Who is eligible to play in the WHGBL?

• A player qualifies to play in the WHGBL by either being a resident of the Town of West Hartford OR by attending a West Hartford public, private or parochial school. The league is only for students in grades 3 - 8.

Is there a list of important dates I need to know as a parent and where can I find those dates?

• The league provides a list of important dates in the Parent's Handbook section, under the "Resources" tab and "Parent's Resources" area of the league website. This list is usually updated just before registration opens for the regular season.

When does registration open for the regular season?

• While the official open registration date changes every season, typically, registration begins the week after the Labor Day weekend holiday, usually around mid-September.

When does regular registration close?

• While the official close registration date changes every season, typically, regular registration closes the last week of October.

How much is the registration fee?

• The registration fee for the 2025-2026 season is $150.

Is there an opportunity to register a child after regular registration is closed?

• Yes, there is typically a late registration, which is usually the first two weeks of November.

How much is the registration fee if I register my child during the late registration period?

• The fee to register a child during the late registration fee period is $200 (instead of $150 during the regular registration period).

What is included in the registration fee?

• Uniforms, coached practices with appropriate equipment for practices, officiated games and coached basketball clinics run by the league are included benefits of the registration fee.

If my child chooses to resign from the league for any reason, is it possible to receive a refund?

• If the league is notified of a resignation from the league prior to the last day of late registration, the player will be entitled to a full refund of their registration fee. After the last day of late registration, no refunds are available.

My daughter is trying out for The West Hartford Magic, which is the travel basketball team in town. Can I still register my daughter to play, in the WHGBL?

• Yes. Your daughter can try out for the Magic AND you can register her to play for the WHGBL. If she makes the Magic team you can either cancel your WHGBL registration or she can play in both leagues if she chooses.
• If she chooses to play in both leagues, you may need to change or inform us of the date of her practice. We cannot guarantee she will be able to practice both days in the WHGBL.
• However - if you choose to cancel your daughter's WHGBL registration, you MUST cancel before the last day of late registration to be eligible for a refund.
• PLEASE NOTE: No refunds are provided for cancellations after 11/09/25 (expected end of late registration).

My child has not played in the league before, how is my child placed on a team?

• There are 3 divisions in the league; the Minors Division (3rd and 4th graders); the Juniors Division (5th and 6th graders); and the Seniors Division (7th and 8th graders). Minors Division players are assigned to a team by the league Registrar. Juniors Division and Seniors Division players are drafted by the Head Coaches of each team on a draft night date after a player assessment event but prior to the first week of practices. The assessment date is scheduled for Saturday, November 15, at Sedgwick Middle School. Juniors Division Assessment is from 11:00am - 12:30pm and Seniors Division Assessment is from 1:00pm - 2:30pm. PLEASE NOTE: These times are subject to change depending on facility availability from the Town of West Hartford.

Will my child remain with her team throughout her entire time in the league?

• Your daughter may be on a different team every year (unless her parent is the Head Coach)

I would like my child to be able to be placed onto a team with one of her friends as we would like to carpool and/or they would like to play together on the same team, is that possible?

• The league does not accept requests for players to choose whom they play together with on a team. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. We do not allow players to select whom they play with even for carpooling purposes. The only time we allow players to play together is if they are twins or if they are siblings that are in the same division.

When do practices begin, where are they held and how often and how long are practices?

• Typically, practices begin the first week of December. Minors Division teams practice once per week for an hour. Usually, practices begin sometime between 5pm and 6pm. Juniors Division teams practice twice per week for 1 ½ hours each practice. Juniors Division practices begin sometime between 6pm and 7:30pm. Seniors Division teams practice twice per week for 1 ½ hours each practice. Seniors Division practices begin sometime between 6pm and 7:30pm. Practice dates and times are at the discretion of the Head Coach of the team and the facilities provided by the Town of West Hartford. Practices are held at various school gyms throughout the Town of West Hartford provided to the league by the Town through permits.

Can the league accommodate multiple scheduling conflicts for my player?

• No. To ensure fairness and consistency across all teams, the league can only accommodate one conflict night per player. However, please see below for further information on conflict nights with each division.

What happens if my player is in the Minors Division and has a conflict night?

• Players in the Minors Division are guaranteed placement on a team that does not practice on their designated conflict night.

How are practice conflicts handled in the Juniors and Seniors Divisions?

• Players in the Juniors and Seniors Divisions are selected through a draft conducted by each team's Head Coach. These teams practice twice per week, and while we consider conflict nights during the draft, we cannot guarantee avoidance of those nights.
• Once a player is drafted, roster changes are not permitted.

What if my player has more than one conflict night?

• If your player has conflicts on more than one evening, they may need to adjust their other commitments to participate fully in the league. We recommend prioritizing WHGBL practice nights when possible.

Can my player still participate if one of their practice nights conflicts with another activity?

• Yes. For example, many Juniors Division players also join ski club, which typically meets on Wednesdays. If your player is drafted to a team that practices on Wednesdays, they may only be able to attend one practice per week. They are still welcome to participate in the league.

Will the league swap players after the draft to resolve scheduling conflicts?

• No. Once teams are finalized through the draft, player swaps are not allowed.

If my daughter is injured, what is required for her to return to practice or game play?

• The WHGBL follows NFHS rules and guidelines for our league. Please read the following hyperlink from the NFHS about return to play from injury: Returning to Play from Injury

Can my daughter wear jewelry like earrings, bracelets, necklaces or rings for practices and games?

• The wearing of any jewelry is prohibited for all practices and games. The only bracelet or necklace that is allowed is a medical ID tag. Consult the Parent's Handbook on this website for further details on this policy.

Can my daughter wear earrings and tape over the earrings if her ears were just recently pierced?

• No. Players may not practice or play in games while wearing earrings. There is absolutely no exception to this rule whatsoever.

What sized basketballs are used in the league?

• For our Minors Division (3rd and 4th graders) we use a Spalding Multi-Color Youth Basketball. Size 5. Weight 14 oz. Circumference 27.5”. It’s been our league’s experience that Minors Division players transition better to the Juniors Division when the baskets remain at the same level but use the lighter, smaller ball.
• For the Juniors (5th and 6th graders) and Seniors (7th and 8th graders), the league uses an NCAA Women’s Basketball. Size 6. Weight 20 oz. Circumference 28.5”.

When will my child receive their uniform?

• The league will deliver uniforms to each team’s Head Coach around a week before the first games of the regular season begin.

When does the regular season begin and when and where are games?

• The league usually holds the first games of the season on the first Sunday after New Year’s Day. Games are then held every Sunday. Minors Division games are played at Conard High School and are in the mornings between 9am and 12pm (times may vary). Minors Division games typically last an hour. Juniors Division games are played at Sedgwick Middle School and are in the late morning/early afternoon between 11am and 4pm. Juniors Division games typically last an hour. Seniors Division games are played on the Main gym at Conard High School and are played in the afternoons between 12pm and 4pm. Seniors Division games typically last about 1 ½ hours.

Are scores and standings recorded and is there a post season?

• The league keeps scores for all games in all divisions. However, standings (wins and losses) are only recorded for the Juniors and Seniors Division. In the Juniors Division, there is a playoff tournament for the top 4 teams at the end of the year. The top two teams from the playoff tournament play in a Championship game at Conard High School. The other Juniors Division teams play in a one game Consolation Game based on their seeding in the final standings. In the Seniors Division, there is a playoff tournament for the top 4 teams at the end of the year. The top two teams from the playoff tournament play in a Championship game at Conard High School.

When does the season end?

• The season usually ends in mid-March.

Are there other league events for my child to participate in?

• In addition to practices and games, the league holds basketball skill clinics throughout the season. In addition, the league looks for other opportunities for players to see playing time. In the past, the league has participated in half-time exhibitions at Hall High School and Conard High School Girl’s basketball games. The league has participated in private and parochial school basketball tournaments in other towns. The league is also exploring playing exhibition games with teams from other towns and half-time exhibition game opportunities with the University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball Games.

How will I know if a practice or game is cancelled due to weather or other reasons?

• In most cases, your daughter's Head Coach will inform you if a practice or game is canceled due to inclement weather or for other reasons. If the West Hartford school is closed, practices and games are also canceled at that school. We will also post a message to the front page of this website when games are canceled.