RISING STARS PHILOSOPHY ON PARENT/PLAYER
CONDUCT & BEHAVIOR

We are very proud of our 15 –year history in developing players and running a successful team basketball program. We believe the groundwork for success comes from teaching skills and fundamentals to players, while promoting an attitude of team play and unselfishness. We expect this unselfishness from each player in our program regardless of skill level or ability. We also expect this unselfishness to be carried over from the parents of our program.
Furthermore, we want our program to always be represented with class in dealing with tournaments, opponents, referees, and coaches. Below are the philosophies of the Rising Stars Program and some of our experiences in dealing with some of the different issues that will be tested throughout a travel season.

Referees: Similar to teams, we will have bad, average, good and excellent referees this year, including at the JG Center. There is a nationwide crackdown on abusing officials, and it will not be tolerated from anyone in our program at the JG Center or elsewhere. Referees have a difficult job to do, and regardless of a game’s outcome, they are to be treated with respect, as you would like to be treated as well. It is unacceptable for players (kids) to visibly be questioning officials, which happened on many occasions this weekend. Please keep in mind that these are 4th-8th grade kids, not college athletes or professionals interacting inappropriately with adults. High school basketball is really cracking down, and there is a “no talking” rule being enforced with players. Fan reactions often fuel the inappropriate behavior of the kids. Please remember that as a parent, you are not “objectively” watching the game and will mostly foocus on what calls are made incorrectly against our teams. We would appreciate you allowing our coach to talk to the officials and protect the players as he/she sees necessary.

Opponents: Please be respectful of our opponents. We will play games against weaker, similar and even better opponents. Our program believes in losing with dignity and winning with class. Please be mindful that these are young kids playing, and when we are winning by a great number of points, be sensitive to the opposing team and their families. We know that not all other programs will act in a class manner, but two wrongs do not make a right, and we want our program to be the model for how players, coaches and parents should behave. When we are winning by over 20+ points and are clearly superior, please stay off officials, scorekeepers, etc. It looks bad when we are winning 35-5 and people are screaming at the score table to add 4 more points or barking at officials.

Coaches: We are very proud of the coaching staff we have put together Their goals are to win as many games as possible, while trying to develop team chemistry, individual skills and a cursory knowledge of the game for each player. Playing time is never guaranteed. Coaches will make mistakes through the course of the season, but please do not approach coaches for individual concerns immediately following the game when tensions are at their highest. If you have concerns that include playing time, style of play, etc. please set up an appropriate time to discuss this with the coach or a JG Director privately. We are more than willing to discuss these concerns in a professional manner. Lastly, nothing is more difficult in coaching a player than having parents coaching at the same time. Please refrain from coaching during the game and allow our coach to be the sole voice for instruction during game time. We hope that you cheer on your son and his teammates, encourage them and make them feel good about themselves, but please wait until a game is over to discuss the game with him, so our coaches can do the best job possible.

Practice/Playing Time: Playing travel basketball is a great commitment, as our teams are tested in tournaments throughout the area. The competition can range from average to outstanding. The only true way to improve as a player or team is to attend a great majority of the practices. Practices are where teams develop team chemistry and learn the offensive and defensive schemes of the program or individual coach. If players do not attend practice regularly and do not know the offensive plays or defensive calls, their playing time will decrease. We also want to make you aware that it is very difficult to improve team chemistry if every practice has a different 6 or 7 players attending.

Playing time on each team is determined by the following:
1. Play well = Play more; Play bad = Play less
2. Execution: Player’s ability to know the offense and defenses and execute them to the highest level
3. Players must play hard and be focused at all times
4. Be a team player: (No pouting and crying when you are not playing)

These rules are followed by all travel teams.