to get involved in making traveling basketball a great experience for
all involved. Volunteering for these jobs also defers or reduce the
fees for traveling basketball. We welcome anyone to our organization
who wants to get involved.
If you have any additional questions about traveling basketball - please
feel free to call or email Krystal Lawson. 651-464-3364 or krystallawson@yahoo.com
