Below, you will find the details for the Travel Program under the direction of CGHS Girls' Basketball Coach Kevin Stuckmeyer and High School Staff with the assistance of the CGGBL Board of Directors. TRAVEL PROGRAM VISION: It is the Center Grove Girls’ Basketball Program’s travel vision to:
Build Quality & Competitive age groups
Develop Quality & Competitive Players within each age group
Develop Strong Fundamentals
Develop the Proper Work Ethic, Teamwork, and Competitiveness
Provide the opportunity (not necessarily equality) for all that are capable/willing to play in a competitive environment
STRUCTURE OF TRAVEL: SEASON DURATION & EVALUATIONS: The official Center Grove Travel Season will take place in the winter season between October - March. There will be ONLY ONE FORMAL EVALUATION for the CG Girls’ Travel Program. If a Coach decides he/she wants to enter their selected team to play in a fall season – they are welcome to, but all players must be a part of the Formal Evaluation process. Not all players MUST commit to a fall season, but will still be included on the Winter Team.
One (1) Evaluation for Travel per year (Teams will be selected for Fall and Winter at this time)
NO FORMAL SPRING TRAVEL for K-5th (Spring is independent of the CG Travel Program with no evaluation).
SUMMER (SPRING) TRAVEL PROGRAM for 6th-8th (3 on 3 Showcase) | Organized & Run by H.S. Staff
REGISTRATION & REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Until August 16, 2021 COST: $200 EVALUATIONS: Evaluations will be conducted sometime in August/September. It is expected that all girls attend all evaluations for their grade, if at all possible. The evaluation dates for the season are as follows: LOCATION: West Gym -- Enter through Door 3 If for some reason a player cannot make the evaluation – this needs to be communicated AHEAD OF TIME with the Travel Coordinator & an alternative will be determined to include that player. Valid reasons must apply and special circumstances will be factored when needed. EVALUATORS FOR TEAM SELECTION: A COMMITTEE DETERMINED BY CGHS HEAD GIRLS COACH KEVIN STUCKMEYER (and H.S Staff ) WILL SELECT THE TEAM MAKEUP FOR EACH AGE GROUP: Placement of Teams: Teams will be selected by the Committeebased off of the evaluations/tryouts:
Teams will be based on Overall Ability 1st to create competitive teams. There will be flexibility for balancing teams among guards/forwards and flexibility for the best interest of developing individual players and the overall class.
Travel is not designed to be EQUAL Teams – The objective is to create a competitive team that can compete at the highest level, while still providing opportunity for all interested & capable. This will be done by creating multiple teams, when appropriate, that still have the opportunity to compete at their respective level.
General Rule = 8-10 players on a team with multiple teams created when appropriate (to allow for opportunity). There will be flexibility based on grade level needs.
Cuts will be made when necessary – Evaluations will be mostly used for the placement of teams (Examples of appropriate cuts = Not having enough coaches to make multiple teams, setting a player up for failure by not playing at the appropriate team level)
Must have coaches step up to coach teams in grade levels with large numbers (if all want the opportunity).
COACHING: Each Coaching candidate will be required to turn in a Travel Coaching Application. The selection of Coaches will be made for each grade after teams are selected, whenever possible. A Coach WILL NOT participate in the evaluation of a grade level if he/she has a daughter in that grade. Coaches will need to follow the Coaching Guidelines developed by the high school coaching staff and carry out the CG vision of practice, games, playing time, and development for their team. PRACTICE: Travel teams will practice up to 2 nights per week for 60-90 minutes per night. Practices will be held at gyms in the Center Grove area. GAMES: Games will be played in either the IYBL or IGHL league (or equivalent) depending on the decision of Coach Stuckmeyer, HS Staff, and CGGBL. Games typically take place on Saturdays or Sundays at locations all around the Indianapolis area (ex: Center Grove, Westfield, Noblesville, Whiteland, Carmel, Perry Township, Franklin Township, Whiteland, Franklin).
If players/parents commit to playing and are selected to be placed on a team -- they need to receive reasonable playing time for each game. It is not equal playing time among all, but it should be reasonably managed.
A General 65-35% playing opportunity guideline should apply. If a player is on the team, they should expect to play a minimum of 30-35% of each game.
Coaches have the discretion (best interest in mind) to determine playing time based off this rule, but also the ability to be competitive and win the contest. Better players will play more in order to compete and win the game, but this should not completely exclude ALL/ANY players from playing in a contest.
DEVELOPMENT OF PLAYERS & TEAMS (COACHING GUIDELINES):
Travel Teams WILL predominantly play man to man defense – This means in practice and games – teams will play 75% man-man defense (switching handoffs, ball screens, and screens strongly encouraged).
Zone Defense (if applicable) should ONLY be implemented to win a GAME (less than 25% of the time)
Press Defenses (if applicable) would be acceptable on dead balls when a team is trying to advance the ball, but should not completely take the place of half court man-man defense.
Practices & Development should have a MAJOR EMPHASIS on:
THE CG CULTURE (focus, work ethic, not sulking, competitiveness, eye contact, sprinting in and out of drills)
TEAMWORK (unselfish play, ball movement, cheer and encourage each other).
FUNDAMENTALS:
Footwork &Pivoting & Jump Stops
Ball Handling & Dribbling
Lay-ups
Shooting
Team Offense (ball movement and player movement)
Defensive IQ (our basic man-man with help side principles)
Build a team not 1 player philosophy. Create depth and skill among the class.
If you have any questions, please contact Center Grove Basketball Travel Coordinator at [email protected]
CREATE A POSITIVE & MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE – DO IT THE “RIGHT WAY” WITH CLASS -- CREATE A WINNING CULTURE – DEVELOP FUNDAMENTALS & WORK ETHIC – BE A TEAM