,

Dear ,

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the early days of summer. I want to take a moment to update you on recent developments within the West Hartford Girls Basketball League.

This past Tuesday, May 27, the WHGBL Board held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting. It was a productive session, and I’m excited to share that several important decisions were made that will shape the future of our league.

These discussions and decisions were part of a broader effort that began following our Coach and Officials Appreciation Dinner, held back on March 11. During that event, we received valuable feedback from many of our dedicated coaches and referees. We also included ongoing feedback we've received through our Director of Parent Perspective and the Parent's Perspective feedback form on our website.  Since then, your Board has taken the feedback we've received very seriously. Key items were discussed at both the April and May Board meetings, resulting in several league changes and improvements:

Team Assignments & Draft Process

Beginning next season:

• Juniors (5th–6th grade) and Seniors (7th–8th grade) Division players will be drafted by Head Coaches shortly after registration closes.

• Players will no longer stay on the same team from year to year within the same division. Each season, new teams will be drafted.

• This change provides flexibility for practice scheduling conflicts and helps build more balanced teams.

In the Minors Division (3rd–4th grade):

• Players will continue to be assigned by the league Registrar.

• Players will remain on the same team from 3rd to 4th grade.

Player Assessments

Our league Registrar and Director of Training and Development have collaborated with coaches to evaluate all players in every division. These evaluations will:

• Support fair team assignments in the Minors Division.

• Help Juniors and Seniors Division Head Coaches make informed draft decisions next season.

Uniform Updates

The league will:

• Continue using reversible jerseys in the Juniors and Seniors Divisions.

• Switch to black basketball shorts for these divisions (Minors Division players already wear black shorts).

• Work with suppliers to find less baggy options for shorts, while trying to avoid any increase in uniform costs.

Director of Sponsorships – Volunteer Needed

We are currently seeking a Director of Sponsorships to join our Board. This volunteer will help secure six sponsors to help cover uniform costs for the Seniors Division. The league is also considering a commission-based incentive, if allowable.

If you or someone you know is interested, please reach out to me directly by emailing me at president@whgbl.org. Your help can make a huge impact!

League Logo & WHGBL Store

We are in the early stages of:

• Redesigning our league logo.

• Launching a “WHGBL Store” with merchandise like water bottles, apparel, and backpacks featuring the new branding. Stay tuned for more on this exciting initiative!

Rules Updates

After review by the Rules Committee and WHGBL Board, the following decisions and/or changes have been made:

• Seniors Division:

  • The proposal to remove the player rotation sheet for the 4th quarter was rejected.

  • The proposal to allow pressing and any defense for the entire game was also rejected.

• Juniors & Seniors Divisions:

  • Any player receiving a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct must immediately leave the court and cannot re-enter the game until their next scheduled rotation.

  • Only the Head Coach may stand during gameplay. Assistant Coaches and players (not playing out on the court floor) must remain seated except during time-outs.

  • Only the Head Coach or a player on the court with team possession of the ball may call a time-out.

All rule updates will be posted to the official league rules section on our website by next week.

Summer Basketball Opportunity Reminder

As shared last week, the Summer Hardwood Basketball League—a new pickup-style program operated by an outside group through West Hartford Parks & Rec—is now open for registration. Spots are filling fast, so if your daughter is interested, please register as soon as possible.

You can find more information in the flyer attached below or you can click this link to go to the registration website:  Summer Hardwood Basketball.  Just enter 412729A in the search function to find the activity.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of WHGBL. We are grateful for your partnership in providing a fun, fair, and enriching basketball experience for the girls in our community.

Enjoy the start of summer, and we look forward to an exciting season ahead!

Oh, and if there are other items that you would like to be sure are covered in these newsletters, please feel free to send an email to me at president@whgbl.org and let me know.

Take care,

Shawn Daly                                                                                                           "Teaching leadership skills through the fundamentals of basketball"