Everything you need to know in one place. Pick your tryout time, see exactly how players are evaluated, and lock in your spot in under three minutes.
No fine print. No hidden fees. Here's exactly what you need to know before you register.
Every player tries out once. Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in. Slots are grouped by grade and gender so coaches can evaluate against the right peer group.
| Grade & Group | Date | Time | Location | Slot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5Boys | Sat, Sep 14 | 8:00 – 9:30 AM | Aux Gym A | 90 min |
| 5Girls | Sat, Sep 14 | 9:45 – 11:15 AM | Aux Gym A | 90 min |
| 6Boys | Sat, Sep 14 | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Main Fieldhouse | 90 min |
| 6Girls | Sat, Sep 14 | 1:15 – 2:45 PM | Main Fieldhouse | 90 min |
| 7Boys | Sat, Sep 21 | 8:00 – 9:45 AM | Main Fieldhouse | 105 min |
| 7Girls | Sat, Sep 21 | 10:00 – 11:45 AM | Main Fieldhouse | 105 min |
| 8Boys | Sat, Sep 21 | 12:00 – 1:45 PM | Main Fieldhouse | 105 min |
| 8Girls | Sat, Sep 21 | 2:00 – 3:45 PM | Main Fieldhouse | 105 min |
| Make-up Day · Sun Sep 22 · 9 AM – 12 PM · Email coach@mundelein.org to request a slot | ||||
No mystery. Every tryout follows the same structure so every player is evaluated the same way.
Arrive in your athletic clothes. Pick up your numbered jersey, sign the medical waiver, and warm up with the team. Coaches introduce themselves and walk through the agenda.
Five stations, six minutes each — ball-handling, shooting form, defensive slides, rebounding, and footwork. Coaches rotate; every player is seen by every evaluator.
Random teams, full-court games. This is where coaches see decision-making, spacing, communication, and competitive instinct in real time.
Cool-down stretch. Head coach takes parent questions in the lobby. Players grab a Mustangs tryout shirt on the way out — yours to keep regardless of placement.
No politics. No favorites. Every coach grades every player on the same four pillars, with the same rubric. Here's exactly what we look for, in the order we weigh it.
Are they playing hard, every rep? Effort is the only thing every player can control — and it tells us everything about how they'll respond to a tough season.
Can they execute the fundamentals at game speed? We're not looking for finished products at age 10 — we're looking for a foundation we can build on.
When a coach gives feedback, what happens next? This is the single biggest predictor of whether a player makes the leap from middle school to varsity.
Do they see the floor before the play happens? Court IQ separates good athletes from real basketball players — and it's the hardest thing to teach.
A team, B team, or developmental — no Mustang gets cut. Placement is about putting your player in the right environment to grow.
No single coach decides. Scores are averaged and reviewed by the program director before placements go out — so personality never trumps performance.
Four steps. Two weeks. One Mustang family.
Pick your tryout slot, pay the $40 fee, sign the waiver. Three minutes total.
Show up 15 min early. Give 90 minutes of effort. Have fun. Go home with a t-shirt.
Coaches debrief, score, and balance rosters with the program director.
You'll get an email with team assignment, season fee invoice, and first practice date.
Three minutes. Secure payment via Stripe. You'll get a confirmation email with your tryout time, parking instructions, and the medical waiver to sign.
Real answers. If yours isn't here, email coach@mundelein.org — we respond within 24 hours.
Sunday Sep 22 is our official make-up day from 9 AM to 12 PM. Email the coach as soon as you know about a conflict — we'll fit you in.
Yes. Every Mustang who tries out is placed on a roster — either the A team (varsity-track competitive), B team (developmental competitive), or a position on our practice squad if numbers exceed roster spots. We do not cut players.
Two practices per week (90 min each, evenings) plus 8 weekend tournaments between November and February. Most Saturdays of the season have 2–3 games. We share the full calendar at first practice.
Three coaches independently score every player on the four criteria above. Scores are averaged, reviewed by the program director, and balanced for grade-level chemistry. Body language and attitude during evaluation matter — we're picking teammates, not just talent.
Show up. We mean it. About 30% of our 5th and 6th grade players have zero prior experience. Coachability and effort outweigh experience every single time.
Yes — fully and confidentially. Email coach@mundelein.org with the subject "Aid request." No documentation, no approval committee. We've never turned a Mundelein kid away over money.
Season fee ($625 for grades 5–7, $695 for grade 8) is invoiced after team placements go out on Sep 28. Payment is due by Oct 12 — first practice is Oct 15. Two-payment plan available on request.
The $40 tryout fee is fully refunded if your player isn't offered a roster spot. After acceptance, the season fee is refundable in full until Oct 25, 50% until Nov 8, and non-refundable thereafter (uniforms ordered).
They'll be evaluated in their own grade-and-gender group, but you can drop both off at the same building — slots are scheduled back-to-back so most families only need one trip.
If you have a printed copy of the medical waiver signed at home, it speeds up check-in. Otherwise, you can sign it at the door. That's it — we provide loaner basketballs if needed.