Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to play?

Players who live within the Meadowdale High School service area or attend a school that feeds into Meadowdale High School are encouraged to participate. Players who live in the enrollment boundaries but attend private school or are home schooled are also eligible. Girls must be entering Fourth through Eighth grade.

Fourth Graders: We encourage Fourth Graders to tryout, but usually they play up on the Meadowdale Fifth.

Out-of-Bounds Girls: Exceptions may be made for Edmonds School District players who will attend a different high school provided that school does not have a feeder program, and Meadowdale does not have enough In-Bounds girls for a team. Priority will be given to girls zoned for Meadowdale.

How is a feeder team different than (or the same as) a select team?

Select and feeder teams are similar in that they are designed for advanced players, hold tryouts, and play at the more competitive AAU level. The difference is a feeder team helps players develop close relationships with girls they will eventually play with in high school. Most high schools have Varsity, Junior Varsity, and C-Teams, and so girls at all levels have a possibility of playing beyond feeder. A feeder team is designed to expose players to their high school's athletes, coaches, games, community, and school pride before they even reach their freshman year. Because we are given special rates from the Edmonds School District for gym time (because we are non-profit and serve Meadowdale area students), our feeder teams are typically less expensive than select teams which can cost players $2,000-3,000 per year.

What is the time commitment?

The teams practice and play together during fall and winter seasons. (Spring is optional by team).

What is the schedule?

Fall/Winter: Tryouts in early October with practices beginning in late October. Practices are typically two evenings/week for 1.5 hours. There will be AAU league with weekend games, and various local/regional tournaments, season ends with State in Spokane (if teams qualify) in early March.

What is the cost?

Costs are determined each school year based on gym rental fees as well as insurance, uniforms, league fees and tournaments. 2021-2022 costs were around $350* per player for a volunteer coach teamed, and twice that for a paid coach. This year, with gym rental being tight, costs may be higher. New players who need a uniform and shooting shirt pay an additional ~ $150. (Reversible uniforms are usually sized to last a player at least two years). Players also need to purchase an AAU card ($15 per player).

Extra tournaments that the coach and team wishes to do during the season will add to the total.

Scholarships are available: email ladymavsfeeder@gmail.com for more information. You will be asked to provide a form showing the athlete receives free or reduced lunch. Please inform your coach of the need so we can adjust fees.

Where do you play?

We play games and tournaments at Wesco and East Side schools. We choose one travel tournament for the entire program each year (usually Port Angeles for MLK or Presidents Day weekend). Each team determines if they will play in additional tournaments, usually local. If a team qualifies, they may also participate in the state tournament in March in Spokane (Spokane would be an additional cost).

Playing Time/Minimums/Expectations:

Practice, attitude, game performance, and skill increase opportunity. As they go through the program, each girl will play, but equal time is not an objective. Time is earned rather than given and the goal is to advance within the league/ tournaments.

Still, the younger the grade, the less competitive, and development and giving each girl valuable minutes will be more of a priority. As the girls near high school, the girls will transition to a philosophy where earned minutes, success, and winning are given greater weight.

Can middle school girls play on both the feeder and the Meadowdale Middle School team?

Yes! This is encouraged. The Meadowdale Middle School Basketball program and the Meadowdale Lady Mavs Feeder Basketball program are separate, but Middle School games are mid-week and feeder plays on weekends. The school program runs practices and games in the afternoon after school and feeder practices at night. So schedules rarely overlap. However, if they do, our program will always adjust to accommodate.

Are parents expected to volunteer?

Yes. Most coaches directors are unpaid volunteers, we also rely on families for support. Help is needed running the clock, and keeping the scorebook. Each team also needs a team manager to coordinate communication and logistics.