Intramural basketball begins the week of November 17. Teams will be finalized the previous week. Coaches will contact players at that time.
BASKETBALL PROGRAM INFORMATION
Masco Youth Basketball, administered by the Boxford Athletic Association, is open to boys and girls in grades 1 through 8 who live in Boxford, Middleton, and Topsfield. We strive to teach fundamentals and develop a passion for basketball.
Whether you are a coach or a cheering parent, you will have many opportunities to help our kids show good sportsmanship (following our example, of course), understand the benefits of teamwork (a good shot usually follows a great pass), win with grace and lose with dignity. Your ongoing encouragement will last a lifetime.
Think back to your younger days in elementary school sports. We all have examples of a childhood star who went on to do amazing things on the court in high school and college. Let's also remember the kids whose best days were in elementary and middle school, as well as those who did not hit their stride until high school, or later. Masco Youth Basketball provides an opportunity for enthusiastic participation at all levels of ability.
We offer intramural and travel programs. The intramural season begins the week before Thanksgiving and usually ends by March 1, depending on weather disruptions during the season. Games and practices are at Masco and the tri-town elementary schools. The travel season runs from early November to mid-March.
All coaches, players, and parents are expected to read and observe the Standards of Conduct document (see link on this website). Adherence to these guidelines are a requirement for participation in Masco Youth Basketball.
FACILITIES
Each facility has specific usage guidelines, designed to preserve the condition of the buildings, courts and equipment. Food and drinks are not allowed in the gyms. Players, parents, and other fans are expected to remain in the gym, except when getting a drink of water and transitioning to and from the parking lot. Every child in the building must be accompanied by an adult.
At the beginning of the season the schools provide a list of blackout dates when their courts are not available for our use. Other events may arise on short notice, requiring us to postpone or cancel practices and/or games. The schools reserve the right to make these changes and do everything they can to provide advanced notice so our program administrators can make alternate arrangements.
FEES
Registration is only available online by credit card. Late registrations cannot be guaranteed placement on a team.
The fee for the 2008-2009 intramural season is $40 for grades 1-2, $60 for grades 3-4, $75 for grades 5-6, and $60 for grades 7-8. There is a separate fee for the travel program (approximately $200), which is collected after travel team tryouts.
When you register, you are asked to provide an email address. Please provide the address of someone who checks email frequently. This is the primary method of communication for the basketball program. Once you are registered and we have your email address, we will send information about travel tryouts, program guidelines, schedules, etc. We also use email to notify parents of cancellations due to weather or other circumstances.
Refund Policy - If a player registers, then decides not to play, the full amount (less a $15 administrative fee) will be refunded if we are notified during the regular registration period. If we are notified when registration is in Late Mode, 50% of the fee will be refunded. Once intramural teams have been created, fees are no longer refundable. This refund policy does not apply to Opt Out situations for Travel players (see below).
INTRAMURAL PROGRAM
The intramural philosophy is to encourage participation, develop basic basketball skills, and have fun. Teams are formed by grade level and gender. We strive to create evenly matched teams for exciting, competitive games. Scoreboards and game clocks are used for grades 5 through 8. We do not post standings. T-shirts are provided for all players.
WE ARE ALWAYS IN NEED OF COACHES. PLEASE REGISTER WHEN YOU SIGN UP YOUR CHILD SO WE KNOW YOU ARE AVAILABLE TO COACH.
Grades 1 & 2 - team practices and games in the elementary schools on Thursdays for girls and Fridays for boys at 5:00 or 6:00; clinics on Sunday afternoons at Masco (2 or 3 during the season).
Grades 3 & 4 - practices and games in the elementary schools on Tuesdays for boys and Wednesdays for girls at 5:00 or 6:00; clinics and additional team practices on Sunday afternoons at Masco at 4:00 for girls and 5:00 for boys (not every Sunday; teams will alternate weeks).
Grades 5 & 6 - boys practices, games, and clinics on Saturday afternoons at Masco; girls practices, games, and clinics on Sunday afternoons at Masco. Referees are provided.
Grades 7 & 8 - games on Friday evenings at Masco and Essex Aggie. Referees are provided.
TRAVEL PROGRAM
Players in grades 5 through 8 are invited to try out for a travel team. Tryouts are in October. The number of teams formed each year is determined by interest in the program, overall ability of the age group, available gym space, and coaching volunteers. Most travel teams will have two practices during the week and one or two games on the weekend. The season runs through mid-March.
Girls Grades 5 through 8 - Home games are played on Saturdays in the Masco and Proctor gyms. Away games are on Saturdays or Sundays. Practices are weekday evenings at Masco and the elementary schools. Practice times are at 3:30, 5:00, 6:30, or 8:00, with the later times usually assigned to the 7th and 8th graders. The fee is $220 (subject to change). Players purchase uniforms.
Boys in Grades 5 through 8 - Boys A teams participate in the Cape Ann Youth Basketball League and B teams play in the Eastern League. Home games are on Saturdays in the Masco and Proctor gyms. Away games are on Saturdays or Sundays. Practices are weekday evenings at Masco and the elementary schools at 5:00, 6:30, or 8:00, with the later times usually assigned to the 7th and 8th graders. The fee is $220 for Cape Ann players and $200 for the Eastern League (fees subject to change). Uniforms are loaned to the players and must be returned at the end of the season.
IMPORTANT SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR CAPE ANN BOYS TEAMS - Home games will now be at 8:30 for 5th grade, 9:45 for 6th, 11:00 for 7th, and 12:15 for 8th.
Opt Out Option
The Opt Out option is intended for players who will miss many of their Intramural games due to schedule conflicts with other activities (unrelated to basketball). We have revised the schedule so overlap between Intramural games and Travel games are kept to a minimum. Here is a summary of Opt Out for this season:
7th & 8th Grade Players (Girls & Boys) - there are no basketball-related schedule conflicts. All are expected to participate in Intramurals. Opt Out is available on request.
5th & 6th Grade Boys - there will be occasional conflicts with Intramural games. Opt Out is available on request.
5th & 6th Grade Girls - Intramural games for this age group are now on Sundays. Conflicts with Travel games will be minimal. Opt Out is available on request.
The Opt Out decision must be made prior to the intramural draft, which usually occurs one week after Travel rosters are posted. This will be strictly enforced. Late Opt Outs disrupt the team composition and hinder an Intramural team's ability to play at a competitive level. Opt Out decisions after the draft will not be honored and the player will be required to participate in the Intramural program or forfeit his/her roster spot on the Travel team. Several notices will be sent to players before and immediately after tryouts.
We strongly encourage all travel players to participate in Intramural basketball. In addition to the obvious benefit of more time on the court, Intramurals provides an opportunity to experiment with new skills and different positions, which a player may feel uncomfortable doing on the travel team. Intramurals provides an opportunity to play with more classmates and get to know more kids from the tri-town community. Many of our children participate in competitive extra-curricular activities. Intramurals provides the opportunity to have fun and get exercise in a low stress, highly social setting.
Travel Team Tryouts
Each grade has two designated tryout dates and times. The program administrators work very hard to avoid conflicts with fall sports, however, a tryout date may occasionally conflict with football, soccer or other activities. Attendance is REQUIRED for team placement.
Players run through drills and play in live game situations. Skills are assessed by at least two neutral evaluators, sometimes as many as four. Evaluators do not participate in his/her child's age group.
Shortly after the tryouts are finished, rosters are posted on this website.
Tryout Schedule (@ Masco Field House; schedule subject to change)
5th Grade Girls: OCT 24, 6:00 - 7:30; OCT 26, 12:00 - 1:00
6th Grade Girls: OCT 23, 6:00 - 7:30; OCT 26, 1:30 - 2:30
7th Grade Girls: OCT 23, 7:30 - 9:00; OCT 26, 3:00 - 4:00
8th Grade Girls: OCT 24, 7:30 - 9:00; OCT 26, 4:30 - 5:30
5th Grade Boys: OCT 18, 3:00 - 4:30; OCT 20, 6:00 - 7:30
6th Grade Boys: OCT 18, 4:30 - 6:00; OCT 20, 7:30 - 9:00
7th Grade Boys: OCT 18, 12:00 - 1:30; OCT 21, 6:00 - 7:30
8th Grade Boys: OCT 18, 1:30 - 3:00; OCT 21, 7:30 - 9:00
LOST AND FOUND
Any items left behind at Masco will be put in a Lost and Found bin. At the end of each season the clothing is donated to a local shelter. Please do not call the schools to try to locate lost items. The best approach is to look for it the next time you or your child is in the building for basketball game or practice.