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What should parents do to help kids improve skills

  (16 posts)
  • Started 2 years ago by Helpinghands
  • Latest reply from Helpinghands

  1. Helpinghands
    Member

    What do you think a parent should do to help their kid who is passionate about basketball? Like league teams, club teams, camps, clinics, skills training. weight training, one on one drills, what else?

    Let's say the kid has some potential but he/she isn't a natural or a some kinds of prodigy in basketball, at least not yet. The answer might be different based on age I would guess. How about 10, or 13, or 15 or 17 years old. Maybe the best answers are what have parents done to develop the skills in their own kids? How about some input here?

    Posted 2 years ago #
  2. RooseveltCoach
    Member

    I believe that everything you mentioned above will help. The one thing that I have told parents over the years is don't push anything on them. It is great if the child wants to do all of these things. But don't make them. I have seen a lot of kids love the game only to get burnt out because their parents try to push too much to make them the next big thing.
    But if they are truly passionate about the game, then get them into camps and clinics and get them playing all the time. And always try and have them play up against better competition. You don't want to claim that you child is the best 10 year old out there. You want to claim that he/she is the best 14 and under child out there and he/she is 10. They will take their beatings at first but slowly they will get better just from playing with and against better players. And add the camps and clinics and practice to that and the player will develop even more.
    Also, try to find a clinic that has a good rep for developing players. See what clinics some of the best players around came out of. Find ones that focus on the fundamentals.
    I hope this helps a little. And if your child ends up being a great player, move into the Roosevelt disctrict. haha Take Care.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  3. Hi-Low
    Member

    Helpinghands -- It's really important that no matter what the age of the young player, that he or she practices the right skills and technique to get better. "Perfect practice makes perfect" is much closer to reality than the old standard line: practice makes perfect.

    If you can find the right coach, clinic or camp to learn some of the proper practice habits, your child is going to be on the right path to getting better.

    Once the player learns how to play the game fundamentally, he or she can use those budding skills in game situations. But players who only try to get by on physical talent alone, at all levels, will often come up short when playing quality opponents.

    Becoming a good player or a great player takes hundreds of hours of practice and playing the game the right way. There are a lot of good coaches around the state and surely in your area. Ask around and maybe someone will give you a name or contact person.

    I found in my own playing days that going to a clinic or camp to hone my skills helped. I took what I learned there and applied it year round.

    If you live on Oahu, there are various clinics during the year, especially in the summer. I know from past experience that the Hawaii Baptist Camp is very good, with coaches from Oahu and the Big Island working together.

    If you're interested in the Hawaii Baptist Camp, for boys and girls grades 4 through 12, look on this forum in an earlier posting or call Hawaii Baptist AD Deren Oshiro at the school. The cost is only $75 for the four-day camp.

    Good luck in whatever you decide. Just give your youngster positive support and hopefully he or she will work hard to hone their skills.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  4. HoopFanatic
    Veteran

    If you want to improve, then get him into Kalakaua Clinic. No offense to other camps, clinics, or coaches, but no other camp or clinic in Hawaii has the history and proven track record of Coach Dennis Agena and Kalakaua Clinic. Coach Agena conducts clinics for the Big Island, Maui, Kauai, Oahu, and I believe even Molokai. He has even been contacted to fly up to Gonzaga University to help the college program and several other mainland schools. Derrick Low and Kainoa Chu are some of his latest proteges.

    If you want to apply, google search Kalakaua Basketball and sign-up. I believe the wait list is somewhere between 3-4 years.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  5. pickup
    Member

    I think if your son or daughter shows that genuine interest and drive to become a better basketball player (like RC says dont force it on them), you should become a student of the game yourself. Of course you have to learn all of the fundamentals so you can reinforce (perfect practice), but also watch some coaching videos or pick good coaches brains so you can help your child develop a higher basketball IQ. Then you can have productive sessions with your child that also offer you time to bond. It may make you real close or tear you apart (see Jesus Shuttlesworth). I've got some parents of my players that do a great job of being their sons harshest critic but maintaining a positive family system most of the time.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  6. RooseveltCoach
    Member

    I agree with Hi-Low. From what I have heard, the HBA camp is a very good camp to go to. If I was going to be in town I would go down there and help out in anyway that they needed. I am trying to get some of my players to attend it.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  7. Ed
    Member

    Helpinghands,

    How passionate is your kid?

    I'd love to give you some input as to what worked for us.

    You can contact me via email, to discuss more.

    echu@acwhawaii.com

    Posted 2 years ago #
  8. Helpinghands
    Member

    He is 13 now and absolutely loves playing basketball. He is already in Kalakaua and he practices and plays with kids 2-3 years older. One coach said not to use weights until he was 16. He is already pretty strong. He has been getting his footwork together this year and he is much more comfortable. While he is a big kid at 13, he won't be the big kid at 17. He is 5'10 now and probably won't be more than 6'2 or 6'3 when he's 17. But he weighs 165 lbs and it's 92% muscle. He will probably have a good football year, but basketball is his passion. He has gotten faster, and more sure of himself on the court this year. I'll try to get him to go the camp suggested above.

    I appreciate the input you have all offered. I still wonder about weight training and anything else he should do. Getting on his JV team is the challenge on his mind right now. There is a lot of competition at the JV level.

    Thanks for your helful comments and suggestions.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  9. RooseveltCoach
    Member

    One of my assistants runs our offseason workouts and he has our freshman lifting. It is more of teaching them how to lift and getting them used to it, but they are lifting and most of them are 14 years old. My feeling is 14 is a good age to start them at, but it just depends on the coach. Everyone of us has a different view on it. Good luck to your son.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  10. Hi-Low
    Member

    Helpinghands -- You're getting some good advice. As RC said, lifting weights at age 14 is okay as long as its more light weights, which helps build quickness and gives some muscle definition. Young players don't need heavy weights, which puts a lot of strain on their body and builds bulk.

    Most college basketball programs and many prep programs use weights before, during and after the season. When you continue to mesh light weights with shooting and skill development as part of the all-around program, it shouldn't affect a player's shot.

    In a program of light weights, it's usually more a set (3 or 4) of doing 10 or so reps to help build quickness and stamina. Talking to a professional in this area is the best bet to tailor something for your son.

    From what you've said about your son, it seems like he needs to improve his footwork and technique, and ballhandling. At 5-10 as a high school player, he's going to play more on the perimeter. Making sure his shooting technique and body balance are keys to building confidence and range.

    Coach Agena does a terrific job teaching ball skills and attacking the defender off the dribble. Some other camps go a step further in footwork, which helps bring all parts of the game together.

    Good luck.

    RC -- I know we'll have a great time at the Hawaii Baptist Camp. I wish you could be there because of the coaches that'll be coming in. I guarantee that if you send players, they'll come back to you as better players, knowing some important things to work on that will help them step it up offensively.

    I know the one player you spoke to me about would really learn some valuable things playing while facing the basket, instead of in the post. At the next level, if he chooses hoops, he'll have to play on the perimeter and improve his ballhandling skills and footwork.

    Good luck and have a great trip to the mainland when you go. If you need any more info on the camp, give me a call.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  11. RooseveltCoach
    Member

    I talked to him a little bit about it this weekend. He has some camps lined up this summer and he is going to see if he is here at that time. He has been going up to UH and working with someone of Sundays. Take care and keep in touch.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  12. Helpinghands
    Member

    I think sometimes, we face the luck of the draw in the leagues. One coach is really good, then the next is not as good. My youngest (9) just got a coach in the NJB league u10 that was terrific during the last season. Just wish my older one had gotten the benefit of that coach a few years earlier. It would be really great if the leagues could conduct some skills clinics in the gyms to go with the league games. More of a demonstration of the fundamentals for coaches and players, plus showing s few drills to drive it home. Then the teams could practice that on their own. just a thought?

    Posted 2 years ago #
  13. Ed
    Member

    Helpinghands, check your email.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  14. Luna86
    Member

    @ Ed,

    Kool of U Ed...helpin' a brutha out with his Keiki!

    Nice!

    Posted 2 years ago #
  15. Ed
    Member

    Thanks Luna86. Don't know how much I will be able to help. Just wanted to give some insight and ideas.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  16. Helpinghands
    Member

    I thank you Ed for some really good input and advice. You brought up some things I would not ever have thought about and I am thankful. I responded to you by email. Thanks again.

    Posted 2 years ago #

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