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In-House Program (3rd - 8th Grade)

Additional Information For 2018-2019

The In-House teams, specific rules, game schedules and locations can be found at this link. 2018-2019 Information will be updated once teams are formed.

In-House Program Description


The In-House program mission is to develop and deliver a quality program where girls and boys can have fun through sport participation; develop positive self-character and respect; learn skills and rules of the game; learn the value of sportsmanship and teamwork; develop friendships and sound attitudes about winning and losing.

 

MBA programs help players develop basketball skills as well as provide an opportunity to implement those skills at a level that is comparable with that player's skill level.  Traveling basketball can be highly competitive with a significant time commitment.  The In-House Program is intended to be less competitive with a lesser time commitment.

All players who sign up by the registration deadline are placed on an In-House team.  Players who wish to register after the registration deadline will be placed on a team on a space available basis and there will be an additional $25 late fee charged.  It is the MBA's philosophy to have balanced teams within each grade level.  The actual team selection is conducted by the In-House Director and other board members based upon information provided by coaches from the previous year as well as other pertinent criteria including height and years of basketball experience. 

In-House Program Overview –

 

Boys leagues

Girls leagues

3rd grade

3/4th combined

4th grade

5th grade

5/6th grade combined

6th grade

7/8th grade combined

7/8th grade combined

 

 


Season: Practices will begin late October/early November; games will start in early December; final game (likely an end of season tournament) will be in early March
 

Games: Each team will play 10 - 12 games held on Saturday mornings or afternoons.
 

Game Locations (not necessarily a complete list): Games will be in east metro communities such as Mahtomedi, Maplewood, Little Canada, Cottage Grove, Stillwater, Oakdale, White Bear Lake, South St. Paul and Mendota Heights.  Approximately half of games will be at home (at Mahtomedi Middle School) and the other half will be away (in other communities).
 

Practices: Each team will have practice one afternoon or evening per week in Mahtomedi.  Practice day and time for each team will be determined once teams are formed and could be any weekday.  We will attempt to provide practice day/time details to each team by mid-October. 
 

Team Size: We target 8 to 10 players per team, though larger teams may be necessary depending on the number of players who sign-up by the registration deadline and number of coach volunteers.  Late registrations will not be accepted for grade levels for which teams are already at or exceeding 10 players per team.

 

Registration Deadline:    Players who wish to register after the deadline will be charged a $25 late fee.  Registrations completed online after the registration deadline are “pending” and should not be considered final until approval has been obtained from the In-House Director.  If we are unable to place a child registering after the deadline on a team, the full registration fee, including the late fee, will be refunded.  Please register by the deadline to ensure participation. 

 

Players who try out for, but do not make, a traveling team will automatically be added to an in-house roster.  A separate in-house registration is NOT needed if you have already registered your child for traveling.  

 

Equipment:  The basketball size and basket height for the Maplewood league is below, broken down by grade and gender. Each player should have a basketball of the appropriate size to bring to each practice.

 

Basketball size

For programs

27.5”

3rd and 4th grades (both genders)

28.5”

5th and 6th grades (both genders) and 7/8th grade girls

29.5”

7/8th grade boys

 

 

Basket height

For programs

9 feet

3rd and 4th grades (both genders)

10 feet

5th-8th grades (both genders)


Playing time:  With the goal of developing basketball players, the MBA has the following playing time philosophy: All In-House team players will be given equal playing time (e.g. half of each game on a team of 10).  In cases where there are not ten players, the coaches will make sure playing time is as equal as possible.  The only exceptions to this rule are: injury, sickness, foul-trouble, and disciplinary actions.  Opponents should also be following the equal playing time rule since this is a Maplewood League rule in addition to being an MBA philosophy.

Uniforms:  Each player is required to have a team jersey.  Participants must order a new jersey for the cost of $25 which will be added to the registration fee.  Jerseys may be kept by the players after the conclusion of the season and used in future seasons.   Please purchase your jersey online when you register so that we can ensure proper sizes available once the season begins.   Players do NOT need to have matching shorts, socks or shoes – provide your own.

 

No earrings!  It may seem funny to have this on the website, but our league does not allow any jewelry for games.  Playing with tape over earrings in newly pierced ears is not allowed.  At least one player last year had to sit out a game because she couldn’t take out her earrings (she had been intending to play with them taped).  We strongly recommend not getting ears pierced during basketball season.

 

Player Eligibility


Participants must live within, or attend school (public or private) within, the geographic boundary of the Mahtomedi School District and be in grades 3 through 8. 

 

Coaching


Coaches are volunteers who are selected from all of the individuals that express an interest in coaching.  Basketball knowledge and experience is helpful but not of paramount importance.  Instead, the key characteristics of a successful youth basketball coach tend to be 1) a love of working with kids, 2) an interest in helping kids learn and grow, 3) a large dose of enthusiasm and 4) an interest in basketball.  In cases where we have an abundance of coach volunteers, head coaches are determined by weighing the experience level of coaching candidates, priority being given to returning coaches, the results of coach evaluation forms from prior years, and any other pertinent factors.  In many cases, we will have coaches work together and either co-coach teams or determine a head coach and assistant coach and work collaboratively in that manner.  It is generally helpful to utilize as many coaches and "helpers” as available - individual attention is a tremendous asset.

All coaches must be certified through the National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA) program and complete concussion certification.  Background checks for coaches will be conducted.  Please indicate if you would like to be a head coach and/or assistant coach in the appropriate place in the online registration.  Coaches frequently utilize a team parent to assist with organization and communication to families.  There is an option to volunteer as a team parent on the online registration.


Erin Moffitt

In-House Director