Hello Bounce Nation.
I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to connect with all of you here on bouncemag.com.
Bounce has always done an awesome job of reminding us about the importance of the playground and the talent that it has produced through the decades, especially here in the NYC area. As a coach that just took over a prep school program in downtown Manhattan in its infancy and the program director of Five-Star Basketball NY, I have noticed one huge void with many city kids today, not enough playground. While there are more AAU/Travel programs than ever which have their plus’ and minus’, the value of the playground for our youth has gotten lost along the way. It seems like many student athletes are no longer making the playground a priority as far as working hard to improve their game or hunting down tough competition. That alone is hurting our game on the youth level. Kids are not as tough physically or mentally and I am a firm believer you develop that playing against players who are bigger, stronger and older which you find on the playground. Hopefully this spring will bring a big time resurgence of youth to our cities courts.
For info on Five-Star Basketball NY please visit www.fivestarbasketballny.com
Or drop me an email at ericnewman@five-starbasketball.com
April 22nd, 2009 at 5:22 am
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April 22nd, 2009 at 11:58 am
Jeremy Ripley says:
Welcome, Eric!
Look forward to learning more about Five-Star and coaching in the streets of NYC!
Peace!
April 22nd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
peace eric-
i ride my bike all through harlem when it’s nice outside searching for runs or decent halfcourts. there are plenty of kids out there playing, absolutely, but i will say i rarely come across the more elite and developed teenagers. most of them out there are playing for fun and rec. every once in a while i’ll meet a kid who is working on his game, or who will approach me with questions on how to improve his jumpshot form (probably the most popular question i get asked). i don’t think the value of the playground has been lost for the majority of our youth, it’s more likely a critique for the more pampered ones.
it’s funny, you suggest kids try to find older players to compete against, adn i actually recommend older guys to find the up and coming cats to rock against. the young kids are always less likely to argue and stop a game for a half an hour over a call. it’s the downside of the playground, and i don’t blame any kid for trying to avoid it. no one gets a sweat when some dumb-ass is stopping the game (most probably cuz he’s losing or trying to catch his breath)! hhaa
April 22nd, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Trevor Kapp says:
eric- i went to friends seminary and fieldston gave me one of my two home losses in high school, but i won’t hold it against you. welcome to bounce, man.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:38 am
Coach ENEW says:
Thanks for the comments boys.
Bob, great point about the arguing on the playground, I guess I have successfully forgotten that negative from when I’d play a few times a week.
Trevor, that’s good stuff, Fieldston is still giving Friends Seminary home loses!!! Good little early season battle each year though before the league schedule starts.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:53 am
trayBAGZ!! says:
coach:
my son truly loved the workouts with the older kids and i really saw his confidence shining thru!! true story about playing in the parks with older cats. only thing is that when we were yungr , we wuld play everywhere, anytime, against any1 without worrying about age(if they let the shorties rock)but now our kids are kinda spoiled in the fact that they play in gyms with refs and coaches(and becuz of safety can’t roam from park to park without parents)!! My son is 9 and has been balling for about 3 1/2 yrs and I just started to let him rock outside unstructured. i think it can only enhance his fundamental(structured) game by getting bumps, scrapes and new found love of the greatest verbiage to ever be announced on the playground, I GOT NEXT!!!!
RESPECT!