Hello parents,

We are getting excited about basketball!  Please see three important updates below related to the registration deadline, the tryout schedule and a message from the league President.

One Month Until Registration Deadline – September 18th 

This is a reminder that registration is now open for anyone entering grades 5-8, who are interested in playing travel basketball this winter. Please do so on our website leagues.bluesombrero.com/melrosetravelbasketball, by September 18th. The non-refundable tryout fee is $15 per player and will be charged at sign up, unless your child is a returning middle school player and you choose to pay in full and then fee will be waived (please only sign up for the “returning player” program). Also, anyone who is interested in coaching please fill out the volunteer section of the registration form and then submit credentials to [email protected].

Tryout Schedule

As previously communicated, the tryout for girls will be on September 24th.  The tryout for boys will be on October 1st. Both will take place at Melrose High School.  Below is the tryout schedule.

Special Note From Matt Stratford (President)

I just want to reiterate for everyone that there will be two girls teams and two boys teams per grade this year.  This is the new travel program for Melrose and will replace the former Rec Travel Basketball, more than doubling the number of kids playing travel basketball.  There are no predetermined roster spots across either of the two teams per grade.  The tryouts will be run by independent evaluators to establish the two teams.  The evaluators are basketball coaches from around the Boston area, not Melrose residents, and will be the only individuals in the gym for tryouts.   

Our reasoning for asking returning kids from last year to pay the full registration fee is that we have incurred approximately $1,000 in expenses thus far and need to pay an additional $4,000 for multiple types of insurance before the tryouts begin.  The evaluators will not know who has paid for registration and who has not.  In the event a player from last year’s roster does not achieve one of roster spots on either of the two teams, the family will be refunded the registration fee.  It is our hope that this payment of the registration fee before tryouts is only a “Year 1” occurrence. 

Please bear with us as we get this program up and moving in Year 1.  I’m sure there will be many bumps in the road, but please be assured that the initial members of the MTB Board and numerous others who have helped us out have the singular goal of creating more competitive travel basketball opportunities for kids in Melrose.  If anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate to call, email or text me.

Thank you!

 Matt Stratford

[email protected]

(617)-416-0306

We look forward to a fun and successful season ahead. Please reach out with any questions to [email protected].

Sincerely,

MTB Board Members:

Dave Borgal - Scheduling Director

Fred Good - Secretary/GameDay Site Coordinator

Jill Hughes - Treasurer/Webmaster

Andrea Razi-Thomas - Vice President/Girls Director

Matthew Stratford - President/Boys Director