CUMC UPWARD BASKETBALL 2025/26�Coaches Training�

Upward’s mission is to promote the discovery of Jesus through sports.

Director: Will Doyle��Co-Director: VACANT��Gameday Operations: Chris Granberg��Referee Coordinator: David Peterson����

Upward Leadership

�Be organized and ready for practice – Use the Upward Coach Playbook (practice plans, skills and drills recommendations, and devotion guides) as a primary resource. Set aside time to prepare for practices.��Coaching Resources | Upward Basketball Ce��Teach the rules of basketball and UPWARD BASKETBALL – For players to learn and grow, they need to be taught the rules of the game and the rules specific to Upward (wristband system, etc).��Sportsmanship - Instill sportsmanship with a competitive spirit and a growth mindset on the court and in the locker room� - Your players need to learn how these important elements work together.� - Teach and demonstrate respect for coaches, referees, parents, teammates and opponents. � - Coaches MUST always exhibit this example��A growth mindset - help your players to focus on growing and improving at each practice and game, having fun and giving their best effort.��Communicate effectively – Communication is crucial. �Keep parents informed each week with an email or text (LeagueApps).� Speak with players on their level and make sure to demonstrate and teach drills.�� Use positive language, point out where a player has made improvements and encourage effort to motivate.�����

What is Expected of Coaches

• Teams in 1-6th grade divisions have a single 1-hour practice each week; no weekday practice for K division. No additional practices allowed.
• Practice time slots (please begin and end on time):
• 5-6PM
• 6:15-7:15PM
• 7:30-8:30PM

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• Court assignments are in LeagueApps

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• Coaches with 5PM practice slots will need to “open” the gym (keys from lock box, lights on, move goals, ball racks\pennies\cones out); Coaches with 7:30 practices will “close” gym (move goals back to the corner, put equipment in closet, turn off lights, lock exterior door, put keys back into the lock box)

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Practice

• FirstTeam Rampage III – Adjustable basketball goals��Easy 1 person height adjustment crank��Easy 1 person moveable with step down locking foot pedal��Do not let the older kids dunk on the rims when in the lower position. The rims are “breakaway” style rims but they are not meant to be dunked. ��Please see the attached video on how to move the goals and adjust the height. �Rampage Portable Basketball Goal – YouTube��Goal heights are K = 7.5’; 1st-2nd = 8’; 3rd-4th= 9’; 5th – 6th = 10’. Adjust heights for your practice (labeled on the goal)�

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New Basketball Goals

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Practice Huddle Devotion

The Practice Huddle (Devotion) is important – If you need help, ask. This devotion time is an important ministry touch point of the league.

See Section 4 of the Coach Playbook for the ministry touchpoints used during practice.

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• At the midpoint of practices (5:30, 6:45, 8:00), all teams will conduct an 8-10 minute Practice Huddle / Devotion. The devotions teach the character of Christ through the virtues he modeled.

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• Each week, players will receive a green practice sticker star for their participation in the Practice Huddle (hand out at the end of practice).

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• Other ministry touch points include practice cards and the gospel video. Make sure to distribute the video at the next to last practice.

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• Devotions are conducted on your practice court in the ROC: 10 minute quiet period for everyone

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• Devotion #1 should be part of your first weekday practice (week of December 9th)
• Devotion #2 should be part of your practice on Saturday, December 14th
• Devotions will continue at each weekday practice thereafter

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Gameday

All games begin and end at the top of the hour. Each player will be introduced before each game. You can help us by…

• Having your team gather 15-20 minutes prior to game time in your assigned “locker room”
• Write down your players’ numbers and phonetic pronunciations on the handout provided in your classroom
• Be ready for starting lineups 10 minutes prior to game time: arrange players according to rotation pattern with starting 5 at front of the line
• 4 teams will congregate in the hall outside the bathrooms
• Players will be introduced individually; games will begin after all 4 teams are on the courts
• Refs lead both teams in a prayer circle at halfcourt
• K Division: Practice for 30 minutes followed by a “Game” with Four 4-minute periods
• 1-4 Divisions: 2 halves each made up of Three 6-minute periods; ~7 minute half-time spent in “locker rooms”
• 5-6 Divisions: 8 minutes quarters with a 7 minute half-time
• Post game: Retreat to lock rooms for “Star Ceremony”: exit via side doors, not center doors

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Gameday continued…

• Games start at 8AM; last game ends after 5:30pm.
• Wristbands on, laces tied (players will be temporarily subbed out for untied shoelaces), jewelry off
• Home team wears light color, away wears dark color
• Player mismatches during pre-period lineup/handshake; both coaches agree on switches
• 1-4 Divisions:

- Home Teams provide scoreboard operators (main clock serves both courts but separate scoreboards)

- No score is kept for K and 1/2

• 5-6 Divisions: Each team needs specific book and clock operator (same person for entire season)
• We may adjust game clocks to gain/lose time to stay on schedule

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Gameday STARS

Game day stars are multi-colored iron-on stickers that you give to players at the end of each practice and game based upon their efforts:

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Red = Defense

Blue = Effort

Gray = Offense

Gold = Sportsmanship

White = Christ-likeness

Your coach box should have 2 stars of each color\game. More stars are available at main table on game days.

- Green stars are practice devotion stars

• Have your assistant coach or a parent take notes during the game so that you can give specific reasons why each child receives a star.
• The goal should be to award each player one star of each color by the end of the season
• Players place the stars they receive on their t-shirt. Stars can be tracked in the Coach Playbook.

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• Coach Playbook Page 132 for additional information

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Gameday STARS continued..

Red = Defense

Blue = Effort

Gray = Offense

Gold = Sportsmanship

White = Christ-likeness

Centreville Upward Methodist Church Sports�2025/26 Basketball Rules

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Wristbands

What Makes Upward Unique?

What's the wrist-band system? Players are assessed during evaluations and then assigned a color wrist-band to wear during games. This ensures that players of similar skill level are defending each other. This allows beginners to feel comfortable learning the game, while more advanced players can challenge each other. 

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Black = Most skilled

Blue

Red

Yellow

White = Least skilled

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• Player rankings will be due by Sunday, 12/21 (after the 3rd practice)
• Weekly rotations will be based on your ranking of players and thus the wristband they will wear.
• Rotations will be available for each team each week on the google drive
• Please make adjustments as necessary based on availability each week

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Player Rankings

• Evaluate your players over the first 3 practices (final rankings due Sun, 12/21)
• Rank them in order from Most Skilled to Least Skilled
• The pre-draft evaluations can be provided to you if necessary but the eye test from you as the Coach will be the most accurate.
• Rankings and therefore wristband colors are meant to keep the matchups as fair as possible.
• Regardless of who is on the floor each quarter/period, the black wrist band goes to the most skilled player of those 5 players and white wristband goes to the least skilled player of those 5.

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Rotations

• Each week’s rotation will be provided by the league based on your full roster.

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• You will need to make edits as necessary based on availability while still following the rotation pattern.

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Rotations continued…

Blank rotation form provided by the league

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Rotations continued..

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Gameday RULES

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Gameday RULES continued..

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**Help Defense

1. Not allowed in Kindergarten-2^nd Grade

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• Can leave man to play help defense when:
1. Fast break
2. Unguarded ball handler in lane
3. Help & recover when screened
• Note: The goal is to impede the progress of the unguarded ball handler until their defender recovers, not to create a turnover.

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• Must always help & get back as soon as original defender is in position

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**Back Court Defense

1. Not allowed in Kindergarten-2^nd Grade

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• For 3-4 and 5-6 Divisions: Once a player has crossed the half court line and then dribbles back behind the line or passes behind the line, back court defense can then be played.
1. Back Court violation is not called
2. This will deter players from retreating behind the line thinking it is a “safe zone”

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• See next slide for modified rules for 5-6 Division, specifically regarding Full Court press.

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**Modified Rules: 5 – 6^th Grade

1. Rotation Pattern, sub halfway through each quarter (coaches' choice last 4 mins of the 4^th qtr)
2. 8 Minute Quarters
3. Clock stops for injuries, free throws, timeouts and substitutions
• Clock does not stop for out of bounds
4. Full court press allowed once ball is inbounded
• Players must wait at half court until the ball is inbounded, before crossing the line into the back court to play defense
• No back court defense once up by 20 points
• The offense has 10 seconds to advance the ball across half court after inbounded and touched by an offense player.
5. Fouls: Free throw bonus situation is in play (7 team fouls results in 1/1 FT’s, resets each half)
• 5 fouls and a player is disqualified from the game

Referees

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• The ref’s are volunteers age 12 – 60+. They will vary in their knowledge of the game but all will be trained and taught the rules specific to Upward

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• They will make mistakes, please know this. Give them grace and treat them with respect.

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• 2 ref’s per game - Typically 1 “veteran” ref and 1 young person/new ref

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• 1 ref per game will lead the teams in a prayer circle prior to the start of each game
• K division does not have official referees, rather one coach per team serves as the referee and leads the prayer

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• Ref’s will help coach on the floor, especially in the 1-2 divisions

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• Black/blue wristbands will be held to a higher standard than white/yellow wristband

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• As the season goes on, they will be stricter on traveling, fouls etc
• 1-4 divisions: A Green wristband will be issued to a player after they have received 2 fouls in a period and they will have to sit the remainder of that period.
• Fouls reset each period

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Player Safety

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• FirstAid Kit: located on the stage behind the scorer’s table on game days.
• During the week it will be located in the closet in a bin in the storage room.

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• AED: There is an AED mounted on the wall to the right as you walk into the ROC entryway.

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How to use an AED

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Concussions

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What is a concussion? A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. This fast movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.

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HEADS UP to Youth Sports Coaches: Online Concussion Training | HEADS UP | CDC

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfUgXh-_Jjo&feature=youtu.be

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What is a subconcussive head impact? A subconcussive head impact is a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that does not cause symptoms. This differs from concussions, which do cause symptoms. A collision while playing sports is one way a person can get a subconcussive head impact. Studies are ongoing to learn about subconcussive head impacts and how these impacts may or may not affect the brain of young athletes.

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Multiple concussions: Athletes who have ever had a concussion have a higher chance of getting another concussion. A repeat concussion can lead to more severe symptoms and longer recovery.

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How can I keep athletes safe? As a youth sports coach, your actions can help lower an athlete’s chances of getting a concussion or other serious injury. Aggressive or unsportsmanlike behavior among athletes can increase their chances of getting a concussion or other serious injury. Here are some ways you can help:

Talk with athletes about concussion:

• Set time aside throughout the season to talk about concussion.

• Ask athletes about any concerns they have about reporting concussion symptoms.

• Remind athletes that safety comes first and that you expect them to tell you and their parent(s) if they think they have experienced a bump, blow, or jolt to their head and “don’t feel right.”

Focus on safety at games and practices:

• Teach athletes ways to lower the chances of getting a hit to the head.

• Enforce rules that limit or remove the risk of head impacts.

• Tell athletes that good sportsmanship is expected at all times, both on and off the field.

• Bring emergency contact information for parents and healthcare providers to each game and practice in case an athlete needs to be seen right away for a concussion or other serious injury.

Concussions cont.

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How can I spot a possible concussion? Athletes who show or report one or more of the signs and symptoms listed below—or who simply say they just “don’t feel right”—after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body may have a concussion or other serious brain injury. Concussion signs and symptoms often show up soon after the injury, but it can be hard to tell how serious the concussion is at first. Some symptoms may not show up for hours or days.

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Signs coaches or parents may observe:

• Seems confused

• Forgets an instruction or is unsure of the game, position, score, or opponent

• Moves clumsily • Answers questions slowly or repeats questions

• Can’t remember events before or after the hit, bump, or fall

• Loses consciousness (even for a moment)

• Has behavior or personality changes

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Symptoms athletes may report:

• Headache • Nausea or vomiting

• Dizziness or balance problems

• Bothered by light or noise

• Feeling foggy or groggy

• Trouble concentrating or problems with short- or long-term memory

• Does not “feel right”

Concussions cont.

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What should I do if an athlete has a possible concussion? As a coach, if you think an athlete may have a concussion, you should: Remove the athlete from play.

When in doubt, sit them out! Record and provide details on the following information to help the healthcare provider or first responders assess the athlete after the injury:

• Cause of the injury and force of the hit or blow to the head or body

• Any loss of consciousness (passed out) and for how long

• Any memory loss right after the injury

• Any seizures right after the injury

• Number of previous concussions (if any)

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Keep an athlete with a possible concussion out of play on the same day of the injury and until cleared by a healthcare provider. Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. Only a healthcare provider should assess an athlete for a possible concussion and decide when it is safe for the athlete to return to play.

Inform the athlete’s parent(s) about the possible concussion. Let parents know about the possible concussion and give them the CDC HEADS UP fact sheet for parents to help them watch the athlete for concussion signs and symptoms at home.

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Ask for written instructions from the athlete’s healthcare provider on return to play. This should include information about when the athlete can return to play and steps you should take to help the athlete safely return to play. Athletes who continue to play while having concussion symptoms have a greater chance of getting another concussion. A repeat concussion that occurs before the brain has fully healed can be very serious and can increase the chance for long-term problems. It can even be fatal.

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Offer support during recovery. An athlete may feel frustrated, sad, angry, or lonely while recovering from a concussion. Talk with them about it, and allow an athlete recovering from a concussion to stay in touch with their teammates, such as cheering on their team at practices and competitions

Questions?

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• Don’t hesitate to reach out to myself, Will and Chris Granberg with any questions, concerns or assistance needed throughout the season

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• We are here to HELP!

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