Website Manager

Content

Pre-Registration

Who is eligible to play?
A: We have leagues for both boys and girls starting at 1st grade through 8th grade. Additionally, all JBC participants must live within the boundaries of the Johnston Community School District.

How much does it cost to play with JBC?
A: Registration for the 2023-20243 basketball season is $30.00 to tryout. If a bid is offered to play on a JBC team, participation for the season is approximately  $300 to $700 per player, depending on grade level and if the team has a paid or volunteer coach. There is an additional fee of $130 for the uniform and shooting shirt.  Our fees also includes 20 hours of skills session with the JHS varsity coaching staff and/or our paid coaches (10 hours in the Fall and 10 hours in the Spring).


Tryouts and Season

How are players evaluated during tryouts?
A: Players are evaluated by a selection committee on the areas of:
a) Basketball fundamentals – ball handling, defense, dribbling, passing, shooting, etc.
b) Athletic ability - speed, agility, jumping, foot speed, etc.
c) Mental – Hustle, attitude, aggressiveness, etc.

What is the difference between the Gold and Purple teams?
A: In order to field the most competitive teams and allow for players to compete and develop with teammates of the same skill level, the Gold team is generally made up of players with the higher skill level based on tryout evaluations. The Purple team would then be formed based on remaining available players. Consideration also goes into making a well-rounded and cohesive team that plays well together. Team size will typically be between 8-9 players.

Do the Gold and Purple teams compete against each other?
A: The teams could play against each other if they happen to enter the same tournament.  We encourage the Gold team of one age group to practice against the Purple team of the grade higher on occasion to experience a different level of competition allowing the team to focus on strong and weak elements of their game. 
 
How many games will each team play?
A: Teams may play in as many games or tournaments as they want which will be determined by each individual coach: 1-2 tournaments per month on the lighter side, or, up to 2-3 tournaments per month on the heavy side.  The board will consult with the coaches on what has been successful in prior seasons considering each age group.  For the younger age groups (4th grade and under), a good mix of weekly league games and some tournaments has been effective.  For the older groups (5th grade and older) most teams have played primarily in local tournaments.  There are plenty of tournaments available in the Des Moines area that are suitable for a variety of talent levels.  The season typically starts in October and goes until early March, with teams generally playing around 30-40 games in total. 

How is game playing time determined?
A: The JBC program is about developing player skills and fundamentals while also providing a successful competitive experience.   Consequently, playing time will be at the coach’s discretion. We ask that coaches try to maintain relatively equal playing time through the season but individual playing time may vary during each game and/or tournament.

How often should we expect to practice?
A: All teams should expect to practice at least twice a week, 1 - 1 1/2 hours each, depending on gym availability. For 8th grade teams, practices will be limited as practices are already held after school during the Middle School seasons.

Why can’t we get more gym time?
A: Gym time is a precious commodity in any community, and Johnston is no different. We will do our best to maximize the use of the gyms for our teams. We will utilize gyms outside of the Johnston school district as much as possible to provide ample gym time.
 
What training is available during the off-season?
A: We plan on offering 10 hours of skills training in the Fall and Spring for boys and girls. In addition there are camps offered by Johnston Community Education, as well as other camps and clinics that are posted on our website.

Coaches

What is the difference between Paid and Volunteer coaches?
A: Paid coaches are non-parent coaches that are recruited from outside JBC to coach specific teams, typically Gold teams but also Purple teams as available. These coaches are identified as individuals with previous basketball experience at a higher level and/or have held similar paid positions previously.  Our paid coaches are also asked to lead skills sessions.

How does one become a volunteer coach?
A: The JBC board will accept applications from interested applicants in the weeks leading up to tryouts.  If available, non-parent coaches may be preferred but ultimately the jobs will go to the most qualified applicant in the eyes of the board. Assistant coaches will also be selected by the board with consideration given to the head coach's recommendations. All new coaches will be required to complete a coaching application that identifies their coaching and playing experience.  Background checks will be performed on all coaches.

What training do the volunteer coaches have?
A: Coaches attend a pre-season coaching clinic hosted by the Johnston High School Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball Coaches where they provide a consistent coaching curriculum. 

Are coaches evaluated on their performance?
A: Yes, all coaches (Paid and Volunteer; Head and Assistant) are evaluated. We use an anonymous, on-line survey at the end of each season. This evaluation is requested to be completed jointly by each player and parent. The results are then used to help determine the coaching staff for the following season. The results are shared with the coaches to establish the actions necessary for improvement.