Hoops

Sturt Sabres - Champion Club

not my intention - the intention is to popint out that the club is great and stick up for it, that it hasn't always been great but is willing to take an honest look at how to improve and act upon it. Also that there are things worth observing for people just as any coach who wants to learn should observe and particpate in as many experiences as they can. Also that mud will be thrown the minute anyone writes anything here - hence the comment about reputations.

Geez Matty if you wanna make a good impression on me so that you can take my daughter out - you are going in the right direction!!!

Seriously - thanks for your kind words - I have had plenty of the other kind in my time.

For Pandora
"What about him? What had he done before he got great teams at Sturt."
My first year of having this program we finished 6th, we had poor basic skills and lacked good vision and planning. Players had left the club because of poor service from coaches. I have had great teams over the last 3 years but I would like to think that on top of the outstanding work of the Under 10 coaches in Graham Burdon and Andy Osborn that the young ladies have actually been taught a thing or two by myself and my outstanding team of Anna Chapple, Reagan Pitt & (the tremendously under-rated)Peter Rault.

In terms of being nice to refs I will not say that I am a saint - it is easy to forgive errors when you are 30 or 40 points up. It is a great opportunity to let refs learn and enjoy the environment of a Friday night.

As for professionalism I think many coaches do that much better than myself - John Gillies, Jeff Fulwood, Scott Butler to name a few I have had contact with over time. The chance to work closely with Scott and Paul has given me some different perspectives on coaching and players - the results were obvious on the weekend when we beat the Eagles girls having lost to them 2 weeks beforehand - the opportunity to bounce ideas and game plans with these people is a tremendous advantage.

I must reiterate that success at Sturt is not due to the "poaching" demon, the "recruiting" demon or any other fable. There is a culture of expectation and support that allows coaches and players to develop to their potential. Not all players or coaches choose to use that to their advantage nor does it suit everyone but it is worth examining and taking what you need/want.

It is not my aim to belittle 'pandora' nor anyone else, and frankly the only people I am concerned about pleasing are the kids & parents, the club and myself. Reputations count for little on many occasions and are easily tarnished by mistruths and innuendo.

In answer to the original question what is it that seperates Sturt? It is all the things I have mentioned and experienced there - it is a great place to learn - for everyone.

The Pistol,

You can also come out and see the U/18s any time. "Rags" and I do skill related individuals with the players - split into position based groups - on Wednesday nights at Concordia. We also do a seperate agility/functional movement/speed session on this night at the conclusion of practice.

If you come could you please wear your old school Jazz singlet....

Sturt is very muchlike Unley High School - kids can grow and be what they want to be!!!

ANyone is more that welcome to attend my trainings - I am happy to print my sessions out for people. I do not for one minute believe that what we are doing is "rocket science". I am more than willing to work with coaches to improve basketball - just ask Seebs at Millicent and Matho at Naracoorte. My kids have a great work ethic as a total group (we train Div 1 - 3 in the same way) and they see their own personal skill improvement as thier ultimate goal. We obviously do not do a great deal of individuals for Under 12 players but we do give them a ball skills program that they taeke home and do. They love doing that stuff and I must admit I have 3 great coaches in Anna Chapple, Reagan Pitt and Pete Rault who work with our kids. Come and see us on a Thurs night at Concordia college 6 - 8 pm and you will be impressed by the attitude and skills of these kids. I hav ecoached for 20 years and the last 3 years I have been amazed by what they can achieve.

I am doing things with these kids that I would have done with Under 14 kids previously. They are great.

...which brings me back to the point of my thread Wayne. Would it be appropriate for me to attend sturts trainings etc to witness their program? I certainly would feel very uncofortable (irrespective of the warmth of your mo'), so can you tell me ... is it simply quality coaches, two trainings per week for juniors and opportunity of individuals for players who ask. Is that the only things seperating Sturt from the pack?

well well well - Under 12 girls - 2 from other clubs - I am the coach - there are 4 from other clubs - I have never run out and chased these kids - they spoke to us. One came from Sth Adelaide and it was because their Under 12 girls training was placed at 4:30pm on a Thursday - tell me what working parent can get their 10 year old kid to attend that? Their original club did not cater for them - the player has also developed unbelievably in our "average" program coached by "average" coaches (2 have come from other clubs and thank their lucky stars for being able to coach in such a professional organisation). One came from Mavs because they weren't happy with what was being offered even though it involved a great deal more travel and expense. The other 2 kids came from Forestville and one's parents tell me that she was told she would not make their Div 1 team ..... I have been very happy to have her and she has shown some real talent. The other kid came after Under 10's because the parents moved her older sister and were so impressed by what was happening that they moved the rest of the family. One other child came from the country also and trained with 2 clubs and chose the one that they felt would best meet thier needs. 14 girls - 1 came from West and the parents were told at a meeting with their JDO that he wasn't that interested in girls basketball another was part of the family previously mentioned. The third was unhappy with their previous club that their son was moved to Norwood and daughter moved to us at Sturt. The other thing you have to ask is that 2 other girls in that team come from the country and drive past the door of a club that is half an hour closer - why do they do that????

Just to continue with your total lack of understanding and knowledge on this topic there are 3 girls who came from other clubs in 21 girls - including my daughter. Each of which was totally unhappy with the development prospects offered by their original clubs for THE SAME MONEY (and they requested simple things like individuals, 2 training sessions etc - all of which has been available at Sturt for no extra cost!!!). At the end of the day kids will go to clubs that they see as offering a better program and parents will look for value for money.

In terms of average coaches I have been given the opportunity to experience 3 national titles, numerous representative country teams, SPASASA teams ITC camps SASI camps etc long before I came to Sturt - if that is the "average" experience then I am prepared to be "average". I do not believe that there is anything special about our kids at Sturt other than that they are happy to work hard and each has a desire to improve. It is just a wonderful experience to coach kids like this at this club but to write it off in such a flippant manner and blame it all upon some evil recruiting demon means that my kids in Under 12 girls and Boti's will be condemned to having one decent game per 10 rounds and that Sturt will remain as the champion club. I have coached at 2 district clubs and can say that Sturt is by far the best run and most poisitve environment that I have ever been involved in. I cannot speak highly enough of the people and club - I have never felt so appreciated nor have I ever been so supported by an organisation in my life. THAT is what Sturt is - other clubs have their strengths but I am sure that they could learn from observing what Sturt does very well. Just as Sturt does by observing and incorporating what clubs like Dandenong and Nunnawading do very well.

Having been on the other side of the fence I would suggest that "Pandora" has a good look at what Sturt or any other successful organisation does and take the best of it. I would also suggest to "Pandora" that he or she should feel very free to come and discuss this with me at any of my Under 12 girls games.

Have to pay to watch the streams. Poor form from Basketball Queensland.

Flynn, Ragoni, ... sturt has a deep coaching roster, perhaps demonstrated by its need to rotate coaches. If only my club had that problem...

what about west. Why is their junior program succeding. What are they doing to differeniate from all others?