Here are my preferences.
1. CAL (Compete & Learn). We've played in this since the beginning (2011), which makes us a charter member. Very well run, very good officiating. Greydon is very fair with teams, parents, coaches, players. He tries to accommodate us for schedule conflicts. Games are mostly at Kilauea gym.
Pros: Quality referees, good sportsmanship required, convenient location.
Cons: Normally none, but for this winter season, CAL uses Intermediate/Elementary format. That kind of works against us since some teams have repeat-grade players (who are 14), but it also allows us to suit upJosh M DE Jesus.
2. PAA (Positive Attitude Always). Overall, fairly good officiating. Lloyd has been helpful to us, tries to help out on schedule conflicts.
2. PAA (Positive Attitude Always). Overall, fairly good officiating. Lloyd has been helpful to us, tries to help out on schedule conflicts.
Pros: This is an age-division league. Games will NOT be at Koko Head gym, which is what I'm trying to avoid for the sake of some of our players and families.
Cons: Because the date cutoff is March 1, we will lose roughly half our guys who turn 14 during Jan-Feb.
Note: Lloyd said he will no longer allow teams to have two spots in the league while shuffling the same starters to both. I like this because it's too repetitive to play the same team twice before the playoffs.
3. NJB (National Junior Basketball). We normally play NJB in the summer, not fall or winter.
3. NJB (National Junior Basketball). We normally play NJB in the summer, not fall or winter.
Pros: Convenience. Games are usually at Palama, Kilauea and Palolo. NJB has very specific rules, and though some people don't like them, at least the rules are clear-cut and enforced consistently.
Cons: Very erratic officiating. Stephen does not guarantee that bad referees will be banned. Also, players cannot play in two different age divisions. (This doesn't affect us in the winter league since no league has a 15U/JV division until late Feb.) Also, NJB is going by Intermediate/Elementary divisions for winter. This is also the most expensive league at $550 entry fee plus $5 per player (insurance). That works out to more than $600. PAA is $500 and CAL is normally $475.
All in all, these are three quality leagues. We will NOT play in these leagues: PAL, Open Court.
All in all, these are three quality leagues. We will NOT play in these leagues: PAL, Open Court.
• PAL. Referees are NOT trained. Though some of their refs are veteran, experienced guys who are basically volunteering (the pay is very low), there are also some refs who are horrendous. Because of this, serious injuries are common. We can't enter as ourselves (H1 Thunder) and would have to assume the name of a park or something like that. Competition level is often not good. The only positive is that it is free. Not worth it.
• Open Court. Geremy does not like National Federation rules and says that his league prepares his teams for mainland tournaments. He simply doesn't think Federation (high school) rules allow real basketball. He also won't use high school referees. Also, when we played in their first league, I once questioned his scoreboard operator about missing points for our team, and the guy told me to shut up. He wanted to fight me after that. He is one of Geremy's right-hand guys. We don't need to be associated or affiliated with that kind of craziness. He asked us to play in their second league, and we politely declined. But he kept asking, offered half-price off, and even after I told him several times that we weren't coming back, he kept asking.
Open Court is banned from at least two leagues, and their league is down to just a few teams. We will not play in that farce of a league.
