JUNIOR OLYS WINTER BASKETBALL PROGRAM RULES

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Junior Olys and The PAC Salem sponsors competitive and recreational teams for both boys and girls in the 4th through 8th grade levels. The following rules will apply to all such teams, players, coaches and players’ parents for the competitive tournament teams.

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RULE I – PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

1. Junior Olys will allow kids (Ages 4th Grade thru 8th Grade) to play for Junior Oly's competitive 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. This is consistent with the School District’s enrollment policy which allows kids who reside anywhere within the School District to attend any school within the School District.  Kids outside the district will be allowed exceptions based on their circumstances.   Please contact the program staff for an exception request.  The Junior Olys program will not allow kids to participate in multiple tournament teams outside our program during the Winter Season (Nov-March). Pursuant to that practice, any child who attends a competitive tryout in Junior Olys is not eligible to attend a competitive tryout (or the equivalent) tryout in Salem or any other city, and vice versa.  Anyone participating in multiple tournament teams outside of our program will be immediately dismissed from Junior Oly teams.  This only applies to our competitive teams that play in tournaments on weekends.  This is to reinforce the commitment to the program, coaches, and players for Junior Olys.

2. As we worked 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.  We want everyone to be fully committed to the program they participate in whether it's ours or another program.  

3. Players in the program may not petition to be allowed to tryout for a higher grade-level team, unless there is not enough players for their current age group for a competitive tournament team.  

 

RULE II – TRYOUT PROCESS AND TEAM FORMATION

 

1. 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).

2. Tryouts will be run by varsity high school coaches and coaching professionals, and any other participants we feel necessary to have a part of an objective tryout.  Board member roles of President, Vice President, Select Coordinators (boys & girls) Coaches Coordinator, and Player Advocate will be allowed in the gym to observe and assist in the tryout process if needed. If any of those roles have a child in the tryout, they will not be allowed to observe, unless otherwise approved by program staff.

3. 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.

4. 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 competitive program, and a maximum of 10 players. There may be additional members of the team in a “practice only” capacity or part of our development program.  We may also create recreational teams.  

1. The try-out numbers of the players selected for each team will be posted on the website as soon as possible following the final try-out session. The status of one or more teams may be contingent on the outcome of certain events. In such cases, the posting of that teams’ players may be delayed.

 

RULE III – COACH SELECTION

1. Persons desiring to coach a team must apply online

2. Interviews will be scheduled through (but not all) the Coaches Coordinator and Select Coordinators.

3. The decisions shall be a subject to a vote

4. Each coach will be required to agree to a background check and sign a Code of Ethics, which clearly defines the expectations of behavior on the bench and in the stands.

5. 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.

6. Coaches will be selected after the teams have been formed.

7. Coaches can be removed anytime for violating our rules, policies and code of conduct.

 

RULE IV – FINANCIAL REGULATIONS

1. The fee charged for each player will cover the following expenses:

• Uniform (Shooting Shirts)

• Gym Fees

• Trainings

• Coaches

• Scholarships

• 6 tournaments for teams who opt for a Tournament Schedule.

• Insurance

• Other Fees associated with the program

• Rec programs will have a different cost structure

 

RULE V – GAME RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. 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.

2. Players must all participate in each game. Grades 4th-7th need to give each player a 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 vs. Attitude and level of effort

3. Playing time is consistent with HS freshmen policies.  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 any good coach to manage.  ​

4. 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 Program Director.

5. Player technical fouls should result in the player being removed from the rest of the game and possible suspension.  

 

RULE VI – BENCH DECORUM

1. Each coach and the parents of every player will be required to agree to and sign a Code of Ethics, which clearly defines the expectations of behavior on the bench and in the stands.

2. 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.

3. 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 association.

 

 RULE VII – ENFORCEMENT OF RULES

1. Sprague Basketball is charged with assuring the team composition, practices and games are conducted equitably among the competitive teams of the Junior Olys 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, Sprague and Junior Olys will initiate the following procedures:

• A Situation Report will be completed, outlining the complaint in as much detail as possible. (2) The offending party will be contacted by the Players Advocate 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 staff and appropriate action taken. This action may involve a warning, a 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 Olys Staff for three years, and then destroyed. They will not be generally available, other than to the party named in the report and to the staff as needed when dealing with subsequent reports and when appointing coaches.

 

RULE VIII – COMMITMENT

1. Each player participating in the program will be required to sign a Commitment Agreement, stating that membership on his/her team will be his/her first-priority activity from the beginning of the winter season as defined by the Oregon School Activities Association through the season ending State tourney in March.  

2. Coaches will be authorized to establish team rules for attendance and behavior and to judiciously reduce playing time as a disciplinary tool to enforce such rules.

3. Coaches must adhere to the High School Program layout with offensive/Defensive systems.  Half court zone defenses are prohibited.  Our program goal is focused on the development of all these kids and not just about winning and losing.  This is in alignment with our HS program philosophies and what we found to be most successful in the past 7 years of running highly successful programs.  Coaches all know we can scheme to win games but our program will not sacrifice the development of these kids to win games at the youth level.  Coaches also know the reason to implement a zone is because your players can't play man defense and kids in the youth division cannot shoot outside shots.  Instead of thinking short term, let's try to develop these kids for long term success.  Learning, winning, losing, failing, and being challenged are all forms of development that will help them progress on the court and off the court.  Let's sacrifice that championship medal/trophy/tshirt for long term success and development.  

 

RULE VIX – PRACTICE/TRAININGS

1. All practices are closed.  Only coaches and players may attend practices.

2. All trainings are closed.  Only trainers, coaches and players may attend trainings.