Players

• Rule #1 – Respect. Show respect for coaches, teammates, opponents, referees, parents, and facility staff.

• Address coaches by last name (e.g., Coach Smith). When a coach is speaking, players should listen.

• Work hard, stay focused, and give full effort during practices.

• Arrive on time with a ball and water bottle. Clean up after practice.

• Demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times. Congratulate opponents and thank referees after each game.

• No trash-talking, taunting, chest-beating, fighting, or profanity on or off the court.

• Commitment matters. Basketball is a winter sport. Missing practices or games for other activities may impact playing time.

• Do not argue with referees or talk back to coaches.

• Offer 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 positively, and helping with scoring, timekeeping, or other needs.

• Ensure your child arrives and is picked up on time for practices and games.

• Use the league website and GameChanger for schedules and updates—coaches will not send reminders.

• Notify coaches as early as possible if your child will miss a practice or game.

• Be upfront during registration about your child’s commitment level. If another activity will cause frequent absences, please disclose it—it affects team formation.

• Stay positive on the sidelines. Referees are professionals, but mistakes happen. Criticizing calls does not help and will not be tolerated.

Coaches

• Treat players with care and respect. Coaches will encourage and be positive but will also be firm when needed to help kids improve.

• Provide instruction on basketball fundamentals and team concepts. Parents are welcome to share suggestions or observations.

• Strive to balance playing time so every player has meaningful minutes. Playing time is not guaranteed to be equal, especially at the 7th and 8th grade levels, where the league supports merit-based play. Effort, attendance, and behavior also impact playing time.

• Keep basketball fun. If a child is not enjoying the experience, parents should let coaches know so adjustments can be made. Our shared goal is for every player to grow and enjoy the season.

Discipline Issues

If conduct from a player or parent becomes detrimental to the team or league, the coach will notify a board member. The league reserves the right to address situations on a case-by-case basis, including suspending or expelling players or parents. Refunds will not be issued in these cases.