Purpose

The purpose of these guidelines is to define the process and criteria for STMA tryouts for our youth travel basketball program. This process is to make sure each player is given a fair opportunity and to help ensure the accuracy in our tryouts is done at the highest level. It is also intended to clearly communicate to parents and players how the tryout process works. 

Pre- Tryout Practice

TBD

Tryouts

Tryouts will be held over a 2-day period. Dates, times and locations for each grade level are listed below.

Parents will not be allowed in the gym during tryouts. We believe this can be a distraction for both the players and the evaluators.

Tryouts will consist of various drills that include, but are not limited to: ball handling, layups from both sides, shooting form and accuracy, rebounding, passing, attitude, hustle, teamwork, knowledge of the game and competitiveness.

Please do not bring your own basketballs to tryouts.

Players must attend both tryouts.

Registration will be available on STMA Boys Basketball Website (www.STMA.hoopsystems.com).

Traveling Fee 2022-2023 Season: $375 payable to STMA Boys Basketball if your son makes a travel team. Payment will be made through STMA Boys Basketball Website.

The goal is to post the Traveling Team Rosters the week of tryouts. Rosters will not be posted during the school day. Once finalized the roster will get posted on STMA Boys Basketball website.

Evaluators

In order to obtain as much objectivity as we can during the tryout process, the STMA Basketball Board will use outside evaluators for tryouts. They are independent and experienced youth basketball evaluators. STMA Basketball Board Members, and Head Varsity Coach Jeff Oseth and staff will also be assisting during the tryouts. The head coaching finalists for each grade and level will observe tryouts grades 5th-8th. They will NOT be evaluating, just observing all athletes.

Team Selection Process

In most years, teams will consist of 8-10 players, depending on evaluations.  Typically, the A teams will have a lower number of players.  If the evaluators deem there to be enough talent to comprise more than three teams, the board will discuss these possibilities in regards to gym space, suitable tournaments available, number of coaches, etc.  Likewise, if less players try out or are not deemed suitable for a certain level of play, the board may discuss having less than three teams at one certain level.

Rosters are formed based on the evaluators’ scoring system. Each player is given a final score based on the evaluations.  Below is a guideline to create rosters in 4th grade:

A Team → Players ranked 1-8

B Team → Players ranked 9-18

C Team → Players ranked 19-28

Below is a guideline to create rosters in 5th – 8th grade:

A Team → Players ranked 1-6 and coach selects 2 players from rankings 7-15

B Team → Next 6 highest ranked players and coach selects 2-4 players from rankings 15-23

C Team → Next 6 highest ranked players and coach selects 2-4 players from rankings 25-34

Coach Selection Process

All individuals interested in coaching a STMA Boys Traveling team are asked to submit their application via our website. Date TBD for 2023 - 2024 season, watch for emails late spring.