Fencor Newsletter - December 2005

It's Time to Register for 2006!

Coaches use quotes because they've been saying the same things for so many years that they look around for a better way to express themselves. Two of my favorites are one by Yogi Berra that goes like this. "You got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there." The second author is unknown to me but it says, "You can't have a dream come true without having a dream." Both quotes are about goals but the first one makes me laugh and the second makes me hope.

Back less than 50 years ago when very few girls took sports seriously, girls would never think to have a goal that revolved around athletics. Young ladies weren't even supposed to sweat back then let alone want to be the best. But it is the human condition to have dreams so we might as well take that next step and turn that dream into a goal. After all, a goal is just a dream with a plan attached.

But having goals and planning to reach them can be a little scary. So, let's break it down to bite size chunks.

1. Your choice is…. to be AIMLESS! Yuk. If you are not aiming at some goal then you are aimless. Take your next practice as an example. Are you going to just go through the drill or plays or are you going to try as hard as you can to be better in each skill or more attentive to each direction or more energized for each play. Set a goal to be more ____________ (fill in the blank) at the next practice. You don't have to tell anyone but try it. Then when mom or dad say, "How was practice today?", you'll really know what the answer is.
   
   
2. Be realistic about your goals in a game or practice. Don't set a goal to DUNK tomorrow. Set a goal you can accomplish. "I'm going to try one new move in practice today to see if I can do it or, I'm going to get 3 steals when I'm playing defense today." Watch how much having a goal in a practice changes your whole outlook. You'll really be much more focused on what's going on and the coach will see the difference. And you'll feel the difference.
   
   
3. Once you reach your goal- have a very brief celebration AND set another one. Setting goals can be like a game that; only you are playing, you set all the rules, and you declare when the game is over and you’ve won. Setting the next goal is key because it becomes habit. Once you set the goal of hustling more on every play, it will become who you are. You won’t like going back, that’s for sure.
   

One other pretty good quote, "My success is simply a retelling of me reaching my goals.”

Good Luck!

Each Sunday from January 9^th through February 6^th there will be a clinic with special concentration on a particular area of basketball skills.

The change that was made last year that 17 year old juniors may play with the 16's has become a permanent rule. There is no longer a U17 age group - that has been replaced with a U18 age group. The thinking behind this is that seniors who are 17 or 18 may now play on the same team. Fencor will have teams in the 16/17 and 18 year old age groups, but there are no plans for a U19 team.

Another change is that a driver's license or government issued ID can now take the place of a birth certificate and picture for entry into an AAU event.

FYI- Teams from Canada and Mexico can now qualify for Nationals thru a Super Regionals.