The Board of Directors of Journeyman Basketball will be meeting in January to discuss awards and the selection process. Those that have input should present it by the 18th of January.
End of Session Award List
The following is a brief description of every award that Journeyman Basketball presents.
Divisional & Every Session (rev 01012026)
6th Man or 6th Star
(Coach Nominated – Players Vote)
Journeyman teaches the importance of teamwork and effort regardless of how great your skills are. Everyone brings something to the team or they bring it down. A 6th Man or 6th Star is a ve
ry consistent and reliable player. There may only be 5 players on the court at any given time, but the 6th Man or 6th Star is hard working, fundamentally sound and productive. They never give less than they are capable of and constantly set the tone for effort that the rest of the team should follow.
Best Defensive Player
(Staff and Players Vote)
These players are chosen by consensus of the coaches and players who have observed them on the court and in practice. Solid footwork, constant effort, court awareness and a constant concern for point retention is the key to this award. This player’s ability to wear down his or her opponent, make them tired and cause them to make poor decisions make them a great defensive player.
CE Coffey / Kelsey Leonard Award (UNDER REVIEW 1/1/26)
(Staff and Players Vote)
Charlie Coffey may be one of the most dedicated coaches to ever represent the seacoast and Kelsey Leonard may be the best J-Hawk to ever play. Certainly they both had great attention to detail, impressive dedication and leadership skills. Most of all, they were always invested in their team, inspiring teammates to work harder and dominate their opponents because they worked together. Charlie and Kelsey Leonard never said “quit” and they always believed their team still had a chance. Players who receive this award are great overall players, but receive the award for their investment in hustle, dedication to the meaning of Journeyman and teamwork. Their effort is never in question and commitment to their team is always superior.
Most Valuable Player Award
(Staff and Players Vote)
Our MVP Awards are hard-earned. Perhaps the most coveted of all our awards, the MVP Award is given to the player or players who bring that “extra something” to their game. Usually awarded for outstanding skills performance, it can be awarded for other reasons as well. To receive the MVP Award, you have to bring all you can to your performance and inspire others to win. You must be pursuant in your goals and encourage your teammates to follow you.
Coach of the Session
(New Process for Award – Only Athletes Vote – JPA Decision)(UNDER REVIEW 1/1/26)
Athletes are allowed to vote at the half way point of the session.. They write their name and the coach they vote for on a piece of paper. This box is monitored by staff but only unlocked by the JPA. The JPA is responsible for the purchase of the gift, and announcement of the Coach of the Session!
The following awards are presented periodically: (Team Leader, Most Improved, Journeyman Award and The Vinny). Awards are voted upon by the President, Vice President with input from staff and coaches.
NOTE The following awards must be presented in short speech format
Team Leader Award
There is a lot of responsibility in leading by example. Our team leaders often have great technical skills as well, but this award focuses primarily on the ability to create team spirit, cohesion and solid communication to keep their team together throughout the session. Players that receive this award show their leadership qualities in wins and losses and in their character. They remain strong, determined, positive and focused.
Most Improved Player
This award is not necessarily given every session, however, Journeyman Basketball likes to recognize players who put forth the effort to improve their game. They accept constructive criticism and stay pursuant in their goal of being a better player that contributes to their team in a multitude of ways. We judge this improvement from one session to the next, so it is rare that you will ever see a rookie win this award.
Journeyman Award (introduced 12/27/2011)(UNDER REVIEW 1/1/26)
The Journeyman award is given to one athlete per session who exemplifies the term Journeyman. The recipient may not be considered the “most valuable player” on the floor but is an athlete who shows up all the time, gives 100% effort each time their feet hit the court. This athlete has participated in community service projects, and is considered to be the best representation of the three “C”s as worn on the uniform. This athlete is a team player, plays to the highest of their skill level and always tries to improve their game. The award recipient is selected by consensus of the coaches and staff.
Rookie of the Year
For the player who made the biggest impact on their team’s success at any point during their first awarded year of participation. Rookie of the year is a unique award. At the end of the year we take a strong look back throughout the year looking at all the rookies and the impact they had on their team. We review statistics, speak with volunteers and coaches and get a true understanding of all the athletes that qualify. Only one Journeyman is selected from the entire group, Seniors, JHAWKS, D1 or D2.
The Vinny
This prestigious achievement is awarded to the player that proves his ability in all aspects of the game. This player shows skill in post play, shooting, dribbling, passing and many other fundamentals. It is named after our very own former Vice President and Hall of Fame Coach Vincent Benevento. Coach Benevento always pushed young Journeyman to work and perfect all aspects of the game in order to be the consummate teammate and ultimate threat.
Most Valuable Parent / Volunteer
We created this special award to help recognize the effort and participation of Journeyman parents. The parents who have won this award put the kids first and never needed to be reminded of what this program is all about.
YAMO All-Star Requirements and Rules (rev. 01012026)
A Privilege for Select Players
Please review the rules in regards to All-Star eligibility and selection. Keep in mind that this is an “All-Star” Game. Those elite players, agree or not, are afforded an “extra” game.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Journeyman reserves the right to have All-Star games for those divisions with more than 30 athletes. If the schedule permits, the staff of Journeyman may allow a division with less than 30 athletes to participate in an All-Star game but will only need to select no more than 16 participants. (10 starters and 6 reserves) All-Star statistics are tracked and recorded in their own category.
Rule #1 – A Journeyman must have a minimum of 7 games ATTENDED in order to be eligible for the ballot.
Rule #2 – A Journeyman must have a minimum of 7 games ATTENDED in order to have his votes counted.
Rule #3 – A Journeyman with 3 or more technical fouls or more than 1 ejection, or any suspension, loses his or her eligibility for an All-Star appearance.
Rule #4 – There are 10 available starting spots in an All-Star Game. (5 for East and 5 for West) The players with the most PSP in their division will be named STARTERS..
Rule #5 – After removing STARTERS from our ballots, the top 10 players in the voting process will be awarded RESERVE spots.
Rule #6 – Alternates are chosen using the same criteria as Rule #5. Alternates will only participate as a reserve player if a current reserve forfeits his spot due to previous commitment, illness or injury, or advancement to starter. Each alternate will be called as soon as this spot becomes available, in the order posted on the All-Star Alternate Roster.
Rule #7 – Swing players rule. Swing players are ineligible to participate in their secondary division.
Rule #8 – In the event of a tie in PSP in a 10th spot, we reward the player with more games played in the session. This awards commitment. If they have the same, resort to total career games played. The player bumped out of the starter or reserve spot (due to this rule) gets 1st spot in the reserve or alternate role.
Rule #9 – If a starter can not attend an All-Star game their starting spot will be given to the reserve athlete with the most votes. PSP would no longer be a factor in the award of that roster spot.
The Board of Directors feel that at this point in the establishment of the All-Star Game, that these rules are non-negotiable. These rules have seen many revisions since 2002. All concerns will be heard when brought to our attention in a professional manner. We ask that you send such communication to info@journeymanbasketball.com.
Please understand the Journeyman Basketball is a private organization and wishes to keep the YAMO All-Star Game a positive experience. Rosters are kept to a maximum of 10 players in all divisions. All-Star games will be instructed to use the following substitution pattern if 20 All-Stars are chosen.
Two 20-minute halves are slated for the event (provided there are 10 athletes on each roster).
The Game is divided into 5 periods. (times changed September 1st 2023)
1st period 6 minutes. (for starters)
2nd period 8 minutes. (for reserves)
3rd period 6 minutes. (for starters) (first half complete)
4th period 10 minutes. (for reserves)
5th period 10 minutes. (for starters)(game complete)
Other substitutions can only be made due to injury, fatigue or at the request of the STARTER!.
Parental Free Throw Challenge
Effective Fall of 2024 – When an athlete is rewarded a free throw, they may choose a parent to shoot the same amount of free throws before they shoot theirs. STat bench should be prepared to track a contest between parents and athletes to see who connects the most!