Dear ,

I hope this message finds you well as we move deeper into the heart of our season. While the weather has altered our immediate plans, the league’s commitment to communication, transparency, and our core leadership values remains steadfast. Please take a few moments to review this week’s important updates and reminders.

📰LEAGUE LINES

⛔Games Cancelled This Sunday:

The West Hartford Girls Basketball League takes direction from the Town of West Hartford’s Parks and Recreation Department, through the Department of Public Works. Due to the impending storm expected to begin mid-morning tomorrow, the Town has announced that all facilities will be closed. As a result, all WHGBL games scheduled for tomorrow are cancelled.

There will be no make-up games for the Minors and Juniors Divisions. Seniors Division coaches are working with the league to determine whether games can be rescheduled. Facility availability is extremely limited, and if a make-up date is secured, it will be at a location without seating, meaning spectators would not be permitted.

‼️League Parity:

Creating evenly balanced teams is a priority for the WHGBL, though after more than 40 years of league history, we recognize it is an inexact science. That said, the league continually refines its processes to promote competitive balance.

• Minors Division: Players are assigned by the Registrar based on size and experience, as indicated during registration.

• Juniors Division: This season, the league returned to a coach-led draft following player assessments.

• Seniors Division: The same draft-based process is used.

New this year for both Juniors and Seniors, the league collected skill assessment feedback from last season’s coaches and provided that information to current coaches prior to the draft to support more informed selections.

⛹️‍♀️Team Carryovers / Keepers:

Beginning last season, the Board of Directors decided that Juniors and Seniors teams would be redrafted annually. As a result, players should expect to be placed on different teams from year to year. This approach promotes fairness, development, and broader peer engagement.

⚡Lopsided Game Scores:

WHGBL is a recreational league focused on teaching leadership values and basketball fundamentals, not win-loss records. However, we recognize that consistently large margins in a game score can be difficult for players. Each division has safeguards in place:

• Minors: A 20-point lead or greater at the end of any quarter results in a score reset to 0–0.

• Juniors: Coaches are expected to implement score-control strategies such as requiring 4–6 passes before shooting, prohibiting shots in the paint and limiting offensive rebounds.

• Seniors: Pressing and zone defense are permitted in the second half unless a team is leading by 15 points or more.

🏳️Team Standings:

Please note that while the league uses head-to-head results as a tiebreaker, our website platform (Crossbar) currently lists tied teams alphabetically. For example, in the Juniors Division, St. John’s technically holds third place over Siena Private Wealth due to head-to-head results, though the website may not reflect this. We are working with Crossbar to correct the issue and will continue to communicate standings clearly in the interim.

😷Virus Protocols:

During the COVID outbreak, the league adopted protocols for handling future health-related situations. Recently, a norovirus outbreak was reported at Webster Hill School. Following our established procedures, we deferred to guidance from federal, state, and local authorities. No restrictions were issued by the Bloomfield/West Hartford Board of Health, and town facilities remained open. Other local leagues also proceeded as scheduled.
Going forward, the league will only issue guidance or cancel activities if directed by authorities or if other town leagues take similar action. Otherwise, participation decisions will remain at the discretion of parents.

🏀COACHES’ CORNER

🚫Guidelines for Scoring Restrictions:

When holding a commanding lead, coaches are expected to reinforce WHGBL leadership values—integrity, respect, and character—by implementing scoring restrictions. These include requiring multiple passes before shooting, avoiding shots in the paint, and limiting offensive rebounding.

👎Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Celebrating strong play is encouraged; however, taunting or intentionally running up the score is unacceptable and violates league values. Such behavior will not be tolerated. Coaches must actively teach players to win and lose with dignity and respect.

⚖️RULES REMINDER

🚩Taunting:

Unsportsmanlike conduct, including taunting, is grounds for a player technical foul. Officials will enforce this in accordance with NFHS Rule 10, Section 4, Article 5(c).

↔️Playing the Ball vs. Going for the Ball:

Officials ask coaches to remind players of the distinction between making a legal play on the ball versus reckless pursuit of possession. The latter may result in intentional or technical fouls.

🦓Arguing Calls / Referee Abuse:

This is a recreational league grounded in leadership development. Persistent arguing of calls by spectators, players, or coaches undermines our values of sportsmanship, humility, respect, and integrity. Officials have been authorized to issue warnings, technical fouls, or removals from games, with egregious behavior subject to review by the league’s disciplinary committee.

🌟SPONSOR’S SPOTLIGHT

Trinh Law

We are proud to recognize Trinh Law as a valued sponsor of the WHGBL. Their continued support helps make our league possible and strengthens youth sports in our community. Please consider supporting the businesses that support our players.  Below is information from Trinh Law about their organization.

Trinh Law is a client-focused law firm based in West Hartford, Connecticut, serving individuals and small businesses throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts. Led by Attorney Joette Trinh, a Super Lawyers–recognized attorney with extensive experience in real estate law, estate planning, and small business representation, the firm is known for delivering practical, strategic, and highly personalized legal solutions.

Attorney Trinh works tirelessly to combine her legal experience with real-world business insight, particularly in real estate investment and transactional work.  As a result, Trinh Law has earned a strong reputation in the West Hartford community for professionalism, responsiveness, and efficiency, reflected in its consistently high client reviews. Clients frequently highlight smooth real estate closings, thorough estate planning, and reliable guidance for business formation and growth.

Trinh Law’s core practice areas include real estate transactions, estate planning, and small business legal support. Whether assisting first-time buyers, seasoned investors, or entrepreneurs, Trinh Law provides trusted counsel with a focus on protecting clients’ interests and delivering peace of mind. 

For more information, visit our website:  TRINH LAW

When contacting Trinh Law, be sure to thank them for their continued support of our league and our players.

💭PARTING PERSPECTIVES

In closing, please remember that all games scheduled for tomorrow are cancelled. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for our next set of league games on February 1st.

I also want to extend best wishes to the Hawks Minors Division Team, the 5th/6th Grade All-Star Team, and the 7th/8th Grade All-Star Team, who will be playing exhibition games against their respective West Hartford Magic travel teams later today at Sedgwick Middle School. We wish them great success and thank them for representing WHGBL with pride.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the league and our players.

Sincerely,

Shawn Daly

"Teaching leadership skills through the fundamentals of basketball"