Have our kids become a bunch of wimps who need to be coddled? Is there room for the Bobby Knights, of the world, in todays basketball?

It used to be the successful basketball coaches were the ones who screamed and ranted the most. But these days, they are having much less success. Parents won’t tolerate the berating of their children. Even more so, kids won’t tolerate it. It used to be sports was one of the only games in town. I recall, as a young boy, playing street or pond hockey from sun up, until sun down. Back in the day, we didn’t have as many things to amuse us. Now, kids have Nintendo, cable TV and the Internet to entertain them.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are, unfortunately, still too many basketball coaches who haven’t changed, and think the best way to coach is by yelling. Thankfully, there are a lot less of them.

Today’s successful basketball coach pushes his or her players, but treats them with respect. They understand it is better to have your players willing to do whatever it takes to please you, because they like and respect you, than because they fear you.

I was having a discussion the other day, with one of my post players. We were in the middle of doing dribbling drills, which I try to spend the first 20 minutes of every practice on, when she asked why she needed to be doing them.  

She informed me, since she played the post, she didn’t get to do “all those fancy moves”, as she referred to them, during games.

In the past, in North America, post players tended to do just that, play the post. As more and more Europeans are making their way to this side of the Atlantic, and we face them in International competition, we need to have our players much more well rounded. In Europe, every position is interchangeable. Posts can dribble as well as point guards and point guards can play with their back to the basket. Think of the advantage this gives them. No more worries when your post player moves from under the basket and someone gives them the ball. Defenses will actually have to give some respect to the post player on the perimeter, because they will actually be a threat to drive on them.

Make yourself the best all round skilled player you can be.

Of course there is no right and wrong answer to that question, but let me try and convince you why I feel you should.

First, the sheer amount of time you spend on the court during a camp. During a week long camp, I would surmise you would have the equivilent of a whole season of ballhandling during games. Not only are you having all this ball contact, but if it is a well run camp, you are getting immediate feedback on your game.

Secondly, if you attend different camps, you get to see the various styles of the different coaches, much like will occur throughout your playing days.

Third, is the fact you will be trying out for teams with high numbers of players trying out for a limited number of spots. Why not give yourself the best opportunity to make the team, especially if some of those other players are spending their time at the beach.

Last, and in my opinion, certainly not least, is the friendships you will make. I know by the end of the week, most of the players that come to my camps have exchanged email addresses and Facebook info and plan to keep in touch, with each other.

Hopefully, I have given you something to think about.