Improving the Youth Basketball Experience.
Take a look at your daily schedule and evaluate WHERE and with WHO you spend your time. Your Decisions Reveal Your Priorities!
Doug DeVries has been working in youth basketball for over 25 years. He has a passion to see sports in balance in life, for kids to thrive in sports, and for parents to enjoy the entire process.
We asked Aaron Dickson this question:
We love his response. Continue reading “The Balance in being Highly Competitive in Youth Basketball – the “I GET TO” attitude.”
Aaron Dickson is from a coach’s family and has been around sport his whole life. He played hoops in college on a full scholarship (where he met his wife also a full ride hooper) and has been training basketball players for the last 10 years. Aaron is passionate about Jesus, his family, sport and discipleship which is why he started Pursuit Sports, a ministry that invites followers of Jesus (who speak sport at a high level) to disciple athletes through skill training. Pursuit Sports is very simple: we train skills for 30 min and do leadership development for 30 min in order to invest in athletes.
“WHATEVER YOU FIND TO DO, DO IT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT…”
ECCLESIASTES 9:10
Doug DeVries has been working in youth basketball for over 25 years. He has a passion to see sports in balance in life, for kids to thrive in sports, and for parents to enjoy the entire process.
Doug DeVries has been working in youth basketball for over 25 years. He has a passion to see sports in balance in life, for kids to thrive in sports, and for parents to enjoy the entire process.
Coaches shouldn’t have to push you to work hard, you should push yourself to work hard because you want to be a great player.
Doug DeVries has been working in youth basketball for over 25 years. He has a passion to see sports in balance in life, for kids to thrive in sports, and for parents to enjoy the entire process.
The Jake Locker story is an interesting one for understanding a little of the challenge to balance excellence, personal health, family, and faith. And why am I featuring a football player here? Jake lives near my home in Bellingham, WA and has a similar passion for helping youth sports be successful.
Doug DeVries has been working in youth basketball for over 25 years. He has a passion to see sports in balance in life, for kids to thrive in sports, and for parents to enjoy the entire process.
One of the reasons that sports are so awesome is because in order to be successful you must be willing to challenge assumptions about yourself and others. To improve in athletics you always need to be ready to change and grow. And while this is an easy message for athletes, sometimes coaches can struggle to apply this same flexibility to their own lives.
With years of training others and always needing to be the strong voice in the room it can be hard for coaches to listen. Along with the routine teaching, coaches may also shut down and even become defensive as a result of the predictable challenges from parents, players and administration. Many coaches in fact, often take on a bunker mentality and can become easily stuck within their own approach or philosophy to the game.
Instead of being defensive and protective of your approach, it is beneficial to learn how to roll with the resistance and anger of others. The hostility and doubt of parents, athletic directors, and even spouses can feel overwhelming. Like the first wave you encounter on your way out to surf, the pressure will set you back unless you dive under it. Once you get through that initial set of breakers, the swells in the water will become much more settled and manageable. It is at this point that you can sit up on your surfboard and survey the horizon.
Once settled, take time to listen and learn rather than just react and teach. As parents, coaches and leaders we are well practiced at sharing our opinion. But if you want your coaching and parenting skills to expand it might be time to begin the process of receiving information. Add to your emotional bank account by giving people a chance to teach you. Start by recognizing that maybe you should not believe everything you think. Then begin collecting some opposing thoughts and approaches. With openness and flexibility you might just find some solutions and energy for this game.
By Brian Roper (Head Lynden High Boy’s Basketball Coach)
I was recently listening to a message by Tim Keller about how the values of the New Testament Gospel run counter to the traditional values of our culture. It got me thinking about how I might relate the Beatitudes to my own coaching. In our profession success, recognition and power are prized and for me these can be tempting goals. The following thoughts are my attempt to be more faithful in my coaching according to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5.
v. 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. We realize our entire need before God. We have the self-emptying conviction that coaching is a gift and any success we obtain is by his grace. We are humble and open to be led by God in the ways he wants us to go in our careers.
v. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. We are sensitive to our own brokenness before God and we are also sensitive and empathetic to the needs of our players, fellow coaches and families as we try to improve teams and win games.
v. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. We demonstrate quiet strength under control. We forgive as a way of doing business. We are non-defensive when people question us, and we are patient and cool when others get hot in competition.
v. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Our deepest longings are for godly character and eternal significance, not success in the arena. Our busy schedules do not keep us from spending time with God. We show integrity and honor in our personal lives and this is reflected in our interaction with players, parents, other coaches and yes, even referees.
v. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. We have compassion for our opponents and try not to humiliate them or show them up. We are sensitive to the needs of the players at the end of the bench and are on the lookout for people in our program that may be hurting, especially those who can do nothing to further our own agenda or careers. We look for ways to lift them up.
v. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. We have honest hearts that aim well. We seek to do the right thing despite the potential consequences. We don’t compromise our values for the star player or take the easy way. We don’t attempt to manipulate situations or people for personal glory. And we keep our families as a priority during the season.
v. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. We seek to bring people together, not only on our team, but also in our community and in the coaching fraternity. We attempt to be reconciled with others (this may include rival coaches, parents or former players) with whom our relationships may be strained. We are willing to give up things like gym space, practice time and publicity for the sake of other programs.
v. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. When seemingly unfair criticism comes we endure it graciously. We don’t shift blame or get defensive when things become difficult. We never stop trying to do what is right to avoid negative words or actions from others, because we know that success in our business does not define us and that we are deeply loved and accepted by God.
Doug DeVries has been working in youth basketball for over 25 years. He has a passion to see sports in balance in life, for kids to thrive in sports, and for parents to enjoy the entire process.
When my dad was in college he called his father (my grandfather) who had recently started what was a publically traded bank at the time and dad said, “dad, I know what I want to do with my life… I want to be a teacher and a basketball coach!” Dad had an opportunity to be involved in a very successful business and instead decided to pursue a career in teaching and coaching because he believed that it was RIGHT THERE, where he could make the greatest impact in this world. Then I was born…
Almost every childhood memory is in a gym. My siblings and I were homeschooled until we got to high school and I can remember waking up with dad’s alarm in order to get my day started, 5:30 seemed like a good time to begin the studies in order to be done by lunch time. What was the point of being done by lunch time you might ask? Well, if my brother and I completed our school work, mom would drop us off at dad’s practice and we would watch my dad on his hands and knees on the baseline watching his players feet, making sure that they did the little things right. The gym is a magical place and for our family it served as the place for late night family games, birthday parties, Thanksgiving hoops, we lived in the gym. Some kids have pro athletes that they look up to, but my brother and I looked up to dad’s high school players and would ask every away game for the chance that we might get to ride the bus with dad and his team. Dad made it a priority (even though I’m sure it took more work on his part) for us to be with him, at practice, on the bus, in the locker room, sweeping the floor, lowering the curtain, organizing uniforms, the list goes on and on. We were invited in to be a part!
Dad was recently inducted into the coach’s hall of fame in the state of Washington and has made a HUGE impact on the lives of young people, many of which are dads, coaches, leaders in their community. If dad isn’t coaching, you can probably find him in his brown arm chair correcting test, watching game film or spending time with his wife, kids or grandkids.
If you are a coach, don’t coach for YOU. At some point you will start coaching for the KIDS alone, but why not start now. Dad tells of his coaching journey, how that was the case with him as well as so many coaches. Every coach feels the need to prove themselves, which is natural and also what makes them a great coach, they are competitors. BUT, becoming a GREAT coach happens when you turn the corner, rearrange your ledger lines from Ws and Ls being connected to the score board and seeing your success being tied to the number of weddings that you are getting invited to. When we reevaluate time and score we start truly making a difference.
Finally, if you are a coach and you have kids… don’t neglect them as your first calling. Your wife is your first priority and your kids are next in line. Only after those are in order should you begin taking on MORE LIVES to steward. Don’t buy some lie that trading your time with your family is worth it as long as you are impacting the community. This world, parents, administrators, fans, business leaders, other coaches, even your players will pat you on the back and tell you that you are God’s gift to this world, but it is ALLL for nothing if your marriage is falling a part. Grow a pair and get home. Learn to say NO.
I remember when my dad QUIT COACHING, he gave up his head coaching job because I was in 7th grade and he didn’t want to have to coach me at the high school level. He quit and became a fan so that he could be a DAD first. Now THAT is the stuff that makes an impact, obviously… it’s what I’m writing about right now. Coach – make the impact at home. Someday your children may be writing about you and you only get 1 chance.
Aaron Dickson is from a coach’s family and has been around sport his whole life. He played hoops in college on a full scholarship (where he met his wife also a full ride hooper) and has been training basketball players for the last 10 years. Aaron is passionate about Jesus, his family, sport and discipleship which is why he started Pursuit Sports, a ministry that invites followers of Jesus (who speak sport at a high level) to disciple athletes through skill training. Pursuit Sports is very simple: we train skills for 30 min and do leadership development for 30 min in order to invest in athletes.
Do you aspire to be the captain of your team? Maybe you are just starting out in coaching and are excited to make an impact. Leadership on and off the court used to be centered on the leader, commanding attention and making their voice heard,
But today that type of authority doesn’t win much commitment or sacrifice from others. Instead, today’s best leaders find ways to notice others and demonstrate their willingness to listen. Great team leaders search for ways to make their teammates the focus of the cheers. At its heart, leadership is selfless, not selfish. So whether you are on or off the court, find ways to lift others up and you just might find yourself in leadership.