Youth Program Rules

JUNIOR OLY BASKETBALL PROGRAM RULES

Junior Oly Basketball in partnership with The PAC Salem sponsors tournament and recreational teams for both boys and girls in the 1st through 8th grade levels.

The following rules will apply to all such teams, players, coaches and players’ parents for the tournament teams.

RULE I – TOURNAMENT PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

Junior Oly Basketball will allow kids (Ages 3rd Grade thru 8th Grade) to play for Junior Oly Basketball tournament teams in the winter season if they either reside anywhere within, or attend a public or private school located anywhere within the Sprague High School District's boundaries. Kids outside the Sprague High School District's boundaries may be allowed exceptions based on their circumstances after a good faith effort has been made to play at your home district school. If you would like to be considered for an exception, please submit a boundary exception request. There may be tournaments that do not allow athletes from outside of the school boundaries to participate which are beyond the control of the Junior Oly Basketball organization. Junior Oly Basketball will not allow kids to participate in multiple tournament teams outside of our program during the Winter Season (Nov-March). Anyone participating in multiple tournament teams must give priority to the Junior Oly team during the winter season. Players participating in an alternate club team must gain prior approval from the Board of Junior Olys to participate in both. This is to reinforce the commitment to the program, coaches, and players for Junior Oly Basketball.
As we work towards building a great program for the Sprague community with the high school staff, we want to make sure we have the commitments and structure to grow the program for every kid and not just a select few. It's important that we not only have our consistent program structure but also follow the rules of the tournament organizers which do not allow a kid to play on two different tournament teams in the same age/division. This is a standard rule across most basketball tournaments we participate in. If you play for a school team that plays league games during the weekday, this rule does not apply. It only applies to tournament teams playing on weekends. If you have commitment elsewhere, we completely understand.
Players in the program may not petition to be allowed to try out for a higher grade-level team, unless there are not enough players for their current age group for a tournament team. However, at the discretion of the Sprague High School Varsity Coaches, kids may be placed on a different grade-level team based on team/program needs.

RULE II – TRYOUT PROCESS AND TEAM FORMATION

Prior to prospective players attending the tryout sessions, the parent or guardian of each child must complete a sign up and release form (part of the sign-up process).
Tryouts will be run by Sprague High School Varsity High School Coaches, coaching professionals, and any other participants we feel necessary to have a part of an objective tryout.
Tryouts will generally cover two nights for each age group and gender. The tryouts will consist of drills and various games geared toward giving the coaches a broad view of the players’ talents and capabilities.
Following the final session for each age group and gender, the varsity coach and staff will select the players for the designated number of teams for that group. Teams will generally consist of 10 players. There will be a minimum of 8 for any team in the tournament program. Some players who try out for the tournament team may be asked to participate on the recreational team. This decision will be in the best interest of the player and their continued development.
Once finalized, the rosters of the players selected for each team will be posted on the website.

RULE III – COACH SELECTION

Persons desiring to coach a team must apply online via the Junior Oly Basketball coach application form.
Interviews may be scheduled through the Coaches Coordinator and Select Coordinators.
Final Coach selections will be done by the Head Coaches of Sprague High School Varsity Basketball programs.
Each coach will be required to agree to a background check and sign a Code of Conduct, which clearly defines the expectations of behavior in practices, on the bench and in the stands.
Coaches and/or an assigned team manager will be responsible for ensuring coaches’ and parents’ behavior is exemplary and offers only positive interaction with the players, opponents, scoreboard personnel, and referees.
Coaches will be selected prior to the first team practice.
Coaches can be removed anytime for violating our rules, policies or code of conduct.

RULE IV – FINANCIAL REGULATIONS

The fee charged for each Tournament team player will cover the following expenses:

● Uniform (including Shooting Shirts)

● Gym Fees

● Trainings

● Coaches (for select teams)

● Scholarships

● Minimum of 6 tournaments per team

● Insurance

● Other Fees associated with the program

*Recreation programs will have a different cost structure.

RULE V – GAME RULES AND REGULATIONS

All play will generally be consistent with the National Federation High School Rules and the rules of each tournament entered. Each coach is expected to have a basic understanding of such rules.
Players must all participate in each game. Grades 3rd-7th need to give each player an approximately 60/40-minute split of playing time in all league and tournament games. 8th grade is closer to approximately 70/30 ratio. Each coach has the discretion to increase or decrease minutes played for situations including, but not limited to:
1. The health of the player
2. Attendance and participation in practice
3. Tardiness to games or practice
4. Attitude and level of effort
There are 24-36 games in a season so there is plenty of playing time for every kid who makes a team. 60/40 and 70/30 is more than reasonable for a coach to manage.
Some players may be asked to play for another Junior Oly Basketball team for select tournaments. In those instances, the coaches of both Junior Oly Basketball teams will first agree and then obtain tournament director approval for these players.
Playing time questions or issues should first be addressed with the coach before or after a practice through a scheduled appointment. No parent should approach a coach before, during or after a game or practice. If further clarification or intervention is needed, playing time questions or issues should be directed to the Board.

RULE VI – BENCH DECORUM

Each coach and the parents of every player will be required to agree to and sign a Code of Conduct, which clearly defines the expectations of behavior on the bench and in the stands.
Coaches and/or an assigned team manager will be responsible for ensuring coaches’ and parents’ behavior is exemplary and offers only positive interaction with the players and referees.
Coaches are prohibited from voicing disrespectful remarks or using force (such as striking or shoving) to deal with the referees, opponents, or their own players. Additionally, coaches are prohibited from using threatening, demeaning, or abusive language with any referee or player. Any violation of this rule should be reported immediately to the Board.

RULE VII – ENFORCEMENT OF RULES

The Sprague High School Basketball Coaches and the Junior Oly Basketball Board are charged with assuring the team composition, practices and games are conducted equitably among the competitive teams of the Junior Oly Basketball program. Further they are charged with assuring that coaches, players and parents are properly observing these rules. In such cases as it appears there is a problem, the Junior Oly Basketball Board will initiate the following procedures:

● A Situation Report will be completed, outlining the complaint in as much detail as possible.

● The offending party will be contacted by the board president or their designee and given an opportunity to clarify the situation.

● If a rule is misunderstood, it will be explained to the offending party. The Situation Report will then be completed, giving an indication that the specific problem has been resolved.

● If a rule is objected to and the offending party refuses to follow the rules, then the situation will be discussed by the Board and appropriate action taken. This action may involve a warning, suspension or, in extreme or repeated cases, removal of the individual from the Program. The Situation Report will then be completed, giving particulars.

● Situation Reports are to be maintained by the Junior Oly Basketball Board. They will not be generally available, other than to the party named in the report and to the Board as needed when dealing with subsequent reports and when appointing coaches.

RULE VIII – COMMITMENT

Each player participating in the program will be committed to attend as many practices and games as possible. If there are scheduling conflicts for practices or games the coach will need to be notified ahead of time to coordinate for player alternates.
Junior Oly Coaches will be authorized to enforce program rules for attendance and behavior and to judiciously reduce playing time as a disciplinary tool to enforce such rules.
The Sprague High School Coaches will provide offensive and defensive systems to create consistency and an opportunity to learn the principles that will be required of a high school athlete.

● Each year additional principles, plays and complexity may be added and built upon to allow for continued growth within the program.

● Defensively priority is given to man-to-man schemes. Zones are not to be used as a primary defense.

● Winning is a goal but not above the development of basketball fundamentals and principles. We prioritize long term development and growth instead of winning a single game. For example, if a team is not mature enough to shoot outside shots, we should not play zone inside of the paint. It is better to learn how to defend your player and the required movements/adjustments needed to stay with your player

RULE IX – PRACTICE/TRAININGS

In general, all practices are closed. Only coaches and players may attend practices. In the event of a scrimmage taking place during a practice, the Junior Oly coach has the discretion to invite parents to attend and watch.
All trainings are closed. Only trainers, coaches and players may attend trainings.

​RULE I – TOURNAMENT PLAYER ELIGIBILITY