Our Philosophy with the Travel Basketball Program

The Dover Sherborn Youth Basketball (DSYBB) Travel teams participate in the Metro West Basketball league which consists of suburban towns located to the west and south of Boston.  See http://www.metrowestbball.com/ for more information.

Our program is offered to boys and girls in grades 4 through 8. We offer a positive environment for boys and girls interested in developing their basketball skills. Our goal is to help players accomplish the following:

• Develop skills and learn the game of basketball

• Promote teamwork, good sportsmanship and physical conditioning

• Effectively compete with neighboring towns in the game of basketball

If done correctly, athletic competition for our children not only provides enjoyment for the participants but teaches our players real-life lessons: how to work with others, how to compete (including both winning and losing with dignity), how to communicate, how to respectfully deal with authority figures.

Our teams hold tryouts in early October and practice and play games from late October to mid-March. Practices are held once or twice a week in Dover or Sherborn regional school gyms. Regular season games take place on Sunday, starting in December. Playoffs games take place on weekends or week nights starting in late February and can continue through mid-March.

Commitment Level

Basketball is a team sport and the MetroWest basketball league is a competitive travel basketball program for players who enjoy the game and can dedicate the necessary time and commitment level to their team and teammates.  DSYBB and the coaches expect all players to attend practice. Additionally, DSYBB and the coaches expect that players who are selected to play on an “A” team will treat basketball as their winter sport priority and make every effort to attend all practices. If basketball is not the priority sport and the player cannot commit to attend all practices then the player will be assigned to play for the “B” team at the start of the season.

Dover-Sherborn Youth Basketball provides an opportunity for players to play up to five years of basketball from grade 4 to grade 8.  Players who transfer from one school to another and repeat the same grade for a second year may not play a second year in the same grade for Dover-Sherborn Youth Basketball.  Additionally, players are not permitted to play a sixth season of Dover-Sherborn Youth Basketball as a result of repeating the same grade for a second consecutive year during grades 4 through 8.

Travel Team Design Guidelines

Grade 4 and Grade 5 Teams                 
 

• Evenly balanced teams based on try out skills evaluation

• Coaches split up teams after try outs

• If the coaches cannot agree on the evenly balanced teams a “draft” will be held with the  DS Youth Basketball Board  present to review any issues and make adjustments as necessary.     
  
  Please note the "For All Grades" section below    

 
Grades 6 – 8 Teams         
 

• Split teams with an A team and a B team

• If there are enough players to have three teams then there will be one A team, balanced B teams or one C team depending on numbers and level of talent.

• Coaches split up the teams after try outs

• If the coaches cannot agree on the teams a “draft” will be held with the  DS Youth Basketball Board present to review any issues and make adjustments as necessary.   
  
  Please note the "For All Grades" section below

For All Grades         

Coaches may propose an exception to the team design guidelines listed above for a specific grade if there are special circumstances and the proposed solution is in the interest of all players. The DSYBB Board will consider all requests.

Playing Time Guideline For Coaches

Playing in competition is an important part of basketball development for youth players and Dover Sherborn travel basketball wants to be clear and transparent with its playing time guidelines. First off, It is important to recognize that playing time will not be perfectly equal across all players in travel team basketball games.
 
Coaches aim to make playing time as equal as possible. Factors that coaches take into consideration when determining playing time include: attendance at practices, teamwork, attitude, ability and game situations. Coaches target a maximum of 60% playing time and a minimum of 40% playing time for all players who attend practice and are committed to the team, over the course of the season.