FAQ
General Topics
Q: Does NJB pay any salary to its board?
A: No. The National Junior Basketball West San Jose is a 501(c)3 non-for-profit organization. Our tax ID is 77-0407718. Everyone working at the National Junior Basketball West San Jose is a volunteer and does not receive a salary for his/her work.
Q: Is my player fee tax deductible?
A: No. The fee for your son/daughter to participate in our program is not tax deductible. If we call for a special fundraising event unrelated to your child’s participation in our program then those donations are 100% tax deductible. Our tax ID is 77-0407718.
Q: Does NJB need my help?
A: Yes! WSJ NJB is a non-profit volunteer-run organization. The success of the season rests on the involvement of volunteers. It takes a lot of work to run the league. Each player’s family needs to volunteer for at least 4 hours per player per season. If your family is unable to volunteer, there is a volunteer buyout option for $100 per player that is available during the online registration process. We need working committee members and coaches. You don’t have to have children in the league to be on a working committee or coach or to help out. See our Volunteering page for more details, or contact president @ westsanjosenjb.com to help out.
Q: What teams does NJB have?
A: Teams for different age groups and gender are detailed below. See the next questions for more details about All-Net and High School.
The regular “Division” teams are divided as follows:
Boys Division 1 – 7th/8th grade
Boys Division 2 – 5th/6th grade
Boys Division 3 – 3rd/4th grade
Girls Division 1 – 7th/8th grade
Girls Division 2 – 5th/6th grade
Girls Division 3 – 3rd/4th grade
The All-Net Teams are divided as follows:
Boys All Net – 8th, 7th, 6th, 5th and 4th grades.
Girls All Net – 8th, 7th, 6th and 5th grades.
We also have Next Level Prep Division for high school boys grades 9-12.
We also offer a Rookie league for grades under 3rd grade and players which are new to basketball.
Q: What is a Rookie League?
A: The Rookie Program was created to provide a development program for players who are entering NJB ( 1st, 2nd and some 3rd grade ) with little or no basketball experience and who would benefit from participating in a structured program with a focus on skills development, basketball fundamentals and structured game time. More info can be found on the Program Page.
Q: What is All-Net?
A: All-Net is a more competitive program that utilizes high-school rules. Players must be selected to make the All-Net teams. Tryouts for All-Net teams are open to everyone registered. Players selected to All-Net are required to pay an additional fee. More info can be found on the Program Page.
Q: What is Next Level Prep?
A: “This program is intended for those boys who are not playing for their high school teams. Next Level Prep Division (high school age) boys teams play against other Silicon Valley NJB chapters. There are no boundary restrictions so players from other chapters can play on West San Jose teams. In addition, friends can play together and it is not unusual to have entire teams comprised of friends from a single high school. Registration typically starts in November after the high schools have made their cuts. More info can be found on the Next Level Prep Page.
Q: How are Division teams created?
A: All registered players except those on wait list are evaluated for the Division teams. The main reason for evaluation is to evenly balance the teams. We make every effort to place players on a team but it depends on the number of volunteer coaches available. Evaluations are usually in mid-October.
For Division 3 – players who attend evaluations and cannot demonstrate the skills required will be given the option to join the Rookie Program instead.
Q: When are games played?
A: Games are played on Sundays.
Q: What about practices?
A: Teams start practicing typically in the beginning of November. Practices are typically at local middle schools. Our goal is to provide about 2 practices per week depending on gym availability. Because schedules tend to change, we cannot promise any certain practice days or locations at the time of registration. In many cases one practice will be mid week and one will be on Saturday. Practice schedules and gyms are also at the discretion of the Coach’s schedule.
Q: Can I request my son/daughter be assigned a practice location near my home/office?
A: No, we can’t support these requests. The player’s geographical location is not taken into account when forming teams. Fortunately, our practice gyms are centrally located within WSJ boundaries. Practice gyms are also at the discretion of the Coach’s schedule.
Q: Can I request my son/daughter be assigned specific practice days during the week?
A: No, we cannot support these requests. The practice schedule is not determined ahead of time and it would not be practical to accommodate individual player schedules. Practice schedules can also vary a bit from week to week, based on the availability of the gyms which the chapter rents as well as Coach schedules.
Q: When do the games start?
A: Games typically start the first Sunday in December. Regular season games are on Sundays usually at Bay Area middle and high schools. Accounting for holiday breaks, the regular season typically ends in mid-February. All-Net has a couple more games in the regular season, so they play until late-February.
Q: Against whom do we play?
A: Division teams play approximately 50% against other Division teams within our Chapter and 50% against Division teams from other Silicon Valley Section chapters. All-Net teams play against All-Net teams of other Silicon Valley Section chapters.
Q: What is the Silicon Valley Section?
A: West San Jose NJB and several other Chapters in the area comprise the Silicon Valley Section. For more info, please visit siliconvalleynjb.com.
Q: Do I live within the West San Jose Chapter Boundary?
A: Refer to the Boundary Map page for the detailed area and zip codes that comprise our territory.
Q: What is a waiver?
A: When a player wants to play outside the Chapter in which he/she lives, a waiver must be obtained. Both Chapters must agree to and sign the waiver. The player must register in their home chapter in case the waiver is not granted. Waivers are strongly discouraged by Silicon Valley Section Chapter and are not normally granted.
Q: Is financial assistance available?
A: Yes. Please refer to our Financial Assistance page for details. Contact the Chapter Director for more details before registering.
Q: How long is the season?
A: Practices start in November. Games start in December. Regular season games are scheduled into February. Post-season games can last from February into the first part of April depending on how the team performs.
Q. Lost & Found?
A. If you have lost anything at an NJB practice or game, please contact our Gym Managers to see if they have it. The email address is: operationmanager @westsanjosenjb.com.
Registration Topics
Q: How much does it cost?
A: The cost can vary each season depending on gym rental fees and various other factors. We announce the fee structure before registration opens. Players chosen for All-Net or All-Star will pay an additional fee to accommodate the longer season and more games.
Q: When can I register?
A: Registration usually starts in August. Keep checking the website as the date approaches. Also, make sure to join our Email List to say informed when registration opens. Next Level Prep Division (high school age) registration usually starts the first week of November after the high schools have made the cuts.
Q: How and what do I need to register?
A: Registration is online and you can find more info here. Once registration is over, we will need a copy of the player’s birth certificate and a copy of a current utility (PG&E, Power, Water, etc) bill with current address. These documents will be verified during player verification night and then returned to you. The Rookie Program is not limited to the chapter boundary and does not require address verification.
Q: I am on the wait-list for registration, what should I do?
A: Once capacity is reached based on the numbers of coaches and teams we have, then the remaining registrations will be considered wait-listed. Wait-listed registrations will be taken off the wait list in order of registration based on these priorities:
Parents who volunteer to be a Board Member or a coach
Siblings of existing players
Time-based on registration date/time
The Registration Coordinator will contact you if your player is pulled off the wait-list and confirm your registration.
Any player who does not get placed on a team will be fully refunded their WSJ NJB fee after the teams have been announced. Please note that National NJB fee is non-refundable.
Q: What is the registration priority for new and returning players?
A: Registration priority is as follows:
Board members
Coaches
Time-based on registration date/time
Once capacity is reached based on the numbers of coaches and teams we have, then the remaining registrations will be considered wait-listed. Wait-listed registrations will be taken off the wait list in order of registration based on these priorities:
Parents who volunteer to coach or be a Board Member
Siblings of existing players
Returning WSJ NJB players
New players