WHAT IS CYO?
CYO is an acronym for a national organization entitled Catholic Youth Organization. It provides various sports and St Monica participates in the West Diablo CYO Basketball League. The league is one of several CYO leagues in the entire Bay Area.
WHO ADMINISTERS THE ST MONICA CYO PROGRAM?
The St Monica CYO Program is run by various volunteer parents who serve on the St Monica CYO Board. Some, but not all the Board members, also coach. The Board also interfaces with the leadership of St Monica Parish. As volunteers, they give generously of their time and efforts, and are not paid. The board will vote on all exception requests submitted.
DO I HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF ST MONICA PARISH TO PLAY CYO?
No, but, with some exceptions, you have to live in the Parish boundaries (i.e. – Moraga)
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PLAY CYO BASKETBALL FOR ST MONICA?
St Monica Parish CYO programs are open to players (boys 2nd - 8th grade & girls 2nd - 8th grade) who meet one of the following criteria:
1. Reside in Moraga, - or -
2. Reside within the St Monica parish boundaries, as defined by the Oakland Diocese, - or -
3. Active in Religious Education at St Monica for at least 1 year prior to the start of the respective sport's season.
All children (Catholic or non-Catholic) who do not live within the parish boundaries but are currently regularly attending St Monica religious education classes and have done so the entire previous school year are eligible.
DOES ST MONICA REFUND REGISTRATION FEES?
St Monica CYO will not offer refunds of registration fees once the player evaluation process is completed and American Teams are formed (mid-September). That said families can purchase insurance up front as part of the registration process through a third party vendor. If you are interested in purchasing insurance please carefully review the current terms & conditions of the insurance provider at the conclusion of the registration process.
WHO COACHES THE CYO TEAMS?
CYO basketball coaches are volunteers and are, in the vast majority of cases, parents. The St Monica CYO Board is continuously looking for interested parents to coach. It is obviously helpful to have an understanding of basketball. However, a more important quality is the desire and enthusiasm to work with kids in an atmosphere that is consistent with the CYO mission statement.
WHY DOESN'T CYO HIRE AND/OR PAY COACHES?
First, CYO is an entirely volunteer organization and the organization forbids the hiring of coaches. As you might expect, paying coaches creates several problems including inequities that can result if certain parishes have the funds available to hire coaches while other do not. Moreover, hiring coaches would minimize the community aspect of the program. Finally, we simply do not have the funds available to hire youth coaches. Those that are interested in this kind of approach, should look outside of the CYO, such as the AAU basketball.
HOW IS THE LEAGUE SCHEDULE SET AND HOW IS IT DECIDED WHERE GAMES ARE PLAYED?
The game schedule and venues are determined by the West Diablo League. The league has over the years obtained the use of various gyms. However, there is limited space in the East Bay and, thus, it is sometimes required for teams to travel to locations such as Martinez to play games (even when they are playing an Orinda or Lafayette team.) You should note also that many of the gyms in the LaMorinda area are not available to CYO for a variety of reasons. For example, many of the school gyms are closed on weekends, a decision made by the school district and not St Monica or West Diablo CYO League.
WHEN DOES THE REGULAR SEASON START AND WHERE DO WE PLAY?
Practices begin the first week of October - typically 1 evening/week; 1-1.5 hours each depending on grade. 3-5th grade practices are held at Rheem, Los Perales and Camino Pablo, while 6-8th grade practices are held at Joaquin Moraga. Games begin the first week of November (usually 1 game per weekend – locations vary – Moraga, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Martinez and Orinda). The season ends in late February.
WHAT DO THE REGISTRATION FEES COVER?
The registration fees are determined by the cost for running the program and are not an arbitrary or set number. The majority of CYO expenses involve charges for gym time, insurance, referee fees, annual website fee, tournament fees, and equipment (team bags, balls, first aid kits). Gym time in our area is expensive (We are part of the Moraga Sports Alliance through the Moraga School District and as a result get gym time at a lower rate). With that noted, we believe the St Monica registration fees are in line with other such organizations as MOL, LMYA, MBA, etc., and lower than other CYO programs in the immediate surrounding area.
WHY ARE THERE TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PLAY IN CYO?
The CYO league has an American and National league, with the American league being considered the more “competitive league.” The idea is to provide an opportunity for all kids to play but also try to balance the various talent levels.
St Monica CYO Basketball teams are formed based on the players current grade level, not age. Exceptions will be reviewed by the St Monica CYO Board and voted on a case by case basis.
IF A PLAYER IS PLACED ON A NATIONAL TEAM AS A YOUNGER PLAYER, WILL HE/SHE ALWAYS BE ON THE NATIONAL TEAM?
No. We have had many examples of kids going from National to American or from American to National. We are especially sensitive to this and try to look for that player who has worked very hard over the summer to develop his/her skills, has had a growth spurt and has generally shown that they are ready for the more competitive league.
STMO PLAYER UNIFORM NUMBERS:
Per the West Diablo League Rules, each team can not have overlapping uniform numbers meaning you cannot have two players on the same team with the same uniform number. Each player on the same team must have a unique uniform number. Once the St Monica teams are formed, we will issue uniform numbers in accordance with the league’s policy.
NO EARRINGS IN CYO GAMES/TOURNAMENTS POLICY:
During CYO league games (and seasonal tournaments, CYO playoffs, national tournament, diocese post-season, etc) players are not allowed to wear earrings, anywhere on ears, or eye rings, or nose rings, taped or not. All jewelry, rubber wristbands, metal hair clips, hard plastic (including long fingernails) must be removed. Even knee braces, wrist braces, etc., need to be cushioned with nothing potentially dangerous exposed.
We ask parents that kids do not bring jewelry (to games or practices).
WHAT DO THE VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS ENTAIL?
Everyone's help is needed to ensure the continued success of our program. Every family is expected to fulfill a league volunteer requirement. This is mandatory unless a volunteer buyout is selected. Parent volunteer options are to be selected during the online registration process. The sooner you register the more volunteer options you will have to choose from.
VOLUNTEER BUY-OUTS & DISCOUNTS
St. Monica offers a limited number of buyouts in lieu of the league volunteer requirement. Buyouts will be $100.00 and will be available to the first 75 families to select the option during registration. You may not buy out of your team responsibility.
The positions will be available on a first come first served basis. Specifics will be provided during the registration process.
REGISTRATION ISSUES/TROUBLESHOOTING:
WHAT ARE THE CURRENT CYO PROTOCOLS RELATED TO COVID-19?
CYO participants are not permitted to participate in practice, games or matches if they are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, which may include: fever or chills, coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, newly-developed loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea. By bringing a child to a practice or game, a parent/guardian is attesting that their child does not exhibit any of the above symptoms.
Use of PPEs (face coverings) will comply with parish, gym and county requirements.
Local facilities where competitions or practices are held may have additional COVID-19 requirements. CYO Leagues and coaches will seek to determine them and advise ahead of competitions. However, any CYO competition or practice held at such sites must adhere to the rules and policies of such local facility.
Parents or guardians of all CYO player participants must sign the liability waiver below in order for their player to be permitted to participate in CYO sports. A single, signed liability waiver will cover multiple CYO sports within a school year. A separate liability waiver must be signed for each player participant. All volunteer coaches must also sign the liability waiver to be eligible to coach. Parish/ Catholic School athletic directors are responsible for retaining all signed liability waivers.
FAQs last updated 07/31/2023
