Program Information

What is McLean Youth Basketball?

McLean Youth Basketball is a voluntee,r community based sports program established to promote the play of the game of basketball within the greater McLean community area. We provide playing opportunities for grades first through twelfth. The program focuses on age appropriate skill development, organized play both through regular practice and game situations.   We provide the opportunity to develop a love for the game of basketball in a competitive environment bound by belief in the importance of emphasizing skill development, full participation for all players, team play and sportsmanship.

What level of play is provided?

McLean Youth Basketball recognizes that there are a variety of skill levels within any community of kids and it is our goal to offer a variety of leagues that provide a challenge for all kids no matter what skill level they may be at. We offer three major leagues, organized by age and skill level:

Development.    A league designed for kids in grades 1-3 with a focus on skill development over organized play. All the kids that sign up for development are placed on a team , no draft is used since we are not trying to foster a competitive situation. We place kids on teams based on their stated preference for a particular coach, to be on a team with particular players or for a team with players from their school. Registration and the formation of teams is based on current grade level and gender. Any player that wants to be considered for a different level must contact the Chief Commissioner for Development. Parents may not self-select the grade level for their child.

All players that register for Development by November 5th will be guaranteed a place on a team. After that date we will place as many players as possible on a first come, first serve basis. After teams are filled, we will start a wait list. You will have the opportunity to remain on a waitlist until the end of December. If we can not place a player a team by that time, a full refund will be issued.

Teams meet for one 1 1/2 hour session each weekend with the bulk of the session taken up with skill development drills and other age appropriate activities used to improve the players basketball abilities. The last 20-30 minutes of the session may be used for half court scrimmages in order to introduce the players to the practicalities of playing a game. Each year in the Development program, more emphasis is placed on scrimmage play and organized play in order to ensure the kids are ready to play organized games when they enter grade 4.

House League.    The House league makes up the majority of our players. The House league offers teams for grades 4 through 12, and players register in age groups according to their current grade levels and gender. (In rare instances, a player can move up, but registration must be within the current grade level -- the registration form will accomodate a move up request) If the league is big enough (more than 10 teams) and almost all our leagues are big enough, we provide two divisions within the league with the divisions divided based on skill, ability and experience. Any player that wishes to play in the House League must attend one of the evaluation sessions scheduled for his or her age group. Evaluation schedules will be posted on the website and emailed to all registered players. The evaluation sessions give the coaches in the league valuable information about the skill level of all the players in the league and assist in drafting the players into teams. In the House league all players are assigned to teams through a draft so that the League can encourage the fairest distribution of talent possible with the goal of providing all the teams a fair chance of competing.

All players that register for the House League by November 23 and attend an evaluation session will be guaranteed a place on a team. Placement on a team for players who do not register by that date and/or do not attend an evaluaton session will be placed on teams where there is availability and at the discretion of the Age Group Coordinator. Any player not placed by the end of December will receive a full refund.

Each team in the House league has one 90 minute practice after school (5-9 PM) a week during the week (Monday through Friday) and plays one game, either Saturday or Sunday, every weekend. About 75% of all games are played on Saturday.

Select League.   The Select league is for those kids with more experience and/or a higher skill level. Generally, these are the kids that are developing their skills so that when they reach high school they will be able to compete for positions on their high school teams. There are four age groups for both boys and girls, 10 and Under, 11 and Under, 12 and Under and 13 and Under with two teams in each age group. A player must attend tryouts (usually multiple times and dates) to be considered for a Select team. Tryouts are competitive and no one is guaranteed a place on the team. Coaches will monitor performance at all tryout sessions and select the players they believe will make for the best team. Any player that registers for Select and does not make a team will be registered for the House League (unless they give notice that they want to drop out of McLean Youth Basketball) in the appropriate League and a refund will be given for the difference in fees. However, it is mandatory that they attend a House league evaluation if they want to play in the House League. Evaluations in the House League are a completely separate process from Select League tryouts.

Select teams practice 2 - 3 times per week and play 1-2 games per week. The Select League registration box will outline age and zip code requirements.

When does the League start?

Registration begins Friday, September 10. We encourage you to register as soon as possible.

Select tryouts will begin around October 1. Registered players will be emailed a tryout schedule and the schedules will be posted on the website. Teams will be selected before the end of October and practices will start immediately after that. Games generally begin with tournaments during the Thanksgiving school break and continue immediately thereafter. The league continues to play games through February with the end of year tournament starting at the end of February and continuing through the first week of March.

The House League will begin evaluations the weekend of October 23. Full evaluation schedules will be sent to registered players and posted on the website. Drafts for all teams will be the second week of November and practices will start around November 15th. Regular season games begin the first weekend in December (three games before the Winter Break) and then resume the first weekend after school starts at the end of Winter Break. Games will continue through the first two weeks of February and the year end tournament will playout the last two weeks of February and the first weekend in March.

The Development League will accept registration up to November, 5. All registered players will be placed on teams and notified of their team and practice session time and location before the end of November. The first practice session for the Development League will be the first weekend in December. Development follows a similar schedule to the House League with sessions every weekend other than when school is closed through late February. For Grades 1-2 in Development we conclude the year with skill tests and team competitions. For Grade 3 Development, we conclude the year with tournament involving all the teams in Grade 3 Development. The tournament is timed and officiated by referees just like the House League tournaments.