Responsible Athletes Progressing To Optimize Real Skills is what we stand for,            developing young boys and girls skills in order to prepare them for high school athletics is our mission. This mission will be accomplished through the use of experience qualified coaching, player development and positive encouragement. Our philosophy is to instill a positive attitude, sportsmanship, basic fundamental skills, confidence and high standards. Our council is committed to teaching fundamentals and team work while promoting the love of the game.   How are tryouts conducted to ensure independent, objective, and appropriate decisions? The MAC makes use of the following strategies during tryouts: 1) equal opportunity;  2) team play and skill assessments;  3) independent evaluation Equal Opportunity: All players are asked to wear white tee shirts. Each player receives a tryout number, throughout the tryout players are referenced by number only.  In addition, team groupings for  scrimmages during tryouts are changed several times so that each player will play with and against many different players.  An effort is made to equitably distribute height on the scrimmage teams. Team Play and Skill Assessment:  Drills are used to provide an opportunity for evaluators to observe basic skills. Scrimmages give evaluators a chance to observe skills, along with a player’s abilities to use these skills in a game-like situation. Scrimmages also allow evaluators to observe a player’s approach to team play.  Independent evaluation:  An independent evaluator along with the three top-ranked coaches from a different grade, use the drills and scrimmages to place players into skill-level pools.  How many players will be on each team? Illinois Raptors Traveling Basketball : 8-10 players per team. Lady Raptors: 8-10 players per team Raptors Baseball:  11-13 Illinois Raptors Track & Field: Coaches Discretion  Illinois Raptors Basketball League Team: 10 When will my child be notified about their team placement? 48 hours after the last club tryout date, names will be posted on the Raptors Website.  www.illinoisraptors.org Do we have to reside in the Plainfield area to play for the Raptors? No, you are not required to live in a certain area just be prepared to commit to making it to practice twice per week. When will practices start? Illinois Raptors:  Fall/Winter Season -October      Spring/Summer Season - February Lady Raptors: Fall/Winter Season -October      Spring/Summer Season - February Raptors Baseball:  December Illinois Raptors Track & Field:  Winter-December   Spring/ Summer- April Illinois Raptors Basketball League Team: October What is the practice schedule like, and where will they be held at? There are two (2) evening practices during the week for 1 1/2 hours each for travel teams. Plainfield/Naperville Schools will serve as home for practice. Where do the teams travel to? We will compete in the Midwest tournaments, Illinois,Missouri,Wisconsin and Indiana. What about playing time? For Tournament play, playing time is not guaranteed (which is different from in-house leagues). A athletes playing time depends on his or her attitude, ability, practice commitment and the game situation. Traveling is very competitive. Who are the traveling coaches? The MAC strives to have the best qualified coaches for our athletes. A strict selection process is followed to attract and retain coaches for each club. We are open to consider a parent as a coach, but the underlying goal of the MAC is to select the best qualified person for the job, man or women, parent or non-parent adult or student. We are always looking for new coaches! What is the cost? Illinois Raptors Traveling Basketball: $550.00 plus $150.00 uniform package Illinois Lady Raptors: $550.00 plus $150.00 uniform package Raptors Baseball: $1050.00 Illinois Raptors Basketball League Team: $375.00 Illinois Raptors Track & Field: Contact T&F Commissioner