FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We have put together this brief Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQ’s”) to help you in making a decision about Club Basketball. Our full Welcome Packet with in-depth information can be found online.
Being part of a travel team is demanding and time-consuming for all parties involved. We stress the importance of family, schoolwork and development of our players throughout our club at all levels.
Q: How long is the Club season?
A: The full club season runs from approximately the beginning of September through the end of July.
Q: How many days will my son/daughter have practice?
A: Team practices are generally held twice per week, with Academy training on Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Q: What is Academy?
A: Academy is fundamental skill training focused on improving players’ dibbling, ball handling, shooting and footwork. Academy is separate from the team practice sessions, and we highly encourage all club players to attend regularly.
Q: How many players will be on a team?
A: There will be 8-9 players on each team at all grade levels. In some cases, we have enough skilled players in a grade level to form multiple teams. For these grades, players will be placed on teams at the coaches’ discretion.
Q: How many coaches are involved with each team?
A: Each team will have a Head Coach and an Assistant Coach.
Q: Will my son/daughter have guaranteed playing time?
A: Club basketball is different from ARC basketball in that there is no guaranteed playing time for any player. Coaches will do their best to get every player in the game, but some players will play more than others.
Q: How many tournaments do you play in and how often?
A: We play in one tournament on average per month from October through July. September is when we come together as an entire program, hold training camp and learn the plays. Most tournaments will have games on both Saturday and Sunday. Some tournaments will be on holiday weekends with games taking place over three days. Our full tournament schedule for the upcoming season can be found in the Welcome Packet online.
Q: How soon in advance will we know the game times for a tournament and leagues?
A: We realize that every family has schedules outside of basketball and likes to plan their weekends in advance. With many club basketball tournament organizers, schedules are not set until typically the Thursday night before the tournament begins. In other words, the schedules are not set by us, but by those putting on the tournament. We send out schedules as soon as we receive them, in order to give our families as much notice as possible. Please know that scheduled tournament dates are always subject to change at the tournament hosts’ discretion, and is outside of our control.
Q: Do you play in out of town tournaments that require hotel stay?
A: The large majority of our tournaments will be local (most are in the Anaheim and/or Garden Grove area). However, we will play in 2 to 3 out-of-town tournaments each season. Locations may include cities such as Santa Barbara, San Diego, Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada. Hotel stay is recommended, and we typically contract with a local property for a group rate.
Q: Do tournaments cost extra?
A: The cost for a team to play in a tournament is not covered in your club dues. Also, every tournament charges an entry fee for spectators. It is the nature of the sport. Parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. will pay a daily admission fee and most often a parking fee. These fees are determined by the tournament host(s) and/or facility, and are not controlled by BLUE CHIP.
Q: What is AAU Basketball?
A: Blue Chip Basketball Academy is officially sanctioned by AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) which allows us to be nationally ranked and play in high quality AAU tournaments. Each club player must become a member of AAU. Membership is $14 for one year.
Q: What does Blue Chip Basketball cost?
A: Blue Chip Basketball Academy has a fee structure for a full 11-month season and a shorter 5-month season as well as monthly option. We also offer discounts based on your payment method. Please see the Payment Schedule in the Welcome Packet (found online at labluechip.org) for complete details for the upcoming season.
Q: Are uniforms and gear included in the cost?
A: The cost of the uniforms/gear are specified in the Uniform and Gear Order section of our Online Registration Form, and is paid at the time of registration as part of the non-refundable registration fee. The uniform/gear package includes game uniform (jersey and shorts), game shooting shirt, reversible practice jersey, and team bag. There are optional items available for purchase when completing your registration online.
Q: Can we drop out if it’s not for us?
A: We ask every player to make a commitment they plan to honor for the entire season. Pulling out of the program is disruptive to the program and the team. Please see our full Drop Policy found in our Welcome Packet online.
Q: What is the next step after tryouts if my son/daughter makes the team?
A: If your son/daughter makes the team you will be contacted within 3 days of tryouts.