i. THE CULTURE HOUSE

“Talent wins games but culture and teamwork wins championships” – Michael Jordan

CORE VALUES – THE FOUNDATION

We have all heard stories of multi-million-dollar Malibu mansions collapsing into the sea due to weak foundations. No matter how large or glamorous a house may appear on the outside, it is always at risk of collapse without a strong foundation.

Our team’s foundation is our core values:  Be Passionate, Be Tough, Be United, Be Thankful.

**Be Passionate:**

*Behavior: Choose to do extra work (stealing inches).*

Everything you achieve in basketball and life comes from what you do beyond the ordinary. Simply showing up to practice and going through the motions will not give you an advantage, as everyone in the league is doing that. What extra effort are our players putting in to stand out from the rest?

– Examples at practice: Going for every offensive rebound, giving 100% during strength and conditioning workouts, practicing correct shooting form consistently, and arriving early to prepare mentally and physically for practice.

– Examples outside of practice: Regularly practicing, studying the coach’s clipboard, attending offseason strength and conditioning workouts or working out independently, watching game film, setting up meetings with the head coach for improvement, and studying for tests.

**Be Tough:** 

*Behavior: Positive body language. (palms down)*

This is just one of many measures of physical and mental toughness, but it is a good starting point. How do we look and act when we are down by 20 points or receive a bad call from an official? Are we tough enough to shake off a foul play or game and continue fighting for the team’s benefit?  Are your palms up or down when things are going our way?

**Be Unified:** 

*Behavior: Speak and act with urgency.*

This means having the courage and toughness to hold ourselves and our teammates accountable. Demonstrating love for teammates involves being truthful during challenging situations and being willing to receive constructive criticism without becoming defensive. Do we support our teammates, whether we are leading or trailing by 20 points? Do we stand up for one another on and off the court? Unity cannot exist without trust, and there can be no trust without vulnerability. Are we willing to be vulnerable with our teammates and coaches to elevate ourselves from good to great to unstoppable?

 **Be Thankful:** 

*Behavior: Show love.*

Express appreciation to teammates by acknowledging their sacrifices for the team. A good way to show this on the court is through “counting touches”: how many high-fives and pats on the back do you give to teammates during games/practice?

– Show appreciation to your coaches by attending practice, games, and film sessions ready to work and improve.

– Thank your parents for supporting your love for basketball and demonstrate that you can excel in both basketball and your responsibilities at home and in the classroom.

– Acknowledge all the adults who help you play the game you love, including custodians, bus drivers, athletic directors, teachers, referees, and school staff.

 

PROGRAM IDENTITY – THE PILLARS

Our pillars will support our team through good times and bad. Good teams win games. Great teams win seasons. Unstoppable teams create dynasties. What will opposing teams feel when they see the Black and Gold?

A school identity is not created in a single game or season; it is designed, developed, and strengthened year after year. That is how you build a program and create a dynasty. Our players for the 2024-2025 season will help establish a **GRIZZLY DYNASTY** that will dominate our league, region, section, and state for the next decade. The success of our dynasty will rest on the following four pillars:

1. **GET TO US** – The key to any successful team is transitioning from “I” to “US.” This requires complete trust and cooperation from all coaches and players. As individuals, we may falter, but as a team, we are strong; as a family, we are unstoppable.
2. **NO EASY GAMES** – As with any high school program, the talent on the roster will vary from class to class. While rosters change, our style of play remains consistent. Teams will learn to fear playing the Grizzlies because they know it will always be a battle. Grizzly teams are tough, disciplined, well-coached, and fight for every inch. They are unselfish and play for one another, always giving 100% regardless of the opponent.
3. **WE CHOOSE TO SUFFER** – There can be no happiness without suffering. The key to happiness lies in our ability to choose how we endure suffering. We choose to suffer through the game of basketball. We must challenge ourselves every season, every game, every practice, and every drill. We need to keep pushing ourselves when everyone else has had enough. We strive to be the first in the gym and the last to leave. We understand that our biggest competition is ourselves. Sometimes, we must sacrifice social events for team practices. We need to condition ourselves to be ready for anything the team requires. Our goal is to improve every day and to be relentless in our pursuit of greatness. We may not always love the hard work, but we are addicted to the results. We accept that true self-development cannot happen in our comfort zone.
4. **WE EMBRACE OUR DARK SIDE** – This isn’t about Star Wars; it’s about the dark side that all winners possess. It’s the hunger inside that drives us to be the best—a deep instinct that compels us to fight for what we desire. On this team, we don’t shy away from our dark side; we embrace it, control it, and channel it for good through competition and basketball. All great players possess a dark side that leads them to greatness. It’s that intangible “IT” factor that makes the previous pillars possible. We can see this in players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Stephen Curry.

When controlled and properly channeled, our dark side can provide the competitive edge needed to achieve our goals. However, when it’s uncontrolled, it can manifest as rage and fury, leading to poor decision-making. We also witness instances of players letting their dark side dictate their actions in professional sports.

Basketball provides an excellent platform to channel our dark side for good. It serves as a release that we all occasionally need—a chance to engage in competition in our pursuit of greatness and victory. On this team, we embrace our dark side from the opening tip-off to the final whistle. We embrace our competitive spirit and commit to leaving everything on the court while playing within the rules of the game. We play tough but never dirty. We control our dark side; it does not control us.

 

TEAM PHILOSOPHY – THE EXTERIOR

The Team Philosophy adjusts each year based on the roster composition. If your house has a sturdy foundation and strong pillars, you can remodel the exterior to create any look you desire!

 

LEADERSHIP STANDARDS – THE INTERIOR

How do you feel when you walk into your house? The interior of a house should create a warm, comfortable, and inviting atmosphere, embodying the phrase, “There’s no place like home.” This is the environment that leadership fosters within our team. How do we want our teammates to feel during practice, on the bus, in the locker room, or during a game? Through our leadership standards, we aim for all players to experience a sense of connection, confidence, and competitive drive. We will do this using the 6-Cs of Leadership, which will be divided into three phases. Players cannot progress to Phase 2 until they have mastered Phase 1.

• **Phase 1:** Cheer and Connect
• **Phase 2:** Confidence and Communication
• **Phase 3:** Challenge and Call-Out

 

THE GATEKEEPERS

We must protect our Culture House at all costs. The diagram of the Culture House includes an enclosed circle with four locks, each containing a letter. This illustrates the importance of the four gatekeepers working together to reinforce our team culture and identify anyone who may undermine it.

– **Players:** Player-led teams win! Whenever possible, we want our players to be the first line of defense for the culture house, setting expectations through collective leadership.

– **Coaches:** Coaches will lead in gatekeeping while players learn self-governance. Coaches set the standard for what to teach and what not to tolerate. They will provide players with the space and permission to self-govern while recognizing that advanced leadership skills are required for this process. Coaches are here to equip players with the necessary skills to develop a player-led team and to step in when support is needed.

– **Families:** Parents and family members are integral to the team culture, whether they realize it or not. What is said at home or in the car can influence the locker room for better or worse. We ask families to take a similar approach as the coaches: allow their players the space and freedom to self-lead and be prepared to support them when they struggle.

– **Administration:** . Our coaching staff and club administrators collaborate to uphold our vision and expectations for our players as outlined in this contract.

 

ii. PRACTICE & COMMITMENT

“Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.” – John Wooden

The primary factor coaches consider when constructing a roster is commitment. If a player is not committed to the program, their teammates, and themselves, then nothing else matters. But how can we determine if our players are truly committed? We evaluate commitment using four indicators:

• Show Up
• Give Your Best Effort
• Commitment to Self-Improvement
• Team First

 

Show Up:

We require our players to prioritize team practices just as highly as competitive games. Players who miss practice will incur the following in-game sit-out penalties:

1. **Excused Absences:** If a player informs the Head Coach before practice that they will not attend, they will face a 1-quarter sit-out penalty at the next game.
2. **Unexcused Absences:** If a player misses practice without notifying the coach beforehand, they will face a 2-quarter sit-out penalty at the next game.

These penalties are the minimum. Actual playing time in the game may depend on whether players catch up on the material they missed in practice. Our practices are focused on game-planning and installing offensive and defensive plays and concepts for the next opponent. Players cannot participate in the game if they don’t understand their roles, especially defensively.

To assist players in studying our offensive and defensive concepts at home, we have created the Coaches Clipboard, which they can access anytime by visiting GrizzlyBasketball.com/clipboard. If a player needs to miss practice, it’s critical that they ask the coach what they will miss so they can review the material on the clipboard.

Players returning from extended absences due to injury, illness, or suspension must do so on a practice day, not a game day. A missed game wipes clean a player’s sit-out penalty. For example, if a player is sick and misses three practices and the next game, they can reset their penalties upon returning to practice.

Players who need to miss practice are expected to communicate directly with the head coach. This communication should come from the player, not from a parent. Players can reach out via text, email, TeamSnap Chat, or phone call. Parents should only contact the coach on behalf of the player if the player is unable to do so.

There are no exceptions to the sit-out rule. The last thing a coach wants to do is play the role of judge on what are and are not valid excuses to miss practice. Every player is responsible for creating their own priority hierarchy regarding their winter commitments. All we provide is a clear and fair standard for everyone.

In summary, players should place equal importance on attending basketball practices and games. If you wouldn’t miss a game for a specific reason, you shouldn’t miss a practice; they are equally important.

 

Give Your Best Effort:

“I don’t coach attitude and effort.” – Coach Geno Auriemma

By signing this contract, you agree to follow our team M.E.A.L. Plan. Don’t worry; we are not putting you on a diet, although players are encouraged to take their nutrition seriously during the basketball season to perform at their best. The M.E.A.L. plan stands for:

• M – Mistakes
• E – Effort
• A – Accountability
• L – Learning

This season, you will face mental and physical challenges on the court like never before. The offensive and defensive strategies will be more complex, your conditioning will be more rigorous, and your leadership skills will be tested. You will be held accountable for everything you do both on and off the court.

Mistakes will happen, and that’s perfectly okay as long as you continue to give 100% effort and take accountability for those mistakes. Mistakes are only failures if you fail to learn from them.

 

Commitment to Self-Improvement

“With the absence of pressure, it’s hard to do great things.” – Coach Geno Auriemma

When evaluating players, we use the following grading scale: A, B, C, D, F, U. While the A-F scale is familiar to most from school, the letter U represents “Uncoachable,” which is the worst grade a player can receive.

Are you accepting feedback from your coaches to improve? Are you practicing with purpose, or are you just going through the motions? Referring back to our M.E.A.L. plan, are you willing to make the necessary mistakes for the sake of personal growth? What happens to you mentally and physically when you encounter a roadblock in your personal development?

A significant aspect of self-improvement is your competitive spirit, as true competitors constantly strive to get better. We categorize competitors into four distinct groups:

1. The Survivor – They show up but only do the minimum requirement. They may try to bring others down so their lack of competitiveness doesn’t stand out.
2. The Contender – They will put in extra effort but only when motivated by a strong leader, coach, or teammate. They rely on external forces to excel.
3. The Competitor – They are driven internally to achieve greatness. They don’t need outside influences to push them harder. They arrive first, leave last, complete extra sprints, continue their development outside of practice, and watch game film instead of TicToc Videos, refusing to be outworked by anyone.
4. The Commander – They possess all the qualities of a Competitor, but they also have the ability to lead and uplift those around them. By committing to the three phases of leadership, they can elevate others’ performance.

 

Team First:

“I’ve never lost sight of the fact that it is just a game – a collection of people trying to come together to accomplish something that individually you can’t achieve.” – Coach Geno Auriemma

So, you’ve shown up, worked hard, and improved. What comes next? The final step is fitting into the concept of a team. We must not only improve as individual players but also as a cohesive unit. This includes being a good teammate, even when on the scout team. It involves integrating team offensive and defensive concepts in our short-sided games and scrimmages. It requires being a gatekeeper of our culture at every practice and working to make everyone better.

To effectively run a successful practice, we need to simulate real game environments. This means we need at least 10 players to show up. Each player must give the same effort in practice as they would in a game, and they must be committed to the development of all 10 players. A crucial part of putting the team first is understanding player roles, which we will address in the next section.

“iii. ROSTER MANAGEMENT & PLAYER ROLES

“Basketball is a beautiful game when the five players on the court play with one heartbeat.” – Dean Smith

Before we discuss player roles, it is important for the players to understand how coaches will evaluate them for these roles. To aid with this, we created the acronym RED DOT:

RED (Statistical):

– **R: Rebounding** – On this team, rebounding is just as valuable as shooting. Coaches place a high value on players who box out on defense and crash the boards on offense. More rebounds equal more playing time.

– **E: Efficient Offense** – Please note that this does not say points scored. Offense is all about efficiency. We calculate offensive efficiency using the following formula: [(points + (assists x 2) – (turnovers x 2)) / (shot attempts + turnovers)].

– **D: Defense** – We are a defensive-minded team. If you are unable to meet the requirements in any of our defensive sets (Red, Yellow, or Green), you will not be allowed to play while we are using those sets. The advantage of a strong defense is that it often leads to easy scoring opportunities. Players who take pride in their defensive performance will be given priority over those who do not.

DOT (Mental):

– **D: Drive** – Are you driven to be great?  Are you a survivor, contender, competitor, or commander?

– **O: Open** – Are you open to learning new things to enhance your physical and mental game?

– **T: Team Oriented** – Are you a good teammate? Have you embraced the mindset of WE > ME?

 

**Roster Management**

Each team will have a max of 10-players, consisting of the following roles

Each 13-player roster consists of the following roles:

• 5 Starters
• 3-5 Rotational Players
• 1-2 Specialty Players
• 1-2 Reserve Players

**Starters:** The five players who will start the game. The starting five is made up of the players who create the best overall lineup—not necessarily the five best players.

**Rotational Players:** We typically use an 8-man rotation for our RED and YELLOW defenses and a 10-man rotation for our GREEN defense. Notice the rotations are based on our defense and not our offense.

**Speciality Players:** These players are still learning parts of the offense but know enough on defense to play a specialty role in limited minutes.  Specialty players can contribute to the team with hustle plays, relentless defense, and rebounding while playing simplified “specialty” roles on offense while they learn the game.

**Reserve Players:**  These players typically only enter games during the fourth quarter when we have a significant lead or deficit (30 points).  Players can be given a “reserve” in-game designation for any of the reseasons listed below:

1. They do not know the defense and therefore are a liability to the teams’ performance when on the court.

2. They have a poor attitude and/or are violating the terms outlined in section i: THE CULTURE HOUSE or section v: CODE OF CONDUCT.

3. They are not coming to practice and/or are violating our club expectations when at practice.  See Section ii: PRACTICE

Player roles can change throughout the season based on performance, attitude, and various other factors. Player roles are only relevant during our games; all players participate equally in practice and other team events.

One of our focuses this season is to clearly define player roles. This will require players to have courageous conversations with their head coach regarding their role on the team. A player’s role is determined by how they can best support the team, not merely by what they are capable of.

iv. COMMUNICATION

“Where there is a void in communication, negativity will fill it.  In the absence of clear and positive communication, people start to assume the worst and act accordingly.  As a leader, you must communicate, communicate, communicate.”

Gamechanger:  We use the Gamechanger App as our primary communication tool. Through the app, players and families can view and receive updates about their team’s practice and game schedules. It also allows for regular communication with the head coach and other teammates and families. Users can livestream games, watch highlight videos, and access in-game individual and team statistics (parent volunteer involvement is required for these features). Players and families will receive an invitation to join the Gamechanger Team page once they accept their roster invitation and pay the registration fee.

Player Meetings: Your head coach will conduct individual and team meetings with players throughout the season to discuss:

• Player GRIT report (Goals, Roles, Interpersonal, Trust/Talent)
• Player SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
• Q&A

Additional meetings can be scheduled with the coach during designated office hours. The head coach will announce these hours, allowing players to schedule additional in-person meetings to address:

• Concerns about their roles or playing time
• Issues with team culture or attitudes
• Concerns regarding another coach or player
• Questions about the playbook
• Assistance with schoolwork, college applications, recruitment, etc.
• Any other topics they wish to discuss

Parent Meetings: As one of our gatekeepers, parents are also welcome to join their child during player meetings or schedule their own meeting with the coach during office hours. Please remember the 24-hour rule outlined in the Code of Conduct.

v. CODE OF CONDUCT

Welcome to The Divide Grizzlies Basketball Club.  We are excited to have you join a program that exemplifies a great tradition of excellence. This excellence goes beyond simply winning and losing. Athletic success comes from a combination of effort, teamwork, commitment, and sportsmanship. These traits are the foundation of Golden Sierra’s unique brand of athletic success. We are pleased that you are joining our coaches, athletes, and parents in continuing this tradition.

Message to the Parents/Guardians: This material is presented to you because your child has expressed a desire to participate in The Divide Grizzlies basketball program, and you have indicated your willingness to permit them to compete. Participation in sports offers a wealth of opportunities and experiences that contribute to child’s personal and athletic growth.

As a parent or guardian of a Divide Grizzly athlete, you have also committed yourselves to certain responsibilities and obligations outlined in this Code of Conduct. Your acknowledgment of this Code of Conduct indicates that you understand and accept these responsibilities and agree to cooperate with coaches and school personnel in enforcing the Code of Conduct. Compliance with this Code is mandatory and essential to the basketball program’s success. Failure to adhere to the Code may result in disciplinary action towards your player and possible removal from the team.

Our fans and spectators are always encouraged and expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship during athletic events. Failing to demonstrate good sportsmanship may result in removal from the event and/or future events.

*Important Note on Coaching from the Sideline:* We kindly ask that parents refrain from coaching from the sideline. This can be detrimental to team dynamics. We encourage all families to support our player-led approach and allow the players to lead themselves during games, supported by our coaching staff. Basketball is fast-paced, and any communication with players on the court can be a distraction. We want to ensure that players only hear one voice—that of their head coach. Instead, we ask families to focus on cheering positively for our team. For those who want to become more involved, please contact the head coach at Billy@GrizzlyBasketball.com.

*Important Note on Officials:* Poor officiating is a common aspect of youth sports. Here’s a tip for our families: enter each game with the expectation that the officiating may not be up to par. This mindset will help you avoid frustration during the games, and if the officiating happens to be good, you can feel pleasantly surprised.

We encourage our kids to be mentally tough and not let officials affect their performance; they should focus on what they can control. When parents and spectators voice complaints from the sidelines, it can negatively impact the team and distract them from their game. Once that happens, the team’s performance can suffer. Moreover, if the officials perceive our fan base as bothersome, they may start calling the game more strictly against our team.

Let’s be a positive influence for our players! Cheer them on and maintain a supportive atmosphere. Allow the coaches to handle the officials.

Both parenting and coaching can be challenging. By understanding each role, we can better accept the actions of others and provide more significant benefits to our students. As parents, when your child participates in our basketball program, it is important for you to know the expectations set for them. This begins with clear communication from the coach.  We use GameChanger as our primary communication tool with parents. Through GameChanger, you will receive:

• Weekly reminders and updates
• Practice and game announcements
• A team chat platform for regular communication between parents and coaches
• A calendar with all practice, game, and event times, dates, and locations

As your child becomes involved in competitive athletics, they will have the opportunity to experience some of the most rewarding moments of their life. It is important to understand that there may also be times when things do not go as you or your child would like. During these moments, we encourage discussions with the coach. Parents are welcome to schedule a meeting with the head coach to discuss any of the following topics:

• The treatment of your student-athlete, both mentally and physically.
• Ways to support your child’s improvement.
• Concerns regarding your child’s behavior.
• Concerns regarding your child’s playing time.

We understand that it can be difficult to accept when your child does not play as much as you hope. Coaches are professionals who make decisions based on what they believe is best for all players involved. If you have concerns about your child’s playing time, you are welcome to schedule a meeting with the coach, provided you adhere to the 24-hour rule (see below). The coach may also require your child to be present during this meeting.

*24-Hour Rule:* Parents who are unhappy with their child’s role or playing time must wait 24 hours after the game to contact the coach. Emotions can run high immediately following a game, which is why we enforce a 24-hour cooling-off period. After 24 hours, parents can schedule an in-person meeting, phone call, or Zoom meeting to discuss their concerns with the coach. Failure to follow the 24-hour rule may result in discipline and possibly expulsion from the team.

As indicated above, certain topics can and should be discussed with the coach at appropriate times. The following issues must be left to the discretion of the coach and are not appropriate for discussion:

• Team strategy.
• Play-calling.
• Concerns or issues regarding the performance of people’s kids.

Meetings can only be arranged with the head coach; parent meetings with assistant coaches are prohibited. To schedule a meeting with the head coach, please email Billy@GrizzlyBasketball.com. The head coach will respond with available times for the meeting. Meetings can occur in person (during office hours), via Zoom, or by phone. Coaches will not communicate with parents regarding concerns through text or email.

Message to the Players: The Divide Grizzlies are building a tradition of basketball excellence, a tradition that will take years of dedication, commitment, and hard work from countless individuals. As a member of The Divide Grizzlies Basketball Club, you are responsible for upholding this high standard of excellence. By joining the club, you have committed to maintaining certain expectations essential for athletes in this community:

• The use of vulgar or profane language is unacceptable during club outings, at any time, and in any place.
• Respect the facilities. It is strictly prohibited to vandalize, deface, or litter facilities during practices or games.
• Adhere to the dress code on practice and game days:
  • Practice: Players must wear their reversible Divide Grizzly jersey.  Players who forget their practice jersey are required to run sprints to rent one for the day.  Game jerseys cannot be worn at practice.
  • Game days: To participate in the game, players must wear their complete Divide Grizzly Jersey Kit.  Non-Divide Grizzly Jerseys cannot be worn during games (i.e., school uniforms, other club teams, etc.).   Players must wear the correct color jersey (white for home team, black for away team).  Jerseys must be clean and well-kept meaning no stains, excessive wrinkles, etc.
• Show respect to all adults who work tirelessly to allow you to play the sport you love. This includes coaches, facility staff, officials, parent volunteers/chaperones, custodians, and more.
• Exhibit appropriate behavior at all times. Your actions reflect the entire club.

Remember, participating in athletics is a privilege and should be treated as such. Whenever you wear the Black and Gold, you represent yourself, your family, your club, and all those who have worn these colors before you. Thus, your behavior should be above reproach in every situation. Students, staff, parents, and the community will closely observe your conduct.  The AAU Basketball Club community is a small one.  Players who jeopardize the reputation of our club will be removed from the roster.

Sportsmanship: As athletes and as parents, we have the opportunity to establish an outstanding reputation for good sportsmanship. It is essential that we all conduct ourselves in a commendable manner. Engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct can lead to sanctions against the offending athlete, parent, and/or school. Please adhere to the following guidelines for good sportsmanship:

• The reputation of our club is more important than any contest won through unfair play.
• Support all athletes, coaches, and officials before, during, and after every contest.
• Accept officials’ decisions without dispute. They are seldom responsible for your success or failure; do not blame them for your circumstances.
• Recognize and appreciate the fine play of your opponents.
• Take pride in our club’s reputation and work diligently to protect it.
• Cheer for your team, not against your opponents.
• Do not let others’ negative behavior be an excuse for your own.

Respect the ROOTS of the game: Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates, and Self

Remember, basketball is a game meant to be enjoyable! When in doubt, fall back on the three simple rules your youth sports coach taught you in elementary school: **BE NICE, BE SAFE, and HAVE FUN!**

HARDWOOD PALACE:Our club will participate in tournaments hosted by Hardwood Palace. To take part in these tournament games, it is important to acknowledge and accept the Hardwood Palace’s Code of Conduct, Release of Liability, and Waiver. You can find the full list of their terms by following the link below.

Hardwood Palace Tournaments

**Message from the Player/Parents to the Club, Coach, and Teammates:**

By signing up for a Divide Grizzlies program, I agree to all the terms stated in the Player Agreement Contract. I vow to be a guardian of our culture and embrace our core values, program identity, season philosophy, and leadership standards. I am fully committed to this team, eager to learn from my mistakes, ready to take accountability for my actions, and willing to give 100% effort.

I understand that playing basketball for The Divide Grizzlies is a privilege. I commit to maintaining acceptable grades and following all team rules and protocols. Lastly, I promise to communicate regularly and respectfully with my coaches and accept whatever role I am assigned to help the TEAM.

Acceptance of these terms can be acknowledged when you sign-up for a program.