BELLINGHAM YOUTH BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

TRAVELPROGRAM

1.GeneralInformation

The Bellingham Youth Basketball Association(BYBA)offersa travelbasketball programforboysand girlsin grades4 through 8 in the Town of Bellingham.The Travel Programisa competitive-based basketballprogramwhich operatesin accordance with the general principlesoutlined in the Travel Mission Statement adopted bythe BYBABoard ofDirectors.Acopyofthe Mission Statementisavailable onthe BYBAwebsite at

AllparticipantsintheTravel Program(i.e., players,coaches,and parents)must:(i)registerasamember ofBYBA;and(ii)agree to complywith theBYBACode ofConduct. Linkstothe electronicregistration processand the Code ofConduct are available on theBYBAwebsite.

The Travel Programparticipatesasa membertheMetrowestBasketballLeague.Information regarding the MetrowestBasketballLeague can befound at

The Travel Program isadministered bythe BYBA Board and managed by the Vice President and Travel Director.All BYBA Board and league director positions are appointed priortothe startofeach basketball season. Among other things and in conjunction with the league President, theVice President and Travel Directorareresponsiblefordeveloping and implementing: the playerevaluation process;the coach selection process;coaching clinicsand skillsdevelopment programs;practice and game schedules;pre-season kick-offtournaments;and post-season playoffs.All travel-related policies,programs,rosters,teams,coachesand activitiesare subjectto approvalbythe Board ofDirectors.

2.Number ofTravelTeams andRoster Composition/Sizes

Factorswhich can influencethe numberofteamsand the size/compositionofplayerrostersincludebut are notlimited to:

•The numberofcandidateswithin a particulargrade/gender;

•The degree ofage-appropriate basketballskillsdeemed necessary to compete against comparably-skilledteamsfromother townsparticipating inthe MetrowestBasketballLeague (a.k.a.travel-ready)

•The availabilityofteamslotswithin a particulardivision ofcomparably-skilledteamsoftheMetrowestBasketballLeague.

•The availabilityofcourttime within theTown ofBellinghamfortravel teampracticesand games;

Under typicalcircumstances,the BYBATravel Programmay field one or more teams per genderpergrade.Consistentwith the Travel Mission Statement,teamcomposition istypicallyasfollows:

•Grades4through 8:Competitively-ranked teams(i.e.,“A”and “B”)ofup to12travel-ready playerswith consideration ofdivisional placement.

Actual final rostersize/teamcomposition isatthe discretionand vote ofthe BYBA Board and may deviate fromabove stated guidelines.

PARTICIPATIONINTHEEVALUATIONPROCESS ORPREVIOUSPARTICIPATIONINTHETRAVEL PROGRAMDOESNOTGUARANTEEPLACEMENTONATRAVELTEAMFORTHEUPCOMING SEASON.Beforemakinga decision toparticipateinthe evaluation process,allparentsand playersare urged to consider thefactthatdueto teamnumber/sizelimitationsand developmentaldifferencesamong players:(i)notallcandidateswill be placed ona travel team; and (ii)somereturning playersmaybecut, ormaynot be placed onthe sameteamasthe previousyear.

3.The EvaluationProcess

Participationinthe Travel Programisbased on the resultsofan evaluation (tryout)processthatisestablished by the BYBA Board.The evaluation processisdesigned to provide afull,fair, impartial and confidentialevaluationofall candidates.Tothat end:

•Coachesforthe upcoming season are selected prior to the start of each season based on an interview and selection process conducted by the BYBA Board.

•Each evaluation (tryout) consistsofa2-night processwhichfollowsa pre-established agenda.The agenda is designed by the Vice President and TravelDirectorand approvedbythe Board.The agenda isdesigned to provide an age-appropriate reviewofcriticalathleticskillsand physicalattributesthatare deemed necessary toplay basketballatalevel thatiscomparabletothe otherteams/townsin the MetrowestBasketballLeague.

•Each candidateisprovided with a league issued number to wearatboth evaluation sessions.The evaluation of a candidate,and anydiscussionsabouta particularcandidate,isbased on the child’sleague issued number and nottheirname.

•Each evaluation (tryout)session isconducted bya group comprisedofthefollowing:

  • ATryoutCoordinator, which will be either the previous year’s head coach, new incoming coach or the Travel Director,whosesole responsibilityisto run theon-courtdrills for the tryouts.
  • The Tryout Coordinator will not participate in the tryout evaluation process but will participate in the final team selection process.
  • An independent EvaluationTeamconsisting of individualswho have been selectedby the BYBA Board on the basisof theirpreviously demonstrated basketballacumen.

-Nomemberofthe EvaluationTeammayhave a son/daughterorotherrelativeinthefieldof candidatesthattheyare being asked to evaluate.

-Each EvaluationTeamincludes1 or 2 currentBYBA Boardmemberswho will be responsibleforensuring thatthe evaluation processisconducted in accordancewith all Board directives as well as 2 independent evaluators selected by the BYBA Board.

•Attheconclusion ofthe evaluation (tryout),the Evaluation Teamdevelopsa confidential ranklisting of candidatesunderconsideration.Indevelopingthe ranklisting,the EvaluationTeamconsiderstheirown observations;inputfrom the head coachesand,as necessary/available,written playerevaluationsfrom the previousseason.

•Theranklisting developed bythe Evaluation Teamisthen used by the Vice President and TravelDirector to produceafinalrecommendationto theBYBA Boardwith respectto the composition and size ofeach team.

•TheBYBA Board will meet to discussandvoteon the recommendationsoftheTravel Director.The actualnumberofteamswhich arefielded, and the size/compositionofthe official teamrosters,isatthe sole discretion ofthe BYBA Board.

4.EvaluationLocationandSchedule

Allevaluationsare held atthe Bellingham High School or Middle School according tothe updated schedule posted on theBYBAwebsite at

5.Attendance atEvaluations/Player Injury

Allcandidatesare expected to attend both scheduled evaluation sessionsfor theirgrade/gender.While attendance atone orboth session isnotmandatory, one ormore absencesmaylessen a candidate’s chanceofbeing placed on atravel team.Playerevaluation rankingsare primarilybased on on-court playerperformanceduringthe 2-day tryoutevents.

Ifacandidateisunable toattend one orboth nightsofa scheduled evaluation session due to an injury, an illnessorotherlegitimate circumstance,the parentorguardian MUSTNOTIFYAMEMBEROFTHE BYBA BOARDINADVANCEPRIORTOTHESTARTOFTHEEVALUATIONSESSION.

Ifa candidateis unabletoparticipateinevaluationsduetoapreviousinjury orother circumstance,the candidatemuststill completetheregistrationprocesstobeconsideredon thebasis ofpastplaying history. Suchinjured candidatesmay be placedona team byvote of theBoardofDirectors basedon prioryearrankings,inputfrom coachesandspecificcircumstance ona case bycase basis.

6.NotificationofEvaluation Results

The resultsoftheevaluationswill be published on the BYBA website and will include only those numbers of the players that made a team.

Any player not placed on a travel team will receive a refund check which will be sent byU.S.Mail to their address on record with the BYBA.

7.TravelPlayer Expectations

Players(and theirparents)selectedforparticipationinthe Travel Programshould understand thatthey have been granted a rosterspoton the basisofacompetitivetryout,thereby taking a position that anotherchildmayhavewanted.Assuch,all TravelProgramplayersare expectedtomake basketball their#1 athleticprioritybetween thefirstdayofpracticeand thelastdayofthe playoffs.Allplayersare expectedtomakeafullcommitmentto be presentat,and physically/mentallypreparedfor,all practices, games,tournamentsand otherevents.

The Travel Programrequiresa significantcommitmentand investmentoftime and energybyboth the playersand theirparents.Pre-season teampracticesbegin inlate-Octoberand the post-season playoffs do notconclude until mid-March.Each travel teampracticesapproximately2timesperweekfor90-120 minutesperpractice during theregularseason,with additionalweekend pre-season practicesduring November.Workdaypracticetimesare generallybetween 4:00 PMand 9:00 PM.Gamesare generally played on Sundaysbetween 10AMand 7:00 PM.Manytravelteams,atthediscretion ofthe head coach and with the approvaloftheparentsand Board,participate in additional tournamentsthroughoutthe season.

Basketball isa teamgame and success/fun onthe courtrelieson a commitmentto workhard and attend all practicesand games.Allplayersshould be in attendance atall practicesunlessthe playerissick,or hasschool/religious/familyobligations.Unexcused absencesfrompractices/games,and/orthefailureto abide with the expectationsand behavioralguidelinesin the BYBACode ofConduct,mayresultinlossof playingtime and/orremovalfromaTravel Team.

All Travel Programplayersare stronglyurgedto participate inthe BYBAIn-Town Programon Saturdaysasaway to gain additionalpractice timeand leadership experience while enjoyingthe benefitsofsocial interaction with classmatesand friendswho do notparticipateinthe TravelProgram.

8.InformationUpdates andContactInformation

The BYBAwebsite at the BYBAe-maildistributionlistare the primary meansofcommunicationforall BYBA-related programs,information,schedules,updatesand changes. Parentsand playersare responsibleformonitoringthewebsiteforupdatedinformation and advising BYBAofanye-mailaddresschanges.

The names,e-mailaddresses,and telephone numbersforeachmemberof the BYBA Board isposted on the BYBAwebsite.Wewelcomeyourfeedback, questionsand comments.