not playing this year due to hunting

[mole 2 the hole]

good big a town over not playing due to .......hunting

sorry kids..hunting is great and all but you can do that when you are 70. you wont have the opportunity to hoop save for a few short years of your life

a kid a town over from us...skilled big man ..isn't hooping this year, rather he is all about the hunting.

 

[tiny1972]

This is an issue with most kids today. Not hunting in general, but rather there are so many different options out there for them to do. HS sports requires, time, commitment, and hard work both in season and out. Kids see another activity they enjoy that allows them more free time and less work they jump all over it. It's why in general we are seeing the number of kids participating in school sports declining.

 

[you_dont_know_me]

 

[Eagles_Ball]

We have a girls "scout team" here. Three or four that'd be good players for us. Meaning they scrimmage our girls sometimes...instead of playing boys basketball. Mind boggling. Can't commit or don't want to work hard enough to play with their buddies. So strange to me.

 

[mole 2 the hole]

We have a girls "scout team" here. Three or four that'd be good players for us. Meaning they scrimmage our girls sometimes...instead of playing boys basketball. Mind boggling. Can't commit or don't want to work hard enough to play with their buddies. So strange to me.

that is very interesting--i imagine it helps your girls out for sure too

 

[Eagles_Ball]

that is very interesting--i imagine it helps your girls out for sure too

I know who it doesn't help. Lol. But honestly, if that's their mindset and level of commitment, wouldn't want them anyway.

 

[fungoking]

This is an issue with most kids today. Not hunting in general, but rather there are so many different options out there for them to do. HS sports requires, time, commitment, and hard work both in season and out. Kids see another activity they enjoy that allows them more free time and less work they jump all over it. It's why in general we are seeing the number of kids participating in school sports declining.

I think part of the decline is that for many sports the "off season" becomes the rest of the year.

 

[oldroundballer]

I think part of the decline is that for many sports the "off season" becomes the rest of the year.

This is exactly right. Parents and coaches have taken the fun out of sports for many kids. Constantly pushing them to practice and play. It's no wonder they get burned out. Maybe we should rethink what "sports" should be.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I think part of the decline is that for many sports the "off season" becomes the rest of the year.

This is such cop out to me from kids. Never understood it. If I had a kid never show up to ANYTHING out of season, shows up to the first day of practice, and is good enough, he plays. Plain and simple. Any coach at the HS level that does it differently is confusing to me. And I don't think many do. They'll harass a kid to show up, just like we do, but if they can't we just continue on. And then they show up for practice and they play.

Btw, that's all contingent on that kid being an average kid. Not one that has quit something, or been in a bunch of trouble, et al. But if they're in other sports, or working, or fishing, or just being a kid in the offseason, that's their choice. But you can bet we're selling the ones that are there to work hard and take their spot.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

This is exactly right. Parents and coaches have taken the fun out of sports for many kids. Constantly pushing them to practice and play. It's no wonder they get burned out. Maybe we should rethink what "sports" should be.

If you relied on the intrinsic desire of today's youth to do a whole lot more than snap, tweet, game, or toke on an e-cig you're not going to get much. It's a completely different breed. That said, the approach needs to be one of open arms more than clinched fists. Imho, anyway. Offseason should be more opportunity to improve the individual for the betterment of the team. Somewhere that got lost.

 

[oldroundballer]

If you relied on the intrinsic desire of today's youth to do a whole lot more than snap, tweet, game, or toke on an e-cig you're not going to get much. It's a completely different breed. That said, the approach needs to be one of open arms more than clinched fists. Imho, anyway. Offseason should be more opportunity to improve the individual for the betterment of the team. Somewhere that got lost.

I don't disagree with most of this. Especially the last part. I've watched too many kids get caught up in playing games all summer but never working on their skills. Most of them don't get much better. Happened to mine. They both admitted later that they'd have become better players by spending that time working on their shot and handles. But at the time I know they felt obliged to go play with the team in summer leagues and shootouts. I feel like coaches put pressure on them to do that. But I'd bet most teams would get better if they'd set up some kind of individual skills routines for players to work on. Make the gym available for that only. May not work who knows. I know what I see today doesn't appear to be doing a whole lot for most of them.

 

[Mizzou-Eddie]

I don't disagree with most of this. Especially the last part. I've watched too many kids get caught up in playing games all summer but never working on their skills. Most of them don't get much better. Happened to mine. They both admitted later that they'd have become better players by spending that time working on their shot and handles. But at the time I know they felt obliged to go play with the team in summer leagues and shootouts. I feel like coaches put pressure on them to do that. But I'd bet most teams would get better if they'd set up some kind of individual skills routines for players to work on. Make the gym available for that only. May not work who knows. I know what I see today doesn't appear to be doing a whole lot for most of them.

In my experience the games vs individual improvement is a whole other battle in the offseason. We would typically use 5 or 6 of our contact days to get in 15 to 20 games and we rarely had issues with kids showing up. However, I've spend a lot of hours in an empty gym waiting for someone to show up for individual improvement. I always told kids that individual improvement sessions were the most important part of the summer but kids would prefer to play.

 

[oldroundballer]

In my experience the games vs individual improvement is a whole other battle in the offseason. We would typically use 5 or 6 of our contact days to get in 15 to 20 games and we rarely had issues with kids showing up. However, I've spend a lot of hours in an empty gym waiting for someone to show up for individual improvement. I always told kids that individual improvement sessions were the most important part of the summer but kids would prefer to play.

I understand completely. It'll take some creative thinking. The coach who can figure out how to make individual practice fun enough to actual get them to do it would have a leg up on others.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I understand completely. It'll take some creative thinking. The coach who can figure out how to make individual practice fun enough to actual get them to do it would have a leg up on others.

Creative thinking is the key really. We have split our time in the past. Have a contact day. Spend some time working on individual skills, then play. I miss the days (sort of, Lol) of 4-6 hr/day summer camp for four or five days and then going to a shootout that weekend. Always felt like we got some stuff done that week.

 

[Majost]

Coaches want their kids to practice all year around...play club ball if at all possible. Whatever the reason might be, how dare a kid enjoy hunting more than sports. Seems like high school sports at many schools can't be played just because you "like" it anymore. You have to be all in with off season and club, or not in it at all. As long as the kid lets the coach know before the season that hey, I might miss practice for this I have no problem. Coach can decide if they want to keep him/her or not. You can play basketball till your 70 also if you want, no different than hunting.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Coaches want their kids to practice all year around...play club ball if at all possible. Whatever the reason might be, how dare a kid enjoy hunting more than sports. Seems like high school sports at many schools can't be played just because you "like" it anymore. You have to be all in with off season and club, or not in it at all. As long as the kid lets the coach know before the season that hey, I might miss practice for this I have no problem. Coach can decide if they want to keep him/her or not. You can play basketball till your 70 also if you want, no different than hunting.

Just not the case. It's the cop out, but not true. Coaches want their players to work, yes. And some are demanding, yes. They have standards and hold their players accountable. Some (both players and coaches) manage time well, others don't. I want our kids to enjoy their youth, but I also want them to make the most of their opportunities within our program as well...And if a player misses an in season game for hunting? Yeah, that's probably not going to end well for the player. Being a part of a team has a level of commitment that extends far beyond decisions like that. Out of season, totally different story.

 

[wahoolives]

There is a big difference in enjoying hunting more than playing basketball and not playing because you want to hunt, focus on academics, pursue your music career, work etc. The point is you only have one chance in your life to belong to a team and work together to try to achieve a goal and represent your school and community and it does take some sacrifice. The lessons you learn about sacrificing yourself for the greater good and spending time with your teammates stick with you a lot longer than the wins and losses.

 

[Majost]

There is a big difference in enjoying hunting more than playing basketball and not playing because you want to hunt, focus on academics, pursue your music career, work etc. The point is you only have one chance in your life to belong to a team and work together to try to achieve a goal and represent your school and community and it does take some sacrifice. The lessons you learn about sacrificing yourself for the greater good and spending time with your teammates stick with you a lot longer than the wins and losses.

And the lessons you learn, and the father/son/daughter time you get to spend in a world where before you blink your eye, your kid is on his/her own and getting married, having kids, is something you won't ever get back. Spending with your kid when they are still under your household, vs after they are married is two separately different times. Both Great. Deer season is during preseason.

Imagine if I told my son the same thing Eagle_Ball, probably would tell his player. If I told my son, "well you can play basketball instead of going hunting with me and your family, something that we have done well before you got into high school, but, Im sorry son if you choose basketball for those few days, it won't end to well for you." And Im sorry, if those times don't stick with my son longer than the time he spent with his high school teammates, than I didn't do something right as a father."

Now that is only if my son liked hunting more than basketball, which my son didn't by the way. I would tell me son, though, he would have to tell the coach, and he would have to be ready for the consequences if he chose to hunt and miss practice. But like I said, he would have told the coach prior to the season that he might miss a few days for hunting before the season started, and if the coach elected to keep him on the team, than thats on the Coach. But I've always told my kids to follow their love, whether its sports, hunting, fishing, music, theater, or a learned skill.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

And the lessons you learn, and the father/son/daughter time you get to spend in a world where before you blink your eye, your kid is on his/her own and getting married, having kids, is something you won't ever get back. Spending with your kid when they are still under your household, vs after they are married is two separately different times. Both Great. Deer season is during preseason.

Imagine if I told my son the same thing Eagle_Ball, probably would tell his player. If I told my son, "well you can play basketball instead of going hunting with me and your family, something that we have done well before you got into high school, but, Im sorry son if you choose basketball for those few days, it won't end to well for you." And Im sorry, if those times don't stick with my son longer than the time he spent with his high school teammates, than I didn't do something right as a father."

Now that is only if my son liked hunting more than basketball, which my son didn't by the way. I would tell me son, though, he would have to tell the coach, and he would have to be ready for the consequences if he chose to hunt and miss practice. But like I said, he would have told the coach prior to the season that he might miss a few days for hunting before the season started, and if the coach elected to keep him on the team, than thats on the Coach. But I've always told my kids to follow their love, whether its sports, hunting, fishing, music, theater, or a learned skill.

The point was in season. If he'd choose to miss a game (or practice, for that matter) for that, just not acceptable in my realm. Again, in season. There's an extreme lack of commitment to the team concept these days.

 

[Majost]

The point was in season. If he'd choose to miss a game (or practice, for that matter) for that, just not acceptable in my realm. Again, in season. There's an extreme lack of commitment to the team concept these days.

I bet there is more lack of commitment to family. So let me ask you if a player would come to you before the season, pretty good player, and he told you coach Im going to miss two practices before games start for deer hunting, what would you tell the kid?

 

[Majost]

​

I bet there is more lack of commitment to family. So let me ask you if a player would come to you before the season, pretty good player, and he told you coach Im going to miss two practices before games start for deer hunting, what would you tell the kid?

I am curious though Eagle_Ball, as coach how would you handle this. I think you told me you were a Coach before, like I have been. You said it wouldn't end well for the player if he missed a game or practice over something like this. So just curious how would you have handled it.

 

[justaconcernedcitizen]

​

I am curious though Eagle_Ball, as coach how would you handle this. I think you told me you were a Coach before, like I have been. You said it wouldn't end well for the player if he missed a game or practice over something like this. So just curious how would you have handled it.

As a coach, I would still have the student pay-up for missing the conditioning of a practice for going hunting, if excused and not just on a whim after school. I had a situation similar to a boy missing a practice (On Saturday) to go hunting with his dad and brothers. His parents were divorced and this was something he had done traditionally with his dad every year. I am not going to take that away from a kid. However, he would still run.

Severity of running is always dictated by an excused or unexcused practice, for me anyways.

I think where we lost sight of this initial post was a kid saying he is going to miss the entire season because he wants to "hunt." They have their entire life to hunt, but only get be part of a HS sport for a short time.

 

[Majost]

As a coach, I would still have the student pay-up for missing the conditioning of a practice for going hunting, if excused and not just on a whim after school. I had a situation similar to a boy missing a practice (On Saturday) to go hunting with his dad and brothers. His parents were divorced and this was something he had done traditionally with his dad every year. I am not going to take that away from a kid. However, he would still run.

Severity of running is always dictated by an excused or unexcused practice, for me anyways.

I think where we lost sight of this initial post was a kid saying he is going to miss the entire season because he wants to "hunt." They have their entire life to hunt, but only get be part of a HS sport for a short time.

And I would and did handle it the same way. Now, if a kid enjoyed hunting over basketball that much I would tell the kid, do what makes you happy. And if you think playing that long season of basketball would take away from something else that you enjoy more, no matter what that kids skill level is, I would tell him to stay with hunting, if that is gonna make you a more happier kid, and be happy about his choice. I would have made that kid feel good about his choice, and patted him on the back, thank him for coming to talk to me. Would not have made him feel bad about it at all, which I have seen many coaches do.

As a coach, I have never used that old, "you have your whole life to..work..hunt..ect." excuse back to a kid. You don't have your whole life to be a kid. If it isn't fun, and not gonna be fun, don't do it. Believe it or not, HS sports is not fun to everyone, even if that kid had enough talent to be a starter. Just a difference in opinion I guess.

 

[justaconcernedcitizen]

And I would and did handle it the same way. Now, if a kid enjoyed hunting over basketball that much I would tell the kid, do what makes you happy. And if you think playing that long season of basketball would take away from something else that you enjoy more, no matter what that kids skill level is, I would tell him to stay with hunting, if that is gonna make you a more happier kid, and be happy about his choice. I would have made that kid feel good about his choice, and patted him on the back, thank him for coming to talk to me. Would not have made him feel bad about it at all, which I have seen many coaches do.

As a coach, I have never used that old, "you have your whole life to..work..hunt..ect." excuse back to a kid. You don't have your whole life to be a kid. If it isn't fun, and not gonna be fun, don't do it. Believe it or not, HS sports is not fun to everyone, even if that kid had enough talent to be a starter. Just a difference in opinion I guess.

I agree that if its not fun for them then don't play, but part of being a kid is playing sports with their buddies. I have had this very conversation this year with two different kids for two different reasons about not playing basketball. I told them if its not fun and they don't want to play than don't. However, I told them don't let this pass you by because you never get this back and don't look back in 10 years and wish you would have played. I get it that being a kid is about having fun, but missing out on playing a sport that you even find mildly fun to other things that can be done later in life.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I bet there is more lack of commitment to family. So let me ask you if a player would come to you before the season, pretty good player, and he told you coach Im going to miss two practices before games start for deer hunting, what would you tell the kid?

Life is full of choices. Discuss the importance of time management. Then let him know how many games he'd miss.