Coaches
As the direct liaisons between the Families for Education organization and families, you carry a distinct responsibility. Parents and players will associate your attitude and habits with this league and our organization. For that reason, the following rules are expected to be followed by all coaches. Failure to comply may result in loss of privileges as a coach.
- Never show up to a game or practice under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Be positive and supportive of all players and parents.
- Never use foul language.
- Make necessary communication with parents and players in a timely matter.
- Be on time. If you cannot make a practice or game, contact your team, your assistant coach (if you have one) and/or parents to make other arrangements.
- Coaches are role models and should abide by the rules and set a good example.
- Parents and spectators (non-coaches) are allowed to observe games/practices. However, they are not allowed to stand on the court while a game/practice is in progress without specific permission.
Child Abuse
Physically grabbing/hitting or verbal abuse of players, on any team, will not be tolerated during games/practices, including your own child. Coaches who violate this act will be dismissed immediately and lose coaching privileges. Violator could also be subject to criminal prosecution.
Transportation
If a child needs a ride home, parents should notify you or provide a note of who is picking up the child. If you offer to bring a child home, it is recommended that someone else accompany you. NO CHILD IS EVER TO BE LEFT ALONE OR IN THE CARE OF ANOTHER ADULT. YOU (COACH) ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE OF THE CHILDREN ON YOUR TEAM. YOU MUST STAY UNTIL ALL CHILDREN ARE PICKED UP! If this is not happening in a timely fashion, please speak to the parent/guardian/responsible party about expectations. If this does not solve the problem, then please call us to remedy the situation
Player Eligibility
All players must be properly registered with All Valley Basketball to be eligible to play (waiver liability forms signed). This is non-negotiable. Do not pick up a child to play if they are not registered!
Uniforms
All participants and coaches will receive a Team T-Shirt. Only non-marking rubber sole sneakers may be used while practicing and during games.
Practices
Coaches are responsible for setting up practices in the school gym, or other venue, within their home-town. Practices should be limited to 1 hour to accommodate as many teams as possible. In Hamilton we allow 2 practices/week for 5th-6th grade teams only. If there is additional time available, then we will open up a 2nd practice to the 3rd / 4th grade teams as well.
Gym Rules
If it is not your practice/game time, then please keep players off court and not bouncing balls until your practice or game begins. Maintain order with the children until your practice begins. Please be respectful of the gyms/schools as we would not want to lose our privilege to use the facilities. Please advise your parents that no other children than the players should be dropped off at your practice because this is not a childcare service. If a parent does this, please call me immediately to remedy the situation. These other children tend to run around without supervision, and we don’t want to get kicked out of the school gyms.
Games
- PLEASE BE AT LEAST 10 MINUTES EARLY FOR GAMES. We need to keep on schedule.
- 1st and 2nd halves begin with a jump ball.
- Clock will run continuously.
- EACH PLAYER IS TO PLAY AT LEAST HALF OF THE GAME.
- Stall tactics (failure to engage in productive offensive motions) will result in a warning, then loss of possession.
- Backcourt violations will not be called unless this action is being used as a stall tactic.
1st & 2nd Division
Games played at Daly Elementary in Hamilton cross court
40 min. per game: 8’ basket with 27.5” ball, we play 4 on 4 for 1/2nd grades only
– 1st Half (16 min.)
– 5 min. Halftime
– 2nd Half (16 min.)
– 3 min. wrap-up (handshakes, etc.)
Games will be stopped in 4-min. increments to allow for substitutions.
Man-to-man defense only. Children will wear arm bands to help them keep track of their opponent that they are supposed to be guarding.
Players may switch defenders to prevent open drives, but no intentional double-teaming.
Offensive players moving towards the ball may create inadvertent double-teams, and this will be allowed until the second offensive player retreats from the player with the ball.
Full-court pressure is not permitted. Once a basket has been made or the rebound secured by the defending team, the opposing team is to return to the basket they are defending.
There will be no stealing the ball at this level. The goal is for the players to learn fundamentals. If a player intercepts a pass, then they may take it to the other end. No stealing a dribble.
Please do not allow any 1 player to dominate the game. It is the goal of the program to get all players engaged in the game. As a coach, please help them to understand this throughout the game.
No scorekeeping, and a coach from each team are the referees for this age group. You should go out to the court and move up and down the court with your team, coaching and directing as you go.
3rd & 4th Division
Girl’s & Boy’s Divisions-games played at Hamilton Middle School cross court
(there may be some amendment to game schedule due to high school basketball games at HMS)
40 min. per game: 10’ baskets with 28.5” ball, 5 on 5 players
– 1st Half (16 min.)
– 5 min. Halftime
– 2nd Half (16 min.)
– 3 min. wrap-up (handshakes, etc.)
Games will be stopped in 4-min. increments to allow for substitutions.
Man-to-man defense only, and All Valley Basketball will provide referees for this age group.
Players may switch defenders to prevent open drives, but no intentional double-teaming.
Offensive players moving towards the ball may create inadvertent double-teams, and this will be allowed, until the second offensive player retreats from the player with the ball.
One free throw will be shot, worth 2 points if made, following a shooting or intentional foul.
Full-court pressure is not permitted. Once a basket has been made or the rebound secured by the defending team, the opposing team is to return to the basket they are defending. The offensive team will have 10 seconds to advance the ball beyond the half-court line, uncontested. Ignore this rule if the ball has crossed the half-court line and then returns into the back-court area via pass/deflection.
There will be no stealing the ball when dribbling around the perimeter unless the offensive player is just dribbling and stalling without passing the ball and/or attempting to advance to the basket. The refs will encourage the child to pass when it is deemed “too long”. If after 5 seconds they don’t pass the ball or shoot, then the defense can steal the ball. However, the defense can steal the ball any time in the key if they have the opportunity.
5th & 6th Division
Girl’s & Boy’s Divisions – games played at Hamilton Middle School cross court
(there may be some amendment to game schedule due to high school basketball games at HMS)
52 min. per game: 10’ basket with 28.5” ball
– 2 quarters per half (10 min. each)
– 2 min. break between quarters
– 5 min. halftime
– 3 min. wrap-up (handshakes, etc.)
Substitutions at dead balls only.
Man-to-man defense only, and All Valley Basketball will provide referees for this age group.
Players may switch defenders to prevent open drives, and intentional double-teaming will be allowed in the colored “key” part of the court. Offensive players moving towards the ball may create inadvertent double-teams outside of the “key,” but this will be allowed only until players separate, or spread out.
Full-court pressure will only be permitted in the last 2 min. of each half. A team leading by 10 or more points may not press. During the rest of the game, once a basket has been made or the rebound secured by the defending team, the opposing team is to return to the basket they are defending.
The offensive team will have 10 seconds to advance the ball beyond the half-court line, uncontested. Ignore this rule if the ball has crossed the half-court line and then returns into the back-court area via pass/deflection.
Fouls and Free Throws
- Free throws will only be performed following shooting or intentional fouls.
- Player or bench technical fouls result in an automatic 2 points and possession of the ball for the non-offending team.
Note: Any player or coach that commits two technical fouls in a single game will be excused from the bench for the remainder of the game. Multiple infractions in subsequent games will result in dismissal from the All Valley Basketball program.
Sportsmanship
- Always display good sportsmanship to players, coaches and referees.
- At the conclusion of each game make sure your team engages in a team “high-five”, fist bump, or hand-shake with the opposing team.
- Remember this league is about developing skills, developing a love for the game, and above all, having fun!
Thank you so much for joining us, Families for Education, in making this another great year of Basketball for
our valley youth.
Questions / Comments?
All Valley Basketball
[email protected]