Brookland Basketball

[Just Livin Here]

Shame on Brookland Basketball coach, and I am ashamed to be alumni of the school. At the beginning of the school year they had signups for sports, only 5 signed up for 7th grade basketball. From what I have heard the basketball program had to be put on hold for there were not enough players. Coach Jacobs had to wait for football season to end to even have enough for a team, well cuts were made and 2 of the boys cut have been there since signups at the first of the school year. It is not right to cut boys that were there from the get go and wanted to be part of the basketball team. Brookland booster club will NOT be getting any more donations from me and I will find another school to cheer and be part of …SHAME SHAME Coach Jabobs

[Parent]

Would it be right to punish the boys that chose to play footbal instead of Basketball at the first of the year? A coach usually chooses his team by picking the best players available that will fit his style of basketball. Not trying to take up for him in NO way but with that being said I do think if it were only two players then maybe he should have kept them all. How many tried out and how many did he keep? My understading is that the Jr. High has tryouts again this week even though they played in team camp games with the group of boys that Coach Martin picked. There may be boys that had off season basketball that don't make the Jr High team as well. Hopefully this all works out for the best of all the boys.

[hmmm]

Parent wrote:

Would it be right to punish the boys that chose to play footbal instead of Basketball at the first of the year? A coach usually chooses his team by picking the best players available that will fit his style of basketball. Not trying to take up for him in NO way but with that being said I do think if it were only two players then maybe he should have kept them all. How many tried out and how many did he keep? My understading is that the Jr. High has tryouts again this week even though they played in team camp games with the group of boys that Coach Martin picked. There may be boys that had off season basketball that don't make the Jr High team as well. Hopefully this all works out for the best of all the boys.

I agree completely! I hope it works out best for everyone and I agree ALL should be allowed to try out and the most talented players should be picked for the team. I know it's unfortunate for some either way and I hate that for those but any team sport should be based on talent level alone.

[Upset Parent]

At the beginning of the year five 7th grade boys signed up for basketball. These 5 boys signed up to play basketball at the very beginning when others were not interested. During 2nd period everyday for 3 months these five 7th grade boys have been going to the gym for basketball class.
Now after football season is over more kids have signed up, and last week Coach Jacobs began cutting some players. Since football is over I have no idea how many kids have signed up or how many has been cut, all I know is there was only 5 boys that committed at the beginning and Coach Jacobs cut 2 of those boys from the team Friday. After going to basketball class for so long these 2 boys were sadly disappointed about the Coach’s decision to cut them. The 2 boys asked Coach Jacobs “What are we supposed to do now?” Coach Jacobs tells them they can “go over to football, But if you stay here you’ll have to sit in the locker room”.
These 2 boys signed up 3 months ago when others did not want to, They signed up to be part of a basketball team not to sit in a locker room or be sent over to football.
DO YOU THINK THAT’S FAIR? DO YOU THINK THAT’S RIGHT?

[hmmm]

I think they'll either go on to football or to whatever else they might find during that period. But as far as being cut from basketball I don't see a problem. I hate it for them this isn't elementary sports anymore. Not everyone plays, and even if you make the team you might sit during most of the games. Brookland has got to be competitive to the best of their ability. It's not anything personal with any of these kids. It's just based on talent level, or should be anyway. You can choose to try to be on the team but only after try outs will you know if you made it or not. Other schools would do the same thing. I do hate it for the kids but these next couple of years is when the begin to learn those life lessons. Some are good ones and some aren't.

[bearcat parent]

Now that brookland has additional sports that overlap in seasons it will take some patience and coordination among coachs to fine tune. But just because the boys signed up 3 months ago and did not play football, does not give them an automatic spot on the team. This is a part of schoolastic sports that all players and parents have to get us to. Imagine if Michael Jordon had of quit when he got cut. instead it motivated him to practice, improve and work harder for something he really wanted instead of being given to him just because he signed up. This is the hardest part about coaching is having to cut but it is also a life lesson that some may experience earlier than later.

[I agree]

All of the kids should have been given the chance to try out and the best should have been kept regardless of when they signed up to play as long as they all got signed up in time. I was told that he kept 13 on the team though instead of the normal 15. It does surprise me that he would cut two that had been there since the beginning and keep fewer than the normal amount of players.

[Upset Parent]

bearcat parent wrote:

just because the boys signed up 3 months ago and did not play football, does not give them an automatic spot on the team.

They signed up at the beginning of the year for basketball class, just like they signed up for English, Math and so on. They have been there for 3 months getting to learn, practice and play basketball. Now they're told to go to football or sit in the locker room, they were sent home with their gym clothes and shoes, now they will not be allowed to participate in basketball. I thought school was about learning, how are they to learn and get better if they are thrown to the side and not allowed to participate?
As far as the Coach picking his best players, that should be the Coaches decision and I think he should play the best players and play to win.
I'll just tell you, when a child signs up for something at the beginning of the year, whether it's basketball or whatever, they dang sure shouldn't be kicked out of the class 3 months later, or told they're not good enough to practice and learn, and to stay in the locker room.

[Just Livin Here]

Oh so Brookland is now all about wanting the best players and all about winning, don’t forget we are talking 7th graders not the NBA. In Jr. High it should be about getting to know the coaches drills and plays and becoming a team player. Sure hope none of basketball players come down with the flu or get hurt during a game. How many games will Jacobs have to forfeit due to not enough players. Not a good decision on your part now is it Coach Jacobs.

[bearcat parent]

it the amount of kids on the team was 13, i agree that the 2 cut should have not been cut. Unless there is a good reason. looking at the numbers 15 would make for 3 practice squads of 5. but another problem that i have seen at brookland for the past couple of years is the coaches get no help. I have always volunteered to help during practice. Maybe if Jacobs knew he had assistance he might be more enticed to keep more kids on the roster. If you know the sport, offer your assistance, you might be suprised.

[Upset Parent]

Oh!... I didn't know Brookland Schools Coaching Staff was volunteer.

If this kind of thing really happens because the school will not hire enough Coaches, that make this situation even worse.

So this whole thing could be the fault of the School's Administration by not being fiscally responsible. I've heard that this is a problem there.

Sorry Coach!... Maybe you've been cut short just like the kids!

[bearcat parent]

read into what you want but that is not what I was saying. There are actually parents that are talented enough to coach and have coached but chose a different profession. We are decent enough people to volunteer and get involved instead of sit on the side lines and bitch and moan. You took what i said and completely turned it around to justify you being pissed off. If those kids have been taught any character from their parents, they will take a negative in their lives and learn to turn it into a positive and that is much more important that the lessons they would have learned on a basketball court.

[Upset Parent]

Bearcat Parent,
Seems that last comment struck a nerve with you, And that's ok, You can go on with your insinuations that those boys parents are bitchers and moaners, but that's just not the case. And the fact of the matter is this topic isn't about volunteering for a coach.
This is all bout how 2 boys that signed up for basketball class at the beginning of the year was unjustly cut from the team, and if you want to give lessons on character why don't you give a lesson to whoever cut those 2 boys from the team, because the moral and ethical thing to have done was keep all 5 of those boys that signed up at the beginning when no others wanted to, and then pick 8 of the best late registering boys to finish the team. In my opinion that would have been the right thing to do and would have shown a person of character that could have been respected.

[bearcat parent]

yes it did and yes i was insinuating but not toward those 2 boys parents unless that was you..if you read closer, i agreed with you but you oblivious to any logic other than your own. Therefore i will leave topic saying there are right and wrongs these boys will face throughout their lives. I just hope for their sake, their parents will help these boys learn from this instead of being discouraged. we do not always know why GOD puts obstacles in front of each of us but know for sure, there is a reason.

[Parent]

First, if you volunteer you need to be available to help with practice during the day. Most people that would like to or have are working permanent job so they are not available at that time.

Second, It has been the practice of most all schools 7th grade teams and up to have TRYOUTS for basketball since they usually only keep 15 or so kids. SO kids should know at that level they may not make the team. You can't punish the kids that want to play Football by not letting them play Basketball. Would that be a character building decision? I DO NOT agree with the fact that he cut only 2 players and kept only 13. Especially telling them if they stay in Basketball they would have to sit in the locker room. Looks to me like he may want those two kids for practice and/or to practice so they improve over the year also. Maybe he does not feel like they want to sit on the bench and not get to play so it is easier to cut them now than deal with those feelings later. I really don't know, only Coach Jacobs does.

Third, My understanding is the school plans on hiring another coach but they want to hire someone that can teach also and at this time they have no open teaching positions. I also heard that they are not sure if they are going to hire an assistant or a head coach depending on how Jacobs works out.

Fourth, How would you feel if you were the parent of a player that made the team and then they moved kids from lower grades up to play in your spot? That is what is happening in the girls and I hear that a 7th grade boy has been moved up as well.
Hopefully the 2 players that were cut will continue to work and practice and come back next year and prove that a mistake was made by cutting them. One suggestion would be signing them up to play ball somewhere so they get the court time and maybe it will work out in the long run.

The End

[Upset Parent]

They cut more than 2 boys. I just think cutting the 2 boys that signed up at first was wrong.
At the beginning of the year all the kids had the choice to sign up for basketball or football and I think there was a couple other options too, like P.E.. Anyway only 5 signed up for 7th grade basketball and the rest played football. For nearly 3 months those 5 boys were practicing daily during 2nd period and waited for more kids to sign up so they could get started with basketball, like other schools did months ago . The other kids have been getting to participate in and play football, So to cut those 2 boys that have been there for 3 months waiting and practicing is plain and simply a foul call.

Although it's not what the 2 boys wanted or signed up for they chose to go ahead and go over to football since their other option was to sit in the looker room.

Now about the kid making the team and then getting replaced by another kid from a lower grade it sounds just as unfair.

Also if the school is wanting to hire a teacher/coach but don't have a teacher position, I can give a few suggestions on some teachers to kick off the team and replace them with a dual purpose teacher, but if I give my recommendations I don't want to hear anyone bitching or moaning from the side lines.

Sincerely,
Upset Parent

[Parent]

Obviously you are not much on Football but, keep in mind, if kids didn't sign up there would be NO football program either. Brookland does not have enough boys to make a footbal team and basketball team and some of them not play both sports. That makes it harder on the ones that choose not to play football and only play basketball if the happen to not make the team when tryouts are held. Just think of how it would be at a school like VV or GCT or Nettleton where there are 20+ kids trying out that don't play football.

The reason they had to wait to start basketball later than some other schools is because I think it is a AAA rule for schools that have football to wait until it is over to start. The schools that have been playing already do not have football programs.

Maybe they will end up liking football and be able to contribute to the program next year. Plus one bright side may be they will get to work out and exercise which will help them with their strength for basketball and maybe help them in making the team next year.

[whatever]

Upset Parent wrote:

Bearcat Parent,
This is all bout how 2 boys that signed up for basketball class at the beginning of the year was unjustly cut from the team, and if you want to give lessons on character why don't you give a lesson to whoever cut those 2 boys from the team, because the moral and ethical thing to have done was keep all 5 of those boys that signed up at the beginning when no others wanted to, and then pick 8 of the best late registering boys to finish the team. In my opinion that would have been the right thing to do and would have shown a person of character that could have been respected.

has nothing to do with the other boys not wanting to play, they just happen to be playing football too and couldn't get into basketball until football was over. duh

[whatever]

Just for the record, there were 4 boys cut and there are 10 boys on the 7th grade team.

[Jack]

whatever wrote:

<quoted text>
has nothing to do with the other boys not wanting to play, they just happen to be playing football too and couldn't get into basketball until football was over. duh

You idiot, Can you not understand the point being made? I sure can! The coach is a lazy loser and everyone will see that soon.