FAQ’s for HLB Fall/Winter Season 2026

Why has HLB moved to 2 seasons (Fall/Winter & Spring/Summer) instead of 4 seasons as in past?

In order to return to HLB’s previous years of long-term, successful teams, our coaches needed to have seasons that allow them more time to identify and build their core groups in the non-peak seasons of fall/winter to prep for the competitive spring/summer season. Given the amount of school ball & other sport conflicts, by combining the 2 non-peak seasons into 1, it allows each team/their coaches to have more time to build team chemistry and work on basics of how they will play. 

My player also plays for his school team and his schedule in winter will be different than in fall – how can the program work around that? (Also applies to those that play fall sports as well.)

HLB is highly experienced in dealing with multi-sport athletes and scheduling. In addition, almost 100% of HLB’s players also play for their school teams, so we are very accustomed to working with those schedules/situations. During the open workouts period prior to the finalization of rosters (Roster formation period), coaches from our teams will gather info on the availability of players from parents. Typically they will focus on the fall time period at that point (Sept – early Nov) and then get updates for the winter (mid Nov-end Jan) once player’s school teams have gotten going. Practice schedules are then built for each team based on that availability info. HLB does understand that players may miss a couple/few practices or games during fall/winter season.

 Where do you get your coaches? What process do they go through to coach with HLB?

All of HLB’s coaches are screened, hired, trained and mentored in some capacity by our senior coaching staff of current/former high school/college coaches. Virtually every coach HLB hires has come via a recommendation from another coach or via observation from our current staff. They are then background checked, interviewed and placed with a class they will stay with throughout their tenure here. All have experience already coaching at the levels they are assigned for fall/winter. 

With the 2 seasons now combined, that makes the team fees higher than the past year’s single seasons. Are there ways HLA and HLB can help with that if resources are limited?

The total team fees for fall/winter are in the same range as previous year’s of the single fall and winter seasons combined. HLA handles all payments and financial administration for players wanting to play at HLB and offers a small discount for those wanting to do fall/winter team fees in 1 payment at the start – BUT they also offer multi-payment/monthly plans as well. For those who are in a special situation financially and may need an arrangement outside of those payment plan options, they can contact Bob at HLA to discuss possible special options. 

My player has played with HLB this past spring and/or summer but would like to take fall/winter off. Can they do that and return in the spring/summer?

For HLB’s teams, they must work to fill rosters for their seasons – for depth purposes, as well as to make sure the team budgets that have been formed will be met. Obviously, parents must make decisions for their player that is in their best interests, but HLB is not able to simply hold spots open for future seasons. That does not mean there will not be an opportunity the next season, but that cannot be guaranteed. Keep in mind that one of the primary focuses for the non-peak season of fall/winter is to develop a group for each team that will be the core group for that team in future seasons. 

Still have a question?

Email us at information@higherlevelathletics.org
We will respond as quickly as possible.