Blog Spot

Hard Work and Dedication!  10-26-09

     One of the reason's why I enjoy training and coaching girls basketball is because hard work and dedication really can pay off. Those things pay off no matter what, but on the girls side it really can make a difference. While kids today are getting more and more athletic, on the girls side a kid that is not as athletic, but have some tools and a serious desire to work can over come some of those obstacles.   She can find her way on to a college program. On the girls side there are only a few mega athletes! There are alot of good athletes, but a solid skill set and basketball IQ can get you in the same ball park. No the weaker athlete may not be the star or the oooh aaah type of player, but a solid contributor on that same team. Having that same scholarship. A kid that looks good, by making others look good. The kid that blocks out and rebounds, the one that makes the nice pass to the big scorer or the kid that hits the open shot when the star kicks it out!
      On the boys side it is a little tougher to be a marginal athlete and over come some of the sheer raw physical talent some of these kids have. On the girls side you could actually do just that! Of course you do have to have something to work with, but if you get into the gym and constantly drive your self to improve on your skill sets, (dribbling, shooting, passing and defense) at times you can out shine some better athletes. You can even the playing fields as the old saying goes. It is a reward that is hard to match, but it takes some serious work. I just thought I would share that, because those kids don't always get the praise they deserve. I want them to know that people who really focus on the finer points of the game see's them working! Another quick note about the players that have to truly work on their craft, many end up becoming coaches in the long run.  Not many superstars in the coaching business, but there are a lot of hard workers.

Herbert LeDee III- HBA-Texas Blazers, High School Varsity Coach 7 years, Head Coach 4 years (2001TAPPS 4A State Champions, Coach of the Year, 2000 TAPPS 3A State Runner-ups). Division I College Athlete (Basketball), Participated/ invited to numerous Professional basketball camps and overseas travel teams. Trained college athletes boys/ girls of all levels.

Wow are they? - 10-10-09

I was sitting down talking to a parent and he was telling me about some people (coaches) who were charging a ton of money to workout players. After hearing the numbers he was throwing out, I was shocked. When he told me how many players were being worked out in that program. I was just blown away. Then I started thinking about the whole situation and what people were being charged. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to knock anyone's hustle. What people will pay and what they pay for are their business. I just thought this was interesting and wanted to go over a few things.
If a player is being worked out, that means they are run through drills, over and over, for a set time This is for repetition. If you don't have proper form or technique, then you will further that bad habit you have. If you are doing something wrong time after time then you may actually get efficient at it, but it will create such a bad habit you may not be able to correct. Some one that trains should teach a player the proper and fundamentally sound way to perform that task while going through the session. This is where I find the whole thing very interesting. This was the question I asked What was that coaches credentials? Did he play at the level in which you wanted your child to reach? Was he or did he coach on a higher level? Has he worked with players previously that reached the level you wanted your daughter to reach? What does he bring to the table? I always wondered if someone's kid had trouble in math, would they go and get an english teacher to tutor them? Or better yet, someone off the street, that tells them "I have done some math"! LOL..

It's early, not too late..  10/7/09

     It's funny how some things change but some things stay the same. One is peer pressure and how kids view their basketball options. One thing is evident everyone wants to sign early, at a Major Division I University. That is normally NOT the way it goes.   Most players sign late and sweat it out, a little. For a large majority of the players in the country, coaches need to evaluate and see them a few of times before they are convinced. It's a hole trickle down process in college recruiting.  The top players pick the schools they want to attend, then that makes a rip tide where others are going. The next tier of players pick schools and that effects the next group of players. By that time early signing period is over and alot of kids become stressed and feel they may have missed their chance. But, that is no way close to the truth.   If they continue to work, along with having good people in their corner, ones that have pretty solid connections.   Then things can just keep ah rollin. Lol..
     Many small colleges (small DI, DII, Juco and NAIA) have contacts with different people across the country, which helps them find quality players. Hopefully all players have someone on their side that has those connections. Once the players come to the reality that everyone WILL NOT go DI.   Then they can start to focus on some quality DII and NAIA schools that scholarship, as well as JUCO. If you are going to school for free, you have helped your parents pocket book! HAHA. The whole idea is to be willing to look at other schools, not just DI's. Then get your tape and transcripts ready. Get in contact with the right people that can put you in positions to be successful and earn that scholarship. So don't stress, basketball season hasn't even started yet!

Do They Really? - 9/30/09

After being around basketball for so long and watching kids get hyped and sent off to schools that might just be a little to big for their games, it made me ponder the question. Does that AAU/ Summer coach really know talent? Do they really care about their kids?    Some times I tend to think it is a little of both, a lot of the coaches who have not played on the D1 level, especially against major D1 caliber talent, it maybe tough to tell. Maybe they don't understand the physical talents that some of these kids posses (height, quickness, strength hops, etc..), maybe they don't understand how skilled some are, how passionate, determined or the amount of work some of these kids put in. Let alone when you find a kid who has a combination of most or all of these things (then you have a top prospect). I know at times it's hard for parents to tell the difference in their children's ability and another player's ability, because of a parent's love.  It may blind them, and they just want their kid to be successful!
      But if you have some one, a coach who is supposed to be fairly knowledgeable about the situation.  Maybe because, they have had college players play for them.  Could have had the opportunity to be around top notch players or work with college prospects, then they should understand at what level a kid can play in order to be successful, at what level their players would actually have a opportunity to be a solid contributor to a college team.   With all of my experiences over the years of playing and dealing with players, none are happy when they are not playing.
      Definitely all kids want to go to the colleges they see on TV, but can they play at those Colleges? It is a small percentage. Players want to play! It is their advisors responsibility to give them quality information about where they would be the most successful. Ultimately it is the kids and parent's decision, but good information leads people down the right path. Not telling a kid to go to the biggest college available to make your team's website or your resume look good. That is not caring, in my opinion. Because when a player doesn't play, it can affect all other aspects of college life, such as grades, social life and self esteem. Also over hyping a kid can leave some serious concerns when that kid does not reach the goals that are set by someone else with their own agenda or idea of what a high major athlete is. It is always great to shoot for the stars, but it is smart to have someone who is well grounded to help direct you. Some one who knows and cares about what is best for you!

Teaching and Summer Ball - 9/26/09

     Being an old high school coach, I had to work hard with my high school teams to be the best team they could be. I spent alot of time working with my players on their individual skills, but it was never nearly enough time. I wanted to spend way more time with them. But because of rules and time restraints I could not. So I really hoped my kids worked hard and improved during the summer. Even when I played years back, summer was used to better your game. Not slightly but if you were a player you came back noticeably  better the next year. In some part it seems as time has changed for many since those days. One thing that I'm noticing is, people becoming so concerned with their summer records, tracking your wins/losses.  Summer coaches focused like they are playing for a NBA Championship or should I say WNBA. Lol.
      I have noticed some teams are so structured the kids don't get a chance to make mistakes and do things that they are not good at. I will not even go into how intense some of the coaches are.  Summer is made for players to step out of the box and add something to their games. If a kid is 6' and a super athlete,but wants to develop out to a college wing, but her high school team needs her to rebound, the summer is where to put the perimeter in her game. Then she can go back to her high school coach and show what she can do. Then the coach can add that to the high school teams game plan.
     Players need a chance to laugh and joke, to cut some of the pressures of the high school season.  To play and continue to build on their love for the game. Most kids burn out or walk away because of over bearing coaches and parents. They play during the school year for someone who has to win or get fired, so they have a good reason for being tough. Why would they want to be pounded on during the summer when they are supposed to have fun?
     Players are supposed to put in more time in the gym working on skills, instead of playing game, after game, after game. If they have bad habits or tendencies they need to break, how will they do it just playing a ton of games? They will just continue those habits. If they are poor shooters or dribblers, they need to spend time working on those things. You will not just become a better dribbler or shooter with a coach trying to win, saying don't shoot or dribble. Having a chance to work on basketball IQ, can't happen in a game, if you are only trying to win. A few turnovers you are coming out. Working on moves, before you unleash them on the world, then given the chance to do so.
     Yes times have changed. If I need to know my high school win/loss record, I can go to the record books (88-44). But after winning a number of regional AAU championships, more tournaments then I can remember, being considered one of the best teams year in and year out, I could not find my AAU/summer record to save my life. Why, when it's over its over. Those records are not going into some record book or used to induct you into the Hall of Fame. Players, parents, high school and college coaches remember improvement that the players have made, added or changed things in their games. That is what summer is supposed to be about.

False Sense- 9/25/09

I made a comment to a friend of mine a while back, about how some of the AAU teams recruit my players like they are college recruiters, sending mail to their high schools. Call and email them multiple times a week. Try and sit with them and parents at different games, you would think that was their profession. Lol. I know if they are working my players like that, they are working other players and each other's players.  Haha.
   But all of that madness is not conducive to the improvement of young athletes. I have seen this scenario play out so many times. A kid is constantly pursued by over zealous AAU coaches, told how good they are and made all kinds of promises. At times, not all the time, kids and parents begin to buy into this crazy pursuit. This type of behavior can have all kinds of bad affects on a kid.
   One thing it can do is make a kid think they are better than what they really are. Now they don't think they have to work as hard anymore. It creates a whole slew of premadonna players and parents. It can distort a kids view of the game and make them feel that basketball owes them something. Basketball is a game that is supposed to be loved and enjoyed, constantly worked on, because no matter how hard you work you can always work harder to get better. You can always improve even if your pretty darn good. There is always something you can add to your game.
   But after all the hustle/bustle, tricks and games that are played year after year, alot of the same questions are usually asked. Why am I not being recruited by Pat or Geno. Why isn't UNC and Stanford calling. Simple fact is just because you are getting recruited heavily to play AAU doesn't mean every college coach is going to recruit you. It takes hours of work and being put in the right position and places to succeed. It is earned not given! No matter what was promised by that AAU coach.

Herbert LeDee III- HBA-Texas Blazers, High School Varsity Coach 7 years, Head Coach 4 years (2001TAPPS 4A State Champions, Coach of the Year, 2000 TAPPS 3A State Runner-ups). Division I College Athlete (Basketball), Participated/ invited to numerous Professional basketball camps and overseas travel teams. Trained college athletes boys/ girls of all levels.

The Good Old Days- 9/24/09

I am a basketball guy, basketball junkie, a gym rat. I believe in teaching basketball that is all I know. I remember when people coached with respect, honor and honesty. It was about the kids, teaching and improving them, let alone the life lessons they learned. The boys side has shattered that and it appears the girls side is not far behind. I have no problem how others do what they do, but why not call it what it is. Instead of misdirection, why not just say what you are trying to do and what you are. You would be respected more, even if people don't agree with you. At least people would know where you are coming from, if you say your teaching and developing players, bring in kids that are raw and at the beginning of their development. If your a high school squad then start with freshmen, even better middle school players if you really want to go back. Develop and stay with those kids until they graduate, or earn that scholarship. Make sure your kids have the skills they need to be successful. If you are going to go after players that are already known and have been developed by others then say you are a "Elite" team. Then at least people will know you are going after who you feel are the best players, know matter what it takes. At least everything is out there right up front. Don't claim you did something when you didn't or take unearn credit. Just say you are attempting to put the best team out there, so you can win some games. Plain and simple, people understand that. Life was much easier when people where just upfront about things. Not many are truly able to make money in the girls AAU summer basketball business, but if you are say that is your goal, people respect that. Let's get back to the old days, say what you mean and mean what you say. Be who you are and be proud of it!