Contact Us

Michael Onett
Coach -
Director/CEO
Telephone Number: 603.505.0102
e-mail: a dmin@nhfastbreak.com

Jim Schwalbe
Coach -Assistant Director/
COO
Telephone Number
603.490.3683
e-mail
schwalbe@compuserve.com

Jim Tomaswick
Assistant Director/CFO

Dave Simpson
Coach 13U

Paul W. Nimblett
Coach 15U assistant

13U Team Black
Coach Tim Finnegan

Scott Mckinney
12U Gold Coach

Basketball
Links

http://www.aa
ubb.com/

http://www.ne
aau.org/

http://www.ba
sketballworld.
com/

New England AAU Basketball

is very exciting and

wish

to include and hear from You.

We encourage visitors to contact us and become part

of our team fan base. We enjoy receiving

suggestions, anecdotes, and comments about the team

Playing time

Playing time:

Playing time is not

always

guaranteed,

All players will be a

contributing

member of the team

Players shall learn and be

properly

challenged

during practice.

This setting will provide

the

opportunities for players

to be ready for game time. As

players play

during game time

situations they can demonstrate

basketball skills

and enhance their

role within the team.

All

players will receive

playing time;

however,

some players may

receive more playing

time than

others. The amount

of time that

a player earns during a

game is determined by several

factors

which include; having a "hot

hand", match-ups, foul trouble,

attitude, attendance at practices

and games.

Every coach will

try his

or her best to

play your child

through the course of a

weekend

However AAU is a very

competitive league and we

must field the best team possible

to be

competitive.

During any one game an individual may feel that he didn't

receive

appropriate court time, over

the course of a season

each player is

provided adequate opportunities to display their

talents.

The

feelings

of "entitlement" for playing time has the

potential to

become a serious

source of

friction among

players,

parents and

coaches.

It is the

responsibility as a

player to

address this

with

your coach in person

before or after

practice. If this becomes a

problem please

encourage

the

player to reach out to his coach or

team administrators to see if

can be

reconciled. Parental

involvement in this area is

strongly

discouraged.

During a meeting regarding court time or any other issue the

coach's

will explain what needs

to be done to improve court

time or

resolve

the issue. Practices coupled with the ability to

execute

what is

learned provides the opportunity to earning

playing time.

Parents will

contacted if the issue persists w/o

resolution.

It is important that players realize that proper team work and

playing

within the system will

provide the opportunity to

succeed.

PLAYER will be the system and NO PLAYER will

create a

system

within the team.

NH AAU Basketball NH FASTBREAK
New Hampshire Basketball - Scout Boys NH AAU The Best in New Hampshire AAU Basketball

Parent/Coach message/question of the month

How can I encourage parents to motivate their children in sports and

discourage them at the same time from coaching their children?

We are all well aware of the term "back seat driver" and not too many of us manage to avoid becoming

one for

a very good reason -- our life depends on the front seat driver’s performance. The enormous

physical and

emotional energy parents invest in their child and her/his sporting experience inevitably

leads some to the

"back seat coaching" trap. As long as both parent and coach share a mutual

understanding of their roles and

responsibilities, unintentional disruptive parent behavior and energy

may be redirected to provide a positive

contribution to the league experience.

PRINCIPLES OF POSITIVE COACH--PARENT INTERACTIONS IN ORGANIZED YOUTH SPORTS

Al Rosen, a former major league baseball player suggested several questions that serve as a

reminder of

the scope of little league parents' responsibilities. These apply to any sport. Coaches that

take the time to

discuss those questions at the time of the first team meeting may prevent later

miscommunication with

parents.

"Can the parents give up their child?"

is the question that addresses the issue of

"back

seat

coaching."

Parents must understand that when their child joins a team he/she is at that time

under the

responsibility and supervision of the team’s designated head coach. This does not mean

that the parent

must temporarily stop being the parent. Rather, it means that the parent must accept

the fact that her his child

is now looking up to and demonstrates her/his admiration to a relative

stranger and follows instructions and

is part of a team. Without this rule being honored a player WILL

NOT BECOME A TEAM PLAYER AND WILL

DESTROY THE TEAM CONCEPT.

"Can the parents admit their shortcomings?"

Can they admit that they do not "know or can do it all?"

Can the parent allow the coach to be the expert on all issues relating to the league environment?

"Can the parents accept their child's triumphs?" without feeling the urge to tell their sport stories and

triumphs

and take the attention away from their child.

"Can the parents accept their child's disappointments?" Do we always need to lecture to our child after

game and go into a detailed analysis of what took place during the game?

Is it O.K. to sometimes just let go, and let the child lead the discussion if he/she feels like it.

"Can the parents show their child self-control?" Unintentional errors and fouls do occur during games.

Unfortunately, some not so nice behavior may also take place during any contest. Can the parent

show self-

control and deal with either incident in a mature manner?

"Can the parents give their child some time?" and not just drop the child off and pick her/him up, but

also stay

and watch, and occasionally volunteer to stay and help for the full practice session.

"Can the parent let their child make her or his own decisions?" Let the child chose the sport and

decide when

he/she had enough (with some clear ground rules, of course).

Parents should remain seated in the spectator area during the contest.
Parents should be advised not to yell instructions or criticize the children.
Parents should be strongly advised not to make derogatory comments to
players or other parents of the opposing team, to officials, or to league
administrators.
Parents should be encouraged to cheer for all kids from both teams,
regardless of what the other parents do. Good sportsmanship means
going beyond the written rules.
Parents should not interfere with their children's coach. They must be willing
to relinquish the responsibility for their children to the coach for the period
of the contest. Parents should be encouraged to share their concerns with
the coach at a special time and place away from the kids.

Parent-Coach Communications

Parents have the right to ask questions and get answers.

There is a proper time and place for parent-coach interaction and that

time and

place is when the kids are no longer around.

Causes for parent coach disagreement

Who has the final say about the child's role and position on the team?

The

coach has the final say. Parents who find it hard to follow this rule

should be

encouraged to join the coaching ranks. As the coach the

parent will now

become the decision maker and will be able to run her/his

own show.

What is the child's skill level? There may be a discrepancy between the

coach's and the parent's assessment of a child's skills and playing

ability. The

parent has every right to discuss her/his assessment with the

coach, but

he/she must be willing to accept the fact that the coach has

the final say about

the line-up, playing positions, and game formations.

In a child centered system this question is less thorny since the

emphasis is

on the process and not the outcome. Thus, the coach may

rotate the players

regardless of their efficacy in any specific position.

How should problems be resolved? Any concerns should be addressed

in an

"adult and mature" fashion. All involved need to approach the

situation with a

"kids first" philosophy. While a few adults were very

upset and disturbed by

the refs' call during a U9 semi-final post-league

tournament game I observed in

the early 1990s at a Beverly Hills park, I

overheard a kid pondering whether

this means the kids won't be getting

their Popsicles that day.

Some Common Problems with Parents

Disinterested parents: The coach may consider implementing a required

parent attendance policy for a predetermined number of practice

sessions and

games. Parents who find this requirement too hard to

comply with may

privately discuss their issues with the coach.

Overcritical parents: The parent may not be aware of her/his overly

critical

tone. The coach may tell the parent that "This is what I heard you

say to your

child, did you mean to say...? Consider this: "...., would that

work for you?"

Parents that "do not get it" but seem to be very energetic may be

recruited to

help with some busy work, such as, collecting game

statistics (number of

touches, complete passes, incomplete passes,

blocks, shots on goal etc.).

Also, I never get tired of the saying "One role

model is worth a thousand

critics."

Screaming parents from behind the bench and side line coaches:

Coaches

and league administrators must meet and agree on a range of

acceptable and

unacceptable side line behaviors. Consequences that

address unacceptable

side line behaviors must also be implemented.

This information must be made

available to all coaches, parents, referees

and league administrators. League

administrators and officials may use a

card system to warn those who break

the rules, and if the unruly

behavior persists, ask the adults to leave.

Overprotective parents: Discuss the risks involved in the activity and

provide

the parent with information that addresses their fears and

concerns. Explain to

the parent what it is that you do in order to maintain

a safe practice and game

environment for your team. Ask about and

explain how a child's special needs

are addressed in the league

environment. The parent may need to go through

some form of

systematic desensitization. Let the parent stay and have her/him

leave a

few minutes earlier each time they come to practice. There's no need to

be very strict and one should expect relapses, especially if child gets

upset or

hurt during practice or a game.

Parents' Code for Children's Sport Participation

THE ACTIVITY IS FOR THE CHILDREN AND THEIR NEEDS NOT FOR

THE

PARENTS' NEEDS.

CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL AS THE RIGHT

CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS.

CHILDREN SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW THE RULES; BE

FIRM

AND CLEAR ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT CHEATING.

TRYING HARD AND STRIVING TO WIN THROUGH FAIR PLAY ARE THE

MOST

IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF COMPETITION. BY FOLLOWING THIS

VIEW

WINNING AS WELL AS LOSING MAY BE KEPT IN PERSPECTIVE.

CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE YELLED AT, CRITICIZED, OR

PUNISHED IN

ANY WAY FOR DEMONSTRATING POOR SKILLS OR

LOSING A CONTEST.

HOWEVER, WHEN CHEATING OR DEMONSTRATING POOR

SPORTSMANSHIP, CHILDREN SHOULD BE CHASTISED AND

SANCTIONED;

ALWAYS BETTER IF DONE IN PRIVATE.

CHILDREN ARE GREAT IMITATORS. CHEER FOR BOTH TEAMS WHEN

THEY

DEMONSTRATE GOOD SKILLS, PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT, AND

OR GOOD

SPORTSMANSHIP.

RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THE REFEREE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT

IS IN

A BETTER POSITION TO MAKE A CALL AND THAT THEY

UNDERTAKE THE

DEMANDING TASK OF OFFICIATING FOR THE LOVE

OF THE SPORT AND

THE BENEFIT OF THE CHILDREN.

DO NOT SECOND GUESS THE OFFICIAL.

ACTIVELY WORK WITH THE COACHES AND OFFICIALS IN KEEPING

YOUTH

SPORTS FREE OF VERBAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF VOLUNTEER COACHES ARE INVOLVED WITH

YOUTH SPORTS FOR THE JOY OF COACHING THEIR'S AND OTHER

CHILDREN.

IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO A BETTER JOB, VOLUNTEER AND COACH

YOUR

OWN CHILD AND TEAM.