SELECT PLAYER & PARENT HANDBOOK SALUTE THE GAME Sacrifice • Discipline • Development • Character • Competition • Brotherhood Honor The Grind. Respect The Game. HONOR THE GRIND. RESPECT THE GAME. THE SALUTE PHILOSOPHY To SALUTE THE GAME is to honor the opportunity, the work, the people and the responsibility that come with basketball. STG Select athletes are expected to understand that the game gives us a platform to develop habits that extend far beyond the court. S - SACRIFICE Put the team above ego. Give up comfort, excuses and shortcuts in pursuit of growth. A - ACCOUNTABILITY Own your choices, effort, attitude, attendance and response to coaching. L - LEADERSHIP Lead through effort, communication, composure and service to teammates. U - UNITY Compete together. Encourage teammates. Protect the culture and never create division. T - TENACITY Stay persistent through adversity, fatigue, setbacks and pressure. Keep working when things get difficult. E - EXCELLENCE Pursue improvement in basketball, academics, character and preparation. The SALUTE philosophy applies to players, coaches and families. STG Select is competitive, but competition never excuses disrespect, selfishness or conduct that damages the team. CHRISTIAN VALUES & FAITH-BASED LEADERSHIP STG Select is led by individuals guided by Christian faith and values. Our leadership seeks to demonstrate gratitude, integrity, humility, respect and service through coaching, mentorship and player development. Families should understand that Bible verses and references to Christian faith may appear on uniforms, practice gear and other STG Select apparel. Coaches will lead team prayers before games and after practices. Coaches may also share faith-based messages or invite guest speakers to discuss faith, character, leadership and personal growth. We recognize and respect that players and families may hold different religious beliefs. Participation in prayer and religious discussions is voluntary. No player will be penalized or treated differently for choosing not to participate. Above all, STG Select gives thanks to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the opportunity to coach, teach, mentor and enjoy the game of basketball with these young athletes. Our goal is to develop not only basketball skills but also respectful, disciplined and responsible young men. 1. THE STG STANDARD Being selected for STG Select means accepting a higher standard. Players are expected to be coachable, disciplined, dependable, competitive and respectful. Talent may create an opportunity; character, work and accountability determine how that opportunity is handled. 2. PLAYER EXPECTATIONS Respect coaches, teammates, opponents, officials, parents and facilities. Give consistent effort and remain engaged during practices, games and team activities. Accept coaching without arguing, disrespectful body language or disruptive behavior. Support teammates and avoid bullying, taunting, fighting, threats, discriminatory language or deliberate disrespect. Represent STG appropriately whenever wearing STG apparel or participating in an STG event. HONOR THE GRIND. RESPECT THE GAME. 3. ATTENDANCE, PUNCTUALITY & COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY Attendance is a team responsibility, not an individual convenience. Attendance Rule STG Select Standard Late to Practice A player who is late to practice is assigned 20 laps at the end of practice. Missed Practice A missed practice results in 40 laps. Missed-practice laps accumulate for each practice missed. Example Two missed practices = 80 laps. Game Eligibility All accumulated missed-practice laps must be completed before the player may compete in a game. Three Missed Practices in a Month A player who misses 3 practices within a month will be removed from the team. Missed Scheduled Game or Tournament Missing a scheduled game or tournament for a reason other than illness may result in removal from the team. For purposes of enforcement, STG leadership should be notified as soon as possible when illness, injury, family emergency, school obligation or another exceptional circumstance prevents attendance. The Program Director may determine whether an absence is excused and may modify conditioning requirements when medically or developmentally appropriate. Conditioning is not to be completed by an injured athlete when doing so would be unsafe. 4. PRACTICE STANDARD Practice is where development occurs and game opportunities are earned. Players should arrive ready to work, with required equipment, and participate with focus. Practices may include fundamentals, skill development, basketball IQ, conditioning, team concepts, communication and competitive situations. 5. PLAYING TIME STG Select does not guarantee equal playing time. Playing opportunities may be influenced by attendance, effort, attitude, preparation, execution, defense, decision-making, matchup, game situation, team needs and adherence to program standards. Playing time is not to be debated with a coach during a game. 6. THE 24-HOUR RULE Except for an immediate health, safety or welfare concern, parents and guardians should wait 24 hours after a game before contacting a coach about playing time, rotations, strategy or another emotionally charged game issue. Conversations should focus on what the athlete can do to improve. 7. PARENT & GUARDIAN STANDARD Cheer positively and allow coaches to coach. Do not coach from the stands or undermine team instructions. Treat officials, opponents, coaches, players and other families respectfully. Do not confront a coach immediately before, during or directly after a game about basketball decisions. Bring concerns through the established communication process. Parents cheer. Coaches coach. Players play. 8. TEAM-FIRST CULTURE STG Select will not tolerate conduct that intentionally divides the team, including exclusionary cliques, negative group chats, social-media attacks, blaming teammates, mocking teammates or celebrating individual success at the expense of the group. We compete with each other so we can compete for each other. HONOR THE GRIND. RESPECT THE GAME. 9. COMMUNICATION The preferred communication progression is Player → Coach → Parent/Guardian → Program Director. As athletes mature, players should learn to communicate appropriately with their coaches. Health, safety, transportation, financial and serious disciplinary matters may require direct adult communication. 10. SPORTSMANSHIP & CONDUCT Players must compete hard without taunting, fighting, threatening others, intentionally dangerous conduct or disrespect toward officials. Win with class. Lose with accountability. Respond to adversity without embarrassing yourself, your family, your teammates or STG. 11. ACADEMICS STG Select athletes are students first. Players are expected to handle school responsibilities and demonstrate appropriate school conduct. Basketball should reinforce discipline and opportunity, not interfere with academic responsibility. 12. SOCIAL MEDIA Players and families may not use social media, group chats or digital communication to harass, threaten, embarrass or attack teammates, coaches, opponents, officials or STG families. Team disagreements stay off social media. Serious online misconduct may be treated the same as in-person misconduct. 13. UNIFORMS & STG APPAREL Players are responsible for maintaining assigned uniforms and arriving in designated team apparel when required. STG apparel should not be altered without approval. When wearing STG, athletes are representing the program. Uniform Damage, Loss & Replacement Policy Parents/guardians are financially responsible for replacing STG Select practice or game uniforms that are lost, damaged, or no longer suitable for team use. Replacement costs: Practice uniform (complete set) — $100; Game uniform (complete set) — $150. Uniforms must be replaced as complete sets. If any individual item is lost or damaged, the parent/guardian must purchase the entire corresponding uniform set; individual replacement pieces are not available. For example, if practice shorts are bleached and a game jersey is ripped, both a complete practice uniform ($100) and a complete game uniform ($150) must be replaced, for a total of $250. Parents/guardians are expected to ensure uniforms are properly cared for and maintained throughout the season. 14. PLAYER SAFETY Health and safety take priority over basketball. Injuries and illnesses should be communicated promptly. Players should not be pressured to participate contrary to appropriate medical guidance. STG leadership may excuse or modify conditioning requirements when health or safety warrants it. 15. DISCIPLINE Consequences are based on the seriousness and circumstances of the conduct. Possible responses include correction, player/parent conference, reduced participation, suspension, behavioral agreement or removal from STG Select. Serious misconduct may bypass progressive discipline. 16. ROSTER & TEAM COMMITMENT A roster position represents a commitment to the team. Team placement may consider age/grade eligibility, skill, positional needs, development, competitive fit, attendance and adherence to STG standards. Selection for one season does not guarantee selection for a future season. HONOR THE GRIND. RESPECT THE GAME. 17. OUTSIDE TEAM PARTICIPATION & TEAM HOPPING STG Select requires players to honor their commitment to the program. Without prior approval from the Head Coach or Program Director, players may not play for another team when STG Select is not competing, join or maintain participation with another basketball team or organization, or play for another team in the same tournament as STG Select. Any proposed exception must be discussed with and approved by the Head Coach or Program Director before participation. A violation of this policy is grounds for immediate dismissal from STG Select. 18. PAYMENTS & REFUND POLICY All payments made to STG Select are final and nonrefundable, including registration fees, team fees, recurring payments and other program-related charges. If a player or family chooses to leave the program, the parent or guardian is responsible for canceling any automatic or recurring payment arrangement. Withdrawal does not automatically stop future scheduled payments. 19. WHAT STG COACHES OWE PLAYERS Accountability works both ways. STG coaches should provide organized instruction, meaningful development, honest communication, consistent standards, respectful treatment and a safe environment. Coaches should correct players without humiliation and model the standards expected from athletes. THE STG PLEDGE I will Salute The Game. I will respect the opportunity to play. I will compete with discipline. I will accept coaching. I will hold myself accountable. I will respect my teammates, opponents and officials. I will put the team above my ego. I will represent my family and STG with character. SACRIFICE. SALUTE. BROTHERHOOD. HONOR THE GRIND. RESPECT THE GAME. HONOR THE GRIND. RESPECT THE GAME. PLAYER & PARENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT By signing below, the player and parent/guardian acknowledge that they have received, reviewed and understand the STG Select Player & Parent Handbook, including the attendance, punctuality, competition eligibility, outside team participation, discipline, payment and refund policies, and agree to uphold the program standards. This includes acknowledgment of STG Select’s Christian Values & Faith-Based Leadership statement, including the voluntary nature of participation in prayer and religious discussions. Player Name: ______________________________________________________________________ Player Signature: ______________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Name: ______________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature: ______________________________________________________________________ Date: ______________________________________________________________________