New Canaan Basketball Association

Travel Basketball 5th-8th Grade Boys/Girls 

Tryout Guidelines

Guidelines

1. Complete the online registration (TBA) for tryouts on or before October 17th (Boys) and October 24 (Girls). A valid email address is mandatory as all notifications will be sent by email. Registration date TBD
2. Each player must pay a $40 tryout fee.  Please pre-pay with a credit card through the online registration process. 
3. Each player must complete an online release, medical authorization and COVID waiver.  
4. Players must attend all tryout sessions for their grade. 
5. NO WALK INS, , Must register. 
6. Players should arrive 10 minutes early to check in. Parents should drop off/pick up players.  If you have specific information for the coach, please inform the check-in desk.

GIRLS TRYOUTS-  Deadline to register 10/24

5TH GRADE

• TUES, 10/26 7:20-8:40PM
• THURS, 10/28 7:20-8:40PM

6TH GRADE

• WED, 10/27 6:00-7:20PM
• THURS, 10/28 6:00-7:20PM

7TH GRADE

• MON, 10/25 7:20-8:40PM
• WED, 10/27 7:20-8:40PM

8TH GRADE

• MON, 10/25 6:00-7:20PM 
• TUES, 10/26 6:00-7:20PM

LOCATION:  New Athletic Facility at New Canaan Country School 

The driveway for the NCCS athletic facility/gym is located directly across from The Winter Club off of Frogtown Road.  This driveway is NOT the main driveway to NCCS.

 Arrival and Drop-off: 

1. Please arrive only 5-10 mins before your player’s scheduled time to check-in. 
2. Kids will be asked to line up outside the gym door.  
   1. Players will not be allowed inside the building until their scheduled time.  
3. Be aware and be careful:  Please be aware that we are running multiple sessions of practices and tryouts.  Some parents will be dropping off players, some will be picking up players - BE CAREFUL and BE PATIENT!

*** Please note:  Only players and coaches are permitted inside the gym.  Parents and siblings are not permitted inside the gym under any circumstances.  Please do not ask.  

What to bring:

1. Basketball:  Players must bring their own basketball.  Name:  Write your last name on the ball...in big, bold letters.  If you don’t it will get lost.
2. MASK:  Masks MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES.  Nobody will be permitted inside the gym without a mask.  Please pack an extra mask in case the worn into the gym is damaged.  
3. Water bottle filled with water:  Water only!  Water fountains are shut off. Please bring a reusable bottle filled with water only.  Sports drinks are not allowed inside the gym 
4. Carry your sneakers into the gym: IMPORTANT - DO NOT wear your basketball sneakers to the gym.   Please carry your basketball sneakers into the gym and put them on once inside the gym.   Again - DO NOT wear your basketball sneakers outside the gym.

Pick-up and Departure:

1. Arrive no sooner then 5-10 minutes before the end of practice
2. Please wait in your car for the players to depart the gym.  DO NOT come to the gym doors or send siblings to the gym to get your player. 
   1. PICK-UP PARKING:  Line-up along the side of the driveway and DO NOT park in the circle.  Please use the circle for drop-offs and for turning around AFTER you have picked-up your player(s). 
3. Be aware and be careful:  Please be aware that we are running multiple sessions of practices and tryouts.  Some parents will be dropping off players, some will be picking up players - PLEASE BE CAREFUL and BE PATIENT.  It is going to be dark. Players will be coming and going.  This is new and confusing for everyone - we need to be careful, be patient, take our time to make sure nobody gets hurt.  PLEASE BE CAREFUL and BE PATIENT

Health and Safety:

1. We are in a school facility.  All COVID safety policies will apply
2. Injured plays MUST ATTEND tryouts and participate in any capacity deemed safe by a physician.

Tryout Evaluation Criteria

Players trying out for the NCBA travel program will be evaluated by paid coaches that may or may not be your child's grade level coach.  Please note that final evaluations are confidential and kept solely by the coaching staff.  They will not be shared with players, parents or anyone outside of a coaching role.  Players will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Offensive skills - movement/transition, dribble/drive, pass/catch, shooting and rebounding
• Defensive skills - movement/transition, one on one, help, deny/steal, rebounding
• Timing drills - shuttle runs, sprints
• Comments on general observations

Selection and Communication of Team Rosters

Team rosters will be set by each coach in conjunction with the NCBA Coaching Directors (Diane Burns, Girls Coaching Director and Danny Melzer, NCHS Boys Varsity Head Coach.)

Rosters will be communicated via email no later than October 27 (Boys) and November 3 (Girls).   

(Updated September 2021) *all dates/info subject to change 

Location: 669 West Avenue, Norwalk - St. Mary’s Church (access to gym via parking lot behind church on Chapel Street).

**All Dates/Information subject to change