Travel Team Disclosure

Updated September, 2010

The LTBBL Travel Program has traditionally selected one travel team for 3^rd grade and two travel teams from each grade from 4^th through 6^th grade. These Travel Teams compete against other Travel Teams in the greater Indianapolis area, usually in Saturday leagues and in selected weekend tournaments and other leagues against the best competition in the area, if not the State.

Point of emphasis:

• In order to be eligible to participate in the travel team tryouts, all players must be officially registered and paid with our league and have also gone through mandatory player evaluation process.

• Online registration and payments can be completed at www.ltbbl.com or walk in registration and payment can be completed on Saturday 9/18 from Noon-4PM at Fall Creek Valley Middle School or Wednesday 9/22 from 6:30-8:30PM at Fall Creek Valley Middle School.

• MANDATORY PLAYER EVALUATIONS will be held on Saturday 9/18 from Noon-4PM at Fall Creek Valley Middle School or Wednesday 9/22 from 6:30-8:30PM at Fall Creek Valley Middle School.

• Cost for travel team players is $165.00 (inclusive of $90.00 charge for LTBBL).

The LTTBL Travel Program involves a significantly greater commitment by the player and his parents with respect to time, travel, expense, and level of competition. The philosophy of the travel league is a higher, but not exclusive, emphasis on winning and quality of play. The Travel Teams have a longer season than recreational league with more games and more practices. While the recreation league generally starts in mid-November and concludes in early March, the Travel Teams’ practices start in mid-October and games generally conclude the end of March or early April. Travel teams generally practice 3 times per week (in 90 minute segments) and play at least one, if not two, games per weekend. Practices for 3^rd and 4^th graders are generally 6:00 to 7:30 pm on weeknights while the 5^th and 6^th graders practice 7:30 to 9:00 pm. The time commitment for Travel Team players and parents is roughly twice that of the recreational league.

Players are expected to attend every practice and every game. It is up to each Travel Team coach whether or not players on his team will be allowed to participate in a second team during Travel season. As a general rule, the Travel Program strongly discourages that, and at a minimum, the Travel Team must receive priority over a second team even if permitted by a Travel coach.

Unlike the recreational league, equal playing time is not guaranteed in the Travel Program. Some players may occasionally not play in all games. If you believe that you or your son would be uncomfortable with not playing in games as much as other team members, then the Travel Program may not be appropriate for your son. Please be aware that the LTBBL recreational league is designed for equal playing time for the players.

The term “travel” is somewhat of a misnomer. Most games are played within 15 miles of Lawrence Township. Nonetheless, parents are responsible for ensuring their son arrives at all practices and games on time irrespective of destination.

There is an extra financial commitment above the $90.00 LTBBL league registration fee. The registration fee for Travel Team basketball is $165.00 (inclusive of the $90.00 LTBBL league registration fee) and includes the player’s uniform (which he keeps) and the cost of entry into two “seasons” of basketball competition with games beginning in early November and concluding in late March. Although it may vary somewhat among the Travel Teams, it is estimated that an additional $50 to $100 per player will be required. This additional amount would depend upon what additional tournaments or leagues the individual Travel Coach chooses to participate in and can be defrayed through various fund-raising activities by the teams. There is also an admission fee charged to spectators by the host site (generally $2.00 to $3.00).

LTBBL Travel Team Tryouts are “open” to any and all registered players who desire to try out for a Travel Team. However, your son must be a resident of Lawrence Township to be eligible to participate in the Travel Program.

For 2010 – 2011 season, Travel Tryouts will be as follows:

• Thursday, Sept. 23: Lawrence North High School: all grades from 3^rd to 6^th from 7:30PM to 9:00 PM (Parents’ Meeting mandatory attendance at beginning of practice)

• Friday, Sept 24: Lawrence North High School: all grades 7:00-8:30PM. Please enter through Entrance 7.

• Saturday, Sept. 25: Lawrence North High School: all grades 3:00-4:30PM. Please enter through Entrance 7.

PLAYERS MUST ATTEND AT LEAST TWO OF THE THREE SESSIONS

Players are selected by the coaches with the help of an advisory board (made up of LTBBL Board members and former coaches). Players are selected based upon many different criteria including, but not limited to, the following: individual skills, team skills, player’s attitude, parents’ attitude, player’s ability to listen/learn and level of commitment to the team. If your son makes a Travel Team, he will not be allowed to participate in the recreational league. If he does not make the Travel Team, he is encouraged to participate in the recreational league.