PROGRAM FAQ
Old Bridge Hoops Academy AAU & Travel Program’s Frequently Asked Questions
Tryouts are based on current grade and most, if not all, tournaments are as well.
Practices will start in late March to early April. Tournaments typically start in April. The season may end late June or mid-July. Some teams may gather and play in the “off-season” if the coaches are available and parents are willing to pay the extra cost for the added tournaments/league.
Typically, practices are two times per week for 90 minutes at Old Bridge High School. The practice times generally occur between 6-9:00 pm Monday-Friday.
We leave the practice schedule up to the coaches who try to find times that work best for most their players. Once the teams are established, the coaches will then start to reach out to the team to determine what days’ work best. Some coaches have times that work for them that you will have to work around. Please note that for various reasons, last minute changes do occur with scheduling.
Generally, each team will play 8-10 tournaments.
Tournaments are generally in New Jersey with some approximately one hour away in locations such as North Jersey, South Jersey. Some of our more competitive teams will attend overnight tournaments in New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Overnight tournaments are at the discretion of the coaching staff with agreement and support from parents.
Each team will have 8-11 players. We expect to have teams in each grade from 4th to 10th grade.
We encourage each player to attend all scheduled tryouts for the best evaluation.
We expect that all team members be at all practices and tournaments. We are willing to work with all families to help accommodate conflicting schedules. However, please consider the time commitment for practice and games when deciding whether your child will try out for one of our AAU teams.
We will reach out to you about one week after the final tryout for the specific age level. In some cases, it may take longer to hear from us because getting responses and commitments take time, but you will hear from us either way. Thank you for being patient.
Depending on the number of players per team along with other factors, costs may range from $500 -$750 per player. This fee includes our uniform package, as well as all tournament fees, reversible game and practice uniforms, shooting shirt and a backpack.
Half of the player fee is due within 1 week of accepting your offer to hold a spot, and the balance is due within 30 days. Your payment will be completed through our website/online with PayPal, Credit Card or Checking Account info.
Absolutely! We understand that spring and summer is prime time for multisport athletes. Many of our student-athletes play multiple sports and our coaches are accommodating. Attending practices/activities provides the best understanding and the most opportunities for overall improvement on their Hoops team.
Our goal is to give our players the best opportunity to advance on and off the court. Every minute is earned, so playing time is merit-based and performance driven.
We provide the coaches with a list of tournaments to choose from when all teams are set, so you will expect to know a majority, if not all dates, shortly after that. Note that sometimes tournament dates/locations will change due to coach’s conflicts or tournament cancellations.
Yes! Our academy offers various developmental training programs for players that want additional training along with those that are not chosen for a team. The program’s mission is to provide excellent instruction and repeated skill work to help players continue to improve. These opportunities are open to all skill levels, both Hoops and non-Hoops Academy participants. Please see our website at www.obhoopsacademy.com for all available opportunities and dates for our Player Development Program (PDP), Skills and Drills Academy, Summer Camps, 3-on-3 Tournament & Back to School Picnic.
- 2nd Week of September…….Initial Travel Tryout Evaluation
- 3rd Week of September…….Start of 6-Week Player Development Program (PDP)
- Last Week of October………..End of Player Development Program
- Last Week of October………..Official Start of Travel Practice Sessions
- 3rd Week of November……..Official Start of season (Thanksgiving Tournament)
- 1st Saturday in December..Start of League Play (CJBL & NBJL)
- Mid-March……………………………End of Travel Season
Tryouts are based on current grade and most, if not all, league and or tournaments are grade based.
Players are not allowed to play down, for any reason, either in age grouping or division level within an age group. Teams are not allowed to play below their age/level under any circumstance. Players who wish to play up to the next age/grade level must get approval from the Program Director. OBHA will do our best not to have split grade/age teams. If a team must be made with split grade/age, the team must play at the higher grade/age in all games.
If a player cannot attend a tryout, it is important that the player’s parent the head Coach or the Program Director, prior to the tryout date. If a player is unavailable on the tryout day (due to injury or other circumstance), we will do our best to arrange a tryout at a future practice/training session to set up an evaluation.
We will reach out to you about one week after the final tryout for the specific age level. In some cases, it may take longer to hear from us because getting responses and commitments take time, but you will hear from us either way. We thank you in advance for being patient. If your family does not receive notification within that time frame, please call or email the coach to discuss the status of your child.
While the North Brunswick and Central Jersey leagues allows up to two “non-resident” players per team, OBHA’s mission is to develop Old Bridge area basketball players. Therefore, OBHA will only allow “non-resident” players to participate on our teams on a case by case basis with the approval of the OBHA Program Director.
Tournaments are generally in the Central Jersey area. Exact game locations will be determined through tournament scheduling and school/gym availability. North Brunswick League games are held in the North Brunswick School District, generally, NBHS and Linwood Middle School. Home games in the Central Jersey League will be played at Old Bridge High School on Saturdays, between 12:00pm and 6:00pm. Away games are determined by league schedule and Townships participating in league.
Each team will have 8-11 players per roster. Number of players on each roster will also be determined by the number of players trying out for a particular team.
Typically, practices are two times per week, 90 minutes each session. Practices will be held at Old Bridge High School. The practice times generally occur between 6:00pm-9:00 pm Monday-Friday. The younger grades, 3rd through 6th, usually practice 6:00pm to 7:30pm and 7th through 8th grade usually practice 7:30pm to 9:00pm.
No. Players are selected based on ability. The travel program does everything possible to make the selection process as fair as possible. It is a fact that most travel players return and play the following season. However, this does not mean that OBHA views these players as having a guaranteed spot on the following season’s roster. All positions on all rosters are open to all competitors on a season-by-season basis.
It’s important to discuss your child’s schedule with all coaches involved prior to accepting an offer to play for the Old Bridge Hoops Academy. Absence from an occasional missed practice, game or tournament is acceptable, however, a player who cannot attend the vast majority of the team’s functions should either not accept a position on the team or should expect their playing time will reflect missed team activities.
Our goal is to give our players the best opportunity to advance on and off the court. Every minute is earned, so playing time is merit-based and performance driven.
OBHA believes in keeping travel basketball affordable. Depending on the number of players per team, player registration cost may range from $400 -$500 per player. This fee includes our uniform package, as well as all league and tournament fees, reversible game and practice uniforms, shooting shirt and a backpack.
To meet the diverse financial needs of our players and families, we offer two payment plan options instead of paying in one lump sum.
Option 1 – PAY IN FULL
Balance is due one week after the acceptance of a roster spot on the team
Option 2 – 50/50
Balance is divided into 2 equal payments. First payment is due one week after the acceptance of a roster spot on the team; the second payment is due one month after the first payment.
Your payment can be made in the form of a check (payable to OBHA) or through our website/online with PayPal, Credit Card.
No child is excluded from this program due to an inability to pay the fees. Partial scholarships are available at the discretion of the Board of Directors, to those athletes and their families who are unable to assume the cost of participation. Arrangements will be kept confidential. For information, please contact Ian Daley @ icdgcd@aol.com.
Yes! Our academy offers various developmental training programs for players that want additional training along with those that are not chosen for a team. The program’s mission is to provide excellent instruction and repeated skill work to help players continue to improve. These opportunities are open to all skill levels, both Hoops and non-Hoops Academy participants. Please see our website at www.obhoopsacademy.com for all available opportunities and dates for our Player Development Program (PDP), Skills and Drills Academy, Summer Camps, 3-on-3 Tournament & Back to School Picnic.
Absolutely. We are always in need of volunteers for coaching, scorekeeping, scoreboard operating, and many tasks that occur throughout the year. Anyone interested in helping should contact the Program Director, a Board Member or coach.
Receiving sponsorships from local businesses, members of the community, family, and friends is awesome! Registration fees may not cover all of the costs associated with participating in leagues and or tournaments.
Please contact the Program Director, team Head Coach or any Board Member at the email or phone number listed.
