Conference hbahba::cam_sports

OK, if you insist, here's my story...

Ran a road race Sunday.  In addition to the 5K/10K distances, they had a 
series of kid's races, the shortest being a 26.2 yard race for 0-3 year olds.

Well Lindsey entered, and a week before we were practicing her "ready-set-go"s.
She was ready - race number pinned top her shirt (a tank top, just like dad 
races in), and a brand new pair of Keds on her feet.  The race was broken 
down into heats by age, and I made sure she cheered long and loud for the 
younger runners.  Finally, the last race came - three year old girls.  I stood
right next to her, and made sure she got into her starting position (we were 
both giggling pretty hard, but eventually we got our acts together).  The 
starter called "ready, set, GO!!", and Lindsey turns to look at me while all 
the other kids take off!  I pointed to the finish line, where Mom was, and 
she finally took off.  My wife reports that by the middle of the race, she 
spotted her, and she was smiling from ear to ear the whole way.

At the end she got a ribbon and teddy bear, truely the spoils of a victory.

Since this is ::SPROTS, I'll spare you all the story of her pre-school spring 
show yesterday.

=Bob=

So, =Bob=, figure her for the Olympic Marathon in 2008?????


8^)

�So, =Bob=, figure her for the Olympic Marathon in 2008?????

You got it.  Lots of great athletes get off to shakey starts.

    
    My three year old told me last night that she gets sweaty when she
    plays basketball like that guy on TV, but she doesn't want to have no
    hair on her head, like him.

    > the shortest being a 26.2 race for 0-3 year olds
    
    I'm sorry but a 26.2 mile race for a 0 year old is simply way too long. 
    Heck, I know some 0 year olds who cain't even *walk*, let alone jog.
    What's more, what do they have at water stops, bottles for 'em, or
    [gasp!] mothers wif waiting nipples?!
    
    If it were me Bob I'd a kept Lindsey outa the race.  It's nice that she
    finished (did she hit "the wall"?) and got her teddy, but what about
    Melanie?  In addition to the potential bodily damage for a youngster 
    covering this distance, what about sibling jealousy?  To be fair, if 
    Melanie cain crawl, she shoulda been out there with her sister, despite 
    what her knees woulda looked like after a week or two inching along the 
    asphault.
    
    
    - ACC Chris
    
    

Chris,

Got any suggestions for repairing a keyboard killed by coca-cola
that has been passed through nasal membranes?

Thanks fella!

'Saw

�Ran a road race Sunday.  In addition to the 5K/10K distances, they had a 
�series of kid's races, the shortest being a 26.2 yard race for 0-3 year olds.

Yo' keyboard died in vain Saw.

    ACC Crisp editing someone else's note.  Who woulda thunk it?  No wonder
    those athletes at UNC were able to improve their SATs to >700 so
    quickly.   Crisp was fixing them. 

    One thing I learned yesterday is you don't challenge a 6-year-old (or
    especially an 8-year-old) to sprint races where you have to run the
    distance twice (in this case around a set of tennis courts) to their 
    once.  You *think* that you can run 3-4 times faster than they can but
    it doesn't work out that way (and I'm not slow, though not fast,
    either).  And when you're out of shape, are gassed and your times 
    deteriorate, they keep coming back and running it at the same speed
    over and over and over... ;-(
    
    glenn
    

    > And when you're out of shape, ...
    
    Exactly as I suspected Waugamain.  You've been doing too much noting 
    and not enough exercising.
    
    Try and get out more, man!
    
    
    - ACC Chris

As someone who has been speed-challenged all my life, I've learned a 
few tricks to handle those situations.

First off, get them running really fast, and you just stand at the finish
line, and take a few deep breaths.  When they come and finish, just say
"I ran it so fast, you couldn't see me.  Someday I'll have to teach you
how to do that".

The second thing to do is run half your distance, and pull up lame.  Tug
on their heartstrings for sympathy.....


The third thing to do is never, under any circumstances, challenge them
to ANYTHING.....


hth,
'Saw

	If'n yunz thank that these goofy things only happen when yunz're 
	coaching the little tykes, I got some news few ya.

	Last year, while coaching an American Legion baseball team (ages 16-18),
	we picked up a kid who looked awkward as hell, but had the quickest
	bat for a youngster I've seen.  Being a left handed, he was a natural
	at first base.  He could stretch like Nadia Comineche.  As long as things
	were going smooth there was no problem.  His problem came when he had
	to make a spur of the moment decision.  I think it was a perfectly placed 
	drag bunt that was put right between him and the pitcher.  He came off 
	off the bag and the pitcher charged at the ball at the same time.  Seeing
	that he pitcher was going to get to the ball before him he stopped dead
	in his tracks.  The 2nd baseman was covering 1st, just like we practiced.
	It all looked routine except the 1st baseman was standing right in the
	line of the throw.  I mean standing straight up and looking like he had
	his feet stuck in cement.  The funny part was that as he stood there
	his left hand had a death grip on the bill of his hat.  It was like he
	could not decide what to do so he just stopped dead and held onto his 
	"thinking" cap for all it was worth.  

	We learned our lesson and used him mostly as pinch hitter.  His "problem"
	showed up again when we tried a squeeze play with him on third.  He was
	halfway to home when he realized the other team, suspecting what was 
	coming, had pitched out.  The catcher had him dead to rights and you 
	guessed it, he was stopped dead with the left hand firmly attached to
	the bill of his helmet.  

	If we keep him this year I'm going to give him a hat with no bill to it.
	I wonder what he'll do then?


	billl

Sounds like a job for the Sports Psychologist.

Don't do the thing with no bill on the hat.  We had a rugby practice late
one fall at the only lighted field we could get in the area.  It happened to
be at the now-defunct Mansfield Training Center.

Well, there were several "students" there, and, you guessed it, they were
wearing hats with no bills.  I have to admit it was pretty funny looking, 
and yes, I did laugh, all the while chiding myself that these folks cannot
help what they are.

But, if you give that kid a hat with no bill, a couple of things might happen:

		a) he'll look even dumber

		b) (worse) he'll find something else to grab!


hth,
'Saw

    
    Is the bill of the kid's hat all mangled and twisted and curled like
    Stan Belinda's?  That could be the first hint of a psychological
    problem right there... ;-)
    
    glenn
    

    
    Ha!  Mine from lasted nights even better!
    
    Remember, we're talking about kids that in about 6 months I'll have to
    look up to  ;^)
    
    Player's name is Michael and he's sort of built like a young 'sawmain
    (ie - good ballast).  2nd inning he clobbers the ball into the
    outfield, right over the 2nd baseman.  Starts the Gedman run around the
    bases but he looked like he had a load in his drawers and was
    "gingerly" moving his feet.  Even though all the other kids on base
    (all 3 of them) made it to homeplate, Mike barely made it to 2nd!
    
    I didn't think anything about it.......inning ends (we batted the
    line-up) and those stranded on base went over to our bench to fetch
    their gloves.  Meanwhile there's this swarm of rugrats crying out to
    the Manager, "Don, can I play pitcher? Cain *I* play second base?, *I*
    wanna play 3rd", etc, etc.  (get the picture?)  Now I'm kinda smart
    about staying away from potentially violent crowds so I usually
    scoot over to the bench and help the catcher put on his 'quipment.
    So there I was, heading over to the bench when one of the mom's
    came up to me and said "Michael wants to go home now, he doesn't
    want to play anymore.  Mr. Farley (they all call me mister - ain't that
    a laugh?), he won't pull that with you, would you go over and talk to
    him?"  
    
    "OK, I will" and I started walking over to Mike.  I said, "wassamatter
    Mike, you don't look happy"
    
    "Nuttin"
    
    "Aw c'mon Mike, if somethings wrong, you can tell me, I'm your friend. 
    Howcome you don't want to play anymore, you were doing real well."
    
    "I don't want to go out there"
    
    "Why, How come?"
    
    "Well, I lost the string to my (sweat) pants and when I run, they fall
    down"........
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    So I went to my first-aid kit, procured a biggie safety pin and in
    plain sight of all the parents, grabbed the pants (by the hip-bone)
    and did the pin-up job.
    
    A smile appeared on his face and he happily trotted off to cover 1st
    base.
    
    Once again, the kids were looking up to me!
    ;^)
    I remain,
    at a *slight* angle of elevation though,
    Kev
    

The Sawmain started out life as a husky youngster who played first base,
batted either 3rd or cleanup, and was not fleet of foot.

(During my high school years  and into my early twenties I had a growth
spurt which left me VERY skinny, and I later filled out again).

At any rate, I think I lead the league in triples every year I played.

If I hit the ball a mile, which I often did, I'd make it around.  But
very often I'd hit it deep, but just didn't have the speed to leg it
out.

So, I can sympathize with Mikey.


btw, Kev, might I suggest that you always carry a roll of duct tape in your
coaching kit.  There's not much you can't do with it, and it holds sweatpants
up much better than a string.....8^)


'Saw

To fully appreciate this story, I have to relate a few scenes from the movie
"A League of Their Own."  My six year old daughter Laurie is a big fan of 
this movie - she watches and re-watches the tape all the time.  Anyway, in 
this movie there are several instances where a player catches a particularly
hard throw, then vigorously shakes the "burned" hand while yelling in pain.
Keep this in mind as I tell the story.

Laurie is in her first year of Bobby Sox, playing in the Mini Sox division for
6-8 year olds.  She is the youngest player on the team and barely knew what 
she was doing at the beginning of the season.  One day in practice us coaches
was practicing "game" situations, with five girls hitting off the tee to the 
remaining teammates in position on the field, then running the bases. 
Laurie was standing in the pitcher position when this other kid hit a line
shot (and I mean SHOT) right back at her.  She stuck out her glove hand, and
the ball STUCK!  Without missing a beat, she turned and hurled the ball to
the first baseman for a fast double play!  (As if she knew what she was doing.)
Amazed, the coach decided to end practice right then and there.

But the funny part happened as all the kids were running off the field.
Laurie comes running up to me with this proud look on her face, vigorously 
shaking her hand and yelling "OW" (just like in the movie).  The only problem 
was that she was shaking her right (non-gloved) hand!!!

I didn't let her see me laughing, but boy was I cracking up!

Doug

Rollling.

> One day in practice us coaches was practicing "game" situations
                                 ^^^

I'm sending =Bob= and the Cadets after you :-)

The Crazy Met

�I'm sending =Bob= and the Cadets after you :-)

Great story, no misplaced apostrophies - we'll let it slide...

The 'Cadet

=Bob=

you're getting soft in your old age.

The Crazy Met

From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.sports.misc,clari.local.california
Subject: Youth charged with assault, battery in soccer game
Keywords: soccer, boys
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
References: <[email protected]>
X-Supersedes: <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, 21 May 93 17:14:51 PDT
ACategory: sports
Slugword: soccer-assault
Priority: daily
Format: daily
ANPA: Wc: 244/238; Id: z5922; Sel: xxscb; Adate: 5-21-810ped; Ver: 0/1
Approved: [email protected]
Codes: &scbdxx., tnrb....
Lines: 24
 
	LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- A 17-year-old soccer player was charged Friday
with aggravated assault and battery for allegedly kicking another player
in the head during a high school game.
	Deputy District Attorney R. Dan Murphy said the incident occurred
during a Feb. 3 soccer match between Harvard-Westlake School and Notre
Dame High, both upscale private prep schools.
	Murphy said there had been reports of violence during previous games
between the two teams.
	Murphy said the youth, who was not identified because of his age,
kicked a rival player who had been knocked to his hands and knees away
from the action. The injured youth suffered a concussion.
	``We recognize that sporting events...involve physical contact which
may result in injury,'' Murphy said. ``That contact becomes criminal
when a deliberate, gratuitous, violent assault is committed which is
clearly beyond the scope of play of the sport. A criminal assault is no
less criminal because it occurs on an athletic field.
	``An athlete cannot use the shield of a playing field to enable him
to avoid accepting responsibility for the commission of a crime,'' he
said.
	Murphy said a parent videotaped the game and the tape is a key piece
of evidence.
	The prosecutor said the youth will be arraigned next week in Juvenile
Court. Murphy said he would seek probation rather than jail time for the
teenager.

    I wonder if Dale "I'm sorry" Hunter read this article.
    
    billl

Re: .19

Oops......

In .18 I changed "the coach" to "us coaches" but forgot to change "was" to 
"were." 

Oh well, now back to what I were doing. 


Doug

 

There are quite a few youth soccer coaches hanging out at the 
BECCA::USA$YOUTH$SOCCER Conference.  

    {also posted in CELTICS}
    
    I need some help on ideas now that I'm coaching youth hoops.  Bird &
    Red's video have some great fundamental drills to instill in my age
    group (8-10yrs).  I'm looking for more game type drills to help keep
    their attention span up.
    
    One game I currently use is to pair off the players on each side of the
    lane.  Each pair has a number.  I stand on the baseline, under the
    basket, call out a number, and throw/roll the ball down court.  The
    first of the 2 players to the ball becomes the offense and they play
    one-on-one.  I also have variations on the layup drills and passing
    drills to make things fun for them.
    
    Does anyone know of games like this for hoops that actually help them
    learn something at the same time?
    
    thanks,
    Mike

One area where most kids always need help with is dribbling with their off-hand.
To work on this, I had my kids play "weak-hand tag".  Restrict the kids to an area
of the court (half-court, inside 3-pt line, etc.) and hand one kid the ball.  He
is "it" and must dribble the ball ONLY with his weak hand while trying to tag one
of the other players.

With shooting, a problem some kids have is that they are too slow getting off the
shot and they practice their shooting in non-pressure situations.  I liked to 
split up the team into two groups and put them at two equal but opposite spots on
the floor (ex. left and right elbow).  Both teams line up and race each other to
make ten shots from their spots.  The shooter must rebound his own shot and toss
the ball back to the next in line (teaches follow-up your shot!)  The losers 
usually do some runnnig or something like that.

Good luck.  I doubt I could coach kids that young.  I liked to work with more
skilled kids (12-14).

Dave

    It's amazing to find out how much basketball knowledge actually
    participates in CELTICS.  Boston fans truly are #1!
    
    There are quite a few coaches in there, one coaches at a high school
    in Indiana.  If that doesn't buy you a free ticket anywhere, nothing
    will.
    
    Anyway, he had several good ideas, some for this age group, some not. 
    One pretty good dribbling drill was to take 3 youngsters, each with
    their own basketball, and put them in one of the circles on the court.
    They must keep their own dribble up, and simultaneously try to knock
    the ball out of another guy's hand.  If you lose control or the ball,
    you're out.
    
    Mike

    >It's amazing to find out how much basketball knowledge actually
    >participates in CELTICS.  Boston fans truly are #1!
    
    Fail to see how one leads to the other... there's a BASEBALL,
    AMERICAN_FOOTBALL notesfile but no basketball one.  That's the closest
    to it.  
    
    We had to dribble through cones with a hand behind our back...
    

    My oldest boy continues to surprise me in league play.  He tallied up 2
    points, 4 assists, and 5 steals in 24 minutes of play as our team won
    20-8.  He was 1-for-5 from the floor, but we'll work on that.  A couple
    of the assists and steals were real beauties.  Couldn't help but make
    Dad grin.
    
    Mike

    
      What's more, he's already bested MikeyH's career highs!

    Yeah pretty good for someone who just turned 9.

    Alright Mike!
    
    Hope he's wearin green and white T shirts.
    
    MikeL
    

    
     MikeH, I agree that it's pretty good for someone who just turned nine.
    It wasn't your son I was raggin' on there, Swifty.

    He's 4'10" already too (keeping my fingers crossed).

    Mike, those stats remind me of the line on Derrick Phelps before he
    came to UNC:
    
    "He can dominate a game without scoring a point."
    
    
    - ACC Chris

>          -< Should we send Phil Ford out for some advance scouting? >-
    
    sure go ahead.  Free advice is worth every cent.

    You know I was thinking about this last night.  I'd like to see some
    *honest* opinions on this.  Hypothetically speaking, you have a son
    with NBA potential.  What would you do under these situations?
    
    1) He's offered a free-ride at *only* UNC.  What would your reaction be?  
    2) He's offered only 2 free years at Michigan {or insert your fav}. 
       Which college do you persuade him to pick?  
    3) Or do you leave the decision up to him?

Mostly the decision should be the kids. Forget the scholarship angle
for a moment. If your kid had a choice between a number of colleges
would you leave the choice up to him??

The Crazy Met

    My middle child (who turned 12 a week ago Saturday) is averaging 18 ppg
    in a summer league.  He won an award at the Dee Brown/Robert Parish
    basketball camp last week.  He's 5-4, plays both point and off guard,
    and already hits the 3-pointer a hell of a lot better than his dad. :-(
    
    Given that he may have at least a high school future in basketball, and
    if he continue to improve and dedicate himself to the sport he may go
    beyond that, I would still rather have him work the third shift at 
    Store 24 than go to North Carolina.
    
    I'd send him to some Division 2 school as a walk-on, let him show the
    coach what he can do, and hope he earns a acholarship from his
    performance, or does well enough to transfer to a big-time school.
    But he'll never be a Tar Heel.
    
    NAZZ

   First of all, ony one kid in 50,000 makes it to the pro sports. Knowing
  that makes the rest of the questions a little easier. As a parent you have
  to look out for your kids best interest and his best interest is not to just 
  go to a sports factory because the chances are very good that right there is
  where his/her career in sports is going to end. To me, the academic reputation
  and graduation rates of athletes are the two most important factors in choosing
  a school. The quality of the b-ball program, coach, conference and all that
  are very secondary. 

   Not just to bust your stones, Mike but I hope you don't have these kinds of
  expectations for your kid. There are few things worse than a dad who goes way
  overboard and tries to live vicariously through his kid.

>   Not just to bust your stones, Mike but I hope you don't have these kinds of
>  expectations for your kid. There are few things worse than a dad who goes way
>  overboard and tries to live vicariously through his kid.
    
    I realize that, Tommy, more than you'll ever know.  That's why I
    stressed "hypothetically speaking."
    
    As for me, the only demand I would make on the kid would be to get his
    degree.  If any sport brings him that kind of attention, I say he
    deserves to make the decision.  Even if that means being a Tar Heel.  
    I'll offer advice only if he asks for it.

    Nazz the chances of your offspring getting even a look-see from
    Carolina make the 1:50000 odds offered by Tommy seem like childs play. 
    Haw haw!!
    
    The fact is, people, if any of ya had a son who was good enough to have
    Dean come calling you'd be extraordinarily hard-pressed to keep him
    from signing.  UNC is as good as it gets in collegiate hoops.  Consider
    the following and axe yourself if the average big-time teenaged
    hoopster might not be just a tad impwessed:
    
    o Mega-TV exposure (there's only 2 games Carolina will play this year
      that won't be televised.  *TWO*.  Add on a top-shelf schedule that
      includes playing in the glamour basketball conference in the USA
      (ACC);
    
    o Major big-time HoF coach with unparalleled track record for putting
      prep studs into big-money-making basketball careers;
    
    o Beautiful campus in mild-weather locale;
    
    o Top-flight basketball facilities that will not be beaten anywhere
      in the USA;
    
    o Graduation rates that exceed 95%, with Dean offering to help ya 
      find a nice high-paying job when ya leave;
    
    o Family atmosphere that has virtually *any* ex-Tar Heel singing 
      from Dean's Song Sheet;
    
    o Jersey's hanging from the ceiling of the DeanDome that include some of
      the greatest players to ever play the game.
    
    There's never been a better time to say, ...
    
    'Nuf said.
    
    
    - ACC Chris

    All that and Chris still don't go to UNC hisself.

    Ah the ole Mac logic that reads:
    
    A. If anything positive is revealed regarding UNC or they win a
       champeenship, point out how ACC Chris never went there;
    
    B. If anything negative is revealed regarding UNC or we lose a 
       tough ballgame, hold ACC Chris fully accountable.
    
    Nice work.  Reminds me of the arguments I used to git in while riding
    on the bus on my way to junior high school.
    
    
    - ACC Chris
    

    ACC Chris,
    
    don't feel sooo bad, Mac applies that kind of logic to everyone who
    doesn't agree with him or toe the line.
    
    hth
    
    The Crazy Met
    

    Just some of the reasons why my son will never go to Carolina, whether
    he turns out to be a decent athlete or not:
    
    1) Carolinas are too humid for us Yankees.
    
    2) Too many people still smoke down there.
    
    3) Don't want him to have to take Confederacy 101.
    
    4) Pale blue uniforms sip.
    
    5) Not interested in him underachieving.
    
    6) Too far away for me to commute to games, and I ain't moving.
    
    7) Can't stand to see him lose heartbreaker in NCAAs four straight yrs.
    
    8) Dean Smith.
    
    NAZZ

    Once again, ACChris (and TCM) miss the point.

Mac, seems like less and less folks are getting your points; but hey
it must be that everyone else is wrong.

The Crazy Met

    Mac mebee you should take a night class on descriptive writing. 
    Perhaps then you wouldn't be so misunderstood.
    
    HTH,
    
    
    - ACC Chris

    Since it's only ACC (I can twist anyone's words to make it look like
    they agree with me) and TC(I'm testy cuz I'm working too hard)M, I'm
    not too worried.
    
    HTH

    it's not just them, Mac.  The logic behind that statement went over my
    head too.  I could see it if it was a jab at just Chris and I, since 
    we're the most passionate fans in here (when it comes to our teams).  TCM 
    would be an exception to that.
    
    BTW - Chris you can slip me that 5-spot now for starting this
    discussion ;-)

   
    >> I could see it if it was a jab at just Chris and I, since 
    >> we're the most passionate fans in here...

       "Passionate" is about the kindest way you could put it.

    How was that a jab at you, Mike?

    It wasn't, Mac.  IF is the operative word.  

    Mac's actually got a pretty good scam going.  No matter what he says,
    no matter how dumb it might appear, ....  he just claims he was
    misunderstood!
    
    Haw!
    
    
    - ACC Chris

    Will you guys get a friggin' room?
    
    Mark.

    
    >>        <<< Note 115.56 by FRETZ::HEISER "chase the kangaroo" >>>
    >>                    -< still didn't get it though >-

    >>It wasn't, Mac.  IF is the operative word.  
    
    IF, if a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his a$$ every time he jumped.
        if yer Uncle had t_ts, you'd call him aunt.
    
    Schnorttt Schittt Schleppps
    
    JaKe
    

    come up with something original.

                      
      ____________________________
     /                            \
     |        GET A ROOM!!        |  
     |                            |
     \____________________________/
                  L_ !
                 / _)!
                / /__L
          _____/ (____)
                 (____)
          _____  (____)
               \_(____)
                  !  !
                  \__/
    
                                    

    That doesn't apply since I'm not a UNC fan.  Besides, I always lock the
    door and might have cardiac arrest.

>
>    That doesn't apply since I'm not a UNC fan.  Besides, I always lock the
>    door and might have cardiac arrest.
>


Mike,

Any tips for getting Diet Pepsi off one of those 19" Trinitron monitors,
and out from between the keys of my keyboard??????


'Saw

>Any tips for getting Diet Pepsi off one of those 19" Trinitron monitors,
>and out from between the keys of my keyboard??????
    
    just leave it the way it is.  I'll trade monitors with ya.

>                               -< must be nice >-
>
>>Any tips for getting Diet Pepsi off one of those 19" Trinitron monitors,
>>and out from between the keys of my keyboard??????
>    
>    just leave it the way it is.  I'll trade monitors with ya.



It is.  It's one of the few perqs I enjoy here.  At first it took some
getting used to, because the flat screen appears concave for the very
first couple of hours you use it.  

I'd give one of my "boys" to have this at home on my PC....


'Saw

    Well it was bound to happen sooner or later.  Mr. Jordan has presented
    himself as such a wonderful role model, we know have 8-10 year olds
    gambling over shots after practice.
    
    A few of the kids that "Wanna be like Mike" pick a spot on the NCAA
    3-point line and yell, "Hey coach, $5 if I make it from here!"
    
    Last Friday night, after the rest of the kids had left, I gave my son a
    chance.  He squared up at the 3-point line, dead-center with the
    basket, and nailed it.  Dear old dad said, "That was luck!  You have to
    do it twice for me to believe it wasn't luck."  Needless to say, I
    almost collapsed when he swished the next one.  
    
    Dad compromised and took him to Denny's the next morning for a Grand
    Slam (his choice).
    
    Mike (who still can't believe it)

      So your SON wants to be like Mike (dad)?  To bad its not "like father
    like son" in the 3 point range, eh?? ;^)))
    
      Tim

    With the pervasiveness of gambling, I doubt you can pin this one on
    Air Jordan.

  I used to the same thing as those kids when I was there age and I'm older
 than Jordan. It seems pretty harmless to me.

Yeah, except that inflation has hit.  We used to bet a buck or 50� instead
of $5.....


8^)

�    Dad compromised and took him to Denny's the next morning for a Grand
�    Slam (his choice).
    
    First he weasles out of the crow cafe, now he weasles out of a $10 bet
    with his own son.

>�    Dad compromised and took him to Denny's the next morning for a Grand
>�    Slam (his choice).
>    
>    First he weasles out of the crow cafe, now he weasles out of a $10 bet
>    with his own son.
    
    Not a chance, Mac.  I paid him his $5 on top of breakfast.  I didn't
    weasle out of anything in here either.  U fokes kneed an Evelyn
    Woodhead sped riddin corse.
    
    We used to do the same things too, but these kids give Jordan all the
    credit. ;-)
    
    BTW - We had a 3pt contest here at work yesterday.  I won by hitting 6
    out of 10 from 23'9", straight-away center.  Dad ain't no slouch either.
    
    Mike

You play hoops in the 120 degree heat at lunch?

    No in the morning and it was only 107.

�You play hoops in the 120 degree heat at lunch?
    
    I never could figure those folks out.  Down at MCC in Austin there
    would be pickup 3-on-3 games at lunch hour in the summertime.  Why they
    played in summer instead of early spring or late fall I never could
    understand.

>    I never could figure those folks out.  Down at MCC in Austin there
>    would be pickup 3-on-3 games at lunch hour in the summertime.  Why they
>    played in summer instead of early spring or late fall I never could
>    understand.


a) It's a "dry" kind of heat.

b) They're used to it.

c) They're Texans, what do you expect?

d) They work for DEC, what do you expect?

e) They wanted to be able to drink more beer on the ride home, so they'd
   sweat off a few pounds at lunch.



'Saw


PS  As usual I'm not making any disparaging remarks about Texans or
    DECcies....

�a) It's a "dry" kind of heat.
    
    It's not all that dry in Austin.  It ain't as humid as Houston, but
    still.
    
�b) They're used to it.
    
    I actually had people on my softball team (all games played at night)
    who bitched about the heat.  Some of these folks never leave the air
    conditioning.
    
�c) They're Texans, what do you expect?
    
    I think the Texans were the ones who stayed inside.
    
�d) They work for DEC, what do you expect?
    
    There were only 2 DECcies down there and only 1 that played (me
    occasionally).
    
    

    It's a dry heat, but you have to be a REAL MAIN too!  When you exceed
    110�, it doesn't matter how dry it is, it's still damn hot.  I thought 
    the Suns should've taken the Bulls outdoors and watch those Chicagoans 
    fold like a tortilla.
    
    That's why it's so tough for a real main to write a sappy, whiney crow
    note.  The experience was so gruesome.  The frustration alone almost
    brings a tear to your eye.
    
    Mike

I caught this in the "Sports Outlet" classifieds in today's USA Today
Sports Section, quoted as it ran:

			BASKETBALL COACHES

	To beta test and evaluate a software program, designed to
	track teams, players and statistics. Primarily designed for
	school aged athletes. System requirements: IBM or compati-
	ble, 640K RAM, harddrive with 1mb Free, printer (Please
	specify disc size needed 5�-3�). Send name and address
	to: The Leishman Group, Software division, 1863 Pioneer
	Pkwy East, Suite 303, Springfield, OR 97477-3935

    Wow. I just read all 79 notes in this string, and there were actually
    two or three that actually had something to do with coaching youth
    sports! This file is really slipping...  :-).
    
    And now that I've set myself up: I'm going to be a first-time coach of
    a boys 6-7 basketball team. I'm looking for advice from someone who has
    experience with this age group as to running practices, teaching funda-
    mentals, etc.  I'd like them to actually have fun, and still learn
    something about playing basketball, since we will  be playing actual
    games against other teams.
    
    Thanks!
    
    Rodney Mashia, coach of the Nets of Derry, NH.
    	
    

    If you have a boys team of 6-7 kids, you shouldn't have much trouble
    scoring inside.  I'd concentrate on lobbing the ball into those 6-7
    kids and work on their layups.  Play a zone and pack it in to take
    advantage of their height.
    
    Gee, I coach a 7th grade travel team in Dracut, and we only have one
    kid over 5-7!
    
    NAZZ

Also, it's probably not too early to start them on anabolic steroids.

Properly administered, those steroids will add bulk and aggressiveness to
those 6-7 kids.  They'll be able to withstand the inevitable scalp massaging
that goes on in basketball, and they'll have just the right amount of
attitude for trash talking.

Yessir, sounds like you've got a winning team there.....


'Saw

    
    Yabbut Nazz, if'n you have only 1 kid on your team I have to look up to
    ;^)
    might I suggest you contact Goodyear or DuPont and ask them to ship you
    a couple o' pounds of Flubber?
    
    Iron them onto their Nike soles and watch those kids leap!
    
    I remain,
    installing that stuff in my Triumph so I can avoid traffic jams!
    Kev
    

    Well, we had our first 'practice' last night. I thought I'd do well
    with a boys 6-7 team too, but then I found out one kid on my roster
    was supposed to be on the boys 10-11 team!! Hope we don't have to play
    those guys! But if we do, I hope they're very, very, very, very slow 
    and very, very, very, clumsy.  :-)
    
    
    
    	I know, I asked for it. Luckily a couple of the dads who showed up
    last night, plus the coach of the team we share the gym with, were able
    to help me out. But I'm still open to sugggestions, especially for 
    'different' or non-standard types of drills to hold attention (which 
    will clearly be my biggest challenge with SIX AND SEVEN YEAR OLD MALE 
    HUMANS).
    
    And yup, I know asking for 'different' is risky here, but I'm a glutton
    for punishment.
    
    Rodney, 5-10�
    

    OK - serious answer here.  But first, a question.  Are you playing
    with these very little kids at regulation height hoops, or are they
    at 8 feet?  Because if you're playing at 10' hoops, all you'll get is a
    bunch of useless heaves and no more than 2-3 baskets a game, just by
    coincidence.
    
    If you're at 8' hoops, try layups from a standing position, then move
    the kids to about 5 feet out from the hoop and have them shoot from
    there.  Have them dribble in place - 10 bounces righthanded, then
    switch to left, then alternate dribbles.  Then have them walk and
    dribble.  Work on chest passes with two hands.  It's not too early to
    get them to realize there is another appendage stuck to their body
    beside the arm that holds their right hand.  It's important to have
    them feel a little success at this level, so I wouldn't get too
    sophisticated.
    
    NAZZ

    Nazz,
    The baskets are at 8 feet.  Even so, I have a couple of kids who simply
    can't throw the ball that high, despite their best efforts.  Guess I'll
    turn 'em into defensive specialists :-).
    
    I will use the dribbling in place drill, switching hands. I had them do a
    walking/running dribble at the first practice (with each hand), and it
    was pretty clear that for most of them, that was an advanced technique.
    
    Thanks, and still open to input,
    
    Rodney

Just a quick note, and I'll put it here since we don't have a Special
Olympics note.


I'm playing a job tonight, and it's for the Opening Ceremonies for the
Ct Winter Special Olympics.  The ceremonies are in Kaiser Hall on the
campus of CCSU over in New Britain.

It should be pretty neat, considering I've never been to one of these
things.

That fat pant load Gov. Weicker is heavily involved in special olympics
but I guess he'd rather be down in the Islands now than show up, so
he won't be there.

Next year, in 1995, they're going to have the World Special Olympics
in CT.  Bet we play that job too......


I'll post a report of what it was like on Monday....

'Saw

    I think the Jennifer Capriati story deserves its own note. While
    very disturbinbg,these stories are only too common.
    
    I blame her manipulative parents for a lot of this. Will they change
    the rules about how old you have to be to play on the tour?

    If anyone is up in the Cape Ann area of Mass. in the next few weeks
    and wants to see some good youth baseball stop up in Newburyport for
    the Newburyport Umpire's Assoc. tournament. There are 36 teams involved
    from 3 states (Mass, NH and Maine) from 16 communities for kids between 
    9-12. The competition is good and you can sit on a picnic table and watch 
    3 games on 3 differant fields at the same time. We have a snack bar which 
    serves Hot dogs, Hamburgs, Pizza and something you cann't get at Fenway, 
    Barbecue Ribs. 15 games are played on Saturday starting at 9.00 am. 
    Each team plays 6 games, then the playoffs start and all the teams make
    the playoffs. Rooting for a team is highly encouraged yelling at the
    umpires will get you a ticket home quick.
    
    Mike
    

Watching kids play baseball can be a very satisfying thing.

Last year we participated in the dedication of a park/baseball field complex in
Middletown CT.  It was named after a Marine from Middletown who was killed in
the barracks bombing in Beirut.

Anyway, after the dedication I hung around for a while to watch some of the
Little League kids play their tournament.  It was a lot of fun.


'Saw

	Yesterday evening was our first Little League practice (my first
	year of coaching any yoot sport).  

	At the beginning of practice, I sent the kids off to the side to
	warm up whilst I did a little bit of admin with the parents.  
	After taking care of bidniz, I approached my team and gathered
	them round.  I split them up into two groups (one for batting
	practice and one for outfield practice).  As I was leading my
	troops over to the infield for BP, I remembered that the YMCA
	had only issued us 6 balls so I turned around and said, "Hey
	guys, throw me those balls you were warming up with."

	Big mistake!  I'll leave the rest to your imaginations....

Claybone

      Claybone, where is your team playing outta and what age group?
    
      My sone is playing the 8-9yr old div. outta Grant (supposed to be
    Keller).
    
      Tim
      

    
    	Tri-Lakes (Monument) YMCA.  He's in the 7-9 age group.  Man,
    	most of my 7 year olds don't belong on the same field as my
    	9 year olds.  
    
    Claybone

      Just keep a smile on your face, and remember, their there to have
    fun while you yell at them;-))))
    
      Good luck, especially teachin' the catching skills.
    
      Tim