Dear Parents,
I’m looking forward to a great basketball season, and hope that you and your kids are too. Last year, my wife and I were fortunate enough to coach a great group of 3rd and 4th graders. We focused on teamwork, fun, and fundamentals, and we all had a terrific time – coaches, parents, and kids alike!
That season we ended up coming in 2nd place over all, but that wasn’t as important as the fact that our girls learned a lot, improved their skills, and showed incredible sportsmanship all the way. They gave their best, and had fun – win or lose. It was those things that made us most proud of our team. And it’s all I could ever ask or expect for this year. If everyone puts in good effort with great attitudes, I know we will sometimes win games, and always have a great time.
This is a developmental league, and my two main priorities are to have fun and improve skills. Regardless of skill level, players will be treated with encouragement and given equal playing time. The only exception: players who show up consistently and put in 100% effort may see a few more minutes playing time than those who miss practices and games without notice, and/or do not pay attention during practices! Attitude and Effort are the ONLY reasons upon which I would ever base such a decision. Consistent, attentive, conscientious players earn the right to a few more minutes of game time than those who fail to meet basic expectations of listening and participating.
Players will respect one another (and coaches, parents, and refs) on and off the court, and learn to both win and lose well. Teamwork and positive attitudes are essential. Please do your best to show up to practice on time, ready to work hard on skills. I will expect good listening, and keeping our chins up when things aren’t going exactly how we’d like – that goes for coaches, kids and Parents!
Please always keep in mind that this league is about our kids learning the game, and having fun! If we can discipline ourselves to offer only positive encouraging comments for our players, and do our best to be positive role models, this will be a great experience for them. Finally, I would humbly ask there be no coaching from the sidelines during games or practices. I’m not questioning anyone’s credentials or intentions. I’ve just found that sideline coaching usually only serves to confuse or, at best, distract players, when they should be focusing on what the coach is trying to teach the team.
Games: Please make every effort to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of each game. If you know that getting your child to a game will be difficult, we can arrange a carpool. If your child can’t make it to a game, please let me know in advance. If your child skips or misses practice without a good reason, she may not play as much as those who have made an effort to have better attendance.
Cancellation: Unless you hear otherwise, we will always have practice or games. In the case of cancellation, you will be notified by phone or email. You can also check www.mybbal.wordpress.com, where I will post this, and other information.
Must Bring: Please make sure that your child has a water bottle, basketball, court shoes, shorts, and a T-shirt. Balls and water bottles should be labeled.
We’re looking forward to a fantastic season. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call or email.
Sincerely,
Jim Watkinson
Coach of Team Tic Tac
(603) 913-3824
