Fequently Asked Questions
Why play travel basketball?
This program was started about 11 years ago to provide the youth of Fairview Park the opportunity to play on youth basketball teams that typically experience a higher level of competition than what is currently offered through the rec department or CYO. Our goal is to cultivate a love of basketball in our players, teach them to think "team" before "self", develop their skills/fundamentals and better prepare our players for Jr. High and High School basketball by exposing them to the best competition in their age group in Greater Cleveland.
**Only kids who reside in Fairview Park are eligible to play for a Fairview Park Travel Basketball team.**
How much will the season cost?
A travel team’s expenses are as follows: Uniforms $65player, practice court time $50/hr. (3 hrs. per week), Team League fee $575, Tournaments (2-3) $185-$250 each, roughly the entire season costs between $2,500* and $3,500* per team. Without a fundraiser each family can expect to pay around $350* for the season. Some years we've been able to curb the cost through fundraising/sponsorship as much as $100 per player. We will collect a $175 registration fee before the season. If we have good participation with fundraising we should not have to ask parents for more money later in the year for practice time, tournaments, and/or end of season team events.
(*This budget range is an estimate and can fluctuate from year to year as it is based on a number of variables)
How many games will we play?
Between league and tournament play teams will play a minimum of 15 games. Teams could play in as many as 30 games or more if your team advances in league playoffs or later rounds of tournaments. League and league playoffs will be at least 13 games. The plan is to play in 1-3 additional tournaments which each carry a 3 game guarantee.
League play begins the first weekend of December on Sundays and ends the with playoffs first weekend of February. Additional weekend tournaments can be played pre-season (November), over the holiday break and/or post season (February). All teams will be done with games by March 1st at the latest. Coaches will decide how many additional tournaments to play in.
When are practices?
Practices will begin the last week of October and/or first week of November. We are lucky that the Fairview Park Schools have granted us access to the Gilles Sweet Elementary, Parkview and Middle School Gyms. The coaches organize practice time based on gym availability in cooperation with Fairview Park School Athletic Department. We try to practice each team 2x’s per week. Practice nights will be Monday through Friday beginning anywhere between 5 and 8pm. We try not to practice past 9pm.
How far will we have to "travel" for games?
Last year our teams played their games in Strongsville, Berea, Independence, Avon Lake, Rocky River, Westlake, Lorain, Amherst, North Royalton, Strongsville and Avon, Our teams have played in tournaments in Olmsted Falls, Westlake, Avon, Independence, Lutheran West, Cloverleaf and Avon Lake.
Teams should not have to travel more than 35 minutes to a gym.
Our teams play in the North Coast Youth Travel League
Can my child still play in the Recreation League?
Absolutely! We encourage our kids to play as much basketball as possible! Our league games will be on Sundays. The Fairview Park Recreation Leagues plays on Saturday mornings and afternoons. Sometimes there are practice conflicts but that is up to the coach of the team on a case by case basis to figure out.
If your child plays on a CYO team make sure your schedule allows for reasonable coverage of practices and games should he/she wish to tryout for a FPTB team.