Player Commitment & Team Expectations

Eastlake Select expects players to make their team their top basketball commitment during the season. While we understand that occasional conflicts with other sports or activities may occur, consistent attendance and communication are essential to team success.

Frequent absences or a lack of communication with the head coach may lead to a review of the player's status by the coaching staff and Eastlake Select Board. All missed practices and games—excused or unexcused—may impact a player's development, team role, and playing time.

This level of commitment reflects the competitive nature of our program and our goal of building cohesive, dedicated teams.

Tryout Dates: September 13th & 20th

• Players attend BOTH tryouts
• 4th & 5th Grades: 9:15am - 10:45am
• 7th Grade: 11:00am - 12:30pm
• 6th & 8th Grades: 12:45pm - 2:15pm

Tryout Registration

Register HERE!

Tryout Location

All tryouts will be in the main gym at Eastlake High School. Athletes should enter via the doors on the football field side of the gym. Tryouts are drop-off only; parents will not be permitted to stay and observe.

Tryout Warm-Up Clinics

Get ready for tryouts with our high school coaches and athletes! Have fun while we focus on skill enhancement and building a strong foundation in fundamentals. You must be registered for tryouts in order to attend.

Warm-Up Clinic will be held Sunday, August 30th. Information and sign-up are included in the tryout registration form.

TeamSnap

We are excited to be using TeamSnapONE as our league scheduling & communication platform - we think you will love the convenience. You will be asked to create a TeamSnapONE account or log into your existing account if you already have one in order to register for tryouts, accept your team invitation, etc.

What to Bring to Tryouts

Please bring a basketball, a water bottle, and a great attitude to tryouts! Wear athletic attire and good, supportive court shoes. And it's a great idea to have your ball marked with your name and phone number.

Tryout Rubric

The Eastlake Select Boys Basketball tryout rubric provides coaches with a consistent framework for evaluating players during tryouts. Coaches may consider a variety of basketball skills, athletic abilities, game understanding, and team-related qualities when evaluating players.

Not every criterion will apply to every age group. Coaches will use their best judgment when determining which areas are appropriate for the players' age and experience level. For younger grades, the evaluation may place greater emphasis on fundamentals, effort, athleticism, coachability, and overall potential rather than advanced basketball skills.

The rubric is intended to guide the evaluation process, not serve as a rigid scoring system. Coaches may weigh different criteria differently based on the age group, team needs, and level of play.

Areas Coaches May Evaluate

• Ball Handling & Dribbling
• Passing & Receiving
• Shooting & Finishing
• Footwork & Movement
• Defense
• Rebounding
• Basketball IQ & Game Awareness
• Athleticism & Coordination
• Effort & Competitiveness
• Coachability
• Communication & Teamwork
• Attitude & Sportsmanship
• Overall Basketball Potential

Our goal is to provide coaches with a thoughtful and consistent evaluation process while recognizing that players develop at different rates and bring different strengths to a team.

Team Placement & Sign Up

After tryouts we will send invitations to join a team. We usually host two teams per grade, a cardinal team and a white team, with about 10-12 players each. You can accept your invitation by signing up for your team via TeamSnap using the link included in your invitation.

While our goal is to provide every athlete a place to play, we are expecting a very large turnout this year and there may be some cuts. We hate them as much as you do, so thanks for understanding.

Practices

There will be two to three practices per week during regular, non-holiday weeks, starting in October.

Games

Cardinal teams will play in the Eastside Travel League and White teams will play in the Peak League through the Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club. All games will be on the weekends. The season will run about through the beginning of March 2027, depending on the league and your team's playoff performance.  

Tournaments

We will also participate in selected tournaments this season. The competition level, locations, and number will vary by team. Details will be available once the season starts.

Team Fees

Team fees for the 2026-2027 season will be announced with tryouts. Fees will be similar to the previous 2025-2026 season ($765/player). There is no fee for trying out, but suggested donations are appreciated. Team fees cover all tournament costs, coaching, gym space, and more. Team fees will be due on acceptance of your team invitation. Uniforms are not included in the Team Fee and can be purchased separately if you don't already have one from last year. Some financial assistance is available. Speak to the President or Treasurer for more details.

Training

Optional one-on-one and small group training sessions are available throughout the year through programs in our area. These sessions are recommended for players seeking individualized instruction to further develop specific skills.

While our coaches are committed to supporting player growth, their primary focus during the season is on team development and preparation.

Check out our viewpoint on extra training and then stay tuned for details.

Questions

Check out our FAQ page or contact us.