About six years ago, the Indiana High School Athletic Association opened up rules in the summer. Before that Indiana high schools could only have "open gym" in the summer. Nothing mandatory with no coaching allowed, but many schools abused this rule. So, the IHSAA changed the rules and allow high schools to do just about whatever they want during the summer. There is a moratorium week during July 4 where we are not allowed to have any contact whatsoever. Then there is one the week before August which can be conditioning only.
You can literally practice as many times as you want and play as many games as you would like during that time in June and July. What I have tried to do is use the rule to our benefit, yet not burn the kids out. Many of our players are two or three sport athletes, and they get very little time off, so I try to compete with other communities/schools, and yet still let the kids have time to be, well, uh... kids.
Usually, during the month of June, we will practice and play games. We are practicing 6 times this June. During those six practices we will work on individual skills, but also breaking down our motion offense because that is all we really do in the summer. Very little is said about defense, but we play all man to man and zone unless it is towards the end of a game in June. But the first hour is working on our stuff, the second hour is guided playing.
Now when I say first and second hours, we practice 2 hours at a time on those six days...that is a total of 12 hours of practice this summer. Also, the games we play, I try to make it as enjoyable as possible. Our j.v. will play at Hanover College and Salem High School to get some games in during June.
The varsity will play from 14 to 18 games during June and we will travel to Purdue University, Indiana University and Olney Central J.C. So, during a four year period, our basketball players will see many different colleges/universities that they wouldn't see otherwise.
Also, I pay for the team's to play in these tournaments, so the only cost to our guys is for their hotel rooms. At the most, it costs them $100 a summer to do some of the things we do. During these trips, I try and get them to experience Indiana's Hoosier Hysteria. We have been to the Hall of Fame, to Hoosier's gym, to New Richmond (town of Hickory in movie), we have seen Notre Dame, IU, Indiana Wesleyan, Purdue, Plymouth H.S., Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse and many other basketball relevant locations.
What I have found is that what we do in the summer is right about what many teams do. Some teams go three days a week at six AM, others at night. Some schools play 14 games, and some will play 40 games in a summer. Some schools have weights, some don't. Some schools have workouts in July, some have just open gym, and some do nothing. But I can tell you that we have to do something. If we lose and have done nothing, I will be removed as basketball coach.
Now you tell me, if a kid loves or even likes basketball this sounds like a pretty good time for summer basketball? I think it is important that before you express an opinion about something that you have some knowledge of which you speak.
Yes, in the fall, we do have conditioning to prepare for basketball. Yes, it does last a couple of months, but it mostly about commitment. We run for 45 minutes, at the most, then play touch football or other enjoyable things that involve running and jumping. It is not mandatory, but you have to be in physical shape to play and compete. If you miss a day, I just ask that you make it up on the last day of conditioning, nothing drastic and only fair to everyone else. Yes, it isn't easy, but missing a whole day of conditioning is nothing to take lightly. And if you come to every single day of conditioning, that last day is a day off before practice begins.
Nothing, absolutely nothing, we do is mandatory. However, we will do these things basketball related in the summer and while you may not be there, someone will be playing in your spot. Someone who is working hard and not wanting to give that spot up once school starts in the fall during conditioning and open gym.
