PCTBC Tryout Process

Only players who have registered on the PCTBC website before the close of registration are permited to participate.

For each tryout there will be three administrators and several evaluators.  The administrators are typically the Board President, Vice-President & the Tryouts Coordinator.  Coaches and Adminstrators are not permitted to evaluate either the team they coach or a team in which their son or daughter plays.

The administrators run the tryout, putting the players through drills and organizing games.  The administrators facilitate the team formation process after the tryout is over.  The evaluators evaluate the players, filling out evaluation forms and then forming teams. All evaluators (as well as the administrators) have significant youth basketball experience.  

Tryouts are closed to spectators.  Parents and others are asked to leave the gym before the tryout begins.

Tryouts begins with all the players being given numbered jerseys (or otherwise assigned a number).  The numbers they are given match the numbers that they have been assigned on the evaluation sheets that are used by the evaluators during the tryout process.

Once the jerseys/numbers are given out, the players are put through a series of drills which include strong hand layups, weak hand layups, dribbling ability, passing, defense, shooting, rebounding, etc.  A significant portion of the tryout/evaluation also includes 2 on 1 play, 3 on 3 play and potentially 5 on 5 play.   A sample evaluation form can be found at the "Documents" tab of our website.

During 2 on 1 play, 3 on 3 play and potentially 5 on 5 play evaluators will move from game to game, developing a deeper understanding of each player’s skill level, athletic ability, aggressiveness, understanding of basketball, potential and other factors used to choose players and form teams. Depending on the group, players may be switched from team to team to get match ups that the evaluators would like to see to determine the relative strengths of players against other players against whom they may be competing for spots.

If a second night is needed, it typically entails fewer drills and more 3 on 3 or 5 on 5 full court scrimmaging.  The administrator works with the evaluators to determine not only what drills and games are necessary to help form the teams but also which players should play against or with each other.

At the end of the second night, after the players leave the gym, the administrators and evaluators work together to form the teams.  End of season evaluations done by the coach from the prior season may be used if they are available as an aid in this process.  These evaluations are done at the end of each season by PCTBC coaches and are kept confidential.

Once the teams are formed, parents will be notified via email regarding the results.  If a player is not assigned to a travel team they will be invited to a Portland Park & Rec team.  Travel teams typically range from 8-10 players.