Lincoln Youth Basketball - Frequently Asked Questions

        This section is dedicated to some of the more general questions we frequently get. If you need clarification on any of these answer please check out the program specific page. If you still need help, please call us at 916-434-3224.

I. Structure

 A. What is the difference between the Recreation and Competitive Divisions?
        In an effort to create a youth basketball league for all the youth in our community, the Lincoln Youth Basketball program is a recreational based league with competitive options in age groups where we have enough participants to support enough teams in both recreation and competitive divisions.
        We want to provide a high quality program that both casual players, and players looking to strengthen their skills in a highly competitive atmosphere will enjoy. The recreation and competitive division are very similar in the general structure with a few modifications.
        The recreation divisions are for all general players, or players that tryout and are not selected for a competitive team. The competitive divisions are for experienced players who will attempt to tryout and be drafted to a competitive team. First year players are recommended to play at least one year in a recreation division before trying out for a competitive division. There are no extra fees or traveling requirements for our competitive division participants.


 B. How do the competitive division tryouts work?
        Players will attend a one day tryout with other participants in their age group. The league administrators and staff will run the players through stations having them showcase different skills. Coaches for that specific age division will be present and will evaluate the players as they play.
        After the tryouts are complete, the coaches and league administrators will get together and conduct the draft where the coaches, based on their evaluations, draft their team one by one. All players that tryout and are not selected to a competitive team will be automatically placed on a team in the recreation division. This way all players that signup will get to play whether they make a competitive team or not.
        Only players that register for a competitive division will be able to tryout. Players who signup for a competitive division and do not attend the tryouts will be placed in the draft as a blind pick so no one will know who they are. If they are not selected then they will be placed on a recreation team.


 C. Do players need to attend the draft?
        No players or parents are allowed to attend the draft. Only coaches, assistant coaches and league staff are allowed at the draft for their specific age group. Players will then be notified by their coach on or before the Player Notification Deadline.


 D. Why is there no competitive division for the girls?
        We currently do not have enough participation in any of the girls divisions to offer both a recreation and competitive division so we run it as a recreation league. However, girls may tryout for a boys competitive division in their proper age group and if selected will play on a competitive team. If they are not drafted to a competitive team, they will be placed into the recreation division.


 E. How are recreation teams formed?
        Recreation teams are formed by the player’s school and grade.


 F. 7th & 8th boys division
        The 7th & 8th grade boys division is ran as a mixture of the recreation and competitive division. All players who register for this age group will go through the tryout and draft process and be selected to a team. No previous playing experience is required.


 G. 1st & 2nd girls division
        After a growing interest from the community, we are very excited to bring back back our second season of our 1st & 2nd grade girls only division. In the past we have not had enough girls in this age group to run their own league, but with the growing number of girl participants, we have been able to start their own division.
        With any new division or program we create, it usually takes time for the public to become aware of it so it may take a season or two of offering it to officially run on its own. Although we always hope we get enough girls to create enough teams to run a functional division, if we do not get enough then we will combine the girls in with the boys as we’ve done in the past. Parents will then have the option to participate or receive a full refund. Parents and participants are encouraged to help spread word to friends and family as with last years first season, this division was a huge success.


 H. What team am I on and who is my coach?
        After the competitive division drafts and recreation teams are complete, coaches will be giving their rosters with all their parent’s contact information. They will then have until the Player Notification Deadline (listed on the program page) to contact all their parents introducing themselves and informing them of the practice information.


 I. When are practices?
        Practices on our end are Monday - Friday, 5pm - 9pm. From your side you will be designated 1 - 2 nights per week for one hour practices. As we accept registration from players, we ask if there are any nights that you cannot practice. As we take registration for coaches, we try to take the two best days available for them and give them a practice schedule that works best for their availability. We then add players to teams staying away from any nights they are not able to practice. Practices start the week of December 10th, and will be consistent to the same day, time and location for the season unless that specific gym is unavailable for the night in which we will attempt to reschedule or move locations.


 J. When are games?
        Games will start Saturday, January 7th. All grade divisions will have a designated game day gym meaning you will play all of your games at the same location. The first games at all locations starts at 9:00am, and depending on how many teams are in your division will determine how late you games may start. Last season the 1st & 2nd grade division had 13 teams, the first game started at 9:00am and the last games started at 3:00pm. Your starting game time will fluctuate throughout the season.