Hello to all. I wanted to touch upon a couple of things that I forgot to talk about while at our coaches/parents meetings a couple of weeks ago. The first is the issue of other sports and activities. We understand that this is football season and many of the kids are on teams that play into late October. We ask that the kids do come to practice still so that they can learn what offenses and defenses are being presented. Some teams practice under the lights and will have conflicts with Basketball. Please be considerate of the coaches time and commitment. I know that the 8th graders will be involved in the school basketball team coming up in November. We understand that and believe school activities come first--including homework (get it done when you get home helps). Band concerts etc. will sometimes conflict with practices. Please let the coaches know ahead so that arrangements can be made---I have moved practice back a 1/2 hour so the kids could make it. Now in regards to other select sports. I played every sport possible growing up, I however did not live in a time where every "select" coach felt they could bully the kids to making a major decision on what one sport they wanted to play. And they shouldn't. My belief is as follows: basketball is a Fall/Winter sport and should be played in that time frame. Soccer is a spring or fall sport not a year round sport..no sport is, not even volleyball. Indoor soccer is not a recognized sanctioned sport in high school. Baseball is a spring/summer sport. Throwing or playing catch in February in a gym that is built for basketball is not a reason to miss practice or a game. If your coach wants you to be at practice in February and you have to miss basketball practice to do so, then I will, in April, May or June ask you to come to the gym instead of baseball practice to shoot free throws. I think that is only fair. Bottom line is basketball is a fall sport and should be the first priority when it comes to deciding which practice to go to. Your coach has a decision every game or every practice on whether he wants to teach your child the game of basketball or go out with or stay home with his family or friends. I am sure we would all want the coach to make the right decision.
Second thing. Coach Fleming and I implemented the following rule many years ago and have always followed it. If any player should get a technical, he will sit the entire rest of the game. If it happens at the end of the game he will sit the entire next game. We don't care if he is 6' 5" and scores 25 a game, he will sit. The reason we put this rule in? One game many years ago, we were up 7 points with about 3 minutes left and 4 technicals later (all by players) the game was over and we lost.
I hope you understand these two points and the reasons we believe in them.
