After getting out to some games this week I am often appalled and literally can't believe how many kids do not play very hard. I don't know if its today's culture or kids not understanding or what. It's just very hard to watch kids that play at 75% of their abilities. You can't blame your coach, your parents, or you whomever. The blame falls directly on you, the player. I know as parents, coaches, etc. we say, "when I played" we gave everything we had. Well not always, but we didn't have all the opportunities and games that today's player has. When we had a summer game (only 10-12) we played hard. Is it the amount of games that kids play today? Is it the malaise of, "oh, we have another two games later?" This is a slippery slope where I believe that "bad habits" are learned. This goes for travel and HS basketball. I think the quantity of games has taken the place of the quality of games. Why don't we put limits on number of games a player can play in a three (3) month period. It would be hard to control, some very out of control AAU Programs or overzealous HS Programs, but something needs to happen. When I hear, and see, the foreign players that are being developed in our "old fashion" I think, man, that is how we used to do it. Fundamentals. Fundamentals. Fundamentals. I have seen very few games this year that had few travel calls, double dribble calls, etc.
Question: Where does a young coach go to get mentored, taught or shown how to run a quality practice? How to strategize, game plan, etc. How bout even Skill Build and make players better?
It is very "cloak and dagger" now. Very little sharing of thoughts, ideas, and caring about the quality of the game. Don't get me wrong there are still some fantastic things being done. But that used to be the normal. I think the old days average players were way better then now. The super players are a notch above the old days. But overall the game has slipped a few notches in my opinion. A quote by Coach Pete Newell. Basketball is Over Coached and Under Taught. I live by that quote!
I would like to see every player/coach/travel in today's game giving back. Teach or mentor a youth player. Let's have one weekend where there are NO GAMES anyplace in Calif. and have a "super coaches clinic". Similar to the one Coach Don Casey planned for the Carrier game this fall. Something that California Basketball Junkies can be proud of. We are literally the only state without a National Coaches Clinic. Iowa (800 coaches at theres), other states the same.
I have a few spots left on a couple of our Icemen Teams. I am looking for the young player that is HUNGRY. Willing to accept coaching and demanding nothing but there best. Someone with the burning desire and need to get better. More so, to work harder then anyone else. I still think there out there. Just getting harder and harder to find.
Question: Where does a young coach go to get mentored, taught or shown how to run a quality practice? How to strategize, game plan, etc. How bout even Skill Build and make players better?
It is very "cloak and dagger" now. Very little sharing of thoughts, ideas, and caring about the quality of the game. Don't get me wrong there are still some fantastic things being done. But that used to be the normal. I think the old days average players were way better then now. The super players are a notch above the old days. But overall the game has slipped a few notches in my opinion. A quote by Coach Pete Newell. Basketball is Over Coached and Under Taught. I live by that quote!
I would like to see every player/coach/travel in today's game giving back. Teach or mentor a youth player. Let's have one weekend where there are NO GAMES anyplace in Calif. and have a "super coaches clinic". Similar to the one Coach Don Casey planned for the Carrier game this fall. Something that California Basketball Junkies can be proud of. We are literally the only state without a National Coaches Clinic. Iowa (800 coaches at theres), other states the same.
I have a few spots left on a couple of our Icemen Teams. I am looking for the young player that is HUNGRY. Willing to accept coaching and demanding nothing but there best. Someone with the burning desire and need to get better. More so, to work harder then anyone else. I still think there out there. Just getting harder and harder to find.
