Welcome to Ridgeline Youth Basketball: FAQs for Players and Parents

What is the Ridgeline basketball feeder program?

The Ridgeline Youth Basketball feeder program is a non-profit organization that is designed to prepare young athletes grades 3rd – 8th to play in the Ridgeline High School basketball program. Players are composed of kids from local elementary and middle schools that “feed” into Ridgeline High School. We are a competitive basketball program that focuses on skill development and team play.

What are the benefits of a youth basketball feeder program?

  • Development of basketball skills
  • Build team, friendships, and culture 
  • Provides an opportunity for kids in the community to play competitive basketball in a positive environment
  • Builds community through basketball
  • Supports the high school basketball program
  • Fundraising opportunity for high school basketball program

What is the mission of the Ridgeline feeder program?

Our mission is to develop the next generation of Ridgeline basketball players by providing high-quality training, mentorship, and competitive opportunities in a supportive and inclusive environment. We are committed to teaching the fundamentals of the game while promoting teamwork, discipline, and respect both on and off the court.

Through structured skill development and leadership training, we aim to build confident athletes and knowledgeable coaches who exemplify integrity, sportsmanship, and a lifelong love for basketball. Beyond competition, we foster a culture where lasting friendships are built through shared experiences, mutual support, and the joy of growing together as a team.

Our commitment extends beyond the youth level—we strive to prepare players for success as they transition into high school basketball, continuing to support their growth as athletes, leaders, and teammates. We believe the bonds formed and values instilled through our program will serve as a strong foundation for future success both on the court and in life.

Who can participate in the Ridgeline feeder program?

Our program is open to boys and girls grades 3rd through 8th who live within the Central Valley School district or attends an elementary or middle school within the Central Valley School district boundary, and plans and is eligible to attend Ridgeline High School.

How is a feeder program different from a recreation or club/travel basketball team?

There are typically three tiers of youth basketball leagues/teams: recreation, feeder/select, and club/travel.

  • Recreation is typically less competitive, often has equal playing time at certain ages, focuses on playing with kids in the same community, and typically has less games and practices, and is a shorter season.
  • Feeder is a select program that has tryouts, it is more competitive than recreational leagues, focuses on playing with kids in the same community, coaching philosophy is aligned more with the high school, has no guaranteed playing time but has program established guidelines, typically is more expensive than recreation but less than club/travel, and is typically run as a non-profit organization.
  • Club/travel typically includes kids from different school districts, is the most competitive, may involve travel, often has more of a time commitment (i.e. more tournaments/games/practices), typically is more expensive or is run as a for-profit organization, and has no guaranteed playing time.

What if my kid plays on another club basketball team, or plays other sports during the season – can they still play on a Ridgeline Youth Basketball feeder team?

We understand there may be other teams or sports and we encourage multi-sport athletes. The feeder program is not designed to replace pre-existing club teams, but rather to provide another option that more aligns with the high school program. We expect those that participate in the Ridgeline Youth Basketball feeder program will prioritize the feeder team and communicate with their coaches regarding any conflicts. We understand there will be conflicts with regards to other sports/teams, but we do not think this should preclude players from playing in the feeder program. However, frequent conflicts with other sports or absences from practices/games may affect playing time, so those are things that should be discussed with the coaches up front to come up with a plan that works best for the player and the team.

How are teams and players selected for the Ridgeline feeder program?

Teams will be assembled in early September through tryouts. Teams are selected by a panel of coaches and evaluators. Coaches/evaluators use a variety of drills and scrimmages to evaluate the players and select the teams.

Is attendance at tryouts required?

Yes, players are required to attend at least one tryout date. Teams are formed based on skill level, coachability, attitude, work ethic, sportsmanship, and potential.

Can I watch tryouts?

Tryouts are closed to everyone except coaches, evaluators, and players.

Is my kid guaranteed to make a team if they attend tryouts?

We cannot guarantee that every kid will have a team as there are various factors that go into forming teams (i.e. number of kids, volunteer coaches, etc.). We aim to place each player in a competitive and appropriate environment based on their skill level. This is a select program, so there may be situations in which the feeder program may not be the best option for certain kids. We generally do not want to cut kids from the program if possible; however, in these situations, we will work with the Hooptown Youth League and other local organizations to help find recreational or other options for the player to play in.

What if my kid already has a partial team of kids in the area, but wants to join or play in the Ridgeline feeder program?

We often see partial teams that are a combination of have players but need a coach, or have  a coach that needs players, or kids that just want to play but don't know where to sign up. Please reach out through the Contact Us page if you have a partial team and would like to be apart of the Ridgeline program.  

How will I know if my kid makes the team?

Team selections will be emailed out within 48 hours after tryouts are completed. If your kid is offered a spot on a team, you will have 24 hours to register him/her and pay or their spot will be offered to another player.

What happens after my kid makes a team?

Shortly after tryouts and before the first practice, all players and at least one parent are expected to attend a team kickoff meeting, where we discuss expectations for the season, introduce coaches, and answer any further questions.

What is the roster size and how many teams will there be?

Teams may vary in size by grade and skill level based on the number of players trying out. Generally, there will be 10 players on a team but it is up to the discretion of each teams coach and the program to establish roster size. The goal is to have at least one feeder team per grade for boys and girls. If there are enough kids in a grade, multiple teams per grade may be formed. The first team will be called the “Green” team and the second team will be the “White” team (i.e. Ridgeline 7th Boys Green and Ridgeline 7th Boys White). 

If my kid does make a feeder program team, how will playing time be determined?  

The coaches will make the determination of playing time, and there is no minimum playing time guarantee. Our philosophy as a program is to get every player meaningful playing time, but it may vary game to game. Playing time won’t be equal and some kids will play more than others. Starting is also not guaranteed and starters could vary game to game. Items that may impact playing time include, but are not limited to:

  • Attending practice
  • Attitude 
  • Work ethic
  • Listening/execution
  • Basketball skill
  • Sportsmanship
  • Matchups
  • Specific game situations

Who are the coaches?

Coaches are experienced volunteers, typically parents of kids playing on the teams, with backgrounds in coaching basketball or other sports, and/or playing basketball. All coaches receive training aligned with our program's values. Coaches are determined by the Director of Youth Basketball and program committee. If you are interested in coaching, please reach out to as we need volunteer coaches.

What are some of the expectations of our coaches?

In addition to coaching at practice and games, some of the items that that we expect from our coaches include attending and running tryouts, registering teams for the basketball league and tournaments, supporting the high school program by attending youth night, modeling good behavior and setting the standard for our kids to follow, communicating with parents, and being a positive influence on the players. It is encouraged for other parents to assist as coaching or with some of the coordination and responsibilities that is involved with running a team especially given this is a new program.

When does the season start and how long does it go? 

The basketball season starts with tryouts in early September. Practices start in middle of October and end with the middle school state tournament in Spokane in early to mid-March. 

How often will teams practice? 

Teams will practice two times per week, typically 1 to 1.5 hours per practice. Practices will typically be held Monday – Friday evenings. There will be no practices certain days or weeks for holidays (i.e. winter break) or when there are gym conflicts with the elementary or middle school. Practices will typically be held at local elementary and middle schools that are in the Central Valley School district. Certain grades may practice together pending gym availability as gym space may be limited.

How many games can I expect to play in?

Teams participating in the feeder program will play at least 20 games, which is made up of a regular season (typically 8-10 games depending on the grade) and 4 tournaments (which is typically 4 games per tournament). 

  • Regular season – Each feeder team will play a regular season that is offered through HoopTown Youth League (HYL). There are several divisions that are offered through HYL (School Recreational, School Competitive, and HYL Club). We expect most teams to compete in the HYL School Competitive division, but it is up to the coach of each team to decide based on the skill level which division is best for their team. Games are played on various days of the week depending on the league and grade, as some league games are during the week and some are on Saturdays. 
  • School Competitive HYL games are typically on different days or times as the HYL Club games, which would allow players to play on multiple teams if they see fit. YMCA also runs a youth league during the same timeframe which is another option for feeder teams to play in.
  • Tournaments – Each feeder program will include entry into a minimum of four tournaments (excluding the end of season playoffs offered through HYL). The state tournament is included in the four tournaments for those teams that qualify (see below). Tournaments typically begin at the end of October and run through end of February. The expectation is that these tournaments will be local in the Spokane area and no travel is required. However, it is up to the coaches and team to decide if they would like to travel and play in a tournament in another city at additional cost to the players on the team. It will be up to the coaches and each team to decide which tournaments they would like to play in based on availability, level of competition, etc. If teams would like to play in more tournaments, they may do so at additional cost to the players on the team.
  • Washington Middle School Basketball State – Teams in grades 4th-8th that qualify may play in the state tournament, which is held in early to mid-March in Spokane. We would like as many of the Ridgeline teams to be able to qualify for state as possible, so we encourage the teams to find tournaments that are state qualifiers. 

What is the cost to participate in the feeder program?

The Ridgeline Youth Basketball feeder program is a nonprofit organization. Fees may vary based on team size and tournament/league entry fees, but you can expect to pay ~$600 per player for the season. This covers:

  • Reversable uniforms
  • Regular season entry fee through HYL (or YMCA)
  • 4 tournament entry fees (it is at the discretion of the coach of each team for each grade to determine if they want to play in additional tournaments at additional expense to the player)
  • Gym space for practice (~ 2 practices per week)
  • Access to individual/group trainings (at additional expense to the player)

If my kid makes a team, what is an example of how the league and tournament schedule?

Here is an example 2025/2026 basketball season for the 7th Grade Ridgeline Boys team:

Regular Season

  • School Competitive Division through Hooptown Youth League
    • Games: 9 game season
    • Dates: November 1, 2025 – January 24, 2026
    • Days: Saturday games (some grades play league games during the week)
    • Location: Spokane area gyms

Tournaments

  • Boo Ball Fall Classic
    • Games: 4 games
    • Dates: October 25-26, 2025
    • Location: Spokane area gyms
  • Santa Slammer (Spokane)
    • Games: 4 games
    • Dates: December 20-21, 2025
    • Location: Spokane area gyms
  • Hooptown Championships (Spokane)
    • Games: 4 games
    • Dates: February 21-22, 2026
    • Location: Spokane area gyms
  • Washington Middle School Basketball Championship (Spokane)
    • Games: 4 games
    • Dates: March 20-22, 2026 – Boys
    • Location: Spokane area gyms

Must qualify to play in the state tournament. Teams that don’t qualify would register for a separate 4th tournament.

It is the discretion of the coaches of each team with assistance from the program to build out a schedule that best suits their team based on experience and skill level. We encourage teams to play in local Spokane tournaments when available.

Are their scholarship or fundraising opportunities?

As this is a new program, we are working on developing a scholarship program that would be available to help subsidize the cost of playing in the program. We are looking for opportunities to fundraise and are open to any donations or ideas that anyone has to help support the program. Please reach out to the Director of Youth Basketball if you would like to get more involved with these opportunities.

What is your refund policy?

No refunds will be issued once a player has accepted a spot on a team roster by registering.

What involvement can I expect from the high school coaches and high school players?

Although the Ridgeline Youth Basketball program is separate from Ridgeline High School, one of the benefits of a feeder program is the interaction with the high school program. During the season, the high school basketball coaches and players time is limited, but there will be a youth night for both boys and girls in which all players can attend a Ridgeline high school basketball game wearing their Ridgeline jerseys to support the Falcons. High school coaches will share coaching philosophy with the coaches of the youth program as well. 

Are parents expected to volunteer?

We expect coaches to be volunteer parents. We expect each team to have a team manager that helps with entering schedules into the app and general coordination. During home games during the regular season, we are expected to provide a scorekeeper and scoreboard operator so we expect families to volunteer throughout the season. 

I haven't coached before, but still want to be involved in the program - how can I help? 

It takes a village and we are looking for volunteers to help. Here are other various roles where you can help regardless of your level of basketball experience: Director of Social Media & Marketing, Treasurer/Accounting, Director of Boys & Girls Youth Basketball, Director of Operations, and more! Please Contact Us if you are interested in getting involved with the program.
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What are the expectations of parents?

An important program objective is to have fun. We expect parents to positively encourage players. Be an example of good sportsmanship and positive attitude! Please refrain from publicly criticizing any player, parent, coach or referee at any time. Our program follows the 24 hour rule – parents, guardians, and other family members are not allowed to confront a coach, team, player, or board member to discuss any event that may have taken place in practice or a game until after 24 hours have passed from the practice or game has completed. This rule is meant to promote a more respectful and constructive approach to handling issues that may arise. See further information on our code of conduct section of the website. 

Does my player need their own basketball?

Yes, each player should bring their own ball to practice. 

  • 3rd – 6th grade ball size is 28.5" (size 6) for boys and girls
  • 7th – 8th grade ball size is 29.5" (size 7) for boys
  • 7th – 8th grade ball size is 28.5" (size 6) for girls

How do I register my child?

Registration opens after team formation tryouts are complete, in which parents of players will be provided a registration link. 
See the tryout section of the website for the registration link for tryouts. 

Once my kid makes a team, how do we receive communication? 

Each team will have a parent who serves as team manager who, along with your coach, will share information with you throughout the season. TeamLinkt is the primary communication tool. Messages are sent through TeamLinkt and all practices and games are listed in the TeamLinkt app.

Who can I contact with questions or if I want to be more involved in the program?

You can send a message through the Contact Us page.