How do I make a spring team?

Players can make a spring travel team in one of two ways, depending on their age.

For players that are 14 and 15 years old (typically 8th and 9th graders), there is a tryout in the spring following the Idaho High School State Tournament. There are usually two or three sessions held and players are selected from that tryout.

Registration for tryouts will usually open in mid-January or early-February.

For players that are 16 and 17 years old (currently in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades) roster spots are filled based on a variety of factors including their performance during the previous summer, their high school season and depending on a particular coach’s needs.

If you would like to be considered for a team, please send an email to info@idahoselect.org with your current grade and the high school that you attend.

How much does it cost?

The team dues for the spring travel teams varies from year to year. The dues that each player pays covers the cost of tournament entry fees, facility fees, hotel rooms and travel arrangements while we are in the tournament cities*.

The player dues do not cover food or transportation to and from the tournament. Players that make a team will be expected to pay for travel expenses to and from tournament cities on their own. However, our coaching staff is more than happy to make arrangements to have players picked up and dropped off before and after the tournament ends.

*NOTE: during the Northwest Premier Invitational in Boise, players will need to take care of their own housing arrangements.

How do teams practice and travel in the spring?

The spring and summer travel teams differ a lot in how they travel and practice.

Typically in the spring, prior to our first tournament, teams will all gather in a convenient location to host a quick mini-camp. This is the best solution for everyone as our players come from all over the Northwest.

At the mini-camp, teams put in basic offensive and defensive game plans while building chemistry as a unit.

During tournament weekends in the spring, players will get themselves to the tournament cities. With the exception of the Northwest Premier Invitational tournament, Select will make the in-tournament travel and lodging arrangements. This is very similar to a college experience. During tournaments we will travel as a team, stay in the same hotel rooms, eat together and compete together.

What type of development do spring players get?

Each age level has specific goals, though all teams have the overriding goal of helping players become better players, teammates and people.

For 14U and 15U teams we are trying to open their eyes to another level of competition and understand what it takes to succeed as an individual. Often times at this age, players have not experienced a high level of competition outside of their local area or believe that they have already competed at the highest level. Additionally, players at this age are still learning what their maximum effort can be. Our coaches do an excellent job of presenting tough opportunities, teaching from mistakes and getting maximum effort out of their players. The learning curve is steep but confidence and skill development at this level is often dramatic.

15U and 16U are evolving to the next level of becoming a college level player. They are starting to understand the amount of work it takes to be successful beyond their local area and realize they still have a ways to go. At this point coaches are putting in more complicated schemes and expecting more production from their players. Off season work has become critical and some players are starting to get passed up by harder workers while others continue to grind and move their way up the Select ladder.

16U and 17U players are now really “getting it”. If a player is able to make a 16U or 17U Select team it means they now possess a skill or set of skills that make them incredibly valuable to a team. The recruiting process is now in full affect and players are learning to make plays on their own within the structure of their coach’s philosophy. At this level, all players on Select rosters are the best of the best at their school and now it is the small things they do on and off the court that will separate them from the pack.

Who should play spring ball and why?

Players that compete in spring ball for Select are committing to all of the spring events, including the mini-camp and all tournaments.

To be clear, we are NOT discouraging players from playing other sports. In fact, we love players that also compete in baseball, track, soccer, etc.

However, if you are unable to do all spring events then you may want to consider waiting until the summer to tryout for a team.