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home about us 2008 schedule National Recognition 8U Gold thunder 8U Gold finishes and photos 10U thunder 10U finishes and photos 11U thunder 11U finishes and photos 12U thunder 12U finishes and photos 13U thunder 13U finishes and photos 15U Thunder 15U finishes and photos High School Ball Schedules grade based
coach's corner |
PAST ARTICLES -- click on the article you want to read Tom Kuper | Youth of Today | Don't Give Up | New Age Divisions | A Team Prayer | Running Program for Basketball | Holiday Bells | Improving the Off Hand | Goodbye Coaches | Thunder Factors | Past Thunder Players | Attitude | If I Were a Girl | The Importance of Travel Ball | 100th Birthday Celebrated | Just Me | Competitive/Non Competitive | Salute Team Parent | Tom Kuyper Soccer Moms | How to Improve a Teams Scoring Output | Tom Kuyper: Youngsters need game skills, not conditioning
Trey's coach yells this out, even
after the team spent a good portion of practice doing
stretches. Trey is 7 years
old. His coach's methods are pretty common in youth sports. Hey, coaches, listen to me: these
young kids don't need conditioning drills. They need skill
building, strategy instruction, and lots of playing
experience.
Too many coaches spend too much time on stretching and conditioning. Here is the problem with that high school/college style of coaching: Stretching at the beginning of practice takes up too much time. Haven't you noticed? Seven-year-old kids push open the door and at a full sprint run to the court. They are ready to go. You only get them for one hour two times a week. They need to learn lay-ups, shooting form, defense and rebounding. They don't need to stretch out their hamstrings and triceps. They've been warming up all day. These kids need one minute of warm-ups and 59 minutes of basketball. If you are going to do a stretching drill, do a basketball skill drill at half speed. This gets the kids warmed up and works on skill development at the same time. Conditioning drills are a waste of time. Let's take a look at this: A typical team has 10 players. A game lasts four quarters of eight minutes for a total of 32 minutes. If each kid plays close to half the game, that means they will only play for 16 minutes. At age 7, half of those minutes are spent waving to mom in the bleachers, talking to friends, daydreaming and tying shoes. (Why do kids' shoes come untied every three minutes?) Shooting 100 free throws is a lot more valuable to these kids in progressing in basketball than 10 laps around the field. High school and college coaches get their players for two hours five times a week, and the game is played at a different intensity level, so don't follow their practice schedule. If you insist on conditioning drills, make sure you incorporate skill-building in those drills. Do running drills while dribbling or passing the ball. Run up and down the court with a lay-up or a short shot when you reach the other basket. Trey should be tired at the end of practice because he worked so hard at playing basketball, not because he ran 17 wind sprints. His team will beat the Monster Truck Transformers because they know how to dribble, shoot, and pass, not because they have a good time in the mile. Youth of Today Do Indeed Need Exercise American Council on Exercise & Tom Kuyper Today, parents are advised to monitor their children's body mass index (height to weight ratio) as the obesity epidemic among children ages 6-19 has reached 15 percent, almost quadruple what it was in the 1960s. Physical activity will not only help today's children by preventing them from becoming obese or helping them to lose weight if necessary, it will also teach them healthy habits that can last a lifetime. The American Council on Exercise is committed to the health and fitness of kids and adults. Check out its Web site at www.acefitness.org Here are ACE's top reasons kids should get plenty of exercise:
BACK
TO THE TOP The late great Jimmy Valvano said, "Don't give up, don't ever give up." While this motto can apply to life it most definitely applies to the game of basketball. Basketball is the game of last-second buzzer beaters, overtimes, or defensive stands that make this game great. When the game is truly on the line, don't give up. You can watch a team who is losing late in a game, fade away. Don't let that be you. Some of the greatest basketball games or the greatest players of all-time were great because of the ability to never give up, to never give in, and keep on fighting until the buzzer says it's time to quit. It was fitting that Jimmy Valvano said never to give up. His NC State Basketball team in 1983 didn't give up. Dereck Whittenburg threw up a shot that everyone in the building knew would be short. If the shot missed, the game went into overtime, but did the NC State team give up? No. Lorenzo Charles got the rebound and put it back in to seal the national championship at the buzzer. Would the memory of Christian Laettner's 15 footer in the 1992 NCAA Tournament still be on every highlight reel on television and still give Kentucky fans a bitter taste in their mouth had Duke given up? The length of the court was in front of the Blue Devils, down by one point with only 2.1 seconds, yet they didn't give up. They dug deep and made a play that will be remembered for as long as the game of basketball is played. What about the greatest player of all-time? Did Michael Jordan ever give up? He didn't. Michael Jordan was known for his clutch ability of hitting last second shots in college and in the NBA, but how could he do that? He didn't have some super power. Yes, he had skill, but he also had the determination to never give up. Even if he didn't know for a fact that his shot would go in, he would still shoot in the hopes of pulling his team ahead.
Basketball is a
great game. Some days you will have your bad bounces, bricked
shots, air balls, and games where you foul out. But you should
never give up. A game isn't over until the clock
strikes zero. People always say winning is everything, but if
I had to lose I would much rather lose fighting and giving 100% of
what I have left then lay over and give up. A quote I once
read said, "Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world
to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would
understand if you fell apart, that's true strength." True
strength is the determination to give 100% all the time even in a
losing effort. You owe that true determination to your coach,
your parents, your teammates, but most importantly to yourself.
BACK
TO THE TOP
BACK
TO THE TOP 1st Month--Week 1 Run 2-3 days a week (This means you get 4 days off!)
1. Run 10-minutes
Easy (Walk part time if necessary)
1. Run 10-minutes
Easy (Walk if necessary) Try and cut out the walking if you have been doing it
1. Run 10-12 minutes
1. Run 6 minutes
4 x 60 meter stride stride-run 5 minutes 2nd Month--Week 1 Run 3 days a week
1. Run 6 minutes
5 x 40 meter stride-run 6 minutes 4 x 60 meter stride The AAU has reorganized the cut off dates for the AAU age divisions. Last season the WV Thunder played as an 11u team with the cutoff dates of Jan 1-Dec 31 1995. Under the new age lineup the WV Thunder will again play as an 11u team with the cutoff dates of July 1, 1995-June 30, 1996. We have six girls who will still qualify for the 11u team. We currently are looking to add 3-4 players who played travel ball last season on an 11u team and fall within the age guidelines for the 11u team for 2008. If any OH, KY, or WV girls meet the criteria, please contact one of the Thunder coaches.
New Age
Divisions:
2009
Division-I Tournament Sites:
9/u
D-I Kenner, LA Allow Clubs to release players on their teams effective immediately 9/u Change: Use the 27.5” Ball and move the foul line to 12’ Game Length:
Open &
J.O. Games– 20 minute Halves
BACK
TO THE TOP The West Virginia Thunder 11u Team played in the Holiday Bells at the Beach Tournament on December 16th and 17th. This was the second time a Thunder Team has participated in the round robin event and in both cases we were treated exceptionally well by the host of the event the Hampton Road Youth Basketball Club. The Thunder played four games in the two day period. On Saturday the Tidewater Lady Shocks handed it to the Thunder as we were unable to match up with them due their size and the fact they were an older 12u team. It looked like the event might turn into a long one but in game two the Thunder played the 12u Chesapeake Lady Neptunes who are the defending champions in the 11u age division and are now in the 12u age group. The team played an outstanding game and led right up until the last minute of the game as the Lady Neptunes one by 4 points in the 43-39 game. Jenna Burdette tossed in 11 points and Mychal Johnson added 10 points. On Sunday the Thunder defeated the 12u CBCC Patriots 50-33. Katelyn Newsome tossed in a team high 14 points in the win. Mychal Johnson had 9 steals in the game. In the second game on Sunday the opponent was the 11u Norfolk Express and the Thunder won this game 53-16 as Mychal Johnson scored a game high 17 points and Jenna Burdette added 15.
The team
finished with a 2-2 record playing in the 12u age
division and we were pleased with the effort and look
forward to the many events that are scheduled in the
months ahead.
"Attitude"
IMPROVING THE
OFF HAND Remedy
- spend part of each gym time working/practicing using the off hand until you
have developed the confidence and ability to use either hand. Once you are at the point where you can jab step and take your defender to the basket going left or right, you'll find it opens up the outside shot since the opponent must respect your quick move to the basket. You can jab step and then step back and create space between you and the defender allowing you the opportunity to have a clear shot at the basket before the player can recover on defense. Passing the Ball using either hand the player who can pass the ball with the off hand will be able to hit the teammate with a quick pass with the left hand on some occasions so that you don't need to cross the ball all the way across your body. The quickest way you learn to catch and make passes with either hand is to find a brick wall with blacktop, (i.e. school playground.) You can throw the ball off the wall and use various passes and work on making the pass off the dribble and from a stationary stance. Over time this will not only improve your passing ability but you will learn to catch all sorts of passes. In game competition how many times do you receive a perfect pass, seldom, no doubt. If you can catch all those angle passes, soft and hard that come at you off the wall you will be able to handle just about any pass that you touch. Ask yourself the question. Would you prefer to guard a player who is one dimensional or the player who can go right or left off the dribble? Your answer should give you the motivation to begin practicing on your off hand immediately.
Coach "L"
Goodbye to Daryl & Jim
COACH "L"
Thunder Factors Rebounds -- A player receives one thunder factor for each offensive rebound and two thunder factors for a defensive board. The defensive glass is crucial for a team to compete. Sometimes a player might put the offensive rebound up three times and sometimes four. Therefore we give more emphasis to the defensive rebound but both are important in the road to success. Assists -- We would like for our players to look at an assist as just as important as the two points that are scored from the excellent pass. Therefore all assists are two thunder factors. Steals -- Two points are awarded for a steal as this creates confusion for the opponent and can turn the tide at a moments notice. Blocks -- One point is awarded for a blocked shot. Hustles -- A point is also given for a hustle. A hustle can be earned by diving on the floor for a loose ball, deflecting a pass out of bounds, running full speed after a girl who is open for a lay-up regardless of whether the player catches the player she is chasing, or altering a shot. Turnovers -- One point is deducted for each turnover committed. Points -- One point is given for each point scored.
Foul Shots -- Since foul shots can be so critical
especially in the close ball games, we give extra points for foul
shots that are made above 50% and we deduct points for missed foul
shots below 50%
BACK TO THE TOP
Listening
I Lay awake at nights, just
listening.
Thunder, thunder, someone
yell's out.
West Virginia Thunder The Importance of Playing Travel Basketball If there was a survey on the top high school team for the past decade in Southern WV, Huntington High would win hands down. If we move that survey to Southeastern Ohio the award would go to Oak Hill. Now given, there are years here and there when a real skilled athlete attends one of the other schools such as Alexis Hornbuckle or Renee Montgomery and those schools are in the top group while they are attending high school but once they graduate those schools usually fall back into the pack. The coaches at Oak Hill and HHS are Doug Hale and Lonnie Lucas. Those two individuals do more to foster travel ball than most coaches in the area. It is not an accident that Doug and Lonnie coach teams that are near the top every single year and even in a rebuilding year they are still making a bid for the top spot. They are tremendous coaches in their own right and their teams are led by players who are dedicated to playing basketball and work on their game year round and most of the team members play on a travel team such as AAU, USJN, YBOA, or BCI etc. The athletes at those two schools realize that if they don’t work on their game in the off season, they will be left behind by those players who do work at advancing their skills. These young athletes compete against the best girls out there from other areas and over time they do indeed improve and become a force for their high school teams. When the teams with the year round players meet the schools where girls are November—February players, the games are usually no contest as the teams with dedicated players are so skilled that they simply overwhelm the opponent. Playing travel ball for those who participate truly enjoy the challenge of going up against girls who are at or above their skill level just about every weekend. Is playing travel ball the answer for everyone? Of course not!!!! But for those who aspire to play at the next level and those who simply want to be a prime time player at their local school, it is a must. Girls who play summer ball do miss out on some mall trips, going to the beach, and just hanging out with the other girls. However the girls who play also hit the malls at the various cities they play ball in and when there is some down time , they make friends on the ball court that last a lifetime so with new friends they too are able to just hang out at the motel during the evenings as well The age old saying “that out there somewhere a girl is practicing and when you meet her she will win the contest”, if you are not putting in the practice time as well. The November-February player is a thing of the past if a team wants to be competitive with the schools whose coaches encourage their girls to play summer ball. When you go up against players who are more skilled than you, you will improve and over time the improvement will be remarkable. Spring and Summer practices enables a girl to work on using the weak hand, to get the repetitions at the foul line that is necessary if they intend to be able to go to the line late in the game and hit those crucial foul shots. This is also a time when players can work on what used to be the hot dog moves but in modern basketball moves that are an important part of an individual’s fundamental skills. Such skills as dribbling behind the back, between the legs, in and out, no look passes, shooting a jump shot and the list could go on and on. The point is if you are in a gym several times a week during the spring and summer you will indeed improve your skills. How hard you work during that time determines how quickly you will see some positive results. If you go just half speed in the workouts then when game time comes you will tend to go half speed then as well. If you practice the correct way and don’t take a lot of short cuts that seem good for now but won’t improve your long time skills, you win the long run... Finally, if you have any aspirations to play college ball you must devote practice time to your game year round. If you ask most of the current collegiate players, you will find that most all of the players did indeed play some AAU or USJN team and most played for several years. There are exceptions to the above but those exceptions are players who have the discipline to work on their own in the gym and in the driveway. When this high school season ends in two months it will be time for you to decide if you plan to make an impact on your high school team or are you at ease with just sitting the bench. The answer is one you must make.
Coach L
WV THUNDER SENDS
"100"
BIRTHDAY
WISHES TO:
Just Me
Competitive or Non-Competitive Schedule Every year the Thunder Teams and the coaches set up the schedule for the AAU season. The goal is to be prepared when the teams play at the AAU Nationals vs. the top teams from throughout the nation. On the high school level the regular season is the time the schools should be honing their skills as a team so they can not only compete in the state championships but walk away with the title in their division. Most parents will be fine with playing teams that have no chance at victory and with every 40 point win the stats for the individual players are quite impressive. I know that the Thunder Teams plays up in age at most of their tournaments so that every game will be a competitive ball game. There is seldom a girl on the Thunder team who averages 12+ points per game as the competition is pretty impressive vs. the older girls and at a level where the scores for most games are low since both teams competing play pretty good defense. The team that waltzes into the state tournament or AAU championship will be in for a rude awaking if they have not had several games where late in the game the pressure was turned up a notch since the opposing teams were on a skills level comparable to the other team. Those foul shots that go in so easy in the run away games become more difficult in close games and the only way to improve at hitting pressure free throws is to actually experience it in close games during the season. If a team has not been challenged, it is a recipe for disaster. The weak passes that were reaching teammates will be intercepted and turned into points on the other end of the court. If the competition has been outstanding, players already realize that weak passes won’t work against quick skilled teams. The rebounds that the team was getting simply because of the height disadvantage will turn into fouls against them as the other team will be boxing out the proper way. The jumping over the opponent and not working hard for a rebound will quickly put the team into a deep whole. The lazy crossover dribble in non-competitive games becomes turnovers when the opponent is as quick and as skilled as well. So as much as losing is not much fun, the learning process from losing is sometimes more valuable in teams late season success than winning game after game in blowouts. Teams who have faced other clubs with all sorts of zones, zone presses full, and half court, man to man defenses will be better prepared for whatever the teams they face in tournament play may throw at them. It is better to have seen all types of defenses prior to the big dance than to need to use time outs to discuss how to attack it. Just like in the NCAA tournament, the mid level schools may pull off an upset or two but in the end the teams making the final four are the teams who have played an outstanding schedule the last half of the regular season.
Coach L
A Salute to the AAU "Team Parent" The “team parent” makes all the reservations for the tournaments. They must be able to read some of the team families’ minds since they seldom inform the “team parent” as to whether they need a room and if they need it for one or two nights. Then they become the sounding board for complaints if the location and site for the lodging is not up to expectations even though the motel might be in a city the team has never visited and the only idea of the lodging is what is listed on the website on-line. Funds are a problem for most AAU teams and everyone shares in the cost for such things as entry fees and lodging for the coaches. Most “team parents” at times feel like a bill collector because they need to remind some of the families over and over that some funds are due in order to pay for up coming events and in some cases use their personal money to pay for those events and then hope the money comes in to cover what they spent out of their own pocket. A function that the “team parent” didn’t know would be theirs when they took the job was the one of being the sounding board for any family who becomes upset with the coaching staff. Even though AAU is a volunteer program and players are able to move from team to team some individuals become upset but still stay with the team. They spend their time in the stands attempting to recruit others to become upset over such things as playing time. If you approach enough people and talk with them multiple times, eventually a disgruntled person can recruit another person or two. Once this happens they then begin bringing all those little complaints to the “team parent.” The “team parent” must be diplomatic in dealing with the disgruntled individuals when they truly would like to just tell them to bug off but they don’t, they listen and in some extreme cases actually bring the concern to the coaches. It truly places the “team parent” in a tough situation when others attempt to drag them into something that should not involve them. Have you ever wondered why most “team parents” only last a few years in that job? The reasons stated above play a big part. It also is time consuming to call around and keep everyone informed as to lodging, finances, etc. Let’s face it how often does anyone tell the “team parent”, you’re doing a fine job? The Thunder program has truly been blessed with outstanding “team parents.” The standard was set by Patty Meadows on the First Thunder Team and she is still “Ms Team Mom” to everyone associated with that team. I can’t mention every individual who has served in that capacity but several who lasted two or more years and were terrific at holding the team together includes: Peggy Hawkins, Karen Davis, and Patsy Mundy. Currently we have Tony Fulks and Susie Bailes who are the “team parent” for the 11u and 14u teams. Susie is in her 5th season as the “team mom” and if she fills that position until the current team graduates she will have lasted longer as a team mom than any other individual. Burn out does indeed occur as hearing complaints more than positive input takes its toll on most individuals.
The bottom line is this -- everyone occasionally give Tony and Susie
a pat on the back or say ‘thanks for giving your time to the
girls’. They may not need it or even want it, but it would
just be the right thing to do!
TOM KUYPER 'Soccer
moms' have important function
We have all, on one youth sports team or another, experienced the bizarre phenomenon: A parent drives his or her kid to private lessons each week, driving home the thought that failure is unacceptable, trying to instill the drive in the kid to strive for a college scholarship and the pro career that will bring in the big bucks. In actuality, the parent is driving everyone around the child crazy and driving his or her own kid right out of sports. The parent's tunnel vision makes it seem that there is no team out there, only his or her child. The other kids on the team could benefit from his or her encouragement. After all, it was that other kid who passed the ball to his or her child to make that goal. The parent sits in the stands and keeps his or her own kid's personal stats as if the other kids didn't matter. We all know these soccer parents. I have the opportunity to meet with them often, as many of these parents seek my advice. My conversations usually go like this: Dad: I can't get Johnny to play aggressively. He just doesn't dominate. TK: Usually aggressive play happens when they have more confidence. This means in who they are as a person, their relationship with friends, acceptance from their dad, and oh yeah, their developing skill level in that sport. Dad: Well, I moved him up to the next age level to work on his game. He made a lot of goals on his other team; now he doesn't even touch the ball. TK: Bad move, dad. You fell into the trap. Put him back down and let him work on his game and feel success. Dad: Yeah, but all his friends are down there, and I feel like they hold him back. TK: Bad move, dad. He wants to be with his friends. They encourage him to keep coming. They make it fun! Dad: I can't seem to get him to play defense. There's a guy who can get around him every time to score. His eyes well up with tears every time we talk about how he can stop him. TK: No, dad, his eyes well up every time you talk at him because he is sad that he has failed you. Dad: If he would only move faster; he's like molasses out there. I know he could do better than that. TK: Well, dad, he is slow. That's not the strength in his game. Hey, let's make a list of all his strengths. Let's focus on and affirm them. Dad: He plays so soft. He doesn't play mean and attack their weaknesses. TK: Be thankful for his sweet spirit and kind personality. He is an awesome kid. He loves life, he loves to have fun. This is not a character flaw. Remember, dad, his chances of procuring that pro contract are very narrow. He has a greater chance to be successful in life in the areas that really matter because of his heart, his character and his commitment to relationships. Dad: Yeah, but I am trying to help him learn about discipline, commitment and what it takes to win. TK: No, actually you're pushing him away from you and driving him to become one of the 70 percent of kids who drop out of sports by the time they are 13. Dad: I am?
Parents, how about you drive your child to practice, encourage and
affirm his or her strengths and be his or her greatest fan? How to Improve a Teams Scoring Output 1. Take More Shots -- A team can get more shots by creating more turnovers thru steals, deflections, and getting more rebounds off the offensive and defense glass. By doing the little things in the game, a team will earn more shots than the opposition. Cutting down on turnovers also will increase a team's shot output. The fewer turnovers the more opportunity there is to take a few more shots at the basket. 2. Better Shot Selection -- A team can score more points in the long run if the players know the difference between what is a good shot and a poor shot selection. What is a good shot selection for one player may be a poor choice for another player. (i.e.) A guard attempting to put a shot up between two post players or a post player with limited range, going out and throwing up three's. Most poor shot selection is caused by a player shooting out of their range or tossing up shots simply to get on the scoreboard. A player who has trouble shooting on the move should stay away from those shots under game conditions until they are able to hit them. Are you a 'spot up' shooter or 'a create your own' shot player. Both can be effective but it takes practice to do either. Players should take shots from the area where they feel comfortable. The comfort zone is determined in the shooting practice that is done every day by most of the players. If an individual is unable to hit shots in practice from a spot on the floor what would lead them to believe that those shots will go in under pressure. Foul shooting has the same principal. If you can hit 9-10 in practice from the line you may be able to hit 7/8-10 under game conditions. However, if it is a stretch for you to make 5-10 foul shots in practice it will be difficult for you to hit any pressure free throws under game conditions. Another occasion where a player uses poor judgment in their shot selection is when there is a one on three and the players pulls up and shoots the ball before any of his teammates are down the floor. In most cases this is simply a lost opportunity to set up and get a good look at the basket. What is a good shot selection early in the game might become a poor one when the game is winding down and the clock becomes the major factor not the other team. Shots taken early in the 30 second time frame would be poor shots if the shot is put up from outside and there is still a lot of time on the clock and the game clock is down close to the end and the team with the ball is holding on to a slim lead. Good judgment comes into play when we consider shot selection at various times during the game. In the total scheme of things if we take more shots than the other team and take good shots, we will usually increase our chances of scoring more points than the opposition. Once again, Preparation meets opportunity.
Coach L
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