2009 Tryouts for Boys & Girls Teams ARE CONCLUDED. Congratulations to the New Members!!
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BELOW IS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLANS AND GOINGS-ON FOR 2009 LEGION BASKETBALL
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As has been the case since Legion's inception, each off-season, our officers and staff evaluate the areas and places that the Legion Experience could be improved, enhanced, or changed for the better. And this off-season was no exception:
__Legion_S.E.L.E.C.T. is in full swing! We established this new segment of teams for our organization, officially starting with the girls 18u Team that was entered in our Fall League; and the boys 11/12th Grade and 9/10th Grade Teams that played the Saturday League at Cage Fieldhouse. This new division of our high school teams will be formed of players that are truly truly advanced, have basketball as a first priority (or only sports/time commitment), have a genuine and definite desire to move on to the college level (and will do the work it takes to get there), and who want to be coached and challenged and trained to be able to perform immediately at the college level. This is not to say that ALL Legion teams are now "S.E.L.E.C.T.", they are not. Our regular Legion teams' and the excellent experience and opportunities we provide are still very much in play. We want to stress that S.E.L.E.C.T. should not merely be considered the "A-teams" and regular Legion groups are the "B-teams" (some clubs do this, we do not.) S.E.L.E.C.T. is something else. S.E.L.E.C.T. is oriented to be "above" the A-team level. The S.E.L.E.C.T. experience is, by definition, not for everyone. If you'd like to learn more about it -- feel free to check out the S.E.L.E.C.T. Team's Site and get more info: www.SELECT.legionbb.com
__Once again, Legion Basketball Group hosted our annual Fall League for high school aged teams a few months back. Fourth Quarter Team was our gracious co-host; the league was held locally in the Rochester area as in prior years. 2008's Fall League was a tremendous success, and the field of teams and format was the best ever! We'll be doing it again next year, and are looking forward to it!
__We've made, and are still in the midst of making some coaching changes, in both personnel and a few areas of technical philosophy. Understand, we're making these changes based on our belief that it will best serve the membership, not necessarily because of any dissatisfaction or shortcoming in these areas from the season just concluded. As always, the direct link to our Coaches and Coaching Philosophy Webpage is: www.Coaches.legionbb.com
__We've got a new parent/volunteer to personally oversee any and all custom gear orders. While this may seem like a small thing, it really is not. There were some struggles last season to get the team gear that was ordered back in a timely fashion; and only a minor part of this was Legion-responsible. With a "dedicated person" to stay on the suppliers and vendors, to make pick-ups and view proofs, to watchdog the entire process on a daily basis, we have every confidence that it will run like clockwork next time.
__There have been some proposed changes to the AAU Landscape, statewide (again!) There will be some suggested formatting changes to the currently-understood setup of the DQTs (D-1 and D-2) that Legion Officers and Administrators will provide input on at the annual Michigan AAU Girls Basketball Discussion Group Meetings. We are proud to say that there WILL BE a New Format for the 14u-18u DQTs and D-II State Tournaments -- the change was proposed by Legion Club Directors and was approved at the Michigan AAU Girls Basketball Annual Meeting in August. Go to the MIAAUGBB Website: www.miaaugirlsbb.com/current_issues.htm for the details...
__Legion was one of four member organizations, statewide -- that put in a bid to host the Michigan AAU Winter Friendhsip Tournament, to be held after the Michigan high school season concludes in 2009. Again, we are proud to say that Legion WON their bid, and we will be hosting this event!! Like last year's tournament, the event will be friendship-based pool-play, with a tournament/bracket round. The great news for the 2009 event is that the brackets will be played under the NEW FORMAT spoken of in the prior paragraph. Also, this year's event will be a four-game guarantee, instead of the three-games as was the case last year.
__We again had an excellent "graduating class" of ballplayers from the girls-side. Of the six (6) graduating seniors from Coach Jones' 18u team; ALL SIX had opportunities presented to them to continue their athletic careers at the college level, and ALL SIX of them are doing just that. 100% is a good figure in just about everything, and this is certainly no exception. Congratulations, Ladies!
Well, those are the latest and greatest updates, thank you for your interest. Keep checking back for more information and updates about the coming Legion and Legion S.E.L.E.C.T. seasons...
