Purpose of Interscholastic Sports

Interscholastic sports are an extension of the education process.Therefore, we focus on those character-building skills that will be valuable in the futures of our athletes.The central goal of the Sabino Girls Basketball Program is to develop winners on and off the court. Winners are not made by records or statistics, but rather, the caliber of character. Please be wary of wrapping your identity (and the identity of your child) around our successes and failures. Losing a game does not make us "losers", just as winning a game does not make us "winners" I would encourage you to focus on the totality of the experience your daughter receives from playing basketball at Sabino High School.

Expectations for Players

Being a member of the Sabino Girls Basketball Program is a tremendous accomplishment. However, membership is conditional on players accepting and living by the Sabino Girls Basketball Code of Conduct. Players not living up to the Code risk their status as a basketball player at Sabino High School.

Expectations for Parents

One of the most difficult roles for anyone involved in the Sabino Girls Basketball Program is the one taken on by the parents. Parents are expected to contribute in many ways that can be a burden on both their time and money. However, with these contributions there is no “quid pro quo”. Parents should understand that there is a risk that players may not play with great frequency or be selected for a team in the coming years. We depend greatly on an active Booster Club and parents willing to contribute in any way they can. Parent involvement makes our program a more professional and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Expectations for Coaches

The high expectations of the Sabino Basketball Program extend to the coaching staff as well. Because we strive to become the premier high school basketball program in Arizona it is important that we have the highest quality coaches. Coaches are expected to be knowledgeable, positive, and energetic about the sport of basketball. Coaches will seek out opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills. Coaches will maximize their time with players by using both new and proven techniques to promote skill mastery. The coaching staff will conduct themselves in a manner that models the conduct we expect in our players.

Playing Time

Team decisions are the sole responsibility of the coaching staff and thus are not negotiable. Understand that there are many factors that go into making playing time decisions. Coaches are looking out for the best interests of a team while considering the individual needs of players. This can sometimes be a delicate balance that parents may not understand. A foundation of our program is communication and we encourage players to meet with coaches regarding what they can do to improve their play. The coaching staff will not engage (or be engaged by) parents in discussions of their child’s playing time. Parents and players should understand that at the high school level there is intense competition for playing time. It is this competition that enables us to achieve at such a high level.

Off-Season Training

All successful programs have some level of off-season requirements for their athletes. Our program requires that athletes utilize any opportunities (weight training, open gyms, basketball leagues, club, camps, scrimmages, etc.) to improve as a player. Do not confuse off-season training with tryouts!!! Training out of season is an opportunity and a privilege. I say privilege because it often requires several hours of volunteer time by coaches, administration, and parents. Participation in our off-season program guarantees nothing except that if players work hard, they will improve.