League Participation

All SNYB teams will participate in the Cape Ann Basketball League. The league is an ideal match for SNYB as it is structured to cater to all skill levels. All the teams in the league reside on the North Shore of Massachusetts.  Please note that the league this year will provide the opportunity for our teams to play teams in Metrowest and the South Shore (so some teams might be playing beyond North Shore).

Structure

Teams: 

  • SNYB players are organized into teams by grade
  • SNYB supports teams in 4th through 8th grades
  • Historically 130-150 players participate per season 
  • Number of teams per grade level will accommodate the total participants involved

Games:         

  • Games typically initiate on the first weekend of December and will conclude with a double elimination playoff series – finishing around the second weekend in March
  • Games are on weekends only – on Saturday and/or on Sunday (exception for playoffs).
  • Home games are always on Saturdays and are always played at the Swampscott High School
  • Not all Saturday’s are home games
  • Sunday games are always away games
  • Playoff basketball will be played throughout the weekday and on the weekend

Practices:

  • Individual team practices are held twice a week
  • Practices will be one hour in duration
  • Practices are typically held at the Swampscott Middle School gym 

Skills and Drills:

SNYB is thrilled to provide organized skills and drills sessions that focus on improving, developing and fine tuning core basketball skills. The sessions will be led by Jason Knowles. This is an excellent benefit and an opportunity to learn from the leaders of the Swampscott High School program

Conduct: 

There is a zero tolerance policy for inappropriate conduct or delinquent behavior in and around the facilities. This includes being found anywhere besides the general gymnasium area, and its foyer. SNYB are guests of the schools and our privilege may be revoked at any time. Players will be suspended without rebate if found roaming classrooms or hallways of the facilities. Only SNYB registered players are allowed to play or practice during assigned game or practice times.

Commitment:

Please account for the demands of the player’s and family time and overall teams’ interest when making the commitment to play for an SNYB, weighing availability, academics, other extracurricular activities and/other conflicting activities. Full participation in all practices and games is expected.

Fees:

The annual player fee covers all expenses for the season including gym rental fees, referee fees, league registration fees, and insurance fees.  The annual player fee this year is $285.00 and is due at point of registration.  If you believe you qualify for financial assistance, then please contact our Registrar, Patrick O’Neill, for further inquiry.    

Uniforms:

Each player will be required to purchase a uniform ($40.00), which are available at the Uniform Store on this site. The organization is also excited to announce that we have expanded our apparel store this year, please follow the link on this site to order sweatshirts, practice jerseys, etc.

TEAM SELECTION PROCESS

Please know that the Board spends a considerable amount of time debating the best way to select teams to ensure that each and every kid has the best possible experience.  Our primary goal is to place kids on teams where they will thrive and become the best player they can be.  We understand that every potential evaluation process has its upsides and downsides (there is no perfect system).  For instance, a process heavily weighted with past coach input has the potential downside of individual bias.  It also may not full account for player development during the offseason.  Conversely, a process that focuses primarily on independent evaluators may place pressure on kids to perform during session and fails to take advantage of the huge resource of past-season in-game experience / performance.  The SNYB Board believes that the process outlined below represents the best blend of independent evaluation and coach knowledge.

Participation – SNYB believes that all kids should have the opportunity to participate on a travel team.  Therefore, players will be assigned to teams that best suit the collective talent pool.  The number of teams formed each year is determined by interest in the program, overall ability of the age group, available gym space, and coaching volunteers.

Prior Coach Evaluations – At the end of the year, each head coach and assistant coach is asked to independently evaluate each player’s strengths, weaknesses, commitment, and attitude.  This includes a brief description of how each player performed during the season, positions played, and development potential (ex: player had developed strong ball handling as the season progressed and may develop into a point guard).  These evaluations are confidential and are only shared with the Board to assist with future team roster decisions.

Player Evaluations – The SNYB Board is responsible for organizing and administering evaluations for all players.  The evaluation session will be led by the Swampscott High School coaching staff utilizing independent evaluators.  During the session, each player is represented by a number, not a name.  Numbers are assigned at the try-out check in table.  The Board will assign multiple evaluators for each age group.  To prevent bias, no evaluator is allowed to participate in any age group in which they have a child playing.  The evaluation will include various drills (shooting, passing, lay-ups, etc.) and scrimmaging to determine player skill level and conditioning.  At the end of the session, the evaluators will submit a written score sheet to the Board that will include each player. 

Team Formation – After the player evaluations, the Program Director and the Board will convene to form rosters.  The teams will be created based on independent evaluations (heaviest factor), prior coach evaluations, and the need to balance rosters based on size and position strength.  .  Each team needs a reasonable distribution of guards and forwards / centers.  Teams need players that can dribble, some that can defend, some that can rebound, etc.  This aspect plays an important but small part of the final roster selection, as some players “on the bubble” may be moved up or down to balance the final roster.   Additionally teams will be placed in the appropriate division that best suits the collective talent pool and offers the best opportunity for growth and competitive play.

COACHING

Coaching Selection Guidelines:

Coaching youth basketball can be a really rewarding experience, yet we also recognize it takes a large time commitment and a great deal of dedication from our volunteer coaches.  As the SNYB board, we are very grateful to the parents and other members of the basketball community who dedicate their time and basketball expertise to provide a great athletic and team experience for our young players.

Our coaching philosophy emphasizes player development, focusing on the fundamentals of basketball, and teaching kids the right way to play basketball and to love the game. This includes a commitment to equitable playing time and a focus on read and react and motion basketball over structured plays, allowing kids to develop an understanding of the game that they will be able to apply in future opportunities.

We largely depend on parent volunteers that have prior basketball experience as a player or coach to coach our teams. In the case that a qualified and willing person is not found in a grade, we will attempt to find another outside coach.

Understanding that coaching basketball is challenging, we have coaching resources and consultation available to support coaches, including coach practices. However, given the complexity of the game, coaches ideally should have prior experience or training either as a player or coach.

Every adult associated with all organizations who may have the opportunity to have direct and unmonitored access to children is required by state law to complete the CORI certification process.

Coaching Responsibilities:

Coaches are responsible for:

  1. Conducting practices and games in a safe physical environment
  2. Use of current knowledge of proper skills and methods of instruction
  3. Use of safe and appropriate equipment
  4. Proper short- and long-term planning
  5. Proper matching of athletes in practices and games by size, experience and ability
  6. Provision of adequate supervision of athletes
  7. Provide warnings to parents and athletes of risks inherent in sport participation
  8. Sensitivity to the health and well-being of athletes under a coach’s care
  9. Provision of appropriate emergency care

Additionally, the coaches are responsible to:

  1. Prevent harassment and discrimination by coaching staff and athletes
  2. Report all suspected child abuse to proper authorities and the board including any sexual abuse.
  3. Respect and protect the confidentiality of student personal records
  4. Report breaches of ethical behavior by colleagues
  5. Conduct themselves in a mature and professional manner (no foul language)

General Inquiry:

Please contact SNYB Board President Jerry Cerrutti for general inquiries.