Competitive Program Overview

• Our club participates in the EOBL (Eastern Ontario Basketball League) with boys’ and girls’ teams from U10 (8-9) to U19 (17-18).
• We often also enter some teams in the OBL (Ontario Basketball League) – typically at U17 and/or U19.  These teams play almost exclusively in and around the Greater Toronto Area so there are additional cost and time commitments involved.
• All competitive players must register as a GCBA member and pay the registration fee.  After being selected to a competitive team, additional team fees will be charged to cover competitive registrations, games, and tournaments.  The team fees start at approximately $350 and rise from there.  OBL team fees are significantly more.
• Financial support can be available through Canadian Tire’s Jump Start Program and the GCBA Wolverines Benevolent Fund.  Please ask your coach for more information.
• The session starts in early September with tryouts for our EOBL teams.  Some OBL teams often have tryouts in August.  Players must pre-register online for tryouts and pay a non-refundable tryout fee.
• The season runs from mid-October to early March (or late June, depending on the age group).
• Each week, there are approximately two  1.5 to 2 hour practices (week nights to be determined by coach availability) and plus games scheduled on some evenings and weekends each month.
• Gyms are located in the east end of Ottawa (east of Blair Road and into Orleans).
• All of the teams travel, including an end of season trip to the Ontario Cup (dates/locations vary team by team).
• Questions or Concerns? Please contact us at:  g_cbasketball@yahoo.ca

Other FAQs

• What is the Competitive GCBA Wolverines Program? The Wolverines program concentrates on developing basketball players who are interested in the sport at the competitive level. Teams travel to tournaments across Ontario and play other competitive teams from the Ottawa area.

 

• Can anyone try out? Tryouts are open to anyone registered in the GCBA. If you are not a registered member of the GCBA, you will need to  register ONLINE.
  • If you DO NOT make the competitive team you tryout for you will automatically be assigned to a House League Team and the opportunity to tryout for a Selects team for your age group (if there is one available) later in the season.

 

• If I play high school basketball, do I have time for Wolverines too? YES!!! The Wolverine program is designed so that there is only one mandatory practice during the high school season for both girls and boys, limiting the amount of tournaments during this time. Most of our players do both!

 

• It is very difficult to play competitive basketball and another competitive sport? The Wolverines Basketball program is considered the priority sports commitment for our players. Playing two competitive sports in the same season is very difficult to do and manage where one will focus your limited time.

 

• What is the commitment from families? Gloucester Cumberland Basketball is a volunteer organization and family member of every Wolverines player are expected to commit to a volunteer effort to help the teams run. This commitment need not be more than a few hours on an occasional basis, but it is essential. Your Managers (who are also volunteers!) will outline the volunteer jobs during the first team meeting. In addition, the Wolverines host a major tournament every year, and family members are expected to help that weekend.

 

• What is the tryout process? Every player is guaranteed two tryouts. Following the second tryout, some players will be released to House League. A third tryout will then take place, after which time teams are announced. All players are phoned by the coach and told of the outcome of their tryout.

 

• How do you evaluate potential Wolverine players? All players at all levels are evaluated by a team of approximately 3-4 people. These are the two coaches at the level (where applicable), assistant coaches (IF they are non-parent coaches), former coaches, basketball experts from the community and the coaches from the level immediately above where your son or daughter wants to play.  Players are evaluated on a combination of basketball skills appropriate to their level, as well as game situations (assessed through scrimmages). Evaluation forms are used by the evaluators to aid in assessing players to determine strengths and weaknesses.

 

• Is there a guarantee of playing time in Wolverines? The Wolverines program is a competitive basketball program. There are playing time rules for the Novice and Atom levels that require equal participation. At all other levels playing time is at the discretion of the coach. However, the GCBA encourages coaches to develop all the players they select to their teams.

 

• Do I have to have competitive basketball experience? Not at all! Basic skills, athletic capability, an understanding of the game and desire are all you need to try out.