TJ Lady Spartans Team Rules

team rules / responsibilities

Student Athlete Responsibilities

Dear Player and Parent:

As the Head Girls Basketball Coach at Thomas Jefferson High School there are certain messages I would like to share with you in reference to our Basketball program. I am truly elated to have this opportunity and look forward to the new season with a great deal of optimism. It is my intention to maintain a quality program, and to continue to strive for improvement and growth each year. It is also my intention that every athlete participating in our program will learn basketball fundamentals and techniques, but also take with them some fond memories, and experience a growth in knowledge and personal traits that are necessary for success in any endeavor they may pursue.

You are all very important to me regardless of ethnic, religious, or social background. Together we can be successful. “The greatest potential of me, is we.”

All rules and responsibilities can be summarized in one simple statement:

DO NOT DO ANYTHING DETRIMENTAL TO YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, OUR BASKETBALL PROGRAM, OR THIS SCHOOL.

Any violation of the above statement or the rules below will be dealt with accordingly. Thank you for your attention and cooperation. Let’s all work hard, do our best, and enjoy this basketball season.


practice rules

PRACTICE

1. Attend all practices. To play in a game, you must be in all practices. A missed practice will result in a reduced role as game time minutes will go to the players who were at practice.

2. Be on time. Come prepared and properly dressed. You are issued practice uniforms and you are expected to wear them and keep them clean. We practice like we play and you cannot wear jewelry in a game, therefore you cannot wear them in practice.

3. When a coach is talking or requests your attention, stop all action immediately.

4. Work faithfully regardless if you are being observed or not.

5. Maintain a positive attitude. Practice habits turn into game habits. Individualistic, non- team attitudes will not be tolerated.


game day rules

GAMES

1. Players must be in ALL classes on game day.

2. All players must ride the bus to the game and back. Players may go home with parents ONLY.

3. By rule you are not allowed to touch the rim during warm-ups before the game or at halftime.

4. The officials’ judgment will be accepted at all times. Learn to adjust to different officiating styles.

5. Profanity and unsportsmanlike acts will not be tolerated. Do not retaliate for you will be the one who gets caught. Keep your cool, especially under pressure.

6. When replaced in a game do not come to the bench griping. Take a seat next to the coach. Also, do not walk to the bench, hustle off of the court. Show your support for your replacement.

7. While on the bench you are not there to visit. Pay attention to the game and the offenses and defenses being used. No negative comments should be made about the officials, players, fans, or coaches from either team. By rule you are only allowed to stand to applaud an outstanding play or during a time out.

8. NEVER taunt or talk trash to opponents or spectators. Dismiss all distractions during the warm-up and the game and do not react to the crowd, especially during free throws.

9. When a time out is called, hustle to the bench. Players who are not in the game will stand up and the players who were on the court will sit down.

10. Any removal of a game jersey before the post game meeting for any reason will result in an automatic suspension from the team. (is also a technical foul)

11. All players and coaches must report immediately to the locker room after the game for the post game meeting.


conduct off the court

CONDUCT OFF THE COURT

1. Hazing / Initiation is not tolerated. EVER. Severe consequences including removal from the team will follow any incident involving hazing or initiation of any student athletes.

2. Be the best student you can be. Do not miss class or be late. During class be attentive and show interest. Turn in all work and never cheat. Let your teachers know when and if you need extra help.

3. Student-athletes who don’t represent TJ in sportsmanship and/or behavior in or out of school are subject to be immediately removed from the team, and it will be at the discretion of the head coach and AD.

4. Do not use or possess vape pens, e-cigs, tobacco, alcohol, or drugs of any kind. This is absolutely forbidden.


additional rules

ADDITIONAL RULES

1. Respect. Respect yourself. Respect your coach. Respect your teammates. Respect your school. Respect your opponent.

2. Coaching decisions will always be made in the best interest of the team. You and or your child are very important to the T.J. basketball program, but will never be more important than the program itself.

3. We need leaders on our team, not bosses.

4. Do not be a constant complainer and avoid a teammate that falls into that mode. Misery loves company and one bad apple CAN spoil the bunch.

5. TEAMWORK – The spirit of teamwork involves a devotion to a cause that all of us work toward. “When an individual loses their self in something they think is bigger than them , they become a winner.” We can be a great team if we become closely knit and help each other. It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit. The ultimate victory belongs to the group, not the individual.

6. Those not willing to accept and perform their role as prescribed by the coaches, will be dismissed from the team.


Playing Time

Playing Time

Playing time is the root of all basketball problems. As the level increases, an emphasis is put more on winning than equalizing playing time. Coaches at the varsity level are judged on wins and losses, rather than the overall job done and the players gaining an educational experience. Many coaches have done a nice job of teaching basketball and life lessons, but their jobs are threatened because they didn’t win enough. On the other hand, some coaches are seen as great because they win regardless of what they teach or how they achieve the wins. Regardless, coaches today are expected to win, win convincingly, and play everybody. This is an impossible task. Our belief is that we will try to play as many players as we can within the framework of winning. We have and will continue to put forth every effort to make everyone feel that they are a contributing part to the team. Every role on the team is important and valued.

Playing time is a coaching staff decision. This is not subject to debate! It is part of our job to determine who plays and when. Obviously, the talented players will get their share if they meet the team attitude to warrant the playing time. However, many factors weigh into playing time. Factors such as a player’s ability, skill and attitude are seen daily by the coach in practice. Substitutions are often done on a feel developed by the coach as they work with the team. Some factors a coach will consider include: practice performance, player’s attitude, player’s ability, game time, game situation, match ups, player’s position, and/or a player’s fatigue.

Grade level does not equate to the amount of playing time. It does not determine who starts or who is a reserve. The players that give us the best possible chance to win will be on the floor. Players with concerns about their role should talk to their coach. Coaches will talk to players about their role on the team; coaches will not talk to parents about their daughter’s role on the team or playing time before talking to the athlete first.


Moving players

We will move players up or down for the following reasons.

  1. We will move a player up if they can play at a higher level and will help with the success for that team, or we will move a capable player up to create workable numbers.
    **We will not move a player up and bury them on the bench. A player moved up will be given playing time.
    **Moving a player up one year does not guarantee they will move up a level the next year.

  2. We will move players down to make workable numbers and create more playing time. We will only do this with consent from the player.


Cutting players

Numbers are always an issue to make workable teams at all levels. We are willing to keep extra players if team chemistry is not disrupted and each player accepts their role. A player’s attitude is considered along with their ability when determining cuts. Also, cuts are never over. If a situation arises that is detrimental to the team, a cut may occur at any time.