2007-2008 Season Guidebook
Mission StatementEligibility
Playing Format
Registration
Fees & Costs
Uniforms & Equipment
Tryouts
Teams
Family Involvement/Volunteers
Parent Responsibilities
Curriculum
Coordinator
Advisor
Coaches
Mid-year & Year-end Evaluations
Suggestions & Concerns
Board of Directors
Other Contacts
Web Site
Code of Conduct
Mission Statement
The mission of the St. Louis Park Boy’s Basketball Association is to:
Values
Instill in the participants the ideals of:
- good sprotsmanship
- teamwork
- fair play
- responsibility
- hustle and determination
- respect
- pleasure in sport
Skills
Teach a fundamentally sound, rigorous and progressive curriculum of basketball skills.
Competition
Provide the opportunity for boys to play organized, competitive basketball.
Environment
Create a healthy environment comprised of positive role models, regular encouragement and positive feedback in which the desired values and skills can be fostered.
Eligibility
The program is offered to all 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade boys who live in or go to school in St. Louis Park. In cases where special circumstances exist, persons who do not live in St. Louis Park or attend school in St. Louis Park shall be allowed to petition the board for admittance into the program. Each petition shall be heard by the full board and acted upon on a case by case basis. A unanimous vote of the board is required to allow admittance of a petitioner under these circumstances.
Playing Format
Teams play exclusively in tournament games. All games are played on weekends.
Tournament Games
Each team plays in 9-12 tournaments. This includes a state tournament. Tournament dates and cities are shown in the calendar on the back cover.
Generally, tournament games are played on Saturdays and Sundays, but may include a Friday night game. Most tournaments guarantee 3 games, but there will be additional games for the winners.
The team parent will provide tournament game schedules including dates, times and locations as soon as they become available. This is typically the week of the tournament.
Overnight Tournament
Our "overnight" tournament is in Rochester, Minnesota. Please let your team representative know if you are planning on staying overnight. We will attempt to make a group reservation. Call Denise Donald with questions - (952)797-9432.
Each player is responsible for:
Hotel charges
Money for food
Swimsuit
Change of clothing
Any other items
Practice
Teams practice 1-2 times per week in gyms within St. Louis Park. Practices last 1½ hours, typically between the hours of 5:30-9:30 p.m. Practice schedules including dates, times and locations will be available from your coaches.
Transportation
Parents are responsible for transportation to and from all practices and games (including the overnight tournament). Neither the Traveling Basketball Association nor the Coaches will provide transportation to and from practices and games.
Registration
Registration will be held at the St. Louis Park Rec Center, 5005 W. 36th St. on the following dates:
September 29th (Saturday) 9am-1pm
October 1st (Monday) 6pm-9pm
Fees & Costs
The fee for the 2007-2008 season is $185.
Uniform
Players must purchase a uniform if you do not already own one. Uniforms and additional clothing will be ordered at the time of registration where players will have the opportunity to try on sample sizes of the uniforms.
Admission
All tournaments charge an admission fee. These typically range between $4-5 dollars per day. Sometimes a tournament will offer a weekend pass at a slight discount.
Uniforms & Equipment
Players are responsible for the following:
- 2 Uniform jerseys - Home & Away (purchased from the Association. Every effort is made to keep the same style of uniform so they can be worn for more than one season.)
- Uniform shorts (purchased from the Association. Every effort is made to keep the same style of uniform so they can be worn for more than one season.)
Each player will receive a personalized shooting shirt provided from the Association.
Tryouts
Tryouts will be held at the St. Louis Park Junior High School, 2025 Texas Ave. So.
Players must attend both sessions. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled start time.
| 7th & 8th | 4th, 5th & 6th | Location | |
| October 13 (Saturday) | 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm | 2:15 pm - 3:45 pm | Junior High |
| October 14 (Sunday) | 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm | 2:15 pm - 3:45 pm | Junior High |
Teams
Teams are formed shortly after tryouts are completed. Each player will be called and notified of team placement. Practices will begin as soon as teams are formed.
Family Involvement/Volunteers
Each family must provide a minimum of 10 hours of volunteer time per player. A refundable volunteer deposit of $150.00 is due at registration. This check will be returned at the end of the season unless the required volunteer hours are not fulfilled.
St. Louis Park Tournaments
All families are required to help with the St Louis Park Traveling Basketball tournaments that we host. Parents generally collect admission money or sell concessions.
Team Parent(s)
Each team must provide a Team Parent or Parents. The Team Parent(s) will be responsible for the following:
- Coordinating their efforts closely with the coach
- Assembling and disseminating all team schedule information
- Coordinate the teams St Louis Park Tournament volunteers
- Coordinate with team’s board representative
Board Representative
Each team must provide a Board Representative. The Board Representative will be required to attend Board meetings, provide the Board with feedback from their team and provide their team with information from the Board.
Board Membership and Meetings
The Boys Traveling Basketball Board is made up of volunteers with an interest in guiding the direction of the program. Board meetings are held every fourth Tuesday, at 7 p.m., at the Rec Center. Meetings are open to everyone.
Parent Responsibilities
- Get players to games and practices on time.
- Do not provide instruction or direction during practices or games.
- Support the efforts of your coach. Discuss question and comments privately with your coach or the Coordinator.
- Adhere to the Code of Ethics found at the end of this guidebook.
Curriculum
A basic curriculum has been developed for each grade level and each level of play (A, B and C). All coaches have been asked to implement this curriculum. The curriculum was developed in cooperation with boys high school varsity basketball program.
The curriculum is intended to provide a fundamentally sound and rigorous progression of basketball skill development. Mastery of fundamental skills at early grades will progress to more complex skills in later grades. All players will be challenged to advance their skills as far as possible but will also be asked to master the grade appropriate material.
A copy of the curriculum is available from the Board. Ask your Board Representative.
Coordinator
The Association has hired a Coordinator who is responsible for the implementation of the St. Louis Park Boys Traveling Basketball Association Curriculum for each grade level and each level of play. The Coordinator will be working closely with the coaches. Please feel free to approach the Coordinator to discuss questions, comments or concerns. Your feedback is important.
Advisor
The boys’ high school varsity basketball coach is an advisor to the Board.
Coaches
The Association has hired a coach for each team. Each coach may select an assistant coach. They have been asked to be a role model, teach the curriculum and participate in the Association in various ways.
Mid-year & Year-end Evaluations
The Association will send out evaluation forms to each Player and Coach twice during the year: once at mid-year and again at the end of the season. There will be a form for the Player to fill out and one for the parent to fill out. There will be a place for coaching evaluation as well as Association evaluation. These evaluations will be collected and evaluated by the Board. Your Board Representative can inform you of these discussions. Please be certain to complete and return these evaluations as they provide valuable information to the Board for making mid-year adjustments and modifications for the following year.
Suggestions & Concerns
Please feel free to contact your Coach, the Coordinator, your Board Representative or any Board Member with suggestions and concerns. Your feedback is important.
Board of Directors
Board meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Banquet room at the St Louis Park Rec Center, 5005 W 36th St.
| Co-Presidents: | Denise and Bill Donald | (952) 797-9432 |
| MaryKay Bursaw | (612) 486-9615 | |
| Vice-Presidents: | Esther Pollard | (952) 545-2811 |
| Lynn Duffy | (952) 451-3468 | |
| Mike Resnick | (763) 473-1700 | |
| Secretary: | Patty Hoy | (952) 922-9320 |
| Treasurer: | Shannon Bretl | (952) 393-8582 |
| Gym Coordinators: | Diane Kramer & Brad Kjos | (952) 926-9031 |
| Tournament Directors: | Dan Harris | (612) 910-2341 |
| Steve Clausen | (952) 920-9934 | |
| Volunteer Coordinators: | Nancy Bahnson | (952) 929-5921 |
| Norma & Shawn Wolk | (952) 542-1834 | |
| At-large Members: | Kyle Beste | (952) 210-0937 |
| Laurie Solari | (952) 920-7390 |
Other Contacts
| Coordinator: | Curtis Olufson | (612) 718-9206 |
| Advisor: | Larry Ronglien | (952) 938-5341 |
Web Site
The Association maintains a web site at www.stlouisparkbasketball.com. The site includes team photo, schedules, league scores and league standings. It also includes directions to practice locations and selected information from this Guidebook.
Code of Conduct
Preamble
The essential elements of character building and ethics in sports are embodied in the concept of sportsmanship and six core principles: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship. The highest potential of sports is achieved when competition reflects these "six pillars of character."
I therefore agree:
- I will not force my child to participate in sports.
- I will remember that children participate to have fun and that the game is for youth, not adults.
- I will inform the coach of any physical disability or ailment that may affect the safety of my child or the safety of others.
- I will learn the rules of the game and the policies of the league.
- I (and my guests) will be a positive role model for my child and encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy, and by demonstrating positive support for all players, coaches, officials and spectators at every game, practice or other sporting event.
- I (and my guests) will not engage in any kind of unsportsman like conduct with any official, coach, player, or parent such as booing and taunting; refusing to shake hands; or using profane language or gestures.
- I will not encourage any behaviors or practices that would endanger the health and well-being of the athletes.
- I will teach my child to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence.
- I will demand that my child treat other players, coaches, officials and spectators with respect regardless of race, creed, color, sex or ability.
- I will teach my child that doing one's best is more important than winning, so that my child will never feel defeated by the outcome of a game or his/her performance.
- I will praise my child for competing fairly and trying hard, and make my child feel like a winner every time.
- I will never ridicule or yell at my child or other participant for making a mistake or losing a competition.
- I will emphasize skill development and practices and how they benefit my child over winning. I will also de-emphasize games and competition in the lower age groups.
- I will promote the emotional and physical well-being of the athletes ahead of any personal desire I may have for my child to win.
- I will respect the officials and their authority during games and will never question, discuss, or confront coaches at the game field, and will take time to speak with coaches at an agreed upon time and place.
- I will demand a sports environment for my child that is free from drugs, tobacco, and alcohol and I will refrain from their use at all sports events.
- I will refrain from coaching my child or other players during games and practices, unless I am one of the official coaches of the team.
I also agree that if I fail to abide by the aforementioned rules and guidelines, I will be subject to disciplinary action that could include, but is not limited to the following:
- Verbal warning by official, head coach, and/or head of league organization
- Written warning
- Parental game suspension with written documentation of incident kept on file by organizations involved
- Game forfeit through the official or coach
- Parental season suspension