Cardinal Hoops

Any boy in grades 2–8 who is currently enrolled in the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District is eligible to participate in Cardinal Hoops.

Boys in grades 2–8 who live within the district boundaries but attend a school outside the district may also be eligible. Participation is contingent upon the school not offering a basketball program similar in structure to Cardinal Hoops, and final approval must be granted by the Board of Directors.

WHEN

• 2nd Grade: The program consists of six weekly sessions beginning the week of January 4.
• 3rd & 4th Grade: Practices typically begin in mid-October, with the season concluding between December and the end of January.
• 5th–8th Grade: Tryouts are typically held in September, with the season running from mid-October through March.

2nd Grade: The 2nd grade program is focused on skill development and does not participate in tournaments.

3rd–8th Grade: The number of tournaments each team participates in varies by grade and is largely determined by the Great Northwest Basketball League (GNBL). Younger teams generally participate in fewer tournaments, while older teams have additional opportunities throughout the season. Teams may also qualify for additional tournaments.

Most teams will participate in a home tournament, where families are expected to volunteer. Tournaments typically consist of three games in one day, helping minimize the need for overnight travel.

2nd Grade: The 2nd grade program consists of one scheduled session per week for six weeks. Each session will focus on basketball fundamentals, skill development, and age-appropriate instruction. There are no additional team practices outside of the scheduled weekly sessions.

3rd–8th Grade: Teams will hold a minimum of one practice per week, lasting up to 90 minutes, beginning at the start of the season and continuing through the tournament season. Additional practices may be scheduled at the discretion of the coaches and based on gym availability.

Practices and 2nd grade sessions are held at Chippewa Falls school locations.

Team Formation & Playing Time Policy

• 3rd and 4th Grade Teams will be divided as equally as possible to support balanced instruction and development.
• 5th through 8th Grade Teams will be formed based on skills demonstrated during mandatory evaluations. Participation in evaluations is required to be placed on a team. These teams will remain consistent throughout the tournament season.

2nd Grade

• Each player will receive a Cardinal Hoops T-shirt as part of the program.
• The T-shirt is the player’s to keep.
• No basketball uniform or jersey is required for the 2nd grade program.

3rd & 4th Grade

• Players will use the same Cardinal Hoops jersey for both their 3rd and 4th grade seasons.
• A new jersey will be issued in 4th grade only if it is the player’s first year participating in Cardinal Hoops.
• Replacement jerseys are available if needed for an additional cost. Otherwise, players may continue using their 3rd grade jersey at no additional cost.
• Players are required to provide and wear plain black basketball shorts for games.
• Each player will receive a shooting shirt, which should be worn to games.

5th–8th Grade

• Each player will receive a jersey, shooting shirt, and basketball shorts, which are required to be worn at games.
• Players are responsible for properly caring for and washing all uniform items throughout the season.
• Jerseys are the property of Cardinal Hoops and must be returned clean within one week following the team's final tournament. A replacement fee will apply to jerseys that are not returned.
• Basketball shorts and shooting shirts are the player’s to keep.
• Uniform costs are included in the registration fee.