Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Things you see and feel from the bench

This last weekend was another successful step forward for the Stunners teams and families as we competed in Monmouth.  There were several teams competing at different levels.  Sometimes it is fun just to sit, watch, listen and observe at events like this.  It can be very instructive.  Some observations.

Watching the refs attempt to officiate 10 games a day two days in a row.  Impossible to do a decent job.  In my experience after your fourth game you start to lose control of your ability to focus on what just happened and make consistent and accurate calls.  What a disservice to the sport they make by accepting so many games.  This "event" is suppose to be a learning experience for the kids.  A good referee calling a good game is as important as a good coach.  Tough to help teach when the game is being played at the other end of the court.  Then the untucked shirts.  Goodness. Calm down G.   Happens too often in these summer tournaments.  Believe me it will get worse.

Losing stinks.  Winning heals. 

There is no better feeling as a coach than when you share a smile with a tentative youngster that just hit a shot after you have been encouraging them to be confident in their shooting for several practices.... Priceless.  

A coach that acts like a thug is as powerful a teacher as one that teaches respect.  Add a set of parents that endorse the thug coach with a set of refs that call a bad game and whalla  the perfect storm.  Put two sets of the above together and you have the perfect riot.    

 A "looker" is a term used to describe a young player that consistently looks at a parent during a game.  A "sitter"  is what a good coach makes a "looker" do soon after each occurance.  It is very difficult to help a "looker" get better.  Most "lookers" become a burner outer over time. 

Young players will usually do what you ask of them if they fully understand what you are asking of them and they believe they are good enough to succeed at it. 

Sometimes when a player is ultra physically fatiqued they are in a good spot to start absorbing some of the mental sides of the game. Some of the best teaching occurs in the last two weeks of a long season. 

What does a young player do when 2 coaches and 2 parents stationed around the court are trying to get their attention constantly during a game?  Usually nothing.  What is this called?  Coaching in stereo. 

When a coach comes up to you before a game and mentions to you that they are missing their best player they are really saying we may lose and its not my fault. 

When someone from the losing team yells "you guys cheated" they are really saying my kid sucks and its not my fault.

What do you call a parent/coach that constantly yells at their player/child during a game?  A better 1v1 coach.

What is the proper protocol when a player gets hurt and is laying on the court?  A.  meet the parent at the scene and hold your hand out after the parent yells "get up!!"  or B.  Just sit there and marvel at how fast one mother can dive in, repair the broken arm, and have the child ready to return in less than 5 minutes.   Medical miracle. 

Most kids agree M&M's taste the same after two laffy taffy's and a Mt Dew. 

If you are going to play zone defense in 4th grade let me know.  I will stay home, stand 5 grappling dummies up and have them chuck baseball passes from 3 point land. 

If your child breaks a team rule and is reprimanded properly what should you do as a parent to help teach your child?  Change teams of course.

What do you get when you add up 160 minutes of play, 2 bad meals, 1 smelly jersey, a couple drama incedents, a missing head band, an overpriced tshirt, and a dead battery in a cell phone?  A quiet ride home. 



 

    











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