Apple Athletic Club will again be sponsoring our 1st and combined 2nd & 3rd grade developmental basketball league.  This league will be competitive as well as instructive.  It is designed to create an atmosphere of learning through competition and correct fundamentals.  Our referees are instructed to both make calls such as traveling, double dribble, fouls, etc. and then instruct the kids so as to help them understand that which they just did wrong.   The Skyline Boys Basketball Team will be acting as our referees throughout most of the season and will also conduct a clinic for all league participants.  All games will be held at Apple Athletic Club on Saturday mornings beginning January 9th, 2010.  Space will be limited.  To participate, one must join as part of a team which you put together.  It is suggested that the number of team participants be around 8, though you can have as few as 6.   This year the cost per team will be $200.  Team jerseys will not be included.  You won't find a better league out there for this age group. Come play with us! 

For more information & brochures, contact Apple Athletic Club at 529-8600 or Coach Ehardt at 403-6686.

 

Apple Athletic Club's Hoops League Rules
All games will be played with the following rules that have been designed to best help the kids learn the game of basketball.


1.Basket size: 1st graders will play on the drop down rims.  The 2nd / 3rd grade league may choose the size of the rim on which they want to play - 8' or 10'.  If one team chooses to play on the 8' and the other on the 10' then at the half, teams WILL NOT switch directions.
2.Ball size: We will use a junior size ball that can be purchased from All American Sports.
3.GRADES & AGES:  To be eligible for this league, players must be currently in 1st grade or 2nd & 3rd grade.  Kids can play up but not down.  Exception: if a child is 8 and in the 4th grade, we have allowed them to participate.  
4.Time: There will be 4x10-minute quarters.  The clock will stop around the 5-minute mark to allow for subs.  All players who are sitting on the bench at that time must be rotated in the game (unless there are more than 10 players on a team.  At that time, players sitting out must be subbed in during the next 5-minute segment).  3-minute half time.  1 minute between each quarter and semi-quarter.  Overtimes will be 2 minutes long and will start with a jump ball.
5.Clock: The clock will be running time throughout the quarter.  If the game is within 4 points during the final 2 minutes, the clock will stop for all dead ball situations.  
6.Time Outs: Each team is allowed one 60-second timeout if the game is within 4 points with 2 minutes to go.
7.Players: Teams must have a minimum of 4 players to start a game.  Teams are allowed a 5-minute grace period if four players have not arrived.
8.Free Throws:  We will shoot free throws on shooting fouls only.  Free throws will be shot from about 12-feet away.  The shooter may jump across the line while shooting.  
9.Fouls:  Players cannot foul out; however, we reserve the right to sit an aggressive player down.
10.Home team is listed first on the schedule.  
11.Violations: there is no 3-second rule; there is no back court violation, though players must cross the court within .10 seconds.  If they cross back to the half court again, they can be guarded.  
12.Travels & Fouls:  Major travels will be called.  Minor shuffles while staying in one place will be allowed, as will 3 steps on a lay-up.  Most other travels will be called.  All double dribbles will be called.  A defense that holds with their arms straight out will be called.  Many fouls, NOT ALL, will be called.  With every call, the refs will attempt to quickly explain why or what just happened so as to help the kids learn.    Teams must wait at half-court to pick up their player but the offense only has about .10 seconds to get the ball across - there is no stalling.    
13.Wristband Purpose:  Wristbands must be worn so as to help the kids match up with a defender.  There are no double teams BUT the kids DO NOT have to guard the same color wrist band, especially on a fastbreak where there is a definite mismatch.  The wristbands are only there to HELP the kids figure defense out!  
14.Sportsmanship: Please keep all cheering in a positive manner and show good sportsmanship.  Cheer "for" your team.  Please do not cheer "against" the opposing team.  (i.e. yelling "miss it" when the opposing team is shooting the ball).
15.Sportsmanship:  There will be no berating, fighting, offensive / unsportsmanlike conduct, foul language, or swearing.  These acts will not be tolerated whether during the game or afterwards in the parking lot, etc.  Anyone breaking these rules faces a technical foul or possible disqualification.    
16.Coaches and team managers are responsible for the behavior of their parents and spectators.  Please share these rules with them.  
17.All players are required to change into clean gym shoes.  Please, no street shoes on the gym floor!
18.No bouncing of balls on the sidelines during the games is permitted.  Please keep young children from running through the facility.
19.Mistakes will be made.  Please be patience & feel free to speak with Barbara with questions.
20.Have fun and enjoy this great game!