Jodie Harrison Basketball League Information

2nd-8th grade boys and girls

The Jodie Harrison Basketball League is named in memory of Jodie Harrison, a longtime coach and Athletic Director at Hinsdale Central High School whose life was tragically cut short by in an accident involving an intoxicated driver. The league focuses on Coach Harrison’s teachings of mastering the fundamentals basketball and enjoying the game. The league philosophy focuses on participation, sportsmanship, learning the fundamentals of the game and creating an atmosphere for all players to succeed. This is not a traveling or ultra-competitive league.
The purpose of The Community House youth basketball program is to provide young players with an opportunity to participate in athletics in a fun and educational environment. We believe balanced athletic competition in a team environment promotes sportsmanship, cooperation, leadership skills, and the benefits of exercise and hard work.

League Basic Information

Jodie Harrison Basketball is a one practice and one game per week commitment. Team practice times are chosen based on coach and gym availability. Each team is guaranteed 7 games (including playoffs). Practices and games are held at The Community House and other D181 schools. League starts after the new year and ends before spring break (following D181). There is a 10 player per team max. 

Click here to view the 2023 Jodie Harrison rules

Games

Games will be on Saturdays and Sundays in throughout the season (Depending on grade level). No games President’s Day Weekend. Outside refs will be hired for games.

Games will be at The Community House and other District 181 schools (Oak, Madison, Hinsdale Middle School, and Clarendon Hills Middle School.

QuickScores Link:

The Community House – QuickScores.com

Practices

Practices will be at The Community House and other District 181 schools (Hinsdale Middle School). Practices are based on volunteer coach and gym availability. We do not know the practice schedule during the team formation process and cannot guarantee a certain day/time for practices.

Breakaway Basketball will help lead the first half of practices with parent volunteer coaches running the second half of practice.

Volunteer Coaches Needed

Coaches are needed at every grade level. Coaches are in charge of team management/communication, planning practices, team supervision, etc. We have a strict 3 coach max per team, and we will not accept any 4th coach requests.

Team Formation

How We Place Teams:

While we encourage a competitive spirit in all players and coaches, all league decisions are made with the best interest of the majority of children involved. However, all kids from each individual school aren’t always on the same team and we have found it difficult to keep up with the best friend circles for each school in the district, so we apologize if you child is not on the exact team requested. We guarantee that each child will have some other children from their school but do not guarantee that your child’s team roster will be all from their school. There is a high chance you will have children from another school on the team. Each roster is 10 kids per team.

The Recreation Supervisor will be responsible for selecting all teams and all final team placement decisions. Volunteer Parent Coaches do not help in team formation. 

2nd-3rd Grade Teams 

We always place 2nd and 3rd graders on a team based only on their school but not all kids from the same school will be on the same team. In an attempt to create even rosters and ensure all kids have classmates from their schools, there is a high chance schools will be split between two or more teams.

4th-8th Grade Teams

  • what school they attend
  • # Of years in the league
  • Participated in travel basketball
  • Combined grade levels (5th/6th and 7th/8th) – to have equal numbers of each grade on all team
  • 10 kids per team

For 4th grade and older we also take into consideration their height and the number of years they have played basketball. We also must balance the number of kids from each grade for the divisions that have 2 grades playing together (equal number of 5th graders on each team means we cannot create a team of ALL 5th graders from one school because each team needs an equal number of 6th graders AND 5th graders).  We hope kids can make new friends and all players and their families enjoy a fun season!

How We Don’t Place Teams:

  • We do not guarantee team placements
  • We do not guarantee coach requests
  • We do not guarantee all the children from one school will be on the same roster

We do not look at who the kids played with last year and re-create teams.  We do not honor lists given to us by coaches.  Unfortunately, we are not always able to accommodate requests for specific coaches or exactly what kids are placed together.  We do not know who is best friends.  We do not know what families are mortal enemies.  We do not intentionally stack teams.  We do not create teams of more than 10 players. Parent Volunteer Coaches do not create rosters or help in the team formation process. We really do want every player to have a fun season.

What If I Don’t Like My Team: We are genuinely sorry to hear that.  We strive for each individual player to enjoy the season.  Contact us and we can walk through your options.  Switching teams is not typically possible.  Once teams are placed, we rarely make changes.  If you are unable to make a practice time, let us know and we will attempt to move you to a team that practices on a different day but remember, we are unable to create teams of more than 10 players. We really are sorry but hope that you and your child can make the best of it and enjoy the company of a different group or meet new people from your area.

Be a SUPERHERO-Sponsor a Team!

We are excited to offer opportunities for corporate sponsorship of teams, divisions and special events for the Jodie Harrison Basketball League. Fees charged for programs and services at The Community House cover roughly 50% of the operating budget. The remainder comes from generous individuals, corporations and foundation grants. This support helps cover things like equipment, uniforms, scholarships for those who couldn’t afford programs or services, education programs for low-income families and more!

Click here for sponsorship details.