Rumor has it (Acalanes division)

[ClayK]

Good point ... all three schools were very good last year, and there's lots of talent returning. The new league will make it interesting as well ...

 

[personalogic]

Way too many games ... and it's true in every sport. But parents would much rather pay for tournaments than skill development, and kids don't want to practice at all ...

Try saying "We're going to have a summer basketball program and have 45 practices and play in three tournaments."

I think the ideal training program for a young basketball player (in season) would be a couple of team practices, an individual training session, and 2-3 days of mixed shooting, running, agility, and cross training. At least one or two days per week of complete rest other than maybe a little light shooting. Then tournaments every second or third weekend. For at least one third to half the year (off season) more body work, some pick up games, and maybe a very light game schedule just to keep the rust off.

But this is impossible, not because of the coaches but because of the parents. If you give a player a weekend off, and the player is any good, the parents will hook her up with another team as a 'guest' player. And they really hate the idea of an off season. If your team isn't playing travel tournaments, they will switch their daughter to a team that is. On the other end, parents often don't care much about practice attendance, skill development, or physical development. Why? Because that stuff is boring to them.

Overall, if you want to understand everything that happens in youth sports, it's mostly about keeping the parents entertained. The enjoyment and development of players is secondary.

 

[Paytc]

I think the ideal training program for a young basketball player (in season) would be a couple of team practices, an individual training session, and 2-3 days of mixed shooting, running, agility, and cross training. At least one or two days per week of complete rest other than maybe a little light shooting. Then tournaments every second or third weekend. For at least one third to half the year (off season) more body work, some pick up games, and maybe a very light game schedule just to keep the rust off.

But this is impossible, not because of the coaches but because of the parents. If you give a player a weekend off, and the player is any good, the parents will hook her up with another team as a 'guest' player. And they really hate the idea of an off season. If your team isn't playing travel tournaments, they will switch their daughter to a team that is. On the other end, parents often don't care much about practice attendance, skill development, or physical development. Why? Because that stuff is boring to them.

Overall, if you want to understand everything that happens in youth sports, it's mostly about keeping the parents entertained. The enjoyment and development of players is secondary.

personalogic,

That is good advise and for the most part true. But all coaches and all parents are not 100 % the same. Some parents realize the importance of skill development, proper rest, strength, agility, and cross training. Some want to see improvement more than they want to see a bunch of games. And some parents (though a minority) don't need to just be entertained by traveling throughout the region or country watching their kid(s) playing in a bunch of tournaments. Some can't afford it but travel anyway.

And there are some coaches that push the issue of traveling to build their brand and/or to maintain their Nike/Adidas sponsorship. It's really gotten almost out of control the amount of demand children are put under as compared to 20-30 years ago. When are the children going to start getting paid is the real question.

Now parents have their children starting at even younger ages. Their playing them up on older teams just to travel and compete with no regard to whether or not the stress,demand, and development is even safe for their child. I think the point you made about keeping the parents entertained is the most valid. Because most kids can't afford to pay to join clubs or pay the airfare. Nor do many have cars and a drivers license to get around to practices and games.