2018-2019 ADMINISTRATIVE HANDBOOK
FOR MORE INFORMATION www.jrnba.com/skillschallenge jrnba@nba.com
Welcome Launched in October 2015, the Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour is the official youth basketball participation program of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Jr. NBA targets boys and girls ages 6-14 and emphasizes teaching the fundamentals of the game and the character values that come from playing basketball. To learn more about the Jr. NBA, visit our website and register at www.jrnba.com. The NBA and Under Armour would like to thank you for participating in the Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour. The Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour provides boys and girls ages 13 and under the opportunity to showcase their dribbling, shooting, and rebounding skills in the sport of basketball. An online administrative tool kit will allow organizations to easily administer the program. Boys and girls compete separately in two different age groups: 11U and 13U. Participants compete in up to three (3) levels of competition, including the National Finals in New York City before the 2019 NBA Draft presented by State Farm. The program is free for all participants and organizations. Table of Contents Program Goals/Overview...4 Levels of Competition... 5-6 Competition Rules...7 Local Competition Administrator Responsibilities...8 Local Competition Equipment and Court Set Up...9 Court Set Up Diagram with Measurements...10 Procedure/Rules...11 Violations/Disqualification/Scoring...12 Staff...13 Competition Flow Diagram...14 Miscellaneous...15 3
Program Goals The Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour aims to: Provide players ages 13 and under throughout the United States an opportunity to participate, free of charge. Encourage participation with emphasis on both fitness development and basketball skills. Provide Jr. NBA members with an easily administered program that communicates effectively. Supply consistent and timely information to provide the highest quality program of its kind. Program Overview PARTICIPANTS All participants must have a parent or guardian fill out a registration/liability form obtained from the Jr. NBA member organization hosting a Local Competition or online at www.jrnba.com/skillschallenge. Boys and girls ages 13 and under MUST provide a copy of valid birth certificate or other proof of identification for age verification. Each player may participate in only one Local Competition. Competing in more than one Local Competition will result in disqualification. AGE GROUPS The two age groups are: 11U and 13U with boys and girls competing separately. AGE VERIFICATION CHART To determine the appropriate age group for each participant, refer to the chart below. Participants must compete in the age groups identified below. Age groups are based upon the participant s age as of August 31, 2019. Age Groups Born Between 11U Born on or after September 1, 2007 13U September 1, 2005 August 31, 2007 4
Levels of Competition Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour consists of three levels of competition. LOCAL COMPETITION: NOVEMBER 1, 2018 - February 15, 2019 OVERVIEW Each host organization may conduct as many Local Competitions as they would like provided that no participant competes in more than one Local Competition. ALL Local Competitions MUST be held between November 1, 2018 - February 15, 2019. ADVANCEMENT Each Local Competition Administrator will declare 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each age and gender group. Assuming all four different age groups and genders are represented at your Local Competition, there will be twelve Champions (6 male & 6 female). These 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each age and gender group advance to the Regional Competition. AWARDS Printable versions of the Local Competition Award Certificate are available online at: www.jrnba.com/skillschallenge. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each age and gender group should receive certificates. IMPORTANT NOTES In order to have a participant advance to the subsequent levels of competition, your league/ organization MUST be registered as a Jr. NBA member and you MUST have your local Competition registered with the Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour Headquarters at www.jrnba.com/skillschallenge or email jrnba@nba.com. All registration/liability forms and score sheets must be on file at the Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour Headquarters in order to deem your local Competition official. 5
Levels of Competition REGIONAL COMPETITION: February 17, 2019 - April 28, 2019 OVERVIEW A select number of Regional Competitions will be hosted throughout the United States. Only the Local Competition 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers will compete in a Regional Competition. All scores are reset to zero. ADVANCEMENT The Regional Competition 1st place finisher in each age and gender group from each Regional Competition location will automatically advance to the National Finals. AWARDS The 1st place finisher in each age and gender group will receive a Regional Competition Award and advance to the National Finals. NATIONAL FINALS: June 18, 2019 - June 21, 2019 OVERVIEW The National Finals conclude in New York City before the 2019 NBA Draft presented by State Farm. The top Regional Champions (top male and top female participants in each age group) will compete at the National Finals. All scores are reset to zero. 6
Competition Rules ELIGIBILITY The competition is free for all boys and girls ages 13 and under. All participants must provide a copy of a valid birth certificate or other proof of identification for age verification at each level of competition. All participants must provide a completed registration/liability form signed by a parent/guardian at each level of competition. Participants may only participate in one Local Competition or face disqualification. TIEBREAKERS If a tie occurs for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place, follow the guidelines below to determine the top 3 winners: Local and Regional Competition All players involved in the tie will have their score sheets compared. The winner will be determined by: 1. Bonus free throw shot made 2. Highest number of 6 point shots made 3. Highest number of 4 point shots made 4. Highest number of 3 point shots made 5. Highest number of 1 point shots made 6. Lowest number of violations National Finals Participants involved in the tie must repeat the competition to determine the Champion. The best score from the tiebreaker will be used to determine the Champion. 7
Local Competition Administrator Responsibilities REGISTRATION PROCESS Register your league/organization with the Jr. NBA at www.jrnba.com/skillschallenge.** Determine date, time, and location of your Local Competition and notify the Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour Headquarters via email at jrnba@nba.com. Secure athletic facility to host the Local Competition. ** You must be a registered Jr. NBA member organization to host a Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour Local Competition. PRIOR TO COMPETITION Using the online administrative tool kit, print the promotional flyers and distribute/display to your members and community to encourage Local Competition participation. Additional promotional ideas include promoting your Local Competition through email blasts, newsletters, newspapers, Facebook, Twitter, organization website, etc Recruit necessary staff and volunteers. Using the online administrative tool kit, print 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place award certificates; score sheets; participant participation card; extra registration/liability forms; and self addressed stamped envelope permit Receive and print the Regional Competition details provided to you via email from the Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour Headquarters. EVENT DAY Register all participants by verifying date of birth and collecting completed registration/liability forms from each competitor. Conduct Local Competition. Please Note: In the event of a cancellation, please reschedule the competition and communicate updated competition details to all participants and to the Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour Headquarters. Provide each 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finisher in each age and gender group with the Regional Competition advancement information. FOLLOWING THE EVENT Submit results to the Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour Headquarters online at www.jrnba.com/skillschallenge. Mail all registration/liability forms and score sheet copies using the self addressed stamped envelope permit to : Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour 4015 Wetherburn Way Norcross, GA 30092 All results must be on file at the Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour Headquarters for a competition to qualify as an official competition and to have your players be eligible to advance to the subsequent levels of competition. 8
Local Competition Equipment OBJECTIVE To challenge participants to zig-zag dribble through cones, speed dribble, shoot, rebound, and to score as many points as possible by making shots from designated shooting spots in 1 minute. The participant concludes the one (1) minute competition with one (1) free throw for bonus points. NECESSARY EQUIPMENT 1 Half-Court basketball court 1 Regulation height basketball goal (10 feet) 1 Basketball 28.5 to be used by all girl participants 1 Basketball 29.5 to be used by all boy participants 1 Roll of removable floor tape (to mark shooting spots and cone placement) 1 Digital stop watch 1 Tape measure (at least 50 feet) 1 Whistle 1 Clipboard 1 Writing utensil 6 Cones Score sheets (Printable via the online administrative tool kit) NOTE: Experience has shown that the above equipment listed is the minimum necessary to conduct a successful competition. Court Set Up Use the court set up diagram (page 10) and a tape measure to mark the placement of all cones and shooting spots. Measure all cones and spots from the center of the basket to the center of each cone and each spot. Prior to placing each cone, we recommend placing a small piece of removable tape on the measured spot so measurements do not have to be retaken at any point during competition (example: kicked over cone, etc.). Each shooting spot should be a 10 x 10 square. The center of the 10 x 10 square should match the diagram. Using the removable tape, indicate the 10 x 10 shooting spot around the measured mark. In the center of each shooting spot, use the removable tape to indicate the number of points the made shot is worth. Court measurements and the height of the basketball goal (10 feet) must remain consistent throughout the entire competition. 9
Court Set Up Diagram with Measurements 37 ft 32 ft 24 ft 24 ft 16 ft 6 19 ft 9 in 4 4 15 ft 8 ft 3 10 ft 8 ft 10 ft 3 1 1 6 ft 6 in 3 ft 6 ft 6 in 15 ft 12 ft 10 10 Each Cone Measurement 10
Procedure Each participant competes one at a time against the stopwatch. Each participant begins with one basketball in hand and both feet behind and to the right of the designated starting cone ( start cone shown in page 14 diagram). The participant begins when the timer yells GO or blows the whistle. The participant ends when the timer yells STOP or blows the whistle after 1 minute has elapsed. If a participant false starts, the timer blows the whistle so the participant can return to the starting cone for another attempt. Participants begin the zig-zag dribble by dribbling past the first cone to the left. Participants MUST follow the zig-zag dribbling around each cone, followed up with the speed dribble, as outlined in the Competition Flow Diagram on page 14 before any shot attempts are taken from designated shooting spots. Participants may begin the shooting portion from any shooting spot and may shoot in any order. Once a shot is taken, the participant must shoot from a different spot (a participant may not take consecutive shots from the same spot, make or miss). Participants must retrieve their own rebounds. Participants must dribble throughout the challenge, including after rebounding and upon returning to another shooting spot. A basket counts only if the ball is released before the timer yells STOP. After the 1 minute, each participant will shoot one free throw worth 3 points. Have the participant attempt the free throw with both feet behind the 15-foot free throw line as if in a normal game. All age and gender groups will shoot from the same designated free throw line. Rules All girl participants will compete with a 28.5 basketball. All boy participants will compete with a 29.5 basketball. Participants may shoot using any technique desired. Any part of a participant s foot must be touching the shooting spot as they release the ball for the basket to count. They do not need to be touching/landing on the spot after a shot has been taken. A kicked over cone is permitted, provided that the participant dribbled, rounded, and weaved past the cone correctly. Participants must dribble the basketball throughout the challenge. No out of bounds. Each participant receives only one official attempt to complete the challenge. 11
Violations A three point penalty will be subtracted to participant s final score for EACH violation. *AII ruiings made by the Court OfficiaI/Scorer are finai. Traveling Double dribble Palming/Carrying the ball Disqualification If all skills are not followed in sequential order shown in the page 14 diagram: zig-zag dribble through all cones, speed dribble around cone, shooting attempts, and free throw bonus shot. If a participant competes in more than one Local Competition. Scoring Each time a shot is made, the participant is awarded with the corresponding spot s points (see page 14 diagram). Three bonus points are awarded for a made free throw at the end of the 1 minute. A three point penalty will be subtracted from the participant s final score for EACH violation. For the final score, add shots made, plus three bonus points if the free throw was made, minus any penalty points. SAMPLE SCORE SHEET VIOLATIONS (-3 PER) PARTICIPANT NAME AGE GROUP (11U/13U) 1 POINT SHOT MADE 3 POINT SHOT MADE 4 POINT SHOT MADE 6 POINT SHOT MADE BONUS FREE THROW MADE (3 POINTS) TOTAL POINTS MADE TRAVELING DOUBLE DRIBBLE PALMING/ CARRYING BALL FINAL SCORE 12
Staff RESPONSIBILITIES All procedures need to remain consistent with each participant. All staffers must report any violations to the Court Official/Scorer. All rulings made by the Court Official/Scorer are final. COURT OFFICIAL SCORER Stand in clear view of the participant. For each violation, mark the number of penalties in the appropriate box on the score sheet. Each time a shot is made, mark the box on the score sheet with the corresponding spot s points (see page 14 diagram). If the bonus free throw is made, mark the box on the score sheet and add 3 points to the final score. Make final determination on all violations. For the final score, add shots made, plus three bonus points if the free throw was made, minus any penalty points. TIMER Stand within clear view of the participant near the official starting cone. Check to make sure that both of the participant s feet are behind the starting cone. Start the stopwatch when you yell GO or blow the whistle. Stop the stopwatch after 1 minute and yell STOP or blow the whistle. If a participant false starts, blow the whistle so the participant can return to the starting cone. If a participant false starts a second time, he or she is disqualified. Instruct the participant to follow the course in sequential order shown in the page 14 diagram: zig-zag dribble through all cones, speed dribble around cone, shooting attempts, and the bonus free throw shot. Assist Court Official/Scorer with any known violations. 13
Competition Flow Diagram START 6 4 4 3 3 1 1 14
Miscellaneous NBA AND UNDER ARMOUR LOGO/SPONSORSHIP REGULATIONS Under Armour is the presenting sponsor of this National Basketball Association (NBA) program. Therefore, no additional sponsorships may be solicited. If not for the funding of the NBA and its sponsors, this program would not be free for the participants. Due to strict NBA regulations and applicable law, use of the Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour logo or any word mark, logo, or other trademark of NBA, any of the NBA, WNBA, or G League teams or any of their affiliated entities must be approved through the Jr. NBA Skills Challenge presented by Under Armour Headquarters and the NBA. IMPORTANT NOTES The NBA and its sponsors, LEJ & Associates, Inc, and Local and Regional coordinators/organizers of the Jr. NBA reserve the right to make rulings and recommendations regarding the competition determined to be in the best interest of the program. All rulings and recommendations are final. In the event of cancellations, rescheduling will be determined by Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour officials at the competition site. At the Local Competition, the league director/administrator will be the determining official. 15