Players:

* Rule #1 - RESPECT for coaches, teammates, opponents, building staff, referees and parents.

* Coaches should be addressed using their last name (i.e. Coach Smith).When coaches are speaking, players are listening.

* Work hard and stay focused during practices.

* Be on time to practice. Bring a ball and a water bottle to every practice. After practice, be sure to pick up empty bottles and trash.

* Good sportsmanship is expected at all times. We will congratulate the other team and thank the referees at the end of each game.

* There will be no trash-talking, chest-beating, taunting, fighting, or cursing on or off the court.

* Commitment. Basketball is a winter sport. If you are playing another sport and miss practices and games, coaches reserve the right to adjust your playing time accordingly.

* There will be no talking back to coaches or referees or arguing calls on the court or from the bench.

* Only positive comments and encouragement from the bench. No criticizing or coaching teammates during games.

* Play clean, play hard, play with confidence and have fun!

Parents:

* Support the team by attending games, cheering for our team, helping out with scoring and/or timekeeping, etc.

* Have the kids at practices and games on time and picked up on time.

* Use the league website and GameChanger for up-to-date information about practices and games. Coaches do not plan on sending out reminders.

* Inform coaches about games and practices that your child will miss as far in advance as possible.

* Commitment. Please be honest in the registration about your child's level of commitment. If they are participating in another sport or activity that will cause them to miss meaningful time, please tell us. This has team formation implications. 

* Be positive on the sidelines. There will be professional referees at each game, and they are generally very good, but they are bound to make some bad calls. They typically do not respond well to parents who are vocal in their criticism!

Coaches:

* You can expect coaches to treat your child with care and respect. Our general approach is to be positive and encouraging with the kids, but there are times when coaches will be strict with them. Our goal is to help your child become a better player as we build our team.

* Coaches will provide instruction regarding fundamental basketball skills and team concepts. If you have suggestions, or if you see things in games that we should be aware of, please let us know.

* We will do our very best to balance the playing time, and over the course of a game, the weekend, and the season each player will play meaningful minutes. However, playing time will likely not be equal—especially in 7th and 8th grade, the league supports merit-based play, more typical of middle school and high school programs which are around the corner. However, at all levels, the coaches are encouraged to make every effort to provide meaningful playing time for all players. Exceptions at all levels can be made by coaches for missing multiple practices or games (except for medical reasons) or for particular behavioral issues.

* While we will work hard at improving, basketball is above all a fun game, and if your child is not having fun, please let the coaches know, and we’ll try and do something about it. We all want this to be a great experience for the kids, and we will do our best to make that happen.

Discipline Issues:

If a situation develops that involves the conduct of a parent or player that is detrimental to the kids and the league, the coach will make a board member aware of the situation. The league will deal with situations on an individual basis, and have the right to suspend or expel players or parents with no refunds.