Select Travel Training Pipeline Program

In addition to our travel component, EPWBA has added a new training program for prospective travel players. This program is designed to have players who maybe interested in travel to get some additional training, practice with travel teams and participate in a local AAU tournament.

The highlight of this program includes the following:

• A heavily discounted eight (8) week training program with basketball trainer Chris Lewis at Chris Lewis Basketball.
  •    a) This training will take place on Sunday afternoons in Gainesville, VA 
• Eight (8) weeks (concurrent) of EPWBA League training clinics with EPWBA League Administrator/Coaches 
  •     a) This training will take place Wednesdays in a local Eastern Prince William Middle School
• Hands-on game training and participation in a local AAU-style tournament in July 2025  
  •    a)  All players who choose to join this training program, will also receive a EPWBA Select team uniform 

The total cost of this program is $400. This program has been set up for invitation only, but we will offer slots for additional players via a tryout.

To register for tryouts, see information below:

• Dates: March 24th
• Times: Girls - 6:30 - 7:15 PM, Boys - 7:30 - 8:15 PM
• Location: Benton Middle
• Registration (Click Link): Tryouts for Select Pipeline Program (Spring 2025)

Here are some answers to some of the commonly asked questions:

• Why does this program exist?
  • We believe there are a lot of competing programs in our area that have come to our events and recruited players away from our league. Our league, administrators and coaches, spend countless hours working with our young players, sometimes as their first experience with organized basketball, to prepare them to be great basketball players. Unfortunately, parents are not able to identify AAU circuit "headhunters" - which is a term used to describe representatives from programs who recruit players for the sole purpose to help fund their program and with very little intention to develop those players. As a result, players go to programs who do not invest in their players and the end result is players do not develop and/or they leave the sport altogether.
• Is this open to anyone?
  • This is for boys and girls who would potentially play 6th grade travel basketball in the following winter season. We are looking for advanced 4th or 5th graders who has the ability to play at a high-level. This program is not for beginners or novice players. Those players are more than welcome to take advantage of our clinics and trainings within our recreational program. We will work with players from any experience or skill level, but this program is not designed for those individuals who are not advanced. This travel pipeline program is designed for players who are ready or close to ready for advanced competition. To be frank, the standards will be high.
• Why are your standards so high?
  • The idea of travel and AAU has become more of an entitlement in our country than something that is earned. We believe travel and AAU basketball should be for exceptional players who may not benefit from continuing in recreational basketball. We believe this helps with the development of other players who will get more opportunities to develop without having to constantly defer to advanced players.
• Will my child be guaranteed a slot on your travel team the following season?
  • We cannot make any promises, but we believe the combination of professional training, in-house training and some experience in the AAU/travel circuit will put your player in the best position to make strides towards achieving that.
• Does not participating in this program limit my child's chances of making the travel team next season?
  • Not necessarily. There are many different paths to make it to a travel team. We believe this is the best path, but this does not stop a player outside of this program from having a chance to make it.
• What if my child is not ready yet for this program or to be in your travel program?
  • That's not an issue at all. EPWBA will always be a recreational league first. What we are trying to address are those families who believe their child can play at an advanced level and give them this option instead of leaving for programs who are quite frankly, not helping players grow. For those who are not ready, we offer clinics and Summer Training. We will continue to hold a high standard for what we want from our travel program, not only to uphold to our travel program, but also to give players the opportunity to not be forced into something that may not be beneficial to their development. There is a lot of value in continuing with the recreational program and we hope families recognize that even when their child isn't ready for travel.