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Q1: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PARTICIPATE IN TRAVEL BASKETBALL ...What are the expectations of us, as parents/guardians, and my player if she is selected for a travel team?
A1:
Travel Basketball is a more intense and competitive environment than the rec basketball program.
Practice: Practices last 90 minutes, and are held at least twice per week typically in Minnetonka school gyms. It is expected that practices are a priority over other extra curricular activity during the season.
Tournaments: Each team will play in 8-11 tournaments, with each tournament usually consisting of 3-4 games over the course of a weekend (Fri – Sunday). There are no weeknight (Mon-Thurs) games for travel basketball. All tournaments are located within one hour of Minnetonka with the exception of one out of town, overnight tournament.
Volunteering: Parents of travel players will be required to volunteer at the Minnetonka Classic Holiday Tournament, usually held in early Dec. A deposit check for $200 will be collected at the kick off meeting. This check will be torn up once your volunteer duty is fulfilled.
Q2: DO WE HAVE TO TRAVEL?
A2: Yes. Minnetonka Girls Basketball Association is a travel league. Most tournaments are held with in an hour of Minnetonka with the exception of one out of town tournament currently held in Rochester. Participating in tournaments in more distant parts of the Metro area allows our players variety in the teams against which they compete.
Q3: HOW MUCH DOES TRAVEL BASKETBALL COST?
A3: Click here to see Travel Team Fees
No child will be turned away for inability to pay. Please contact the MGBA President or Treasurer for scholarship information ~ scholarships are provided by MGBA when needed.
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Q4: TRYOUTS/EVALUATIONS: What organization is responsible for the travel team tryout process?
A4: The MGBA board is responsible for organizing and administering tryouts for all players. The tryout process is lead by our high school coaching staff utilizing outside evaluators. Each player is represented by a number, not a name. Numbers are assigned at try-out check in table. MGBA Board members are not present during tryout sessions (unless they are a member of the high school coaching staff). The Tryout Coordinator and Executive Board Members) will work together with the evaluators to form the teams. Executive Board members will not participate in the team formation process for any grade in which they have a daughter playing.
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Q5: TRYOUTS/EVALUTIONS: On what skills will my player be evaluated and how are evaluation scores tallied?
A5: Independent evaluators will score your player based on how she performs in individual skills, basketball drills and team scrimmage situations, including:
Q6: TRYOUTS/EVALUATIONS: Is there any “subjectivity” involved in the team selection process?
A6: A player’s full body of work inside of MGBA is considered including prior year coach evaluations. However, the pre-season tryout is the primary determinant of team placement. The process does also consider the need to balance the team by position.
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Q7: TRYOUTS/EVALUATIONS: How many players will there be on a team?
A7: Depending on circumstances, we anticipate 8-10 players per team.
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Q8: TRYOUTS/EVALUATIONS: When can my player and I expect to be informed of the team selection?
A8: You will receive an email from the MGBA board with your team placement. You may also receive an email from your coach. We attempt to complete team formation by the end of the week tryouts are held.
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Q9: TRAVEL TEAM INFORMATION: How are coaches selected for the travel teams?
A9: All coaches are selected by the MGBA board. Any adult who wishes to coach a travel team must file a Coach Application with MGBA which describes the applicant’s basketball and coaching experience, background information and coaching philosophy. Personal references are required with the application. Paid and parent coaches will go through an interview process with a panel of board members and the Coach Development person from the MGBA board. MGBA would like to use parent coaches for grades 4-6, and try to get paid coaches (with parent assistants) for grades 7-8 if they are available. Returning coaches that have gone through the application and interview process may not be required to do so again.
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Q10: TRAVEL TEAM INFORMATION: If my player makes a travel team and we, or my player, have a problem with the coaching of the team, what is the conflict resolution process?
A10: First of all, hopefully your player would feel comfortable discussing an issue with her coach. However, at your player’s age, she may not feel comfortable approaching her coach with her feelings. As a parent/guardian, you should make a point of asking your player how she feels about what is going on with her team. If she does not feel comfortable approaching her coach with her feelings, or you do not agree with the coach’s approach, you should first contact the coach and discuss the situation with the coach. If, after discussing an issue with your player’s coach and you are still not satisfied with the coach’s response, you should contact an MGBA board member with your concerns.
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Q11: How do I become involved with MGBA?
A11: Anyone is welcome to attend the MGBA board meetings. They are typically held on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm at the Minnetonka High School. The dates are posted on the website calendar.
Q12 What do the team colors mean?
A12: Blue teams typically play an “A” division schedule or a mix of A/B, White teams typically play a “B” division schedule or a mix of B/C, Black teams typically play a “C” division schedule.