


By Tom Kuyper
January 23rd, 2008
"Come on, Trey! Only 15 more push-ups to go! After that, we still have 10 more suicides (wind sprints) to do. We have to get ready for Saturday's game against that Monster Truck Transformer team. They're a good team, but we will be in better shape!"
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.
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Youngsters need game skills, not conditioning.
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| Adirondack CC | 4/1 & 4/8 |
| Broome CC | June 7, 2008 |
| Cayuga CC | Fall 2008 |
| Clinton CC | June 10, 2008 |
| Corning CC | |
| Columbia-Greene CC | July 19, 2008 |
| Dutchess CC | May 18, 2008 |
| Erie CC | TBA |
| F.I.T. | TBA |
| Finger Lakes CC | May 28th, 2008 |
| Fulton-Montgomery CC | April 28, 2008 |
| Herkimer CC | June 2008 |
| Hudson Valley CC | March 11, 2008 |
| Jamestown CC | March 2008 |
| Jefferson CC | 3/5 & 3/8 |
| Mohawk Valley CC | March 29, 2008 |
| Monroe CC | TBA |
| Nassau CC | 3/1 & 3/11 |
| Niagara CC | May 28, 2008 |
| Onondaga CC | April 26, 2008 |
| SUNY Orange CC | TBA |
| SUNY Rockland CC | May 6, 2008 |
| Schenectady CC | Summer 2008 |
| Suffolk CC | June 6, 2008 |
| Sullivan CC | TBA |
| Tompkins Cortland CC | May 5, 2008 |
| Ulster CC | April 8, 2008 |
| Westchester CC | March 25, 2008 |

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