2026-2027 Junior Cougar Girls Basketball Season & Sign Up for Tryouts

YOU MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO TRYOUTS VIA SPORTS CONNECT.  No payment due until your player is placed on a team.

We’ll be hosting two tryout sessions this summer for the 2026-2027 Junior Cougar Girls Basketball Season. We HIGHLY encourage players to attend both dates if possible.  Dates have yet to be determined.  Stay Tuned!!

Please plan to arrive 20-30 minutes early to get checked in.

Costs
Tryouts = FREE
Team Fees = $200**
Uniform Fees = $115 
**Team Fees cover team costs for leagues and tournaments, a coach's shirt for all volunteer coaches, special items for players at Junior Cougar Night at a high school game, $20/player donated to the Kennedy Girls high school program as the Junior Cougar Girls Basketball Program is a sponsor for the high school team.
***NEW*** Multi-sibling discount. Offering $25 off all players fees when multiple siblings are signed up 
NOTE: Payments will NOT be taken during the Registration Process.  After tryouts are complete and your player is added to a team, you will receive an email requesting payment to accept your player's spot on the team.

Summer Basketball Camp 2026
Dates: June 8th–11th, 2025
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Kennedy High School – Main Gym
Cost: $65Venmo: @KHS_GB_PSGOr send cash/check with your player on the first day of camp

This camp is a great opportunity to build skills, have fun, and connect with future teammates and coaches!  You don't want to miss it!
REGISTER HERE for camp ----->>>>>> 2026 Girls Elementary & Middle School Basketball Camp Registration 

Season Information
The season typically runs from Mid-October thru February, and it will be at the discretion of each team's coach on when the season officially starts and ends and how many games will be played. The younger teams typically sign up for YMCA leagues and find a few tournaments to play in. As the teams get older you can expect your player to participate in more tournaments. Each team will practice twice a week and there will be an opportunity for Open Gym sessions at Kennedy High School on Sundays starting in October. Practice times and locations will be communicated once teams are determined.

Team Assignments
Each interested player must attend one of the two tryouts in which a large panel of evaluators will individually score each player in order to facilitate team assignment. We do our VERY best to assign every player on a team within their current grade and skill level. Our aim is to not cut any player so in VERY RARE situations we may offer a player to play with a different grade level. Our aim is to meet each player at whatever level they may be at and place them on a team that fits their skill level giving them the best opportunity to grow and progress in their basketball development. Players are not guaranteed to play with the same team each year as we will adjust each year as skill levels adjust which is very normal.  All players are not guaranteed a spot if they tryout depending on numbers.  

When we have enough girls within a grade to form two teams, we create a 'Gold' and 'Green' team. Based on evaluations from tryouts from multiple evaluators, players that scored a little higher are assigned to the 'Gold' team. With that being said, by no means does that mean a player will always make the 'Gold' team. Every player develops at different speeds (which is 100% ok, expected and embraced in our program). So naturally players assigned to the 'Gold' and 'Green' teams WILL shift from year to year as no spots are guaranteed. 

In the past we have combined the 7th and 8th grade teams as middle school sports and activities create quite a few conflicts. This will be evaluated each year based on number of players.

What Are We About
Our youth girls’ basketball program is built on more than just developing great athletes — it’s about shaping strong, confident, kind, and competitive young women who strive to be the best version of themselves both on and off the court. While we are passionate about helping each player become the best basketball player and teammate she can be, our deeper purpose is to help her grow into the BEST HUMAN she can be.  We focus on teaching and refining the fundamentals of the game — dribbling, passing, shooting, defense, and court awareness — but just as importantly, we emphasize the intangibles that make a great teammate: communication, encouragement, respect, teamwork and selflessness. We work to instill coachability, resilience, and a strong work ethic, understanding that these life skills extend far beyond basketball and prepare them for success in whatever path they choose.

An important part of our program is creating opportunities for our younger athletes to connect with the Kennedy High School Girls Basketball program. Through special events — like half time scrimmages and recognition during a Kennedy high school home game — our youth players get to experience the excitement of what lies ahead, build relationships with role models, and feel a sense of belonging in the larger basketball community which we hope inspires them to see what’s possible as they grow within the sport.

Above all, we strive to create a positive, uplifting environment where girls can challenge themselves, build friendships, and learn life lessons through the game of basketball. Every drill, every practice, every game is a chance to grow — both as a player and as a human being.  We are more than a basketball program. We are a COUGAR FAMILY that celebrates growth, teamwork, and heart — supporting every girl to become the best version of herself on and off the court.

Junior Cougar Philosophy

Fundamentals
Our number one focus is on teaching the fundamentals of basketball.  Coaches are encouraged to spend more than half of their practice focusing on dribbling, passing, shooting form, rebounding techniques and footwork with repetition being the key to forming that muscle memory for players.  Team skills including defensive and offensive concepts are layered into practice settings as players start to grow in these skills.  Being a student of the game is key to success.

Sportsmanship
Player and coaches much always exhibit sportsmanship in their play.  Players play as the game was designed to play and learn how to work hard and play hard with their team while following the rules of the game. 

Strength of Character
Being a good teammate and student are key aspects of being a part of the Junior Cougar program.  Players are student-athletes with school work always coming first.  Players are expected to show good character and attitudes towards their coaches, teammates, referees and opponents.  Players are expected to display this character on and off the court.  They also strive to match the intensity of any team in any game and work to be their best as all members on the team regardless of skill level are valued.

Coachability
All players are expected to be “coachable”.   They respect their coaches’ knowledge and judgement.  They listen and follow instructions on and off the court.  They work hard to learn drills in practice and engage with the practice plan.  During games, they listen to their coach’s direction on plays and execution of the game plan and are ready to ask and receive feedback from their coaches. 

Skill
All players have an expectation to work hard to better not only their own skill but the skill level of their team by coming ready and focused for practices and games.  Skill will come with hard work, determination and a great attitude

FUN
Youth sports is a great opportunity for young players to be a part of something greater than themselves, to make lasting friendships and for players to learn to love the game there are playing.  Without FUN, players don’t have a reason to work hard and want to get better so it starts with an essence of FUN that comes from coaches being engaged and ready for practice, parents being supportive of their player regardless of skill level and players coming with a great attitude to get 1% better every time on the court. 

Development
We are not a ‘win at all costs’ type of program.  YES, we want the teams to be competitive and pushed hard to compete in all games and we want to teach players that hunger for success and to WIN, but not at the sake of not playing all players.  Winning comes in many forms which doesn’t always come in a Win/Loss column.  We encourage coaches to celebrate individual players growths as well as their teams as they see them improve in different aspects of the game.

Parent Code of Conduct
All parents are required to read and comply with the Junior Cougar Basketball Parent Code of Conduct included in the registration process. By signing this agreement, you agree that a violation may mean the unfortunate removal of your family from the program.

Other items to note
Pictures will be scheduled early in the season. You will have the option to purchase if you would like.
Apparel Order - will be offered to those interested in buying Cougar Fan Gear. A % of the proceeds goes back to our program.