Dowling Catholic Boys Basketball 2012-13 Parent Meeting October, 10 2012

1. Dowling Catholic Boys Basketball 2012-13 Parent Meeting October, 10 2012 Blame Nobody. Expect Nothing. Do Something.

2. The Essence of Team Sports “Team sports are really difficult things. Sometimes your team wins because of you, sometimes in spite of you, and sometimes it’s like you’re not even there. That’s the reality of the team game. Then at one point in my career…something wonderful happened, I don’t know why or how…but I came to understand what “team” meant. In meant although I didn’t get a hit or make a great defensive play, I could impact my team in an incredible and consistent way. I learned I could impact my team by caring first and foremost about the team’s success and not my own. I don’t mean by rooting for us like a typical fan. Fans are fickle. I mean really care, really care about the team….about “us”. I became less selfish, less lazy, and less sensitive to negative comments. When I gave up me, I became more. I became a captain, a leader, a better person and I came to understand that life is a team game…and you know what?.. I’ve found most people aren’t team players. They don’t realize life is the only game in town. Someone should tell them. It has made all the difference in the world to me.” Don Mattingly

3. Website www.dowlingcatholicboysbasketball.weebly.com All information shared today is posted on program website. Site will be updated each week by the coaching staff. Please use the site as a reference for you and your son.

4. Dowling Catholic Boys Basketball 2012-13 Coaching Staff Varsity Staff Mike O’Connor Head Varsity Coach Jim Nahas Assistant Varsity Coach Will Nailor Assistant Varsity Coach Sophomore Staff Nick Wagner Head Sophomore Coach Mike Pipho Assistant Sophomore Coach Freshmen Staff Kevin O’Hare Head Freshmen Coach Barry Adams Assistant Freshmen Coach Adam Riley Vol. Assistant Coach

5. Program Mission Statement The Dowling Catholic basketball program is committed to and will serve as an extension to the mission of Dowling Catholic High School. We will use basketball as an educational tool to help facilitate the growth and maturity of our student athletes physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well as use basketball to provide our student athletes the opportunity to practice life skills and Christ like values. In essence, we will strive to assist all involved to become better people.

6. Program Vision • Create a program built on selflessness, • attitude, humility, effort, and character in effort to help • our athletes become better citizens • Work to establish solid relationships with our • athletes and the parents of our athletes • Emphasize communication, punctuality, and • teamwork • Create an atmosphere of discipline, • accountability, and responsibility • Act with class and integrity

7. Program Goals • Create a basketball program the Dowling Catholic Community can be proud of • Form strong, long lasting relationships with members of the program • Use basketball as a vehicle for teaching life lessons • Create a positive experience that will be remembered throughout life

8. Program Goals • Provide the opportunity for growth and development through a disciplined structure • Compete for conference championships, state tournament births, and state championships • Assist each athlete in continuing to build • faith life

9. Basketball Philosophy • EFFORT + DEFENSE + REBOUNDING= SUCCESS • Defensive Philosophy • Man-to-man defensive team (ball pressure and off ball positioning) • Will mix in different defenses based upon personnel and opponent

10. Basketball Philosophy • Offensive Philosophy • Offensively we want to run, run, run • Our goal is to push on made and missed baskets • Working to get a lay-up before defense sets • Motion Offense – Great shot discipline • Motion offense allows players to use creative abilities along with instincts • Great deal of time will be devoted to fundamental development

11. Player Expectations • Represent family, school, program, and TEAM with class and dignity • Work hard- On/ off court • Be on time • Be responsible • Be accountable • Communicate • TEAM First Attitude

12. Coaches Expectations • Assist in instilling accountability, responsibility, communication, and • punctuality in student athletes • Create an atmosphere of teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship • Treat each player with dignity and respect • Represent Dowling Catholic with class • Emphasize the importance of academics • Reward effort and behavior

13. Coaches Expectations • Be demanding and intense, but keep the game simple • Be willing to confront incorrect behavior and less than full effort • In all times do what is best for the TEAM • Strive to create a positive experience for all athletes involved in • program

14. Parents Role • What we need from our parents in order to be successful: • 1. ENCOURAGEMENT • What to encourage: • Hard work • Communication • Punctuality • Accept Responsibility • Accountability • TEAM first attitude

15. Parents Role • 2. SUPPORT • How to show support: • Release your child to the coaches and the team • Avoid questioning coaching decisions or performance of team • members • Avoid making excuses for your son • Accept the goals, roles, and achievements of your son • Attend program functions (parent mtgs., games, banquet, etc.) • Encourage and support all team members

16. Program Divisions • Varsity- 15 Players • Comprised of 9th grade, sophomore, junior, and seniors • Skill level matters more than grade level • 21 game schedule + District/ State play • JV games played by members of varsity team that do not play in varsity games • 8-10 game JV schedule • Practice time- 3:15-5:15 (Week Nights)

17. Program Divisions • Sophomore – 15 Players • Comprised of sophomores and 9th graders • 21 game schedule • Sophomores who don’t receive much playing time may be eligible to play in JV contests (Need based) • Practice time- 5:15-7:15 (Week Nights)

18. Program Divisions • 9th Grade- 24 Players • Two teams- A and a B • A Team comprised of best 12 players • B Team comprised of next best 12 players • Players may move to and from the A or B team throughout the season (Performance/ Need) • Each team will play a separate schedule • Practice Time- 7:15-9:15 (Week Nights)

19. Tryouts and Cuts • Tryouts will take place November 12-14 • At conclusion of 3rd day of tryouts, coaches will meet with each individual and inform athletes of their status • Cuts will take place at every level • As a staff, cuts are dreaded- toughest thing we have to do • If your son is cut this season, he is still welcome to participate with us next summer and tryout again next winter

20. Tryouts and Cuts • Goal is to keep: • Varsity 15 • Sophomore 15 • Freshmen 24 • ***Coaching staff reserves right to change number of kids kept*** • If more than 15 are kept at varsity level: • Uniforms will have to be shared • We will form a rotation of uniforms for those sharing • Suit 16 during regular season • 15 during post season (State Rule) • Roster can be changed in post season from game to game

21. Tryouts and Cuts • When evaluating your sons ability to be a member of a team, the coaches will use the following criteria: • Attitude, effort, trust, and coachability • Ability to follow school/ team rules • Basketball ability level relative to your position and your • role • Commitment level

22. Playing Time Philosophy • Things to remember: • Playing time will be earned, place to earn it is in practice • Starting or playing major/ minor minutes in years past has no bearing on minutes played in current year • In all situations the coaching staff will play the players we feel give us the best chance to be successful

23. Playing Time Philosophy • Playing time can change from game to game, week to • week • Important that athletes stay prepared and take advantage of opportunity when it presents it self (Things will change throughout the year) • Playing time at all levels will not be equal • ***9th/ 10th Grade- Coaching staff expected to give each athlete opportunity at some point throughout season***

24. Guidelines for Handling Concerns • Please call me with any questions or concerns you have- Happy to talk! • Please understand that if you call you must be prepared for honesty • I would prefer a phone call to an email • Will not discuss other members of the team or philosophy • Please DO NOT call me at night unless it’s an emergency- FAMILY TIME • Best time to reach me is between 7:30-10:30 am • If I don’t answer leave a message and I’ll get back to you quickly

25. Captainship • 1st 5 weeks captains will be selected by team on a weekly basis • Selections will occur on Monday, and three kids will be selected for each week • On the Monday of the 6th week of the season, the team will select captains for the remainder of season • Any team member can be captain

26. Game Day Attire • Proper game day attire is required for all levels • Attire is to be worn throughout school day and to and from game • Dress shirt and tie- SHIRT TUCKED IN

27. Transportation Varsity • Transportation will be provided for all road games • Athletes expected to travel to and from with the team • JV participants will be responsible for own transportation to away JV games Sophomore and Freshmen • Will travel together to all away contests • Athletes and their families will be responsible for providing transportation home • Dowling Catholic will provide transportation home from games outside the Metro area (Ft. Dodge, Marshalltown)

28. Good Conduct Policy Any athlete who abuses the Dowling Catholic good conduct policy will receive consequences from the school for either, first, second, or third offense In addition to the school’s consequences, the athlete will also receive the following consequences from the basketball program: • First Offense- 10 Last Gasps, 10 Rutgers, 10 Sidelines • Second Offense- 20 Last Gasps, 20 Rutgers, 20 Sidelines • Third Offense- Dismissal from program

29. Good Conduct Policy All consequences are non-negotiable and will be enforced in-season and during the off-season. These consequences are the minimum each athlete could receive. Coaching staff reserves the right to add additional consequences.

30. Miscellaneous Items • Doctor’s appointments, family vacations, Kairos, etc…….. • Thanksgiving Break- All practices will conclude by noon on • November 21 and will start again at 8:00 am on Friday • November 23 • Christmas Break- December 22- December 26 • Varsity team masses (School and Community) • Fee- $170 (After Tryouts)/ Physicals (Due Nov. 1) • Weekly grade checks / Weekly email/ Lettering Policy

31. Equipment • At start of the year each program member will be given: • Uniform Home and away (2)- All • Shooting shirt (10th/ Varsity) • Practice gear- All • Travel Bag (Varsity Only) • Each athlete is responsible for all equipment for duration of the season. At year’s end all equipment will be turned back into the program. • ***Team Shoe***

32. High School vs. AAU • Both basketball opportunities are valuable to a players development and future opportunity • Why do kids participate in AAU? High School? • My opinion from talking to our athletes: • AAU (Exposure, earn scholarship, play against great competition) • High School (Team atmosphere, win a state championship) • Individual Mindset vs. Team Mindset (Individual Accolades/ Stats vs. Winning/ Losing) • In AAU wins and losses really don’t mean much……in high school every game is important….we are only guaranteed 22!!

33. High School vs. AAU • Things to remember: • Success in AAU does not guarantee success or playing time in the high school program • AAU has changed…….used to be more elite, now anyone can play as long as they are willing to pay the money • Style of play……..our program will typically play with more structure and discipline than an AAU program…..kids will/ may play differently here than they do on the AAU circuit

34. Schedules/ Handouts Practice/ Game Schedule Program Absolutes Football Playoff Schedule Clothing Order