What does the team fees cover?

Team fees are $850 which will cover all local tournament fees, paying coaches, gym rental fees, and all practice fees.

Uniforms are to be returned at the end of season or there will be a $175 replacement fee.

Will all players get even playing time?

Not necessarily. All players will get equal practice time, and in games the player that best fits the role on the court at that particular time will play. Our goal is to provide quality, productive court time where the player is best matched to the competition and the best position on the team for their skillset. We plan to be competitive (to compete to win), but will not employ tactics that may produce a win, but decelerate the learning of our student athletes or teach bad habits that will affect their playing later.

Should my child work on anything outside of practice?

Most definitely. Repetitive practice of correct skill work is what advances individual skills and talent. The 10,000 hour rule. If your child is not understanding the mechanics of basketball (shooting, ball handling, etc.) schedule individual or small group session time for them to learn correct form or advance current skills. Team practice is geared toward understanding the game of basketball, developing the team as a unit to compete, and executing as a team. Basketball is a complex, cerebral sport with many areas of skills and opportunities to excel. It is not mastered in a few hours of team practice weekly.

My child wants more playing time, what should he/she do?

The first place to start is to assist your child in evaluating where their deficits lie so they can work them.

1. Do they have a good attitude in practice and games? Do they listen, give full effort, encourage their teammates and stay engaged? The culture of a team is influenced by every player.

2. Are they fit? Are they running out of steam or unable to keep up with the other players? Increasing cardio endurance is often the first place to start if a player lags.

3. Are they lacking skills? Athletes advance quickly when they practice skills until they become second nature. If they are lacking skills, schedule skill work time in small group or individual training with an experienced, qualified trainer. (Coach Luke offers private, small and large group skills training and has worked with many college and pro athletes.)

4. Do they understand the game? Are they looking lost when on the court? Can they verbalize/write/execute plays and explain their role? Actively watching basketball, watching video breakdowns of plays, and reading about basketball can all help increase game IQ.

5. Are they attending practice and arriving at games on time and ready? They need to know the teams plans and goals and be mentally prepared to play.

6. If your athlete still has questions, bring written answers to the above questions to your coach and ask for help in guidance.

Where are practices and games?

We utilize several local gyms throughout NWA and will let you know when and where once teams are built and what gym best serves each team. We will do our best to establish a consistent place and time, BUT there are times that gyms are unavailable due to conflicts, cancellations, etc. We will let you or your athlete know of any changes. Game times are usually released Thursday or Friday before Saturday competition. Game times can sometimes change suddenly and unexpectedly by the tournament due to other teams cancelling. Be prepared to be flexible. Game times are determined by the tournament directors. 

What does the team parent do?

This role can be as simple or developed as you would like. We need you to keep a team thread updated on practice times and changes. Some team parents coordinate snacks, tailgate meals in the parking lot between games, go to local restaurants together, do outside activities together, etc. None of these are necessary, but teams that bond play better together, and the summer is a fun time spent with friends instead of a harried time in and out of gyms.

What is the expectation of the parents?

Parents, your child’s success can be greatly affected by your attitude and participation. Basketball is an exciting sport, and summer competition can produce lifelong friends.

1. Do not coach from the stands. You do not know what the coach is trying to execute with the team, and at any given time your child may not be who we want shooting, diving to the basket, guarding on ball, etc. Your voice confuses and distracts your child, and interferes with their learning and playing. Cheer away. Let the coaches do their job.

2. Be respectful to referees. There will be bad calls, referees are humans and with that mistakes occur. Allow your coach to make the decision if something needs to be said.

3. Be respectful to opposing teams. Do not cheer another child’s failures, but rather cheer our successes. Model respect of the game for your child. We want healthy competition, and desire for the sport of basketball to continue to be elevated.

4. Do not approach a coach with personal questions before or after a game. Coaches pour their hearts into your child athletes and the love of the sport, and thus coaching can be emotional and taxing. In addition, many coaches have multiple teams and many responsibilities to juggle. Be respectful, and following the tournament, schedule a time to talk.

5. Get your child to practices and games on time. It models respect and commitment; and keeps your child from entering anxious and ill prepared.

6. Have fun! Your child is learning and growing. It’s exciting and goes so quickly. We love our summers with you!

What are tournaments like?

If you are new to summer tournaments, the experience might seem a bit overwhelming at first. Entry fees are usually $10 and up per day. Your child’s team will compete in a round robin style bracket for day one, typically two games and based on those wins and losses will be ranked in an elimination bracket for the next day. Most tournaments are at AAO Fayetteville and Rogers and Bentonville High School. Games can start as early as 7am and go as late as midnight (most are between 9am-8pm. It’s summer and it’s wild and fun. The talent can vary widely, much more so than school ball. There is much to learn in both winning and losing. The goal is to play our best and be competitive.