Team Rules and Policies

SOUTH PORTLAND BASKETBALL

Coach Millington Contact Info:

Telephone: 207 838-3816

Email: kmillington@rsu14.org. or cmilli11@hotmail.com

Staff

Asst. Coach: Nick Costigan

Asst. Coach: John Maloney

Asst. Coach: Jon Jennings

JV Coach: Brandon Salway

FT Coach: Jon DiBiase


Our Philosophy

We believe in playing an exciting, fast paced brand of basketball that is the envy of the state. We believe in applying relentless pressure in all phases of the game and by imposing our will on our opponents. We believe in attacking and not reacting. Lastly, we believe we are accountable for our actions on and off the court.


Three Core Principles

· We always work hard. We embrace the difficult.

· We never make excuses or let others make excuses for us.

· We represent our family, team, school, and a community


Attendance

All players are required to be present at all games and practices unless they have been previously excused. Unexcused absences will not be accepted, although it is understood that emergency situations do occur. Unexcused absences will result in the following:

· First Offense – One game suspension

· Second Offense – Two week suspension

· Third Offense – Expulsion from team

Practice

Before and after practice is a time for talking, practice is a time for DOING. With the exception of teaching points, practices should run smoothly without interruptions. Athletes behaving in an unacceptable manner will be disciplined accordingly.

When the whistle blows or you hear a coach’s voice all activities stop.

All athletes should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of practice. Tardiness to practice is not accepted. DON’T BE LATE!!! If you need treatment, plan accordingly.

If a player is going to be absent or tardy, they must call the coach or a captain prior to practice in order to be excused. The coach will decide whether their reason is acceptable.



Games

All athletes are representatives of their high school and community. Athletes will be neat in their appearance; this means no jeans, baseball hats, t-shirts or sweatshirts. A shirt and tie with shoes (no sneakers) is expected.

Uniforms are to be worn only when playing in scheduled games.

Unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated. Athletes are expected to treat teammates, coaches, officials, and opponents in a courteous manner.

Remember there are four different people involved in a basketball game – a player, a coach, an official, and a spectator – and you can only choose to be one of them.

All Varsity players must ride the bus to and from all games.


Bench Decorum – It is expected that all players positively encourage those in the game by standing for baskets, hustle plays etc. Also, be sure to follow pre and post game procedures in a sportsmanlike manner.

Health

Healthy eating habits are essential for quality play. For maximum performance, athletes should consider a plant-based diet. At the very least, athletes should avoid all processed food. Also, players should dress appropriate for winter weather. Winter hats, coats, and long pants must be worn when leaving the gym.

With the flu season already here, we are likely to get hit by the flu bug. Athletes should wash their hands regularly and use hand sanitizer when possible. You owe it to your teammates to stay healthy during the season. I encourage athletes to get the seasonal flu shot when they are available.

South Portland High School Athletic Policy

All athletes are responsible for the policies set forth by the school and the athletic department. Students should be aware of the following policies:

  • Substance Abuse Policy
  • School Discipline Policy
  • Academic Policy
  • Attendance Policy


A player must attend school all day in order to participate that day. Professional appointments are excused with a note. Significant tardiness to school and dismissals without an appointment are not excused even if a parent dismisses you.


Uniforms

Uniforms are very costly to replace (approx. $300 for one uni). Make sure you have your uniform when you leave the gym. We have new ones this year so please take good care of them.



Varsity Letter

A player earns his Varsity Letter by playing in the regular mix. Coaches will meet at the end of the season to determine the players who were in the regular mix.

Afterglows

Afterglows are a chance for the team to get together at someone’s house after a game. These are only for parents who are willing to host and only done on Friday night games or games where there is no school the next day. Attendance is mandatory for varsity players.

Senior Night

What Senior Night is: Senior night is an opportunity to honor their commitment to our program, school, and community. It is also an opportunity for them (and us) to say thank you to the parents for many years of support and sacrifice.

What Senior Night is not: Seniors do not necessarily start or play more in this game. Each year is different. Many factors are considered such as the number of seniors on the team and our playoff status.

Swing Players

It is common practice for players to swing down from varsity to junior varsity for games. It is a goal to keep numbers low for the junior varsity team so it doesn’t drastically affect playing time for JV players. We don’t believe in having three teams but rather having one program.

Playing Time

Our philosophy on playing time is simple - Be Available, Be Productive, Be Consistent

Playing time is mostly determined by what a player does in practice.


Varsity – The expectation at the Varsity level is to play to win therefore players will not be guaranteed playing time. The five general categories that determine playing time are:

A. Talent

B. Depth at position

C. Attitude/Hard Work

D. Situation

E. Trust

Junior Varsity/First Team – Playing time is not guaranteed at these levels. Our coaches will try to get players in the game but that might not always happen. We must remember that player development or improvement of skills occurs in practice.

Communication

Communication is the key to any successful relationship. First it is important to remember that parents and coaches want what is best for kids. However, what is good for one kid and not always good for another. A coach must think about the team as a whole first.

For questions or concerns our process is:

  1. Make sure it is your child’s question or problem, not yours. My experience is parents sometimes take things harder than the athlete. This must happen before a coach is involved.
  2. Strongly encourage your son to speak directly to his coach. They need to be able to stand up for themselves. We need to prepare them for the real world. Our door is always open.
  3. Meet face to face with the coach and your son. They need to be part of the solution – if there is one. If you don’t want them there, the problem is probably not your son’s to begin with. Coaches will not meet with parents without the presence of the athlete.
  4. Meet with the Athletic Director and the coach

Remember: Sometimes it is okay to agree to disagree.