Mission Statement and Core Values 

Mission Statement

Cherry Hill Girls Travel Basketball Association (CHGTBA) is a volunteer organization with a mission to contribute to increasing the passion for basketball in the community through the operation of a model youth basketball program that emphasizes strong fundamentals, excellent instruction/coaching, equal and maximum opportunities and transparent administration.

Core Values of CHGTBA

The Core Values of the Organization include:  

• Player Development – The advancement of individual and team skills of all participants through practice and games is at the core of what we are attempting to accomplish.  We will strive to provide as many opportunities to practice and play for as many kids as is reasonable.  
  
  
• Sportsmanship – We expect that all participants in our program including players, coaches, program officials and parents will conduct themselves with respect and a positive, constructive attitude toward the game and toward each other.  CHGTBA expects all participants to exhibit: winning without bragging, losing without complaining or making excuses, treating referees and opponents with respect, encouraging teammates, respecting the coaches, officials and volunteers of the organization.  Without this fundamentally positive and respectful attitude, attempts to accomplish any of our goals are undermined.
  
  
• Competition  – Competition and the desire to win are essential elements of CHGTBA.  This is based on our belief that competition is an important part of player development and that playing to win is an important part of competition.  We recognize, however, that the level of competition and playing to win will vary based on age, league, regular season and playoffs.
  
  
• Fairness and Transparency – Our processes and our management will be fair and transparent.  Merit, skill, positive attitudes and hard work will be rewarded.  Our selection processes for our teams and coaches, along with our finances and rules and regulations will be managed in a clear, direct and open way.  Not everyone will agree with every selection or decision.  We will strive to ensure that the processes by which selections or decisions are arrived at are fair to the whole and transparent to all. 
  
  
• Fun and Safety - We believe the most important reason young people play sports is to have fun. This does not mean that everything every player does is fun all the time. It does mean that when a player looks back on the year, they feel they been in an environment that was fun. We also require that the environment is safe for players, coaches and all involved.  

Commitment: This travel program will require each player along with her parent/parents to make a serious commitment to practices, games and tournaments.  Understanding each individual may have other conflicts; the program will have practice and games several times a week. Please evaluate your ability to commit before you earn a spot on a team. If conflicts arise with the inability to make practice, we ask you to discuss with the Board directly to determine the options.

Season info: The season will begin with tryouts on October 15,16,17.  Practice will begin the last week of October and continue through the first week of March. It is our goal to have each team practice a minimum of twice a week in the preseason and a minimum of once a week after games start.  If gym time is available and schedules permit, we will add additional practices where possible.  Games will begin for the 5th-8th grade teams the first week of December and 4th grade games begin in January.  Home games will be played at Rosa International Middle School.  

Tryouts:

1.      The league stipulates that players must be Cherry Hill residents in order to participate.   There are exceptions; if you feel your daughter’s circumstances justify special consideration please bring it to the attention of the CHGTBA Board.  Exceptions will be addressed on a case by case basis and will ultimately require league approval.

2.       Each participant must make at least one of the three tryouts.  This will allow for a fair evaluation of skills and talent to be determined by a panel of coaches. If you cannot make tryouts please email the Board of Directors with the circumstances.  It will be the sole discretion of the board to determine the steps taken to evaluate the individual player.  (Note it is strongly recommended players attend all tryouts)

3.      Players will be evaluated by drills and game play.  Team play and sportsmanship will factor into team selection.

4.      Players will be chosen by a panel of coaches using a grading system on skills and attributes needed to compete on a travel level.

Playing Time: 

CHGTBA is not a recreation program and will be run at a higher level.   It is expected that playing time be earned through performance and attitude.  It is the belief of the CHGTBA Board that all players who make the expected commitment to their team be rewarded with playing time in games.  We also recognize that basketball is a fluid sport and game situations, match-ups and roster size can cause playing time to vary greatly game to game.  While playing time is allocated at the discretion of each coach, it is the goal of the CHGTBA that players in good standing (commitment and attitude) average not less than six minutes per half.

Playing time issues should first be discussed directly with the coach.  We recommend you schedule a discussion with the coach and not discuss this immediately after a game or in the presence of players and other parents.  If you are still concerned about playing time, the second course of action will be to alert the Board Chair of your concerns.

Parent Conduct:

1.      Parents are not to coach their child from the sideline.  If you feel coaching is needed please do after the game or discuss with the coach the day after the game.

2.      Parents and players are restricted from speaking to the officials during or after the game.  Talking to the officials will be the sole job of the coach.

3.      Sportsmanship is learned by example.  Encourage good play.  There will be no yelling or ridiculing any child from her team or the opponent.

4.      Parent participation is extremely helpful.  You do not need to be expert at basketball to work the clock or the scorebook.

Failure to abide by these codes will result in dismissal from the game and future games as well.

Coaches Conduct

1.      Coaches will set the example of team play, team leadership, and sportsmanship

2.      Coaches will have a background check for the organization on file

3.      Coaches will be required to fulfill all training requirements set forth by the CHGTBA Board.  These programs will primarily be focused on player safety.  Failure to complete before mid-season will be grounds for removal.

4.      The Board and all coaches serve on a voluntary basis.  Without the sacrifice of these volunteers this program would not be possible.  However, the ultimate goal of the program is to create the best possible experience for the players.  Coaches who are not compliant with the rules and expectations of the program will be subject to disciplinary action.  The Board reserves the right to remove coaches with documented cause.  All issues will be decided by the Board of Directors

5.      Coaches will provide a safe and effective environment for player participation and development.

6.      Unauthorized coaches are not permitted in the player area at games.