Huntley Park District Athletics

Church Hill coach accused of assault after melee at youth league basketball game - Kingsport Times-News Online

2010-02-08T12:15:00.001-06:00

Church Hill coach accused of assault after melee at youth league basketball game - Kingsport Times-News Online

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Friendship Requests - A National Conversation

2009-07-16T10:56:00.002-05:00

The Positive Coaching Alliance has had some interesting discussion on their blog in over the past week on the concept of friend request in youth sports leagues. It is interesting to read how the policies around the country compare to those we use here at the Huntley Park District.

Click here to view the comments on the Positive Coaching Alliance web site blog: http://www.positivecoach.org/Ask-PCA.aspx?id=3916.

Jimmy V Day

2009-07-15T10:34:00.005-05:00

"Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up"

The day following the MLB All Star Game has traditionally become the day of the Jimmy V Foundation auction on ESPN Radio. For those who do not know, Jim Valvano was a legendary basketball coach for many years at North Carolina State. He is best remembered for guiding the Wolfpack to an upset victory for the 1983 NCAA Basketball Championship. In June of 1992 he was diagnosed with bone cancer. The speech below was delivered at the inaugural ESPY Awards on March 2, 1993. Valvano died only two months after giving this speech:

This speech is full of powerful messages about life that can be applied to youth sports; the concept of the ordering of priorities in one's life to put family and faith ahead of sports. the mention of trying to laugh, think, and move yourself to tears of joy to get the most out of everyday, and finally the lasting quote, "Don't give up, don't ever give up."

Coach Shoves Youth Football Player; Parents Upset

2008-10-07T12:11:00.004-05:00

Today is not a good day for youth sports. In addition to the high school soccer player that assaulted a referee in Chicago yesterday afternoon (see below), I am also following a story about a volunteer youth football coach in the St. Louis area that shoved an opposing 11 year old player following a game this past weekend. Links to the components of the story from KDSK-TV in St. Louis are below, including video of the incident in the first link:

Video Shows Coach Shoving Young Player; Parents Upset (10/5/08)
Youth League Football Coach Speaks Out (10/6/08)
League: Coach Who Shoved Player in Process of Resigning (10/6/08)

From today's Chicago Tribune:
St. Louis Football Coach Quits After Shoving Kid (10/7/08)

Student attacks referee during soccer game

2008-10-07T09:51:00.004-05:00

From the Chicago Sun Times on 10/7/08:

A student-athlete from Kelvyn Park High School ran on a soccer field Monday afternoon and assaulted a referee, forcing a Chicago Public League tournament match between Lane Tech and Kelvyn Park to be canceled midway through the second half.
Chicago Police were called to the scene at Amundsen High School, but no arrests were made. The offender, identified as a student at Kelvyn Park High School by Kelvyn Park soccer coach Jorge Ramirez, left the scene before police arrived.
Moments after official Jose Luis Rivas stopped play to call a foul on Kelvyn Park, the offender ran onto the field, swung and shoved Rivas.
Another Kelvyn Park player also shoved Rivas in the back before a second official and Lane Tech coaches could get to the other side of the field to restore order. The game was called minutes later with Lane Tech winning 3-1. (Click here to view the original article)

It saddens me to read stories like the one above, but unfortunately this happens way to many times. This is why it is so important for us to spread the message to our coaches, players, and parents early in their sports experience that behaviors like this are not OK. It is why it is important to teach everyone to Honor the ROOTS of the game at all times. Promoting and demonstrating respect for the rules, officials, opponents, teammates, and self will not only make the athletic experience a more positive one, but will also build those strong character traits needed for success in all areas of life.

Mom Makes HS Cheerleading Squad

2008-09-18T11:46:00.011-05:00

A 33 year old woman in Green Bay, WI made a high school cheerleading squad using her daughter's identity. I have seen parents live their lives through their kids on the sideline, but never seen it taken this far.

Click below for the full story:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ipppcZU-H4xC9lQiAOQFSF-cfrdAD935H3G80

Redesigned Web Site

2008-09-17T11:47:00.004-05:00

Today we have launched our redesigned web site. The web address for going directly to the athletics main page remains the same, www.hpdsports.org, but there is a completely new look! The biggest change is that we have integrated the sports web site with a complete redesign of the main park district web site, allowing for easier navigation both between the two sites an also within the site as a whole. The new site will also make it easier for us to provide more frequent updates and a whole lot more information.

We retained many of the same features of the old site, including weather and cancellation information on the main athletics page. We have added a self updating listing of upcoming events (which did appear for the past couple of weeks on the old site as a trial) and also hopefully made navigation of the site easier with drop down menus for information for all of the park district offerings at the top of each page.

If you are still taken to the old page, please make sure to refresh your browser and type in www.hpdsports.org to go to the new site.

We welcome your comments and suggestions on the new look. You can post them here on this blog or send them to athletics@huntelyparks.org.

9 Year Old Kid - Too Good To Pitch?

2008-08-26T13:51:00.002-05:00

Click on this link to read and espn.com article about a 9 year old boy in Connecticut who has been banned from pitching in his baseball league because he is too good.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3553475

I would agree that it would be good to encourage this young man to try playing at a higher level, either at the next age group up, or for a travel team. However these options just don't work sometimes. The next age group up could already be full. There could be heistation to join a travel team because of the increased financial and time committments. It could be that the kid simply just wants to play with his friends. The bottom line is that it seems clear that the young man not only throws the ball hard, but accurately as well, so safety of other players does not seem a concern by all accounts. He should not be prohibited from pitching just because he is good at it. That is not fair to the young man.

Can it simply be that the league directors feel that the rest of the league is at a disadvantage and they feel this is in the best interests of the league? I am more concerned about the potential for truth in the following quote:

"Jericho's coach and parents say the boy is being unfairly targeted because he turned down an invitation to join the defending league champion, which is sponsored by an employer of one of the league's administrators."

This can probably never be proven, but my experience is that the source of issues in youth sports are much more often than not the adults involved in them. How awful would it be if it is true that one adult used his influence over another adult to prevent a child from taking part in something that the child enjoys and is successful to satisfy one adults ego? That is just mindboggling. I truly hope that isn't the case, but it is not an unrealistic projection or accusation to make based on the recent history of how adults behave at children's games.

Please post your thoughts and opinions to this situation. I look forward to hearing how our community feels about this.

The Ultimate Act of Sportsmanship

2008-05-09T15:15:00.002-05:00

Many of you out there may have already heard of the story of the college softball player who was injured whlie trying to get back to touch first base after hitting a home run in a game last week. After tearing her ACL and crawling back to first base after hitting the only home run of her career, two opposing players take it upon themselves to help her complete her trip around the bases.

I can't describe how much I wish that all of the young players that we are honored to be able to have in our programs will learn the character traits demonstrated by these young women.

This video should be required viewing for all players, coaches, and youth sports parents. It is something that all of us should keep in mind as a model of how emphasis on the proper perspective, attitude, and behaviors as an athlete is growing up can mold them into an adult capable of this outstanding act.

"It kept everything in perspective and the fact that we're never bigger than the game," (Western Oregon Coach Pat) Knox said of the experience. "It was such a lesson that we learned -- that it's not all about winning. And we forget that, because as coaches, we're always trying to get to the top. We forget that. But I will never, ever forget this moment. It's changed me, and I'm sure it's changed my players."

Coach Arrested at Youth Basketball Game in Oregon

2008-02-20T11:14:00.001-06:00

Visit this link to read about the youth basketball coach who was arrested following his actions at a 6th grade girls basketball game.

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/february172008/coach_arrest_2-17-08.php

Jr. NBA - Parents Guide

2008-02-13T09:46:00.003-06:00

One of the great benefits our youth basketball program recieves for being a member of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program is the excellent resources they provide for coaches, officials, players, and parents. Today I'd like to point you in the direction of their on-line parent's guide. There are several good pages of information that apply not only to basketball, but to all the other sports your child may be involved with.

Click on this link to view the site: http://www.nba.com/jrnba/parents/Parents_Guide_Introduction.html

The Role of the Official - SEE the game!

2008-02-11T10:09:00.000-06:00

Today's topic is to help our officials out there, and to help parents and coaches understand where we hope sports officials, especially at the youth level, are focusing their attention. Today's acronym for this topic is to SEE the game.
No, I am not condoning the "hey ref - you need better glasses" comments from the crowd. SEEing the game involves three key basic officiating concepts that can apply to any sport at any level.

S - Safety
Participant safety is the number one priority for sports officials. Above all else the game needs to be conducted in a safe manner. This is why officials can be so strict on pre game issues such as jewelry or proper equipment. It is also my biggest point of concern when evaluation officials. Is the official doing their job to keep the game safe?

E - Equitable
Just a fancy word for fairness. The official should treat all coaches and player equitably or fairly according to the rules of the sport.

E - Enjoyable
The game should be enjoyable for the players, coaches, parents, and even the officials. Typically if safety and equitable concepts are being satisfied, then enjoyable usually will naturally follow. Other ways to increase the level of enjoyment are to take the time to teach a younger player about why a call was made, or take time to positively interact with players as an official by identifying moments of good sportsmanship and reinforcing them with a smile or postivie comment.

The biggest problem for the sports official is that many people equate enjoyable to winning. An official may make a call that is 100% correct and that reflects a players safety and equitable treatment, but if it is at a critical moment on the scoreboard, most likely one-half of the people in attendance are not going to find it "enjoyable." It is how we as coaches, players, spectators, and officals react in these situations where sports reveals our character, which in turn influences the development of the character of our young participants.

Sports Rage

2008-02-05T10:04:00.000-06:00

I was looking around the web looking at resources on violence in youth sports. I came across this video posted on You Tube discussing sports rage, especially by parents. It is a bit long (about 25 minutes) but it is well worth viewing and discussing.

Honor the Game: Start at the ROOTS

2008-02-01T10:22:00.000-06:00

The Positive Coaching Alliance is national organization whose goal it is to promote the benefits of youth sports and provide training materials for administrator, coaches, and parents to stress sportsmanship in their leagues. I attended a session on their coaching training called the "Double-Goal" coach. This this session they talked about honoring the game and used a neat acronym called ROOTS to help teach how to honor the game. ROOTS stands for respect for the Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates, and Self. The Positive Coaching Alliance has a short page on their web site with tips on how to honor the game using your ROOTS. Click here to view the page and feel free to browse other areas of the Positive Coaching Alliance web site.

Learn the Basics of Your Child's Sport

2008-01-29T09:31:00.000-06:00

One of the best ways to enhance your enjoyment of your child's youth sports experience is to learn a little bit about the sport. Parents who take the time to gain insight on the basic concepts and rules of the sports their children play not only make the game more enjoyable for themselves, but following the "knowledge is power" mindset can also help make the experience better for their children, their child's coaches, the other participating families, and even the game officials.
While attending a session at the IPRA Conference last week, I learned of a great website for getting the basics on most of the sports we offer. Please take a visit to Mom's Guide to Sports a take a look at the information presented on your child's sports. I look forward to hearing about your thoughts on the information they have on that site.

Welcome

2007-11-07T10:52:00.000-06:00

Welcome to our new blog for Huntley Park District Athletics. I am hoping that this will be an effective tool for me to post thoughts on topics relevant to our athletic programming, and youth sports in general. I welcome any comments to items which are posted and look forward to seeing the thoughts of others in our community on these topics.

Jeff Ryder
Athletic Supervisor
Huntley Park District