Showing posts with label Basket Ball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Basket Ball. Show all posts
Friday, February 23, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
What Are We Coaching?
For the past two days I have been taking in the Keswick Valley Coyotes Girls final tournament. They are an excellent team, losing only four games the whole season, who didn't really have a tournament that accurately reflects their play. Their proformance however, is not what I am talking about. I have been running the clock or score sheet. On many occasions students run it but not for final tournaments. The reason being that coaches will often give teens a harder time whereas they won't take the same liberty with adults.
Today as I ran the clock, I was disappointed with coach of a certain team in the finals. His girls played well, as did the other team and as KV was not in the final I objectively felt that the officiating was excellent and very fair. He made every call he could think of from the bench in their total absence, travel, foul and so on. He argued every call against his team and even argued when the call was in his favor. I was impressed with the patience of the officials who didn't even give the guy a technical foul.
I thought to myself about what this coach was teaching his team. Don't get me wrong, I don't know the guy from Adam, I don't even know his name, maybe he's a great guy, certainly a good coach, insofar he took his team to the finals... It makes me wonder what is being learned however. I think a coach should stand up for his team and his students but I also think a coach needs to be an example for his students. This isn't the NBA or the WNBA or anything like that. These are kids. This is communicating that this is an appropriate way to act. It makes me wonder what we are coaching. Basket-ball, yes. Something more, I hope so. I hope I don't miss out on that opportunity.
Today as I ran the clock, I was disappointed with coach of a certain team in the finals. His girls played well, as did the other team and as KV was not in the final I objectively felt that the officiating was excellent and very fair. He made every call he could think of from the bench in their total absence, travel, foul and so on. He argued every call against his team and even argued when the call was in his favor. I was impressed with the patience of the officials who didn't even give the guy a technical foul.
I thought to myself about what this coach was teaching his team. Don't get me wrong, I don't know the guy from Adam, I don't even know his name, maybe he's a great guy, certainly a good coach, insofar he took his team to the finals... It makes me wonder what is being learned however. I think a coach should stand up for his team and his students but I also think a coach needs to be an example for his students. This isn't the NBA or the WNBA or anything like that. These are kids. This is communicating that this is an appropriate way to act. It makes me wonder what we are coaching. Basket-ball, yes. Something more, I hope so. I hope I don't miss out on that opportunity.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
2nd The Best
Wow, what a day it was yesterday! It was the finals of our basketball season. What the league had done was divide itself into two divisions. A for the top teams and B for the bottom teams. That put us in second place in division B, not bad for a school that hasn't had a program in 5 years! Either way all of the teams were pretty well evenly matched which makes a better tournament.
The way it was set up the fourth and fifth seed would play for a chance to play the first seed which would take either team to the finals. The second and third seed would play for a chance to go straight to the finals. The Keswick Valley Coyotes were the second seed playing the third place Nackawic Jay Hawks for our first game of the day. This was a crazy close game but our defense was lacking through the first half and we just were not making our layups or shots from in close. At the end of the first half we were lucky to be down just 31-30. We talked about what we needed to do in the second half but we didn't see immediate results. My team was getting frustrated and some of our key players were in foul trouble. Luckily so were theirs. With four minutes left we were down by twelve so I called a time out. I did my best to calm down and inspire the troops and sent them out telling them to bare down, play our game and have fun. We went on a rush with seven straight baskets! With thirty seconds left we were up by two! I called another time out and told them to play keep away and not to shoot or give up the ball. They ran it out perfectly and we won! I was ecstatic!
This took us to the final where we were to play the first seed Harvey Lakers. We kept good pace with them in the first half but fatigue set in and they pulled away in the second. Regardless, the boys were having a blast just being there in the finals. The final buzzer went and we were the silver medalist Keswick Valley Coyotes!
What a day!
The way it was set up the fourth and fifth seed would play for a chance to play the first seed which would take either team to the finals. The second and third seed would play for a chance to go straight to the finals. The Keswick Valley Coyotes were the second seed playing the third place Nackawic Jay Hawks for our first game of the day. This was a crazy close game but our defense was lacking through the first half and we just were not making our layups or shots from in close. At the end of the first half we were lucky to be down just 31-30. We talked about what we needed to do in the second half but we didn't see immediate results. My team was getting frustrated and some of our key players were in foul trouble. Luckily so were theirs. With four minutes left we were down by twelve so I called a time out. I did my best to calm down and inspire the troops and sent them out telling them to bare down, play our game and have fun. We went on a rush with seven straight baskets! With thirty seconds left we were up by two! I called another time out and told them to play keep away and not to shoot or give up the ball. They ran it out perfectly and we won! I was ecstatic!
This took us to the final where we were to play the first seed Harvey Lakers. We kept good pace with them in the first half but fatigue set in and they pulled away in the second. Regardless, the boys were having a blast just being there in the finals. The final buzzer went and we were the silver medalist Keswick Valley Coyotes!
What a day!
Saturday, February 03, 2007
McAdam Has Class
Well if I am going to blog and complain about unsportsmanlike conduct of certain teams, it is only fitting that when a team shows amazing sportsmanship I should blog about that too. On Thursday this past week our team , now 3-5 on the season, traveled to McAdam to play what we heard was the best team in the league. Previously after our win over Nackawic, a parent told me that there were three players on McAdam's team who were taller than I am. He also tole me that these players were in grade seven!
We arrived in McAdam to find the rumours were true. As we began our warm up the McAdam Warriors ran out to pumped up music and ran some impressive warm up drills. A large percentage of the town had shown up to support their team and I was pondering on the pounding we should soon encounter when the coach of the other team came over to introduce himself to me. We chatted about our teams and the kinds of seasons we were having and he seemed like a really nice guy.
Well the game began and McAdam jumped out to an early lead but pulled back after only leading by ten or so. They pulled their top line off and took most of their shots from outside. They applied zero pressure and their players even helped our our players with things like three in the key. My players raved about what nice guys were on the other team. They could have easily destroyed us but instead of running up the score they worked on weaker aspects of their game and helped our players out. I was really impressed.
McAdam has class.
We arrived in McAdam to find the rumours were true. As we began our warm up the McAdam Warriors ran out to pumped up music and ran some impressive warm up drills. A large percentage of the town had shown up to support their team and I was pondering on the pounding we should soon encounter when the coach of the other team came over to introduce himself to me. We chatted about our teams and the kinds of seasons we were having and he seemed like a really nice guy.
Well the game began and McAdam jumped out to an early lead but pulled back after only leading by ten or so. They pulled their top line off and took most of their shots from outside. They applied zero pressure and their players even helped our our players with things like three in the key. My players raved about what nice guys were on the other team. They could have easily destroyed us but instead of running up the score they worked on weaker aspects of their game and helped our players out. I was really impressed.
McAdam has class.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Relax
So far this season the Keswick Valley Coyotes are 1-3 in league games with one exhibition win. It seems we either win or get beat really bad. We never seem to lose close. Not that I am discouraged by this. Despite my competitive spirit I am really focusing more on improving our play than winning games. I tell the boys to remember that this is the first year we have had a program in years and that the teams we play have been playing with each other for some time. The other thing is that I am a rookie coach and this is all new to me as well.
Aside from being new to this, I do understand that there are certain ethical rules that need to be followed by coaches. One of these rules is that if your team is up by twenty or more and are obviously superior, you call your players to pull the press. For those of you who don't know what that means, pulling the press means that you tell you players to get back to the defensive zone when they don't have the ball especially after scoring baskets. It is just common courtesy as there is no need to embarrass teams beyond what is needed.
Well last night we were playing against one of my old schools Albert St Middle. We were missing our top scorer from the last game which also messed up my top string as he is one of our point guards but that is what it is. Either way we were losing by a lot, maybe 35 or so and Albert St was still pressing the court! After they had just scored a basket the intercepted our inbounding pass and and got another, so I politely (I mean that too!) asked the coach if he could pull the press. Now I was completely calm here, I honestly wasn't all that upset about losing so bad as we have done it twice previously. But the other coach sternly tells me to "Relax."
Now I am a patient person, but nothing will stir up a person quicker than to tell calm person to calm down. It made me so mad. He was the one in the wrong and when I , very calmly, ask him to show some sportsmanship he tells me to "relax." Ben and I used to do that to stir each other up and man did it work. Anyways, despite my desire to hurt this guy and retaliate I didn't. But man that bugs me!
Aside from being new to this, I do understand that there are certain ethical rules that need to be followed by coaches. One of these rules is that if your team is up by twenty or more and are obviously superior, you call your players to pull the press. For those of you who don't know what that means, pulling the press means that you tell you players to get back to the defensive zone when they don't have the ball especially after scoring baskets. It is just common courtesy as there is no need to embarrass teams beyond what is needed.
Well last night we were playing against one of my old schools Albert St Middle. We were missing our top scorer from the last game which also messed up my top string as he is one of our point guards but that is what it is. Either way we were losing by a lot, maybe 35 or so and Albert St was still pressing the court! After they had just scored a basket the intercepted our inbounding pass and and got another, so I politely (I mean that too!) asked the coach if he could pull the press. Now I was completely calm here, I honestly wasn't all that upset about losing so bad as we have done it twice previously. But the other coach sternly tells me to "Relax."
Now I am a patient person, but nothing will stir up a person quicker than to tell calm person to calm down. It made me so mad. He was the one in the wrong and when I , very calmly, ask him to show some sportsmanship he tells me to "relax." Ben and I used to do that to stir each other up and man did it work. Anyways, despite my desire to hurt this guy and retaliate I didn't. But man that bugs me!
Saturday, December 16, 2006
The Persuit
This past week I have found myself on a few missoins or persuits if you will. The first was on Wednesday, after hockey which ended very early due to a lack of attendence. For once we actually had enough interest for a bunch of us to go out to Tim Hortons afterword. I have been wanting to try the new Holiday Spice hot smoothe and finally got one Wednesday night... It was really good! Success.
Next on Thursday, I ran my first basketball practice. I have been to a bunch of them but I actually led this one. It went pretty good although I had one of my best players go down during suicides and we needed to call parametics to check him out. Little sceary but he was ok. Other than that I felt it went well.
Then on Friday, I had perviously heard a rumour that the Tim Hortons on Prospect St had hot apple cider! I have been nothing short of devestated since they stopped serving it, so I went and ordered a large and yes Anna it was a really good mix! My mouth and taste buds celebrated with me as we enjoyed every drop.
Finally today, I coached my first ever Basket Ball game. I have to admit I was a little nervous, but I rallied the troops, or the Keswick Valley Coyotes, agaist the Nackawick Jay-hawks and WE WON! 67-48 I was so pumped, and apparently quite loud as Janelle has informed me.
Anyways, it was a crazy week of multiple persuits, really only of basket ball and Tim Hortons but still. Good times!
Next on Thursday, I ran my first basketball practice. I have been to a bunch of them but I actually led this one. It went pretty good although I had one of my best players go down during suicides and we needed to call parametics to check him out. Little sceary but he was ok. Other than that I felt it went well.
Then on Friday, I had perviously heard a rumour that the Tim Hortons on Prospect St had hot apple cider! I have been nothing short of devestated since they stopped serving it, so I went and ordered a large and yes Anna it was a really good mix! My mouth and taste buds celebrated with me as we enjoyed every drop.
Finally today, I coached my first ever Basket Ball game. I have to admit I was a little nervous, but I rallied the troops, or the Keswick Valley Coyotes, agaist the Nackawick Jay-hawks and WE WON! 67-48 I was so pumped, and apparently quite loud as Janelle has informed me.
Anyways, it was a crazy week of multiple persuits, really only of basket ball and Tim Hortons but still. Good times!
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