Vieth, Bessler, and Sora are solid players for the 6th. Keily, Brockman, and Schrieber seem to lead the the 7th grade, although from game to game others help out with scoring.

 

Thanks! Couple family legacy names in there who have been watching their older sibs get all the attention for many years, and now it's their turn. :thumb:

IHM beat Summit View in the 6th grade game.

Summit View hit a 3 at the buzzer to win the 7th grade game.

IHM also won the 8th grade game.

 

So thats what all the loud random commotion was last night at practice.

 

Why didnt you come say hi?

Seems like the best balance in the 8th grade in a long time. Holmes topples Gray, then loses a couple. Woodland can beat anyone, yet has weaknesses that have been exposed. Campbell County, IHM, St. Pius, Highlands, Conner are all solid. I would expect competitive games among any and all of those 8.... whoever comes out on top this year will have earned it.

Conner 6th gave Beechwood 6th all they could handle. Very entertaining game. After playing Highlands, Beechwood, IHM, and Woodland I would say Beechwood is the better of the 4. Conner looses by 4 but it could have been the other way very easily. I was impressed by I believe #23 for Beechwood, very athletic kid.

 

I must admit that the synchronized clapping by the 6th grade Beechwood parents was very impressive...does anyone know if they practice as a group?

 

Conner 7th wins by 13, nice win for the Colts. Looks like some of the Ampipe AAU team makes up the 7th grade, those kids play hard. #41, I believe his name is Ayden is a really good guard. Very smart with the ball and knows how to draw fouls.

 

Beechwood 8th wins by 1 over Conner...went down to the wire.

 

I must admit that the synchronized clapping by the 6th grade Beechwood parents was very impressive...does anyone know if they practice as a group?

 

.

 

 

Explain, please. When do they do this? During a TO?

Beechwood played Conner in a triple header? Thought they were in the small school division? Were these extra games outside the league structure?

Beechwood played Conner in a triple header? Thought they were in the small school division? Were these extra games outside the league structure?

 

Yes...outside the league.

Explain, please. When do they do this? During a TO?

 

They do it during the time out...I have to admit I've never seen anything like that before. Usually the cheerleaders are there and the crowd is following, but the Beechwood parents were all in sync.

 

A correction on my other post, it is number #35 for Beechwood...kid is a nice player for 6th grade.

They do it during the time out...I have to admit I've never seen anything like that before. Usually the cheerleaders are there and the crowd is following, but the Beechwood parents were all in sync.

 

A correction on my other post, it is number #35 for Beechwood...kid is a nice player for 6th grade.

 

Will Rolf..

Conner 6th gave Beechwood 6th all they could handle. Very entertaining game. After playing Highlands, Beechwood, IHM, and Woodland I would say Beechwood is the better of the 4. Conner looses by 4 but it could have been the other way very easily. I was impressed by I believe #23 for Beechwood, very athletic kid.

 

I must admit that the synchronized clapping by the 6th grade Beechwood parents was very impressive...does anyone know if they practice as a group?

 

Conner 7th wins by 13, nice win for the Colts. Looks like some of the Ampipe AAU team makes up the 7th grade, those kids play hard. #41, I believe his name is Ayden is a really good guard. Very smart with the ball and knows how to draw fouls.

 

Beechwood 8th wins by 1 over Conner...went down to the wire.

 

If Beechwood 6th even makes half their free throws the game is not close. They were horrible tonight from the charity stripe.

Dear Middle School Coaches -

 

I have been watching a lot of MS basketball, and I was wondering several things:

 

1) Does anyone teach man to man defense? Does anyone go thru the fundamentals of guarding a player. Anyone teach help defense.....anyone teach your players to talk on defense? Anyone teach them to call out a screen? a switch? How about teaching the defenders to play physical on ball pressure defense? How about teaching kids that they are NOT shot blockers! How about teaching the kids to get in their stance, stay on the ground, and get a high hand up on a shooter? How many times do you see kids get in bad position, and put the rest of their defense in bad position because they jump at shooters?

 

I see all these teams playing zone - can we get some coaches to teach some man to man defense?

 

2) Boxing out? Does anyone spend time in practice teaching kids how to rebound the ball? How about the fact that basketball is a "contact sport" and that when a shot goes up, you have to actually make contact with a player on the other team? How many kids do you see "chase" the ball when the shot goes up, and never get a rebound? If you are guarding a player that shoots the ball, as soon as he shoots it, you must turn around, put your butt into the shooter, and keep him locked up. Too often I see the defender turn and run/move towards the basket and chase the ball. And, no one is in position to box out the shooter. I have a saying for my team.....REBOUND the BALL ON PURPOSE, NOT ON ACCIDENT.

 

3) Stop being afraid to foul......good aggressive defense is going to lead to fouls. Don't make your players afraid to foul. Now, I will say there are "good" fouls and "bad" fouls. I don't want kids fouling jump shooters - that would be a "bad" foul. But, I do want them playing aggressive on the dribbler, and in the post.

 

4) On the offensive side of the ball, do coaches teach their kids to dribble the ball at least 20 dribbles on every possession? Too much over-dribbling...pass the basketball!! Are kids taught to dribble the ball up the floor to beat a press? How about the kids that try to take it coast to coast after grabbing a defensive rebound? Too much dribble!!!!! Pass the basketball. Also, is there a mysterious spot on the floor that seems to be just across the midcourt line, and slightly towards the sideline. It seems like every time I see a kid dribble the ball across 1/2 court, they all pick up their dribble in this mysterious spot. A terrible place to get trapped!

 

5) Against a 1/2 court zone defense, will someone please tell coaches that they have to get the ball to the paint? You have to attack the zone by going inside. Stop trying to pass the ball around the perimeter. I promise you that if you throw it inside, you will get almost every outside shot you want, if you put a good decision maker at the high post. It doesn't have to be your #5 or #4. It should be a good decision maker. Even if you turn it over a couple times by throwing it in there, in the long run, it will be a good thing for your offense. Please have your kids look inside and actually throw it in there!!!

 

6) Please, please, please.......inform most of your team that they are NOT 3pt shooters!!! Everyone and their brother thinks they are a 3pt specialist. They aren't!! Kids at the 6th, 7th, 8th grade should not be launching all these 3pt shots. There are a few kids that can really shoot it at this level, but most cannot. And, if they are good shooters, do NOT let them catch and shoot off the first pass. The kiss of death is when of these very mediocre shooters makes their first one of the night. How about developing a great midrange jump shot....10ft - 16ft. Teach your kids to shoot it off the bounce from that area, and to be able to shoot a pull up jumper. Today, it seems like all the shots are either taken from the 3pt line or taken from 2ft from the basket. There are no midrange shots being taken.

 

7) Time-outs......Please tell the coach that there is NO reason for squandering one (or two) of your timeouts during the first 3 quarters of a basketball game just to save a possession. Chances are, your team is just going to turn the ball over anyway after the timeout. So, save the timeout for a part of the game where you want to teach or explain something. Stop wasting these timeouts. Everyone thinks it is such a great play when a kid is trapped in the 1Q; or when there is a scramble for a loose ball and someone calls a timeout. I would argue that this is usually a terrible decision.

 

8) Have some rules that apply to all your players. Hold them accountable for the things that you are teaching.......if a kid doesn't hustle back on defense, take him out. If a kid doesn't box out, take him out. If a kid is taking bad shots, take him out. Likewise, you as a coach have to notice when the kids are doing the things that you are teaching. Acknowledge them when they box out, when they switch a screen, when they communicate on defense, when they set a good screen.

 

 

Just needed to get that off my chest after watching quite a bit of basketball in the middle school leagues over the last few weeks.............and before anyone asks, NO - I don't coach a school team. I would love to, but I don't have the time that is required for the commitment to these school kids.

Wow.....that was quite the rant. You sound like maybe a parent of a middle school player who doesn't appreciate his coach. Lol

 

Your message looks just like one of my practice plans......I agree with just about everything single thing you said. In a lot of cases the coaches are teachers who do it for the extra cash and don't know basketball. And you probably already know that most of these schools could care less about basketball so you get what you get for coaches. The ones who get lucky and have an AAU coach who has been with the kids for a couple of years are the teams that generally win most of the time. Take all of the good teams in any grade.......Just pick 1. In most if not all cases....Lots of AAU experience.

 

Great topic!!!!!

 

All I can say is for you to make time and go get a coaching job. You certainly talk the game. But talk is cheap. Action speaks volumes.........

 

There are a few really good coaches out there that make a difference but really not mant. I am an average coach at best. Your invited to my practice anytime. I could certainly use the help. I work 50 hours a week on my normal job and I make time to be at practice and games.

Dear Middle School Coaches -

 

I have been watching a lot of MS basketball, and I was wondering several things:

 

1) Does anyone teach man to man defense? Does anyone go thru the fundamentals of guarding a player. Anyone teach help defense.....anyone teach your players to talk on defense? Anyone teach them to call out a screen? a switch? How about teaching the defenders to play physical on ball pressure defense? How about teaching kids that they are NOT shot blockers! How about teaching the kids to get in their stance, stay on the ground, and get a high hand up on a shooter? How many times do you see kids get in bad position, and put the rest of their defense in bad position because they jump at shooters?

 

I see all these teams playing zone - can we get some coaches to teach some man to man defense?

 

2) Boxing out? Does anyone spend time in practice teaching kids how to rebound the ball? How about the fact that basketball is a "contact sport" and that when a shot goes up, you have to actually make contact with a player on the other team? How many kids do you see "chase" the ball when the shot goes up, and never get a rebound? If you are guarding a player that shoots the ball, as soon as he shoots it, you must turn around, put your butt into the shooter, and keep him locked up. Too often I see the defender turn and run/move towards the basket and chase the ball. And, no one is in position to box out the shooter. I have a saying for my team.....REBOUND the BALL ON PURPOSE, NOT ON ACCIDENT.

 

3) Stop being afraid to foul......good aggressive defense is going to lead to fouls. Don't make your players afraid to foul. Now, I will say there are "good" fouls and "bad" fouls. I don't want kids fouling jump shooters - that would be a "bad" foul. But, I do want them playing aggressive on the dribbler, and in the post.

 

4) On the offensive side of the ball, do coaches teach their kids to dribble the ball at least 20 dribbles on every possession? Too much over-dribbling...pass the basketball!! Are kids taught to dribble the ball up the floor to beat a press? How about the kids that try to take it coast to coast after grabbing a defensive rebound? Too much dribble!!!!! Pass the basketball. Also, is there a mysterious spot on the floor that seems to be just across the midcourt line, and slightly towards the sideline. It seems like every time I see a kid dribble the ball across 1/2 court, they all pick up their dribble in this mysterious spot. A terrible place to get trapped!

 

5) Against a 1/2 court zone defense, will someone please tell coaches that they have to get the ball to the paint? You have to attack the zone by going inside. Stop trying to pass the ball around the perimeter. I promise you that if you throw it inside, you will get almost every outside shot you want, if you put a good decision maker at the high post. It doesn't have to be your #5 or #4. It should be a good decision maker. Even if you turn it over a couple times by throwing it in there, in the long run, it will be a good thing for your offense. Please have your kids look inside and actually throw it in there!!!

 

6) Please, please, please.......inform most of your team that they are NOT 3pt shooters!!! Everyone and their brother thinks they are a 3pt specialist. They aren't!! Kids at the 6th, 7th, 8th grade should not be launching all these 3pt shots. There are a few kids that can really shoot it at this level, but most cannot. And, if they are good shooters, do NOT let them catch and shoot off the first pass. The kiss of death is when of these very mediocre shooters makes their first one of the night. How about developing a great midrange jump shot....10ft - 16ft. Teach your kids to shoot it off the bounce from that area, and to be able to shoot a pull up jumper. Today, it seems like all the shots are either taken from the 3pt line or taken from 2ft from the basket. There are no midrange shots being taken.

 

7) Time-outs......Please tell the coach that there is NO reason for squandering one (or two) of your timeouts during the first 3 quarters of a basketball game just to save a possession. Chances are, your team is just going to turn the ball over anyway after the timeout. So, save the timeout for a part of the game where you want to teach or explain something. Stop wasting these timeouts. Everyone thinks it is such a great play when a kid is trapped in the 1Q; or when there is a scramble for a loose ball and someone calls a timeout. I would argue that this is usually a terrible decision.

 

8) Have some rules that apply to all your players. Hold them accountable for the things that you are teaching.......if a kid doesn't hustle back on defense, take him out. If a kid doesn't box out, take him out. If a kid is taking bad shots, take him out. Likewise, you as a coach have to notice when the kids are doing the things that you are teaching. Acknowledge them when they box out, when they switch a screen, when they communicate on defense, when they set a good screen.

 

 

Just needed to get that off my chest after watching quite a bit of basketball in the middle school leagues over the last few weeks.............and before anyone asks, NO - I don't coach a school team. I would love to, but I don't have the time that is required for the commitment to these school kids.

Also, make the players wear matching socks and if the kids wear an undershirt, have them wear same color!!

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Woodland teaches only man 2 man defense.