Winter (Basketball ‘24/’25)

Rising Tide Athletics Handbook

Rising Tide Athletics was created to combine free and accessible youth sports with quality instruction and development. We have chosen to use our own time and money to make this possible. In return, we expect everyone involved to conduct themselves with respect as outlined in this athletic handbook.

PLAYERS & PARENTS

Our coaches are all volunteers with full-time jobs, families, and other commitments. Many of them don’t even have a child participating. Yet they are volunteering their time to serve you and your child. All coaches need to be treated with respect. They need to be addressed as “Coach” by all players and parents. 

Players need to respond to all coaches and staff with “Yes Sir”, “No Sir”, “Yes Ma’am”, and “No Ma’am”.

The referees are in charge of the game, and their decisions are FINAL, right or wrong. We have zero tolerance for verbal abuse directed towards coaches, referees, or staff. We encourage parents to focus on the children and not the referees.

The Rising Tide Center reserves the right and WILL send home anyone (this includes coaches, players, parents, and spectators) who are in violation of the code of conduct, rules and regulations set by the program for the health, safety, and welfare of all participants.

SPECTATORS  CODE OF CONDUCT 

We hope to provide a fun and rewarding spectator experience for you and your child. To achieve our goal, we ask that you adhere to the following criteria:

 1. Applaud good plays by your team.

 2. Never ridicule or scold a child for making a mistake during a game or practice.

 3. Encourage players to always play according to the rules.

 4. HAVE FUN! Make it enjoyable for you and your child.

 5. As a parent, you are not allowed to approach the coach or team’s bench during a game. If  you have a comment for the coach, please wait until after the games are over to speak with the coach privately. The Youth Sports Supervisor is always available on site, and you may direct complaints or concerns to them at any time.

COACHES’ CONDUCT  

Coaches can only travel within the assigned areas. Coaches should not be moving all over the court. Any comments made to the referees or the staff should be made before the game, at halftime, and/or after the conclusion of the game.

Coaches agree to support and influence good sportsmanship, high moral standards, and are responsible for the conduct of their players and spectators. This includes, but is not limited to, unsportsmanlike disagreements with officials or insubordinate acts against supervisory staff. 

PARENT INVOLVEMENT 

As a parent or guardian, we want you to know we appreciate your help and leadership. We encourage you to get involved on your child’s team to make the experience more enjoyable for them. Whether it be bringing team snacks, water, fruit, or high fives, the kids DO appreciate you being there! ALL parents must be on site with their children as part of our Rising Tide Youth Sports policy. We appreciate your help in this matter.

GAME RULES

DIVISIONS 

Varsity

8.5ft Goal

28.5 size ball

NCAA

10ft Goal

28.5 size ball

NBA East

10ft Goal

28.5 size ball

NBA West

10ft Goal

28.5 size ball

PLAYERS: 

Each team needs at least four players at the start of each game. If a team has less than four players, they will forfeit.

It’s for everybody! EVERYONE on each team will play, and EVERYONE will play on the court; it’s up to the coach’s discretion as to how to ensure playing time. The intent is to provide all participants playing time regardless of skill level or experience. The coach’s role is to help ensure each child plays and has a positive experience.

* The “Varsity” division will have automatic 5-minute rotations for player substitutions. 

PLAYER  ELIGIBILITY 

All players must be in the group corresponding to their current grade as of draft day. They must also have completed an online registration and waiver. Players may only be moved up if the parent and Youth Sports Supervisor feel it is best for the participant. Any team caught using players of an incorrect grade/school to gain an unfair advantage will forfeit the game.

TIME & GAMEPLAY 

- All divisions play two 20-minute halves.

- Running clock. The clock will stop in the last two minutes of gameplay if the score is within 15 points. If the score is greater than 15 points, the clock will continue to run.

- Halftime will be three minutes (if time permits).

- Each team will have two 60-second timeouts per half.

- Overtime will consist of one two-minute period. If the score is still tied after the overtime period, the game will go into a “sudden death” period; the first team to score wins. Overtime will be played with a “stop clock” on dead balls and free throws.

- Timeouts may be called by the coach of the offensive team while the ball is in play.

- Anyone may call a timeout during a deadball situation.

START OF GAME

A jump ball will start the game. To start the second half, the ball will be put into play with a throw-in under the alternating possession procedure. All other jump balls will be alternating possessions. Jump balls occur when two opponents have one or both hands firmly on the basketball. Teams will change baskets at the end of the first half. 

SCORING

FIELD GOAL = 2 points 

FREE THROWS = 1 point 

3-POINTERS= 3 points (must be shot behind the 3-point line)

DEFENSE Teams may play either zone or man-to-man defense. If playing man-to-man, it may only be played once the offensive team has passed 3’ over the mid-court line. The defensive team must retreat back across the mid-court before engaging in either tactic. On out-of-bounds plays, the defender must stay on the court at all times. 

PRESSING Teams have five seconds to put the ball in play; teams have 10 seconds to pass the halfcourt line. Pressing is NOT allowed throughout the competition except for grades 6-8.

OUT-OF-BOUNDS Teams have 5 seconds to put the ball in play; teams have 10 seconds to pass the half-court line.

FOULS 

UNNECESSARY CONTACT OF PLAYERS CONSTITUTES A PERSONAL FOUL, AND EQUALS A TEAM FOUL!

- Charging, a half-court violation (backcourt pressing), tripping, pushing, or contact from behind. This may occur on offense or defense, resulting in a turnover 

- If a foul occurs while shooting, the player who was fouled will be awarded two free throws. The violating player is given a personal foul and a team foul.

- If a foul occurs in the course of play, the ball is awarded to the other team out of bounds. The violating player is given a personal foul and a team foul. 

- Although fouls will be kept, players will not foul out of a game unless the officials feel the fouling is excessive and could be a risk to other players, at which point the player may be disqualified without warning.

REFEREES

The referees are in charge of the game, and their decisions are FINAL, right or wrong.

Please cooperate with the Youth Sports staff in creating and maintaining an environment in which each participant may have fun, learn the game, and be a good sport. The referees may occasionally stop play for instructional purposes when necessary, and will subjectively make allowances (as discussed and set up by each division) based on ability, for violations.

The Rising Tide Center reserves the right to send home anyone (this includes coaches, players, and spectators) who violates the code of conduct, rules, and regulations set by the program for the health, safety, and welfare of all participants.

We encourage parents to focus on the children and not the referees. 

Have fun.. And get buckets!