The 3v3 for the fall has come to a close!  I love seeing the young athletes and their enthusiasm.  One of the most difficult things as a coach is trying to balance letting them play and calling / coaching every possession.  It is a very fine line.  The standings are posted below and appreciate the parents and players for being a part of it!  Coaches, thank you for the help and the effort!  We will try to change the format a little for the spring 3v3 league.  We need to continue to grow and make sure that when athletes participate they grow as players and more importantly as people.  I love that I continue to do what I love to do!!! Thanks!!! 

Here's the next installment for the Early Bus Series!  We are having fun and working Hard!!!  We will talk about confidence and learning what it takes to be confident!!!

This schedule is for the older athletes...left is clinic schedule and right is the "homework"

The 2nd and 3rd photos are the schedule and "homework" for the younger athletes.    

Lots of stuff to cover in morning.  Setting the tone for the rest of the series.  I love being in the gym watching the athletes improve.  Character Development about respect tomorrow.  

I have been so blessed this summer working with Breakthrough Basketball!  I was able to get to Atlanta, Vermillion, SD, and Greensboro, NC.  The last shooting camp of the summer for me in Greensboro was a ton of fun. Getting to stay with my Brother and his family and pouring into the athletes with my heart and energy.  I was amazed at the energy that was brought by the athletes each day.  It was a hot gym, but they stayed focused and I feel a good deal got better.  I am reminded that you cannot reach everyone in the camp setting and that certainly keeps me motivated to do better next opportunity.  When you lead camps / clinics you get a great chance to meet and influence a number of people, but more importantly they impact me!  I have a had a fun summer meeting new coaches, players, parents, and support people.  Breakthrough is a wonderful company!  Thanks!!!  ​https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/camps/

Here are the schedules from the Youth Skills Clinic this past week.  I had a blast getting to know some new athletes and I know they improved!  Special thanks to the coaches, Brandon, Will, Chris and Porter.  They did a great job!!  Also, big thanks to Aberdeen Rec. department for the use of the the "goal lowering" goal.  It is much appreciated and hopefully we can continue to work together in the future!  Thanks again!  

When you travel around running hoops camps, one of the biggest obstacles you worry about is the passion of the athletes and coaches.  When you travel from Pinehurst, NC to Vermillion, SD you worry about it a little bit more, just because you know no one!  I did not need to worry one bit!  What a great experience for me to be surrounded by great coaches that love the game and athletes that stayed engaged 98% of the time.  Thank you Greg, Sharon, Jay, J, Samm, Nate and Adam!  You guys made it a blast to work!  One of the thoughts that has always stuck in my mind is from Pete Carril..."Be a light bulb."  When you walk in the gym light the place up with your passion, eagerness, etc...  The 55+  athletes did that for me in a big way.  They gave me more passion and excitement for the game.  It was a group of athletes that are used to working hard and knew how to stay engaged for a long time.  I had fun speaking with a few at the hotel about their hometowns / life.  

Me - "What other sports do you play?"
12 yr old Athlete - "I play 'rodeo', football and basketball. I don't really like football because I get hammered by the bigger kids, but I have to play because there are only about 30 kids in the school that play football.  They let me play in the 7th grade." (He was about 5'2" and 100lbs...maybe)
Me - with a smile... "How do you 'play' rodeo?"
Athlete - serious face... "Ride steer."  the face was like - DUH!
Me - "What else do you do at home, there can't be too much to do?" (he was from a tiny SD town)
Athlete - "I usually wake up and help at the farm and also at other farms around, then play whatever in the afternoons. Then wake up and do it again."  

I love the simpleness and the work ethic that is instilled these kids.  They don't know any difference! I wish I could bottle them up and take them to the next camp.  

I can't thank Breakthrough Basketball enough for giving me the opportunity to go around and teach the great game.  Adam, Nate, J, Jay, Greg and Sharon, Samm -  thanks so much for the great week!

​https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/camps/  

I had a blast leading my first Breakthrough Basketball Shooting Camp down in Atlanta.  There certainly are some unique challenges leading a camp somewhere different than your "hometown."  Not knowing the kids, gym space, work ethic, building a "buy in" immediately with the athletes, challenging the best and not moving to quickly for the less talented, etc... I truly appreciate the asst. coaches I had.  Chris Clark, a former player and now the coach at Providence Christian Academy, Bobby Tingle, former GA at Berry College, and a new friend Ryan Thomas.  They brought a lot of energy and knowledge to camp.  I am reminded that in teaching / coaching everyone is motivated differently and it is difficult to reach all people / athletes!  There are certainly 2 sides to a relationship and in a camp setting that "buy in" is critical to create the best learning environment.  Each athlete must want to learn and their attitude will lock or unlock the door to success.  I appreciate the workers and wish I could reach the non-workers quicker to make a bigger impact.   I can't wait to get going again up in South Dakota in a couple weeks.  Camp is sold out and the kids will be motivated.  Exciting stuff for coach!