Know it's tough (esp. with only 2 teams) but as long-time travel coach, can tell you that selecting/cutting 5th graders may have been the worst experience of my coaching time. Just really tough - but you also don't want to take more than 10 per team because then the whole season is even rougher trying to get kids appropriate amount of playing time. Just tough business all around - hopefully kids don't view as end of the world, tell them to go hoop it up and dominate in rec(!). Also try to catch couple travel games so he gets better feel for how they're played. As for selections, can tell you that travel selections (at least for this coach) usually came down to 3 things: 1) confidence - both on the ball (and especially under defensive pressure - kids that can ball handle/pivot/protect and keep their eyes up without panicking) and without the ball (are they moving/cutting hard to open space? do they look to set picks to free up others? or are they just saying "here, here"). 2) hustle/defense/rebounding - esp. at 5th grade level, can be bit chaotic so looking for kids who can play hard defense, hustle on loose balls/rebounds to get extra possessions. and then 3) overall shooting/looking to score the ball - honestly comes after other 2 things but you do have to put ball in hoop at some point. anyway, hope that helps. |
You didn't set him up for failure. This is the nature of sports. |
This is good advice/feedback. One thing that I noticed as a long time basketball parent is that very little coaching focuses on handling the ball under pressure. If you can find training that focuses on that, it will help a lot. |
Yep - really only way to get comfortable is with live reps with partner/parent. combination of technique (arm bar up, low crouch, pound ball into floor so gets back into hand quickly, pivot into defender to create space etc.) and pace (change speeds under pressure, feint/hesitate etc.) - all with eyes up. Can visualize somewhat solo but live 1-on-1 definitely helps. |
Lot of factors like height , skills , coach’s familiarity of a kid , Is your kid in a basketball circle in your area? The last 2 are somewhat important . Most coaches will pick kids they know unless your kid is 6ft elementary or significantly better than most kids at tryout . |
Rec ball isn’t serious enough to prepare for high school basketball. Majority of the kids have played atleast 3 seasons per year since elementary school, then have personal trainers, and do additional workouts. |
Imagine being embarrassed of your own child because he isn’t as good at a sport compared to others his age. You’re the epitome of what’s wrong with youth sports, especially in this area. Maybe instead of coming to an anon forum and making fun of your own son, you should tell your worthless husband to get a hoop in your driveway and actually spend time with him. You don’t need private coaches and clinics at this age - just a parent who actually cares about the right things, a ball, and some space to dribble (which isn’t much). Your DS playing in an elementary school gym also has literally nothing to do with his skill level (what a completely asinine take). It’s cause the only time he probably ever practiced up until now was during his rec season (1-hour a week for 2-3 months out of the entire year). Just another NoVA mom upset they don’t get to tell their friends about how their son is on the All Star/Select/Travel team. |
| CYA sports parents, particularly in basketball, are some of the worst people I have encountered in my adult life. Some really nice coaches and parents, but it gets ruined by the ones who could not care less about development of the kids as players or people, and just want to use youth sports to boost their own pathetic egos. And people in charge who let adults act this way and do nothing to address problems. |
Really surprised to read this as have done CYA basketball for many years now. Couple bad apples like any league but overall parents and especially coaches have been well meaning and reasonable. Are you talking house or travel side? |
The bad apples are on the board. Shyrock, JP, Rein, etc. those guy’s are some real scumbags. |
| We’re affiliated with CYA, not through basketball but through girls lacrosse, so I can relate. There are a couple of moms who are just relentless, criticizing kids for missing shots or not catching the ball. It feels way more intense than it needs to be for a rec sport. I honestly feel bad for the moms who bring that kind of negativity to the game. |
Mom parents or mom coaches? If the former, I kind of blame other parents for not giving them stink eye, moving away from them during games to send message etc. If coaches, well that's different story, although was in girls lacrosse there for number of years and most folks were positive and encouraging. |
Paul Jones too. Incompetent people! |
And they protect the scumbags that are a known problem and keep letting them be involved. It’s driving families away from CYA. |
Let me guess… Crossfield moms! |