Lady Cats of Libertyville

Pre-tryout Informational Meeting

“No, but they gave one to me anyway. - L.A. Lakers rookie Elden Campbell when asked if he earned a degree at Clemson University

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Agenda

• Introductions and the Lady Cats Mission

• 2011-2012 season preview

• Player and Parent Expectations

• Tryouts and Registration

• Website www.libertyvilleladycats.org

• Email: kkeefe@brilliancehonda.com

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Introductions

• Board & Roles • Kevin Keefe President• Doug Cayce Coaching and Player Development/Lead Trainer• Mari Frea Scheduling• Rob Weis Treasurer• Mike Buchert Sponsorship Coor/apparel and trophies• Denny Ryan Tournament Dir/Public Relations/Special Events Asst• Chris Fiorito Website/volunteer coord• Christine Stegman Special and Social events• Kris Hoult Tournament Auction Coord/volunteer coord• Jennifer O’Block Chief Information Officer, Away Tourn Coor/ Surveys• Diane Mieszala Social Events/Big sis-litle sis/Recording Secretary

• Coaching Staff • Michelle Kaefer• Lisa Matthew• Pat Quenan• Greg SloanTBD – Pending Teams

Partner – Coach Swanson/Staff/Players

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Lady Cats Mission Review

• Purpose: • Provide the Libertyville community with a developmental basketball

program that prepares middle school girls to play basketball at the high school level, and teaches life lessons they will value beyond high school• Northern Illinois Girls Feeder Basketball Association (NIGFBA)• www.nigfba.com• 32 programs from Northern Illinois in NIGFBA• NIGFBA requires each member to be a feeder program• Lady Cats is feeder program for LHS• Girls must live within LHS boundaries and plan on attending LHS to

be eligible for Lady Cats

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Lady Cats Mission - Goals

• Have FUN!!!

• Develop complete players and help them become better people

• Fundamentals first, game strategy as players progress

• Values – teamwork, integrity, pride …

• Not afraid to fail

• Win with grace; lose with dignity

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Lady Cats Mission - Principles

• Development is focus; winning will happen• Expectation is Lady Cats is priority above all non-school extracurricular activities• Positive attitude, effort and “coachability” will be rewarded• Development requires playing time – expectation is all players play every game

(unless disciplined)• 5th and 6th grade playing time is balanced over the season • 7th and 8th grade – Earned approach

• Want to establish player/coach relationships, not parent/coach relationships• Players should call coach if unable to attend practice or game• Players should ask coach to clarify playing time/position • Parent can schedule time to talk with coach if player not satisfied with answer• No parent contact with coaches within 24 hours after a game – “cooling off period”

• Scoring is the result of many players working together – don’t focus on stats• Parents should be great fans, not sideline or carpool coaches – Support the entire

team, not just your daughter

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2011 – 2012 Season Preview

• 5,6 or 7 teams – Maybe two teams at 5th,6th and 7th Grades.• Team size (max usually 12) is determined by quality of players at

tryouts• Long term goal is to develop capability of multiple teams

• Continued great support from LHS• We will play most home games at LHS • We host a one-day tournament at LHS on January 8 – our main fundraiser• Our 8th grade team will shadow a LHS team for a game, including pregame

meeting, halftime talk and postgame talk• LHS players help out with practices and tournament

• Practices begin October 26 or October 28

• First tournament probably early December • 4 or 5 tournaments/team, usually one per month• Expect about 35-40 games, including tournaments (may be less for 5th grade)

• Most games on weekends; some weeknight games inevitable

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2011-2012 Season Preview (2)

TOURNAMENTS • Out-of-town overnight tournament in late Jan in Madison, WI

• Lady Cats Tournament at LHS on January 8th

GAMES/PRACTICES/OTHER ACTIVITES• Big Sister – Little Sister program• Mixer: night of games with teams “mixed up” from each grade• Lady Cats at Northwestern Univ; 8th grade play in NU’s gym• NIGFBA season ending tourney in middle March• No league games over Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday weekends• Optional Holiday Tournament• Season ending banquet • An active, energized Parents Organization to drive Tournament and

other fundraising activities

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2011 – 2012 Player Commitment

• Season runs October 26 – March 15 (approx)• Practices at Libertyville HS, LSC, Oak Grove or Butterfield School

• Practices every Monday and Wednesday nights• Third weekly practice on some Fridays

• Lady Cats is primary sport (other than school team) during entire season

• Home games scheduled for weekends when possible• Seven conference home and away matchups (Last years conference was Antioch, Lake Forest, Lakes, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Warren and

Wauconda) grades 6-8; 5th grade TBD by NIGFBA• Some non-conference home and away matchups • We try for away games on weekends if opponent has weekend court time

• Season ending NIGFBA tournament and the Lady Cats tournament

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Player expectations

• Players and parents will sign and abide by NIGFBA Code of Conduct• Attend all practices and games on time ready to play

• If you miss practice you will have diminished playing time.• No homework at practice; no sitting out unless injured• Focus and dedication at all practices; arrive on time @ 6:45 for 7:00 practice

• Bring ball and wear practice jersey to all practices, NO JEWELRY – NOT EVEN STARTER EARRINGS

• Leave our bench and gym cleaner than when we walked in • Give best effort and intensity in practice, in games and while on the

bench during games -- HUSTLE• Get up off bench and congratulate teammates as they leave the game.• Demonstrate sportsmanship at all time to referees, opponents, coaches,

teammates and fans • Lady Cats do NOT get technical or flagrant fouls

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Playing Time

• Everyone Plays!!• Lady Cats comes first before any other sports (except school)• 5th and 6th - playing time is balanced over the season• 7th and 8th – minutes earned• Playing time is affected by practice time, attitude, ability,

progress, commitment to team, and compatibility with needs of team vs competition

• Playing time is affected by missed practices• 28 minutes a game 12 players 5 players on the court

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Parent expectations

• Parents will sign and abide by NIGFBA Code of Conduct• NIGFBA rules – coaches are responsible for parents behavior. A Parent

technical or ejection results in Coach ejection; game will be stopped until Parent and Coach have left the gym

• Demonstrate sportsmanship at all time to referees, players, coaches, and other fans

• No sideline coaching • A parent violation will result in player suspension

• Trust your daughters to communicate with their coach; if you need to speak with a coach respect the 24 hour rule and their time

• Get players to practices 15 minutes prior to start time and to games on time ready to play

• Active participation in Parents Organization

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Program Cost

• Costs to Lady Cats are around $700 per player• Court time ($25 to $40/hour)• Referees ($70/game)• Tournament registration fees ($250-$300 per team)• NIGFBA membership fees and registration• Coaches and Lead Trainer• Insurance and other related expenses• Team building events

• Lady Cats will provide each player with a “practice ball”, shooting shirt, T-shirt, and water bottle

• Last seasons costs were covered by:• Player fees • Preseason clinic and tryouts, in small part• Lady Cat Tournament• Local company sponsorships• Uniforms purchased separately

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2011 – 2012 Program Fees

• Player fee – $495 (same as last year!)• Uniform cost (if new to the program) – about $75• Volunteer effort

• Tournament – January 8, 2011

• Other activities (clinic, team building events, NU trip, etc.)

• Sponsorships

• Volunteer buyout ($200)

• Fees will be payable at registration on October 25th • Hardships will be considered on an individual basis

• Fees are very competitive with other area basketball programs

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What your $495 registration fee covers:

1. NIGFBA membership fees

2. Court Time

3. Referee fees

4. Insurance

5. Coaches and Lead Trainer

6. Tournament registration fees

7. Northwestern game tickets and transportation

8. Shooting shirt

9. Evolution Basketball (5th Grade or new to program)

11. Lady Cats T-shirt

12. Water bottle

13. Lady Cats window decal

14. Website maintenance

15. Team building events: mixers, pizza parties

16. Lady Cats Scholarship Award

17. Year end Banquet

18. Year end players’ and coaches’ gifts and awards

Our goal is to Our goal is to notnot nickel and dime you; no other fees will be requested during the season. nickel and dime you; no other fees will be requested during the season.

TRYOUTS

Open to all 5th through 8th grade girls who plan on attending Libertyville High School

TRYOUT  SESSION 1:  WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12TH

TRYOUT TIME:  5TH AND 6TH @ 6:15-7:30PM

(REGISTRATION STARTS @ 5:45)

TRYOUT TIME:  7TH AND 8TH @ 7:45-9:00PM (REGISTRATION STARTS @ 7:30)

TRYOUT SESSION 2:  SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16TH

TRYOUT TIME:  7TH AND 8TH @ 5:00-6:15PM (REGISTRATION STARTS @ 4:45)

TRYOUT TIME:  5TH AND 6TH @ 6:30-7:45PM (REGISTRATION STARTS @ 6:15)

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Tryout Information

• Players are strongly encouraged to attend both sessions

• Each session will include drills focused on ball handling, passing, shooting and defense. Additionally, there will be some scrimmage periods

• Players will be evaluated in the following areas:• Ball handling • Shooting • Defense• Rebounding • Passing • Speed• Size • Decision making •

Attitude/coachability

Tryout Information

Your daughter’s evaluation starts as soon as she puts on her tryout Jersey.

• Players must bring a basketball (28.5) and water bottle

• Parents may not watch tryouts. We want the girls to focus on the coaches and trainers leading the tryouts

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Unable to Tryout/Conflicts?

• Medical reason• Must register for tryout

• Unless contagious, player must bring MD letter indicating when she is expected to be cleared to play and watch tryout. Must expect Medical Clearance by 11/15/11

• Spots will not be held on the team, but a tryout will be arranged once player is medically able, & if qualified, player will be added to the team

• Other reasons• Must attend at least one session and player rating will be based on

that session

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Tryout registration/team selection

• Please complete forms here tonight, if possible• Tryout registration form and Medical Release and Waiver (if not

already on file from Clinics)

• $25 fee covers reversible practice jersey, gym space and evaluators

• Teams will be posted on the website by 10/18

• Tough decisions; encourage your daughter to continue playing

• Mandatory Player and Parent meeting on 10/25 to register, pay fees, and receive basic information and forms

LADY CAT’S SPONSORS

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Questions?

Web site: www.libertyvilleladycats.orgE-mail: kkeefe@brilliancehonda.comPhone: Kevin Keefe 847.924.7800