SPORTSMANSHIP. We place great emphasis and value on always keeping a positive attitude and respecting your teammates, opponents, and referees, no matter what the score. Poor sportsmanship is not acceptable and will get you benched. Although winning is great, our goal is for you to develop the skills, discipline, and attitude that will help you succeed later in life.

ATTENDANCE. Players are expected to attend ALL basketball games and practices.  Practices are as important as games.  Please call or email the head coach at least 24 hours BEFORE practice if you are going to be absent.  

ARRIVAL. Players should be fully dressed, on the court and ready to play -- on time.  Arrive 15 minutes before practice begins to dress. Arrive 30 minutes before all games to allow time for pre-game drills and warm up.

CLEAN UP. Don't make others clean up after you! Please discard you empty water bottles and trash after games or practice.

Why do we have such a strong and well-defined Attendance Policy?

Respect -- Respect for your coach, your teammates and yourself. Coaches spend considerable time in planning and running practices to teach skill and prepare for games.  A practice plan relies on consistent attendance from all players.  With just a few late or missing players, a practice plan can be thrown out the window.

Teamwork -- Basketball is a team sport.  Teamwork is a "life skill" that stays with young athletes long after they stop playing sports.  It often makes them better in social, educational and, eventually, professional environments.

Commitment -- On a team, the group suffers unless everyone is committed to its success.  Commitment requires that everyone show up ready to play on time every session.  Showing up "when you feel like it" just doesn't cut it in Sudbury lacrosse, just like it doesn't cut it when you are a member of a musical band, a theatrical play, or any other group activity.  Making commitments and fulfilling them are important in both sports and life. We want to send the right message to our players.

The life skills learned in youth sports are much more sustaining than the sports skills that they learn (although we care a lot about developing sports skills, too.)

We believe that all youth basketball players need ample playing time during both practices and games to develop in a sport and to get the most enjoyment out of the game.

We follow a simple equation:

Attitude + Effort + Attendance = Playing Time

Players who attend practice, try hard and follow the Code of Conduct will receive ample playing time. Players who do not attend every practice, do not show up on time, do not try their hardest and do not show respect for coaches, officials, opponents, and teammates will not get as much playing time as teammates.  Please discuss this policy with your child.