Sports are industries that rely on youth. Professional and Amateur athletes peak in their late 20′s, when most industry professionals are only beginning to learn the ropes of their industry.
When you look at a professional basketball team and its development programs, the average age range is probably 5-30. However, if you look at say the computer industry or pharmaceutical industry, the age range from entry-level education and training programs through to true industry experts probably starts at 15-20 and can go up to the 50′s and 60′s for true experts.
This is all the more reason for the world of basketball to focus on youth programs. Unfortunately, it is getting worse, not better. AAU and Summer Camps have been infiltrated and spoiled by corruption and sponsorship money. High school basketball has been pretty stale with its development process over the past 20-30 years (since the inception of AAU). And youth programs by the YMCA, CYO, and Boys & Girls Club have struggled to develop nationwide roots and consistency.
Perhaps the best early training, and a great feature of the sport of basketball, is on the pick-up courts around the nation. Whether its elementary and middle school kids putting together in the driveways or cul-de-sacs, or high school age kids hitting the parks prove themselves, you can’t find a better place to get a basic education than a local hoop. You’ll learn to compete, a desire to win, toughness, and an ability to shoot and dribble in the worst conditions possible.
To keep up this progress, our youth need more access to hoops. There are thousands out there, but they are always busy and full. That means we need more. More playgrounds, more driveway hoops, more gyms. Petition your local government for a new park with courts. Put up in-ground basketball hoops in your driveway, or even adjustable basketball systems in your street or cul-de-sac. Check out Pro Dunk Hoops for a new basket. Each one makes a difference.
Unfortunately, teamwork, strategy, and a complete toolkit of skills, is not something you’ll be able to entirely develop on those courts. Experience on a well-coached team is necessary to take your game to the next level. Not just for any coach who maybe saw an NBA game and think they understand the game. But a team coached by someone who has studied the game and has been taught the game by good teachers. We have our school teachers get degrees in education, so shouldn’t we hold our coaches to the same standard? We need more coaching schools and coaching development programs.
Here’s a hint. If you’re team runs a 2-3 zone, that’s not coaching. That does not teach players to get better, and in most programs, although you may squeek out an extra win or two because you play a bad team that does not know how to beat it, it will not win you championships. Coaching is teaching man to man defense. Don’t give your kids a fish, teach them how to fish.
To conclude, we need more hoops and educated coaches for this great game to stay great in this country. It’s an industry and development begins younger than any other.
*Article sponsored by Pro Dunk Hoops
