What makes The Academy unique?

1. Opportunity to practice each week.  No other competitive league in the area offers the opportunity for their' teams to practice.

2. Progressive roll-out of defenses (man-to-man, 2-3 zone, 3-2 zone, 2-2-1 press, diamond press) throughout the season to gradually expose players to new concepts.  This will allow coaches to better focus their practices on particular team skills. By doing this, players will have a better opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of team skills before being exposed to additional team concepts.

3. Played on age-appropriate 9ft rims (recommended by the NBA & USA Basketball) to allow players the opportunity to develop good finishing and shooting habits.  Save time and money of having to undo bad habits in the future from shooting on 10ft rims before physically being able to do so with good technique. 

4. Coaches and players who are focused on player development instead of just winning.  We want the player’s to learn great habits that lead to success now, and more importantly, in the future as they play at higher levels.

REGISTRATION:  Registration will open on Tuesday, August 29th @ 8AM and close Sunday, October 1st (or until sold out...we will be taking a waiting list when all spots are filled). 

SPACE IS LIMITED!  Sign up early to ensure your team's/player’s spot!

Team Registration
- Email David at [email protected] your roster (min. 8 players per team) to save your team's spot to allow everyone a chance to sign up before the league fills up.  If your team does not need practice time and/or reversible jersey (your team has their own home & away jersey/reversible), let us know at this time as well.
- 2 ways to pay & register:

1.  Team Payment - Submit one team payment in full via Quickbooks invoice.  A code will be sent to the team once payment has been received for EACH player to then go in to register directly below just like our PDP and enter that code when checking out.  This is to allow your team access to Sports Connect and it's features along with notifications, reminders, emails, etc. league related.

2.  Individually - Have each player submit their own payment by signing up as an individual and then we will place them all on the team together (this way has the option to make two separate payments, but includes credit card fee).  

Note:  When paying individually, discounts for no practice time needed or no reversible needed will be credited back once ALL players on your roster have paid in full.    

Individual/Small Group Registration
- Individuals (those not signing up as an entire team) sign up directly below just like our PDP.
- Players will either be placed on teams needing to fill out their roster or placed together with other individuals/small groups to form a team.  These will be based on requests, school, roster availability, and skill level.  We will make every effort to accommodate requests to play with a friend, group of friends, or a certain coach based on available spots.
- 8-9 players per team to allow more playing time and make for easier substitutions for coaches.
- If you have group of 5+ players that would like to form a team and pick up a few additional players, email [email protected] about getting that set up before spots are filled.  Remember if you are planning on playing with a group of friends/team, then everyone must sign up individually before that division is full in order to ensure their spot.
- We will need at least two volunteer coaches for each each team (max of 2 assistants).  See below for our team training option as well.
- (Optional) McFarland Team Training - Players can select to play for a team that has all (12) 1.25 hour practices designed and led by David McFarland and staff (work on team half-court offense/defense, pressing, press breaks, zone offense/defense, etc. along with individual skills) with the assistance of the team's coaches.  These would take place during the team's scheduled practice time at the SHAC.  The add-on price for the (12) 1.25 hour team trainings would be $125.  We will place players who want to do the team training on the same team(s) as all players will need to elect this option for the team to do the training sessions.  This is on a first-come, first serve basis.  If your player selects the training package and we are not able to fill a complete team of players that want to do the team training, you will receive a full refund (including credit card fees) for the training package.

PRICE:  2 payments of $112.50 per player (customizable discounts available for team sign ups i.e. no uniforms needed, no practices needed, number of players on team, etc. - see details below). 

General Admission:
$4 Adults
$3 Seniors & Middle/High School Students
Free = Elementary Students & Younger

Individual Payments:  The website does charge a $3 service fee and 3.4% credit card processing fee.  The first payment is due at sign up and the second payment will be on Saturday, October 14th.  See below for a breakdown of how this will show up when checking out. 

If doing 2 payments...
- 1st Payment (during sign up):  $112.50 + $3 service fee + $8.64 credit card fee + $14.38 KY sales tax = $138.52
- 2nd Payment (Sat., October 14th):  $112.50 + $3 service fee = $115.50

You can save $3 by paying in full when checking out to avoid the $3 service fee on the second payment.  Additionally if you had two players you were signing up, do so in one order to save $3 as the website service fee is charged per transaction. 

PRACTICES:
- All practices will begin the week of Monday, October 30 @ the St. Henry Athletic Complex (SHAC) next to Boone Co. HS
- Each team will have (12) 1.25 hour practices led by each team's coach.  
- Practices will be on Mondays 5:30-8:30PM or Wednesdays 5:30-8:30PM based on coach's availability.  Note: The Monday practices on New Year's Day (Jan. 1) will be moved to Sunday, December 31st from 12:30-3:30PM at Next Level due to the SHAC being closed on Jan. 1st and other weekdays not available for make-up. 
- When signing up individually (not a full team), we cannot guarantee which night your player practices on due to all the logistics involved.  We definitely try to accommodate requests if at all possible (and often able to do so), but sometimes there is no logistical way to do so with all the factors involved. 
- A practice schedule will be posted when all teams and coaches are finalized. 
- Please keep in mind that weather/Covid-19 may cause practice to be rescheduled for different dates, times, and/or location.  


GAMES:  
- Games will be held on Saturdays @ Next Level in Wilder, KY (start time between 8AM-3PM). 
- The tournament weekend may be Saturday (8AM-7PM) and/or Sunday. 
- Games will be (2) 20-minute running halves with the clock stopping the last minute of the game on dead balls and whistles.
- Based on the NBA and USA Basketball Youth Basketball Guidelines, the 4th/5th division will play on 9ft baskets with a 28.5" basketball in order to give players the opportunity to continue to develop good habits with their shooting form and finishing technique. 
- Only defenses that have been added to our curriculum at that point in the season can be utilized in games.  See link below for more details on this and the rest of the game rules.

23-24 The Academy League (4th/5th) Rules & Modifications 


Dates:

Dates/times are weather/Covid-19 permitting.  Make-up games may be during the week or two games may be played on a weekend depending on the number of cancellations and gym availability. 


COACHES:  We will need a volunteer head coach and at least one assistant for each team (max of 2).  As mentioned earlier, we do have the option to add a training package where the team's (12) 1.25 hour practices would be led by David McFarland and staff (work on team half-court offense/defense, pressing, press breaks, zone offense/defense, etc. along with individual skills) with the assistance of the team's coaches.  We will place players who want to do the team training on the same team(s) as all players will need to elect this option for the team to do the training sessions.  If your player selects the training package and we are not able to fill a complete team of players that want to do it, you will receive a full refund (including credit card fees) for the training package.

All coaches, including assistants, are required to complete a volunteer background check before coaching with a team OR submit an up-to-date AAU coach's membership card. Background checks are completed all online and good for two years. The cost of the background check is $20.50. Each head coach will receive a $20 credit each year they coach upon passing their background check and coaching the team for the entire season.  A team's assistant coach will also receive $20 credit at the end of each season they coach (or $12.50 each if a team has two assistants - maximum of two assistants per team)

We will have a mandatory Coach's Meeting for all coaches prior to the league starting. The Coach's Meeting is tentatively scheduled for Monday, October 23 at 6:30PM (via Google Meet).  

If you have any questions at all, feel free to email David at [email protected].

• Before the division is full and before registration has closed = Full refund minus $3 website fee, $8.64 credit card fee, & $15 processing fee.
• After the division is full or registration has closed, but before rosters have been set = A full refund minus a $3/$6 website fee, $8.64 credit card fee, & $20 processing fee will be provided if another player from the waitlist is able to fill the spot or if the player can find another player to take their spot. McFarland Basketball is not responsible for finding a replacement, but will reach out to those on the waitlist or who have reached out about possible spots.
• After October 14th, 2023 = No refunds unless the player can find another player to fill their direct spot on the team they have been assigned to. If a replacement player is found, a prorated refund minus a $3/$6 website fee, $8.64 credit card fee, and $50 processing fee.

• Before the league and/or practice schedule is full or September 15th = 75% refund
• After the league and/or practice schedule is full or September 16th = No refunds unless your team's spot can be filled.  If the spot can be filled, you will be issued a 75% refund.  McFarland Basketball is not responsible for finding a replacement.