Libertyville Lady Cats

Pre-tryout Informational Meeting

“We are going to run the picket fence – don’t get caught watching the paint dry.” – Hickory Hoosiers coach Norman Dale

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Agenda

• Introductions and the Lady Cats Mission

• 2012-2013 season preview

• Player and Parent Expectations

• Tryouts and Registration

• Website www.libertyvilleladycats.org

• Email: mbuchert@vernonhillsbank.com

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Introductions

• Board & Roles • Michael Buchert President• Doug Cayce Coaching and Player Development/Lead Trainer• Mari Frea Scheduling• Rob Weis Treasurer• Bill Spaulding Assistant Treasurer & sponsorships• Kris Hoult Tournament Dir/Public Relations/Secretary• Kevin Keefe Immediate Past President/Website/volunteer

coord• Julie Rochester Special and Social events; Assistant scheduler• Chris VanMatre Tournament Auction Coord/volunteer coord/web assist• Rich Manski Chief Information Officer, Away Tourn Coor/ Surveys

• Coaching Staff • Doug Cayce• Mimi Savatic• Allison Thoren• Jan Bautista• Mary Kovatch - TrainerTBD – Pending Teams

Partner – LHS Varsity Coach Greg Pedersen / Coaching Staff / LHS 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• 33 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

• 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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2012 – 2013 Season Preview

• 4,5,6,7 or 8 teams – Maybe two teams at each level.• Team size (max usually 12) is determined by quality of players at

tryouts – If we have numbers and talent, we will try to have a team• 5th Grade – If we have numbers and talent for two teams, they will be

split equally after a few practices• 6th – 8th Grade – If we have numbers and talent for two teams, they will

be split into Orange and Black teams.• Differences will include – Black teams will need to have parent coaches,

possibly will have a few less games and a few less practices than orange teams, and cost to participate is adjusted accordingly.

• League concerns – a program needs to fill 6th – 8th to be in the league. Only New Trier, Maine South and Libertyville fielded two teams last season, with 30 other programs having cuts at one team for each grade.

• Competition concerns – black level teams facing difficult competition. This season work to obtain a more level playing schedule for both orange and black teams, based upon historical program strength.

• Orange and black teams will typically not play in the same tournaments this season.

2012 – 2013 Season Preview (2)

• Continued great support from LHS• We will play most home games and most practices at LHS• We will host a one day tournament at LHS on January 6, 2013 – Main

fundraiser• Our 8th grade team will shadow an LHS team for a game, including pre game

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

• Practices begin early November• First tournament likely early December

• 4 to 6 tournaments per team• Expect about 30 to 45 games, including tournaments• Most games on weekends, some weeknights

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2012-2013 Season Preview (3)

TOURNAMENTS • Out-of-town overnight tournament in late Jan in Wisconsin

• Lady Cats Tournament at LHS on January 6th

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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2012 – 2013 Player Commitment

• Season runs November 1 – March 15 (approx)• Practices at Libertyville HS, LSC, or local grade schools

• Practices every Monday and Wednesday night• Third weekly practice on some Fridays • As season progresses, may have only one night of practice• Court time challenges exist

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

• Home games scheduled for weekends when possible• Five conference home and away matchups (Orange team conference will

likely be Palatine, Fremd, Barrington, Lake Zurich, Schaumburg) grades 6-8; 5th grade TBD by NIGFBA; Black teams, if we are able to field sufficient number of teams to be in league, will have conference determined soon.

• 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 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 – we

cannot all play every minute of every game.

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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 $750 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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2012 – 2013 Program Fees

• 5th Grade Player fee – $495 (same as last year!)

• 6th – 8th Orange team player fee - $550

• 6th – 8th Black team player fee - $395

• Uniform cost (ALL NEW THIS SEASON) – about $75

• Volunteer effort • Tournament – January 6, 2013• Other activities (clinic, team building events, NU trip, team dad etc.)• Sponsorships• Volunteer buyout ($200)

• Fees will be payable at registration on October 30th • Financial assistance will be considered on an individual basis• Fees are very competitive with other area basketball programs• Libertyville rec program - $175 for ten games – parent coach

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What your 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 17TH

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

(REGISTRATION STARTS @ 5:45)

TRYOUT TIME:  7TH AND 8TH @ 7:45-9:00PM (REGISTRATION STARTS @ 7:15)

TRYOUT SESSION 2:  SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21st

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

•NO Lady Cat Parent will evaluate their own child nor any children in a grade with their daughter.

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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 11/15/12

• 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 10/24

• Tough decisions; encourage your daughter to continue playing

• Mandatory Player and Parent meeting on 10/30 to register, pay fees, and receive basic information and forms

LADY CAT SPONSORS

• Axiom Marketing

• Arpino & Wollney Orthondontics

• Brilliance Honda

• Burkett & Beattie, CPA

• Greentree Animal Hospital

• Mickey Finns

• Libertyville Bank & Trust

• Rust Oleum

• TransChicago Trucking

• Sports 11

• Vernon Hills Bank & Trust

• Wells Fargo Advisors

• Zengeler Cleaners

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Questions?

Web site: www.libertyvilleladycats.orgE-mail: mbuchert@vernonhillsbank.comPhone: Michael Buchert 847.902.0744