Boys basketball

[Local guy]

Wow did we get cheated last night!!!!

[humm]

Who got chested last night?

[humm]

I mean who got cheated last night?

[Local guy]

Got beat by monette. don't think the little guys have been beat before.

[humm]

They havent been beaten in two years. But losing every once in awhile makes you better. Just hate that they had to lose to that coach. Anyone but him would have been ok. And yes they did get cheated.

[Guest]

What happened?

[guest]

Are we talking about 5th grade boys?

[UHHH]

Wouldn't they have won if Monette didn't make the points when Kerri got that technical? Great example for the kids!

[guest]

I agree! That is not setting an example for our children. I think if the coaches cant keep their temper in check then the principal should step up and find someone else to coach the team. On the 4th grade game last week at Caraway a father of one of the boys on the LC team that previously lived at Caraway and helps coach slammed a clipboard down on the bleachers that startled us sitting on the other side of the gym. That is ridiculous for coaches to act this way. If the child had thrown a fit like that we as parents would punish them.

[Guest]

That was nothing. If any of you parents plan on your son playing basketball at Riverside in high school, you better be ready for things like this. Our area is very competitive and it is easy to get caught up in the moment.

[Jennifer Stone]

Were you there when Kerry got the Technical? The technical was because he was taking up for the boys on the team. If you would have been keeping the books you would have realized the difference in the ballgame. so if ypou want t get on here and criticize Kerry for defending his boys then maybe you should step up and coach. Kerry takes time out of his schedule to do something that he loves and wants to make each one of those boys better and represent Riverside well. So thank you for your concern but mind your own business unless you know all the facts of what happens on the court

[Guest]

Jennifer Stone wrote:

Were you there when Kerry got the Technical? The technical was because he was taking up for the boys on the team. If you would have been keeping the books you would have realized the difference in the ballgame. so if ypou want t get on here and criticize Kerry for defending his boys then maybe you should step up and coach. Kerry takes time out of his schedule to do something that he loves and wants to make each one of those boys better and represent Riverside well. So thank you for your concern but mind your own business unless you know all the facts of what happens on the court

She's right. There is probably no one that spends as much time in a gym or on a ball field as this family. He gives a lot of his time as do others. People are always quick to criticize the coach but don't want the job themselves. Keep it up Kerry, we are lucky to have your boys in our ball program.

[guest]

Guest wrote:

That was nothing. If any of you parents plan on your son playing basketball at Riverside in high school, you better be ready for things like this. Our area is very competitive and it is easy to get caught up in the moment.

We are talking 4th and 5th grade not high school. Right now they are learning skills and techniques and not supposed to be perfect. I also have a problem with only playing 6-7 players when you got a bench full of kids. Again this is elementary and they should all be learning. Yes everyone wants to win but it should be about the child learning the skills to be a good player when he reaches high school level. If they sit the bench in elementary years then they will continue to do it later because they havent been given the chance to develop the skills. No one wants to lose but no one wants to come to every practice and never get a chance to play during the game. I know they have to get used to it for high school but again this isnt high school.

[guest]

I agree too that Kerry is an asset to the boys basketball program and they are lucky that he, Jon and some other volunteer their time for this. We just have to remember that these are kids and learn from examples of people they look up to. Are we teaching them that if we get up, scream,and throw fits etc that we can get our way? You can get your point across to the ref just as easy being nice. In reference to high school, I am sure the refs have alot more respect for Coach Hall rather than Buster because Kevin handles his problems without screaming in their face. There is no doubt in my mind that our Jr Boys would not have won the Marmaduke tourney if the Marmaduke coached had not pissed the referee off. I am not saying that they called the ballgame our way but after that coach showed his butt that ref did not miss another wrong move that his team made. A ref can make or break you in a game and pissing them off at you is not going to help you so its best to keep your temper. You can get your point across as well.

[Jennifer Stone]

I dont remember Kerry ever yelling at the ref of losing his temper. This was the first game that not everyone played. If you have been at any of the other games then you would know that at Manila the starters only played about 5 minutes and everyone else played most of the game. All i can say is if anyone is unhappy about hte way they coach then try coaching and see if you can please all parents all the time. There is no doubt in my mind that Kerry and Jon dont love all these boys as they were theres. If they didnt they would have been on the phone for the last three days trying to figure ways to better the team and different ways that they could have done things. Dont think that Kerry didnt go home Tuesday night and say i should have done this and maybe i should have done that. These boys are in 5th grade but this day and age competiveness start early and these are some of the most competative boys I have ever seen. As far as Kevin and Buster. I think those boys have respect for both of them. Technicals dont alway change the outcome of the ball game. The calls were lopsided before Kerry got a technical so that really didnt make a difference. if you remember the other coach got one too but they reversed it. so al i can say is if you are not happy with the way things are being done then maybe you should volunteer to help coach a game and then you will see what they go through.

[Guest]

guest wrote:

<quoted text>
We are talking 4th and 5th grade not high school. Right now they are learning skills and techniques and not supposed to be perfect. I also have a problem with only playing 6-7 players when you got a bench full of kids. Again this is elementary and they should all be learning. Yes everyone wants to win but it should be about the child learning the skills to be a good player when he reaches high school level. If they sit the bench in elementary years then they will continue to do it later because they havent been given the chance to develop the skills. No one wants to lose but no one wants to come to every practice and never get a chance to play during the game. I know they have to get used to it for high school but again this isnt high school.

No this isnt high school, but it is reality these days. Do you think it is right to steer our boys in the wrong direction by letting them think that they should get to play all they want right now at this stage, only to be crushed when they do reach the high school level and get stuck on the bench anyway? Or maybe the better route to take is to teach them now that if they want something, they have to work their hardest to get it. That is what PRACTICES are for, to teach these kids the skills, however when it comes game time and the game is on the line you can just about bet any coach is going to have his best boys on the floor. Though this may not be high school yet, you have to take it in consideration if you want your child to play beyond elementary. These boys in elementary (both campuses) right now are some of most talented boys I've ever seen and I for one am very excited about the future of Riverside.

I know nothing about your son or how his practices are conducted, but as for me - I don't sugar coat it for my son, he knows if he wants playing time, he has to work hard to get it.

[guest]

Players that want to play have to practice hard first. But, in order to show up good in practice, players that want to play need to practice on their own. This may mean getting together some friends to practice in the driveway, shooting on your own or having parents or siblings to play against them. This what will make a kid better.

[guest]

Jennifer, that post was not made directly at Kerry. He is a good coach there is no doubt about that. I never said the boys didnt respect Buster. What I said was the refs and how if a coach gets out there and shows his butt then refs can be harder on the team. Also, at the Manila game wasnt it like 20 something to 1 early in the game? No wonder the other guys got the chance to play. I watched Kerry at Caraway and he done a great job substituting the other boys. Now on the other hand that 4th grade coach seem to have only 5 players on his team and 4 of them look like the same crew that played baseball together this summer. I see now why there were so many 4th grade boys that didnt play ball this year. No parent wants to come to every practice and every game just to watch their child sit the bench. You know it could be alternated out like 3 really good kids and 2 not so good some of the time.

[sunshine]

Which 4th grade team are you talking about Lake City or Caraways? I think all the kids at Riverside (both campuses)have great potential.

[Jennifer]

I think you are right. Our elementary programs have some very talented kids and the future of Riverside basketball looks good. I am proud to say that I am a Rebel.