Hello New Rockets Family Members
If you are on this page - you are new to Basketball or new to the Rockets - and want the details. Well, you have found the right page - here we will give you a big information dump of all things you need to know to prepare for the season when it will start and end - and all things in between.
First - Get Registered Early
If you are considering basketball for a young athlete this season you will want to get registered early. We typically open Registration for our Fall/Winter season after Canada Day Weekend. Competitive Summer programs are typically open for tryouts in Jan or early February, and Spring League 3x3 typically opens in February as well. Fall/Winter along with Spring is for all skill levels and experience, Summer is typically competitive tryouts for D1/2/3 aspiring athletes. We hope in the future to offer year-round programming for all skill levels but the community currently does not offer the facility access to support that. Jr NBA from the Rockets is typically
Our main / largest season is our Fall/Winter Club Season. This program is where athletes sign up, go through balancing, get put on a team, and are assigned a coach. Practice once or twice a week and play games on the weekends in the Fall and Winter. If you are reading this page - this is likely the program you registered for.
If you are trying to register for that program now, and do not see the age group you are looking for - it could likely mean we are full. If you see a waitlist option, you should grab it as most of our waitlisted athletes will get in, or we will work with a neighboring club to make sure as many kids as possible find a place to play. Waitlist fees are refundable, but required.
Now that you are registered - You need to get our app.
All of our schedule and location communication will come to you via our app. RAMP TEAMS
It can be found in your Android or iPhone App Store. Once downloaded - the app will ask you to set up an account or log in. If it's your first time ever using the RAMP TEAMS app for any sport (Baseball, Lacross, and others use RAMP as well, and you will use your same account to log in) - you will need to set up an account in the app. It takes seconds to do.
It's important that you sign up with the email you registered your athlete with to ensure your schedule will sync up.
Once complete - your schedule (if available) will show up here in the app. If there is none, or it says you are not associated with any teams - do not panic - it could be that you are early. If you got an email saying you should have your schedule in your app - and you don't see it - then send an email to operations@rocketsbasketball.ca and we'll look into for you.
The app will allow you to chat with other parents and your coach in a group chat. You can add other emails to your child’s profile in the app using the gear icon on the home screen, which will give app access to others (your child may want to access the app to manage thier own schedule, along with other parents or family). Profile pictures are great in here - it really helps the coaches, in the beginning, get to know all the kids.
Season Dates
What your child needs for basketball
Basketball is a simple sport when it comes to equipment. Properly fitting indoor shoes, ideally basketball shoes are very important. They should come to all sessions with a filled water bottle, as some schools and gyms do not have easy access to water, and some fountains at schools are only meant to fill bottles and not drink from directly. They should be in comfortable gym wear during practices and balancing. If the child has a reversible practice jersey from spring league past - your coach will love you wearing it to practices.
Jr NBA’ers will get a shirt and or Jersey from BBall Canada, and at the end of the program, they will get to keep a basketball, as well as some other swag items from the club along the way.
For Club Players - your child will be issued a jersey and short set. The set may fit a little big, but shouldn't be too small. The Rockets Jersey and Shorts are meant to be worn during games and not practices. This jersey needs to be returned at season end. Ideally, all cleaned up, in a large clear freezer back with the number showing so equipment coordinators scan and easily re-inventory the jersey.
Undershirts should match the jersey colors (as per league rules), No earnings during games, and no beads or similar hair dressings during play. We know these items can be expensive - but it's for the safety of the athletes and are not our rules, so they are not negotiable.
A positive attitude is very important. Club Fall/Winter Basketball is a minor basketball program - a program to teach kids the basics, get them active, and let them play some games. The coaches are volunteers. It's important for athletes and parents to respect them, and support them. If you run into a coach from other programs that are promising more, be weary. Advanced training and skills development is something that some experienced coaches can provide in practice but those advanced skill development activities are things you should seek via private training in the community.
Balancing/Placements
At the Rockets, all athletes try out for all teams. We do this with our balancing process. No team is preset (with the exception of affiliate teams that are from outside of our zone but play under the Rockets Banner). All athletes have to try out each season even if they made the 'top' team in their first year of that age group (which is rare). There are also big jumps in age groups. Your athlete could have been on a competitive team in their last year of U12, then the jump to U14 finds them in the middle to lower end of the pack next season. That is ok - kids mature and grow at completely different rates. All-stars in U10 may grow up to be U16 D1 Provincial Allstars, or - they may drop out of sports when they hit junior high. Or the opposite which happens more often than you think - a child could be on less experienced/skills teams in U10 and U12 - then mother nature kicks in and in their last year of U14 or first year of U16 - they turn into a young adult and their athleticism kicks in and they are on a Division 1 team. None of it matters as long as they are having fun. If your child ends up playing University Basketball or Higher - they will never ask you what division they played in Club Basketball when they were in Elementary or junior high. So for now, the best place for your young athlete is a team where they can contribute, grow, and make some good friends and maybe a few memories. Once they hit high school - they likely won't remember their U10/U12/U14 years of club basketball and what division they played.
Our process for balancing is simple - we want to see the kids play a few times and group them with like skilled athletes so they can have a chance to compete, contribute, and grow as young basketball players. For a more detailed description of our process - visit this site.
Practices
All coaches will have rules associated with their team. Younger groups, we encourage you to get involved and help coach, or be an assistant or team manager. Many hands make practices go smoother. If you are not helping, being in the gym during practice is not a bad idea. If your child rolls an ankle or gets hurt in any way - it's much easier for the coaches (who are only volunteers) if you are there to help. Some competitive teams may be drop off and pick up only, as parents at times distract. If you have a child that has known behavioral problems, please stay at practices. Our coaches are there to teach basketball and not discipline youth.
Most gyms have bad cellular service, so your coach and team managers may not get last-minute text messages. It's important that you find a way to get to the gym on time. Not all gyms have community access, and most all schools require a parent to be at the door as we are not allowed to prop them open for security reasons. When we are at practice, our club is only renting the gym - so families and athletes are not allowed to roam the halls.
Communicate with your coach and or team manager. Let them know what they need to know about your child and what motivates them. Any and all info can help the coaches.
Playing Time and Rules
Games are a lot of fun for everyone. We get to take what we learned in practice and hopefully apply it in the game. But there are some rules for parents and athletes during games that everyone has to follow.
Most groups will play the games using fair play rules. All rules for league play can be found on the mbans.ca website here -> https://cloud.rampinteractive.com/mbansca/files/rules/MBA_Rules_of_Play_20230824.pdf
U10/12 and 14’s play shifts.
U10’s play 10 shifts, 3:30 in length. All athletes must play equal shifts to everyone else on the team within 1 shift. They play 4v4 as well, on 8.5ft Nets.
U12’s are similar, they play 8 shifts of 4 minutes in length. But play 5v5 on 10ft nets.
Elementary-aged kids do not play zone or any full-court defense. Kids have to run back on defense on dead ball turnovers and made baskets, and let the other team progress the ball. This prevents experienced basketball coaches from implementing a defensive scheme (ie: a zone trap) and forces the team to work on fundamentals of man-to-man defense and good fundamental offensive with minimal plays and sets and more skill development.
U14 groups play fair play for the first 3 quarters of the game, and the 4th quarter is more open. So players will play 6 shifts of Fair Play, all players must not play more than one shift than any other teammate. In the top two competitive groups (Div 1 and 2) these rules are adjusted to mirror Jr High Basketball. U14 players can play full-court defense, but only man-to-man - no zones or zone traps.
U16 and U18 groups are open. Coach gets to choose who gets what minutes, and because athletes are grade 9 and up - Zones, Traps, and any other schemes are allowed. We as a club encourage coaches to get all players minutes, especially in U16 on lower divisions - so some coaches may choose to play shifts for the first half (for example) and then tighten up rotations in the second half. As athletes get closer to adulthood - it is important for them to start to work hard to earn reward, and sports (basketball) is a good teacher of that. Attitude in practice, showing up on time, and putting in the work - will all result in playing time.
Game Day
On game day - there are a few things you need to know. Athletes need to arrive early. RAMP app may say 1 pm start time, but that really means 12:40. The time in the app for your game is the “Scheduled Tip-Off Time”. You need a few minutes to change into the right footwear (as Dec/Jan/Feb can be winter boot season), and check in with the team manager and coach. At times, the doors to the school could be locked in between games and not open until 10-15 minutes before your game starts to help the school manage security concerns.
Have your jersey on, and check with your coach ahead of time in the chat to see what color your team is wearing that game. Make sure you don’t have earrings or any other hairdressings that could cause the officials to not let your child play. Try your best to make sure the undershirt matches the jersey colors. Don’t forget your water bottle (with your name on the bottle) and your shoes.
Games will have a short warm-up, and kids will do layups/shots/whatever the coach has them do. Parents will find a seat anywhere in the gym, kids will stay on the bench with their team the whole game (unless there is an injury). Kids should not be running back and forth to chat with parents. Parents are there to support and watch, coaches are there to coach and direct.
At the end of the game, do a check - does your child have everything they came with? The team and club do not carry a lost and found. If you leave something at the school - it’s at the school, and the club can not help you retrieve it - and the school likely will not either. It will end up in the Lost and Found at the school. So be sure to double-check.
Some gyms are Strick on what you can bring in. You are not supposed to show up with Coffees/Muffins/Egg McMuffins - the gym is technically a water-only environment and if a custodian has asked you to not come in with something, they are not picking on you - they have been asked to enforce a rule by the gym - so please comply and do not take it personally.
During gameplay - It’s a simple process. Support the kids, reward effort not results, cheer on the other team if they make a great play (even though we know you want them to lose - they are just kids as well who simply live in another part of town) - and never talk to the officials or coaches negatively.
Feel free to thank them, tell them we are grateful for them and without them the sport would not exist. But they will make mistakes, the same as your child will miss shots or turn the ball over. The Officials or Coaches are not allowed to scream at the athletes for slowing the game down every time they miss a shot or turn the ball over - and the audience and athletes are not allowed to tell the officials or coaches they missed calls or are not doing a great job. This is a minor basketball league - with minor officials who barely make enough to cover gas sometimes to and from the game. I know it can be frustrating to see a missed call - but there is no scenario sideline antics or bantering about the officials will change that call. Missed calls are a part of sports and a great life lesson for young athletes. Life will not always go your way.
The same goes for the coach. You may end up with an experienced coach, you may end up with a Rookie Coach. Both of those coaches will be learning and getting better every game, every practice. Thank them, encourage them. If you think your child is being slighted somehow with playing time, or quick subs, or any of those standard parent concerns - during and directly after the game is not an acceptable time to approach the coach with negativity. Even if you are correct in the concern, it is the incorrect time to bring it up (outside of player safety concerns of course).
Practice the 24-hour rule, because the club will likely (again, unless it’s a player safety concern) practice the 48-hour rule in responding. If you have a concern - wait 24hrs to see if it’s still a big concern before reaching out. The club will typically wait 24-48 hours to respond to those concerns as well, that way emotions have settled, and we can sort out whatever it bothering you.
From a club perspective - issues are rare. Especially if parents exercise the 24-48hr rule. We understand the athletes are your kids and nothing means more to you. We also understand with out officials and coaches - your kids wouldn’t have been at a game this weekend.
The best way to prevent any issue is to simply take the time at the beginning of the season to talk with your coaches, get to know them - and help them out a bit. Watch the door during practice, help them as a team manager and simply get involved.
Also, remember this is not the NBA. The rules are not exactly the same. FIBA rules are a bit different. Not all contact to a shooter is a foul if it does not create an advantage, or if it was initiated by the offensive player when the defender has been considered to be in a legal guarding position. A lot of casual and serious basketball fans who watch the NBA a lot, forget or do not know this - and think every bump is a foul and at times it creates some negative emotions. The kids need to know this to. The NBA is geared toward the offensive player, and to make sure the games have the highest score possible. FIBA is a bit more neutral and typically a lot more physical.
Club Related Stuff
As a Rocket - there are a few things you will need to know.
Club Management
Contrary to what one would think, the Rockets executives are volunteers. The President, VP, Treasurer, Etc.. are all volunteers and take home $0.00 from the Rockets. We are here to give back to our community and try to put a program together that we would want our kids a part of. We have a board, are a registered non-profit, and have been in existence since 1999. We have an annual AGM where members can attend and see what is going on in the background and raise their hand to help, our meeting notes are typically posted online along with our annual summary financials. We are growing to the point where we have some part-time support staff to manage the program and systems, but the Executive and Coaches are Volunteers. Our biggest challenges are finding coaches and gyms. When we email out saying we need coaches, we are serious and need your help. Each season we typically have to recruit 10-15 Coaches, especially for recreational / less experienced teams. Please spread the word.
Registration Fees: Your registration fee includes the use of a jersey for the season (must be returned at season’s end), includes all games scheduled via www.mbans.ca - which is the league that all metro clubs enter teams into and they (MBAns) will manage all game schedules and Metro League Playoffs. It includes standard practice times, with the exception being if your child makes a competitive team (D1/2) and the coach elects to add a 3rd practice per week, there could be a fee for that additional practice time. It includes insurance via Basketball NS as we are a member club - details here. That also gives you access to KidSport funding if you qualify. Jumpstart is another great funding program.
If your team does exhibition games, additional tournaments, club provincials, or the Jamboree - those are all additional events that will bear cost. Your team may want to do some fundraising early in the season to get a budget in place to attend those things and maybe even some team events. Please help the coach and team manager as much as possible to make it easy for them. Most teams do one tournament, a few do more. The average fee per child is around 50-60 dollars per tournament - or $12-15/Game based on a team of 10.
Club Spirit Wear/Merch
Each year we do a group merch order. It’s done online and merchandise comes in bulk to the club and we organize it and distribute it based on who ordered what. Each year the order comes in before the Christmas Holidays, but we hope to start the merch order online in the middle of September (or earlier) and close it in early October. It takes a month for everything to come in. We have a Rockets family Facebook group that at times offers used merch from other families who have outgrown their items. This merch order is used as a fundraiser to show our appreciation to the Coaches and supply them with some coach's swag to make them look sharp during practices as games.
Fundraising
Our program leverages lots of different facilities to provide you with programming. We are fortunate to get some low-cost access to school gyms for practices and programs - however HRCE/HRM does not have enough of those facilities to meet our needs, so we need to rent from other facilities to make it all work. And it adds up. In 2023-24, our gym costs were over 17K / Month. In order to keep our registration fees as low as possible - we offset some of those expenses with fundraising.
Raffles and 50/50’s - Each season we will do online raffles and 50/50 ticket sales. In September of each year (and over the summer for summer program funding support) we will roll out a fundraising raffle to buy tickets on various items, including Hotel stays, etc.. Outside of CC and Platform Fees - 100% of those proceeds got to the Rockets to help with costs.
For our 50/50’s - which will run from October to April - YOU get a chance to earn a share of the reward. 25% of your ticket sales go into a “Rockets Account”, and are applied to your account within RAMP to use on Future registrations with the Rockets (Spring/Summer/Fall-Winter/Jr NBA, etc..). It is not transferrable and currently has to be used for future registrations - but we have had members pay for their seasons registration entirely by participating. Plus we are giving a community member and club supporter a chance to win some significant $$$ from the 50/50 pot. Each member will get a unique link and you simply share it online via social media or email. No tickets to track, no money to collect - it’s all automatic via the platform. EASY to participate! You simply have to share your individual link.
FlipGive - We have a FlipGive account which is so easy to use. On your confirmation email you received with registration - you will see the join link for Flip Give. It's an app - and you download it. From there - you buy e-gift cards for yourself (or others) for your regular everyday purchases. There is no premium to you for this. But - those vendors in the system will give our club 1-7% back on your regular everyday purchases. Big bonuses from places like Best Buy and others - so check it out - it takes minutes - costs you nothing and helps the club.
BINGO and Auction Nights - our club will run an auction night - typically in mid to late November. We look to take in as many donations as possible from our membership to help. So all the thoughtful birthday and Christmas gifts you got last year that you have never opened - send they our way. Donations from your business or work or any services that we can auction off. Email Treasurer@rocketsbasketball.ca and arrange for drop off of items and keep an eye on your club emails for dates of the auction. Please come out for a fun night for a good cause. Bingo night is similar to the above, we’ll hold Family Bingo night in the winter time frame, and we’ll look for donations of prizes and hope to see lots of families come out and have a fun night of bingo, prizes, and fun.
Team Fundraising - teams may organize some fundraising events within their group. These are independent of the club and could require a license in order to complete. If you are not sure - reach out to our treasurer or ops manager and ask.
Issue Resolution
If you have an issue with a coach or an official, it's our policy and ask - that you let that issue sit for a few days and reevaluate if it is an issue or was an emotional reaction to a situation that was not ideal, but not worth chasing. A lot of minor sports organizations call it the 24-48 Hr rule, and we do to. If you write us about an issue - we as a club (unless it's a player safety concern) will take a day or two to respond. Sometimes that is based on our availability as volunteers and at times it is to let a situation cool off so we can separate the emotional reaction to the situation and discover the facts and find a resolution. It is never ok to approach a coach with a playing time concern on the court, after a game, or in front of other athletes. Most of our teams play with fair play rules, so these situations are rare. Coaches are important to the success of our club, they are all humans are no one is perfect - but they raised their hand, and spend their free time and money trying to make sure the kids have a team to play on - and because of that we support them as much as we can, and hope parents will as well. It is also never ok to "boo" or harass or taunt opposing athletes. Even if your competitive desire and support for the Rockets is overwhelming your emotions in the moment - it is not who we are and what we do. Remember - those kids on the other teams are only on the other team because of where their parents live for the most part - so they are just kids out there trying to get better at basketball. We all want to win all our games, but we may end up losing more games than not. That does not constitute any spectator engaging with opposing athletes or coaches. We are there to watch and support the kids, and that is it.
Most team issue resolution can be handled before it ever occurs, by simply taking the time to get to know the coach ahead of time. Talk to them early and often - and if a situation ever comes up it will be a simple chat to hear each side out and it will likely be over. Basketball is unique because you are practically on the court during play as a spectator. You can literally tap an official on the shoulder as they run by, talk to the athletes and at times are only 50 feet away from the bench. But because you have access, doesn't mean you have access - the Coach and their decisions on the court - right or wrong - have to be supported in the moment to ensure the athletes are following the coach's lead. Don't talk bad about officials in front of the athletes in the gym, in the car, or on the way home - even if the officials missed a call, and they won't talk about the layup the athlete didn't make the play before that likely cost the team the game. It's a two-way street - so take a minute (or 48 hours) rethink the issue and then act if necessary. If something needs to be escalated - you can reach a board member to help you.