Mission Statement
The Mt. Lebanon Basketball Association (MTLBA), founded in 1996, is a non-profit youth basketball association. We organize programs of skill development and competition for both boys and girls. Our goal is to provide a positive environment helping each player learn the game to improve as a player. We believe each player is an important part of the team and will learn life lessons that have value beyond the game such as teamwork, commitment, discipline, and sportsmanship .
Code of Conduct & Expectations
In order to achieve our mission, the Administrators, Coaches, Players, and Parents all have responsibilities. Failure to comply will weaken the ability to have a successful program and provide the best experience for the participants.
MTLBA ADMINISTRATION
MTLBA Administration personnel are volunteers who act as guardians of the program for present and future well being. In representing the Association they:
- Ensure every decision is for the incremental benefit of the participants.
- Ensure proper coaching, equipment, and facilities are made available.
- Manage the financial resources of the Association.
- Foster and provide methods of communications to ensure that all participants are fully aware of expectations.
- MTLBA ADMINISTRATION
COACHES
Coaches are teachers, mentors, advisors, protectors, and role models for the players in the program. In representing the Association they:
- Create a positive environment for players to learn, practice, and play.
- Continue to improve their Basketball knowledge
- Provide a well planned and safe environment for practices, scrimmages, and games.
- Are kind and approachable
- Understand the enormous responsibility that comes with youth coaching. They are teachers of the game , however, they are also mentors and guides in character building. They are entrusted to teach the important life lessons of commitment, discipline, effort, sportsmanship, teamwork, and how to handle adversity among others.
- Provide ALL players the opportunity to learn and play.
- Make every player feel an important part of the team.
- Set clear and reasonable goals.
- Are courteous and polite
- Are positive, especially in adverse situations.
- Are fair to all players
- Model good sportsmanship
- Support the philosophy and work of the MTLBA
- Will get to know each player and encourage them to always give their best effort to be their best
- Clearly communicate expectations of player and parental behavior at practices, scrimmages, and games.
- REMEMBER THAT THE GAME IS FOR THE CHILDREN
- Convey all of the above at an Association required parents meeting before the season begins
- CODE OF CONDUCT FOR COACHES
PLAYERS
Players have responsibilities. They are the reason the Association exists. In representing the Association they:
- Give their best effort in practices, scrimmages, and games
- Will, barring injury, make a season long commitment to their teammates and their coaches.
- Will arrive on time with a positive and winning attitude
- Will listen (with their eyes and their ears, per Coach Dick Black 1961 MLHS WPIAL Champs) and learn from the coaches
- Will maintain your cool at all times
- Will cheer on and support all of your teammates
- Will hustle on and off the court
- Will learn how and be a good sport at all times
- Will respect the rules, opponents, officials, teammates, coaches, and one's self
- Will represent themselves, their family, their team, MTLBA, and their community with dignity
- Will develop self control
- Will learn from losing as well as winning
- Will be respectful of facilities, home and away, keeping area clean
- Will be positive and have fun
- CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PLAYERS
PARENTS
Parents play a vital role toward the success of our mission. In representing the Association they:
- Ensure players' attendance
- Are prompt with arrival and pick up at practices, scrimmages, and games
- Attend your child's games whenever possible
- Remain a respectful distance from players and coaches during games
- Cheer for all players on the team
- Will be a positive role model
- Will be supportive during success and adversity
- Will not criticize coaches in public
- Will be respectful of officials keeping comments to yourself
- Will understand that we are teaching sportsmanship to all players and will model that behavior
- Understand constructive criticism is most effective if well timed, sandwiched between positive comments, and in private
- Will look for opportunities to work with your child on the skills of the game outside of the Association
- Will support the Association philosophy and the coaches that are entrusted to carry it through
- Will offer to help set up, keep the scorebook, run the game clock, clean up, or whatever it takes
- Will be positive and supportive whether the team wins or loses.
- Will not yell instructions to your child or others during the games
- Will rotate with other parents to monitor the hallways of our schools outside of the gym before/during/after practices, scrimmages, and games
- Will communicate any concerns directly with coaches, with respect, away from the court, and in private.
- Understand that if they contact MTLBA Administration regarding concerns, they will be asked whether they have communicated directly with coach. If not, they will be asked to do so.
- Will not tell other parents they are required to bring snacks for the entire team on some snack schedule. If someone wants to do that ,they may do so strictly voluntarily
- REMEMBER THAT THE GAME IS FOR THE CHILDREN
- Will attend the required Association parent meetings
- CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PARENTS