Q: At what age group does playing time in REP basketball transition from being equal to having to be earned?

A: Playing time stops being equal as players progress into the U13 age group and beyond in REP basketball. In the U10-U12 age groups, playing time is typically divided into shifts (with the exception of OBLX games), but as players advance to the U13 age group and beyond, playing time is no longer guaranteed and must be earned through performance, effort, and dedication during practices and games.

Q: What is the primary difference in playing time allocation between REP basketball and recreational leagues for youth players?

A: In REP basketball, playing time is not evenly distributed, unlike recreational leagues. REP basketball emphasizes competition, and players must earn their court time through performance and effort.

Q: We all the paid the same amount of money, shouldn't the player all get equal playing time?

A: Parents invest in REP basketball for their children to obtain a basketball education and the opportunity for their children to earn playing time during actual games, which distinguishes REP basketball from less competitive streams like house league. When it comes to playing time in REP: playing time is NOT a right, but every player has the right to EARN their minutes.

Q: How do match-ups influence playing time allocation in REP basketball?

A: Coaches adjust lineups based on match-ups, considering the strengths and weaknesses of both teams. For example, a player may see more minutes against similarly built teams but may not play as much against more athletic opponents.

Q: Is playing time guaranteed based on merit alone in REP basketball?

A: No, despite hard work in practice, players may not always secure playing time based solely on merit. Coaches make decisions strategically to field players who give the team the best chance of winning challenging games.

Q: Wouldn't not playing many minutes make my child want to quit basketball?

A: We experimented with giving equal playing time to a U15 high school team, and the results surprised us. We have found that guaranteeing equal playing time resulted in decreased attendance at practices, a lack of motivation among players to improve their skills, and even a reluctance among some players to attend games when their minutes were secured. We found that players enjoy competing for minutes, are eager to work hard, and are willing to accept less playing time to be in a competitive environment.
When we shifted to players earning playing time, we noticed increased enthusiasm among players, revitalizing players' interest in the game.
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The one exception is if the level of a basketball team is much higher than a player's level. In that case, the coach should not have selected the player for the team if they didn't think they had the ability to earn minutes. In this situation, it would make sense to look for a more appropriate team where a player feels they can earn their minutes.

Q: What benefits does the emphasis on earning playing time bring to players beyond the basketball court?
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A: Understanding that playing time must be earned encourages a strong work ethic, builds character, and fosters traits such as resilience, perseverance, and a commitment to self-improvement.

Q: If my child doesn't get a lot of playing time in games, aren't they just wasting their time?

A: In a competitive basketball environment like REP, the most valuable aspect is practice, which constitutes the vast majority of time players spend in REP basketball. During practice, all players receive equal playing time and development. Practice is where they obtain their basketball education, an asset that lasts a lifetime. Basketball is a game that many play throughout their entire lives, and their education will benefit them for a lifetime, even if a child doesn't log significant game time in their current REP season. 

Youth basketball is a fantastic way for children to learn new skills, make friends, and create a positive and rewarding life for themselves. Playing basketball can offer many benefits beyond the sport itself, such as building confidence, self-esteem, and staying out of trouble.
One of the most significant benefits of playing youth basketball is the ability to learn how to create goals and achieve them. Children who play basketball learn to set realistic goals for themselves and work hard to achieve them. This helps them develop a strong work ethic and the ability to persevere through challenges. They also learn the value of teamwork and communication as they work towards achieving their goals with their teammates.
Another benefit of playing youth basketball is that it can help children stay out of trouble. By staying occupied with basketball practices and games, children are less likely to become involved in negative behaviors or get into trouble. Basketball can provide a positive outlet for energy and can help children stay on a positive path.
Playing youth basketball can also help children make friends and build rewarding relationships. By playing on a team, children learn to work with others towards a common goal. They develop close friendships with their teammates, creating a supportive network of individuals who share common interests and values.
In addition, playing youth basketball can help children build confidence and self-esteem. As children develop their skills on the court and see their hard work pay off, they begin to feel more confident in themselves and their abilities. This can carry over into other areas of their life, such as academics and social relationships.
Finally, playing youth basketball can encourage success in school. Children who participate in basketball learn to manage their time effectively, balance their responsibilities, and prioritize their tasks. These skills can help them succeed in the classroom and beyond.
In conclusion, youth basketball is more than just a sport. It offers children a range of benefits that can help them create a positive and rewarding life for themselves. By learning to set goals, work as a team, build friendships, develop confidence, and succeed in school, children who play youth basketball can set themselves up for a bright future.

As a basketball organization, our mission and values are the foundation of everything we do. We believe that a strong basketball education, playing as a team, and fostering team chemistry are the keys to success. By prioritizing these values, we have witnessed our players and teams greatly surpass their expected performance levels.

Firstly, we believe that a strong basketball education is essential for players to reach their full potential. This means providing our players with the fundamental skills necessary to succeed on the court. We focus on the basics of the game and help our players develop their skills from the ground up. We also place great importance on the mental aspects of the game, such as focus, perseverance, and sportsmanship. By emphasizing these skills, we are able to develop well-rounded players who are able to compete at the highest levels of basketball.

Secondly, we believe that playing as a team is the key to success. Basketball is a team sport, and no one player can succeed alone. By instilling a sense of teamwork in our players, we are able to build strong, cohesive teams that work together to achieve their goals. This means teaching our players the importance of communication, trust, and selflessness on the court. Our teams are built on a foundation of trust, and we believe that this trust is essential for success.

Finally, we believe that fostering team chemistry is crucial for success. By encouraging our players to support each other, we are able to create a positive, supportive team environment that helps our players reach their full potential.

At our organization, we are committed to these values and believe that they are the keys to success on the basketball court. By prioritizing a strong basketball education, playing as a team, and fostering team chemistry, we have been able to help our players and teams achieve great success. Whether it's through individual player development or team success, we are committed to helping our players reach their full potential on and off the court.

​The journey with Maple Basketball starts at the bottom, where players are given the opportunity to develop their skills and fundamentals. By starting at this level, players are able to understand the basics of basketball and build a strong foundation for their future success in the sport. This approach is essential to the Maple Basketball philosophy of growth and development, as players are encouraged to improve year after year.

One of the unique aspects of playing on a Maple Basketball REP team is the opportunity to rise through the Ontario Basketball Association (OBA) ranks. This progression allows players to experience a wide range of competition and develop their skills against some of the best young basketball players in the province. This exposure to different levels of competition is crucial to the development of young athletes and is an important part of the Maple Basketball experience.

As players progress through the ranks, they not only improve their skills on the court but also develop friendships and relationships with their teammates. This sense of community and teamwork is a fundamental aspect of the Maple Basketball REP dream. By growing and developing with their teammates, players are able to experience the full benefit and journey of youth rep basketball. These life lessons learned through progression will stick with them for a lifetime.

Maple Basketball also has an education program designed to provide a complete learning experience for players. The program starts with fundamental skills and progresses towards college-level team concepts. This approach not only improves players' basketball skills but also helps them understand the importance of teamwork, communication, and dedication.
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In summary, the Maple Basketball REP dream is all about growth, development, and teamwork. By starting at the bottom and improving year after year, players are able to experience the full benefit and journey of youth rep basketball. The friendships and relationships formed along the way, combined with the life lessons learned, will stay with them for a lifetime. Maple Basketball's education program ensures that players not only improve their basketball skills but also understand the importance of teamwork and dedication. For young athletes who love basketball, there is no better place to be than on a Maple Basketball REP team.

Playing basketball can have a number of positive effects on mental health for youth.

First, the sense of accomplishment that comes with improving at the game and achieving personal and team goals can boost self-esteem and confidence.

Second, being on a team and working together towards a common goal can foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie, which can be especially important for youth who may be struggling with social interactions.

Third, the physical exertion and cardiovascular exercise involved in playing basketball can release endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators. This can help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety and improve overall mood.

Fourth, being part of a team also provides youth with a sense of responsibility and accountability. This can teach them valuable life skills such as time management, teamwork and communication. It also provides them with a sense of purpose and a positive way to channel their energy.

Fifth, basketball can serve as an outlet for youth to release pent up energy and emotions. It allows them to channel their emotions in a positive and healthy way, rather than bottling them up or expressing them in negative ways.

Overall, basketball can be a powerful tool for promoting positive mental health in youth by providing them with a sense of accomplishment, teamwork, social interaction, physical activity and discipline, which can lead to improved focus, self-esteem, self-confidence and overall well-being.

Playing team basketball is a great way for youth in Maple to stay active, learn important life skills and have fun. The sport of basketball is not only good for physical health, but it also has numerous benefits for mental and emotional well-being.

One of the most obvious benefits of playing team basketball is the physical exercise it provides. Running, jumping, and dribbling all help to improve cardiovascular health and increase muscle strength. Additionally, playing basketball can also help to improve coordination, balance, and flexibility. These physical benefits can help youth to maintain a healthy weight, prevent injury and promote overall well-being.

Playing basketball in a team setting also provides a sense of camaraderie and belonging. It allows young people to form friendships and connections with other players and coaches. Teamwork and communication are also vital skills that youth can learn through the sport, which can be applied to other areas of their lives. They learn to work together with their teammates, and to communicate effectively to achieve a common goal. This helps to build trust and respect among team members, and also teaches them to be responsible and reliable.

Participating in a competitive sport like basketball also helps youth to develop a sense of self-discipline and self-motivation. They learn to set goals for themselves and work towards achieving them, which can be an important life skill. Being part of a team also helps youth to develop a sense of responsibility and to learn how to manage emotions, especially when faced with adversity.

Playing team basketball is also a great way for youth to have fun. The sport is fast-paced and exciting, and it can be a great outlet for stress and anxiety. It can also provide a sense of accomplishment and pride when they see their hard work pay off on the court.

Playing team basketball is a great way for youth in Maple to stay active, learn important life skills and have fun. The benefits of the sport go beyond just physical fitness and can help young people to develop important life skills, make friends and have fun. The Maple community offers many opportunities for youth to be part of a basketball team and reap all the benefits that come with it.

Maple basketball focuses on creating team chemistry. We focus on team chemistry on the basketball court and off the court.

On the basketball court we have a great system set in place. Players are constantly moving, passing, cutting to the basket. Players pass the ball around until a good shot opportunity presents itself. This is fun and unselfish basketball. Players are coached and trained to play as a team,. Maple basketball believes this is the proper way to play basketball, and it's also fun for the players. Parents enjoy watching their team play in this fashion, as it's very entertaining and enjoyable to watch.

Off the court, players will often organize activates such as bowling and other such events. We encourage friendships and community between our teams.

Overall Maple basketball is a great place to learn how to play the game properly and develop lifelong friendships.

Shooting a basketball correctly is a combination of proper form, technique, and practice. Here are the steps to correctly shoot a basketball:

Start in a balanced stance: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, your knees slightly bent, and your weight evenly distributed between both feet.

Grip the ball correctly: Place your fingers spread out and evenly across the ball. You want to grip the ball with the pads of your fingers and not the tips.

Begin the shooting motion: Bring the ball up to your shooting pocket, which is the area directly above your waist and below your chest.

Aim: Look at the rim, and align your body to the basket. Your shooting elbow should be pointing at the rim, and your non-shooting hand should be guiding the ball.

Release the ball: Push the ball out of your shooting hand with a fluid motion, using your wrist and fingers to snap the ball towards the rim. The ball should have a slight rotation as it leaves your hand.

Follow through: Once you release the ball, your shooting arm should be extended and your hand should be pointing towards the rim. Hold this position for a moment to ensure that your shot is on target.

Practice: Shooting a basketball correctly takes time and practice. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become with your shooting technique.

It's also important to note that different players have different shooting styles, so it's good to experiment and find what works best for you. There's no one-size-fits-all approach, but having a good form and following the steps above will help you to shoot the ball correctly.

​Maple basketball focuses strongly on shooting a basketball. We have identified 25 points to shooting a basketball properly. We have found that if even one of these points is not followed or learned, players will not be able to shoot a basketball with consistent accuracy. Once players learn all the correct fundamentals, it's hard for them to miss.

Maple basketball big advantage during games is the ability to shoot the ball accurately. We focus on this strength by holding shooting clinics at the first 30 minutes of every practice session.

Some of the areas we have identified are: hand placement and elbow placement, Arc and rotation of the shot, Rhythm and follow through, feet and shoulder position.

Another factor of shooting a basketball is psychological. Players can learn all the technique, however if they don't shoot with confidence then they will not be successful. We teach players to be mindful during basketball games. Despite whatever thoughts may enter their mind we encourage them to be confident and shoot, even if they missed previous shots.

Maple Basketball also simulates game situations with pressure, and have players shoot under these conditions during practices. When they get to games they are prepared because we practice shooting under pressure.

We believe that shooting is one of the most important things to be mastered in the game of basketball. We can't control how tall players are or how fast they can run. However, we have 100% control over how well a player could shoot a basketball. Shooting a ball properly is a matter of learning proper technique and practice. Through hard work and dedication by coaches and players, maple basketball players become great basketball shooters.

The best basketball team really depends on your needs and what you're looking for. There are different levels of competition ranging from A/AA/AAA.

If you're looking for a competitive REP basketball team then you want to ask potential clubs what their curriculum and training philosophies are. If they don't have an answer to this question, then it's most likely going to be a lower ranked (Single A) recreational team.

Maple basketball has a full curriculum and tracks players progress.  Our goal as a club is to develop players beyond their natural abilities. If we start with a team that starts at the A level, our goal is to elevate them to AA or AAA level. Maple basketball doesn't focus on what the player starting level is at the tryouts. We believe that with our basketball training system that we have the ability to elevate players to a higher level.  It's always great to draft talent, however this is not a prerequisite for success.

Maple basketball believes that through hard work and dedication from both the club and the players they could all achieve success on the court.

A/AA/AA are the three levels of REP basketball in Vaughn, Ontario.  Clubs from Thornhill, Maple, and Richmond hill compete at these levels.

Single A teams are usually beginner teams. Once teams develop fundamentals they usually move into A+ level.

Teams who have strong fundamentals and developing team systems will usually move into the AA level.  There is a large pool of teams at this level.

AAA level are usually teams that are very talented and have been together for several years.

AAA+ are the Elite level teams. Being an elite level team AAA+ is very impressive, however it's not always the best position to be in. There are very few teams at this level, sometimes only two or three teams in the entire province of Ontario. So it will be difficult for these teams to find suitable competitions, tournaments, leagues in the York Region area or the entire province of Ontario. They usually will have to travel to United States for special tournaments to find competition that could challenge them.

A great level to be at is AA+ or AAA-. There are large pools of teams in this ranking, and these teams play very good fundamental basketball and have a great team systems. These teams typically have also been together for a long time and have developed good team chemistry. This is the ideal level that Maple basketball would like to develop its clubs.

Maple basketball house league is a type of recreational basketball program that is designed for players of all skill levels, and is typically focused on developing the basic skills of the game and promoting fun and fitness rather than high-level competition. House league teams in Maple are usually formed at the community level and are usually made up of players from the Maple area.

In a Maple basketball house league, players are typically assigned to teams that are composed of players of similar ages and skill levels. The teams play a set schedule of games against other teams in the league, but the emphasis is on development and fun, rather than winning and losing. House league teams may also practice and scrimmage, but it's not mandatory.

Maple basketball house league is a great option for players who want to learn and play the game in a less competitive environment, or for those who are new to the sport and looking to build their skills and confidence before trying out for rep teams. It's also a great way to make friends and have fun while staying active in the Maple community. 

​House leagues are internal teams of a specific organization. These teams are typically less competitive than REP teams. Vaughan area house league teams do not require tryouts.

Rep teams require athletes to try out for the team. Most REP teams also require two to three practices per week. The cost for a rep teams are significantly higher. In Thornhill and Maple rep teams typically cost in the $2000 range. House leagues usually cost $300 to $400. If you're looking to have fun and exercise but don't want to be overly competitive, house league may be the right option for you.

If you're really looking to develop your basketball game, spend many hours practicing, travel to play. Then rep basketball might suit you better.