LAKESIDE HOOPS FAQ'S

                    (Frequently Asked Questions)

How does the basketball season change affect my daughter who is in Middle School?

You need to check with your daughters Middle School to determine if their school is governed by MHSAA.  If your school is governed by MHSAA your daughter can not play on a school team and another same sport team at the same time.  This will affect most girls playing AAU Basketball and Volleyball, since some schools will be playing basketball in the fall and volleyball in the winter while others will be playing volleyball in the fall and basketball in the winter for the 2008 - 2009 school year. 

MHSAA and its member schools are aware of this issue, but have decided not to grant any exceptions to  the rule during this difficult time of transition for our girls.  If you have  questions, conflicts or issues, regarding this, please contact your schools Athletic Director or Principal.

How does the season change affect the AAU basketball seasons? 

14U - 18U

With the change of High School Girls Basketball to the winter, it has created time for a Fall AAU Season.  This season will run from September  up to early November when the Girls High School Season starts. 

At the end of the Michigan Girls High School season in March, Lakeside will have tryouts for the Spring AAU Season.  This will be considered the "Regular Season", and will end in June with the DQT State Championship.

9U - 13U

With the change of High School Girls Basketball to the winter, it has  created some challenges for the 9U - 13U age group.  Because MSHAA member Middle Schools can put their girls basketball season in the fall or winter, and they won't  grant a variance on the rule that girls can not play for a school team and AAU or club team at the same time, most middle school girls will have to choose either school or AAU.

The 9U - 13U will have tryouts in September and March.  The Fall Season will run at least through the end of October and into November.  The Spring Season will start in March, and finish with  the Michigan AAU State Tournament in early May. 

How may parents sign up their daughter for Lakeside Hoops?
You can get form from our website,  fill it out, and bring it with you to Try Outs.  You may also sign up at Tryouts but this is not recommended as it slows down the try out and evaluation process. 

How are players split into teams? 
Age level coaches and others evaluate each player and recommend her for a level they believe will suit her level of skill and aggressiveness. Coaches then meet to draw up final lists for the age group. It is Lakesides policy to offer slots to all players who try out.  However, there are exceptions to this policy.  If a player only attends the last tryout, there is a possibility that they might not be offered a slot on a team due to teams being full, or if we do not have enough girls to make a full team, some girls might not be offered a slot.  Every effort will be made to find a slot for your daughter. Additionally, if a player hopes to make an "A" team, they must attend all tryouts.

Where are Try Outs or Evaluations held? 
The 2008 - 2009 season evaluations are being held at Union High School.  

When are Try Outs or Evaluations held?
 

 9U - 13U &14U - 18U

Evaluations will be held in early September, usually  on Sundays.  are   The Fall 2008 season evaluations will be held on August 26th and September 7th. The Spring season tryouts will be held in March.  Each player is expected to attend all evaluation sessions.

When will our team practice and compete?
Lakeside Hoops arranges some gym times, on weekends. Coaches arrange other practice, scrimmage and tournament schedules and locations. Coaches also decide if their teams should enter the state tournament or play in a league for more game experience.

How will I know on which team my daughter will play?
Coaches will call parents as soon as possible after player evaluations. Depending on how many girls try out for her age group, more coaches might be needed to accommodate the number of teams formed.

How are age groups determined?
Your daughters age on July1, 2007 will determines the youngest age group she can play in for the 2008 season. 

There are ten (10) age divisions in AAU girls’ basketball. There is a division for every year beginning at age 9. The nine divisions would be: 9:U (nine and under), 10:U, 11:U, 12:U, 13:U, 14:U, 15:U, 16:U, 17:U, and 18:U.

The cut-off date for the 2008 seaosn July 1, 2008. How ever old the player is on June 30, 2008 would be the youngest age group that she could participate in. If Mildred is 12 on June 30, she can play in the 12:U age division even though she turns 13 on July 1. Younger players may always "play up" (in older divisions), but older players may not play down in the AQT’s (Association Qualifying Tournament – more commonly referred to as the "state tournament").

Friendship games (tournaments) can be an exception to the rule. Frequently we will have teams that are a combination of age groups. A 7th grade team may have players that are 12 and 13 years old. It may have 9 players that are 12 and one player that is 13. In the AQT’s this team would have to play in the age group of its oldest player (13). But in friendship games where the primary interest is competition, this team may play at 12. Select teams are commonly playing up in friendship tournaments and developing teams are often playing down. Friendship games are an opportunity to play against good competition. There are usually no trophies, no records are kept, no teams can qualify for anything from playing in friendship tournaments – so the real interest is in matching up teams that are competitive against one another.

If you have a team of multiple ages, make sure you discuss it with the tournament host so that your team will be properly placed. All of us want good competitive games when we play at friendship tournaments. There is no useful purpose playing teams that you will beat by 30 points or get beaten by a similar amount.

If you have questions, suggestions or comments, you may currently email: