Start Smart Basketball scores a slam
dunk with Brunswick Parks and Recreation’s (Maine) multi-level program
Community teaches youth basketball through progressive system of advancement
Oftentimes a child’s first sports experience is through an organized community league. Unfortunately, these first-timers are often forced into competitive situations without first receiving a proper introduction on the correct skills and movements needed to effectively play that sport.
To give a child the best chance at succeeding in, and enjoying, a particular sport, a proper age-appropriate period of instruction is crucial. Rather than simply throwing them out on the court and then keeping score, experts agree that the best way to start kids out in sports is through a progressive program of varying levels.
With the help of the Start Smart Sports Development program, this is exactly what the youth basketball players of Brunswick Parks and Recreation (Maine) experience when they sign up to shoot some hoops.
“We want parents to understand how kids learn gross motor skills and how they can teach them,” said Aaron Cropley, program assistant for Brunswick Parks and Recreation.
Brunswick Parks and Recreation tiers their basketball program into progressive levels based on age, so naturally the Start Smart program is a perfect fit for their beginning level.
“We think it’s a great way to introduce parents and kids to the world of sports in a way that allows the parents to understand how kids learn sports,” Cropley said.
Basketball beginners ages 3-5 start with Start Smart Basketball. Like all Start Smart programs, kids learn skills and movements in a non-competitive, educational environment with the help of mom or dad. Specially modified equipment for the children helps to instill fundamentals and proper technique.
“That’s one of the nice things about the Start Smart program is that it allows for progression,” Cropley said. “We have parents whose reason they do it is to spend time with their child.”
After that, first and second graders advance to Brunswick’s “Kids on the Court” program. Here, children take turns visiting drill stations set up on a basketball court that focus on recreating game situations and developing various skills.
Third and fourth graders play organized games, although no score is kept. Beyond that are competitive leagues played on full size basketball courts. By the time a child reaches that level, they are more than ready to test out what they have learned out on the court.
Because basketball is one of the few sports that can be played during cold Maine winters, indoor basketball is a very popular sport in the area. Luckily, Start Smart is a comprehensive program that is easy to start up anywhere.
“The real benefit for us as a department is it’s sort of like one-stop shopping,” Cropley said. “The instructions are easy to follow and the equipment is age appropriate, so it just makes it easy to adopt the program.”
Although Cropley advertises that Start Smart clinics consist of 12 parent-child groups, oftentimes that number doubles. Luckily, the trusted staff at Brunswick Parks and Recreation is always quick to offer instructors a helping hand when needed.
“We’re pretty active as a recreation department, we do a lot of youth sports,” Cropley said. “We’ve been doing Start Smart long enough now that we’re getting the same kids coming back, but they’re doing it earlier.”
The way in which Brunswick Parks and Recreation utilizes Start Smart is a perfect example of how easily it can be implemented into any existing youth program. All Brunswick had to do was order the manuals and equipment and Start Smart fit right in.
Redstone Arsenal Youth Sports and
Fitness (Ala.) youngsters getting proper introduction to sports
Army base uses Start Smart to meet parent
demand for sports programming for the younger children
Mike Gates, Child, Youth and School Services (CYSS) sports and fitness director for Redstone Arsenal (Ala.), says that most parents living on his army base want to see their children playing organized sports as early as possible. However, Gates has never been a big fan of placing kids into stressful, competitive situations at a very young age. So, he uses the Start Smart Sports Development programs instead – with great success.
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Start Smart is perfect for communities like Redstone Arsenal’s because it provides an organized athletic activity for those enthusiastic sports parents and their children, but it does so in a non-competitive, educational atmosphere.
Gates regularly holds Start Smart programs in basketball, baseball and soccer for the 3- to 5-year-olds living on base – with soccer ranking as the most popular – and hopes to eventually add flag football and tennis.
“I think it is great for a child's first experience with organized sports,” Gates said. “I am a firm believer that as a society, our youth sports have gotten too competitive and the bulk of the children are not learning fundamentals. Kids, too often, learn to ‘play the game’ before they learn the fundamentals.”
Gates learned about Start Smart at a professional conference in 2003. Already facing demands for a sports program for younger children, Redstone Arsenal decided to give it a try. Years later, the program is thriving on the military base.
“A lot of the 3- and 4-year-olds would not be involved in anything if it weren't for Start Smart,” Gates said.
What makes Start Smart so unique is that it gets eager parents, like the ones at Redstone Arsenal, involved with their child’s sports experience. During the program parents move with their child throughout the different skill stations, helping them along the way.
“Most of the parents who have participated love the program and sign up for the next class,” Gates said. “Some are a little hesitant at first but usually end up liking the parent participation concept.”
Gates says that the children’s improvement at the end of the six-week program is always noticeable. Every group usually has a few standout future athletes who pick up the skills with relative ease. But Gates’ favorite part is when the kids who at first don’t want to participate don’t want to leave on the last day.
Start Smart has been an asset to Redstone Arsenal’s youth program in other ways, as well. Not only do young children now have a program of their own, but Start Smart is also enriching the older recreation leagues. Now that Redstone Arsenal has been running the program for several years, many of the early Start Smart participants have advanced to more competitive play.
Even though these young athletes have moved on, whenever they see Gates in public they still yell, “Hey Coach Mike!”
Start Smart exceeds expectations at Centre Region Parks & Recreation (Pa.)
Pennsylvania recreation program forced to create waiting list for popular youth sports skill development program
When Centre Region Parks & Recreation (Pa.) started using Start Smart Sports Development programs in 2005 they knew that they were addressing a need in their community. Although they were quite certain the program would be successful, they had no idea it would take off like it did.
“It has gone beyond what we anticipated. We have a waiting list for soccer every time it is offered,” said Jeff Hall, recreation supervisor for Centre Region Parks & Recreation. “We have more than 2,000 kids that play in our local youth leagues each year. Every time we offer soccer, which is about 10 classes per year, we have waiting lists.”
Hall looked to Start Smart after receiving multiple parent requests for an organized sports program for younger kids. Designed by top motor skill development specialists in the field of youth sports, Start Smart targets children ages 3-5 and the program provides them the chance to perform motor skill tasks that gradually build confidence, while having fun at the same time. So far, Centre Region has run Start Smart Golf, Football, Basketball and Soccer.
“We got involved to fill a need for kids entering local youth leagues,” Hall said. “We had parents asking about programs for younger children.”
Since introducing the program in his community, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
So far Hall is impressed with the progress his Start Smart participants are making.
“The knowledge the kids gain, as well as the parents, is invaluable when they move on to the youth leagues,” he said. “Most have more skills than the other kids in the leagues who didn’t participate in the Start Smart programs.”
Although soccer has been the most popular program, Hall has noticed the largest improvements in golf. Some children begin Start Smart Golf without having ever even touched a golf club before. By the time they’re done with the program they’ve learned how to swing properly and are versed on all golf history, rules and etiquette.
Although Hall is pleased that his community is helping to raise better athletes, he’s still all about the fun and participation.
“The best part is when a parent comes up to me and says, ‘Thanks, my son/daughter really enjoyed this program,’” he said.
Start Smart a perfect fit at MacDill AFB
MacDill Air Force Base has been using the Start Smart Sports Development Programs with great success since 1994
Like many American military bases, MacDill Air Force Base (Fla.) has long been an avid supporter and member of the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS). Since 1988 they have been training their youth sports coaches through NAYS’ volunteer coaches education program, the National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA).
Always eager to try new programs offered by NAYS, MacDill began using the Start Smart Sports Development Programs in 1994. Nearly 15 years later, Start Smart is still going strong at MacDill and the older sports leagues are reaping the benefits.
“Start Smart allows me to introduce youth sports and skill acquisition at an early age,” said Steve Bowlin, youth sports and fitness director for MacDill Air Force Base. “I can see the difference in the skill ability of those kids who participated in Start Smart before they begin our sports leagues.”
Many U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine bases utilize this innovative program that offers sports skills instruction while also providing a valuable bonding experience for parents and children.
The program has proven to be a perfect fit for military bases, in part because of its structured curriculum and its comprehensive package of instructional equipment and materials. Because youth sports leagues are often so popular on military bases, military parents like the idea of their children getting started with sports the right way.
“I think it’s definitely a good opening for children and parents as well,” said Bowlin. “The key is to keep it exciting for both.”
Start Smart provides a great way for children living on military bases to interact with other kids, as well as an opportunity for parents to interact with other adults. Because military families are so often athletically minded, the program also provides an invaluable foundation for maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.
MacDill currently utilizes Start Smart Soccer, Basketball and Baseball, with soccer ranking as the most popular.
“Soccer is the biggest program that I have,” Bowlin said. “It seems that running and kicking is the easiest motor skill for a 3- to 4-year-old to accomplish. Soccer doesn’t require that a child be short or tall, it’s all about skill with the ball and running and kicking.”
Bowlin enjoys teaching the kids new skills, but points out that the program is also about acclimating adults to their role as a youth sports parent.
“I believe skill acquisition at an early age is good for any child and it leads to early success in youth sports,” he said. “It is also important in starting parents off on the right step toward becoming good coaches to their kids and placing the priority on participation and not winning. Our parents love the program and many wish it was longer than six weeks.”
Although soccer is the most popular sport, it seems as though baseball is the game in which the children have made the biggest strides. Bowlin noticed considerable improvement in the recognition of bases, where to throw the ball and how to hit off a tee.
At the conclusion of their Start Smart sessions children celebrate with a small party and receive “graduation” certificates.
By using Start Smart, MacDill Air Force Base is no doubt working to create a culture of healthy and educated athletes – something they deserve to be saluted for.
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Tennis anyone?
