Boys Basketball FAQs

Q: What’s the difference between a Select/Rising Star Team and a Spartan Rec Team?
A: Koa’s Boys Select/Rising Star Teams are pure “select” teams, whereas the Spartan Rec Teams are open registration teams. Both teams are professionally coached at a very high level, and both teams are intended for players who are serious about learning the game. The Select Teams require more of a commitment in terms of time, game play, and costs. The Spartan Teams will only practice one day per week. Again, both programs have a high focus on player development and learning the game.

Q:  Who is eligible for a Koa Boys Select/Rising Star Team?
A:   Boys who will be in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grade for the 2012-13 school year. Please note, the Rising Star League begins in 5th grade.  However, 4th graders are eligible to play, and will be placed in the lowest 5th grade division.

Q:  Who is eligible for a Spartan Rec Team?
A:  Boys who will be in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grades for the 2012-13 school year.

Q: How do I get onto a Boys Select/Rising Star team?
A: We will be holding tryouts for our Fall/Winter 2012-13  rising 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade select teams on September 29th (Make-ups 10/6). Click here for tryout info.  All players must register – no walk-ons allowed.

Q: How do I get onto a Spartan Rec Team?
A:  That’s easy. Go to our website, www.KoaSports.org or simply click here to register. Based on enrollment, we plan to have teams for boys in the rising 3rd-8th grades. If you have any questions or are interested in bring over a pre-formed team, email Mindi or give her a call at 301.785.0632.

Q: Can I play on both a Rising Star Team and a Spartan Rec Team?
A: Yes, however no Spartan Rec Team in grades 3-8 may have more than 3 Rising Star or other travel team/league players on the roster.

Q: What happens if I do not make a Select/Rising Star team?
A: So long as there is sufficient turnout, your athlete will be invited to play with a Spartan Rec Team. Based on enrollment numbers, we will have teams from Grades 3rd-8th with availability. We will place you on the appropriate team as long as there is availability.

Q: Can I only tryout for a Spartan Rec Team? Will my friends be on the team?
A: No need to tryout for a Spartan Rec Team. If you’re interested only in a Spartan team, you will be placed on an age-appropriate  team. In the Mudcat environment we are usually able to keep friends together. In fact, we often coach pre-formed teams in this league. Be sure to include any friends names at the player request prompt during online registration.

Q: I’m a parent coach – but I’d like to bring my entire team into the Spartan Rec program. Is that possible?
A: Yep, we coach many “recreation” teams that currently play in the Montgomery County League. We are happy to coach your entire team as it currently exists.  Please contact Mindi (301.785.0632) for more information.

Q – Who will coach the teams?
A – At koa sports, we believe kids can get the best training from experienced coaches and instructors. It is important that every Mom and Dad in our program read the Koa White Paper on The Importance of Learning from Non-Parent Coaches. All the coaches are required to go through extensive background screening. Furthermore, they are trained to follow the plans of our Advisory Board, made up of collegiate athletes and professional players. All teams have some interaction with our collegiate players. Full bios for many of our coaches can be found on our staff page (click here for bios).  The Koa coaches will run the practices and coach the games.  We will need a volunteer PM (Parent Manager) for each team. The parents get to enjoy the games and cheer on all the athletes from the sidelines.

Q – What does a “professional” coach mean?
A – In simplest terms, it means that the coach is required to (a) follow the practice plans designed and implemented by the Koa collegiate and professional players; (b) have extensive background screening performed; and (c) strive to adhere to our code of “PEP” (always POSITIVE, with ENERGY, and PROFESSIONAL).

Q: What are the qualifications of the Koa coaches?
A: All of Koa’s coaches are required to go through extensive background screening. Furthermore, they are trained to follow the plans of our Advisory Board, made up of collegiate athletes and professional players. All teams have interaction with our collegiate players. Full bios of some of our coaches can be found on our staff page.

Q: How many coaches will be at the Spartan Team practices?
A: Most often there will be one coach per practice. Occasionally, we may have 2 coaches.

Q: How many coaches will be at the Select practices?
A: Most often there will be one coach per practice. Occasionally, there will be two coaches. We would like each Rising Star group to get to know the Koa Hoops Staff.

Q: How many coaches will be at the Spartan Rec Team games?
A: For the Spartan games in the Rec League, there will be one Koa coach.

Q: How many coaches will be at the Select/Rising Star games?
A: Most often there will be one coach per Select game. Occasionally, there will be two coaches.

Q: How much parent involvement is required for the Select/Rising Star teams? Do parents coach?
A: We believe players benefit from non-parent coaches doing the coaching, and parents doing the parenting.  These are very separate roles. Please read our Koa White Paper on The Importance of Learning from Non-Parent Coaches Parents may be asked to assist on a periodic basis, but the Koa Coach is in charge. Note: We will need a Parent Manager for each team.

Q: What league do the Select/Rising Star Teams play in?
A: Our Fall/Winter Select/Rising Star teams will play in the Rising Star Basketball League, and play roughly 10 regular season games with playoffs.

Q: What league do the Spartan Teams play in?
A: The Spartan Teams will play in the Montgomery County Recreational League, and play roughly 8 games.

Q: What is the commitment required for a Koa Select/Rising Star Team?
A: Select/Rising Star players are required to attend two 1.5 hour practices per week, 10 games in the season, playoffs, plus a pre-season tournament. Koa expects that Select basketball will be the primary athletic commitment for the season. We totally understand about family trips and school work, but we are not lenient about missing Select/Rising Star basketball for other sports. If you also play on a Koa Spartan rec team, your Select/Rising Star game will take precedence over any rec league game. Your rec team coach will understand your select commitment comes first.

Q: How often do Spartan Teams practice?
A: Spartan Rec teams will practice once per week for one hour and practices will begin in mid December.

Q: How long is the commitment?
A: Koa Select/Rising Star players have a 1 season commitment approximately from the end of October to the first week of March. Spartan Rec players have the same 1 season commitment- games are early January to the last week of February with practices beginning in early to mid December. The Rec season runs for about 8 weeks plus make-ups for weather cancellations with games beginning early January.

Q: Where will the practices and games be held?
A: Practices will typically be at gyms in the Bethesda, Rockville, and NW DC area. Games will mostly take place in Montgomery County School gyms.

Q: How is playing time determined on the Koa Select/Rising Star Teams?
A: On the Koa Select/Rising Star Teams, we will have starters and bench players. Each player will play in every game, but the amount of playing time is merit based. Of course, during practices there will be equal time spent on all players, irrespective of whether that player is a “starter.”

Q: How is playing time determined on the Koa Spartan Teams?
A: For Koa Spartan Rec Teams, each player will play AT LEAST 2 quarters.

Q: What is the cost of the Koa Select/Rising Star Teams?
A: The cost of the Fall/Winter 2012-13 Select/Rising team is $650 and includes the team uniform. Additional Koa wearables are also available for purchase (fleece, jackets, long sleeve shirts). Here is last season’s value chart:

Q: What is the cost of the Koa Spartan Rec Teams?
A: The cost of the Fall/Winter 2012-13 Spartan team for 3rd-5th graders is $280 and $295 for 6th-8th graders. Game shirts are provided by the Montgomery County Rec League. In addition to the practice jersey and game shorts, additional Koa wearables are available for purchase (fleece, jackets, long sleeve shirts).