Basketball Enrollment for the 99th Annual CYM Basketball Program Year is now open for all youth levels on CYM Sports / Team Sideline Accounts.

All youth participants must be enrolled in basketball in order to participate.

Please read carefully the following winter preparation information for the upcoming 2026-2027 Basketball Season.

• Special attention should be focused on deadline dates, enrollment requirements, and points of contact by Administrators in Basketball. Some information may be different than that of previous seasons.

Athletic Association Representatives should email cymsports@cdow.org, along with boysbasketball@cdow.org and girlsbasketball@cdow.org with your boys and/or girls basketball coordinator attached, noting their recognition as a local coordinator.

• These will be provided to their new point of contact within office, the CYM Sports Operations Coordinator.
• They will be granted access to the admin portal of Team Sideline.
  

1. Introduction

• Don Tees, Sports Coordinator
• Point of Contact for Athletic Association Representatives.
• Compliance, Policies & Procedures, Incidents
• To Be Announced October, Sports Operations Coordinator
• Point of Contact for Local Basketball Coordinators.
• Scheduling, Scheduling Conflicts, Event Logistics
• Jim Brown, CYM Basketball Coordinator
• Chris Krawczyk, CYM Officials Coordinator
• Zina Pressey, CYM Office Coordinator

To learn more on the roles of the CYM Sports Coordinator/Operations Coordinator, please see 1.0 CYM Sports.

To contact us as a coach and/or parent, please see staff directory and submit support ticket. AARs and local coordinators are encouraged to contact their respective office P.O.C. as the proper communication channel, and review the Communication requirements with their local association for adherence at preseason meeting(s).

All athletic association representatives, local coordinators, head coaches, assistance coaches, youth, parents, and spectators are subject to 10.1.9 Communication Guidelines, in accordance with CYM Communication Matrix.

The following are your points-of-contacts (POI) for the season and appropriate communication lines:

2. Contacts

• October 18: Tryouts and Assessments Authorized. (10.3.11; 10.1.12)
• Authorization for October 17th has been granted to several programs that have requested.
• November 1: Practices Authorized. (10.3.11; 10.1.13)

The following are authorized start dates for local program(s):

3. Important Dates

The following are deadline dates for local program(s):

• November 1: Team Submission/Division Request* (10.3.2-3)
• All request for changes may be done by deleting a team in program, and readding. The Office will review division placements to determine necessary changes.
• November 1: Individual Team Conflicts* (10.3.2-3)
• Please check with your Pastor, Principal, DRE, local leaders and coaches for potential conflict dates. This includes local high school events. Missed reporting of events does not guarantee rescheduling, and facility/official fees and forfeits may be assessed in accordance with CYM Policies.
• November 1: Location Availability & Conflicts [Block Dates] (10.3.2-3)
• Please check with your Pastor, Principal, DRE, local leaders and coaches for potential conflict dates. This includes local high school events. Missed reporting of events does not guarantee rescheduling, and facility/official fees and forfeits may be assessed in accordance with CYM Policies.

See Section 7 on "How-To" Complete These Task. AAR assistance may be required or attendance by local coordinator(s) on October 28.

The following are important administrative dates:

• October 28: Basketball Preseason Meeting @ 6:00 P.M.
• AARs and Coordinators Only; via Zoom.
• November 6: Tentative Schedule Generation By Office*
• November 13: Tentative Release of Full Basketball Schedule*
• December 3: Coaching Staff and Roster Completion
• December 4: Official Start of Regular Season (10.3.2-4)
• December 21: Winter CYM Break Begins (10.3.2-4)
• January 4: Basketball Season Resumes (10.3.2-4)
• In the event of a weather-related cancellation in first half of season, the season may resume on the 2nd/3rd. (7.4-2)
• February 21: Varsity Postseason Begins (10.3.2-5; 10.3.5; 10.1.4)
• Postseason will run at the highest seed for round, or at neutral site between 22-27, based on posted schedule. See previous Spring & Fall Volleyball Postseason for details on structure.
• February 28: Diocesan and CYM Championships (10.3.5)
• Located at Fournier Hall in honor of 99th Program Year.
• March 17: Basketball Postseason Meeting @ 6:00 PM
• AARs and Coordinators Only; via Zoom.

*Senior Basketball Not Applicable to Administrator Calendar

• January 7: Senior Coaching Staff and Roster Completion
• January 8: Senior Official Start of Season

• The CYM Sports Office will be expanding, with a Sports Operations Coordinator [Full-Time] (1.2-2) to be announced in October. This individual will be the scheduling point of contact with the office and contact for local coordinators/head coaches-designees.
• The CYM Sports Office requires all Athletic Association Representatives and/or Basketball Coordinators to submit all information through Team Sideline Admin Portal at this stage. Guides are available via CYM Team Sideline Training and at www.cymsports.com/downloads.
• All volunteers (coaches) must be cleared in order to participating within the program, including registering and completion of new CDOW/Safe Environment Program.
• The CYM Basketball Rulebook is live online for coaches/coordinators.
• The CYM Universal Guidelines is live online for coaches/coordinators.
• The Athletic Advisory Committee (AAC) approved the move to a single Pre-JV Division per gender, and two JV Divisions per gender, aligning with promoting Basketball Development. (June, 2026)
• Programs are recommended to build programs based on acumen or how they see fits for purposes of development; the office anticipates scheduling teams based on #1s vs. #1s, etc. and/or equivalent.
• Several measures have not made there way into the CYM Handbook; however, approved by the AAC this summer. They are listed under Rule Changes | Addendums and are in-effect.
• Jim Brown has been named CYM Basketball Coordinator. Jim Brown currently serves as the CYM Football Coordinator. Jim replaces Matt Kelly and Sue Leonard for the 2026-2027 program year.
• The Girls Pre-JV Division has been renamed the Susan Leonard Educational Division, in honor of her 60 years of service to Catholic Youth Ministry and the Diocese of Wilmington.

The following are important updates this season for administrators, coordinators, and coaches:

4. Major CYM/Basketball Program Updates

• The CYM Sports Office retains the right and sole discretion for the placement of teams in a division. (10.1.3-1)
• There are no division changes once a schedule has been generated. (10.1.3-1.1)
• There are no division swaps during the course of regular season. (10.1.3-1.2)
• The Rescheduling/Cancellation Policies remain in-effect, and outlined in League Guidelines. This communication must be extended to coaches that the schedule remains set upon the generation of league schedules. (7.4; 10.1.2) This policy shall be strictly enforced this winter.
• The Office will not reschedule around Tournaments. (10.1.2-1.4)
• Beginning this winter, the office is recommending all tournaments be hosted during the weekdays, or communication to programs to add to team conflict submission.
• All Technical Fouls must be submitted within 24 hours. (10.3.12)
• Team Sideline Auto Score will request from both coaches Technical Fouls.
• The CYM Basketball Rulebook has been updated. No addendums or changes are anticipated for basketball this year.

The following are important updates this season:

5. Important Policy / Rulebook Reminders

• CYM Basketball Rulebook
• CYM Universal Guidelines Applicable to Basketball
• CYM Sports Website (www.cymsports.com)
• CYM Office Website (www.cdowcym.org)
• Handbook (www.cymsports.com/handbook)
• Login: Household Account
• Login: Admin Portal
• Registration Help: Account Creation and Enrollment Guide
• Registration Help: Volunteer (Coach) Guidelines
• Fall Sports, New Program Year Registration Refresher
• FAQs: Registration, Proof-Of Documentation, and More
• Tournaments Tab

The following are important updates this season:

6. Resources

• For Team Submission and Division Request, please see "How To Add Teams To CYM Sports Portal".
• For Individual Team Conflicts, please refer to "How to Add Individual Team Conflicts" video, provided to AARs on July 23, 2026.
• For Location Availability and block date, please refer to AAR June 9, 2026 email, subject: "Resource & Release: Location Availability". Please make certain all gym conflicts are listed as block days, and all availability is updated.
• For Adding Coaches To Roster, please see "How To Add Coaches To A CYM Sports Roster"
• For Adding Youth To Roster:

1. Sign-In To Admin Account; Select Programs, Manage Programs.
2. On far right of CYM Basketball Row(s), select the small dropdown at end for more options; select assign to rosters.
3. Drag from left to right players onto roster. You may need to open the division in order to add them on. (Alternatively, may select "Toggle Mode" to complete full team roster.)

Further CYM Team Sideline Training slides are anticipated to be available throughout November.

The following are "How-To" instructions regarding required steps of local associations. They have been previously communicated:

7. "How-To" For Basketball Administrators

1. The Office requires "Proof-Of" Documentation in order to participate in CYM Sports and be declared eligible for CYM.
2. The new registration program, Team Sideline, will limit a youth participant based on eligibility requirements.
3. Disclaimer: Falsification of documentation related-to eligibility or affiliation requirements may constitute dismissal from the program.
4. All participants must be properly affiliated in order to practice. All enrollees are provided confirmation emails, with instructions on how to provides Member Pass to affiliated program.

Reminder that all youth participants must be properly affiliated in order to participate.

Affiliations, Coach Clearances and Ministry Notice(s)

Reminder that CYM Sports requires all volunteer coaches to be properly cleared prior to any activities.

1. All returning Fall coaches should review their workflow in Team Sideline for determination of clearances.
2. All new and/or returning Winter Coaches should review the Coach (Volunteer) Guidelines and complete as soon as possible. Current Requirements:
3. Enrollment in Team Sideline Volunteer (Coach) Registration Program (NOT SPORT)
4. Background Check within 5 years
5. Concussion Training within 2 years
6. VIRTUS Training [NEW] within 3 years
7. CYM Volunteer Covenant Agreement, Acceptable Use of Technology, Confidentiality and Security Agreement, Handbook and Volunteer Notice (To be completed upon enrolling in Volunteer Enrollment.



Reminder that CYM Sports falls as an Athletic Ministry.

1. Coaches and Athletic Association leaders are youth ministers within their parish communities, and should conduct themselves appropriately within this role. (3.1-1) All coaches are encouraged at points, throughout the season, to provide opportunities in the faith. [Team Mass, Sportsmanship Prayer, etc] (3.1-5)
2. All parishes and schools are recommended to celebrate a mass and provide blessings for youth participants, at the discretion of the pastor and local athletic association. (3.1-2.1)