We will teach the fundamentals of the game and learn team concepts we believe help teams succeed. Offensive and defensive philosophy are concepts to prepare for high school basketball. Our teams will be taught motion offense concepts / sharing the ball. We will teach team defensive concepts learned while coaching college basketball. Man-to-man concepts must be taught and played unselfishly. We will focus on playing hard, competing regardless of the situation we are faced, as a team can overcome talent deficiencies by competing harder than its opponent.

Player Objectives: Provide PHH players with opportunity for improvement, keep skills sharp, improve basketball IQ and provide competition appropriate games. Teams will use practice time to prepare for game play and also to build on fundamental skills. PHH Coaches will build a team first atmosphere where players can improve and have fun with teammates.

Winning/Losing: While we hope to win games and will try our best to put them in position to win games, the importance of winning and the outcomes does not measure to the process by which we are trying to win. Teaching the process of doing the right things will come before winning. I am certainly hopeful that if the players improve throughout the season and build good basketball habits, we will have the opportunity to win games.

Players will attend at least one tryout, but are invited to attend all tryout dates per age level. Tryouts will be a combination of full court drills, shooting, but mostly competitive game play. Players are expected to bring their own basketball and a reversible jersey to help separate teams. Parents will not be allowed to view tryouts, so can only enter the gym at drop off and pick up. If players cannot attend any tryouts, they can set up an individual tryout session with PHH Coaches for evaluation.

Upon the start of tryouts, PHH will give a timeline on team invitations being sent. Players will be sent an official invite to accept a roster position based on team. PHH will generally separate teams into age and skill appropriate:

Blue - Top Team

White - 2nd Team

Orange OR Grey - Developmental Teams

Teams PHH coaches/directors believe can play national level competition will be labeled PHH Select. Tryouts do not guarantee a position on a PHH team, but Play Hard Directors will be sensitive in contacting families in situations where players are not offered a position.

PHH teams will have 2 practices per week with one guaranteed 90 minutes and 2nd practice between 60-90 minutes. Practices will help prepare players for weekend competitions working on offensive and defensive concepts, adding in OB plays and other strategic plays, press, etc. Practices will also focus on fundamental skills as individual development in ball handling, passing, shooting and basketball footwork is crucial to individual and team success.

Practice locations in the suburbs are Ela Sports Center, Wheeling Park District, Daniel Wright School, Canlan Lake Barrington, Arlington Heights Schools and Canlan Sportsplex Libertyville, but we are always adding locations. Practice schedule information will be finalized once teams are formed and are subject to change based on the amount of teams.

Each season will have a minimum amount of games. Fall & Spring generally 10-12 and Winter season 23-25. Most if not all games are played in weekend shootouts or tournaments with the majority of games being played in one-day shootout events. Winter teams will play in the PHH TFL League with a 12 game regular season and 3 game playoff. Weekend shootout dates will always play 2 games in a location per day. Generally locations will be 20-30 minute distances from North Suburbs Residents, but can be up to 40-50 minute locations.

2024-25 locations included: Libertyville, Lake Barrington, Schaumburg, Northbrook, Lake Forest, Gurnee, Lisle, Aurora, Willow Springs, Waukegan.

Basketball tournaments work hard to schedule around player/family conflict requests from program directors. The tournament/shootout schedule is generally released Wednesday evening or Thursday morning the week of the tourney, so families will only have 2/3 days before receiving the schedule before game days. Winter scheduling in PHH TFL League is made further in advance.

PHH is now powered by Under Armour gear and will provide a full game uniform, practice jersey, warm up hoodie and bag for players that can carry a basketball. PHH will also have an Under Armour Store for added PHH gear for players and family spirit gear.

Playing time will not be equal but earned. However, all players will play in every game they attend, and all players will receive substantial playing time. We want players to understand the importance of attending practice, listening, working hard and playing team basketball.  Playing time issues are never to be discussed in front of the kids or on game day.  If you have any issues regarding playing time, please contact us on Monday or Tuesday when we can appropriately discuss.

Parent Behavior is important to Play Hard Hoops and it is important to your son/daughter: Please refrain from attacks on officials. Please refrain from talking about other players on our team and our opponents’ team. Please refrain from being overly critical of the coach. Please maintain your perspective that this is youth basketball.