Athletic Selection Process/Team Roster
• Periodically, the team will have openings and needs for add’l players. Local athletes will be invited to practice with the team. Based on practice and interaction with the team, the coaches and players determine whether to invite a player to join.
• Coachable athletes that work HARD before, during, and between practices will be selected. Correcting Basketball skills is easier for coaches than correcting bad attitudes, so good attitude and good listening is requisite.
• Athletes can take a break from the team. This may occur as a result of another sport being “in season” or a need to focus on scholastics. That player will have first rights to rejoin the team; and can continue to practice with the team while on “break”.
• Performance in the classroom takes priority over performance on the court. There will be grade checks and expectations for team members to to be good students.
• Poor sportsmanship or any drug/alcohol incident will result in immediate dismissal.
COSTS
• The athletes are responsible for sharing the costs of league fees, tournament fees, gym rental fees, and travel. Costs are divided evening amongst the active players on the roster.
• A family should budget about $75 /month to cover league, tournament, and gym rental. Travel expenses for out-of-town would be add’l.
• The coaches pay for their own travel expenses.
PRACTICE
• Practice is comprised of 3 distinct functions:
1. Conditioning – 33% of the practice. (conditioning may be worked in conjunction with fundamentals)
2. Fundamentals – 33% of the practice will focus on developing core skills such has ball handling, screening, rebounding, defensive moves, foot work, movement and spacing,
3. Game scenarios – 33% spend practicing offense and defensive sets. This usually occurs in the second half of practice.
- Come prepared to commit 100% - practice gear is there, athlete is dressed and ready to go BEFORE practice starts.
- If you are early, this is also a good time to practice your free throws.
- 1 pr of shoes used ONLY on the court is best. Doesn’t need to be new shoes, but the bottom of the shoes should be kept clean and only worn on the court. Good shoelaces required. Small duffle bag works well: extra pair of CLEAN socks, 2 bottles of water, clean t-shirt, deodorant.
Reversible practice shirt is required at EVERY practice. Must be light and dark. Light side is white or grey. Dark side is black or blue. These can be purchased at BIG 5 for about $15.
GAMES and PLAY TIME
• There is no entitlement for play time in competitive basketball. The only entitlement is that every team member was an equal opportunity to be successful.
• Coaches STRIVE to have ALL the athletes on the team performing at the highest level. This allows the team to play 2 or 3 games in a single day (tournament schedules) and assures success on the court for ALL the games.
• The coaches will likely work more with players that need the help, as long as they are also working on their own between practices.
• The athletes that works hard in practice, and has a love for the game that drives them to practice on their own, are usually rewarded with more time on the court.
• Game situations will dictate (to some degree) how much time each player gets in that game. For example:
1. a player may match up better against an opponent
2. a player may handle an opponents’ defense or offense better
3. Weak opponents give the coaches an opportunity to play certain team members or work on specific offensive sets or defenses.
Parent Involvement Opportunities
• Parents are welcome to watch the practices and can help with drills during practices. The coaches can instruct the parents on how to help with the drills.
• In the event that the coaches are not able to attend a practice, a parent may be asked to run the entire practice or to help organize the players and walk thru plays before a game.
• Parents can help keep stats or run the clock (required by tournament or league rules). This is an excellent opportunity for a parent to sit next to the players’ bench and listen and learn how the coaches interact with the athletes during game situations.
Parents will not be allowed to sit on the bench during the games – this would interfere and add confusion. The referee’s get REALLY confused with too many adults on the benchl.
• During out-of-town events we will need to have water, Gatorade, fresh fruit and bananas, and sometimes will have a BBQ or brown bag lunch.
Parents play a key role in 4 other areas:
HOME, SCHOOL, COMMUNITY
• Basketball is an opportunity to be better people; better students academically, better children and better citizens. Playing basketball is not a right, it is a privilege. Keep academics, family commitment, and athletics prioritized properly. Athletics is for those that can manage their time properly and have academics & family commits covered BEFORE basketball. Athletes are very coachable (e.g. poor grades are a sign of un-coachable kids)
• Athletes should be some of the best citizens and role model at their schools and in their communities. Any breakdown will impact their participation.
• Teach accountability - successful athletes take full responsibility for their preparedness and execution. When a child experiences the pain of not playing, playing poorly or fails in some way and the family takes the stance that it is always someone else’s fault (e.g. coaches fault), the family takes away the child’s ability to learn and grow from the situation. Athletes need to be accountable to become winners.
GAME
• Parents who cheer for every child brings great blessings to themselves and to the team.
• Parents who are critical of calls the referee makes and coaching decisions that impacts the playing time of their child create strife and hardship for everyone. When a parent criticizes a call, they are giving the athlete a reason to not be accountable. Players must take ownership for playing and competing even when the calls are not favorable. Good athletes adjust their game in accordance with the referees or what the coach is asking for.
• Do not coach from the bleachers. When parents coach from the bleachers, the players’ concentration is interrupted or they hesitate to listen. Basketball is a game of transitions. The transitions from defense to offense must be accomplished within milliseconds. If you choose to coach, we’ll accommodate by having the player sit on the bench or in the stands so they can give their full attention.