Hooptown Youth League (HYL) - FAQs

This is a most frequently asked question, one that can be very frustrating - especially for coaches and families that have played together in different leagues. The short answer first, HYL partners with the school districts to offer school based leagues because we believe strongly that by forming teams within attending schools, teams will naturally relate to an already existing community by having players practice and play with classmates and friends from their neighborhood. The first priority of these leagues is that kids will have the oppurtunity to play at their skill level AND play alongside schoolmates and friends.
Individual Registration by parents with teams formed based on attending school ensures that all children who want to play have a spot on a team close to where they live.
As players progress and play in HYL for several seasons, they become teammates (and friends) with the same players that will attend middle school and high school.

There are several options for coaches how would like to form their own teams outside the school based model. They can register for the HYL Club League, K-2 Winter Sesaon League, 3rd-6th Grade Winter Season League, and/or one of the three Hooptown Touranment Series tournaments. Click on the links for more information about the leagues or the Hooptown Tournament Series.

Naturally, if players are returning and live in the same neighborhood year-after-year, team formation should be consistent as long as the coach remains the same. Therefore, HYL will make every effort to fulfill requests from players and coaches who would like to return to their previous team as years past, while also considering the many variables that come into play when scheduling teams within the league. Click here for more information about the Team Formation Guidelines.

HYL School Recreational and School Competitive players will need to register as individuals. Parents/Guardians will then need to select which school their son/daughter will be attending for the upcoming school year so that they are placed on their correct team. If there are too many or not enough kids to form a team, we'll combine with the nearest school in the same school district.
HYL Club League teams will be formed and registered at a team by the coaches or the team representative.

The HYL Recreational and Competitive Leagues are school-based programs. HYL forms teams based on where the player attends school. By forming teams within attending schools, we hope teams will naturally relate to an already existing community by having players practice and play with classmates and friends from their neighborhood. Our mission is to provide opportunities for anyone who wants to play basketball at all skill levels. The first priority is that kids play with their schoolmates. To review the HYL's complete team formation process and guildlines, click here: Team Formation Guidelines

K-2nd Grade School Recreational: The only league for K-2nd Grade players. For information on the league, click here: K-2nd Grade School Recreational League
3rd-6th Grade School Recreational: For players who want to learn the game or develop their skills, have fun, and stay active in a less competitive environment alongside their classmates (including beginners). For information on the league, click here: 3rd-6th Grade School Recreational League
3rd-6th Grade School Competitive: For the player that has prior team basketball experience, better than average skills for his/her grade level, understands the rules, is looking to play a longer season and be on a more competitive team with other players within their future high school boundary. For more information on the league, click here: 3rd-6th Grade School Competitive League

3rd-8th Grade Club League: Created in 2024, the HYL Club Leauge is the most competitive basketball league in the Greater Spokane Area. Coach-formed rosters and team registration, Club games are on either Wednesday or Saturday (depending on the division). For more information on the HYL Club League, click here: HYL Club League

The Sports Engine Site/app. HYL has partnered with Sports Engine for all registration and league management support.
When you click a registration link, you will be directed to the HYL/Sports Engine website to complete your registration. If you do not already have a Sports Engine account, you will be asked to create one and then directed to the registration page.
Following completion of your player's registration, you will receive 3 x seperate emails providing your receipt, confirmation of the registration information, and a list of important season dates and information.
Once your player is assigned to a team you will be notified via a message from Sports Engine.
You will be able to view the roster and communicate with coaches and parents via the Team Page on Sports Engine.
You will be able to view the team calendar on the page. This is where your coach will added practice dates, times and location to Sport Engine. This is also where HYL will add the games to the calendar.
It is important to ensure you are receiving all important messages from your team and from HYL that you enable your email and text messaging options on Sprots Engine.
Here is a link to the Sport Engine User Guide that will provide step by step directions on many of the common questions parents have when using the site/app. Sports Engine Support for Parents and Sport Engine Support for Coaches

Participant Conduct: The Hooptown Youth League staff and officials reserve the right to eject any player, coach, official, or spectator from a facility for objectionable behavior.
Referee Complaints – Coaches: Please address any officiating disputes in a professional manner with your gym’s designated Supervisor. Be a role model for your players and address the situation with respect and grace.
Parents: If you have an issue with a referee, you must direct it through your coach.