When thinking about travel basketball there are a few things to consider. In response to the numerous questions on travel basketball we receive, we hope you find this information useful.

We think of basketball as being developmental, recreational, competitive, and/or elite.

Travel in any sport requires a commitment. Generally about 8-10% percent of an intramural program can play and have a positive experience at a competitive level.

There are many options available:

• The Island Garden (IG) is located nearby at Cherry Valley Avenue and Hempstead Turnpike. There are boys and girls programs offered year -round. The IG offers developmental programs, individual training, Super League, which is competitive (with different levels of competition), and AAU tournament teams (Long Island Lightning teams going to AAU division 1 and 2 which are elite and division 3 which is competitive). The Lightning teams conduct tryouts generally around Martin Luther King weekend in January. You can also pay to play travel/Super League without tryouts on an IG “FE Hoops” team. Most games are local at the IG, but other locations like SUNY Westbury are also used. Visit the www.islandgarden.com website for more information.

• St Anne’s and St Joe’s Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) generally offers an A, B, and C level of play. Typically, a CYO “A” team plays in divisions 1 or 2 in the IG Super League or AAU divisions 2/3 tournaments. CYO A/B is competitive whereas CYO C level is more developmental. Tryouts are usually late fall/early winter. A good approach to travel basketball is to play for a CYO A or B level team, where the coach may enter the team into the IG Super League. If this occurs, you can expect to play in a dozen CYO games plus another 12-18 Super League games, as well as benefit from a “double” practice schedule. The alternative is two different teams with two different coaches with potentially different styles practicing with different kids.

• The focus of Garden City Basketball is our intramural program which is recreational and developmental. Each year, Garden City Basketball has supported a few pre-established teams playing in the IG Super League and in AAU competitive tournaments.

• The GCAA offers intramural programs that are developmental/competitive and a travel program which is competitive. Tryouts are in the fall.

• Forming independent teams with friends and pre-selected players is a more difficult undertaking. These teams generally bypass the tryout process. A major consideration is to form the team before the tryouts of other teams so that players (and usually better players) are available/committed. Purchase of uniforms and equipment needs to be done. Obtaining insurance and practice space can be an obstacle. Playing in the off season (summer league in the IG, Rockville Center or Valley Stream) an insurance certificate is still needed.

Information on Garden City Basketball and our programs may be found at www.gardencitybasketball.org registration for intramural program is underway and may be done on our website.

If there are any questions, please contact John Skramko at jskramko@optonline.net or 746-9659.

Document comparison done by Workshare Professional on Monday, August 31, 2009 9:02:50 AM