Hello EPGBA Families!

As we approach our annual Eden Prairie Girls Basketball Annual Tip-Off Tournament, November 3-4, 2018, we have enclosed important information to let you know it is almost time to sign up for your parent volunteer shift! 

This year we have 80 teams participating in 127 games, this means we will need everyone's help in ensuring we run a smooth, fun and successful tournament.  Here are a few noteworthy items for you to be aware of regarding volunteering:

1. All parents, team managers and player families are REQUIRED to work a volunteer shift (head & assistant coaches are the only exception).  If you have two daughters playing travel basketball, you will need to sign up for two shifts.  You may find someone to work on your behalf (please let us know if you utilize a substitute so we can credit your volunteer hours).  If you decide not work the tournament or provide a substitute, EPGBA will deposit your $200 volunteer check.

2. Our tournament rules state that the home team is responsible for providing a scorebook keeper for each game.  However, we strongly encourage all Eden Prairie teams to provide a team parent to keep the official scorebook regardless of being the home or visitor team on the schedule (just for your game, not an entire 3-game shift).

3. Signup Genius will be posted this week for volunteer shift submissions.

Volunteer Positions

Game Clock/High School Players ONLY – Run the official game clock/scoreboard which involves starting and stopping the clock and adding points to scoreboard.  Game instructions/rules will be available at every court.
 
Gate Admissions– Collect tournament entrance fees from spectators coming to watch games and direct them to the correct court.
 
Gym Monitor – The key component of this job requires asking spectators to wait before crossing in front of fans watching a game that is in play.  This is especially critical on court 3 in the activity center and the main court in the gym. The main goal is to direct traffic flow in the gyms.  Also collect score sheets from completed games and turn in to red box at admissions table. We will be using parent volunteers for gym monitors again this year. 

Sunday Evening Take Down-The main responsibilities of this role is to help take down chairs, tables and put the gym back to its original format.

The success of any youth sports tournament is the ability to offer players, coaches, and spectators a well-organized tournament.  Let's show other associations that we provide a top-rate tournament complete with friendly and helpful volunteers and exceptional sportsmanship.
 
On behalf of the EPGBA, thank you for supporting our annual tournament and making sure everyone who participates or attends leaves with a positive experience.  Good luck to all our EP Teams!  If you have any questions regarding the volunteer schedule, please contact John McNulty@

Best Regards,
 

Todd Holloway, EPGBA Tournament Director

Colleen Schlage, Assistant Tournament Director

John McNulty, Volunteer Coordinator

In-House Player Clinics 2nd-8th Grade 

There is NO In-House Player Clinic on Saturday, October 20th due to MEA Weekend.  The next Player Clinic is Saturday October 27th at EPHS Activity Center Courts 1&2 (NOTE LOCATION).

2nd Grade: 8:30-9:30 AM
3rd/4th Grade:  9:45-10:45 AM
5th/6th Grade:  11:00 AM-12:00 PM
7th/8th Grade:  12:15-1:15 PM

Please click here for other key dates. 

Give & Go Eagles Mentoring Program

Coach Ellen Wiese, EPHS Women’s Varsity Coach and EPGBA are pleased to announce plans for the second year of the Give & Go Eagles Mentoring Program.  This program was introduced during the 2017-2018 basketball season and was a hit with the girls.  Below, please find an overview of the program and save the dates for upcoming events.

Goals of the program are to:

• Create an interconnected Eden Prairie Girls’ basketball community by promoting mentoring relationships between high school players and girls in the youth basketball program
• Build leadership skills amongst the high school players as they mentor and support younger basketball players
• Provide youth basketball players with positive role models in their mentors
• Create enthusiasm and community-wide support for Eden Prairie girls’ basketball

How does it work:

• In-House and Travel Teams will be paired with a high school mentor
• Mentors will attend a few practices and games
• Youth players will receive free admission to varsity home games by wearing their basketball uniform or spirit wear
• Travel teams will be a “Spotlight” team for varsity home games – Sit on the bench during warm-ups and visit the varsity locker-room before the game
• In House teams will scrimmage during half-time for varsity home games
• Participate in a community service project with their mentors

Save the date for all In-House & Travel Teams:

• Nov 15th 6:00-7:00PM EP High School East Commons - Mentoring Match Up:  At this kick-off event, the high school mentors will be matched with their mentee youth teams. Each mentor will meet with her team, have pizza, and get to know each other a little bit!
• Jan 2nd 3:00-4:00 PM – All Youth Event:  All the high school mentors and their youth teams will have a party in the gym without basketballs. Instead of basketball we will play tons of other games like charades, animal sounds, freeze tag etc. It is a fun event for all!
• Jan 21st 1:00-2:15 PM – Community Service Event:  High School Mentors and their youth teams will work on 3-4 community service projects. An example is to write letters to active military personnel. 

Wanted In-House Referees for the 2018-19 Season
 

Do you understand the game of basketball?  Do you enjoy basketball?  The Eden Prairie Girls' Basketball Association is looking for a few referees for the upcoming season.  Games are played weekends, Saturdays from early December until late February.  The starting rate is $11 per game.

The requirements are:

• You must be a 7th grader or older.

• ​You must take and pass the Mandatory MYAS referee training.  Even if you referred last year you need to do the training this year.  We will send out a communication once the time and location have been confirmed.  

Once you have passed the class we will contact you before Thanksgiving for scheduling.

If this is of interest to you, please register here.

 2018-19 In-House Season

Registration Deadlines
Rookie League -> Dec 31st
2nd-4th Grade -> Late Registration Oct 26th
5th-8th Grade -> Late Registration Oct 15th

Click Here to Register 
 

In-House Player Clinics 2nd-8th Grade 
Saturdays, October 6^th, 13^th at Oak Point Elementary Gym
Saturday October 27th at EPHS Activity Center Courts 1 &2 (NEW LOCATION)

2nd Grade: 8:30-9:30 AM
3^rd/4th Grade:  9:45-10:45 AM
5^th/6th Grade:  11:00 AM-12:00 PM
7^th/8th Grade:  12:15-1:15 PM

Practice Schedules (locations in parenthesis)
Mondays:  3^rd/4th Grade (Forrest Hills and Cedar Ridge),
Rookie League (Cedar Ridge)
Tuesdays:  5^th/6th Grade (Oak Point)
Wednesdays:  High School (HS Activity Center)
Thursdays:  2nd (Eden Lake), 7^th/ 8th Grade (Oak Point)

Game Schedule - Saturdays
2nd, 3rd and 4th grade will be at Oak Point Elementary
5th through 8th Grade will vary based on West Metro Schedule

Volunteer Opportunities
The successful of EPGBA’s In-House basketball depends on you! We currently have several open volunteer positions open including the In-House VP, Grade Commissioners and Coaches for the upcoming season. 
Please email us at to get involved!

Click here to learn more about our In-House program and the various volunteer opportunities.