1. Find different AAU basketball coaches.

2. Enjoy football in football season.

3. Enjoy basketball in basketball season.

Just Jim that in 3 lines pretty much says all that all of us were saying, Great Post.:thumb:

Does football hurt point guards? It really depends on the program for this reason, when does the football season end? And who is the HC and what is his personality? Is he patient enough to allow the player to work the kinks out? It is important for the coach to encourage the player and to show patience for the mistake that ARE going to happen.

If the player is at a program in which the football team usually goes deep into the playoffs, it hurts them tremendously. By the time the football season ends, the B-ball games have started or are getting ready to start. After 20 weeks or so of football, the player is not in B-ball shape and his game WILL suffer for a while. His shot WILL suffer, his passing WILL suffer, and his decision-making WILL suffer also. Also, who says he has to start playing in games right away? Allow him the time to refresh his B-ball skills, and if that means sitting out a few games then so be it. Now, if the player plays at a school with a weak F-ball program and usually do not go far in the playoffs, the player should be fine. He would have ample time to get into B-ball shape. Every situation is different and you have to evaluate your situation and the variables which surround your situation but the most important variables are the F-ball program and the B-ball Head Coach. He should never have to choose one sport or another, unless he only wants to play one. If he wants to play both, work it out. He will regret it for the rest of his life if he quits one sport for the other.

Play as much and as many the student has a real desire to play for. This is high school. Bottom line, 99% of all kids playing at a sport will NOT be a Division One player. Any high school coach who advocates the exclusive dedication to a sport - summer for basketball, for instance, vs. baseball vs. fall football is simply not a very good coach to begin with, extremely selfish and is doing a terrible injustice to the student/athlete. Add to that is the "miss our open gyms" or travel camps, or workouts and you "could" lose your spot. This has to end.

 

You want your child to be a better basketball player, skip AAU stupid tournaments and work on the summer on his shooting, leaping ability and physical development and he will be much better off. IF he comes into this fall with 6" more on a vertical leap standing at 6' he is better off vs. having played 35 games that do not mean a thing.

 

He purchased jump soles and is doing their program to increase his vertical leap. And he is very dedicated to doing push-ups, situps, jogging, and taking many shots each day on his own. He hasn't really started much lifting yet other than lifting lightly a couple times at open gyms.

Does football hurt point guards? It really depends on the program for this reason, when does the football season end? And who is the HC and what is his personality? Is he patient enough to allow the player to work the kinks out? It is important for the coach to encourage the player and to show patience for the mistake that ARE going to happen.

If the player is at a program in which the football team usually goes deep into the playoffs, it hurts them tremendously. By the time the football season ends, the B-ball games have started or are getting ready to start. After 20 weeks or so of football, the player is not in B-ball shape and his game WILL suffer for a while. His shot WILL suffer, his passing WILL suffer, and his decision-making WILL suffer also. Also, who says he has to start playing in games right away? Allow him the time to refresh his B-ball skills, and if that means sitting out a few games then so be it. Now, if the player plays at a school with a weak F-ball program and usually do not go far in the playoffs, the player should be fine. He would have ample time to get into B-ball shape. Every situation is different and you have to evaluate your situation and the variables which surround your situation but the most important variables are the F-ball program and the B-ball Head Coach. He should never have to choose one sport or another, unless he only wants to play one. If he wants to play both, work it out. He will regret it for the rest of his life if he quits one sport for the other.

 

The football program is usually a perennial playoff contender, usually better than the basketball program, but I also think the basketball program will have a string of a few good years in a year or two.

 

I talked to a couple sophomores that play FB and BB at the school, and they are not going to any of the open gyms. They said the FB coach wants them at all spring practices and weightlifting right now because "it is closer to football season than basketball season." Is this a reasonable attitude to expect from a football coach?

The football program is usually a perennial playoff contender, usually better than the basketball program, but I also think the basketball program will have a string of a few good years in a year or two.

 

I talked to a couple sophomores that play FB and BB at the school, and they are not going to any of the open gyms. They said the FB coach wants them at all spring practices and weightlifting right now because "it is closer to football season than basketball season." Is this a reasonable attitude to expect from a football coach?

 

Yes. They will start practice in just a matter of weeks and the season starts on August 19th, .... less than 3 months away. I know of players who did both last summer until the official summer practices began after the dead period. It didn't seem to hurt either their hoops or football games what so ever.

Yes. They will start practice in just a matter of weeks and the season starts on August 19th, .... less than 3 months away. I know of players who did both last summer until the official summer practices began after the dead period. It didn't seem to hurt either their hoops or football games what so ever.

 

It sounds like this particular football coach expects the basketball/football players to miss all open gyms and basketball practices and games in the late spring/summer, even before the dead period.

Yes. They will start practice in just a matter of weeks and the season starts on August 19th, .... less than 3 months away. I know of players who did both last summer until the official summer practices began after the dead period. It didn't seem to hurt either their hoops or football games what so ever.

:thumb: I can also see that MT, My point other than the ones I tried to make in my other post is that a school has to get their athletes on the field, court, track whatever so all teams can prosper. Again, if the kid wants to, is talented enough of an athlete NO ONE should pressure him not to play one sport over another. UNLESS his grades are suffering because of it. That is one thing that I didn't mention, grades/education comes first.:thumb:

My son is currently probably the best point guard in his class in the region. He will be a freshman next year and has a good chance to play JV ball.

 

He is also a very good football player.

 

There is pressure to specialize in one sport.

 

Basketball is his favorite sport.

 

My question is does missing the first 6 weeks of basketball practice to play football hurt a point guard's handle significantly?

 

Thanks.

As a Football coach who has coached middle school basketball and played college baseball I tell our kids PLAY EVERYTHING that you are good at and can help the team. I have seen a kid quit basketball (because football was too dangerous) and then tear an ACL during AAU. I think that your son could continue to shoot and work on ball skills on Saturday's and Sunday's in the fall. If your son is that good his basketball coach will play him or he does not care about the kids or winning basketball games.

Our basketball coach is very great to work with. In fact we talk daily and have worked out a summer schedule so that the dual sport athletes get to work on skills for both sports as well as weight lift. The same goes for our wrestling and baseball coach.:thumb:

I am glad some of you have mentioned Chris Lofton- who was/is a shooting guard. If you want to make the time and commitment to do both you can. In the past 10 years at Mason County, we have had 5 D1 athletes- Harry Lewis, football; Dustin Grutza,football; Jordan Murray, football; Chris Lofton, basketball; and Andy Fryman, track. All 5 played football and all 5 were in our weight program.

 

With the exception of Jordan, all 5 of those athletes played more than one sport. The competition made each of them better, along with the complementary demands and skills required of each sport.

 

Any sport you enjoy, you should play. If you want to be great, make the time to improve your skills and hit the weightroom.

 

There aren't that many guys out there that are talented athletes. If you are one of the ones that can have a great experience and alot of success, you are missing out on alot if you don't play that sport.

The football program is usually a perennial playoff contender, usually better than the basketball program, but I also think the basketball program will have a string of a few good years in a year or two.

 

I talked to a couple sophomores that play FB and BB at the school, and they are not going to any of the open gyms. They said the FB coach wants them at all spring practices and weightlifting right now because "it is closer to football season than basketball season." Is this a reasonable attitude to expect from a football coach?

 

 

I think now-a-days, the player has to look at where his future is and where the love is. Does he enjoy B-ball or F-ball more? If he believes his future is in B-ball, then I would suggest going to the F-ball coach and saying " Coach, I want to play F-ball but I feel I need to concentrate my efforts toward B-ball. I feel my future lies in B-ball and not F-ball."

Now, I know a lot of coaches will not want to here this but most will understand. I believe there are alot of young athletes dealing with this problems these days. My advice would be to just make it happen, work it out. If he loves the sports, make sure he plays them all. That's really all that matters.

I think now-a-days, the player has to look at where his future is and where the love is. Does he enjoy B-ball or F-ball more? If he believes his future is in B-ball, then I would suggest going to the F-ball coach and saying " Coach, I want to play F-ball but I feel I need to concentrate my efforts toward B-ball. I feel my future lies in B-ball and not F-ball."

Now, I know a lot of coaches will not want to here this but most will understand. I believe there are alot of young athletes dealing with this problems these days. My advice would be to just make it happen, work it out. If he loves the sports, make sure he plays them all. That's really all that matters.

Excellent Point:thumb: A student should be able to explore his options, not be limited.

Encourage him to play both. IMO, the weightlifting more than compensates for lack of court time. My experience tells me that most football weightlifting programs are much more effective than most baketball weight lifting. My son gave up football for basketball, and now kicks himself for doing it.

 

Curious as to where the pressure is coming from to specialize?

 

I wholeheartedly agree!! and besides....it ain't the start of the season that counts! It's how your doing in the end that matters!