Long Valley Basketball Association

Frequently Asked Questions

Section 1

Overall

  1. When does the season start and end?

    In general, the season runs from mid-November to mid-March. See the specific program sections below and our calendar for more details.

  2. When is registration?

    2026/2027 registration runs from August 31, 2026 to November 15, 2026.

  3. What does the registration fee include?

    The registration fee is used to cover operational costs such as facilities rentals, officials, our TeamSnap technology platform, insurance, etc. For our Clinic, Rec and High School Rec programs, registration also includes a T-shirt. Long Valley Basketball Association is a non-profit organization and all staff are volunteers.

  4. Can I request a specific coach or practice location?

    No. With over 500 players, 11 grade levels and several facilities to coordinate each season, it is not feasible to accommodate specific requests. If you have particularly extenuating circumstances, you are welcome to reach out, but no accommodation is guaranteed.

  5. Are there residency requirements?

    Yes. All players must reside in the Washington Township School District, Morris County, NJ.

  6. Are there attendance requirements?

    While there are no formal attendance requirements, all players should register with the intention of fully participating in the season, attending all scheduled events. This maximizes player development, camaraderie and fun for everyone.

  7. Who are the coaches?

    Coaches are parent/legal guardian volunteers. All coach candidates are reviewed by the Long Valley Basketball Association Leadership Team. All coaches who are selected and assigned to a team are required to complete a Background Check provided by the National Center for Safety Initiatives. For the Clinic program, instruction is provided by a staff member of Old School Training in Randolph, NJ.

  8. What game rules do you follow?

    The Long Valley Basketball Association rules for our Rec and High School Rec programs can be viewed here. Due to its instructional nature and the young age of players, our Clinic program does not have defined rules. Our Travel program follows Jersey Basketball League (JBL) rules, which can be viewed here.

  9. What equipment of their own are players expected to provide? Is there a “dress code” of sorts?

    Players must come to practices, games and clinic sessions in appropriate athletic attire that will allow them to participate comfortably and safely. Of course, players are required to wear their uniform during games. Athletic sneakers are required, but they do not have to be basketball-specific. Players should also bring a water bottle to practices and games. Players are welcome to bring a properly sized basketball to practices and games, but this is not required. For the safety of all players, jewelry — including tape covering earrings — is prohibited at practices and games. Long hair should be tied back.

  10. What size basketballs do you use?

    Please review the USA Basketball Youth Basketball Guidelines — specifically the Equipment and Court Specifications section for basketball sizing by age.

  11. How are schedules, changes and other information communicated?

    All day-to-day communications are done via TeamSnap. Parents can access TeamSnap after registration.

  12. Are parents/legal guardians required to stay at practices?

    No.

  13. Do you have a code of conduct for players/coaches/parents/legal guardians?

    Yes. Our code of conduct can be reviewed here.

  14. What do I do if I have a concern or complaint?

    If your concern or complaint is something that could likely be addressed by a coach, you can calmly, politely and reasonably discuss it directly with them as prescribed in our Parent Operational Agreement. If you’re uncomfortable doing this, you’ve tried this already unsatisfactorily, or you have a larger concern, please contact the Long Valley Basketball Association Leadership Team. Please note that for formal complaints, we follow a structured process to ensure proper documentation and satisfactory resolution.

  15. Are volunteer opportunities available?

    Yes! Please email longvalleybasketball@gmail.com to introduce yourself or connect with a Leadership Team Member if you see them at a game.

Section 2

Clinic

  1. Are there practices and games?

    Clinic sessions combine practice and small scrimmages into a single weekly session.

  2. When and where are clinic sessions held? How long are they?

    Clinic sessions are held on Saturday mornings at the Benedict A. Cuccinella School. Times vary by age and gender. Clinic sessions last 75 minutes.

  3. Are parents/legal guardians required to stay?

    We do not have a formal rule about this. However, clinic sessions are typically very busy, with lots of small children present. Therefore, parents/legal guardians are encouraged to stay.

  4. Are uniforms provided?

    Each player receives a T-shirt which is included with registration. However, players are not required to wear the T-shirt to clinic sessions. Shared pinnies are provided to differentiate teams during scrimmages.

Section 3

Rec (including High School Rec)

  1. When does the rec season start and end?

    Practices start on November 30, 2026. Games start on December 12, 2026. The last scheduled day of the season is February 27, 2027. Please note that, depending on weather cancellations and other external factors, makeup games may be scheduled as late as March 13, 2027. Teams will play approximately 10 games.

  2. Are player spots limited?

    No. We compile the teams for each age/gender group after registration closes based on the number of players who have registered and the number of coaching volunteers. Our overall goal is a spot for every player on a reasonably sized team that allows coaches to balance playing time and rest time for each player.

  3. How are teams formed?

    Once registration is complete and we know how many players are in each age and gender group, we work with coaches to assign players to teams. We are lucky to have many returning coaches who have familiarity with returning players, and we leverage their knowledge to form the most evenly matched teams we can. Our goal is for each team to be composed of players across the skill spectrum to help all players grow, emphasize the importance of teamwork, and have a fun, competitive season.

  4. Are uniforms provided?

    Yes. Each player receives a T-shirt which is included with registration.

  5. When, where and how often are practices? How long are they?

    For grades 3-8, practices are typically once per week for 60 minutes. High School Rec teams do not practice (games only). Please see the Where We Play page for details on practice locations.

  6. When and where are games played? How long are they?

    Games are typically one per week on Saturdays. Please see the Where We Play page for details on game locations. Game durations are subject to specific age group and gender rules. You can review those rules here.

  7. Is playing time guaranteed?

    Yes. This is a recreational program. Coaches are required to play all players for an approximately equal number of minutes per player per game.

  8. Do you keep score?

    Yes. Each game has a scheduled scoreboard operator.

  9. Are team standings tracked?

    No. This is a recreational program. There are no playoffs or championships.

  10. Are there mercy rules?

    To ensure that all teams get sufficient game time, all games are played to completion. However, coaches and players are encouraged to demonstrate good sportsmanship and maintain an appropriate margin of victory in situations where teams are unevenly matched.

Section 4

Travel

  1. When does the travel season start and end?

    Practices typically begin in mid-November. Games start on December 3, 2026. The regular season ends on February 12, 2027. The post-season (playoffs and championship, if your team makes it) runs from February 16, 2027 to March 14, 2027, depending on how far the team goes.

  2. When are tryouts?

    Tryouts will be held the week of October 12, 2026. Specific details will be found on the calendar when they become available.

  3. Who evaluates the prospective player at tryouts?

    We use an independent evaluator to assess players at tryouts and maintain impartiality.

  4. Do I need to register in order to try out?

    Yes.

  5. How many teams are there?

    Each grade level (grades 4-8) has one team for boys and one team for girls. There are approximately 10 player spots per team.

  6. What happens if a player doesn’t make the team?

    Players who are not selected for a travel team are automatically assigned to a rec team.

  7. Are there costs beyond the registration fee?

    Yes. Our Travel Coordinator creates per-team budgets which are approved by our Treasurer. Per-team costs are divided evenly among players and invoiced separately from registration. Estimated seasonal costs are $200 – $450 per player in addition to the registration fee. In addition, travel and associated costs are handled privately by each player.

  8. Are uniforms provided?

    Uniforms (jersey, shorts and a shooting shirt) are required and are not included with registration. Pending no uniform design changes, returning players may use the same uniform for multiple seasons provided it is in good shape and still fits.

  9. When, where and how often are practices? How long are they?

    Practices are at each coach’s discretion. Most coaches aim for two practices per week, each one or two hours in duration. Please see the Where We Play page for details on practice locations.

  10. Who do teams compete against?

    Teams compete against teams from other Northern New Jersey towns. The list of JBL venues, available here, should give you an idea of the nearby towns we compete with.

  11. How far are players expected to travel for games?

    The list of JBL venues is available here. The furthest venues are about one hour away (i.e., Hamburg, Montgomery, Newark, Phillipsburg, etc.). Most are closer. Players may be expected to travel further for tournaments.

  12. What does a typical season look like?

    Each team will play 14-16 games as part of the JBL regular season. Teams that qualify will also play playoff and championship games. In addition, coaches may register their teams for tournaments and other separate events. Most teams end up playing approximately 20 games per season.

  13. Is playing time guaranteed?

    In one word, no. However, the complete answer is more complex. At its core, our travel program is a player development program. Our coaches understand that players must play to grow and recognize that their impact as a coach will be judged on both games won and players developed. That said, this is a competitive league where each team is working to win. Therefore, to maximize competitiveness of the team, playing time is at the discretion of coaches, subject to JBL rules (which do require all players to play in certain situations). Please review the JBL rules for more details.

Long Valley Basketball Association — Questions not answered here? Email longvalleybasketball@gmail.com.