PROGRAM SUMMARY
The program is designed to enable aspiring high school basketball players an opportunity to compete and learn the game alongside like minded players. Depending on the number of kids who tryout, available coaches and league restrictions we will assemble grade level feeder teams to play in multiple leagues and tournaments. Our philosophy of teaching and coaching emphasizes developing athletes for the long term. Practices and skills training sessions will focus heavily on fundamental skills development while nurturing an instinct to play the game understanding essential team concepts.
COACHES
The Jr. Eagles Basketball program is operated with volunteer coaches. These volunteer coaches are often parents or grandparents of participating players.
Each division (gender & grade level) will have one coach to serve as the liaison between the other coaches at their grade level and the high school coaches. This liaison will lead the player evaluation and facilitate the discussion with the other coaches in that division for the purposes of placing players on rosters. The division liaison will also communicate with the high school coaches throughout the season to ensure practices are being structured in alignment with the Liberty Basketball philosophy.
The Liberty Basketball High School Coaches have developed a variety of practice plans in advance of the season to address key fundamental skill areas. These practice plans will offer a multitude of drills and small sided games to be used in Jr. Eagles practices.
FEES AND REFUND POLICIES
Costs associated to participate in practices, league games and tournaments will be shared by the teams and specifically the individual players participating in the program. After tryouts are complete and players have been assigned to their respective teams, players will be responsible for paying the Club and TLP (Tournament, Leagues and Practices) fees. Club Fees will cover services, insurance and operational fees incurred by the club. TLP (Tournaments, Leagues and Practices) fees include any league, tournaments or practices included for each team in the program. Costs are itemized out each year with a summary sent to each participating family. Our goal is to keep costs down while providing the greatest learning and competitive environment for the players.
Jr. Eagles Basketball has a NO REFUND policy. All moneys collected are allocated toward a shared cost of operations or fees associated based on the number of kids per team or age division. We understand there are unforeseen circumstances in which a player may not be able to participate. For this reason, Jr. Eagles Basketball may offer a ONE time transfer to another season.
GRADE LEVEL PROGRAMS AND FEES
Note: *Based on the number of games played. Pricing will vary depending on the size of the team as well the number of tournaments entered and practices scheduled.
Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Our younger Jr. Eagles players will be offered the opportunity to participate in the Liberty Basketball 3v3 league hosted at Liberty High School. The schedule will consist of Wednesday night skills and 3v3 game play. The 3v3 league program will consist of 6 or 7 nights during November & December.
2nd & 3rd GRADE PROGRAM
Players will be introduced to the basic fundamentals and skills. Our emphasis will be on small sided games (SSG’s) so skills are learned in a dynamic environment similar to how the game of basketball is played. These teams will likely compete in the CNR league. Practices will likely be held one or two nights per week. Games will be played on Saturday or Sunday during the Fall, Winter and Spring sessions. Games are played on weeknights during the Summer session.
4th – 5th GRADE PROGRAM
At this level teams will begin experiencing competitive tournaments and more competitive league opportunities. These teams will likely compete in a CNR Fall League during (September – October) and CNR Winter League (November – March). Practices will likely be held two nights per week. Games will be played on Saturdays and Sundays. Players will be slotted on teams to allow players of similar skill level the chance to play together. This affords all participants the optimal learning environment where they can transfer the skills being learned in practices into their games.
6th – 7th GRADE PROGRAM
As the level of competition continues to improve these teams will compete in appropriate tournaments and the CNR Basketball league allowing players to be properly tested. Teams will compete in a CNR Fall (Sept / Oct) and Winter (Nov – March) league. Team practices will likely be held two nights per week. Games will be played on Saturdays and Sundays.
8th GRADE PROGRAM
Learning to compete and play the game of basketball against the best competition available will be the focus for players at this level. Understanding terminology and becoming a student of the game, specifically their personal game, will be emphasized. Teams will compete in a CNR league up until the MSHSAA basketball season begins. During the MSHSAA basketball season our 8th Grade Jr. Eagles teams will suspend all practices and games to allow students at Frontier Middle the opportunity to pursue playing for the Middle School team. Practices will be held at least two nights per week with additional skills training sessions encouraged. Games will be played primarily on Saturdays and Sundays with occasional Friday night games. We will then resume with an 8th grade Jr. Eagles team for the January – March portion of the CNR Winter league once the Frontier Middle School season is finished.
UNIFORMS – Uniforms may have minor changes from year to year. Our goal is to keep the same styles and uniforms to minimize costs from year to year.
KEY PROGRAM COSTS (Explanation)
The CNR League is priced on a per game basis at a rate of $80 per game per team.
Most of our teams are expected to play in two or three tournaments during the season. Some teams may elect to play in more than three tournaments, and will be asked to share the cost of the entry fee across the participating players. We budget each tournament will cost us $200 – $300 per entry.
The Wentzville School District will be charging our teams $30 per hour for court rental at a Wentzville School District gym. We may also be renting time at the Lombardo All-American Athlete Center at a rate of $40 per hour.
The program maintains an insurance policy with eSportsinsurance at a cost of $2,250.
Additionally the program will use TeamSnap to manage rosters, uniform orders and in season day to day management of teams. TeamSnap will be your resource for accessing practice schedules and game schedules. TeamSnap costs $1,750 annually.
The mission/purpose of the Jr. Eagles Basketball program isn’t to produce a profit. We operate the program as a break even entity, trying our best to provide our kids a best in class learning environment in the most affordable manner possible.