Depending on grade level, there may be options for McFarland youth athletes who want to play basketball:

MGBB Fall/Winter League (3rd-8th)

• A competitive basketball program who participates in the Badger Development League in the local Madison area
• Registration opens in mid-August for the Winter Season
• Games run anywhere from early November through mid-February
• 3rd Grade through 8th Grade teams for residents / students currently enrolled in McFarland School District
• Additional tournaments are frequently leveraged to round out a season based on participation numbers and interest from coaches and families
• Read more about our MGBB philosophy here and see below for additional details

MRAP Basketball (3rd-4th)

• View the Comparison Document to understand the differences between the two offerings
• MRAP registration will  go live through the school in late Sept or early October
• 3rd and 4th Grade teams for residents / students currently enrolled in McFarland School District
• Girls who participate in MRAP, cannot participate in MGBB as well

IMMS School Ball (7th-8th)

• IMMS offers School Ball for 7th-8th graders and is run through the school
• Girls who participate in School Ball can also participate in MGBB

Here are some details on what you can expect if your child plays basketball with MGBB:

Eligibility:

Open to any 3rd-8th grade girl who is either a resident of McFarland or student of McFarland School District.

About MGBB:

We participate and compete in the Badger Development League (BDL) which is a great opportunity to learn the game of basketball, have fun and play against other teams throughout Dane County. We focus on teaching fundamentals, developing healthy attitudes/good sportsmanship and establishing the connection between teamwork and roles and how they relate to team success. Our coaches all have experience playing basketball at the high school or collegiate level, as well as prior coaching experience.

Cost:

The cost to register your player is $150 ($100 for 3rd Grade) for the season. We also require each family to EITHER 1) sell five $20 raffle tickets or 2) pay $100 during registration to “buy out” of the raffle. This is a new option based on family feedback. More information on the raffle will follow this fall. Your registration fee also includes a shooting shirt and practice jersey. Cost should not prohibit anyone from participating. If you would like information on assistance, reach out to info@mgbb.org prior to the registration deadline.

Uniforms:

We will be using the same uniforms as last year. Only those who are new to the program or have outgrown their ‘24-25 season uniforms will need to buy new. More details and ordering information will be shared after registration closes. Uniforms typically run about $80 and generally can last two seasons.

Season Timeline:

We begin practices in late October and go through February/early March. Practice dates/times have not been determined yet, but usually take place 1-2 nights a week. Due to the high demand for gym time, practices may not be on the same day/time each week. More information will be provided closer to the start of the season. Our goal is to get practice schedules out to you in early October. Due to gym scheduling timelines, we’re not able to secure the times any earlier.

Games:

The Badger Development League (BDL) generally includes 5 dates of games (Saturday or Sunday), plus a 6th final tournament day. Third graders play TWO games on each game day; 4-8th graders play THREE games per game day. Additional tournaments outside of BDL play may be added depending on player/family and coach interest and may require additional cost.

Important note for incoming 3rd and 4th graders:

McFarland Rec (MRAP) also offers a winter basketball option for 3rd and 4th grade girls. Registration from MRAP opens in late Sept/October - after our registration has closed. Unfortunately, you cannot play MGBB and MRAP basketball during the same season due to conflicting schedules. Please review this comparison sheet so that you can make the decision on what basketball option is best for your family.

Important note for incoming 7th and 8th graders:

School ball is available for 7th and 8th graders at IMMS. Players are able to participate in both MGBB and school ball. Information will be provided by IMMS in the fall. Typically the season and practices have been held in Jan-early Feb. MGBB does its best to work around this schedule for participants in both programs.

Important evaluation information for incoming 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders:

Beginning in 5th grade, BDL offers two divisions of play - Badger (most competitive) and Bucky. In order to determine which division we should place the teams, we plan to hold mandatory player evaluations the evenings of September 15 and 16. Please hold these evenings and additional information will be provided to registrants IF we determine evaluations are needed for your child’s grade. Our goal is to take as much stress as possible out of the evaluation process. These are not tryouts - everyone will be placed on a team that puts them in the best position for growth and success. More information to come.

Board Positions and Coaches:

We are always looking for experienced coaches to help lead and assist our teams. If you are interested in coaching, please note your interest during registration. 

The MGBB Board has an open Treasurer position! If you have interest in this role and are willing to commit to volunteering with MGBB for at least two to three years, please be sure to note your interest during registration! Reach out to info@mgbb.org with any questions!

Registration:

Registration closed on September 12, 2025. Due league deadlines, we may not be able to accept any additional registrations after that date.

Please direct any questions to info@mgbb.org.