Program Information
How the season works — divisions, tryouts, practices, games and what we ask of families.
Divisions
Grade Divisions
Mountainside PAL fields teams at each grade level from 3rd through 8th. Players are placed by their current school grade.
3rd Grade
Entry level. Focus on fundamentals, spacing and getting comfortable in game situations.
4th Grade
Building on fundamentals with more structured team offense and defense.
5th Grade
Full-court concepts, set plays, and a longer competitive game schedule.
6th Grade
Middle school level play with increased pace and defensive pressure.
7th Grade
Advanced team concepts and preparation for high school basketball.
8th Grade
Our most competitive division, capping the PAL program before high school.
Confirm with PAL: the descriptions above are placeholders written to show the layout. Replace them with how PAL actually describes each division — and note here whether boys and girls play together or separately.
Getting on a team
Tryouts & Selection
Every registered player attends a tryout. Coaches evaluate skills, effort and coachability across the session.
- Tryout dates TBD
- Location TBD
- Teams announced TBD
Rosters are posted on the Teams page once selection is complete. Roster pages require a sign-in so players' names stay off public search results.
Calendar
Season Dates
- Registration opens TBD
- Registration closes TBD
- Tryouts TBD
- Practices begin TBD
- First game TBD
- Season ends TBD
The full game and practice calendar lives on the Schedule page once the league releases it.
Practice Expectations
- Roughly TBD practices per week through the season
- Held at TBD
- Players arrive on time, dressed and ready
- Let your coach know in advance if you'll miss a practice
- Consistent attendance affects playing time
Game Expectations
- Games are typically played on TBD
- Arrive TBD minutes before tip-off
- Full uniform required
- Players and parents represent Mountainside — respect officials and opponents
- Cancellations are posted to this site and pushed to the top of every page
Travel & Tournaments
PAL's philosophy on travel and tournament play — TBD.
This is one of the first things parents ask about, so it's worth writing a real paragraph here: how far teams travel for league games, whether the program enters outside tournaments, and what the added time and cost commitment looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions
How competitive is PAL basketball?
Answer TBD — worth distinguishing PAL from recreation league and from club/AAU basketball.
How much time does the season take each week?
Answer TBD — practices plus a typical game commitment.
What equipment does my child need?
Answer TBD — uniforms are provided; confirm what families supply.
Can my child play up or down a grade?
Answer TBD
How do I become a coach or volunteer?
Answer TBD — include background-check requirements if any.
What happens when there's bad weather?
Cancellations are posted to this site as an announcement and appear as a banner across the top of every page. Your coach will also contact your team directly.