Juel/Juel Prep tryouts set
Niagara Juel and Juel Prep tryouts are set to be held later this month at the Pelham Community Centre.
Juel tryouts, for players born in 2005-2007, will be held Monday, Aug. 14 and Monday, Aug. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. The new head coach of the team is Si Khounviseth.
Juel Prep tryouts, for players born in 2008-2010, will be held Friday, Aug. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 22 and Tuesday, Aug. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. The new head coach of the team is Chris Moscato.
All players must register online at www.pelhambasketball.ca. There is a $25 tryout fee to be paid at time of on-line registration. Tryout information will be emailed to all registered players. For more information, contact niagarajuelbasketball@gmail.com.
Players for each team will be picked by a panel made up of the coaching staffs, Pelham Panthers basketball representatives and other people who are not connected with Pelham Panthers or the Juel and Juel Prep programs.
“It just shows that there is no bias in selecting and it also allows us to look at each individual player in case there are parents that are coaching on the team or if we had players from a previous year,” Juel administrator Don Larman said. “These tryouts are open to everyone every year because we are a regional franchise.”
He has a number of pointers for girls interested in trying out for either squad.
“Come in, give up 100 per cent and do every activity, every drill and every scrimmage that we ask you to do. Put your best foot forward and let’s see at the end of the day how you shape up against the other players on the court.”
The selection panel is looking for a variety of skill sets to fill out the roster.
“In the past, we have had players who have been excellent rebounders and play great defence. They may not score a lot but they provide a lot of other team chemistry out on the court.”
Larman is a big fan of the Juel basketball concept.
“They are elite leagues in the province of Ontario. The purpose is to allow kids to play and practise against the top players within their own region and play against those top players province wide,” he said. “It helps improve their game and it will assist in getting noticed by coaches at the post-secondary level if that is where they are planning to go as well
He describes it as a great opportunity.
“Players can come in get excellent coaching, skill development, athletic development and get in game situations as well. It provides an all-around development for the kids.”
The teams will be selected by the end of August and then a start date will be determined for the beginning of skills training and athletic development.
“The players are allowed to go back and play with their high school teams and there is no restriction there whatsoever.”
Players who are competing at the Basketball Ontario, Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association or OSBA junior level are no longer allowed to compete at the Juel or Juel Prep level.
“It shows a commitment to one organization and your focus will be with that one team,” Larman said.
Juel and Juel Prep teams will play three exhibition games, 24 regular season games and at least three games during championship weekend.
