FAQ - Indianapolis Homeschool Wildcats

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?

We practice and have home games on the southside of Indianapolis, but our players come from all over – Greenwood, Franklin, Bargersiville, Greenfield, Brownsburg, Kokomo, Whiteland, etc.

WHO DO YOU PLAY?

Our younger teams play mostly other homeschool teams and Christian school teams. Our older teams play homeschool, Christian, private and public schools.

WHEN IS REGISTRATION?

Registration opens in June, and ends September 30.

DO YOU HAVE BOYS TEAMS AND GIRLS TEAMS?

Yes

HOW MUCH DOES REGISTRATION COST?

10U Boys – $215 | 12U Boys – $240 | 14U Boys – $355 | 16U Boys – $575 | 18U Boys – $795

10U Girls – $215 | 12U Girls – $240 | 14U Girls – $355 | 16U Girls – $575 | 18U Girls – $795

ARE UNIFORMS INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION COST?

Yes, uniforms are assigned at the beginning of the season, and are turned back in at the end of the season. Each player also gets a long sleeve warm up shirt that is included in the registration cost. If uniforms are returned at the end of the season damaged or stained, the player is responsible for the replacement of the uniform.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER FEES I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DURING THE SEASON?

Yes, for the Regional tournament, there is a fee of $20 per player (all teams go to Regionals). For the National tournament, there is a fee of $30 per player (varsity teams are guaranteed to attend Nationals, but some of our other teams may go as well) .

CAN I GET SPONSORS TO HELP PAY FOR MY REGISTRATION COSTS?

YES! We encourage players to secure sponsorships to help pay their registration fees. For each sponsorship secured, half of the money goes toward the players’ fees, and half the money goes to the club. Several of our players have sponsored their entire registration costs by getting sponsors.

We also have a “Free Throw-A-Thon” at the beginning of the season. Players have the opportunity to get sponsors to pledge an amount of money per made shot out of the 100 free throws that the player will shoot. Half of this money goes toward the player’s registration fees, and half goes to the club. Several of our players paid for their entire registration fees this way.

I PAY $100 AT REGISTRATION, WHEN/HOW DO I PAY THE REST OF MY PLAYER FEES?

Our treasurer will send you an email with your balance, and the amount of your next payment, which would be split up into equal payments per month until December. All remaining balances are due by December 31. These payments can be made through the website (fees apply) or by check, and that info will be in the email for you.

DO YOU HAVE A 10U GIRLS TEAM?

No, because unfortunately there are not many other schools or clubs that have 10U girls teams for us to compete against. 10 year old girls are welcome to play on our 12U girls team. This can change from year to year

HOW MANY KIDS ARE IN YOUR PROGRAM?

It varies from year to year but usually around 70-80

DO YOU HAVE TRYOUTS?

No, we don’t have tryouts. All players that register with our program will play on the team of their age level as of August 1. If a player would like to try out to play on the team that is one level up from the team determined by their age (for instance, a 14 year old would like to try out for the 16U team) the coaches will have the player try out for the team. Before a player can play for a higher level team, the parents of that player must be contacted and in agreement to pay the fee for the higher level team.

WHEN DOES THE SEASON START?

Practices start October 1. Games start at the end of October for some, most start in November.

WHEN DOES THE SEASON END?

The season ends at the end of Februrary for most teams at the Regional tournament. For teams competing in the National tournament, the season ends in mid-March with the NCHBC National tournament in Springfield, MO.

HOW MANY PRACTICES DO YOU HAVE PER WEEK?

Each team practices 3x per week, unless they have a game and then they just have 2 practices that week. We typically limit each week to 3 “events” (games or practices).

WHERE DO YOU PRACTICE?

Some of our practice locations are: Burrello Family Center at Garfield Park; Victory Christian church in Franklin; New Hope church in Greenwood; Indianapolis Baptist Temple off Southport Rd; Southport Presbyterian Church. Not all of our teams use all of these locations. This is subject to change.

HOW MANY GAMES DO YOU HAVE DURING THE SEASON?

The younger teams usually have around 20 games, and varsity has about 40 including the tournaments.

WHAT TEAMS DO THE WILDCATS COMPETE AGAINST?

HOW MUCH WILL WE HAVE TO TRAVEL TO GET TO GAMES OR TOURNAMENTS?

Most of our away games are within an hour drive or less from Indianapolis. There are some places that we will travel further than one hour to: Cincinnati Trailblazers (all levels, every other year – 1.75-2 hours); Chicago to play Monee Patriots (3.5 hours, every other year); Gary 21st Century (Gary, IN, 3.5 hours, every other year, JV/V boys only); Lafayette, IN (1.25 hours, upper level teams only); Springfield, MO (the National tournament, 7 hours); St. Louis, MO (occasionally there is a season kick off tournament there, 3.75 hours); Dayton, OH (2 hours, JV/V boys only to play Meadowdale H.S.); Richmond, IN (1.5 hours, tournament for JV/V); Culver Academy (Culver, IN – 2.25 hours, JV/V boys only); East Central H.S. (St. Leon, IN – 1.25 hours – JV/V only).

WHERE CAN I VIEW THE SEASON SCHEDULE?

The season schedules will be posted on our website under TEAMS. Our club uses an app that has all of our practice schedules and games schedules in one place.

WHERE DO YOU HAVE YOUR HOME GAMES?

At most of our practice locations.

DO YOU TAKE ADMISSION FOR HOME GAMES?

Yes, we take admission or gate for home games. This helps us try to cover the cost of the referees and the court rental fees for the games.

DO YOU SELL CONCESSIONS AT YOUR HOME GAMES?

We do at the gyms that allow us to do so.

WHAT DO YOU REQUIRE FROM PARENTS IN THE WAY OF VOLUNTEERING?

We ask everyone to be involved as we are a volunteer run organization, from the board to the coaches to the scorebook keeper. We have a job for everyone. Scorebook, clock, sweep floor, admission table, concessions, set up, clean up, fundraising committee, special events committee, photographer, livestreamer, team mom…the list is on the registration form where you can volunteer.

DO YOU DO ANYTHING IN THE SUMMER?

Our varsity players participate in “June Ball” where they attend shootouts at various schools. We also have voluntary summer workouts a few times a week in summer. We encourage our players to work on their game in the offseason on their own with skills and weight training.

WHAT CONFERENCE ARE YOU IN?

Midwest Christian Homeschool Conference – MCHC

WHICH WILDCAT TEAMS PLAY IN THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT?

There is only a conference tournament for varsity teams. That takes place in February.

WHAT STATE TOURNAMENT DO YOU PLAY IN?

ICBA – Indiana Christian Basketball Alliance

WHICH WILDCAT TEAMS PLAY IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT?

12U and up.

WHAT ORGANIZATION RUNS THE REGIONAL and NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS?

NCHBC – National Christian Homeschool Basketball Championships

WHICH WILDCAT TEAMS PLAY IN THE REGIONAL TOURNAMENT?

All of our Wildcat teams are entered into the Regional tournament. There is usually a 3 game guarantee. These games are played at the Pacers Athletic Center in Westfield.

WHICH WILDCAT TEAMS PLAY IN THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT?

The varsity boys and girls are automatically entered into the National tournament. Occasionally we send other teams if the teams coach and players are able and willing to make the trip.