Below are a selection of the most frequently asked questions and their answers.
What is the $20 fee for?
We offer player registration through the RAMP online registration system. RAMP automatically adds a mandatory yearly $20 ABA (Alberta Basketball Association) Membership fee to your registration transaction. This pays for insurance.
While this fee is collected at the same time as SWZYBA is completed, it is processed by ABA’s merchant services and is separate from SWZYBA fees.
How do I register?
Visit our Registration page to learn more about division ages, fees, and to access the online registration website.
I am applying for funding with KidsSport and/or JumpStart, but registration is asking for credit card payment. What do I do?
This year the Alberta Basketball Association has made a $17 membership fee mandatory for all registrations (this covers insurance for athletes). This is something that is out of our control and the system automatically requires a credit card payment for that.
You can still choose KidSport and JumpStart as a payment option for the main part of registration fees, but the $17 is due by credit card.
I registered for A/B teams. How do tryouts work and when are they?
Tryouts are usually scheduled for early Sept. Athletes come for a first round in the morning and then callbacks are issued for athletes continuing to the next stage in the afternoon. Final cuts are made and A/B teams formed in the afternoon.
What happens if I don’t make the A/B team?
A/B is a special upper tier belonging to whichever division you register in. If you don’t make the team, you are still registered and will be put on another team in the same division.
Can out-of-zone players register with SW?
Short answer: maybe…
We participate in the EYBA community basketball league. They have advised that players cannot play for a zone outside that in which they live unless:
How does the volunteer duty work?
SWZYBA is a non-profit organization and your volunteer service helps us run a program that is cost effective for families. It is mandatory to sign up for a volunteer position. These positions include coaching, manager, casino, gear sales, equipment helpers and volunteer draw. If you are unsure about what to choose you can sign up for “volunteer draw” and we will put your name on a list that we can call upon for help at events, sorting equipment, and other various tasks throughout the year. If we need miscellaneous help we reach out to this group of volunteers.
How do I get involved in coaching?
Please use the volunteer section of your child’s registration to indicate that you would like to volunteer for coaching. If you do not have a child in the program, or need to contact us regarding coaching, please email gyms@southwestbasketball.com
Can my child play up a division?
You can apply to move up, but we cannot guarantee a spot. Our policy is that if a division fills up, priority is given to children that fall in the official age range.
How long does the season run for?
The City-Wide Community Based Program runs from end-September to mid-March.
When are games played?
Games are played on Saturdays in the Saville Community Sports Centre and in gyms across Edmonton and surrounding communities any time from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. On occasion teams may play 2 games on a Saturday. There will also be occasional Friday evening games.
For A/B teams, games are played on Tuesday evenings (for boys play) and Wednesday evenings (for girls play with some Thursday evenings as well). Games will primarily take place at the Saville Community Sports Centre, however games will also be held at other gyms around the Capital Region.
What team will I be on?
Athletes can request to play with a friend when they register. Requests are taken seriously, and we make every effort to accommodate requests; however, with nearly 1000 athletes to manage, we cannot grant every request. Thank you for your understanding.
When will practices be held?
Teams will get one practice time per week (subject to gym availability). Coaches will contact athlete’s families after the coaches meeting (late Sept.) with practice time and location.
Practices start the last week of September. Earlier hours are allotted to the younger age groups, with later hours going to the older age groups. Once set, the practice time slot will generally be the same day and time each week. **Please Note: Occasionally practices will be cancelled due to events at the school, such as holiday concerts. If extra gym time is available, coaches can work with SW Basketball to get a different gym time due to cancellations.
Do I need to try out to make a team?
NO! All athletes will be placed on a team and will no one will be cut from SW Basketball.
Try outs ARE available (please indicate during online registration) for athletes in the U-13 (bantam) & U-15 (midget) divisions wishing to play on the A or B team. These take place late August/early Sept. (TBA). Any athletes who do not make an A or B team will still be placed on a team in their division.
Can I cancel my registration and get a refund?
Refunds may be granted on cancelled registrations as described on the registration page.
***Please inquire with us only if you have a specific question regarding refunds that is not addressed here.
What are the rules of Gym Etiquette?
Please remember that we are guests in the gyms that we practice and play in. Schools can, and do, report unacceptable behavior to the City (our booking agent for our gyms times). Following are some guidelines to ensure we can retain our good standing with the City’s gym bookings department.