Region 25 CYO Grade School Basketball

Rules for 2024-2025

1) The league will be run by a committee of volunteer coaches. John Caramanico (Varsity, St. Kevin) and John Nolan (JV, St. Francis). Region 25 Boys still needs a lead commissioner.

The interim commissioners will resolve all disputes.  If a dispute involves a commissioner’s own school, he will disqualify himself and let the other commissioner decide.

All schedules and standings, along with Coach contact info for each team will be on the Region 25 website. This website was started by Region 25 Girls Commissioner Jeff Carty of St. Bernadette, and Jeff has invited the boys to be part of the website.

https://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=region25cyo

 All coaches should report all their scores to John Nolan at nolanjk@comcast.net and copy John Caramanico at jcaramanico56@gmail.com and Jeff Carty at stbernadettes.jvgirlsbb@gmail.com.  John Nolan will be the liason between the coaches and the website host Jeff Carty.

 2) Any player who will be 15 years old before Sept. 1, 2023, will be ineligible to participate in varsity league competition.  Any player who will be 13 years old before Sept. 1, 2023, will be ineligible to participate in junior varsity league competition.  The player must be an active member of the parish or parish school.  For varsity, the player must be in 7^th or 8^th grade.  For junior varsity, the player must be in 5^th or 6^th grade.  Any exceptions must be cleared by the Region 25 Executive Board on a case-by-case basis.  There may be other implications regarding the Archdiocese’s insurance program if an ineligible player is used.

 Both volunteers and athletes must meet eligibility requirements to participate in the CYO program. All eligibility requirements are per the guidelines set in the CYO Athletics Handbook.

 Note: Changing parishes without residence change will impose a loss of one year of eligibility at the new parish.

 3) A final roster, along with a completed coach’s affidavit, must be emailed to John Caramanico, by 12/8/24.  Only names appearing on those rosters will be eligible to play league games.  A check made out to “St. Kevin CYO” for $190 for each team must be sent to John Caramanico, 675 Beatty Road Springfield PA 19064.  The fee includes miscellaneous expenses incurred by our region. Each CYO will be billed separately by CYO Central for registration fee for each rostered team.  That fee will go directly to CYO Central and will be $150 per team.

4) For the 2024-2025 season, we will have 1 division within the region for varsity and JV play.

                         Holy Cross                              St. Anastasia

St. Andrew                              St. Bernadette

St. Dorothy                             St. Francis

St. Kevin                                 St. Laurence

                        St. Mary Magdalene               St. Pius                                   

 5) For Varsity play, there will be 9 league games, 1 against each region opponent.  For Junior Varsity play, there will be a total of 9 games, 1 against each region opponent. The following guidelines have been established:

A) The first priority is the league.  However, we are aware that a number of tournaments run concurrent with our season and they are important as well.  Please try to work with the tournament directors, league coaches and commissioners to resolve any conflicts.

B) If a team can not make a regularly scheduled game, it is that coach’s responsibility to contact his opponent to arrange a mutually agreed to alternate date.  If an agreement can not be reached, the commissioners will arbitrate.  Both teams will adhere to the final decision of the commissioners.  The coach must contact any participants in the other half of a doubleheader that may be impacted.  The referee assignors must also be contacted in the event of any game change.

C) In the case of inclement weather, please use common sense.  If need be, please contact the appropriate commissioner.  Keep in mind that the referee assignors must be notified at least 2 hours before game time.

D) The game schedule given to all teams will be completed in its entirety, if at all possible.  All necessary games must be played.

E) Please be at the gym at least 15 minutes before your scheduled start time.

F) COACHES – Please enforce all local gym rules for your teams and your fans.

 6) Referees will be provided through our assignor, Tom Feehery.   Tom Feehery’s contact information is as follows: (cell) 610-717-7360, (email) tfeehery242@hotmail.com.  When the need arises to move a game or cancel a game, the assignor needs to be contacted, as well as John Caramanico.  The fee will be $50 per team per game for the junior varsity and $50 per team per game for the varsity.  In the event of a forfeit, the offending team will be responsible for paying both teams’ referee fees.  Should only one referee show up to a game, each team will be responsible for paying the referee. In the event of a cancellation and only 1 game is played, each fee will be $65 each ref for that single game.

 7) If there is an issue, the Home team will be determined by a coin flip before the game.  The Home team’s book is the official book and they will supply a game ball as well.  It is recommended that adults be at the scorer’s table.  The winning team should call the John Nolan soon after the game to report the final score.

 8) All teams will participate in the regional playoffs.  For both the Varsity and JV, the first place team  through the sixth place team will have byes.  The remaining match-ups are: 7^th place vs. 10^th place and 8^th place vs.9^th place.  Each round will be reseeded so that the highest remaining seed will play the lowest remaining seed and so forth.

 There is one caveat for the varsity.  If a team is undefeated for the regular season, that team will be guaranteed a spot in the Archdiocesan tournament as a representative of Region 25.

 For final standings purposes, total number of wins will determine your position, not winning percentage, so it is vital that you play all your games.

 9) For Archdiocesan tournament purposes, should Region 25 get 3 bids, the top seed will go to the playoff champion, the second seed will go to the undefeated regular season champion (should one exist) and the third seed to the playoff runner-up.  If there is no undefeated regular season champion, then the second seed will go to the playoff runner-up and the third seed to the winner of the consolation game.

 10) Tie-breaker rules for the playoff seedings are as follows:

            If 2 or more teams are tied, the tie will be broken in the following ways:

1)      Head to head meetings (%)

2)      Teams ahead in the standings (%)

3)      Flip of a coin

If more than 2 teams are tied after determining the highest team using the above criteria, you now start the tie breaking criteria over again with the remaining teams. 

11) Catholic League rules (which are now the same as PIAA) will govern play except when they are in conflict with the following:

            A) 7 minute quarters, 3 minute overtimes (as many as required) for the varsity.

                 7 minute quarters, 3 minute overtimes (as many as required) for the JV.

            B) 5 timeouts per game, one additional for each OT

                        a) 5 full timeouts for the varsity

                        b) 5 full timeouts for the junior varsity

C) Player uniforms must be consistent, with the referees having the final word.  If

     both teams have the same color, please use common sense

D) Two technical fouls, if handed out, will result in immediate dismissal

E) Coaches must stay in their immediate area and not interfere with the official

    scorer

F)     The 3 point shot is in effect for the varsity and the JV. 

 12) Team uniform regulations, including tee shirts, shooting sleeves, leggings, etc., will be in accordance with PIAA rules

 13) At the conclusion of the season, there will be an all-star game and the format will be determined at a later time.  The number of players per team will be determined by the final regular season standings.

 Also, during the season, there is an archdiocesan all-star game.  Our Region will usually be represented by 2 or 3 players.  Voting will be conducted by the commissioners.  This is for varsity only.  Each coach will be asked to select up to 3 players from the league.  The coach cannot select his own player.  The selections should be in order with the 1^st vote worth 3 points, the second worth 2 points and the third vote worth 1 point.  The 2 or 3 players with the most points will represent the region.

 14) All coaches and players must abide by the code of conduct as defined in the CYO Athletic Handbook.  Coaches, who have not been certified, must do so before the end of the season.  Certification includes: attending the coaching orientation class; having all background checks completed; and attending Protecting God’s Children class.  New coaches especially take note: you are representing your parish and your parish school as a CYO coach.  You are setting a Christian example as a CYO coach.  You are expected to be considerate of the other coaches and teams during games.  Purposely running up the score is frowned upon.  Respect for and communications between coaches can avert many uncomfortable and unnecessary situations.

 15) Region 25 will follow a strict rule against unruly fan behavior.  Control of the game is in the hands of the officials.  Should a fan’s behavior warrant being asked to leave the gym by the officials, it is up to the coach of the team said fan is supporting, to make sure that the fan does indeed leave the gym.  Should said fan refuse to leave the gym, a forfeit will occur.

 16) All Region 25 games, both junior varsity and varsity, shall begin with a prayer.  Both teams will meet at center court and say a prayer together.