RECREATION BASKETBALL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Question #1: How are assistant coaches assigned and how many assistant coaches can be on each team?

Answer #1: Assistant coaches are not assigned ahead of time, but if you are a head coach you can reach out to any one or more of the assistants ahead of time to see if they want to assist for you. In turn, you would have to draft their kids at the draft. One caveat, however, is that you cannot have "contracted" with more than 2 assistant coaches in advance of the draft. We don't want a situation where somebody has 5 assistant coaches --- and a multitude of talented players --- while somebody else has none.

Question #2: How is the player draft conducted?

Answer #2: The purpose of the draft is to DISTRIBUTE THE TALENT EVENLY among all teams in a division. No matter how hard we try to do this (and we have tried several different methods over the years), however, there will be one team that is better than the others and one team that is worse than all the others. Prepare the parents for that ahead of time. Be cognizant of the fact that while placing a lot of kids from the same grade on one team may be good from a "everybody gets to play with their friends" perspective, it may not necessarily be good for the morale of the team if the team can't compete week in and week out. This is especially true in the younger divisions. The OBA Board of Directors has the ability and, indeed, the responsibility to ensure that talent is distributed evenly and Board has the right to move players around subsequent to the draft to ensure that the teams are evenly matched.

Question #3: What should be done if, during the season, it turns out that one team is markedly better than another?

Answer #3: Given the fact that there will be good and bad teams, it is our jobs as coaches to make sure that the games remain competitive. Coaches of the good teams should do everything in their power to make sure the games stay close. There are many options available to a basketball coach in this regard. Some of the more common tactics are directing players to pass a certain number of times before shooting, pulling your better players from the game, pulling back on defense. Again, this is especially true in the younger divisions. Opposing coaches should coach against each other in a collegial fashion and should collaborate to keep the games as close and as competitive as possible.


Question #4: What are the differences between Rookie League, Junior Division, Intermediate Division and Senior Division?

Answer #4: Only second graders (with two exceptions) play in the Rookie League. In the Rookie League, a co-ed program which is centered on the basics of the game of basketball, we only have one game at the end of the year. This game is played at the end of the year (late February or early March) on the big court at Maple Place. Trophies are awarded to players after each of the games. Each team practices one night a week at Wolf Hill School for an hour. Practice slots are from 5 to 6 pm, 6 to 7 pm and 7 to 8 pm, Monday thru Thursday. The team's head coach chooses the practice time slot. Gym time is usually shared with another team. As such, we want to limit the number of players on each team to a maximum of seven. As the year progresses and the children have grasped the basics, most practices are comprised of a 1/2 hour of instruction and then a 1/2 hour of scrimmaging against the team that shares the practice slot.

Junior Division teams are comprised of 3rd and 4th graders in gender specific divisions. Practice slots will be available Monday through Thursday at Wolf Hill School. Practice slots are from 5 to 6 pm, 6 to 7 pm and 7 to 8 pm. The head coach chooses the practice time slot. Games are every Saturday morning at the Monmouth Beach Grammar School. Games are played on 8 foot baskets.

Intermediate Division teams are comprised of 5th and 6th graders in gender specific divisions. Practices are once a week at Maple Place for an hour. Practice slots run from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, 6:30 to 7:30 pm, 7:30 to 8:30 pm and 8:30 to 9:30 pm, Monday thru Friday. Games are on Saturdays at Maple Place. Games are played on regulation baskets.

Senior Division teams are comprised of 7th and 8th graders in gender specific divisions. Practices are once a week at Maple Place for an hour. Practice slots run from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, 6:30 to 7:30 pm, 7:30 to 8:30 pm and 8:30 to 9:30 pm, Monday thru Friday. Games are on Saturdays at Maple Place. Games are played on regulation baskets.



Question 5: Are the rules of play different for each division?

Answer #5: OBA Local League Rules

YOUTH RECREATION LEAGUES:
Junior Division
1. No pressing, can’t pick up defensively until red line (about ¾ court). Once the ball crosses line, defense can play to ½ court.
2. 28.5 ball, 6 minute quarters, no 3 point shots, O.T. if both coaches agree. O.T. 3 minutes, no double O.T.
3. High School referees.
4. Goal - All players must play ½ the game in full quarters.
5. 2 full 1-30 timeouts for game, 1-timeout O.T., no carryover timeouts.

Intermediate
1. Pressing final 2 minutes of half plus game.
2. 28.5 ball, 6 minute quarters, O.T. 3 minutes, no double O.T.
3. 2 full, 1-30 timeouts for game, 1 O.T timeout.
4. IABBO Refs

Senior Division
1. 6 minute quarters, 2 full 1-30 timeouts.
2. Girls 28.5 ball, Boys full size ball.
3. O.T. 3 minutes – 1 timeout, no carryover.
4. Regular high school rules.
5. IABBO Refs.

Substitutions – A player is expected to play ½ the game in 2 full quarters. Example: 1st and 3rd quarter. This is to encourage players to become physically fit and fully participate in all aspects of game. Exception – if player is unable to physically get up and down the courts or medical condition (asthma) prevents full participation.

Head coaches and assistant coaches must have the approval of the officers before any equipment is purchased. The equipment manager, so designated on a rotating basis amongst officers or a designee of the President, shall handle purchase of all equipment. The equipment manager must purchase all uniforms.

Head coaches and assistant coaches must adhere to the Constitution of the OBA. Not adhering to the rules of this organization shall constitute, with the majority vote of the officers, grounds for dismissal of any head coach or assistant coach. If a team head coach, assistant coach or player indulges in unsportsmanlike conduct, the Steering Committee officers shall take appropriate action in the interest of the OBA This action will be consistent with the guidelines for dealing with such behavior as set in place by the Oceanport Recreation Committee.

Two I.A.A.B.O. referees will be used at the Youth Recreation Intermediate and Senior division levels. Children of high school age or coaches will referee Junior Division games and the end of season Rookie games.

Question #6: Are Kindergarteners allowed to play Rookie League basketball?

Answer #6: First graders, with two exceptions, are not allowed to participate in Rookie League basketball.

The two general exceptions to this prohibition are as follows:
a. If a Kindergartener has an older sibling, of the same sex, who is playing in Rookie League AND the older sibling's parent is a head coach or and active assistant coach on the team that the older sibling plays for, then the Kindergartener can play in the Rookie League on that same team. The reasoning behind this exception is that our coaches put in a lot of time for the betterment of our program and we don't want to increase their burden whatsoever.

b. The second exception would be a situation where a Kindergartener is older than his classmates and would otherwise qualify to be a second grader. In either case, the Board has to be placed on notice of a proposed exception to the rule. The exception request must be made to and approved by the Board.


Question #7: What do I need to do to become a basketball coach?

Answer #7: You just have to volunteer for a position on the registration form AND you must have completed the three hour R.U.T.G.E.R.S. safety certification course.