About Flash Basketball
Since the start of Flash Basketball in 2013, we've seen steady growth of our program--becoming now one of the biggest club programs in Oregon. On the surface, everything was going well.
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But there was a problem...
We realized that slowly we've become like every other club or AAU program, contributing to the growing problem of youth basketball - a broken system that is failing players.
We hope to change that.
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Here are some of these problems we see and how Flash seeks to address them:
Overemphasis on winning
Programs and coaches looking for validation in forms of trophies and clout. A good club team is oftentimes nothing more than the best collection of talent they recruited from elsewhere or had little part in developing.
At Flash...
We value developing skills and habits of winning more than winning meaningless games. Our 'wins' are not defined by the scoreboard but by the work we put in to improve ourselves. Wins and losses do not distract us from the primary work we've been entrusted to perform--developing our players.
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Too many games and too few practices
Programs define and market their offering with number of games/tournaments being played instead of the value of their mid-week instruction where players truly grow. On average, club teams practice only once or twice but play 4-6 games every weekend.
At Flash...
We place a premium on practice and time spent in the gym working on our game. Games simply shed light to progress and next development opportunities. Just as a violinist wouldn't hold concerts every weekend to get better, we shouldn't expect players to improve by simply playing as many games as possible. Preparing for each upcoming game with anticipation, purpose, and preparation teaches players what it means to compete at your best.
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Unnecessary travel for lie of 'exposure'
Players and parents are told that traveling out of town or out of State is necessary for 'exposure'. Every year we see younger and younger teams traveling across the country to play in these 'Elite' tournaments. The cost of travel teams has made club basketball very expensive for most.
At Flash...
For most teams, meaningful competition can be found locally and regionally without the expenses associated with a heavy travel schedule. Flash will place teams in tournaments we deemed appropriate and beneficial for their development. At times that may mean traveling out of State for our top High School teams but almost never for grade school/middle school teams. We love bonding with our teammates and creating lasting memories but think there are other ways to accomplish that, including making shorter trips or attending a 5-Day Overnight PGC Camp to get better together as a team!
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Selfish Play
Players are not held to a standard of fundamental, team-oriented basketball. Instead, players are out playing for individual stats and their own highlight reels.
At Flash...
Being part of a Flash team means we play for each other and towards our common goals. We work to develop high basketball IQ and winning habits outside of scoring the basketball ourselves.
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Bad coaching
While most coaches will come from some playing background, few are equipped with the knowledge and soft skills required to teach skills for player development. Even fewer will take the time to better themselves as coaches and instructors to make a lasting impact. To them, by winning games, they're 'doing their job'. They complain when they don't have 'talent' on their teams.
At Flash...
Our staff know that they are teachers first and coaches second. It is about the players and not their own ego. We have a curriculum-based instructional program that all coaches invest their time to learn themselves first. Their success in their role is never measured by the wins and losses but by the impact they make on their players on and off the court.
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