Seton CYO Program Overview

Seton CYO Basketball is a catholic parish-based youth basketball program, focused on providing children with a positive, character-building experience through the vehicle of sports. Children have the opportunity to practice Christian attitudes and responsibilities, build confidence, have fun, and make new friends.

Our teams compete against numerous other catholic parishes within the Westchester-Putnam region. We generally have over 200 children participate in the fall/winter season and are able to field two teams per each grade level (3^rd – 8^th) for boys and one team per grade level for girls. By design, our program allows players the opportunity to improve themselves through practice and competitive game exposure. There is a focus on development and sportsmanship. Success should not be based solely on winning or losing, but should be understood in terms of participation, enjoyment and self-confidence.

Principles of fair play and sportsmanship must govern every game, and all participants should have the respect of others on their own team and the opposing team. Participants should understand that “how the team played” is immensely more important than who won the game or who excelled on an individual basis, and this should promote encouragement of their teammates, peers, friends and competitors. In our program, emphasis rests not on the number of games won or lost, but on the participants' attitude in victory or defeat. Learning how to lose is just as important as learning how to win and learning how to win graciously is more important than winning itself.

Seton Registration Fees:

The cost of registration is $270 for the first child, $120 for the second, $60 for the third, and no cost for additional children. Costs of a new uniform are separate; however, children can typically get 2-3 seasons out of them. Jerseys are $32, shorts $24 and a reversible practice jersey is $10. Payment is required at the time of registration by credit card to complete the registration process. Contact one of our Seton CYO Coordinators if this payment by check is necessary.

Registration fees go towards the Westchester-Putnam CYO (WPCYO) team registration, referee costs, insurance, school or YCCC gym time rental, one tournament per team, new basketballs and other team equipment, and an end of season awards party.

Refund Policy:

A full refund will be issued if the registered player is not placed on a roster. A full refund (minus a $20 processing fee) will be issued if registration is cancelled by a parent/guardian before the registration period closes. No refund will be issued if the registration is cancelled by a parent/guardian after the registration period closes. Any other request for refund is handled on a case-by-case basis. If the CYO season is canceled due to COVID-19, a prorated refund net of costs will be provided and determined by the length of season completed.

Practice Times & Locations:

Teams typically have one 90-minute practice on a weeknight evening that can start as early as 5:30 and end as late as 9:30. We try to schedule our younger teams for earlier time slots and our middle school aged teams for the later times. Occasionally teams will schedule a second practice if additional court time is available. Practices are held at the Seton gym and various Lakeland CSD elementary schools. The practice schedule for the upcoming season will be created as soon as possible following the completion of the registration period.

Game Schedules & Locations:

Teams compete in a 12-game regular season schedule consisting of 6 home games and 6 away games. Home games are played at either the Seton gym or Van Cortlandtville elementary school. Away games locations are typically within a half hour drive, with the furthest games being in New Rochelle/Yonkers to the south and Patterson to the north. The game schedule begins in mid-November, with the schedule are released in early November. Games are played on Saturdays or Sundays, typically with one game per weekend but occasionally there are weekends with a game on both days. There are no games scheduled for the Thanksgiving weekend or between Christmas and New Year’s.

Tournaments:

Registration fees include one tournament per team. Teams are encouraged to compete in at least one tournament during the season, which will typically occur either at the beginning of the season, during the Christmas break, or at the end of the season. Some teams may opt to do more than one tournament, at a separate cost to the team.

Competition Levels and Playoffs:

The WPCYO league organizes teams into four levels (divisions) of competition. The A, B, and C divisions have separate playoffs at the end of the regular season, the D division does not. The number of teams that qualify for the playoffs various depending on how many teams are in the division. Generally, to qualify a team must finish in the top three of their division. Playoffs are held upon the conclusion of the regular season in late February.

Playing Time:

Seton CYO aims for fair playing time for each player and we rely on the judgment of our coaches. Player attendance and active participation in practices are requirements for participation in games.

Player Team Placement, Evaluations, and Roster Size:

Seton CYO endeavors to place all registered children on a team. However due to roster size constraints, oftentimes we are not able to accommodate all children. Our team rosters are generally capped at 10 players per team. When possible, we attempt to divide the players and form as many teams as possible for an age group to fit all the registered players. Player team placement may vary from season to season. Returning players and Seton parishioners (in that order) receive preference to placement on a roster, when space is not available for all registered children. If enough children are registered for an age group, we will attempt to form additional teams to accommodate all children. Players in age groups with more than one team are divided by ability level. Player evaluations will be conducted to determine ability level at the start of the season if necessary, to create team rosters.

Player Commitment and Sportsmanship:

We strive to provide our children with a healthy and enjoyable sports’ environment, which demands a positive sportsmanship attitude by all participants. We promote self-confidence and enjoyment, while offering the best opportunity for improvement and realization of a child's true potential – both on and off the court. To ensure the success of each team and the program, every child is asked to make a commitment to their team and coaches. All teams are focused on the development of fundamental basketball skills and instilling positive values. The coach’s rules and regulations must be followed, proper player behavior is critical, and regular attendance at practice is a requirement. Player commitment needs to be supported and reinforced by parents. Any player that disregards the commitment level or sportsmanship expectations, will have reduced playing in games as a result. Seton CYO coaches, players, and parents represent the Parish and should demonstrate exemplary ethical and moral behavior.  We require all participants to sign and abide by the Seton CYO Code of Conduct.

Volunteer Run Program and Coached Teams:

Seton CYO Basketball is run completely by volunteers and teams are coached by parents. All our coaches and assistant coaches are required to complete the New York Archdiocese's Safe Environment Program. The program includes a Background Check, completion of the Safe Environment Questionnaire, and completion of the Safer Spaces Training.

Expected Teams for 2021/2022 Season:

Program Coordinator Contacts:

Mike Hahn (Registration & Website) –

Nick Delfico (Scheduling) –

Mike Marinelli (Uniforms & Seton Store) –

CYO League Office Information:

Archdiocese CYO Office:

Seth Peloso, Director of CYO Division

Anthony Badger, Manager of County Programs
Linda Maguire, Executive Assistant

Phone: 212-371-1000
Fax: 212-826-3347

Catholic Youth Organization
1011 First Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10022
www.CYONY.org

Westchester Putnam Region:

Bill McLoughlin, Northern Basketball Commissioner

Charles Alfaro, Southern Basketball Commissioner

Rita McCabe, Director of Program Design and Implementation

www.wpcyo.net

CODE OF CONDUCT

Players, coaches, officials, parents and spectators are to conduct themselves in a manner that demonstrates respect to other players, coaches, officials, parents, spectators and fans. In becoming a member of this organization, an individual assumes certain obligations and responsibilities to the organization and its participants. The essential elements in this Code of Conduct are HONESTY, INTEGRITY, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY. Those who conduct themselves in a manner that reflects these elements will bring credit to themselves, their team and their organization. It is only through such conduct that our organization can continue to earn and maintain a positive image and make its full contribution to our sport and community.

The following essential elements of the Code of Conduct must be followed:

1. Sportsmanship and teaching the concepts of fair play are essential to the game and must be taught at all levels and developed both at home and on the field during practices and games.

2. The value of good sportsmanship, the concepts of fair play, and the skills of the game should always be placed above winning.

3. The safety and welfare of the players are of primary importance.

4. Players should always demonstrate positive behavior and respect toward teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, parents and spectators.

5. Coaches, players, parents and spectators are expected to demonstrate the utmost respect for officials and reinforce that respect to players/teammates.

6. Grievances or misunderstandings between coaches, officials or any other parties involved with the organization should be communicated through the proper channels and procedures, never on or about the field of play in view of spectators or participants.

7. Spectators involved with the game must never permit anyone to openly or maliciously criticize, badger, harass or threaten an official, coach, player or opponent.

8. Eligibility requirements, at all levels of the game, must be followed. Rules and requirements such as age, previous level of participation, team transfers, etc, have been established to encourage and maximize participation, fair play and to promote safety.

A player who engages in poor sportsmanship or violation of the rules and guidelines will be subject to disciplinary action. Such actions may, include ineligibility to play in games to expulsion from the CYO program.

Participating teams and their coaches are responsible for the conduct of their spectators. Any parent or guardian who displays poor sportsmanship may be removed from the facility by an official, their team coach, and a league official or host gym person in charge. Any parent or guardian who interferes with the conduct of a CYO activity may, at the discretion of the parents or guardian’s parish, league or CYO Coordinators, be barred from attendance at subsequent CYO activities.

General Eligibility Rules for CYO Competition 

Since participation in CYO programs is voluntary and not mandated or required by any source, we reserve the right to enforce the following guidelines:

1. Participants must be resident members of the sponsoring parish and they must live within the geographic boundaries of the parish they represent.
2. Any student of a Roman Catholic parish/Roman Catholic private school is eligible to represent that parish/school in a CYO activity.
3. Participants must meet the age and grade requirements of the particular program. 
4. A Catholic player whose family chooses to make a non-resident parish the center of their religious life may only become eligible to participate on the non-resident parish’s CYO team by obtaining the following: 
   1. A letter from the Pastor of their geographic parish stating they are not members of their geographic parish.
   2. A letter from the Pastor of the non-resident parish stating they have been active members of such parish for at least one year prior. The date of registration with the parish must be included in the letter.

NOTE:  A player who physically moves residence to a state other than New York is ineligible to compete within this Archdiocese. If the move occurs during the player’s participation, the player may complete the season but is not eligible for future participation. Players must live in the county/borough of the team on which they are a member.

5. Under NO circumstances will an individual be allowed to utilize two separate addresses for the purpose of establishing eligibility to participate in a specific program. The only exception to this rule will be the existence of a court-ordered Decree of Divorce that stipulates a joint custody arrangement between parents with specific terms of custody. It is the responsibility of the parish to provide a copy of the Decree of Divorce to the CYO. 
6. In determining cases of eligibility, the CYO reserves the right to ask for all of the following documentation to determine residence: 
   1. lease or rental contract
   2. letter from school principal verifying above address
   3. utility bill
   4. copy of canceled rent checks or, in the case of cash payment, a statement from the landlord indicating the monthly payment and the amount he has received
7. In determining player eligibility there exists no cases of grandfathering eligibility based on the previous year’s participation. Each individual who chooses to participate in CYO activities must establish eligibility for a particular program every year. Participation in a parish CCD program does not establish residency in that parish. 

8. In any situations where the participation of a team or parish brings in to question the credibility of those individuals responsible for that team or program, and the actions of that team or program are detrimental to the integrity and credibility of the CYO, then the CYO Central Administration has the right to impose sanctions including removal, reassignment to a different division or the designation as a non-playoff eligible team. These actions will be taken after consultation with the pastor or principal of the offending party and the decision of CYO is final. 
9. In a situation where a parish/school program has been found to have ineligible players, all of the teams in that program may be ruled ineligible for County and Archdiocesan playoffs by the CYO administration. We feel it is the responsibility of our adult volunteers to maintain the standards of our organization and to bring to our attention any cases of misconduct on the part of a coach or a parent. 
10. In cases where school is closed, the players are grandfathered eligible until they graduate 8th grade.

Exceptions to General Rules:

1. Non-Catholics who do not attend a Catholic School may participate with the Catholic parish program within the geographic boundaries in which they reside. A player who cannot secure placement on a team must contact the County Director.

2. Every effort should be made to play on the resident parish team. However, a youngster who cannot secure a position on the roster of a resident parish team (or if the resident parish has no program at all) may participate on a team of an adjoining parish (within the county that the player resides) with authorization of the CYO County Director. An adjoining parish is one whose boundaries touch on the youngster’s resident parish. As long as the resident parish offers a spot on one of its teams, the player is bound to play with his resident parish. 

NOTE:  A parish roster is limited to

 3 player exceptions

  in any combination of 1 & 2

3. Local County rules take precedence in all County play. 
4. A player placed on a team as an exception for the previous season does NOT establish eligibility for future years. 
5. The CYO County Director has final say as to parish boundaries and what constitutes an adjoining parish. If no program exists in a parish, or the player cannot secure a position in the resident parish, the parish coordinator must contact the County Director for instructions.