Cary-Grove Basketball Philosophy

“A Commitment to Preparation & Teamism”

Each day that we live our lives we have the power to choose whether we will succeed or fail. Our attitude is our #1 tool in determining whether we will succeed or fall short of our potential. Our attitude is comprised of how we think and how we act in every situation we experience every day of our life. Attitude starts with students, parents, and coaches all striving together to achieve a common goal of developing young men to become responsible and successful individuals and finishes with students, parents and coaches understanding what is best for our team to be successful.

As a basketball community (students, parents & coaches) we have three fundamental rules we will follow to ensure our sense of purpose that will enable us to be successful.

  1. Do What Is Right: In every situation ask yourself what you are about to do or say is the right thing to do and always avoid what is wrong.
  2. Do the Best You Can: At all times and in all ways have a commitment to preparation. I am not going to expect anything less than the best anyone is capable of doing. We feel the best about ourselves when we go the extra mile and know you paid a supreme price.
  3. Treat Others The Way You Like To Be Treated: Respect your teammates, coaches, parents, children, officials, and opposing team.

These three fundamental rules answer the three universal questions everyone asks about each other.

  1. Can I Trust You: If we can’t trust each other we have no chance of being successful.
  2. Are You Committed To Preparation: We have two choices in life, the first is to work hard and the second is not to work hard. If we don’t work hard we can’t be successful and if we do work hard we may still not win as much as we would like to.
  3. Do You Care About Me As A Person: Let people know you appreciate what they are doing for our basketball community. We must become a basketball family and everyone is important to our success.

Teamism is the cornerstone of every successful organization. Teamism is when everyone in our basketball community (students, parents & coaches) is committed to each others success and is more concerned about the team’s success than one individual’s success. The fundamental elements of teamism are a sense of purpose, which leads us to a clear and strong common goal. Our sense of purpose is a “Commitment to Preparation and Success”. We must come together as a ball club and play hard, intelligent, and together (H.I.T. principle). When we truly care about each other teamism is easy. We have to find reasons to like one another and spend time together off the court.

Our success will depend on:

  1. How well we come together: (Our sense of purpose)
  2. How well we work together: (No division between Seniors, Juniors, & Underclassmen)
  3. How well we support one another: (Teammates, parents, and coaches)
  4. How well we accept our role: (Not everyone will play as much as they would like however, everyone will be counted on to make us a better team)

Our ultimate goal is to have a “Commitment of Excellence towards Teamism”. We can not have excellence unless we have great togetherness. When trust, love and commitment come together we will truly be successful regardless of our won- loss record.

Freshmen Philosophy

At this level we will play both an A and a B schedule, however both teams will practice together and be known as the Freshmen Boy’s Basketball Team. This level will consist of 16-18 players with the top group playing the A schedule and the remaining players participating in the B schedule. The freshmen coaches can make changes as to who participates in the A games and who participates in the B games from week to week.

The objective of the freshmen team is to introduce the players to the style of basketball the varsity coach wants his program to play. The main emphasis will be on playing fundamental basketball within a team concept. This level will run many of the same offensive and defensive concepts as the varsity team, however, the concepts will be scaled down to compensate for physical and intellectual differences between 15 year old players and 17-18 year old players.

Winning and playing fundamental basketball go hand in hand. Winning is important to our program but the main focus is the preparation it takes to become winners. This attitude will carry over every year and hopefully by the time these players are on the Varsity level they are contending for the Fox Valley Championship.

Sophomore Philosophy

This level will also play an A and B schedule and will be comprised of approximately 14 players. The primary result of this level is to win basketball games within the framework of “Commitment to Preparation & Teamism”. If players are committed to preparation they will continue to get better physically and mentally. This level will also run the same offensive and defensive concepts as the varsity program; however, there will be more complexity to what we do offensively and defensively at this level than compared to the freshmen level.

All players will dress for the A game, however not all players will always play in the A game depending on the score of the game. The top group of the A game will not participate in the B game. All remaining players will participate in the B game and will receive adequate playing time.

Varsity Philosophy

Winning is the byproduct of our sense of purpose and our ultimate goal we have for our basketball program. Our sense of purpose is to be committed to preparation and success. Success however, is not measured in wins and losses. It is measured in the effort put forth in preparation. Our ultimate goal is a commitment of excellence towards “Teamism”. If we can truly get to the point of caring more about our teammates than ourselves and not letting our teammates down we have a great chance of winning many games.

The varsity team will be comprised of approximately 16 players. We will play the players who we feel give us the best chance of winning. Normally at the point in the game when the outcome has been determined either winning by a large margin or loosing by a deficit that can not be overtaken more players will be give the opportunity to play. The top group on the varsity will not participate in the JV game. This game is usually designed for Jr’s who did not get much playing time in the Varsity game. Sometimes Sr’s will be asked to play in a JV game depending on the number of people we have at each position. If we don’t have enough inside players for a JV game a Sr inside player may have to play so we can play an up tempo style of basketball.

Off-Season Philosophy

The off-season for every student is different depending on how many other sports or student activities they are involved with. If a student is not involved with a fall or spring sport they will be highly encouraged to attend off season workouts and open gyms. Remember, our sense of purpose is a “Commitment to Preparation”. This can only be accomplished by putting countless hours of work to become stronger and a more skilled athlete. The summer however, is the off-season for everyone. This can be very difficult for multi-sport athletes because each sport wants some level of commitment. Our coaching staff recognizes this and combines lifting workouts and tries to alternate months of emphasis for each sport. The month of June is considered time for basketball camp. Basketball camp is usually finished by 2:30 p.m. and allows for evening baseball games. The month is July is normally for football camp. Basketball will have some activities in July, and if a player can not attend because of another sport we understand that we have to share our athletes so they don’t get burned out over the summer. The basketball program is allowed 25 contact days over the summer and we plan on using all 25. Not all students will be required to attend all 25 but are encouraged to attend as many as possible.

Policies

WE ARE A TEAM FIRST AND FOREMOST

WE WILL NEVER SACRIFICE THE TEAM FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL, OR SACRIFICE THE INDIVIDUAL FOR THE TEAM.

  1. Players are to communicate with their coaches: We do know everything that goes on with players. If players have a problem with our program, they must see us for we are the only ones who can help them. If players have a problem outside of the program, we will be willing to help if possible.
  2. Parents who believe there is a problem: We believe it is the player’s responsibility to meet with his coach and discuss the issue that seems to be a problem. The player should then communicate with their parents the meeting he had with his coach. We don’t mind meeting with parents if they are still unclear about what their son told them about the meeting he had with his coach. If there is a meeting the player, parent, and level coach will meet to discuss the situation at hand. If needed, the varsity coach can also be involved in the meeting. Parents please do not confront a coach after a practice or game. This is not the proper time or place because both parties involved could be upset about their son‘s playing time or the loss of a game. This is when a meeting needs to be set up with your son present at the meeting.
  3. Lost Equipment: Equipment issued should be returned at the end of the season or when the player can no longer participate in practice. Each piece of equipment not returned must be paid for at the rate at which it costs to replace it.
  4. Appearance: By IHSA rule- no jewelry of any kind may to worn in games or practice.
  5. Injuries and Sicknesses: Injuries and sickness should be reported to the trainer and coach immediately so that treatment can be initiated as soon as possible. The trainer and physician will prescribe the limitations on practice and game performance. Note: It is a good idea to see the trainer with any injuries so he can send the player to a doctor that is more sports friendly. All illnesses should be called into the office and a note should be put in the coach’s mailbox. Also, a message can be left on the basketball phone mail 847-462-2080 X 212.

Rules

  1. Follow Training Rules: The training rules are in the best interest of the player as a young adult. This is a part of his commitment to preparation to our program. Learning to make a total commitment to our athletic program (s) is something that will carry over for life.
  2. Absence procedure and responsibility: We expect the player to attend every practice and meeting; if a particular practice or meeting was not important, it wouldn’t be scheduled.

A: Players absent from school must call the coach in charge of that level by third period or leave a message in their faculty mailbox or e-mail them.

B: Players leaving school and not attending practice must talk

to their coach or leave a message before leaving school; an e-

mail to your coach or leaving a message on the basketball

phone mail is highly suggested 847-462-2080 X 212.

C: Unexcused Absences- any absence in which the coach is not

informed prior to practice, meetings or games. Any absence that

would be considered unexcused for school. Vacations, work,

other athletic events, concerts, Saturday detentions, after school

detention, ….are examples of unexcused absences.

  1. We expect all players to ride the bus to and from athletic games.

If an athlete is not riding the bus, a note signed by the dean must

be given to the coach prior to leaving for the scheduled game.

Discipline

Oregon: 16 sideline touches in 1 minute

Late for practice (less than 5 Minutes)

Excused absence

Leaving practice early

Forgetting practice jersey

Leaving equipment in the gym

Any other minor problems that need the coach’s help.

Zorch: Bear Crawl with Towel (10 Lengths of the floor) 2 minute time limit.

Late for practice: (More than 5 minutes)

Unsportsmanlikeconduct

Insubordination (Failure to follow instructions)

Double Zorch: Bear Crawl with towel (20 Lengths of the floor) 5 minute time limit.

Missing practice or a team meeting (unexcused)

Lying to your coach.

Miss next Game:

Missing previous game with unexcused absence

Missing previous game with excused absence (Coaches decision could be 1st quarter or 1st half of the next game)

Illness or death in the family does not constitute missing the next game

A doctor’s appointment related to an injury does not constitute missing the next game.

Lying to your coach about missing practice or a game.

Not in starting lineup:

Late for “Red Door” and either an Oregon or Zorch the next day.

Not in normal substitution pattern:

Late for “Red Door” and either an Oregon or Zorch the next day.

Possible Dismal from Team:

Any repeated behavior that the coach deems negative to the team unity.

Any major offense that embarrasses our basketball program.

Note: All “Oregon’s” and “Zorches” are to be made up after practice or before the next game.

Expectations

Self Inventory & Quality Control of Team Committee

  1. To be punctual.
  2. To have a positive mature attitude.
  3. To communicate with coaches, teammates & their parents.
  4. To demonstrate PRIDE in their school, teammates, and themselves.
  5. To demonstrate Teamism.
  6. To be honest.
  7. To be a respected role model for under classmen to emulate.
  8. To play to your potential.
  9. To be disciplined (know what to do, do what you should do and do it that way all the time).
  10. To challenge your teammates and yourself to improve daily.
  11. To play with enthusiasm
  12. To display leadership on and off the court.
  13. To be a competitive hard nosed player.
  14. To be dedicated to our lifting program in season & out of season.
  15. To be committed to our off season open gyms and camps whenever not involved in a fall or spring sport.