Travel Basketball FAQs

What is the Newton Metrowest League?  Newton participates in the Metrowest Basketball League which has teams in approximately 35 area communities.  Teams can play at the Division 1, 2, 3 or 4 levels.  See www.metrowestbball.com for more information on the league.

What is the philosophy of the program?  The Newton Metrowest Basketball program is run by volunteer coaches and endeavors to teach basic basketball skills, develop a competitive team spirit, stress sportsmanship and create a healthy and fun sports environment for Newton children.  By promoting and teaching basketball, we hope that many of our players will choose to go on to play for their middle school and high school teams.  Most of Newton’s top high school players have played in the Metrowest program.

What age are players?  Players are boys and girls in the 4th through 8th grades.  Players are grouped by grade, not age, and must play within their own grade.

Is my child eligible?  Players must either live in Newton or attend a Newton school through the METCO program.

How many players play Metrowest?   Newton places one, two or three teams in each age group in the Metrowest League.  There are typically 10-12 players on a team.

Is there a tryout?  Yes, tryouts are held in October.  All players interested in playing are encouraged to attend whether or not they have been on a travel team in the past.  No pre-registration for tryouts is necessary.  Players should plan to attend both sessions.  Click on the Tryouts tab for the current schedule.

How do I register once my son/daughter is selscted for a team? Once assigned to a team, all players must be registered via this website. Do not register until you have been notified you have been selected for a team! Please visit the Registration tab for access to the Registration Form. Payment will be made directly to coaches.

When are practices?  Each coach sets his or her own schedule.  Typically teams practice twice a week, but the schedule will vary by team.  Practices are in Newton area gyms.  Practices start in November with little overlap with fall sports.

When are games?  Games are on Sundays beginning the first week December and running through playoffs in mid-March.  Games in Newton for 4th, 5th and 6th grade teams are scheduled after 12:30.  Due to limited gym space, some towns schedule Sunday morning games, and often the younger teams are scheduled for the earlier games.  It is unusual to have more than 1-3 Sunday morning games out of 12 games per season.  Metrowest does not schedule games on Christmas weekend, but does schedule games on Martin Luther King weekend and February vacation weekends.

Can my child also play in a Newton recreation league?  It is possible to also play Newton Girls Basketball Association (NGBA) or Newton Athletic Association (NAA) basketball.  The decision is up to each family to make.  Seventh and eighth graders who are also playing basketball for their middle schools often also play Metrowest basketball.  If your child does not make a Metrowest team, he or she should be able to play in one of the recreational leagues, but the travel team should take priority.  In fairness to both teams, please consider in advance whether there will be conflicts.  Metrowest is not affiliated with either NGBA or NAA.

How much does it cost?  The cost varies by team and depends on the cost of gym practice and game time, the number of tournaments that the teams plays in, referee costs, etc.  Typically the cost for the season is around $300.  Families needing scholarship help should speak to the coach or one of the league coordinators.

What is the commitment that is required from families?  The Metrowest team requires a commitment from players and parents to attend practices and games.  Because rosters are small, teams are disrupted if players can’t make the necessary commitment.  Generally, the team should be you child’s primary sports commitment during the winter season.

What if I want to coach?   There are often openings for coaches and assistant coaches.  Please contact one of the coordinators if interested.