When children begin to play basketball at a young age, they must be provided with the opportunity of going through positive experiences. The vast majority of children in sports want to have fun and make friends. They do not know the value of victory and defeat. We, the adults and parents are the ones encouraging the concept of winning under any consideration. This is where negative experiences begin to move children away from sports.
Several months ago, on the cover of a newspaper there was an article concerning the cruel treatment received by children in sports by their coaches.
Days later, the New York Times highlighted the serious problem of violence by the coaches during the games of children. The article reports that more than 30% of the children in a game receive verbal and physical abuse by coaches and parents.
It is speculated that the reported percentage may be much higher. Last week it was reported that a father attacked his son in the middle of the basketball game because his son was not playing well. Another father punished his son because his team lost the game because of a missed free throw.
Every day we hear news of horror about this serious problem.
The desire to win at all costs motivates and leads to a coach to use any means to achieve victory, forgetting the teaching process that has to be developed to achieve a positive impact on children.
Many of the experts in this field agree that this deplorable situation has to change, this change must occur in the first instance at the local level, where coaches, parents and players are in constant communication and present in all games.
We agree and strongly believe that sports for children are meant to be fun. Both, coaches and parents are directly responsible to work together in order to eliminate or change the deteriorating image of sports that our children are receiving. It is highly recommended to counsel parents before any competition to provide guidance on their behavior during the game.
A good positive relationship between parents and coaches could help to ensure that sports serve as a positive experience for our youth. While the basketball season progresses, parents could become the best ally of the coach serving of great value to the team.
You can also make parents and coaches who have had major problems via communication can eliminate desavenas setting a great example for the benefit of their children.
It is very important that from the beginning there is an open and clear communication between parents and coaches, to eradicate this problem.
It is highly advisable to have a pre-season meeting between coaches and parents. At this meeting the coach should explain the philosophy of the league, the program and its objectives as well as his personal philosophy, along with his priorities and goals.
During this meeting it is important to discuss the expectations that parents have with the coach and vice versa. All these expectations can be part of a Code of Conduct for Parents and Coaches adapted for the league or tournament involving their children.
We understand that looking for the solution to this problem is critical and of optimum priority for any organization or person involved in the development of children in any sport. It is the obligation of any institution, organization that promotes basketball to ensure that their competition has a clearly defined objective, eliminating the victory as the only priority.
This spiral of violence in children sports, can only be fought within the sport, and basketball is a great vehicle that develops character, discipline, friendship, and is a great school for all participants. Do not forget that basketball is a great tool for education, health, respect and a great vehicle for the development of the physical and mental health of everyone involved.
Do not forget to know and respect the rights of children.
The child must be respected as a child and not be asked to perform as an adult.
By: Victor "Vitito" Ojeda --
About the author:
One of the most significant coaches in basketball both in Puerto Rican and international levels, promoter of a new basketball, and the voice of coaches in America, Mr. Victor "Vitito" Ojeda coached the Puerto Rico National Team in 1978 and has one of the highest percentages of victories in the history of Puerto Rican basketball.
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Walter Hodge selected the top Virgin Islander playing abroad in last week's games - May 23, 2013
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Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of Virgin Islanders who are currently playing abroad. Experienced Tim Duncan (211-F/C-76) led San Antonio Spurs to an overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA in Tuesday night's game.
[read more]
Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of Virgin Islanders who are currently playing abroad.
#1. This week's number one is an international point guard Walter Hodge (183-86, college: Florida, currently plays in Poland). Hodge led Stelmet ZG to an easy victory against the leader AZS Koszalin (18-14) crushing them 96-66 in the Polish TBL last Friday.
He scored 13 points.
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group Places 1-6. Stelmet Zielona Gora (20-12) is placed third.
Hodge is currently third on the list of top scorers and also on the list of best passers (seventh place).
He has individually a very good season with high stats. Hodge averages: 18.1ppg, 2.1rpg, 4.7apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 51.5%, 3FGP: 33.1% and FT: 83.7%.
He has a dual citizenship: U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rican.
Hodge is currently a member of the U.S. Virgin Islands senior national team.
#2. Second place goes to former international forward Cuthbert Victor (197-83, college: Murray St., currently plays in France), who plays in the French ProA. He could not help Le Mans (16-14) to beat ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (18-12).
Victor scored 8 points and added 3 assists in 23 minutes.
Le Mans lost 70-75 on the road to the higher-ranked (#3) ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket.
It was Le Mans' third consecutive loss in a row.
This year Victor's overall stats are: 9.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.2apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 61.6%(122-198), 3FGP: 23.2% and FT: 60.9% in the 33 games he played so far.
He played for the U.S. Virgin Islands national team in 2011.
#3. The U.S. Virgin Islands player who performed third best last week abroad was an international forward Ivan Aska (200-90, college: Murray St., currently plays in Belgium). Aska was not able to help Leuven Bears (9-19) in their game against Belfius Mons-Hainaut (18-10) in the Belgian Ethias League.
He recorded 9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
But Leuven Bears was crushed 86-46 in Quaregnon by the higher-ranked Belfius Mons-Hainaut (#3).
It was Leuven Bears' third consecutive loss in a row.
Aska is currently sixth on the list of best rebounders.
He has very reliable stats this season: 14.1ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 46.8% and FT: 74.5%.
Aska is another player who holds two passports: U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rican.
He is also a member of the U.S. Virgin Islands senior national team.
#4. Swingman Jason Edwin (197-81, college: Kent St., currently plays in Colombia) led Bucaros to a victory over the third-ranked Piratas (12-8) 98-91 in the Colombian DPB last Saturday.
Edwin was MVP of the game. He scored 24 points in 37 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group Places 1-6. Bucaros Freskaleche (12-8) is placed second.
It was his team's sixth consecutive victory in a row.
They will play only one more game in the Second Stage. And that game will be critical.
Edwin has very impressive stats this year: 17.5ppg, 4.4rpg and 2.4apg in the 29 games.
He is also U.S. Virgin Islands national team player.
One more player who has never been selected to any of national teams, but has U.S. Virgin Islands passport:
#1. Experienced Tim Duncan (211-F/C-76, college: Wake Forest, currently plays in NBA) led San Antonio Spurs to an overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies (56-26) 93-89 in the NBA in Tuesday night's game.
He was MVP of the game. Duncan scored 17 points, grabbed 9 boards, handed out 3 passes and blocked 4 shots in 31 minutes.
The San Antonio Spurs have a solid 58-24 record this season.
It's Duncan's 16th year with the team.
He has individually a very good year with high stats. Duncan averages: 17.7ppg, 9.8rpg, 2.6apg and 2.5bpg in the 81 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: U.S. Virgin Islands and American.
Other top U.S. Virgin Islands players, who play abroad:
SAN ANTONIO The NBA today announced that San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (211-F/C-76, college: Wake Forest) was named to the league's All-NBA Teams. Duncan was selected to the All-NBA First Team, the 14th All-NBA selection in his career.Duncan and Tony Parkers All-NBA honors mark the seventh time in Spurs franchise history that two teammates have earned All-NBA honors in the same season [read more]
SAN ANTONIO The NBA today announced that San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (211-F/C-76, college: Wake Forest) was named to the league's All-NBA Teams. Duncan was selected to the All-NBA First Team, the 14th All-NBA selection in his career.
Duncan and Tony Parkers All-NBA honors mark the seventh time in Spurs franchise history that two teammates have earned All-NBA honors in the same season. The last time was when Duncan (Second team) and Parker (Third team) were selected in the 2008-09 season.
The selections mark the 38th time in team history that a Spur has been selected to an All-NBA team, which includes 19 First Team selections, 10 Second Team selections and nine Third Team selections.
Duncans 14th All-NBA Team selection ranks tied for second all-time in NBA history with Karl Malone and Shaquille ONeal. Ahead of him are Kareem Adbul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant with 15 All-NBA selections.
The First Team honor is Duncans 10th of his career, becoming just the ninth player in NBA history with 10-or-more selections. He joins Kobe Bryant (11), Karl Malone (11), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10), Elgin Baylor (10), Bob Cousy (10), Michael Jordan (10), Bob Pettit (10) and Jerry West (10),
In 2012-13, Duncan averaged 17.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.65 blocks (third in the NBA) in 30.1 minutes. Duncans 2.65 blocks per game is his highest average since the 2003-04 season when he averaged 2.68 blocks. It is also the highest average of any NBA player 37-years-or-older since the NBA started keeping track of blocked shots in 1973.
Duncan becomes the oldest player selected on the All-NBA First Team since Abdul-Jabbar (38-years-old) was named to the First Team in the1985-86 season.
Duncan has been named to the All-NBA First Team 10 times (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2013), the All-NBA Second Team three times (2006, 2008 and 2009) and the All-NBA Third team once (2010).
This year marks Duncans NBA-record 14th time he has appeared on both the All-Defensive Team and All-NBA Team in the same season. On May 13, Duncan was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
2012-13 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM
Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward LeBron James, Miami (119) 595
Forward Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City (102) 555
Center Tim Duncan, San Antonio (45) 392
Guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (91) 521
Guard Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers (97) 537
2012-13 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM
Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward Carmelo Anthony, New York (24) 397
Forward Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers 132
Center Marc Gasol, Memphis (38) 295
Guard Tony Parker, San Antonio (16) 273
Guard Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City (20) 306
2012-13 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM
Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward David Lee, Golden State 79
Forward Paul George, Indiana 73
Center Dwight Howard, L.A. Lakers (17) 203
Guard Dwyane Wade, Miami (3) 145
Guard James Harden, Houston (5) 253
Laboral Kutxa agree on terms of contract with Walter Hodge - May 23, 2013
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Walter Hodge (183-PG-86, college: Florida) will sign contract with Laboral Kutxa as reported by various sources. The guard is expected to ink a two-year deal with the Basque team. The guard is playing for Stelmet Zielona Gora this season. He notched 21.1 points, 5.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.8 rebounds per game in EuroCup. Walter Hodge became the topscorer in the tournament. His stats also read 18.1 points, 4.7 assists and 2.1 rebounds per appearance in PLK [read more]
Walter Hodge (183-PG-86, college: Florida) will sign contract with Laboral Kutxa as reported by various sources. The guard is expected to ink a two-year deal with the Basque team. The guard is playing for Stelmet Zielona Gora this season. He notched 21.1 points, 5.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.8 rebounds per game in EuroCup. Walter Hodge became the topscorer in the tournament. His stats also read 18.1 points, 4.7 assists and 2.1 rebounds per appearance in PLK. Walter Hodge made it into All-EuroCup 2nd Team. The guard had stints in Puerto Rico and Poland before. He was named All-Polish Player of the Year in 2012. Walter Hodge has been the member of the US Virgin Islands Team since 2009. He notched 20.3 points, 4.8 assists, 4.5 boards and 1.8 steals per game at the 2012 Centrobasket in Puerto Rico.
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