Set goals at the start of the season as a group and as individuals and refer back to these goals during the season.

Keep it all fun.

Attention and praise to be placed on defence over offence.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Just because you’re a coach doesn’t mean you know all the answers. Use other coaches, referees, court coordinator. E.g. rules, game day, drills for training, dealing with challenging kids.

Discipline at training or game day

Simply give three warnings then start taking 5 minutes of game time away from them.

We are all volunteers and only get an hour training together each week and we don’t need 1 or 2 kids making it harder for us.

If you require assistance to manage conflict with players or parents, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with our Junior or Senior Delegates

Get your team to gel as a team to work for each other as a group:

Set an example with your behaviour to all officials, players and parents.

Be positive and don’t correct every mistake

Even court time, encourage your team manager to take on this role.

Constant encouragement.

Don’t overthink it. Enjoy it!

Being an encouraging unbiased strong leader will naturally bring improvement to your team.

Club Uniform
(a) Uniform standards shall be as prescribed by the board.
i. Playing shorts must be the same team dominant colour & pattern and 8(d) ruling will apply for all non-conforming players. Playing shorts must be without pockets, any player wearing shorts with pockets will not be permitted to take the court.
ii. Singlets must be tucked into shorts. iii. Mouth guards are compulsory; medical certified exemptions are accepted (colour variations are permitted)
iv. T-shirts under playing jerseys are not permitted.
v. Compression wear is permitted - colours must be black, white, skin toned or match the playing uniform
vi. Players shall not wear equipment (objects) that may cause injury to other players.

The following are NOT permitted:  Finger, hand, wrist, elbow or forearm guards, helmets, casts or braces made of leather, plastic, pliable (soft) plastic, metal or any other hard substance, even if covered with soft padding. Objects that could cut or cause abrasions (fingernails must be closely cut). Hair accessories and jewellery.
Note: All taped piercings are allowed.

The following ARE permitted:  Shoulder, upper arm, thigh or lower leg protective equipment if sufficiently padded.
Arm and leg compression sleeves. Headgear. It shall not cover any part of the face entirely or partially (eyes, nose, lips etc.) and shall not be dangerous to the player wearing it and/or to other players. The headgear shall not have opening/closing elements around the face and/or neck and shall not have any parts extruding from its surface.
Knee braces.
Protector for an injured nose, even if made of a hard material.
Spectacles, if they do not pose a danger to other players.
Ankle braces. 
Taped piercings.
(b) Each club shall select a shirt and shorts of distinctive colour and design as their uniform to be submitted to the Board for approval.
(c) Each player's singlet shall be numbered on the front and back with a contrasting colour to the singlet. The numbers shall be clearly visible and:  Those on the back shall be at least 16 cm high. Those on the front shall be at least 8 cm high. The numbers shall be at least 2 cm wide. Teams may only use numbers 0,00 and from 1 to 99.  Players on the same team shall not wear the same number.
Any advertising shall be at least 4 cm away from the numbers.
(d) A-Grade players out of uniform will not be permitted to play. In all other divisions (grades) players have three (3) playing dates from the commencement of the first competition fixture to be in full uniform. After this time a four (4) game point penalty is awarded to the opposing team for each player out of uniform.
(e) Clubs with multiple teams in a grade shall submit to the Board variations to the approved uniform.
(f) Where there is a uniform clash, the team listed first on the fixture is responsible for ensuring adjustments are made, or replacement uniforms are worn, to ensure uniforms no longer clash.
(g) Team officials are required to wear covered shoes.
(h) The Board may consider written applications outside the above criteria at its discretion.

On Game Day, Coaches and Team Managers are encouraged to wear the official Aces Basketball Club polo shirt.

Team Officials are required to wear covered shoes.

• Rotation sheets help the Coaches & Managers prepare their substitutions.

• Download your Rotation Sheet for 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 player teams here.

Please familiarise yourself with the 2025/26 BBA By-Laws.

Due to the large number of teams and the number of games this season, it will put a lot of pressure on the number of umpires BBA have.

We ask that you please always respect the referees and their decisions, even if you may not agree with a call.

BBA have LOTS of new umpires who are also learning and are constantly being supported by a senior umpire, and abuse towards ANY umpire will not be tolerated.

Please reiterate to all players and their parents in your team.

Since season 2024/25, BBA have introduced a Spectator Warning Card. Please make yourself familiar with the process.

Basketball WA (BWA) offer a free Online Community Coach Course.

To complete the course, you will need to follow the link below, click on the Community Coaching Course (WA) link and follow the prompts from there. Totally available 24/7 and able to be completed in your own time, this is a great resource and step in your coaching accreditation process.

https://basketballwa.asn.au/coach-education/

Send through your certificate when completed to juniors@acesbasketballclub.com.au
Aces Basketball Club will update our records and determine suitability for future coach training sessions.

Focus on fundamentals - passing, shooting and dribbling.

• There are so many drills on YouTube and google for basketball, pick the ones that you understand and work for your team.

• If they don’t work the first time you try the drills, try it again a couple of weeks later. Sometimes it can take a few times to get it right.

Watch other coaches’ trainings and games to get new drills and different approaches to coaching.

Make the drills fun. Incorporating competitiveness will help.

Use playing a game at the end of training as a lure to get some drills done beforehand.

Get just your team together for a talk 5 minutes before warm up to get them engaged.

Warm up:

• You have 4 minutes of warm up time before tip off.

• Get your team to do some lay up drills to get them ready. Leave 30 seconds for a quick chat before tip off.

Game Time:

• 5 players to start on the court and your subs (impact players) sit with you next to the scoring bench.

• Talk to your players on the bench and on the court as much as you need to. Don’t be shy. Communication is so important in basketball and it normally starts with you.

• Even court time, use your team manager to do subs they are a vital part of the team and its one less job for you.

Subs:

• On any whistle ask the referee for a sub and the referee will let you know when players can swap over.

• Ask your bench players to sit in Subs chairs prior to going on so they are ready when the referee allows substitutions.

Timeouts:

• Simply ask the referee or score bench for a time out, the referee will call time out at the next break in play get your players to have a seat and a drink.

• Talk about any problems that can be fixed and always end with something positive.

• You generally get 50 seconds to 1 minute so make your message short sharp and direct.

No matter the result, get everyone in a group after the game. Talk about what you can work on at training and try to end up with hands in and something positive for everyone to leave on.

(a) Juniors
i. Fill-in players can only be sourced from a lower age group and/or division currently participating in the BBA season.
ii. Each play-up fill-in can play a maximum of 4 games per season per team, on the 5th playup game they automatically become a fully registered member of that play-up team, and their registration for their original team is cancelled.
iii. Once a player has maximum of 4 games per season per team, before the 5th play-up game the player must become a fully financial player of the 2nd team.
iv. A team may only use a fill-in player(s) to make a full complement of seven (7) players for that fixture.
v. Representative player system compliance applies to all fill-in players. Team managers must advise the BBA Operations Team of fill-in player(s) names a minimum 24 hrs prior to game time.
vi. In any instance where two teams from one club are included in the same grade, there shall be no interchange of players between teams.
vii. Where a junior player wishes to play in both junior and senior competitions, they must play for the club that aligns with their junior team. There shall be no interchange of players between clubs. If the junior club does not have a senior team the players can choose to play with any club.
viii. If a junior player identifies themselves with a Regional senior team e.g. Eaton due to residential location &/or prior junior representative participation they may choose to align with that senior club. ix. A player may not play in 2 teams within the same year group of different divisions. For example, a player may not play in Year 5 boys division A and division C, however, may play in Year 5 boys division A and Year 6 boys division C.

(b) Seniors
i. There is no restriction on fill-in players who can play in the Senior Competition, notwithstanding Rule 6(b)vii.
ii. Fill-in players can participate in unlimited games and qualify for finals if they meet the final qualifying restrictions.
iii. Fill-in players will not be eligible to play in the last 3rd of the regular season, as defined in Rule 15(a), unless they have previously filled-in for the team earlier in the season.
iv. While there is no capping on the number of fill-in players or restrictions on sourcing players from outside of the BBA, the Board reserves the right to both endorse and deny these occurrences in the interests of fair play.
v. All new players are required to register a minimum 24 hrs prior to first playing date and pay the prescribed BWA affiliation fee.
vi. Any A Grade player not registered at season start in the B Grade competition, must request board approval no less than 48hrs prior to fixtured game time. In the event of a club having two or more A Grade teams. B Grade players will only be permitted to play for one (1) of the A Grade sides for the duration of the season.
vii. Two (2) weeks prior to the commencement of the season all Clubs must supply the BBA Operations team with a list of Senior Players for the upcoming season which have or are intended to be registered and play in the A & B Grade competitions. If not supplied by the due date the board reserves the right to allocate player points.
viii. This list must have the players name, date of birth and club classification being either an A Grade Player, A Grade Development Player or B Grade Player. These lists will then be reviewed by the BBA Operations team and a final decision on the players classification will be made in consultation with the BBA board.
ix. A total player point limit of 15 points will apply to all BBA BSBL B Grade game day teams. Registered players will be allocated points as per table below. Note that the current registration management platform will not allow a player to be entered if the team exceeds the 15 points maximum. x. A Grade teams will have an unlimited number of team player points for each game, but teams cannot exceed 12 players.
xi. For players joining the competition after the preseason list is submitted, the BBA Operations Team will classify the player subject to Board review.
xii. Once a player classified as a B Grade player plays 7 games in the A Grade competition they will then be reclassified as an A Grade player and the relevant points will be allocated.

(a) For Year 1 & 2 competitions, FIBA rules apply with the following modifications:
i. The ring height shall be 2.59 m above floor.
ii. No back-court violation.
iii. No Zones – man to man defence only.
iv. Players allowed 5 seconds in the key.
v. Once a team obtains possession of the ball in the back court, the opposition must retreat to the blue line mark on the court.
vi. Once a player has completed their dribble and picked up the ball, no defensive player can grab or slap the ball out of the offensive players hands – No Stealing allowed
vii. Turnovers or change of possession can happen with the following: 1. Defensive Rebound 2. Pass interceptions 3. Loose ball possession 4. Rule Violations – out of bounds etc viii. An offensive player who has completed their dribble and picked up the ball has 5 seconds to pass or shoot the ball.
ix. On all throw-ins, the defence must be at least 1 metre from the line (hand and feet).
x. No blind (back) screens to be set.
xi. No Double teaming in defence.
xii. Penalty line – Shooter can move 1 metre towards the basket to shoot.
xiii. 3-point field goals will only count as 2 points.
xiv. Substitutions may be called on any referee whistle. No player shall sit on the bench as a substitute for more than the duration of 1 period unless they are injured.
xv. Change of possession may occur from following rule violations: 1. Travel. 2. Double dribble
This will generally be at the referee/game leader discretion and will be dependent on players ability to follow coaching cues and direction. Players will be given opportunities to learn through coaching from referees/game leaders & coaches.

(b) For Year 3 competitions, FIBA rules apply with the following modifications:
i. The ring height shall be 3.0m above floor.
ii. No Zones – man to man defence only.
iii. Players allowed 5 seconds in the key.
iv. Once a team obtains possession of the ball in the back court, the opposition must retreat to the half-court line – no back court defence.
v. Stealing only allowed in front court. vi. No Double teaming in defence.
vii. No blind (back) screens to be set. viii. On all throw-ins, the defence must be at least 1 metre from the line (hand and feet).
ix. Penalty line – Shooter can move 1 metre towards the basket to shoot.
x. Substitutions may be called on any referee whistle. No player shall sit on the bench as a substitute for more than the duration of 1 period unless they are injured.

(c) The following Mercy Rules will apply to Divisions 2 or lower in the Year 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and Year 7 competitions:
Any team that has a lead of twenty (20) points or more MUST comply with the following:
i. In the back court there shall be no double teaming and if a player has stopped dribbling and picked up the ball the defence cannot grab or slap the ball from offense player’s hands
ii. If the score difference becomes 12 pts the winning team can then play defence with no restrictions until lead gets to 20 points again
iii. It is the responsibility of the coach to ensure that their team adheres to this rule.
iv. Failure to retreat beyond the half court line may result in a warning and then a technical foul being charged against the coach.
v. For Year 5 and below, excessive score variances will be requested not to be displayed on the stadium scoreboard at the request / discretion of the Court Manager.
vi. Mercy Rule will not be applied in Years 8/9 and Years 10/11 or Division 1 competitions.
vii. The BBA Operations team may consider written applications outside the above criteria at its discretion.