Connecticut Basketball Conference

I. CTBBALL’s Mission ↑ contents

II. Our Code — What We Expect of Coaches and Parents ↑ contents

• Directing insults at athletes.
• Offering sideline coaching during games.
• Entering the court during play — which triggers forfeiture under League rules.

• Modelling respect for all participants.
• Valuing effort over outcomes.
• Cheering for all team members equitably.
• Avoiding confrontation with officials.
• Prioritising player safety.

III. Our Program ↑ contents

IV. How to Raise / Escalate an Issue ↑ contents

Raising issues is an important component of our culture to ensure that we are always working collaboratively and that our leadership is aware of key issues.

However, in a League of our size, we must have discipline around our escalation protocols:

• Parents raise issues to Coaches (who try to resolve).
• Coaches raise issues to Club Presidents (who try to resolve).
• Club Presidents, if necessary, raise issues to League Leadership.

Most questions can be answered by reviewing (or searching) our Manual or contacting your Club President, so please follow our protocols so we can keep our laser focus (and time) on ensuring the kids have a great season!

Who your Club President is: Club Presidents & Coaches. To search the Manual, use the search box at the top of any page.

V. How to Use This Website ↑ contents

What follows should help you execute the coach-related tasks you need through the season. Everything here describes this website as it works today. Start at your team page: open Teams & Standings and click your team — almost everything below happens there.

1. How do I sign in?

Sign-in is by email, with no password. Press Sign in at the top of any page, type the email address the League has for you, and a six-digit code is sent to that address. Type the code and you are in — for 90 days, and every visit extends it, so you will rarely be asked again on the same phone or computer.

Codes usually land in your inbox within a minute. If you do not see it, check your spam or junk folder first. If it is not there after a couple of minutes, go back to Sign in and ask for a new code; the old one stops working the moment a new one is sent. If no code ever arrives, the League may hold a different email address for you. Use the one your Club President registered, or ask them to check your details.

Your own details — phone, address, email — are yours to change under Your account.

2. How does registration work?

• New Clubs use Apply to Join. The Commissioner reviews every application personally and, if accepted, you receive a welcome email with a link to the New Club Registration form: your teams, your home gym and its GPS, your gym slots, and a head coach for each team.
• Returning Clubs use Returning Teams Registration to confirm teams, gym and Club President.
• On both, tick each division you are entering, say how many teams, and give each an A, B or C skill level. We power rank every team on this season and last, so your placement may be adjusted.
• The deadline for both is 31 October 2026. The League invoices your Club at $375 a team once your registration is accepted. You get a receipt on screen and by email the moment you press Submit.
• Tournaments have their own forms on the Registrations page. Each team you enter is placed in a four-team bracket by skill level, and the entry is invoiced at $250 a team when the League accepts it.

3. How do I enter my roster?

• Rosters are due Black Friday — 27 November 2026, 12:00.
• Go to your team page and find Playing roster. Open Add or remove a player and enter each player — name, shirt number and an email address for the player’s family — one at a time. Each one is on the roster the moment you save it.
• There is no limit on squad size, but we recommend no more than ten — it is hard to get more than that into a game.
• Players are shown publicly as first name and last initial, e.g. “Nathan C.” Never type a full surname into a public page; the site keeps it to the initial.
• Any coach or the Club President for that team can do this. Sign in first.

4. How do I add or remove a player?

• Same place — your team page, Playing roster, Add or remove a player.
• Until 1 January the change happens straight away, no approval needed.
• From 1 January rosters are locked. The same form becomes a request to the League; the Commissioner or the Deputy Commissioner approves it, and the approval makes the change itself — nothing more for you to do.
• Removing a player marks them as no longer playing rather than deleting them, so the record of who played is never lost.
• A player may be dual rostered on a second team in your Club only when playing up. See Season & Eligibility.

5. How do I message the other teams in my division?

Go to your team page and find Message the division. Edit the subject and the message — a draft asking who can fill your date is already there — and press Send. The website sends it from the League’s address to every coach in your division, your own team left out, everyone in Bcc so no address is passed around, with your email as the reply-to, so the answers come straight to you. You get a copy. If you would rather use your own mail app, there is a link for that too.

6. How do I enter my score?

• Go to your team page and find Enter scores. Each game you have played is listed; type the two final scores and press Save. The standings update immediately.
• Any coach, parent or Club President for that team can enter its score. You do not have to be the person who was at the game.
• A blank is never counted as a loss; leave a game blank until it is played.
• A forfeit is entered as 1–0. See Game Day Issues.
• Scores drive the standings, the power rankings and the playoff seeding, so please enter them promptly after each game — and be up to date by the playoff deadlines in Season & Eligibility.

7. How do I change a game?

Step 1. Please do not cancel on your opponent — first try to find some way to play, even with five. Cancellations cause extreme consternation (and kill Leagues). They are also the number one reason teams are not invited back.

Step 2. If there is truly no way to play, contact your opponent and your Club President — who is always managing the Club’s home gym — as soon as possible.

Step 3. Try to agree another date with your opponent. Gym time is our most precious resource, so this is not always possible. Use Message the division on your team page to find a replacement quickly.

Step 4. Change it on the website yourself. On your team page, under Move a game, open the game and change the date, tip-off or gym and save — either team, or either Club President, can do this, and no permission is needed. The other team is emailed at once, and the change is on both team pages and the Schedule page. If the game is off because of weather or a closed gym, set its Status to Cancelled instead. Everything can be put back.

Remember: any cancellation within four days of a game is a forfeit. See Game Day Issues.

8. How do I add or change a team?

Only the League can add or change a team. Contact your Club President, who will in turn contact the League.

Why does my team page show no games?

The schedule for the season is published on or before November 17th at midnight. Until then every team page says “no games scheduled yet.” After November 17th, your games, gyms and tip-off times are on your team page and the Schedule page. Last season’s results stay on your page under last season’s name.

Can I put the schedule on my phone’s calendar, or print it?

Yes to both. On your team page, under Schedule, press Add to my phone’s calendar: your games appear in your phone’s own calendar and keep themselves up to date when a game is moved or cancelled on this website. Download (.ics) saves them once. The Schedule page does the same for a whole division. To print, use the Print button at the top of any page.

VI. Game Day Issues ↑ contents

The questions that come up on the day. Gary’s answers, 4 September 2026, pulling together what the Code, the Game Rules and twenty seasons of practice already say.

Weather, or a locked gym — who do I call, and where does a cancellation get posted?

Inclement weather protocols.

If you’re hosting:

• Contact your Club President to learn the status of your home game.
• Communicate directly with your opponent to ensure that they are apprised of any facilities closures.
• Update the website — because the website always controls — to ensure it reflects the cancellation. Open your team page, find the game under Move a game, set its Status to Cancelled and save. The other team is told, and the game comes off both schedules.

If you’re playing away, please contact your opponent to get the most up-to-date information regarding your game.

If you’re playing at a neutral site (Woodbridge or New Britain), you will receive a communication regarding the facilities’ status, but neutral sites rarely close except in the most severe/dire circumstances.

We don’t have official snow dates for any games (except our Conference Tournament/Playoffs) but will make every effort to reschedule any games cancelled due to the weather.

What happens if a team does not show up?

• Any cancellation for any reason within four days (or less) of a scheduled game is a forfeit.
• This rule applies even if the team that was prepared to play finds another opponent.
• Any team with more than two cancellations/forfeits loses any applicable home court advantage in the playoffs.
• Any team with more than three cancellations/forfeits is banned from the playoffs.
• In the event of a forfeit, a score of 1–0 is to be entered on the site — on your team page, under Enter scores.

Who provides referees and the scorer’s table, and what does the home team have to bring?

• The host provides referees, scorer’s table, etc., and the home team is always the official scorekeeper.
• For neutral site games, the League takes care of the referees and other game logistics.

Spectator conduct, and what happens after an ejection

The full Code of Conduct is Appendix A of this Manual. It applies to every coach, parent and spectator at every CTBBALL game.

VII. Season & Eligibility ↑ contents

Who may play, how rosters work, and how the Conference Tournament runs. Gary’s answers, 4 September 2026.

Who is eligible? Grade, age, town, school teams, playing up

Team eligibility & requirements

• All players from any Club or team must be from the same town. (Any exception to this rule must be expressly approved by Connecticut Basketball’s President.)
• Players are strictly prohibited from “playing down,” but are permitted — and encouraged — to “play up.”
• Clubs and teams must provide proof of insurance and keep said insurance in good standing.
• Clubs and teams must execute a League waiver and release of liability at the beginning of each season.

Roster limits

• There is no limit on squad size, but we recommend no more than ten — it is hard to get more than that into a game.
• A player can be dual rostered for another team in their Club if that player is “playing up.”
• A player may not be dual rostered for a team of another/second Club.

Rosters lock on 1 January. Before then any coach or Club President adds or removes a player on the team page; after, the same form becomes a request that the League approves. See How to Use This Website.

How do playoffs work, and who qualifies?

Conference Tournament / Playoffs — overview

• All teams qualify for this single-elimination tournament.
• Teams that finish the regular season with a winning record are placed in an “NCAA Bracket” with all the other teams that finish above .500. (To keep the NCAA happy, we remind that “NCAA” stands for Nutmeg’s Collection of Awesome Athletes.)
• Teams that finish below .500 are placed in an “NIT Bracket” and battle for the NIT crown. (To keep the NIT happy, we remind that “NIT” stands for Nutmeg Invitational Tournament.)

Logistics

Girls teams

• The Girls brackets post on Sunday, February 21, 2027 at midnight and play begins Friday, February 26, 2027 (opening round February 25–28; Final Four & Championship March 4–7).
• The rationale is that it takes 7 days to put together a 300 team bracket and we always post the schedule about a week before the Girls tournament begins so there is no confusion about where people are going.
• Your scores must be up-to-date by Monday, February 15, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. as the matchups are based on your scores as of that date.

Boys teams

• Your scores must be up-to-date by Monday, February 22, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. as the matchups are based on your scores as of that date.
• The rationale is the same as for the girls.
• The Boys brackets post on Sunday, February 28, 2027 and play begins Friday, March 5, 2027 (opening round March 4–7; Final Four & Championship March 11–14).

Seeding methodology

1. The League will generate brackets and seed teams in a manner that is in the best interests of the League, always accounting for team and gym availability.
2. Each team shall be assigned a seed based upon their won/loss record.
3. The first tie-breaker is head-to-head competition. The second tie-breaker is fewest points allowed.
4. The two worst teams in each bracket typically play one another in a “play-in” game.
5. The winner of the “play-in” game will feed into the top half of the bracket, i.e. the side of the bracket that has the number 1 seed.
6. To the extent that a bracket requires first-round byes to issue, said byes shall issue in accordance with the bracket’s seeding, i.e. the No. 1 seed receives the first bye, the No. 2 seed receives the second bye, and so forth.
7. The League reserves the authority to adjust any bracket in a manner that is necessary to account for gym limitations, conflicts or to otherwise promote the best interests of the League.

Playing at home

1. If you are the higher seed, we will accommodate your request to play at home if you have gym slots before the playoffs commence. Please note, this is only for opening round / opening weekend games.
2. All Final Four & Championship games (contests played on the second weekend) will be played at a neutral site. (This change has been made to enable the League to see each bracket.)

Small & large brackets

• The League reserves the authority to separate NCAA brackets into Small (Class S/M) and Large (Class L/LL) brackets.

Appendix A. Code of Conduct ↑ contents

• Be on time. (If you're not five minutes early — you're late!)
• Work hard to improve skills, learn the game, and play by the rules.
• Always respect teammates, opponents, coaches, and referees.
• Support teammates at all times.
• Shake hands with opponents after the game.

• Direct derogatory remarks at a student athlete, or yell instructions onto the court.
• Speak to a coach during the game — and in front of the children.
• Step onto the court at any time during the playing of a game (which, under League rule, will likely result in the forfeit and end of the game).

• Are a positive role model by respecting all players, coaches, referees, parents, and spectators at all times.
• Value skills development, fair competition, and good effort — and recognize that the effort of all children, your own team and opponents, is more important than the outcome of the game.
• Cheer for all children on the team in a positive fashion, not just your own child.
• Refrain from rude or obnoxious behavior or comments toward the opposing team and officials, and never confront referees or other game personnel.
• Discourage any behaviors or tactics that would endanger the health and well-being of anyone.

• Make skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork, fun, and learning the game the goals of the team.
• Be a positive role model by respecting all players, coaches, referees, parents, and spectators at all times. Coaches should not direct negative comments at the opposing team.
• Learn and play by the rules of the game.
• Be as respectful and restrained as possible in response to calls by officials.
• Never lose their temper.
• Be generous in their praise, emphasizing the efforts of players over the outcome of the game.
• Be fair, honest, and consistent in coaching philosophies and practices.
• Recognize that children learn differently, and adapt coaching to each child's needs accordingly.
• Communicate clearly to players and parents about goals for the team and what behavior is appropriate.
• Provide a safe environment for the children to play.

• Exercise a high level of self-discipline, independence, and responsibility. Master both the rules of the game and the mechanics necessary to enforce them, and exercise authority in an impartial, firm, and controlled manner.
• Work with each other in a constructive and cooperative manner.
• Uphold the honor and dignity of the profession in all interactions with players, coaches, parents, colleagues, and the public at large.
• Prepare themselves both physically and mentally, dress neatly and appropriately, and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the high standards of the profession.
• Be punctual and professional in the fulfillment of all obligations.
• While enforcing the rules of play, remain aware of the inherent risk of injury that competition poses to players and, where appropriate, inform coaches and the League of situations that appear unreasonably hazardous.