Did my youth league coach screw me over on purpose?

[Atlantis]

When I was in 4th grade I could shoot 3s at 40% and half court shots at like 25%, and my free throw percentage was around 80%. But I had a weird shot that I developed playing on the playground where I'd shoot the ball with two hands (I was a kid with very little arm strength). But even though the shot was weird, it worked.

In 5th grade I joined a basketball league where I was clearly the best player. The team's 2nd best player was a little worse than me overall - I had a more accurate shot, could rebound better, block better, pass just as well, and we were around even on defense.

The coach was this guy's dad.

Then the coach while we're practicing makes me change my shot to the standard one-handed jump shot with the weak hand supporting the ball but not imparting any force.

Even though I practiced my ass off, my shot never became as accurate as it was with my two-handed kid shot.


Was my youth league coach trying to help me or did he have a hidden agenda of ruining my shot so his son could steal the spotlight?

[Kblaze8855]

He wouldn’t need to sabotage your game to favor his son. Men are just like that when coaching their kids. They either give them everything or abuse them with no in between. It’s in all youth activities. I was clearly the leader when I was a Boy Scout but the scoutmaster made his son the leader with me number two. And there was something of a vote he just overruled it and justified it with like…experience or something. I don’t remember exactly how he worded it but he overruled the vote. It’s a dad. Just how things are.

That said whenever I have coached young kids I’ve tried not to change mechanics like that if the kid is effective. Football or basketball. Plenty of time for the world to beat your individuality out of you and make you conform. I never wanted to be that guy.

Its hard enough getting kids to follow basic instructions as a group. I wouldn’t bother with something like that. I was grateful for any kid who could make a shot period. If I got one of those rare little prodigy kids who you can just see gets the game years before his peers I guess I would try to make sure he had a little extra attention but not changing his shot.

Half of them never grow past 5’7”. It’s fun for the kids first and prep for the next level second.

[warriorfan]

In baseball I had a high leg kick while batting which isn’t ideal but it helped me with timing and really getting my back leg and hips into it. There was an assistant coach who’s son sucked and I was an all star level player who played the same position and he would always obsess about it even when I was doing well. I never changed it and kept playing but it did get on my nerves big time. There is a healthy mix of fundamentals and what works for an individual. Good coaches can balance this and not stifle young talented players who are figuring stuff out on their own.

[Lebron23]

When I was in 4th grade I could shoot 3s at 40% and half court shots at like 25%, and my free throw percentage was around 80%. But I had a weird shot that I developed playing on the playground where I'd shoot the ball with two hands (I was a kid with very little arm strength). But even though the shot was weird, it worked.

In 5th grade I joined a basketball league where I was clearly the best player. The team's 2nd best player was a little worse than me overall - I had a more accurate shot, could rebound better, block better, pass just as well, and we were around even on defense.

The coach was this guy's dad.

Then the coach while we're practicing makes me change my shot to the standard one-handed jump shot with the weak hand supporting the ball but not imparting any force.

Even though I practiced my ass off, my shot never became as accurate as it was with my two-handed kid shot.


Was my youth league coach trying to help me or did he have a hidden agenda of ruining my shot so his son could steal the spotlight?

Post a video of you playing your game in this thread. http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?460580-Insidehoops-Basketball-Skills-Vid-Archive-show-insidehoops-what-u-got!/page33

[Lebron23]

In baseball I had a high leg kick while batting which isn’t ideal but it helped me with timing and really getting my back leg and hips into it. There was an assistant coach who’s son sucked and I was an all star level player who played the same position and he would always obsess about it even when I was doing well. I never changed it and kept playing but it did get on my nerves big time. There is a healthy mix of fundamentals and what works for an individual. Good coaches can balance this and not stifle young talented players who are figuring stuff out on their own.

Posts a video of you playing

[Xiao Yao You]

But I had a weird shot that I developed playing on the playground where I'd shoot the ball with two hands (I was a kid with very little arm strength). But even though the shot was weird, it worked.

use your legs. They are stronger