Ramblers Competitive Program
The Ramblers’ competitive program offers structured training and competitive play for players seeking a higher level of basketball experience. The season, which runs from September to June depending on the age group, requires a commitment of approximately six months. Our competitive programs typically involve tryouts, two weekly local practices, and participation in leagues and tournaments on weekends that usually require out-of-town travel.
Commitment Level
Competitive team basketball demands significant time and dedication, encompassing practices, games, and travel. Players and their families should be prepared for the financial commitment, including registration fees, uniforms, and travel expenses. We acknowledge that family, academic pursuits, extracurricular, and school activities often take precedence. Therefore, we kindly request that potential conflicts be communicated to the coaches well in advance of tryouts. While we encourage our athletes to participate in other activities, our competitive program can be high level, and parents and athletes must understand the commitment they are making upon joining. It is crucial to consider the time and travel commitments, as well as the financial implications, before committing to a competitive team.
Tryouts
All of our competitive teams hold open tryouts. Players must participate in tryouts to be selected for the team roster. All individuals are welcome to try out. There is a $10 fee associated with this process. Tryouts for each age group are conducted by the coaches of that team, in collaboration with guest coaches from within the club and the London Basketball community. These evaluators assessments help to assist the coaches in making team selections. The players’ skills, effort, behaviour, and attitude are significant considerations for coaches in their team selections. There are two tryouts of approximately 1.5 hours each, with an additional tryout scheduled if necessary by the coach. Tryouts typically commence in August for Juel teams and September for all other teams. A tryout schedule will be posted on our website in mid-August.
Costs
If your child is selected to play on a competitive team, the cost will range from $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the team and or number of tournaments and activities their team enters. The player registration fee offsets the costs of league fees, Ontario Cup registration, tournament fees, insurance, gym facilities, coaches’ expenses, and more.
Uniform costs, which players will keep each year, will be approximately $180 to $200.
Parents have the opportunity to apply for funding through Jump Start, Kid Sport, and Their Opportunity to assist with player fees. However, it’s important to note that there are no guarantees of funding, and they likely won’t cover all fees.