How are teams formed?

The HYL Recreational and Competitive Leagues are school-based programs.  Parents sign up their children to play and we form the 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.

School Recreational Leagues (K-2nd grades; and 3rd-6th grades): 

-HYL School Recreational teams are formed based on Elementary School boundaries with the intent to roster fellow students on the same team for both social and logistical purposes. 

-If there are not enough players at a particular Elementary School to form a team, the HYL Staff will roster players with the closest geographic elementary school (preferably within the High School Feeder pattern) that require additional players.  

-The optimal size for the HYL School Recreational team is 8-10 players. In rare cases, teams may be formed with a minimum of 7 players and a maximum of 12 players.

-During registration, School Recreational coaches may request players and players may request coaches.  The HYL Staff will make reasonable efforts to honor these requests, provided they comply with the School Recreational League team formation guidelines and meet the team size parameters.

-Private school students will be rostered on a team from their private school unless otherwise requested during registration to play with their zoned public high school feeder pattern team.  If there are not enough players at that private school to form at team, the HYL Staff will roster the player with the closest private school that requires additional players.

-Home School students will be rostered on a team within their zoned public elementary or middle school feeder pattern based on their residential home address unless otherwise requested during registration.

School Competitive League (3rd-6th grades):

-HYL School Competitive teams are formed based on high school feeder pattern boundaries with the intent to roster players that will be future high school teammates.

-If there are not enough players to form a team (or an additional team) within the high school feeder pattern, the HYL Staff will roster those players to the closest geographic high school feeder pattern team that requires additional players. 

-The optimal size for the HYL School Competitive team is 7-10 players.  

-During registration, School Competitive coaches may request players and players may request coaches.  The HYL Staff will make reasonable efforts to honor these requests, provided they comply with the School Competitive League team formation guidelines and meet team size parameters.

-In the School Competitive League, the HYL staff can also receive support in team formation by a High School Feeder Ambassador.  HYL will make reasonable efforts to honor the Ambassador’s requests, provided they comply with the School Competitive League team formation guidelines and meet the team size parameters.

-Coaches may request a waiver to allow a player outside their team’s feeder pattern to participate on their team. Examples of valid reason for a waiver include but are not limited to: logistical considerations that significantly impact the player’s family; the player is a relative of the team’s coach; or the player’s family has documented intention to attend the team’s feeder high school, even if they do not currently reside within the feeder zone.

-The following are not valid reason for a waiver: the player also participates on the coach’s club or AAU team; requests based solely on competitive advantage or team strengthening; or a player’s or parent’s preference without a qualifying logistical reason. All waiver requests are subject to final review and approval or denial by the HYL Staff and Committee.       

-Private school students will be rostered with other private school students who plan to attend the same private high school (e.g., Gonzaga Prep or Northwest Christian) unless otherwise requested during registration to play with their zoned public high school feeder pattern team. If there are not enough players at that private school to form at team, the HYL Staff will roster the player with the closest private school that requires additional players.

-Home School students will be placed on a team within their zoned public high school feeder pattern based on their residential home address unless otherwise requested during registration.

If you have any questions, please email us at hyl@spokanehoopfest.net