·         Youth tryouts are held in mid-October with teams set by the first couple weeks in November.

·         High School tryouts take place in mid-March with teams set by the first week in April. 

When are the practices?

Practice will typically run once or twice per week, depending on the tournament schedule.  Practices are primarily held at Cornerstone University, 1001 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI  49525 and typically take place at 6:00 pm or later.

My family cannot afford the Player Fee.  Can my child still play with the Storm?

Each year we attempt to collect donations from the community to help fund a small amount of financial assistance for those in serious need.  We do not want finances to be the reason a player decides not to play; however, families eligible for financial assistance should still plan on paying half of the player fee.  Payment plans may be available, with player fees due in full prior to the first tournament. Credit card, check, and cash are all accepted forms of payment.

Is there any other parent or family commitment?

YES. Each year we host the Storm Classic tournament in April and the Brawl for the Ball in July. All Storm families will be given the opportunity to contribute to these events. The continued success of these events not only saves the Storm program and its families a lot in travel expenses, but it also allows us to play locally and gives family and friends a unique opportunity to see your Storm player compete.

Are there any fundraising opportunities available to help offset the cost?

YES. We are planning to provide parents and players an opportunity to raise money to help offset some or all of the cost associated with the upcoming Storm season.  More details on the fundraising program will be available at the parent meeting.

How much does it cost (Player Fee)?

Families should plan approximately:

·         $900-$950 for the Youth season

·         $900-$975 for the High School season

The amount will be finalized once the schedule is official and the rosters and number of teams are set.  The total amount may vary in some cases based on the number of tournaments in which each team participates.  A deposit of half of the player fee is due at the parent meeting, which will be held shortly after tryouts are concluded.

What does the Player Fee cover?

This player fee covers all tournament entry fees, practice time, uniform, player gear (jersey, shorts, shooting shirt, etc) as well as insurance and other administrative costs.  Storm Basketball operates with all volunteers.  Families will be responsible for their own travel expenses to the out-of-town events.

Do the teams also play in a local league, such as MVP, Court House or Champions League?

No local league play.  We struggle to find competition in the local leagues and thus have a hard time being too involved. We may, on occasion, schedule scrimmages or games with other teams in the area. In past seasons our middle school teams participated in Detroit area leagues and some Statewide grassroots leagues.

Do we have to be at the tryouts both nights?

It is not mandatory to be at both tryouts to make a team. In an effort to get a fair evaluation, we do encourage players to attend both tryout dates. If he or she cannot make one of the dates, it will not be held against the player.

How do I pre-register?  Can I do this online?

An online registration form will be posted on the grstormbasketball.com website. Everyone is strongly encouraged to register online. There will be a pre-registration discount available to all players who register online prior to the first day of tryouts (the discount expires at midnight the night before the first tryout date). Players will be able to register at the door, if needed however the pre-registration discount will not be available.

In what cities do the Storm teams travel to play in tournaments?

The tournaments in which the Storm competes vary from year to year. While the majority of the middle school season is played in cities within a 2.5 hour radius some cities we may travel to for additional exposure with our high school teams include: Ft. Wayne, Dallas, Minneapolis, Detroit, Mt. Pleasant, Akron, Kalamazoo, South Bend, Lansing, Louisville, Atlanta, Milwaukee or Chicago.

How many players are placed on a Storm team?

We target 10 players per team.  Occasionally there will be 9 or 11 players.  We plan to have at least one team at each grade level, however, there is no guarantee. If the depth of talent at the tryouts allows for it, we may have 2 teams at some grade levels.

Are there any fundraising opportunities available to help offset the cost?

YES. We are planning to provide parents and players an opportunity to raise money to help offset some or all of the cost associated with the upcoming Storm season.  More details on the fundraising program will be available at the parent meeting.