Traveling Program Directors Rick Wynveen, Girls
9051 68th St N
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-770-9577
rbwynveen@aol.com
Mike Mustar, Boys
245 Hallam Avenue South
Mahtomedi, MN 55115
651-426-1131
mustarm@stillwater.k12.mn.us
Traveling Team Schedules
Introduction
The following information is a summary of the MBA Traveling Basketball Program. It is intended to help parents, players, and coaches understand what our traveling programs are about.
Team Options Blue Traveling Team (highest level of competition)
Participants will have two weekday evening practices and participate in 10 full weekend tournaments throughout the season, plus a State traveling tournament. Players must participate in a tryout and meet basic skill requirements. Limited roster of up to 10 players.
The exceptions to Blue schedules are as follows:
4th grade (boys and girls) will play in a traveling league on 5 weekends during the year, as well as the State traveling tournament.
5th and 6th grade girls will play in 8 full weekend tournaments, plus the State traveling tournament.
Gold Traveling Team (intermediate level of competition)
In the event that a sufficient number of interested players have signed up and a Blue team is filled, a Gold team (or more than one Gold team) may be established. Participants will have two weekday evening practices and participate in one or two full weekend tournaments, but primarily participate in 8 or 9 one day tournaments or one day traveling league events. Ultimately, the Gold teams will also play on 10 weekends, plus the State traveling tournament. Players must participate in a tryout and meet basic skill requirements. Limited roster of up to 10 players.
From a procedural standpoint, the following rules have been adopted to guide the establishment of the traveling teams:
There will be only one Blue team for each grade level
At each grade level, a Blue team must be established before a Gold level team can be established
Subject to gym availability, a sufficient number of qualified players and tournament opportunities, there may be more than one Gold team at each level.
Evaluation Process All players interested in participating in the traveling program are required to participate in the traveling evaluations.
We have made some changes to the evaluation process this year which will help us gather more quantifiable information. In summary, evaluations will last two hours. The first hour (lower gym), players will participate in a series of ten timed or counting activities (The Decathlon) in order to gather quantifiable information on various basketball/athletic skills. This will account for 40% of the overall score.
Hour two (upper gym) will be in a scrimmage setting where six specific skill areas (scoring, ball control, movement without the ball, defense, rebounding, intangibles) will be looked at. The players will participate in a variety of 3 on 3, 4 on 4 and 5 on 5 scrimmages for this part of the evaluation process. We are not focusing on individual scoring we are looking for team players, getting the ball to the open player, setting screens properly and at appropriate times, help defense, understanding balance on the floor, hustle, proper aggressiveness, ability to make everyone else on the floor better. This component will account for 60% of the overall score. Points from the decathlon and scrimmage are added together and the players are ranked by point value from highest to lowest.
Evaluators are board members or other qualified volunteers all of whom have considerable basketball playing and coaching experience. Evaluators for the scrimmage part of the evaluations will not coach or have children playing at the age level they are evaluating. During the evaluation process a number identifies each player rather than names to further assure anonymity.
Player Selection Process A maximum of 10 players are selected for each team.
For the 4th grade teams, the top 10 ranked players from the evaluation process constitute the blue team.
For 5th - 8th Grade teams where there is not an incoming team from the prior year, the top 10 ranked players from the evaluation process constitute the blue team.
For 5th - 8th Grade teams where the child of the head coach from the previous year did not rank in the top 10, the top 10 ranked players from the evaluation process constitute the blue team.
For 5th - 8th Grade Teams where the child of the head coach from the previous year did rank in the top 10 and the coach is returning, the roster will consist of at least 8 of the top 10 ranked players. The final two players may be selected based on team needs, e.g. height for additional post players, need for a ball handler, etc. No player can be selected who has received less than half the total possible points. If the coach wishes to deviate from the top 10 rated players, they will present their request and justification to the Selection Committee (the Board President and respective Traveling Director). The Selection Committee has final say on all roster decisions, but may ask for the full board input/vote if policy issues are in question. The MBA Board strongly encourages and supports the selection of the top 10 ranking players, and will only support the selection of lower ranked players for very clear and supported reasons - that support the objective of improving the team.
Please note that after the Blue Teams are selected at each level, should there be enough players remaining, the same procedures will apply for the estblishment of a Gold Team.
Coach Selection Process
The interview process and selection of coaches for Traveling teams will be done at the October MBA Board meeting. Please notify the traveling directors as soon as possible if you are interested in coaching a traveling team.
For the 4th Grade, other grade levels where there was not a team the prior year or where the child of the head coach from the previous year did not rank in the top 10, once player selection is completed, the parents of players who have made the team or others who are interested in being the head coach will present their coaching credentials, coaching philosophy, and experience to the board. The board will then make the final selection.
For 5th - 8th Grade Teams where the child of the head coach from the previous year did rank in the top 10, the head coaches frequently carry over from the previous year. Determining factors include a requirement that the feedback received on how the team was coached the previous year has been positive. The board reviews every head coaching position each year. The board may interview and select other candidates if they feel it will benefit the program.
After the head coach is selected, the head coach selects the assistant coach, who must be approved by the Selection Committee.
Please note that after the Blue Teams are selected at each level, should there be enough players remaining, the same procedures will apply for the estblishment of coaches at the Gold level.
Playing Time
On our Traveling teams we think it is very important that all players be allowed to perform during game situations. The board has established the following expectations for playing time:
At the 4th - 6th grade levels, all players will be given equal playing time in each game.
At the 7th and 8th grade level, all players will be given equal playing time during the first three quarters of the game, but during the 4th quarter coaches may utilize players as they deem in the best interest of the team.
Tournaments
Except as noted above Blue traveling teams will play in 10 tournaments held on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) from November through March, with 3 to 5 games per tournament as well as the state tournament at the end of the season. Gold Traveling teams would play in a traveling league and a number of one day tournaments, as well as several full weekend tournaments. Traveling basketball can be a significant time commitment requiring travel (generally within the Twin Cities metro area with one exception). For perspective, the Boys Blue traveling teams will likely play tournaments in Eagan, Centennial, Roseville, Eastview, North St. Paul, Tartan, Woodbury, White Bear Lake, Mankato and Mahtomedi. Our Girls Blue traveling team will likely play tournaments in Mankato, Roseville, North St. Paul, Cottage Grove, Anoka, Blaine, Forest Lake, Tartan, Eastview and Mahtomedi. The actual tournament schedules are posted in late October on our website.
As mentioned above, Blue traveling teams (boys and girls) at the 4th grade level will play in a traveling league on Saturdays of 5 weekends throughout the year, at a location to be determined.
The Mahtomedi Basketball Association sponsors a Girls Tournament (December 4 - 6, 2009) and a Boys Tournament (December 11 - 13, 2009). Parents of each traveling team player are expected to work a minimum of two hours during the tournament. We try to plan for parents of girls traveling players working at the boys tournament and parents of boys traveling players working at the girls tournament. Your coach will contact you regarding the times assigned for your team. This is a major fundraiser for our program so please do your part.
Summary
Our teams, coaches, and players are not pre-selected. Every effort is made to assure that the evaluation process is comprehensive and impartial, and the ultimate team selection process follows the evaluation results and treats every player fairly.
The child of a coach from a previous year does not automatically make a team they can only earn a spot through the evaluation process. The corollary to this is that until the child of the coach from the previous year makes the team, the final determination of the coach is not made.
Evaluators are board members or other qualified volunteers all of whom have considerable basketball playing and coaching experience. Scrimmage evaluators cannot have a child at the age level they are evaluating.
A board member who will not coach or have children playing at the age level tallies the points from the evaluation.
Questions
If you have questions about the selection process or the Traveling program, please contact Mark Gustafson, President 651-770-1414, Mike Mustar, Boys Traveling Director , 651-426-1131 and/or Rick Wynveen, Girls Traveling Director, 651-770-9577.
The MBA Board works hard to ensure integrity in our processes. Wherever possible, there are checks and balances. We volunteer so all our players can learn to play the game and develop a love for the game of basketball. There is no way we can make everyone happy; but above all, we work hard to be fair. We elect board members every year. Please consider joining the board at the Mahtomedi Basketball Association Annual Meeting and Board election in May.
|
MBA Programs 
