coaches should review this page frequently as updates and changes will be posted often / as needed.  If it is posted here coaches's are responsible to know it!

Coaching Requirements

All coaches should have signed the code of conduct, if not see the section above.

Coaches are required to follow the Rule of Three, see the section below.

Coaches should arrive a minimum of 15-20 minutes before the game, and a coach must stay at the game until all of their team's players have been picked up.  No player should be left alone at an away gym ever.

Coaches are required to enter there roster in the official score book, this is the responsibility of the coach not the host program. You must enter First Name, Last Name and Number.   The head coach must also sign the scorebook to show the rosters is correct. 

If/when there are issues the first thing we ask for is a copy of the scorebook.

Coaches and all adults need to lead by example.  

Do not ask any player to do anything you know is against the rules, while we try and be lenient on kids we will not be lenient on adults.  DO NOT ASK OR ALLOW ANY PLAYER NOT ON YOUR TEAM TO PLAY ON YOUR TEAM, if you do you may face suspension. In the case of not having enough players if you have to ask other players, then notify the gym coordinator and the other head coach prior to the game, and the game will be a forfeit.

Posted 11/15/2024

Entry Fees

Almost all WMCYO programs charge an entry fee to watch a game, the fee can be up to $3.00 per person.  

Players schedule to play in the game and up to a maximum of 3 coaches per team are admitted fee.  Only players on the team is scheduled to play are admitted free, players from other teams or games may be charged a fee.  

It is a maximum of 3 coaches - you may be asked to sign in by the home program.  If you are not a coach please don't claim to be one.  The forth person asking will be asked to pay even if it is the head coach!  Only people listed as coaches on your roster may enter for free, so if you only listed one coach then only one can be admitted free!

Gyms can and will report programs and teams that cause issues with paying and may be prohibited from playing again.

WMCYO Board members and Division Coordinators are also admitted free.

Posted 11/15/2024

Jamboree

There will be a jamboree for all 3rd & 4th grade teams as well as the 2nd Grade Developmental teams this year.   The jamboree is MANDITORY and all teams are required to attend.  The teams will be evaluated by several members of WMCYO and will be placed in divisions at the end of the jamboree based on their performance.  At the jamboree the coach will be asked to confirm what players are in attendance or not, if a player is not in attendance the coach will be asked to confirm their abilities in comparison to the rest of the team.  The coach should also inform the evaluators if there team's performance was above or below normal.

The Jamboree will be held at the Holyoke Boys & Girls Club on Saturday 11/16/2024 & Sunday 11/17/2024, if there are an excessive number of teams then we may add games Friday 11/15/2024. Teams are scheduled based on their coordinators preliminary evaluation, with the strongest teams typically being scheduled to play first.  Typically starting with boys 3rd & 4th grade teams - then 2nd grade teams and ending with girls 3rd & 4th grade teams.

The schedule for the Jamboree will be released on the Monday 11/11/2024 or Tuesday 11/12/2024 prior to the Jamboree, there will be no adjustments.  Attendance is mandatory.

Posted 11/5/2024

multiple games

Just because you schedule a team for a home game does not mean that will be there only game, it is possible that any team could be scheduled to play 2 games in the same day.  We do our best to give a 2-3 hour window between start times depending on travel, we lean towards 3 hours - but if the locations are close could be a little as 2 hours.

It is also possible that a team could be scheduled to play multiple days in a week/weekend.  At team could be scheduled to play up to 3 games in a Friday - Saturday - Sunday time frame.  If this happens it is not a mistake.

Cancelling these games will likely cause a forfeit fee by your team / program, also teams and programs that have issues with multiple games -  our policy is to cancel your home game if there is one and no forfeit wee will be awarded. 

Please make sure you coaches and parents/guardians are aware of this. 

Posted 11/5/2024

Parent, Guardian & Spectators - Issues

Coaches need to remember that while the most important concern is for their players, at away games coaches are also responsible for their teams spectators.  If the gym coordinator has to stop a game or speak to parents / guardians / spectators from their team the coach should help address the situation.  Gym Coordinators have the authority to removed disruptive people from their gym if needed.  If the parents / guardian / adult refuses to leave the gym coordinators can suspend the game and or call the police.  It is in the players / teams be interest to not let any potential issue escalate to the point of suspending the game or need to call police.  If a game is suspended because of adults causing issue the team that the adults are associated with with forfeit the game, and the adults will face further sanctions from WMCYO Basketball.

Coaches should report any issues to their coordinators ASAP so that the coordinator can report it to WMCYO.

Posted 1/15/2025

Schedule Timeline

Even before registration closes on Sunday the scheduling process will begin.

As soon as the divisions are set the the schedules will be sent out to the schedulers to begin pairings.  The divisions are NOT announced until the schedules are released. 

We hope to have the schedules released no later than Monday 12/2/2024, but hopefully sooner.  

The season starts Friday 12/6/2024 - so make sure your teams are ready to go! Also make sure you have referees booked!

When the schedules are issued we will only be filling games until 1/9/2025.  Your home games for the entire season will show, but no opponent will show and no away games will be scheduled.  These games will be filled in after adjustments are made. 

The final half of the schedule will be released on or about 1/6/2025, again make sure your teams are ready and you have referees!

Tournament schedule will be announced ASAP after the season, notice might be quick - games start 2/24/2024.

Posted 11/16/2024

Rule of Three

WMCYO Basketball requires a minimum of three people be in a gym at any time, there is to be no one on one coach player instruction.  There must either be two adults and player, or two players and an adult.  This is required by our insurance policy.

Posted 12/4/2024

Scorebooks

All gyms are required to keep a official scorebook at each game.  Gyms should have (2) scorebooks.  The first for the game being played, the second for the next game.  This allows the score book to be filled out while the current game is still being played.  The head coach or their designee must fill out the book.  Each player must have their FULL name (both first and last names) and their jersey number.  Before the game the head coach needs to sign  the book to confirm that it is correct.

In the event of an issue we will ask for a copy of the scorebook be sent within 24 hours of the request, so do not leave them in an area not accessible.

WMCYO Board Members will be visiting gyms and will check the scorebooks, if it is not correct the game will be stopped so that the book can be filled out completely.

Poste 12/4/2024