Midgets

Information Booklet

1. Parents and coaches should encourage players and game officials to do their best and support them - this includes players on opposing teams.
   
   
2. The Midget officials are usually young men paid from funds collected at the season start. They try to do the best they can to make consistent calls. The Midget level of basketball is an early learning stage for most players and the games are very difficult to officiate for that reason. Official heckling from parents, players or coaches is poor sportsmanship. The level of officiating may vary from game to game and everyone should be understanding of those circumstances.
   
   
3. Officiating from the spectators and disputing the game officials' judgment is poor sportsmanship. Parents should refrain from such behavior so that officials will not have to ask parents to leave and perhaps not attend future games.
   
   
4. Temper tantrums by players, parents and coaches are discouraged. Parents should cheer for players but be reasonable in their actions and manners. Parents, players or coaches shall not confront opposing players, parents or coaches after the game about an issue. Bring the issue to your team coach for the league commissioner to address.
   
   
5. Disputed game rule calls should be discussed rationally by game officials and coaches prior to continuation of the game. Players and parents should not be involved in the discussion. Disputed calls and rules interpretation can best be handled in this manner. The game should be continued without further comment and let the players play.
   
   
6. CAA encourages team prayer prior to each game start. However, if a player, coach or team chooses not to participate, their choice should be respected. The CAA emphasis is athletics with a Christian spirit.
   
   
7. After the game, it is customary for players and coaches to shake hands with opponents in the spirit of sportsmanship and Christian fellowship.
   
   
8. Parents, players, coaches and officials should be respectful of the game location facilities. Everyone, including small children, should be under control so not to disrupt other activities that may be taking place at the game site. Extra effort is needed during the winter to help keep hallways, etc., clear from snow being tracked in from the outside. Everyone helping with chairs and other equipment after the game is strongly encouraged.
   
   
9. Safety is encouraged at all times by everyone.
   
   
10. The CAA will deal with continued abuse of sportsmanship consistently by players, coaches and officials.
    

1. Registration Fees
   "B" Midgets: $350.00
   "A" Midgets: $350.00
2. Fee Deadline
   All fees are due by January 22, 2010. Any team, whose registration fee has not been received by due date, will be suspended from further league games until the fee is paid. Forfeit fees will apply as well.
   
3. Eligibility
   All players must meet the age requirements for the division that they are playing. Younger players may play for an older team; however, older players cannot play for a younger age team. "B" Midgets will be 8 and 9 years old as of September 1, 2009. "A" Midgets will be 10 and 11 years old as of September 1, 2009. Contact Church Athletic Association (CAA) Midget Commissioner for possible exceptions.

   A CAA Midget player is allowed to play on only one CAA team. A Player Release Form is available for player(s) wishing to play for another church with a CAA team when their church has a team in CAA Basketball. The form is available on the CAA Website and also from the Midget Commissioner.

   THERE IS A LIMIT OF TWO OUTSIDE PLAYERS PER TEAM. Players must be accepted by CAA Midget Commissioner.

   While community traveling team players are eligible to participate in CAA, we believe that traveling players and their families should think carefully about how much time can/should be devoted to playing for a traveling team and a CAA team (schedule conflicts are common). If the decision is made to play in both leagues, traveling team players should be playing on a team that is equivalent to their skill level:

4. A Traveling ‘A’ player should be playing 2 grades higher (i.e. if player is on a 5th Grade Traveling ‘A’ team, than they should be participating on a 7th grade (Junior High) CAA team
5. A Traveling ‘B’ or ‘C’ player should be playing 1 grade higher (i.e. if player is on a 4th Grade Traveling ‘B’ team, than they should be participating on a 5th grade (Midget A) CAA team

   Team rosters are due to Commissioner by January 1, 2010. A late roster fee of $35.00 may be assessed per team per week. Players cannot be added to team rosters after the second game of the season. A player shall play in at least three regular season games to be eligible for tournament games. CAA plans to publish a Midget Program and all team rosters will be in the program so be complete, accurate and cooperative in completing the roster(s). Team rosters should be limited to 12 players as a maximum.

1. Postponements
   Games postponed by CAA due to inclement weather will be called by 4:00 p.m., if possible. Postponements will be on the CAA web site at www.caahoops.net in the NEWS section. For other postponements, contact the CAA Midget Commissioner.
   
   
2. Uniforms
   In the case where two teams have the same color uniform, a flip of the coin will determine the wearer of the jersey. Players shall not wear hats, caps or other head gear while playing a game.

   Teams must wear uniforms with no other lettering than the church's name and/or Christian team name. Team names should reflect Christian themes. Numbers are required to be on a player's uniform. A team cannot have two players with the same jersey number.

3. Coach's Duties and Responsibilities
   The coach must have a list of players' names and jersey numbers ready to hand to the scorekeeper upon entrance to the basketball court. Make sure that it is complete. Identify your team at the top of the scorebook. Game official(s) name should be in the scorebook, too.

   Each team is responsible for furnishing a scorekeeper or timer at each game. Have your parent selected upon arrival at the game site for score clock or scorebook. Game officials should not have to wait for this to happen. Adults/parents should perform the game scorekeeping and timing of games. Coaches/assistant coaches or players may not perform these duties. Be aware of coaches/players code in the Midget Program. Coaches shall not wear hats, caps or other headgear while coaching the game.

   The coach must supervise the team at all times. Players must remain in the basketball court area except for entering and leaving the building and getting a drink of water and restroom usage. Basketball court availability is extremely limited and the privilege of using the facilities rests with everyone's conduct while in the building. Bring a whistle to the game in case the game offical does not show. Select a parent to officiate if necessary.

   The coach should remind players not to leave valuables accessible to anyone. Players are recommended to have a physical check-up. After the game, make sure bench area is clear of water bottles, bags, etc.

4. Game Scheduling
   Game scheduling is a challenge with the number of teams and facilities. Every effort is made to take into the consideration of all teams and not just one team.
5. First Aid Kits
   First Aid kits should be provided at/near the scorer's table at each game site.
   

1. TIME:

   "B" Midgets - 7 minute quarters, 1 minute quarter breaks, 3 minute halves
   "A" Midgets - 8 minute quarters, 1 minute quarter breaks, 3 minute halves
   (Times may fluctuate due to available gym)

   MIDGETS TIME: Running time during the game. The clock is stopped only on free throws, time-outs, and at game official's request. Game officials are the referees only.

   MIDGETS OVERTIME: A two-minute overtime period will be played; if still tied, then sudden death. Overtime and sudden death will start with jump ball.

   SCOREKEEPERS AND TIMERS: Each team is to provide one person for each game to act as scorekeeper or timer. Cooperation on this matter is extremely important to the betterment of the league. Leave the scorebook at the game site.

   TIME-OUTS: Two per half with no carryover. Overtime is an extension of second half.

2. OFFICIALS: There shall be one official for all Midget games except as otherwise determined by the CAA Midget Commissioner. Game officials shall not wear hats, caps or any other head gear while officiating. It is recognized that many "B" Midget players will be playing their first year of basketball and game competition. Part of the program is instructional and game officials may take time to explain an infraction to the players. It is difficult to get game officials to call a game exactly the same way. They are human and different officiating styles are used. CAA tries to encourage consistency and to keep the game from getting too rough (for instance, using a lot of hand/arm hacking rather than playing good defense by moving the feet).
   
   
3. PROTESTS: The referee and opposing coaches shall be notified of stated action immediately (before play resumes). All games that are protested for any legitimate reason must be in writing (postmarked or E-mailed) to the CAA Midget Commissioner within 48 hours after the game.
   
   
4. NUMBER OF PLAYERS NEEDED TO BEGIN A GAME: Game may start with four players and may finish with two. One player remaining constitutes a forfeit. A ten-minute grace period (official's time) after scheduled time for start of game will be allowed to have enough players. The Game Official will call a forfeit after a ten-minute grace period. CAA will assess a $35.00 fee per game per team for forfeit. The forfeit fee applies to games forfeited by teams due to CAA rule(s) infractions too.
   
   
5. PLAYER FOULING OUT: A PLAYER WITH FIVE FOULS CANNOT CONTINUE PLAYING AFTER FIFTH FOUL. If player with five fouls is on the court while ball is in play, the game shall be forfeited to the other team. Player technical foul counts toward team and personal fouls.
   
   
6. SWEARING: High School Rules will prevail. Swearing by players and coaches is prohibited and first offense will result in technical foul and warning. Swearing a second time will result in expulsion from the game (discretion of game officials). Players and coaches intimidation and or taunting of opposing players, game officials or parents will not be tolerated and may result in expulsion from the game. Players and coaches will be suspended by CAA for inappropriate behavior and unsportsmanlike conduct detrimental to CAA.
   
   
7. INJURIES: Time out, follow High School Rules. If injury is fake, a technical foul will be called (finish play unless there is danger).
   
   
8. PRE-GAME WARM UP BALLS: A team is allowed only two (2) pre-game warm up balls. The balls must be in a bag or a proper container and must be in possession of the team coach or a responsible person. A player, players' siblings and parents must not bounce a ball in locker rooms, hallways, on the sidelines or anywhere else in the church or at any other game site. All other balls must be stored or kept from the gym floor. Pre-game warm up should be regimented - there is little or no time for coaching as 10 minutes is all that is normally available.
   
   
9. FULL COURT PRESS IN MIDGETS "B" AND "A" DIVISION: The full court press will not be allowed in the "B" and "A" Midget Division. The mid-court line will constitute boundary and offending teams will be penalized with a technical foul.
   
   
10. THREE SECONDS RULE: The three seconds in the lane rule will not be strictly enforced at the "B" and "A" Midget level. A player, taller than most of the other players, will be expected to move in or out of the free throw lane area. Game officials have the discretion to call the three seconds rule.
    
    
11. MIDGETS FREE-THROW LINE: The free-throw line for "B" and "A" Midgets will be at a line three feet closer to the basket than the regulation free-throw line. Free-throw shooter has the option to shoot from the 15 foot free throw line. If the broken line is not present, tape shall be used to mark the free-throw line. Play the ball when it hits the rim.
    
    
12. GAME TIME: Game time is start of game (tip-off). Coaches should make every effort to have teams on the court and ready to play at game time. Game time is not arrive at the game location time. Teams should be at the game location at least ten minutes prior to game time.
    
    
13. BASKETBALL SIZE: The "B" Midget games shall be played with a basketball that is no larger than 28 inches in circumference. "A" Midget games shall be played with a basketball that is no larger than 28.5 inches in circumference.
    
    
14. JUMP BALL: Jump ball at start of the game; alternate possession thereafter. Overtime and sudden death will start with jump ball.
    
    
15. DEFENSE IN "B" AND "A" MIDGETS: The defensive player cannot steal the basketball from the offensive player until all three points (both feet and the ball) are across the 10-second line. Offensive player must have possession in the front court. The defensive player below the free throw line extended to the side line can intercept the first pass thrown from the back court across the 10-second line to the front court. The first pass thrown from the back court across the 10-second line to the front court cannot be intercepted if between the 10-second line and the free throw line extended to the side line. First violation occurence will result in a warning to offending team and ball out of bounds to offended team. Second violation shall result in a technical foul on offending team and two free throws and ball out of bounds to offended team. Offensive team shall not roll the ball from the backcourt into the front court; defensive team awarded the ball and warning given to offensive team. Second violation will result in technical foul being called.
    
    
16. "B" MIDGET DEFENSE: A zone defense is not allowed. Double-teaming is only allowed in the free throw lane. When offensive team has ball possession in the front court, defensive player must be within five feet of offensive player except outside of 3-point line. Also in "B" Midgets, the defensive team cannot have more than two defenders between the free throw line and the 10-second (mid court) line until the offensive team crosses the 10-second line into the front court. First violation occurrence will result in a warning to offending team and ball out of bounds to offended team. Second violation shall result in a technical foul on offending team and two free throws and ball out of bounds to offended team. Player to player defense is allowed. Triple teaming or any other defenses are not allowed. Defensive player may guard offensive player in back court on out of bounds pass from front court in last one minute of the fourth quarter and overtime.
    
    
17. "B" MIDGET OFFENSE: The four-corner offense (one player in each corner of front court) is not allowed. Also, four players cannot go and stand in one corner either. The purpose is to not allow one player to dominate the game.
    
    
18. "A" MIDGET DEFENSE: Zone defense and double-teaming are allowed in the front court. All defenses are allowed in the front court. Defensive player may guard offensive player in back court on out of bounds pass from the front court in the last one minute of the fourth quarter and overtime.
    
    
19. DUNKING: Dunking is not allowed before, during or after games by coaches, players, parents or anyone else.
    
    
20. GAME CHANGE: The CAA Midget Commissioner has the authority to change game schedules/locations during the season in the best interests of CAA.
    
    
21. THREE POINT FIELD GOAL: The three point field goal is not allowed in "B" or "A" Midget basketball.
    
    
22. SUBSTITUTION OF PLAYERS AT MID-QUARTER is part for all Midget “B” and “A” games. Around mid-quarter (3:30 minute mark for Midget “B” and 4:00 minute mark for Midget “A” games), the referee will look for an opportunity to halt play to enable mid-quarter substitutions (coaches may alert referee to timing, but the referee will decide the appropriate time to halt play). Coaches then can quickly line up their teams at mid-court and communicate defensive assignments for the opposing team. This is not a time for coaches to huddle up with their teams and discuss play and strategy. First offense is a warning, the second offense will result in a charged timeout. Coaches can still call a timeout if desired to coincide with the mid-quarter (and only then can they discuss play and strategy with their team).
    Coaches will not be allowed to substitute a player during a time-out (unless the time-out corresponds to the mid-quarter) nor will they be able to sub in a player outside of the mid-quarter time. Coaches will only be allowed to substitute a player outside of the mid-quarter time if there is an injury or a player must leave a game early. At that time, the referee will stop play and give the opposing team an opportunity to assign a defender to the new player entering the game.
    
    
23. EQUAL PLAYING TIME: is part of all Midget “B” and “A” games. Corresponding to the mid-quarter substitution, a running total of each player’s participation will be tallied for the game. For the entire game, there are 8 periods of play (2 periods per quarter). During the game, no player will be allowed to enter a game if their participation in the lineup would result in participating 3 periods more than a teammate. For example, player A has played the entire first half (4 periods) and player B has played the equivalent of 1 quarter (2 periods). After halftime, player A will not be allowed to start the 3rd quarter (which would be his 5th period of play) unless player B is also scheduled to start the 3rd quarter. The only exception to this rule is if a player is injured or must leave the game early. Any player that is injured prior to the game and may or may not play must be acknowledged at the scorer’s table and would not be required to abide by the equal playing time rule.
    
    

1. RULES FOR TOURNAMENT AND LEAGUE TROPHY POSITIONS:
   
   1. If two teams are tied for one position, the winner of the regular season games between the two teams will be awarded the higher position.
      
      
   2. If two teams have played each other twice, each team winning one and losing one, the team that scored the most points will be declared the high finisher.
      
      
   3. If two teams have played each other twice, each team winning one and losing one, and there is no difference in points, the winner of the first game will be declared the high finisher.
      
      
   4. If three teams are tied for one position, consider only the games played by these three teams against each other. Team with best record finished highest. If the three teams accomplished a 1-1 record against each other, then the difference between points for and points against in these games (games among these teams only) shall determine the highest position to be awarded.
      
      
   5. If four or more teams are tied for one position, consider only the games among those teams. If two or more teams are still tied, then revert to rule A-1 and/or A-2, A-3.
      
   
   
2. SUPER SATURDAY GAMES:
   "B" and "A" Midgets Super Saturday games may be held at the end of the season. The first place teams will play selected players from the other league teams. If two divisions in age group, one division's players will play against the other division's players.
   
   
3. "B" AND "A" MIDGETS TROPHIES (seven teams - ten teams):

   *Trophies - League
   League Champion - Individual Trophies
   League Runner-up - Individual Trophies

   Trophies - Tournament
   1st place - Individual Gold Medals
   2nd place - Individual Silver Medals
   3rd place - Individual Bronze Medals
   4th place - Individual Bronze Medals
   
   *If there are six teams or less, league champion individual trophies will be provided and individual medals for 1st and 2nd in the tournament.
   *If there are more than 10 teams in a league age division, third place league individual trophies will be provided.
   

1. It is suggested that coaches have a first aid kit on the bench at all practices and games. The kit should contain protective gloves, gauze, tape, adhesive bandages, rubber gloves and at least two ice packs.
2. Coaches should have emergency phone numbers at the bench at all practices and games for all team members.
3. The home team coach should inspect the court for safety prior to the start of each game. He/she will look for items such as the proper placement of any crash pads, excessively dirty/dusty/wet floors, etc. and other objects such as chairs and tables at the basket ends of the court.
4. It is strongly encouraged that all team members play equal time each game. However, the league team players are not drafted from the same player pool and therefore, adjustment to playing time should be based on the opposing team competition. Remember that this is "instructional" basketball and game experience is the greatest teacher. However, make modifications as necessary according to the competition. In a close game, the better players may play more and in a game with a large score differential, the lesser skilled players can be played more in the best interests of CAA. It is a judgment situation as CAA wants to keep the games as exciting as possible for each team. Use the coaching opportunities to relate your love of basketball and Christ through the use of prayer or the sharing of your faith.

1. Plan your practices and games before you get to the court.
2. Keep your practices moving. This helps keep your team members from getting bored and into trouble.
3. Encourage and praise your team members. Building players up will get you further than tearing them down.
4. Use the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) philosophy in your coaching. Stick to the basics. Remember that these kids are beginning basketball players.
5. Teach the basics:
1. proper-shooting techniques
2. good chest and bounce passing
3. playing defense properly
4. rebounding and blocking out
5. playing positions
6. team play
6. Plan your player rotation playing time for a game before game time. However, make modifications as necessary according to the competition. In a close game, the better players may play more and in a game with a large score differential, the lesser skilled players can be played more in the best interests of CAA. It is a judgement situation as CAA wants to keep the games as exciting as possible for each team. The following are suggestions for player rotation:
7. Change lines in the middle of each quarter. Players will be less fatigued and be able to play harder when they are on the floor. The players on the bench will keep their minds on the game and be better behaved.
8. Mix up the lines within the game. Players have to pay better attention in the huddles. They also have to play with different players each time out on the floor. This helps promote team play and promotes the development of basic basketball skills.
9. In the drills run at practice, SHOOT, SHOOT and SHOOT baskets and handle the ball as much as possible. Repetition is the key to learning skills at this age.
10. Encourage team members to carry their gym shoes to practices and games. The snow and sand that gets carried onto the gym floor are a safety concern as well as damaging to the floor.
11. Recruit team parents to take on some of the other duties that are needed for a successful season, such as assigning score table duties, after game treats, game or practice cancellations, etc. Reward these parents at the end of the season.
12. When you talk with team, have them sit down. You will be amazed at the control that this simple measure gives you.
13. Have fun and enjoy the game, your team and the season! Your joy will be contagious to the team and their parents!
14. Teams should have at least six (6) practices prior to the league game season game schedule start. Instruct players on how to play the game with emphasis on the CAA Midget Information Booklet rules. Instruct players on how to take ball out of bounds after field goal, line up for free throw and fall back on defense when defensive team gets a rebound in the other teams offensive court.
    

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