FYBA Hosted 3/4 League

Falmouth Youth Basketball will once again be hosting the 3rd and 4th grade developmental league for the 2023-2024 Season.

Hi Coaches,

We are starting the process of organizing Falmouth Youth Basketball 2023-2024 Grades 3/4 Season. We are looking forward to a successful basketball season. If you are interested in signing up please respond to us by October  20   with the following information:

  1. your name,
  2. the name of your town,
  3. expected number of teams (boys and girls)
  4. the contact person(s) for further communications.

The focus of this league will continue to be the development of fundamentals. There will be no standings or playoffs for this league. We are strongly encouraging the creation of balanced teams that include a mixture of third and fourth graders. Our experience is that balanced teams allow for everyone to have fun and to learn from each other, and create the opportunity for competitive games. When towns create A teams and B teams, it can lead to noncompetitive games where the A team is too strong and the B team is too weak. Please take this into consideration when creating teams.

We will hold spot(s) in the league for your team(s) until October  31, but final confirmation will not be given until full payment is received.

As we get closer to the season, we will be in touch with scheduling information and logistics. In the meantime, below is additional information regarding important dates, fees, facility rules, league rules, and policies. Please share and enforce these rules with your players, their parents and anyone who is attending or participating in the league.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on the court!

Charlie Katz-Leavy, Commissioner, 3/4 Boys

Maggie Downey, Commissioner, 3/4 Girls

Additional Information:

Key Dates:

Our game dates for this season will be 12/3, 12/10, 12/17, 1/8, 1/14 and 1/21. We have reserved 1/28 & 2/4 for a snow day or makeups if needed. All games will be on Sundays at Falmouth High School. Teams should usually expect to play 2 games per weekend.

The girls will play in the mornings (games starting at 8AM) and the boys will play in the afternoons (games starting at 12:00 and done by 4PM)

Fees:

The team entry fee will be $[450]. A check should be made out to FYBA and sent to FYBA, P.O. Box 66824, Falmouth, ME 04105. PLEASE CLEARLY LABEL YOUR TOWN, AGE GROUP AND GENDER ON YOUR CHECK. Your team will not be confirmed until payment is received.

Facility Rules:

The only door anyone should enter or exit through is the REAR DOOR located behind FHS. This will be unlocked 30 minutes prior to the first games of each day. Please do not allow anyone to enter or leave through any other access points.

Under no circumstances should anyone be in any area of the high school other than the gym.

No food or drink other than water are allowed in the gyms.

The only bathrooms available for use are located in the hallway that leads to the gym. Do not use or allow others to use the locker rooms.

No one is permitted to climb or play on any of the gymnastics or other, non-basketball, equipment in the gyms.

No one is permitted to climb on bleachers that are not opened for seating.

There is a zero tolerance policy for inappropriate coach or spectator behavior. No negative outbursts will be tolerated. Offenders will have to leave the premises.

League Rules:

Baskets are 10 feet.

Game Time: Games will be 20 minute halves with running time. Clock will stop on whistles in the last 2 minutes of each half.

Timeouts: One timeout per team per half (does not carry over).

Substitutions: You may sub on whistles at other times if you choose.

Scoreboard: A fair-minded volunteer will operate the scoreboard. Please take a minute to familiarize scorekeepers with the rules. 2 and 3 point baskets will be counted.

Defense: No Zone. Man to man defense only. No double teaming unless primary defender has been beaten and help defender is taking the player with the ball. Players must guard an opponent, but they do not need to chase their cover 30 feet from the basket. Help side D is allowed, but they must play on ball and deny positions when appropriate.

Pressing: No Press. 1/2 court D only. D can pick up the ball at 1/2 court. If a defensive player steals the ball at half court nearly every time, and it gets to the point of demoralizing the other team, please pull your defenders back.

Referees: This season we will try to provide neutral referees for each game, which may be high school basketball players. In the event a neutral referee is not available, each team will provide a referee, with the goal of having 2 referees on the floor at the same time.

Fouls: We do not track player fouls. If a player, or players, are repeatedly hacking or endangering others, the referee can require the coach to remove the player for instruction on proper defensive play.

Free Throws: For the first few weeks (before holiday break) most fouls will be non-shooting. This keeps the game moving and the players engaged. If repeated or intentional fouls are committed, the referee has the discretion to award foul shots. After Winter break, shooting fouls will result in free throws. The shooter may take one step over the free throw line if needed. The clock will run during free throws (except in the last 2 minutes of each half) so please make the process as quick as fair play allows. Rebounds will be played off the rim, not on release.

Sportsmanship: It is the responsibility of the coach to keep his or her players and their parents under control. If you see or hear something negative directed at anyone, take immediate and decisive action. If a problem persists, please inform one of the Falmouth coaches. The offender will be required to leave. We reserve the right ban an individual or team from the league without a refund for extreme or repeated violations. This league is intended to be fun and to provide kids with an opportunity to learn the sport of basketball. Remember to help set the best example possible for these kids.