Code of Conduct

It's essential to note that San Marcos Basketball is not an NBA franchise; we do not "fire" kids/coaches/families when they:

• Miss layups too often
• Make bad passes too often
• Make bad coaching decisions too often

Mistake-free is NOT the expectation. Mistakes happen at all levels.

The expectation is that everyone (players/coaches/families):

• Realize they are human and make mistakes.
• Realize that others are human and make mistakes.
• Commit to learning/growing in order to improve.
• Abstain from conduct detrimental to the team (volatile on-court behavior towards team or coaches, fighting, etc.)

Code of Conduct for Parents

As a parent of one or more basketball players, we expect you to:

• Understand the purpose of our non-profit sports organization: to train boys and girls to play competitive basketball and to help them build a healthy mindset for competition, teamwork, and consistency in pursuing goals.
• Support the coaches by appreciating your children's and their teammates' behavior, which shows responsibility, integrity, dedication, and empathy.
• Appreciate the basketball players' growth and their efforts in establishing strong relationships with their teammates, themselves, and their coaches.
• Affirm your children and their teammates when they display healthy sportsmanship and good character, and don't affirm only their victory.
• Strive to be role models for our players, acting and talking politely toward coaches, other parents, spectators, and anyone visiting our facility and games.
• Try to encourage your children and their teammates even when they make mistakes. With every practice, the players are growing physically, mentally, and emotionally and developing their character. Your emotional support is welcome and needed.

Code of Conduct for Spectators

As a spectator to our games, we expect you to:

• Do not use disrespectful language, physically or verbally harass the players, coaches, referees, officials, and other spectators.
• Applaud all good play, no matter what basketball team you prefer.
• Respect your team's opponents.
• Do not scold or ridicule players for mistakes during or after a game.
• Respect the games' officials' decisions, even when they make errors (they are only human too).
• Encourage players to respect and play by the rules.
• Do not distract, intimidate, offend, or humiliate the players and other people around you.

Code of Conduct for Players

As a player training with San Marcos Basketball, we expect you to:

• Be responsible for your behavior on and off the court.
• Understand that what you say and do can affect your teammates in a positive or negative way.
• Act with respect toward your teammates, parents, coaches, opponents, spectators, and toward yourself.
• Do not judge and discriminate against others based on their physical appearance, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or ability.
• Act with empathy and politeness toward other teammates, parents, coaches, and spectators.
• Put effort into practices, games, and events to demonstrate commitment and respect for your teammates and coaches.
• Display good sportsmanship by applauding other players' efforts. Refrain from "trash-talking" players from other basketball teams. Congratulate the opponent team for a game well played and accept defeat gracefully.
• Do not argue with an official during competition, and instead, have your coach approach them during a break if you disagree with their judgment.
• Do not play rough or intentionally injure other players.

Code of Conduct for Coaches

As a coach training San Marcos Basketball teams, you are expected to:

• Conduct yourself in a dignified manner relating your attitude, emotions, and language
• Act to protect the safety and development of the basketball players
• Respect the opponent coaches, referees, and officials and their judgment
• Show control and professionalism
• Respect the dignity and rights of players, parents, spectators, other coaches, etc.
• Understand your role and influence as a coach and as an educator.
• Have reasonable demands regarding players' energy, enthusiasm, and time
• Ensure that the facility and equipment are safe to use and appropriate for the players' levels
• Maintain motivation to learn the latest basketball coaching practices and principles of development of players
• Ensure all activities are appropriate for the player's age, experience, and ability
• Encourage basketball players to value their growth and performance, not just their victory
• Guide players to accept responsibility for their actions and behavior
• Never promote anti-social behavior

Playing Time

There is no guaranteed playing time on tournament and league competitive teams, and many factors determine how much time a particular player will spend playing. Our policy is that playing time is earned and not given. Coaches will strive to give players as much playing time as possible and will make decisions based on whether the player:

• Attends practices regularly and is on time
• Puts in the effort to compete and concentrate during practices and games
• Has a positive attitude during practices and games
• Is respectful towards coaches, teammates, opponents, and officials

COVID-19 Rules

We ask basketball players and parents to notify us in case they are positive for COVID-19 and stay home for a few days as per CDC guidelines. It's important to ensure everyone's safety.