Guidelines & Expectations for Parents
Expectations of Parents & BCT Code of Conduct Requirements:
Parents will be expected to get their son/daughter to all practices and games
ON TIME.
Support your son/daughter by attending games whenever possible. Embrace that this is your child’s journey, not yours. Do not live vicariously through them. Put your focus on being a supportive and encouraging parent.
Make sure your child attends all practices; proactively communicate to your coach when unable to attend a practice or game.
Be supportive of the coaches and all players; exhibit a positive attitude around the players and other parents.
Be respectful to officials and other teams’ fans; display good sportsmanship.
As a program, we have zero tolerance for abusive language, vulgarity, and constant negative remarks to game officials, opposing team parents, players, or fans.
Our Coaches are instructed to ask our BCT fans to stop this behavior during games and to report any persistent behavior of this nature to the BCT Program Directors.
Refrain from coaching from the stands/sidelines at practice and games. This is the job of the coaches, not the parents in the BCT program.
Cheer all you want, but please do not coach them from the stands.
Encourage your child to communicate any concerns or questions directly with their coach. This will help the coach understand and communicate directly with the player versus through a third party.
3 Practice Rule: Until you, as a parent, have attended 3 practices, please do not call the coach with complaints about playing time, etc. Until you’ve attended 3 practices to see your son/daughter’s effort and attitude in practice, teamwork, etc., coaches will not have discussions of this nature. No videotaping of practices without prior consent from the coach.
Communicate with the coach in appropriate ways; discuss your concerns off the court and in private. Practice the “24 Hour Rule”: wait 24 hours to pass before contacting the coach regarding something; it will allow time to think about the situation before addressing it, taking the emotion out of it. If you feel you are not being heard by the coach after taking this approach, please reach out to the BCT Program Directors.
Please do not undermine your child’s coach in the car ride home, at the dinner table, etc. Subtle, passive-aggressive comments like: “your coaches don’t know what they are doing” or “I can’t believe you don’t play more” do not comfort your child (whether that is your intention or not). This enables your child to have a bad attitude and to make excuses, both of which are unacceptable.
Hold your child accountable to the player expectations at all times. It is the goal of BCT to improve your child as a basketball player, but also to aid in developing them into confident, proud, respectful, and good citizens.
Remember that the game of basketball is fun, and parents should strive to keep it that way.
Remember that you represent your family, community, and the BCT family at all times.
BCT Philosophy Regarding Teams & Playing Time:
Team Selection:
BCT is a competitive program; we look for serious basketball players who want to work and elevate their games.
We are not interested in having as many teams as possible; we are interested in making our players better on and off the court.
Roster spots are earned each year, not automatically given to players year-over-year. This promotes hard work during the off-season.
Playing Time:
Playing time is dictated by players’ effort, attitude, and attendance – No Questions Asked.
We will not reward players that don’t have the best interest of the team in mind at all times.
Coaches do their best to even out the playing time, but playing time can fluctuate game-to-game based on the player expectations and factors.
Violation of Guidelines/Expectations:
All BCT Parents and Spectators will be held accountable to the above guidelines and expectations.
Any suspected violation may and should be reported to the BCT Program Directors.
Individuals in violation of any of the above expectations and guidelines may be asked to leave practice, a tournament, or a team function. The BCT program comes first; no one person or player is bigger than the entire program.
If problems continue to persist throughout the year, additional action may be taken to remove the Parent or Player from the BCT program entirely. We are proud that this has not been an issue before, and the goal of this document is to keep it that way.
Payments:
Understand that you are totally responsible for the fees for your child. A plethora of fundraising opportunities will be provided to assist with the cost. Any unpaid fees will result in your child not playing in any tournaments, and potential further steps of action. There are absolutely no refunds. However, we encourage all parents to actively participate in the fundraising activities, as this not only helps reduce the financial burden but also fosters a sense of community and support within the team. Engaging in these efforts can be a rewarding experience, offering a chance to connect with other families and contribute to the team's success. Remember, your involvement is vital in ensuring that every player has the opportunity to fully participate and grow in the sport they love. Thank you for your commitment and support in making the Bay City Thunder program a positive experience for everyone involved.