Yorkville Travel and Tournament Basketball offers talented and motivated basketball players (children) a chance to play against other competitive teams. This exciting program offers Players the opportunity to improve their individual skills while learning how to participate in a "team first" environment.

Yorkville Travel and Tournament Basketball is committed to teamwork, performance, competition, good sportsmanship and the emotional growth of our Players (children).

Attendance at all games and practices is expected. Travel and Tournament Basketball Players will be required to play on either Saturday or Sunday or both, as well as, at least one, practice in the city during the week. Travel League games are usually played in within 30 minutes of New York City. Longer trips will be discussed and agreed upon with Team Families. Some Games and Scrimmages will be scheduled locally as well. If a player is not available for a particular Game, Practice or Scrimmage, parents must notify the head coach as soon as they know. If a player misses a practice for any reason, there is the possibility that he or she, at the Coaches discretion, will be unable to play in the week's game. Players are expected to meet up to 30 minutes before each game to warm up and be ready to play.

Every player interested in Travel and Tournament Basketball is required to try out. Players who have played on a travel team before are guaranteed a spot in the Program but not necessarily the same team and must try out for each new season. This guarantees optimally competitive groupings and a fair chance for all players who qualify to have an opportunity to participate in the Program.

There will be at least one, highly qualified, professional coach assigned to each Travel and Tournament Basketball team. Chosen based on their knowledge of the game and passion about the needs of young players. Each player will be coached on the fundamentals of the game as well as specific roles within the team, in a manner that creates tangible goals, thereby supplementing team success with individual self esteem.

At the Coaches option a Parent may be assigned "Bench Coach" duty. A Bench Coach will sit on the Team bench keeping the players attention on the game and discussing each boys plays and roles while waiting for court time.

Parents play an important role in the success of Travel and Tournament Basketball. Families are asked to commit some time and effort. Before making that commitment, parents must decide whether they are truly able to do so:

• A Parent Orientation will take place before each Season's tryout to go over exactly what Parent, Coaches and Players can expect during each Season.
• Travel of up to an hour, to and from games, is sometimes necessary.
• Although games are scheduled to be played on weekends, the exact time and place is sometimes determined very close to the game day.
• Games can take up to one and one half hours.
• Parents are asked to be supportive of their children and their Coaches. Part of being supportive is trusting that your coaches are making decisions that are best for the team (children) and leaving coaching decisions up to them. (Please see "Coaching" tab)
• Parents are encouraged to practice with children on their own time, using your coaches' suggestions to work on improving individual skills. Interaction with players during games and practices is discouraged, so that players can give 100 percent of their attention to their coaches and their teammates.
• Only positive cheers and words of encouragement are appropriate during games. There can be no tolerance of criticism or arguments with Referees or Coaches.
• Travel and Tournament basketball games, whether won or lost, can get very tense, which can be both fun and exciting. We ask that everyone appreciate(and teach) the value of the experience to our Players/Children regardless of the outcome.