NGBA Travel Team Tryout Process
Intent: The NGBA participates in the River Valley League (RVL) for the travel league season. In order to participate in the RVL we are required to create our 5th – 8th grade teams based on relative skills and competitive desire of the players. Teams are then entered into divisions (D1, D2, D3 and D4) allowing teams to compete against other players with similar skill levels and provide for competitive balance. RVL rules do not allow any City or Town to enter multiple teams from the same grade in the same division.
4th grade players do not have formal tryouts, instead, all registered 4th graders practice together for the first few practices so coaches can get a sense of each player’s strengths and skill level. Coaches and the 4th grade coordinator will then decide how many teams should be created and assign rosters based on the intent to create teams that are as close as possible to equal in skill level. RVL 4th Grade travel teams are only divided geographically into divisions – not based on assumed strength of team. After the regular season, all 4th grade teams are placed into divisions for the playoff tournament based on record.
NGBA’s Board of Directors recognizes that the tryout process and team selection can be stressful for players and families. We hope that all of our players and families remember that we are Newburyport Clippers first and regardless of a placement in one season, every player has the opportunity to tryout each season.
The NGBA tryout process is thoughtfully planned to be transparent, fair and objective, and place each player on a team where they have the best chance to develop, compete and contribute.
5th – 8th Grade Tryouts and Team Selection Process:
- All registered NGBA players in each grade 5th – 8th are invited to tryout sessions.
- 3rd party, independent evaluators without daughters that currently play in NGBA, conduct 2 tryout sessions per grade. Players attend both tryout sessions.
- NGBA coaches, parents, family members and board members are asked to not attend tryout sessions. Gyms will be closed to everyone except players and evaluators during tryouts.
- Players are rated 1, 2, 3, etc. based on fundamental skills, team skills, and athletic ability relative to other players in that grade.
- NGBA grade level coordinators and coaches determine how many teams each grade will submit based on registration numbers.
- A minimum of 8 players, based on tryout rankings (in order) and coaches’ desired “A Team” roster size are offered an opportunity to play on A team. If a player declines, and the roster has not been filled, the next player(s) on the list of rankings are offered a spot until the roster is full.
- “A Team” players must commit to prioritizing NGBA games and practices over other sports, club teams or activities during the RVL season in order to accept an A Team roster spot.
- B Team and C Team, etc. (if applicable) are created using identical selection processes.
- Exceptions for a player in a lower grade trying out for a higher grade are generally not allowed, but will be considered by the Board of Directors and age level coordinator if there is a shortage or odd number of players such that additional players are needed to create rosters with a required minimum number of players (RVL requires 8 minimum).
- Issues, questions or concerns about the tryout process or resulting team placements should be initiated with the appropriate grade level coordinator (listed on NGBA website each year) and will be resolved by the NGBA President if needed.