Travel Team Basketball Program is intended to provide a more competitive environment than that of the In-House/intramural league.  Travel Team participants may also register and play in the ‘In-House’ program to maximize ‘gym time’ and enhance their growth, development, and enjoyment of basketball. 

 

Playing Time Guidelines

 

The M.Y.S.A. Board expects the following guidelines to be followed with respect to playing opportunities:

 

Travel basketball is a competitive program designed to help each child have an opportunity to grow.  Playing time will include a distribution of playing time based on player skill level(s), competitiveness of a game, and overall team success while trying to adhere to the below recommendations.  Playing time is earned and should not be granted because of, or due to coaching or parental preference or relationship.

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1. Each participant/player should have an opportunity to participate in every scheduled game, regardless of how or why each game was scheduled (i.e. ‘Tournament Games’ and ‘Regular Season’ games).
2. Playing Time expectations: 
   1. 5^th Grade Level and above:  This level should assume a more competitive nature, and therefore, it is reasonable to expect more playing time for higher skilled players.  However, to ensure adherence to #1 above each player is required to participate in each game with a ‘75/25’ playing time as the goal for a game and over the entirety of the season, however 75/25 playing time may not occur in every game, but should try to be made up for in later opportunities.
   2. 4^th Grade Level:  This level should be considered a ‘developmental’ experience for participants, with a more equitable opportunity for playing time in each game.  Therefore, to ensure adherence to #1 above each player is required to participate in each game with a ‘60/40’ playing time as the goal for a game and over the entirety of the season, however 60/40 playing time may not occur in every game, but should try to be made up for in later opportunities.
   3. 3^rd Grade Level:  This level should be considered a ‘developmental’ experience for participants, with a more equitable opportunity for playing time in each game.  Therefore, to ensure adherence to #1 above each player is required to participate in each game with a ‘50/50’ playing time as the goal for a game and over the entirety of the season, however 50/50 playing time may not occur in every game, but should try to be made up for in later opportunities.

 

The M.Y.S.A. will expect coaches to adhere to the general guidelines outlined above.  However, coaches will not be asked to keep detailed playing time records, nor is it expected or acceptable for parents, or other concerned individuals to record detailed playing time logs.  It is strongly recommended that an assistant coach be responsible for ensuring reasonable playing time distribution, thereby allowing the head coach to focus on ‘managing the game’. 

 

 

MYSA recognizes that some participants may be involved in additional sports during the basketball season. In an effort to prevent the misuse of playing time guidelines, we encourage all participants to prioritize attendance at all practices as games begin. Repetitive practices may warrant coaches to adjust playing time accordingly to reward players who are consistently committed to attendance at all practices. In a similar manner, repeated poor sportsmanship or bad behavior at practices may warrant coaches to adjust playing time guidelines.