,

Dear ,

Happy New Year!!!

Our first games of the season begin tomorrow.  Minors Division (3rd & 4th grade) teams have games at the Conard High School gymnasium (side courts) beginning at 9am.  Games are approximately one hour in length.  The last Minors Division game is from 11am - 12pm.  Juniors Division (5th & 6th grade) teams have games at the Sedgwick Middle School gymnasium beginning at 11am.  Games are approximately one hour in length.  The last Juniors Division game is from 3pm - 4pm.  Seniors Division (7th & 8th grade) teams have games at the Conard High School gymnasium (main court) beginning at 12:30pm.  Games are approximately one hour and ten minutes in length.  The last Seniors Division game is from 2:50pm - 4pm.  For the exact game times of all games, please click this hyperlink Schedules & Standings to see this section of the league's website.

If you are coming to see the game, please be sure to follow spectator conduct rules such as:

Sitting only in designated stands - fire codes prohibit blocking or standing in doorways and entranceways that lead to the gym floor.

Spectators must not walk onto the court floor at any time nor throw items onto the floor.  Also, spectators should not bring food or drink into the gymnasium.

Spectators may not bring any basketball into the gymnasium and they may not shoot baskets in between games or during half-time or time outs.

Please respect all game officials and board members.  Spectators must also avoid questioning officials decisions or addressing them in a disrespectful manner.

Please cheer for your team in a positive manner and refrain from any negative or abusive remarks about players or league personnel.  Do not encourage any behaviors or practices that would endanger other players, coaches, officials or other spectators.  

Please adhere to all instructions from league personnel.

Please click on this hyperlink Spectator Code of Conduct to see more details on our website.

Also, while we follow NFHS rules, please be aware of certain WHGBL league rules.  For example, for Minors and Juniors Division games there is a "neutral zone" where players may not be defended.  In the Juniors Division, the neutral zone is temporary with a time limit.  The neutral zone is also eliminated in the last minute of the game.  Therefore, in the Juniors Division the clock does not run until after a player crosses mid-court in the last minute of the game.  All players must play person-to-person defense while help-side defense is allowed.  However, in the Seniors Division, the second half of games is regular high school basketball where zone defenses, double-teams and presses are allowed if a team is not leading by more than 15 points.  Click this hyperlink Rules for more information about league rules.

After your game is complete - please exit the gymnasium immediately.  Do not wait in the gym to meet your player.  You should meet your player in the lobby of the gym.  The league is trying to get the next game started immediately, so it is important you meet your player OUTSIDE the gym.  Your player's Head Coach is instructed to leave the gym immediately and hold any post-game de-briefing outside the gym in the lobby.

All Head Coaches have picked up their uniforms and should be delivering them to players before their game tomorrow.  Not all uniforms will fit perfectly.  We do not have the ability to exchange uniforms except with other players from the same team.  Any replacement uniforms take over 30 days to create so ordering a new uniform is not an option.  If there is a severe uniform issue that can't be resolved by switching uniforms with teammates, please contact me.

Of course, the most important part is for the players to have fun and enjoy their basketball experience with the WHGBL.  We wish everyone the best of luck this season as they continue to learn valuable leadership skills through understanding the fundamentals of basketball.

Take care,

Shawn Daly