Parents &
Players Hub

Winning is becoming the best version of yourself, your team, and your program. We measure it through growth, preparation, collective success, and the culture we build. We want to win games, but never at the expense of character, integrity, or the people entrusted to our care.

Sportsmanship is how our winning attitude shows up. The way we treat teammates, opponents, officials, coaches, and spectators reveals our character. We compete fiercely without belittling others, and we meet victory with humility and defeat with dignity.

We will set clear expectations and hold every player to high standards for effort, preparation, conduct, and how they treat others. When a player falls short, we will address it directly and respectfully, give them a chance to respond, and be clear about what needs to change and how we’ll follow up.

Discipline is accountability in service of learning, resilience, responsibility, and growth. It is never humiliation, and never punishment for its own sake. Every disciplinary response will be:

• Legal and consistent with school policy
• Appropriate and proportionate
• Fair and consistent across players
• Clearly explained and understood
• Respectful of each person's dignity
• Designed to support resilience, repair, and growth

Coaches address behavior rather than label people, and always offer a constructive path forward.

This standard applies to players, coaches, and (we ask) families, at practices, games, on the bus, on the bench, and in team messages.

• No cursing, profanity, slurs, name-calling, insults, or demeaning language toward anyone.
• Criticism is constructive: name the specific action, explain what can improve, and give a practical next step. Correct the play, not the worth of the player.
• Encouragement is genuine. Celebrate effort, teamwork, and improvement, not only points and wins.
• Communication goes both ways. Listen, ask questions, and disagree respectfully. Frustration is real, but it does not excuse harmful language.

What it sounds like:

• Instead of "That was stupid," say "See the help defender earlier. Look for the kick-out."
• Instead of "You never play defense," say "Sprint back, get below the ball, and talk on the next possession."
• Instead of blaming a teammate, say "Next play. I've got your help."

Coaches hold themselves to this standard first. When our language falls short, we own it, repair the harm, and choose better words.

Possession is our core principle. Basketball is a game of gaining, protecting, and converting possession into points. Win possession. Protect possession. Make possession count.

Defense: regain possession. Pressure the ball, give full effort, help each other, force hard decisions, and finish every stop with the rebound. A stop is not complete until we control the ball.

Offense: protect possession and score. We value the ball, use spacing and timing, and attack advantages, not carelessly. Our offense is unselfish and built on three core actions: driving, cutting, and screening.

We teach players to play, not just to run plays. Practice emphasizes fundamentals, small-sided games and realistic situations so players learn to read defenders, recognize advantages, and decide in real time. Mistakes are part of learning: identify what happened, adjust, and play the next possession with confidence.

• Sprint back on defense every possession
• Talk on every defensive possession
• Respond to a mistake with "next play," not blame or body language
• Stay on the bench and let coaches handle officials
• Show up on time, ready to work
• Support teammates, including those who aren't playing

Varsity: We play to win. Minutes go to what gives the team the best chance to win. That takes a concerted team effort in practice, on the bench, and in the locker room. Playing time is earned, not guaranteed, and it can change from game to game.

JV: We play to develop. We still learn how to win, but growth comes first. Our goal is to get everyone into the game and distribute playing time, though game situations where we’re competing to win may affect how minutes are shared.

• Cheer for effort and teamwork. Celebrate hustle, unselfish plays, and resilience as much as points.
• Respect officials and opponents. Our players take their cues from the stands. Build up, don't tear down applies to spectators too.
• Let the coaching happen on the court. Please leave in-game instruction to the coaching staff.

Raise concerns privately and at the right time. We welcome feedback from families. You see parts of your child’s experience that we may miss, and what you share helps us learn as coaches and build a stronger Viking basketball program. We welcome ideas about how we communicate, support players, and make families feel connected to the program.

If you have a concern about your player’s experience, role, or playing time, please contact the coach to schedule a private conversation away from the gym on game day. When appropriate, we encourage players to talk with their coach about their role, ask what they can work on, and share what support they need. Parents are welcome to reach out directly as well. If a concern is urgent, please bring it to the attention of a coach or the athletic director right away.

You can expect us to listen, explain our decisions when we can, and follow up when a concern needs more attention. We’ll make changes when feedback helps us see a better way to support our players.

Support the whole athlete. Encourage attendance, academics, and a positive attitude at home.

• High standards, clear explanations, and honest feedback
• Fair, consistent, and respectful treatment of every player
• Coaching that corrects the play without belittling the person
• A program where every player is challenged and every player can grow

Our responsibility extends beyond one season. We want a positive basketball culture across Orcas Island that connects high school athletes with younger players, families, and the community. Our players are role models, mentors, and representatives of our school.

We define winning by who we become, show it through sportsmanship, and pursue it through disciplined effort, together.

Go Vikings!