"get THE BASKETBALL FEVER"

Dear Parents and Players:

Welcome again to the beginning of another exciting spring season.  The coaches and I are extremely eager to begin working with all of our present players and the new players as well. We have managed to acquire some extremely talented individuals over the course of the past year and we expect these players to compliment our present players very well.

Our plans for the spring season are to primarily get our 8^th graders ready for high school ball and to prepare our younger players to become more successful during our summer tournament series.  We have a very exciting summer season to prepare for.

For example, we are making plans to have our traveling teams for our 6^th-8^th graders to attend The Main Event Basketball Tournament held in Las Vegas on July 22-26, 2008.  Our other teams will also participate in local and nearby tournaments in other states.  The preliminary list is as follows: 

·        Hoyt Brawner Basketball Tournament at DU – April 29 – May 4, 2008

·        2008 MAYB Summer Kickoff in Newton, KS – June 6, 2008

·        MAYB Tournament Colorado Springs – June 13, 2006

·        MAYB Tournament Denver – June 20, 2006

·        MAYB Tournament Broomfield – July 11, 2008

·        (Additional tournaments may be added based on the number of teams.  Each team will participate in no more than 3 to 4 tournaments over the entire summer.)

In order to successfully participate in these summer tournaments, we must first commit ourselves to a rigorous spring season.  This spring season, we will have 4^th through 8^th grade boys teams and possibly begin our girls program.  Each team will be divided based on talent/ability.  The teams will only consist of 8 to 10 players and the top players in each age group will be placed on the traveling team or the “Black Team.”  All other players will be placed on the Gold or Orange teams. 

This season will be handled a little different than previous ones.  On Saturday March 15, 2008 from 9:00am to 12:00pm at Laredo Middle School, the club will be having its spring tryouts.  Registration will begin at 8:45am.  This is a MANDATORY tryout session in which players will be evaluated for team placement. Players not attending the tryout session may risk not being placed on a team.  Also, since the club has grown so tremendously, we will only carry enough kids to max out 1 to 3 teams in each division.  The exact number will be based on coaching availability and player abilities. PLEASE NOTE that there may be a possibility that some players may not be unable to be placed on a team.  WE ALSO URGE EACH PLAYER TO INVITE AS MANY FRIENDS TO OUR TRYOUT SESSION.  This will help in creating additional teams for players needing a spot.  Finally, there will be a short parent and players meeting being promptly at 9:00am.

The spring fees are as follows:

·     The 2008 Club Spring Fee will be $140 – This fee includes the fee for JAM and the gym time.  Fees are due on March 15, 2008 at registration during the tryouts.  Players not paying the fee at this time will not be placed on a team and may lose the opportunity to be placed on a team.

·     For players without Colorado Fever uniforms, the cost for a new uniform will be $55.  These uniforms will be used for all subsequent seasons.  Orders must be placed and paid for at the tryout session in order to be received by the first game.

(NOTE: We are aware that some players may have grown out of their previous uniforms and have a need to purchase new ones.  We are willing to help facilitate an exchange with incoming players at this time where old players can sell their old uniforms for $25 (based on condition of uniform) to incoming players.  The club will not accept any responsibility in these transactions.  If this is something you are interested in doing, please notify me ASAP so that I may get the word out.)

·     Should a players end up not being placed on a team, all fees will be refunded.

You are also welcomed to make your registration payments early or submit a down payment for fees or uniforms.  March 15^th will be a close call for uniforms in order to get them by the first game.  If you want to assure that your player has his uniform, I urge you to send in your payments early so that I can place early orders.  To do so, please complete the attached Player Information form, make all payments payable to Colorado Fever Athletic Association and mail to: 

Colorado Fever Athletic Association
PO Box 460801
Aurora, CO 80046

If you have already completed the online version of this form, there is no need to send in the information form again.  If you are ordering a uniform, I will need your size request.

Thanks and I looking forward to a great season. 

Sincerely,
Coach Keith Howard
Club Director