My Son's Basketball Team

[KT0930]

My son has been playing basketball in the local youth league for the past couple of months. Each elementary school in the county has between 1 and 3 teams for each grade. That makes a total of 35 teams for 3rd grade. In regular season play, there are 10 games for each team. My son's team won every one of their 10 games! There are only two other teams out of the 35 that did that, and one of them is the other team from his school.

We had a playoff game last night, and my son made his first basket of the season!  It's only his first season ever playing basketball (he had played soccer every year before this), and he's finally getting some confidence about where to be and when. We won last night's game, though I don't think it was a very fair game...the final score was 30-3 (ouchie!). The playoffs are done with a simple bracket system...when you lose a game, you're out. Final game is Friday night...let's hope it's not between his team and his friends!

[willieandwinnie]

good for him KT. I hope they win again Friday, maybe not as loop sided as last night. That had to hurt, the other team of course. 

[rose1999]

well done to your son, it's good to see your kids taking an interest in sport isn't it.  My 2 played rugby (not sure if you have rugby in US?) and it was very good discipline and fitness for them.  Hope he does well on Friday. 

[KT0930]

Sorry, guess I wasn't real clear...his team has to win every night this week in order to play in Friday night's game. Friday is the Championship game.

The sports have been really great for him, especially with this season's coach. If coach hears that there were problems at home or school, the kids run laps instead of taking part in practice. 

[rose1999]

Well in that case I'll cheer for his team to win every night AND Friday 

[bolta72]

Way to go for him, Good luck in the play-offs. Do the younger kids there play on 8 ft or 10 ft hoops. Here where I live 3rd grade and lower play on 8 ft hoops.

[Romona]

 
Good Luck!!!

[petey]

KT --
Marvin and I have been youth (volunteer) coaches for the past 22 years.  We think community sports teams are great for kids -- if you have a good coach (and it sounds like your son does).  This is a time to learn the fundamentals of the game and also a chance to get some self-confidence and a spirit of "team togetherness."  All people who work with kids in sports should remember that they're just little kids (we've seen some who treat the kids like they're grown and expect too much out of them).  Now, Marvin and I both like to win, but winning is not worth risking a child's self-esteem.  As long as your son enjoys playing and gets something good out of it (both physically and emotionally), it is a wonderful experience.  Let us know how his team does this week!   Go, KT's little man! 

[aharris2]

my son made his first basket of the season! 

SWWWISHHH!!!
Way to go, little kt!!! 

[KT0930]

Petey, you're right on all counts - yes, they are just kids, and the important thing is they have a good time and learn something, which they are! And he has a GREAT coach! My next door neighbor's son has been on this guy's team since the kids were in kindergarten, and she doesn't have a single bad thing to say about the coach. He's great, and we couldn't have asked for a better one for my son's first season!

TUESDAY NIGHT UPDATE:
We won 35-8! Not quite the shut-out it was last night, but we'll take it. 

Also, I somehow misread the schedule...we have a game tomorrow (Wednesday) night; then if we win that, we have one Friday evening; if we win Friday night, the championship is Sunday. Sorry, first time having to read a bracket layout since high school...I'm not a big sports fan!