Junnior Cats - FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Jr/Feeder programs are often a player's first time at trying out for a team and/or playing at a level beyond recreational basketball. Here are some answers to the frequently asked questions about feeder programs that applies to the direction of Junior Cats.- Who are the coaches?
Coaches in a junior program are parents or volunteers. The goal is to utilize more basketball coaches from the community (volunteers) than parents as coaches, especially for the 8th and 7th grades. Another goal of the program is to have coaches assigned to teams prior to tryouts and this is often possible when the coach is not a parent. Since some coaches are parents and it is necessary to see what team their child makes, we may not know all the coaches until teams are formed. - If I didn't play in the program last year, do I still have a chance of making a team?
Absolutely! Teams are formed new year after year and we endeavor to have numerous coaches observe tryouts and provide input on who makes each team. - Can I play up?
Having a player play up on an older team is a coaches decision. Numerous factors go into making this decision. Are their skills clearly that much better than those of their current age group and will they be a contributing member of the older team? Will the older team prove to be the most beneficial place for the player to play so that their skills continue to develop? If the answer to those questions is yes and the player agrees then it is likely they will play up. - Is equal play time guaranteed?
It is difficult to 'guarantee' equal play time because the coach is busy coaching the game and at times may not always substitute players as equally as they would like to, but equal play time is the goal. For 5th-8th grade boys, equal play time through the first three quarters of the game is the goal and then in the final quarter the coach is encouraged to have the players on the floor that will provide the best opportunity to win the game. - Can I participate in the Junior basketball program while I am playing middle school sports?
Yes! Practices for 7th & 8th grade school sports are held in the afternoon from 3:30-5:00 or 5:30 pm, every week day. Practices for the junior basketball program are typically held later in the evening and are only once or twice a week. Games for middle school sports are played during the week in the afternoon. Games for the junior basketball program are played on the weekends. During middle school basketball season, practice for the junior program is typically held at most once a week. This allows the players to focus on their middle school team, but keep in touch with their junior team at the same time. Since it's the first year for 6th grade school sports, we will work with the schedule similar to our 7th and 8th teams, if needed. - When and where are games played?
For 5th-8th grade boys games, it depends on the season and team picked. All teams play Fall season (Oct-Nov) in Power to Play's Fall League. This league plays two games on Sunday's at Northern Colorado gyms. For the Winter season (Jan-Feb), coaches will decide in October whether the team will play in Power to Play's Winter league OR Gold Crown League which plays mostly in Denver.
For 6th-8th grade girls teams, they typically play in Fort Collins fall league (two games on Sundays). As of 2010-11 season, this league is organized by Triple Crown Sports after years of success by Jeff Coleman of WinSports. Jr Cats teams will also play in their Turkey Shoot Tournament November 28-29. For the winter season (January-February), teams play either Power to Play Sports in Northern Colorado or a league in Cheyenne Wyoming. The coach will decide based on the skill level of the team. Both leagues play on Sundays.
For 4th graders, they play 3on3 format in a Fort Collins Girls League which typically plays on Saturdays (usually afternoons). For 5th graders, there are two options. Playing 4on4 in the Fort Collins Girls League or playing 5on5 in the Power to Play's Fall league. The coaches will decide the best fit for the team based on skill level. - Where are 4th grade girls playing? This is a local Fort Collins league for 4th graders. They play 3on3 and do not keep score. There are officials who are high school players. Officials are instructed not to call everything. Most possessions are a travel, a reach, etc. They call some things throughout the game and provide some instruction to players when making the call. Teams play two games every Saturday. Four 7 minutes quarters with running clock. Games can be back to back or one game break in between.
- How much skill does my player need to have before trying out? 4th & 5th grade girls will not be expected to have as much skill as older players. They will be playing in a developmental league that provides them an opportunity to develop their basketball skills and learn the game of basketball in a fun environment that is slightly more competitive than a rec league. 6th-8th grade girls and 5th-8th grade boys need to have basic ball handling, passing, and shooting skills. It is the goal of the program to help the players improve in all these areas throughout the season but the teams formed are competitive and they do play in competitive leagues.
- Are there scholarships available?
No scholarships are available. There are numerous fundraising opportunities though that you can take advantage of to help cover the fee and payment options are also provided.