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FAQ's for BOYS and GIRLS travel

Q: How long is the season?
A: Official team practices begin in early/mid-October and continue through end of February to early March when teams play in the State Tournament. 
 
Q: How many practices do you have a week, how long are they, and where are they located?
A: Expect to average about 2 practices a week, with an occasional week of three practices. Practices for 4th graders are 60 minutes each, while 5th-8th grade are 90 mins. Practices can be on any night of the week (Wednesday’s included) and may end as late as 9pm. There may be one weekend day where practices are held if the team is not participating in a tournament. Eastview Basketball Association utilizes multiple gyms in and out of the District 196 area, but when possible, we try to practice close to Apple Valley. Practices are primarily held at schools/gyms in Apple Valley, Eagan and Rosemount.  We will do our best to have consistent practice nights for each team, but it is all dependent on how many teams we have the gym availability.   
 
Q: How many games or tournaments do we play in and where are they located?
A: Unlike some other traveling sports there are no league games. All games played against other organizations occur at tournaments. Each team will play in 9-10 tournaments during the course of the season. Each team plays 3 or more games during each tournament. All tournaments take place on Saturdays and Sundays, though some may be one-day tournaments on either day.  The majority of the tournaments are within the Twin Cities metro area.  Depending on interest, there may be a potential for a program wide overnight tournament.  This will be at the discretion of the travel director.  A full tournament schedule will be provided at the parents meeting in September.
 
Q: What day and what time are tryouts?
A: Tryouts are the weekend before Labor Day.  Specific tryout times will be posted in July on our boys and girls travel pages.
 
Q: How does the tryout process work?
A: Try-outs will be conducted by experienced, independent basketball evaluators. Parents or any persons associated with a player trying out are not permitted to watch. Players are encouraged to attend both tryout sessions. More information about tryouts is included in section IV of our bylaws. We encourage you to review this section.
 
Q: How will teams be formed?
A: The independent evaluators evaluate each player’s skill set and basketball acumen and form the teams. That information is shared with Eastview Basketball Association leadership where team rosters are finalized at one of three skill levels (A, B, or C) for each grade, and communicated to parents. Each team will have a minimum of 8 players and a maximum of 10 players. The goal is to field teams with 10, similarly skilled players.
 
Q: Will there be a possibility that a player will not be placed?
A: Based on the number of players that try-out at a particular grade level, there may be years where a small number of players are not placed. In some situations, the evaluators may feel that a player’s skill set would be better developed in the in-house program rather than on a traveling team, and those players may also not be placed.
 
Q: How quickly are teams announced?
A: It is the goal of the Association to communicate team rosters as quickly as possible. Our goal is if a player does not make a team, his family will be notified via email within 48 hours of the final tryout. We will post final team rosters online within 1 week of the completion of tryouts.
 
Q: How are the Head Coach and Assistant Coach(-es) selected?
A: As a volunteer Association, all coaches and team managers in grades 4-7 are volunteer positions. If you are interested in coaching or being a team manager, please note that interest on the player’s registration. Historically at the 8th grade level teams have had a paid Head Coach. This practice is reviewed annually by the Basketball Association and changes can be made based on team need. Additional information, including what occurs if there are multiple adults interested in coaching a team, can be found in section VI of our bylaws: Coach Selection.
 
Q: What does it cost to play travel basketball?
A: There are 4 cost areas to be aware of with travel basketball:
  • Registration/Tryout fee - $250.($200 refunded + $50 credit for in house basketball if the player does not make a team roster) This portion can be covered by applying for financial aid.
  • Tournament fee - $245. This pays for the 9-10 tournaments a team plays in during the season. This portion is NOT covered by financial aid and will need to be paid in full at the time or registration or in a payment plan.  
  • Volunteer (“DIBS”) fee - You can choose the $300 (individual) or $500 (family) buy out option if you DON'T want to complete your DIBS hours.  Or you can complete your DIBS hours at either one of the two tournaments we host (2nd week in November and 1st full weekend in January), and not be charged the $300 fee.  There will be ample opportunity to complete your “DIBS” during either the boys or girls tournaments. If you do not complete your “DIBS” or choose not to do your “DIBS”,  you will be charged at the end of the season.
  • Miscellaneous fees. Some of the tournaments we play in will charge a spectator/entry fee at the door. These entry fees are in the range of $10-15 per person, per day or for the duration of the tournament. In addition there may be concessions at some tournament locations as well. These miscellaneous fees are not covered by the traveling program.
 
Q: What equipment is provided by the traveling program?
A: Each player placed on a roster will be given an Eastview game uniform (jersey and shorts) as well as a practice jersey that can be used all season long. These items will be returned to the Head Coach/Team Manager at the end of the year. If the uniforms are returned damaged or stained, there will be an additional fee.  The travel program will provide each player with a personalized (last name printed on back) shooting shirt that the player keeps at the end of the year. Each team is provided 5-6 basketballs that players can use should they not have one of their own.
 
Q: Where can I buy Eastview Basketball spirit wear?
A: The Eastview Basketball Association will have a website available where Eastview basketball branded items (shirts, sweatshirts, bags, etc…) will be available for purchase. Information about this online store will be sent out via email.
 
We also have set-up a year-round Eastview Lightning store, where items can be purchased at any time and will be shipped to you. There are many apparel, bags and gift items that can be used for any Eastview activities and events.
 
https://shop.game-one.com/minnesota/apple-valley/eastview-athletic-association-basketball
**password is (in lowercase): basketball 
 
Q: What size basketball does my child need?
A:  ALL 4th graders will use 27.5" (size 5).  5th - 8th grade GIRLS and 5th-6th grade BOYS will use 28.5" (size 6).  7th-8th grade BOYS will use 29.5" (size 7).
 
Q: How do I get answers to additional questions that were not addressed here?
A: Email our BOYS director at evaaboystravelingprogram@gmail.com or our GIRLS director michellegoodman11@gmail.com