Major Grassroots Changes Coming (UPDATED)

by Adam Zagoria

Grassroots basketball will undergo some major changes again this summer.

Reebok will not hold its annual Reebok All-American Camp in Philadelphia in July because of a “change in marketing strategy at the grassroots level,” said a source with direct knowledge.

“It just means that college coaches will have to work a little harder to see high-level talent play against high-level talent under one roof, “  the source said.

Chris Rivers ran the Reebok All-American Camp for two summers as an extension of Sonny Vaccaro’s old Reebok ABCD Camp at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. That camp featured legendary grassroots players like LeBron James, O.J. Mayo, Sebastian Telfair and Lance Stephenson.

When Vaccaro retired from he sneaker business in 2007, Rivers, pictured above with Mayo, moved the camp to Philadelphia University in 2007 and ‘08. Pat Coombs ran the event in 2009.

Last year’s Reebok camp included uncommitted junior LaQuinton Ross, Joe Jackson (Memphis) and Patric Young (Florida).

Rivers left his position as Director of Basketball at Reebok and now works for adidas, for whom he worked before 2003.

Adidas will still hold its annual adidas Nations event in August for the classes of 2011 and 2012. The site has yet to be determined.

The other major change on the grassroots horizon involves the LeBron James Nike Skill Academy.

A new set of NCAA rules could be passed in April which would prohibit any grassroots event from behind held on Division I campuses that did not have a contract in place before Oct. 29, 2009.

The NCAA recently voted on this matter and decided to table it until April, when it will be voted on again.

If the rule is passed, numerous events, including the LeBron camp at the University of Akron, would not be permitted on Division I campuses.

Numerous other such events — the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions, previously held at Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State; the It Takes 5ive event held at Cincinnati; and the Pittsburgh Jam Fest held at Pitt — also wouldn’t  be permitted at those locations.

No word from Nike just yet on where the LeBron camp might take place.

Having just attended the Nike Championship Clinic in Richmond, I still can not understand why more coaches do not make the time to go to clinics.  Especially Division I college coaches.  The ONLY Division I coaches in attendance in Richmond were the Men’s and Women’s staff’s from Richmond.  Even Division II or III coaches.  There might have been 10 college coaches there.

I understand being on the road in the fall.  Head coaches and two of the three assistants are on the road in Division I.  The other assistant probably was on the road or is conducting individual work-outs back at their school.  I understand time home with family.  I get it.  This isn’t as much about them.

Within an hour drive of Richmond is probably at least 5 Division I schools and countless small colleges.  All of the DI’s have a Director of Operations, a GA, an intern, a video coordinator, an administrative assistant, an assistant video coordinator, an assistant operations director, a manager or someone who wants to get a coaching job.  Did I miss any of the newly created positions to circumvent the NCAA limitations on coaching staffs?  That will be a different post.

This is how our profession has evolved.  Ten years ago, more or less, young coaches went to clinics to learn how to coach, learn how to teach the game before (or at least at the same time as) trying to get the next job.  Now, everyone just wants the next job.  I don’t begrudge anyone for wanting to move up, earn a better living, be at a “Big-Time” school.  I do, however, believe you should be ready to do the work once you get there.  Be ready to provide more than recruiting.  Jeff Van Gundy’s believed and told me in 1985, do the job you have today as though it is the last job you have and the next job will take care of itself.  It’s still true today, but that is lost with today’s young coaches.   AHHH, there in lies the catch – Recruiting.  College basketball has become 90% (or more) about recruiting and less and less about basketball.  Doesn’t this sound like what iHoops is supposed to influence, change?

I will be traveling today and the next 7-8 days.  I have a 4 school tour planned to watch workout, talk to staff’s, ask questions – learn something.  Improve.

I hope to write up my clinic notes for sharing through out the week.

Attending the Nike Championship Basketball Clinic today has me really thinking of basketball philosophy. It’s so important to develop your basketball philosophy.

I believe you must always start with defense. With the talent and skill of the players you will need to choose a defensive identity, which will give your players purpose for what they are doing.  Defense involves sacrifices.  The sooner you start building the habits your players will need to compete within your defensive philosophy the better.  Hopefully you did that during preseason workouts.

Two Defensive Keys:

1. What is our identity?
It doesn’t matter what it is necessarily, it just matters that you have one that
you firmly believe in and one that you can teach to your staff and players and have them believe in.

“What do we want to be about?” More than just Man or Zone.

You have to ask yourself that question.  You, your staff and your players have to be on the same page and buy into this philosophy.

2. What are we willing to live with?
Every defense has a fallback. Do you want to pressure the length of the court?  Great.  If so, you have to accept that you will give up some easy layups.

Do you want to double-team the post?  If so, you have to accept that you will give up some un-contested jump shots.

Are you willing to do that?  Is that OK?
Do you have non-negotiables in our program?:

What thing or things are not up for negotiation on any level?

Mine are:

1. Don’t give up middle
2. Control the defensive back board

Those two things are, in some part, controllable with technique, foot work and effort.  Tracking your defensive rebounding percentage is key to helping players set goals and reinforcing your teaching of technique, foot work and effort.

Defensive rebounding percentage (DRP) = Your defensive rebounds / Your defensive rebounds + Your Opponents Offensive Rebounds.

eg: 30 (Your Defensive Rebs)  /  30 + 7 (Opponents Offensive Rebounds)

30/ 37 = 81%    A good game goal for DRP (Defensive Rebound Percentage) is 75%.

How do you measure yourself defensively?

Stops?, Deflections? Turnovers?  Whatever it is, chart it and hold players accountable to it.  Charting is great, but if you don’t do anything with it, it’s a waste of time.

I love deflections, charges taken and missed box outs.  Anytime you get a hand on the ball in any way counts as a deflection. I believe you need 40 a game as a goal.  I want these things charted and displayed in the locker room (with other items as well.)  Charting and displaying makes the goals real, personal and teammates see and talk about them.  I like them in the team meeting room so there is a sense of pride with each team member.  It also, when the result is not as good, is a sense of motivation to “get my name on the board.”

Other Defensive Thoughts:

- Teach a “center of the body” approach.  Knowing which hand a player goes to best is the start.  If the player is right hand dominant, teach putting your right foot in the center of their body to take away a quick “rip-and-go”.  (Left foot for left handed players.)  Players will go to their dominant hand nearly 75% of the time.  This takes time, repetition and drill work in the shell.

- Don’t believe there is an original idea left in basketball. Every scheme or thought is stolen or modified.  Opponents will be ready for what you do.  You aren’t a genius, none of us invented the game.  All of us steal everything and adapt it into our philosophy.

- Define how you teach.  Grad school taught me there are many ways in which players learn.  Seeing.  Reading/Writing.  Doing.   Address all these modalities.  Video, mimicking, playbooks, scouting reports, drill work, live 5 on 5.

- Are you a “Whole-Part-Whole” instructor?  Do you prefer to teach all in “Live” situations.  Know that.  Stay with it and help your players develop a consistency in how you teach.

- Address ball pressure.  You want it or you don’t.  Where will it begin: full, 3/4 or half-court.

- Establish rules for defensive transition.  Sprinting to the level of the ball.  A “numbered” defensive transition (like a numbered offensive break) and/or sprint to the paint and fill out.  Whatever it is, discuss it – show your staff how you want it taught.

- With that.  Get on the same page with your terminology.  No terminology is right, wrong or better… it’s just different.  Your staff will appreciate you having them “clued in” on how, what and why you teach certain things and what you call it.  Be receptive to change.

- Every drill, everything defensively has to be loud. There needs to be a talking aspect to everything you do.

- You must be aggressive defensively. That doesn’t mean reach and gamble, but you have to allow players the freedom to try to make plays in your system without looking over their shoulder.  Fouls happen, deal with it.

- Best way to slow offensive movement is to have active hands.  Teach your players to use their hands as weapons.

- If you’re going to pressure and trap, you CANNOT give up straight line passes. The lofted or tipped pass gives your defense time to recover.

- When trapping, don’t reach, but be physical with your lower body. Allowing opponents to split traps kills your defense and ALWAYS teach sprinting out of traps. The best trap accomplishes little if we walk out of it and the offense can do whatever they want.

- Use 1-on-1 drills in defensive teaching situations.  It instills toughness and it forces players to find a way to get stops, there’s no hiding in a 1-on-1 situation.

Love “Roll the Ball” drill for time and stops.  Email me, I’ll send it to you.

iHoops will look to engage in Elite Player Programs for boys and girls; a skills development program; and holding key events around the country for players to not only develop skills, but also showcase them. This sounds very much like the Nike Skills Academy’s that are currently directed by the Nike Grassroots people and run throughout different regions of the country. They are exceptionally well run, are selection based so there is limited room for some of the politics of youth basketball to enter into the selection of players invited.

Weiberg also has plans to encourage more people, with some emphasis on minorities, to become involved with officiating.

“I envision a system where we could more clearly define a path to advance as an official, in cooperation with people like John Adams (NCAA Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officials),” said Weiberg. “We would like to provide encouragement to former players and others to become involved.”

The target for many of the initial programs is spring/summer 2010, and is contingent on the ability to generate revenue to support them.

Already, before the website has been launched or the first system is enacted there is quite a bit of discussion going on both is support of and questioning the purpose of iHoops.

NYCHoops.net recently discussed the new basketball initiative with both sides and provided interesting insight.  Much of the debate seemed to stem on the fact that iHoops will be a “for profit” corporation.   One person interviewed, Jim Hart a board member for the GBOA (Grassroots Basketball of America) indicated concern.

Another participant in the meeting was GBOA board member Jim Hart, director of the Albany City Rocks basketball team and tournament director for the Rumble in the Bronx. The Rumble in the Bronx is a high profile annual event that is held at Fordham University in the Bronx, NY during the non-live period. Hart walked away from the meeting with a completely different conclusion. “They were not clear on the direction,” says Hart via text, adding, “The NBA and NCAA invested 50 million dollars in this.”  

GBOA Board Member Jim Hart

One of the burning questions that remain regarding iHoops is, what is their real goal? Hart believes their goal is transparent saying, “They are a FOR-PROFIT company and they have to be profitable after three years. Doesn’t sound like they are there to clean things up. It’s hard to be about the kids and for-profit at the same time.” 

Is the “FOR-PROFIT” moniker a real concern?.  Is that concern intended to direct attention to the fact that iHoops will make money.  I don’t claim to know all the ins-and-outs of establishing for profit or not-for-profit corporations.  I don’t know who is making a profit or who is not in regards to iHoops or youth basketball.  Personally, from being at many summer events and seeing the number of teams at an event, (some events up and beyond 200 teams, $300-$500+ per team for registration) and coaches packets (usually $150 – $700 for 100+ colleges) the same question could be raised:  does it cost $100-170,000.00 to run a weekend basketball tournament for 200 teams?  Is there profit involved in that organization’s directing of that tournament?  Would then, the tournament organization be “FOR-PROFIT”?

There is nothing wrong with profits, nothing illegal with profits for either side.

Let’s see if this becomes a debate over money and profits or over teaching the game, structure, certification programs and systems.

For more information on iHoops log onto their website at www.iHoops.com.  For more information on Grassroots Basketball of America log onto their website at http://gboahoops.com

iHoops will provide supporting services and programs for youth basketball players ages 6 to 18, their parents, coaches, officials, and team and event administrators.

Kevin Weiberg, iHoops CEO, sees a two-fold mission for this initiative.  The first part involves building an enhanced structure for pre-collegiate basketball by establishing some greater uniformity to the conduct of the events that surround the travel and club team area.

Did I mention there are skeptics?… Whenever you begin to use “greater uniformity’ and “travel and club team” in the same sentence, within in the “pre-collegiate” basketball world you are asking for controversy.  We will revisit the entire rebuttal side of iHoops after the completion of our three-part series.

The second, a very important connection is related to providing a more balanced set of messages for people who participate in basketball – parents, coaches, and the players themselves, relative to the value of education.

“Our hope is that we can play a role in that, working with stakeholder groups, whether it’s the AAU or potentially even organizations like USA Basketball and the National High School Federation,” Weiberg said.

One of the key elements of the initiative in the website, ihoops.com.  The website will be one with video, instructional materials, information about the game and how to play the game.   Coaching development, training and certification will also be explored through the website.  The “Big-Picture” view is for iHoops to work closely with national coaching and officiating organizations in developing more certification programs.  Youth Basketball has long needed a program like Youth Soccer or Swimming.  A “CAP” program that teaches the men and women working with children how to teach the game, how to act and holds them accountable to a set of standards.  If nothing more comes out of this program, this in it’s self is worth it.   iHoops may develop a system that would give Youth level coaches an opportunity to receive basic instruction and training on-line, take an on-line exam and receive a base level of certification.

Secondly, a focal point of iHoops is it’s mission..  iHoops hopes to build an enhanced structure and operate a system of team and event registration, primarily targeting non-scholastic youth basketball.  Within that would be a system and structure for licensing teams and events.  This area is where you will see the greatest amount of controversy and debate from outside groups.  In the early 1990’s the NCAA faced an anti-trust lawsuit centered around the “Restricted Earnings Coach.”  To restrict “free trade,” the ability of an event manager to run a large, multi-team event will put all of those entities in non-scholastic basketball up in arms.  For years the cost of events, the cost of “Coaches Packets” and the sub-culture that surrounds these events has been a concern of the NCAA.  Certainly the iHoops powers have worked on this with the NCAA’s legal staff.  It will be interesting to see how this plays it’s self out.

In terms of the team area, iHoops will look at number of games played at each age level, the length of schedules and the number of games played in a week.  As a reasonable set of standards is in place, teams would submit their schedules and demonstrate that they are in compliance and would then potentially receive their license.

Portions of this series were developed from Rick Leddy’s NABC News report on iHoops.

iHoops is NOT an app for your iPhone and iPod Touch. iHoops is NOT a DSS game. iHoops IS an NCAA/NBA Youth Basketball Initiative established to take on the daunting task of restructuring Youth Basketball.

Over the course of these three reports we will look at why iHoops is needed, what iHoops will do and the long range plans for iHoops.

THE BEGINNING

Kevin Weiberg, iHoops CEO, and Duke University men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski announced the inception at a press conference prior to Game 3 of The Finals in Orlando. Nike and Adidas will serve as founding partners for the initiative, and Adidas Vice President of Global Basketball Lawrence Norman and Nike Vice President of Global Sports Marketing John Slusher were on hand to participate in the announcement.

PRESS CONFERENCE AUDIO HERE!

The “name-dropping” is important to note… heavy hitters, personal and corporate show this is a serious venture being embarked on by two of the biggest powers in basketball… Myles Brand of the NCAA and David Stern of the NBA. Also, how many things have you seen Nike and Adidas do together? This is a BIG deal. Needed and long overdue.

The iHoops Board consists of Krzyzewski, NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball and Business Strategies Greg Shaheen, NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver, NBA Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President of Social Responsibility & Player Programs Kathy Behrens, and attorney and college basketball television analyst Len Elmore. Did I already say…this is a BIG deal.

iHoops, or something like it, has been a long time coming. The Youth Basketball world is vital to the continued growth and success of basketball in America. European basketball at the youth level has caught or surpassed the US in terms of player development and growth. Currently, Youth Basketball in the US has very little structure, governing body(ies) or accountability, especially to life skills development and accountability to that end. The NCAA and NBA established iHoops to provide a structure and develop programs to improve the quality of youth basketball in order to enhance the athletic, educational and social experience of the participants.

WHY iHoops?

The skyrocketing growth and popularity of basketball around the world, at all levels from youth leagues and high school to college and the professional ranks, has been fostered by extensive multi-media exposure around the world. With the good, comes the bad. This popularity and added exposure has brought new stakeholders and money to basketball.

“iHoops is a positive response to the need for basketball’s key stakeholders to take a more unified approach to youth basketball,” said Krzyzewski. “I am proud to be a part of the iHoops initiative to support those who play the game and to ensure that we have a system that puts the kids’ well-being first.”

The necessity of structure to Youth Basketball is at the forefront, but with basketball currently the number one U.S. participatory team sport with 23 million American boys and girls playing the game, iHoops will provide a renewed emphasis on the health and safety of youth basketball participants. The initiative’s online community and network of events will play a vital role in the game’s continued growth. There are skeptics, but that will be covered later.

Part two tomorrow… What Will iHoops Do?