FAQs

If my daughter tries out for travel and chooses not to play, can her registration fee be refunded?

• Players not making a team will be refunded their registration fee.
• Players making a team and choosing not to play will lose entire registration fee. (NO REFUNDS).
• No other refunds will be given at any other point during the season.

How is my daughter evaluated at tryouts for the travel program?

Four independent evaluators are assigned to each grade to assess player tryouts. Evaluators have no ties to the grade they are evaluating. Players are assessed on both individual and team skills. Team placement decisions are made based off of tryout results and the previous season's year end evaluations.

If my daughter wants to play up or down a grade level, can she?

It is the preference of the WGBA Board to have all girls play with their grade level during their tenure in the WGBA. Under no circumstances can a girl play down on a younger grade or the whole team would need to compete at the older age level. If a player and her family desire to play at an older level, they must meet the following guidelines:

• Must petition to the WGBA Board of Directors
• Must be the unquestioned top ranked player in her class as identified by last year’s tryout evaluation and coaches post season evaluation or consensus of the WGBA coaches in her current grade
• Must try out for the older grade and be one of the top 3 players in the older grade based on that grades tryout evaluation forms
• If the player finishes as the 4th ranked player or lower, she will be placed on the A team of her own grade.

Note - 2nd graders are not permitted to play 3rd grade travel given the limited number of spots vs. number of interested participants.

Who is eligible to play for the WGBA?

The Minnesota Youth Basketball Alliance (MYBA) has established team composition guidelines which designate school attendance as the primary factor when determining the association in which an athlete is eligible to participate. If your daughter attends one of the schools on the drop-down list below, she is eligible to participate for the WGBA.

Some exceptions exist. Athletes attending a private or charter school may choose one of the options listed below:

• Participate with the private/charter school that they attend.
• Participate with the traveling basketball association where the school is located.
• Participate with the traveling basketball association where the athlete resides.

What if my daughter is absent for one or more days of tryouts?

In order to most effectively place players on the appropriate traveling basketball team, it is necessary that all players take part in the respective traveling basketball tryouts, receive an evaluation by the evaluators, and be considered for a traveling team based on their tryout score.

Under certain circumstances approved by the WGBA Traveling Basketball Selection Committee (for example - injury or illness when accompanied by a doctor or school nurse note), an "excused player" may be eligible and placed on a traveling basketball team even though they were unable to participate in the respective tryouts.

In such situations, the following procedures will be followed by the WGBA Traveling Basketball Selection Committee in an effort to place players appropriately within the WGBA basketball programs (traveling or house league):

•  Excused players prior year rankings will be reviewed.
• WGBA basketball coaches familiar with the excused player will be consulted to obtain perspective of the players basketball abilities compared to others at the same age / gender.
• Others familiar with the excused player may be consulted to obtain additional perspective when deemed necessary.

What is the policy regarding playing time for the travel program?

The playing time policy for all travel program players is an average minimum 10 minutes per game. The 10-minute playing time policy may vary depending on players’ understanding of the game, attentiveness during practice, attendance, and disciplinary issues.

I have a concern related to playing time or coaching - what should I do?

If you or your child has a concern related to playtime or coaching directly related to your child, please discuss the issue at great length with your child to get all the information possible. Secondly, make sure you are familiar with all the policies and guidelines for WGBA (see policy page under Resources for Parents). If, at this point, you still have a concern, you must follow this line of communication. Any meetings should be set up outside of practice or competition times.

1.     Player and Parent meet with Coach (all grades)

2.     Player and Parent meet with Coach and Travel Director.

Please note that the player is involved in each step. We do this for two reasons. First, it ensures that the player’s perception is clearly understood by both the parent and the coach. Second, it involves the player in real life problem resolution process, an important life skill. 

Please do not contact the Travel Director without first addressing any issues with your child and the coach. An exception to this rule is if there are general concerns related to coaching or parent behavior detrimental to the team. In this case, please notify the Travel Director early in the process.