PLAYLCA BASKETBALL 2019-20

PLAYLCA BASKETBALL INFO – REGISTRATION OPENS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

I can’t believe it is already time to start looking toward basketball season!

We have had a blast with flag football and volleyball. It is fun seeing so many kids gathered together playing and learning. A huge thank you to our volunteer coaches and varsity volleyball players for stepping up to give your time and energy to the kids of PlayLCA. None of this would be possible without your service and leadership.

As we wrap up our fall season and look toward the basketball season, I wanted to put all of the information in one place so that you can make decisions regarding basketball.

I have listed details of each program below, as well as an FAQ section.

Please take note of the October 1 deadline if your child plans to play on one of the grade-level basketball teams. This is a hard deadline. Thanks in advance for understanding.

PLAYLCA BASKETBALL ACADEMY

  • Boys and girls; 1st–5th grades

  • Open to LCA students and the surrounding community

  • Focus will be on practicing and developing fundamental basketball skills

  • Six 2-hour sessions to be held on Saturday mornings and/or Sunday afternoons – dates TBD

  • Sessions will be held in January/February 2020.

  • Sessions will be held in the LCA gym.

  • Cost: $75

  • Registration will remain open through the duration of the academy. Click here to register for basketball academy.

PLAYLCA COMPETITIVE/DEVELOPMENTAL BASKETBALL TEAMS – BOYS

LCA Students who want to play on a basketball team must register by October 1, 2019. Click here to register for boys competitive.

  • 3rd–6th grade

  • Athens Premier League

  • Open to LCA students; openings filled outside of LCA will be done at the coach’s discretion.

  • No more than 2 non-LCA players per team, per league rules

  • Athletes will be divided on teams at PlayLCA director’s discretion; athletes may be allowed to play up one grade level at director’s discretion.

  • Athletes will be placed on teams based on current skill level and experience; we may have multiple teams per grade level, if needed—a competitive team and a developmental team.

  • Season begins the first weekend of December and runs through mid-February; season will break on December 16 for the Christmas holidays.

  • Games played Thursdays–Sundays at various gyms in the northeast Georgia area (LCA may be able to host a few of these games – TBD).

  • Cost: $100, plus uniform

PLAYLCA COMPETITIVE/DEVELOPMENTAL BASKETBALL TEAMS – GIRLS

LCA Students who want to play on a basketball team must register by October 1, 2019. CLick here to register for girls competitive.

  • 3rd–5th grade; IF there are 6th grade girls who try out for and do not make the LCA Middle School team, they will be eligible to play on a PlayLCA team.

  • Northeast Georgia Feeder League

  • Open to LCA students; openings filled outside of LCA will be done at the coach’s discretion

  • Non-LCA players are allowed ONLY in the case of not having enough players to form a team, per league rules.

  • Athletes will be divided on teams at PlayLCA director’s discretion; athletes may be allowed to play up one grade level at director’s discretion.

  • Athletes will be placed on teams based on current skill level and experience; we may have multiple teams per grade level, if needed—a competitive team and a developmental team.

  • Season begins Saturday, November 17, and runs through February 2.

  • Games played on Saturday at United Teams Sports Center in Athens; tournament play in late January/early February played during the week

  • Cost: $100, plus uniform

FAQs

CAN MY CHILD DO BOTH THE PLAYLCA BASKETBALL ACADEMY AND A GRADE-LEVEL TEAM?

Yes, however, the leagues are outside leagues and the schedules are not set by LCA. We cannot guarantee that there will not be any overlap. In the chance that there is an overlap between a game and an academy session, the child would be expected to attend the game and honor the commitment of being on a team.

WHEN ARE THE GAMES AND TEAM PRACTICES?

The PlayLCA teams are playing in outside leagues. Game schedules are set by the league, and the game schedule is communicated to you by your coach when that information is available. Practices are set by the coach and those times are communicated to you by your coach when that information is available. Practices and games are not scheduled around and do not necessarily take into account the LCA school calendar.

IF MY CHILD PLAYS ON A TEAM, ARE PRACTICES MANDATORY?

Part of the PlayLCA initiative is teaching kids how to be responsible and respectful athletes and team players. When you commit to team, your coach and teammates count on you being at practice and games.

WHY ARE 6TH GRADE BOYS PLAYING IN THIS LEAGUE AND NOT TRYING OUT FOR A MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM?

The Athens Premiere League is made up of more than eighty-five teams in Northeast Georgia and includes our natural competition—George Walton, Prince Avenue, Athens Academy, Bethlehem Christian Academy, Loganville, and more. This is the right place for our 6th grade boys to be. It gives them a chance to play with their peers against other 6th graders in feeder schools for our varsity competition.

It is much-preferred from a development standpoint that 6th graders not have to participate daily in practices and games against 8th-grade boys. PlayLCA allows them their own age group participation to mature one more year. This program will allow much more "court time" than playing in a school league against 8th graders. This is the directive from Mark Davis, director of basketball operations.

WHY ARE 6TH GRADE GIRLS BEING ALLOWED TO TRY OUT FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL?

The simple answer: numbers. We do not have the number of girls trying out for Middle School basketball like we do with the boys. After tryouts, any 6th grader who does not make the Middle School team will be encouraged to play for a PlayLCA team in the Northeast Georgia Feeder League. This is the directive from Mark Davis, director of basketball operations.

HOW WILL THE TEAMS BE DIVIDED?

In both leagues, there is a 3rd/4th grade division and a 5th/6th grade division. Ideally, we will keep 3rd grade together, 4th grade together, etc. However, I will also look at experience and skill level when forming teams. If needed, we will have both a competitive team and a developmental team per grade level. Both teams will play in the same league; the leagues are large enough to offer several levels of competition, allowing everyone the chance to play and compete at their current skill level. Dividing teams up in this manner gives EVERY child the best opportunity to improve and become a better basketball player. 

ARE THE TEAMS OPEN TO NON-LCA STUDENTS?

The boys league is allowed up to two non-LCA students per team. The girls league does not permit outside players except when it is necessary to form a team. If there are openings on a team that need to be filled outside of LCA, they will be filled at the coach’s discretion and approved by the PlayLCA director.

DO YOU NEED VOLUNTEER COACHES?

Yes, PlayLCA does not exist without our volunteer coaches. Please send an email to kinseys@lcalions.com and let me know that you are willing to coach a team and for what grade level.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions. Looking forward to a fun season of basketball!

Kinsey Snell
PlayLCA Director