I don't think you have enough skilled athletes to sustain a stand alone Ft. Thomas Jr. bball league. You'd need at least 40/ grade to have 4 teams in each class. I would not favor combining grades to get to those numbers. And 4 teams would not really be enough to have a good league. Also gym time would be very difficult to come by as the grade school gyms are very lacking. Have the kids continue to play AAU, with involvement from the varsity program, ie; open gyms and clinics. gear these kids towards the middle school program that includes a 6th grade team. If you have an abundance in a grade field 2 teams. Seriously, I don't think you will have to do that. If you 12 or 13 per middle school team, then you have 36-39 kids playing in your middle school program, which is where you want to be as by the time they hit 10th grade they're optimally at 6 or 7. Then by with this formula you have an elite 6 or 7 per grade Soph, Jr. and Sr. for a max of 18-20 kids in your JV/Varsity program. You should never have a grade that is non existent, which is a program killer. As far as cuts, less kids will be cut in this system than in the current one, where there is no 6th grade team.

 

Interesting. I'd have thought that if you set it up like the Jr. Football league (two grades per division) you have plenty of kids wanting to play. Heck, the most common gripe I hear from parents whose kids play in the select baseball and basketball leagues is the amount of time and travel it takes, so I figured if you could offer a quality city league that plays at the armory and the school gyms when available, that you'd get the large turnout that the Jr. Football league gets because a lot of the travel and time would be eliminated.

I think malachicrunch is correct on this. You can have a team A and team B for each grade especially in the 6th grade which might have the greatest interest. You eventually have to cut kids in a program. They will weed out based on playing time, etc. They usually will drop to around 6 or 7 per grade in high school. It is very important for both the baseball and basketball program to get an H on a jersey prior to it appearing on football helmet. Why the Jr Football league is successful is because of the enthusiasm of the coaches and the years of wanting to play on Friday nights. Dale does a great job of getting the message down to the younger generations. Everybody is hungry for a ring. I agree although it can't compare to NKYFL it does prepare all boys to play and all players get involved and realize, they might not be a spectacular player now, but with work they can be a part of a much larger collaborative effort. In basketball, IMO you do not have nearly those type numbers and you have to develop skills at a much younger age. The bball season is running longer and longer and all the boys that are playing significant minutes have come out of one AAU program or another. During the middle school years, some kids stop growing others really start; so you never know who but there is no debate a middle school program is needed and should not be a second thought. Jr Football works, I am a part of it, but it will not work for basketball. Just like Ft Thomas Jr Baseball is just a recreation sport in baseball, I think it is important for kids to play, but I would bet that you want see many of those boys in a Highlands jersey. Sixth grade basketball is just as important as freshman baseball team. I do not have a pony currently in the race; but I am throwing what weight I have around both programs. Mark my words both will be very instrumental in the success of baseball and basketball moving forward.

Interesting. I'd have thought that if you set it up like the Jr. Football league (two grades per division) you have plenty of kids wanting to play. Heck, the most common gripe I hear from parents whose kids play in the select baseball and basketball leagues is the amount of time and travel it takes, so I figured if you could offer a quality city league that plays at the armory and the school gyms when available, that you'd get the large turnout that the Jr. Football league gets because a lot of the travel and time would be eliminated.

 

I don't like two grades mixed in bball. You would not be able to limit the extent of play by the bigs like they do in the football league.

Word on the street is that the 6th grade basketball issue will be presented to the BOE at its meeting in July. I must say that I agree 100% with Malachi and Bird Bath on this issue. The longer these programs do not exist, the worse it will be for those sports at Highlands other than football. As it has been stated many times, the grades will weed themselves out over time, but kids do not need to make a decision on what they like and want to play more upon entering the 6th grade. The more choices that they have, the better it is for all programs.

Word on the street is that the 6th grade basketball issue will be presented to the BOE at its meeting in July. I must say that I agree 100% with Malachi and Bird Bath on this issue. The longer these programs do not exist, the worse it will be for those sports at Highlands other than football. As it has been stated many times, the grades will weed themselves out over time, but kids do not need to make a decision on what they like and want to play more upon entering the 6th grade. The more choices that they have, the better it is for all programs.

 

Agreed with the bolded, but I'm not sure what that has to do with what I was "proposing". If anything, I think having a better city league that is more about participation than competition would encourage more kids to want to also play basketball (in addition to football, baseball, etc) vs cutting kids from the 6th grade middle school team. I'd assume that kids cut from the 6th grade and 7th grade basketball teams would then be inclined to give up the sport of basketball completely and then concentrate solely on other sports like football. But evidently I don't understand the dynamics properly.

I don't like two grades mixed in bball. You would not be able to limit the extent of play by the bigs like they do in the football league.

 

Maybe they could make the big kids wear blue head bands and not let them shoot in the paint.

Agreed with the bolded, but I'm not sure what that has to do with what I was "proposing". If anything, I think having a better city league that is more about participation than competition would encourage more kids to want to also play basketball (in addition to football, baseball, etc) vs cutting kids from the 6th grade middle school team. I'd assume that kids cut from the 6th grade and 7th grade basketball teams would then be inclined to give up the sport of basketball completely and then concentrate solely on other sports like football. But evidently I don't understand the dynamics properly.

 

I'm guessing JOAT is suggesting that without the existence of a city wide program and without the existence of a 6th grade team, there is no choice of basketball for most kids. Of the two options, a 6th grade team is much easier to establish.

Coach Flynn's first basketball camp is taking place as we speak, anyone have any idea of the number of kids that came to the camp? Heard Derek Smith was there to assist as well as Josh Feldman. Heard that Feldman will be staying on as the JV coach, but that they are in need of a frosh coach. Will Derek Smith be the one to fill this void?

Coach Flynn's first basketball camp is taking place as we speak, anyone have any idea of the number of kids that came to the camp? Heard Derek Smith was there to assist as well as Josh Feldman. Heard that Feldman will be staying on as the JV coach, but that they are in need of a frosh coach. Will Derek Smith be the one to fill this void?

 

I'm not sure about the coaching question you asked. But, I did like the quote in the paper from Flynn wanting to open the door and contact former players about scrimmages and being involved in the program. Sounds like you better get the hightops back out...................

Any word on what happened to their previous freshman coach?

Coach Flynn's first basketball camp is taking place as we speak, anyone have any idea of the number of kids that came to the camp? Heard Derek Smith was there to assist as well as Josh Feldman. Heard that Feldman will be staying on as the JV coach, but that they are in need of a frosh coach. Will Derek Smith be the one to fill this void?

 

Quite a large turnout, not certain of the actual #'s. Feldman was introduced as a coach. But he was mum on the others. Derek Smith was present, but so was many other past Highland players. I was not there long enough to catch anything else.

Coach Flynn attended the Booster Meeting tonight. This is the first time I've met him. He seems very excited and appreciative to be coming to Highlands. Smart move on his part since the Boosters have the resources to funnel dollars into his program.

I'm not sure about the coaching question you asked. But, I did like the quote in the paper from Flynn wanting to open the door and contact former players about scrimmages and being involved in the program. Sounds like you better get the hightops back out...................

 

JOAT played so long ago I think he wore white canvas Chuck Taylor's from Barney B. at Egelston. If Mike Flynn has to go back that far back into the program to get scrimmage players he better increase the training staff and the emergency medical equiptment.