COURT TIME POLICY
Basketball is a team sport and time on and off the court is part of playing in and being part of a team. Our Coaches are encouraged to use a variety of strategies to try and provide players with fair game time. However, equal court time is not always possible particularly in games that are closely contested and where player fitness, temperament, endurance, ability and team balance are factors in player selection, rotation and positioning.
The Aberfeldie Jets Basketball Club strongly encourages our coaches to provide players with a fair and reasonable amount of court time during grading games and regular season. From time to time players or their parents may question a child's court time but the Club suggests they consider how much court time their child received over several games, if not the entire season to-date. A child receiving a questionable amount of court time for one or two games should not be just cause to complain. Valid reasons for limiting court time may include team balance, non-attendance at training, player discipline, or injury.
If a parent feels their child has not received reasonable court time over a prolonged period, they should raise this with the team manager who will discuss this with the coach. Parents and players are asked to wait at least 24 hours after games or training sessions before having the conversation. This allows any emotions to settle and allows time for reflection. Do not have this conversation directly after the game or training session, it will never end well.
Finals
Finals are considered different to grading games and regular season. The emphasis in finals is to progress as far as possible. The coach to their best ability, should play the team they believe has the best opportunity to progress, and in a Grand final, to win.
If a coach recognises that some player(s) may have a limited opportunity during finals, this should be discussed with the players and/or the team before the finals series commences. In the younger age groups, it is a good idea to include parents in the conversation. We encourage our coaches to emphasise that getting to finals is a great achievement, that the goal is to get as far as possible through the series, and that every team member has something to contribute. For example, when players are on the bench, they need to participate by cheering and supporting their team mates, when they are on the court they need to focus, listen to their coach, play great defense and score points.
Basketball Victoria's Coaches Code of Conduct states “Give all players a reasonable amount of court time”.
Other relevant sections of the codes of conduct also include: “Show appreciation for volunteer coaches, officials and administrators. Volunteers are necessary for the functioning of sporting activities. Without them, your child could not participate. Whilst many are parents of people involved in the sport, many are also people dedicated to the sport and its development. Show them the respect and appreciation that they deserve.”
The Aberfeldie Jets Basketball Club strongly encourages our coaches to provide players with a fair and reasonable amount of court time during grading games and regular season. From time to time players or their parents may question a child's court time but the Club suggests they consider how much court time their child received over several games, if not the entire season to-date. A child receiving a questionable amount of court time for one or two games should not be just cause to complain. Valid reasons for limiting court time may include team balance, non-attendance at training, player discipline, or injury.
If a parent feels their child has not received reasonable court time over a prolonged period, they should raise this with the team manager who will discuss this with the coach. Parents and players are asked to wait at least 24 hours after games or training sessions before having the conversation. This allows any emotions to settle and allows time for reflection. Do not have this conversation directly after the game or training session, it will never end well.
Finals
Finals are considered different to grading games and regular season. The emphasis in finals is to progress as far as possible. The coach to their best ability, should play the team they believe has the best opportunity to progress, and in a Grand final, to win.
If a coach recognises that some player(s) may have a limited opportunity during finals, this should be discussed with the players and/or the team before the finals series commences. In the younger age groups, it is a good idea to include parents in the conversation. We encourage our coaches to emphasise that getting to finals is a great achievement, that the goal is to get as far as possible through the series, and that every team member has something to contribute. For example, when players are on the bench, they need to participate by cheering and supporting their team mates, when they are on the court they need to focus, listen to their coach, play great defense and score points.
Basketball Victoria's Coaches Code of Conduct states “Give all players a reasonable amount of court time”.
Other relevant sections of the codes of conduct also include: “Show appreciation for volunteer coaches, officials and administrators. Volunteers are necessary for the functioning of sporting activities. Without them, your child could not participate. Whilst many are parents of people involved in the sport, many are also people dedicated to the sport and its development. Show them the respect and appreciation that they deserve.”
