When are tryouts?
Two tryouts are held in October at Maine West High School on Sunday. There is no entitlement in this program. Prior participation on a team does not guarantee automatic placement. All girls must register and sign a liability waiver prior to participation and attend at least one tryout date. All girls should bring a basketball, wear appropriate basketball attire, bring water bottle or a sports beverage and be ready to learn. Tryouts will consist of a series of drills for skills evaluation, and game scrimmages to evaluate team leadership, court awareness and overall game play.
How are players selected for a team?
Team selections will be made by the multiple evaluations by coaches and assignees. It is our goal to give every girl a fair and honest evaluation based upon skill level, experience, and attitude during tryouts. There are a limited number of spots for each grade level (4th thru 8th graders are welcome to tryout). Typically the teams will have 10-12 girls due to potential issues of playing time when more girls are added. All girls must tryout for each age group even if they were on a team the previous year. Roster size and spots for teams and development teams will be determine after tryouts. Our goal is to give every girl the opportunity to developed their skills and play.
Final team rosters will posted on their respective team pages on the Lady Warriors website within two days of the final tryout. This will be the only official notification of each team’s roster.
Who is eligible to play?
It is the intent of the Maine West Girls Feeder to confine its eligibility for participation to girls who meet the eligibility rules of the Maine West Girls Feeder. Fourth (4) through eight (8) are generally eligible to participate in basketball activities. Girls must be entering 6th through 8th grade, however 4th and 5th graders may tryout to “play up” at the 6th grade level . The Maine Township High School District 207 has attendance guidelines for residents’ children that will attend Maine West High School. In order for the Maine West Girls Feeder to receive top priority for gym time, the players must reside with a parent or guardian in the high school’s service area. Therefore players must live within the Maine West High School service area or attend a school that feeds into Maine West High School in order to participate in the program. Players who live in the enrollment boundaries but attend private school or are home schooled are also eligible. To see if you live in the Maine West service area, go to the Maine Township High SchoolDistrict 207 Interactive Attendance Map and find your street address.
How is a feeder team different than (or the same as) a travel team?
Travel and feeder teams are similar in that they are designed for advanced players, they hold try-outs, and they play at the highly competitive AAU level. The difference is that a feeder team is meant to help players develop close relationships with girls they will eventually be playing with in high school should they make that team.
A feeder team is designed to expose players to their high school’s athletes, coaches, games, and school pride before they even reach their freshman year. We specifically teach the “Maine West Way” long before the players will try out at the competitive high school level. Because we are given special rates from the Maine Township School District for gym time, our feeder teams are significantly less expensive than travel teams which can cost players $2,000-3,000 per year.
What is the time commitment?
The teams practice and play together from November to the middle of March. We do expect a high level of commitment. Playing time will be determined by practice attendance, performance and overall commitment level. Attendance and participation are vital to the success of the team. While each feeder team will have individualized schedules, the following is a generalized calendar:
- Practice begins in November with two or three practices a week
- Practice from January to March will be one or two practices a week
- First tournament will be the first two Sundays in December
- Feeder League play will start in January and go until the middle of March
- Feeder League games will be on the weekend (due to gym availability, some games will be during the week)
- Feeder League and Tournament games will total over 20 or more games for the season
- We will have at least 10 home games for the season
What is the cost?
Costs are determined each school year based on various cost components including practice gym rental fees as well as insurance, uniforms, league fees, tournaments and other misc. expenses (gym bags, team shooter shirts, sweatshirts, etc). For the season the player cost will be $375.00. Parents may decide on fund raising activities to help with cost.
Where do you play?
We play most games and tournaments at area high schools. The feeder teams in the league reserves gym space in high schools, Park Districts or middle schools in the area. Regional tournaments are usually within one hour of Des Plaines.
How much playing time do players get?
Our primary goal is player development. We believe in the value of competition, sportsmanship, and responsibility. We focus on individual talent as well as team success. Playing time is determined b the coach based on several criteria – practice, attitude, game performance and skill. Every player has the opportunity to prove themselves at practice.
We will make every effort to ensure each girl has an opportunity to play in each game, but equal playing time is not an objective. Even through equal playing time is not an objective, each player on the will receive playing time.
Are parents expected to volunteer?
Yes, Our coaches and program managers spend a lot of time and energy creating a positive athletic experience for the players. But they can’t do it alone. Therefore we rely on families for volunteer support to maintain the quality of the program. Help is needed running the clock, keeping the scorebook and staffing concessions.