Youth Basketball Leagues - Recreational Program Survey

Thank you for completing the Program Survey below. A few notes:
- This is for Recreational Programs only (not competitive/travel or AAU programs)
- For each question, please choose what you feel is the best answer from the list

When we have finished taking responses to the survey, we will provide a summary of all the responses to participants that have provided valid responses to all questions.

Question Title

* This survey is geared toward the typical recreational basketball league in small to medium sized communities (typically less than 80k population), whereby:
- the league offers the sole basketball program in the community for recreational players (yet the league may also have another division for more competitive players)
- the league is open to players of a wide range of grades (at least covering grades 3-6)
- the coaches in the league are primarily parents, although in some instances other types of volunteer coaches are employed

Does your league fit this description?

Yes

No (please explain how your league is different)

Question Title

* Contact and League Information:

Your Full Name:

Your Title/Role Within League:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

City/Town where league is based:

State:

Entity that offers the League/Program: (ex: ABC Recreation Dept, ABC Youth League, ABC YMCA, etc.)

Grades Supported (Ex: 2-12 or K-8):

Number of Recreational Players:

Registration Fee for 5th Grade:

Question Title

* In what Month does the Recreational Program begin practices?
(Note: if you have more than one season, respond for your primary season)

Comments:

Question Title

* 1) Introductory Program Format: What is the format used for players in Grade 1?
Note: if your organization doesn't offer a program at this grade but another organization in your community has a program with good participation at this grade, please respond based on the format of that other program.

No Program: a program is not offered for players in Grade 1

Clinic Format without scrimmages: A Clinic format (without defined teams) with a defined clinic leader, almost all of the time spent working on individual fundamental skills at stations, with fun and age appropriate drills and games (few to no scrimmages)

Clinic Format with scrimmages: A Clinic format (without defined teams) with a defined clinic leader, some/most of the time spent working on individual fundamental skills at stations, with fun and age appropriate drills and games. Some or most of the sessions include scrimmages (full or half court)

Teams and Instructional Games: Teams are created and practice separately, a game/scrimmage schedule is defined, but the games are instructional without scores being kept

Teams and Competitive Games: Teams are created and practice separately, a game/scrimmage schedule is defined, and scores are kept

Comments:

Question Title

* 2) Introductory Program Coaching Ratio: What is the ratio of players to coaches in your Grade 1 Program?

No Program: a program is not offered for players in Grade 1

More than 15:1

Between 11:1 and 15:1

Between 8:1 and 10:1

Between 5:1 and 7:1

Less than 5:1

Comments:

Question Title

* 3) Use of Small Sided Games: As players are first learning to play in games, to what degree does your program employ half court, small sided games?

Don't have small sided games

Have half court 4v4 games on each end of court with few to no subs

Have half court 3v3 games on each end of court with a few subs

Have half court 3v3 games on each end of court that keep all players involved by using players not on the court as "outlets" or "safeties" on one or both sidelines of the court

In what Grade or Grades do you use Small Sided Games?:

Question Title

* 4) Beginning of Full Court Games: At what Grade does your program first have full court games with defined teams (including a defined schedule with teams playing other teams in the division/league)?

Grade 1 or below

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5 or above

Comments:

Question Title

* 5) Game Rules: In your Grade 2 through Grade 5 divisions, to what extent do you employ evolving rules to incrementally introduce the challenge and complexity of the game (i.e., "take the training wheels off slowly")?

Game rules don't change from one grade to the next between grades 2 and 5

Game rules change roughly every 2 years

Game rules change roughly every year

Game rules change roughly every year, and sometimes change within the season so coaches have the time to work on specific skills that will be needed to handle the increased challenge of the game when the rules change during the season

Comments:

Question Title

* 6) Combining Grades: What's your philosophy with respect to placing players from different grades in the same division?

We combine grades intentionally and regardless of registration numbers, as we feel it promotes more effective skill development for players

We combine grades only when we have insufficient registrations in a given age/gender group, AND we define insufficient registrations as somewhere less than 60 players in an age/gender group, because we believe we need at least 6 or more teams to make a division

We combine grades only when we have insufficient registrations in an given age/gender group, AND we define insufficient registrations as somewhere less than 40 players in an age/gender group, because we believe we need at least 4 teams to make a division

We try to NEVER combine grades, and if we can't create 4 teams in an age/gender group we will pursue playing recreational games against adjacent communities as we believe the hassle of traveling is less of a problem than the problems created by combining grades

Comments:

Question Title

* 7a) Rim Heights: For each of the grades below, please specify the rim height used for practices/games:

	No Program	less than 7' 0"	7' 0"	7' 6"	8' 0"	8' 6"	9' 0"	9' 6"	10' 0"
Pre-K	Pre-K No Program	Pre-K less than 7' 0"	Pre-K 7' 0"	Pre-K 7' 6"	Pre-K 8' 0"	Pre-K 8' 6"	Pre-K 9' 0"	Pre-K 9' 6"	Pre-K 10' 0"
K	K No Program	K less than 7' 0"	K 7' 0"	K 7' 6"	K 8' 0"	K 8' 6"	K 9' 0"	K 9' 6"	K 10' 0"
1st Grade	1st Grade No Program	1st Grade less than 7' 0"	1st Grade 7' 0"	1st Grade 7' 6"	1st Grade 8' 0"	1st Grade 8' 6"	1st Grade 9' 0"	1st Grade 9' 6"	1st Grade 10' 0"
2nd Grade	2nd Grade No Program	2nd Grade less than 7' 0"	2nd Grade 7' 0"	2nd Grade 7' 6"	2nd Grade 8' 0"	2nd Grade 8' 6"	2nd Grade 9' 0"	2nd Grade 9' 6"	2nd Grade 10' 0"
3rd Grade	3rd Grade No Program	3rd Grade less than 7' 0"	3rd Grade 7' 0"	3rd Grade 7' 6"	3rd Grade 8' 0"	3rd Grade 8' 6"	3rd Grade 9' 0"	3rd Grade 9' 6"	3rd Grade 10' 0"
4th Grade	4th Grade No Program	4th Grade less than 7' 0"	4th Grade 7' 0"	4th Grade 7' 6"	4th Grade 8' 0"	4th Grade 8' 6"	4th Grade 9' 0"	4th Grade 9' 6"	4th Grade 10' 0"
5th Grade	5th Grade No Program	5th Grade less than 7' 0"	5th Grade 7' 0"	5th Grade 7' 6"	5th Grade 8' 0"	5th Grade 8' 6"	5th Grade 9' 0"	5th Grade 9' 6"	5th Grade 10' 0"
6th Grade	6th Grade No Program	6th Grade less than 7' 0"	6th Grade 7' 0"	6th Grade 7' 6"	6th Grade 8' 0"	6th Grade 8' 6"	6th Grade 9' 0"	6th Grade 9' 6"	6th Grade 10' 0"

Comments:

Question Title

* 7b) Availability of Basketballs at Practices: In 4th Grade, what is the ratio of basketballs to players during a typical practice?

2 or fewer basketballs per 10 players

3-4 basketballs per 10 players

5-6 basketballs per 10 players

7-10 basketballs per 10 players

more than 10 basketballs per 10 players

Comments:

Question Title

* 8) Playing Time: What rules do you have with respect to minimum playing time?

We do not require a minimum amount of playing time (or the minimum is less than 25% of the game)

Players must receive a minimum playing time of 25% of the game

Players must receive a minimum playing time of 33% of the game

Players must receive a minimum playing time of 40% of the game

All players must be given equal playing time, regardless of how many players attend a game

Followup Question: Do you provide coaches with a playing grid or some other tool to use to ensure your playing time minimum is met?

Question Title

* 9) Use of Zone Defenses: At what Grade do the game rules first allow for Zone Defenses?

Grade 3 or below

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7 or 8

Grade 9 or above

Zone Defenses are never allowed

Comments:

Question Title

* 10) Beginning of Playoffs: At what Grade does your program first have playoffs that determine a division/league champion?

Grade 3 or below

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7 or 8

Grade 9 or above

At no point are playoffs held

Comments:

Question Title

* 11) General Youth Coach Training/Certification: What answer best describes what is provided and/or required by your volunteer coaches w.r.t. general coaching training or certifications? Note: this training is generic to all youth sports (is not sport specific) and typically includes "best practice" topics like positive coaching, injury prevention, bullying, dealing with parents, etc.

Nothing is offered and therefore nothing is required

Nothing is required, although coaches are invited to a presentation or forum that covers general youth coaching topics (or are provided with online links to similar)

Coaches are required to go through a one-time multi-hour training on youth coaching topics (and may be required to pass a one time test and/or hold a certification)

Coaches are required to go through the one time training/certification, and are also required to do some form of continuing education each year

In addition to the one time training/certification and annual continuing education requirements, coaches are evaluated formally (through surveys or other methods) on an annual basis w.r.t. youth coaching best practices

Comments:

Question Title

* 12) Basketball Specific Coaching Materials/Support at Beginning of Season: What answer best describes what is provided to your volunteer coaches at the beginning of the season to help them in incrementally teaching the game to the players in the league? Coaching Materials include skill goals by grade (proficiency goals), suggested practice plans, teaching tips by skill area, suggested drills, etc.

Nothing is provided

Coaches are given (via email or on the league's website) a list of basketball websites where they can access coaching materials

An annual and general "Coaches Clinic" is held, but not much in the way of coaching materials are handed out

An annual and general "Coaches Clinic" is held and some materials are handed out, although the topics covered and materials provided are general and do not differ for the coaches in each division

Coaches are given some level of grade or division specific coaching materials, such as suggested plans and drills for their specific grade

Coaches are given a comprehensive set of coaching materials specific to the grade/division they are coaching, including suggested plans, drills, teaching tips, proficiency goals, etc.

Comments:

Question Title

* 13) Basketball Specific Coaching Materials/Support During Season: What answer best describes what is provided to your volunteer coaches during the season to help them in incrementally teaching the game to the players in the league?

Nothing is provided

Coaches are given some level of general coaching materials at different points of the season, such as suggested plans and drills (but not specific to their grade/division)

Coaches are given some level of grade or division specific coaching materials at different points of the season, such as suggested plans and drills for their specific grade

A comprehensive set of coaching materials specific to the grade/division they are coaching are provided on a weekly basis, including suggested plans, drills, teaching tips, proficiency goals, etc.

Professional Instructors are in the gym during all weekly practices to help teach specific skills, run drills, answer questions for coaches, etc.

Comments:

Question Title

* 14) Assessing Coaches Performance: What does your league do each season to assess whether a coach is doing a good job? (CHECK ANY AND ALL THAT APPLY)

Parents can add in comments about the coach in a general survey about the recreational program

Parents are asked to fill out a multi-question evaluation for their child's coach

Parents can talk to a designated Player Agent with questions or concerns about their child's experience

Parents can send an email to the league (or fill out a form online) with comments or concerns about their child's experience

League officials make periodic visits to practices to monitor what the coaches are doing

A league official or paid supervisor is present at ALL practices to monitor what the coaches are doing

Other (please describe):

Question Title

* 15) End of Season Event: In Grades 2-4, what, if any, type of end of season event do you have to help finish the season on a fun note (and encourage players to come back next season)?

No event is held

A pizza party or similar

A Jamboree where teams have rotating scrimmages (and potentially some food afterwards)

A Jamboree with rotating scrimmages and skills competitions with awards

Comments:

Question Title

* 16) Participation Level: Using estimated numbers from last season, please provide the information below, responding with a single number in each box.

Number of total 3rd Grade Boys in your community?

Number of 3rd Grade Boys participating in your program?

Number of total 3rd Grade Girls in your community?

Number of 3rd Grade Girls participating in your program?

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* Contact and League Information:

Question Title

* In what Month does the Recreational Program begin practices? (Note: if you have more than one season, respond for your primary season)

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* 2) Introductory Program Coaching Ratio: What is the ratio of players to coaches in your Grade 1 Program?

Question Title

* 3) Use of Small Sided Games: As players are first learning to play in games, to what degree does your program employ half court, small sided games?

Question Title

* 4) Beginning of Full Court Games: At what Grade does your program first have full court games with defined teams (including a defined schedule with teams playing other teams in the division/league)?

Question Title

* 5) Game Rules: In your Grade 2 through Grade 5 divisions, to what extent do you employ evolving rules to incrementally introduce the challenge and complexity of the game (i.e., "take the training wheels off slowly")?

Question Title

* 6) Combining Grades: What's your philosophy with respect to placing players from different grades in the same division?

Question Title

* 7a) Rim Heights: For each of the grades below, please specify the rim height used for practices/games:

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* 7b) Availability of Basketballs at Practices: In 4th Grade, what is the ratio of basketballs to players during a typical practice?

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* 8) Playing Time: What rules do you have with respect to minimum playing time?

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* 9) Use of Zone Defenses: At what Grade do the game rules first allow for Zone Defenses?

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* 10) Beginning of Playoffs: At what Grade does your program first have playoffs that determine a division/league champion?

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* 13) Basketball Specific Coaching Materials/Support During Season: What answer best describes what is provided to your volunteer coaches during the season to help them in incrementally teaching the game to the players in the league?

Question Title

* 14) Assessing Coaches Performance: What does your league do each season to assess whether a coach is doing a good job? (CHECK ANY AND ALL THAT APPLY)

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* 15) End of Season Event: In Grades 2-4, what, if any, type of end of season event do you have to help finish the season on a fun note (and encourage players to come back next season)?

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* 16) Participation Level: Using estimated numbers from last season, please provide the information below, responding with a single number in each box.

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* 17a) Your Own Assessment of Your Recreational League: What 3 things do you feel your league does BEST?

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* 17b) Your Own Assessment of Your Recreational League: What 3 areas do you feel are OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT?

* In what Month does the Recreational Program begin practices?
(Note: if you have more than one season, respond for your primary season)