My 9 yr old son was fortunate enough to attend a camp held by Kane last summer. He really found a sport he loves and since then has been practicing every week 2x for 1.5-2 hours and now we are practicing 3x a week.

Unfortunately since the camp I haven't been able to find a coach. The coordinator at our gym is only available during working hours. I don't know of anyone else that teaches a junior program in South Austin. I'm pretty much his teacher. Problem is I've only been playing 18 months myself and I'm a B player at best.

Anyone have suggestions on what I can do to find him a coach or further his game? I think if I could at least find an extensive list of drills it would help greatly.

I wouldn't worry so much as finding a rball coach for your son as much as I would just enjoy the time playing with him. I'm sure you already do ... just wanted to say that.

I started both my kids at 5yrs ... and it wasn't til around 12-13 for each that I really started teaching them specific things. Prior to that it was just playing and having fun. To get good at rball, I mean freaky good ... it takes a passion AND some kind of historical connection (aka right place at the right time). When I was a kid, it was I had my best friend who was just as good and we fed on each other ... ala Sudsy-Jason style ... stick Ruben in the mix and I'd been kickin Hogan's ass around the court :)

Nonetheless ... you kid is *9* ... enjoy yourself.

OK ... I did more with my kids ... I took them to the USAR Elite training camp in CO/OTC ... as a seasoned veteran, I went to the Level 1/2 coach training camp at CO/OTC. I learned how to coach my kids ... other than that ... I, like you, have sought out other coaches for them - Winterton, Brownlee, Gudinas, Swain and others.

Keep looking ... talk to Leo Vasquez in Arlington ... he probably set up the Kane clinic. Mike Guidry lives in Brownsville, if you interested - look him up. Dave Peck lives around there ... excellent player/coach ... coached Swain.

But OVERALL ... have a great time just playing with your son at this age. Don't push him too much ... he'll probably go to track in HS anyway :)

gweller

My 9 yr old son was fortunate enough to attend a camp held by Kane last summer. He really found a sport he loves and since then has been practicing every week 2x for 1.5-2 hours and now we are practicing 3x a week.

Unfortunately since the camp I haven't been able to find a coach. The coordinator at our gym is only available during working hours. I don't know of anyone else that teaches a junior program in South Austin. I'm pretty much his teacher. Problem is I've only been playing 18 months myself and I'm a B player at best.

Anyone have suggestions on what I can do to find him a coach or further his game? I think if I could at least find an extensive list of drills it would help greatly.

PM me Email and Number and I would be glad to call you and give you options.


Manny

Spidey

I wouldn't worry so much as finding a rball coach for your son as much as I would just enjoy the time playing with him.

Thanks for the input Spidey. We definitely enjoy playing together. What I've done to keep it fun for him is take many of the drills I've seen Kane and others do and make a game out of it where he gets points based on where he hits it (lower for more points). He loves drills like this because it allows him to "beat his highest score". I usually do things like that and then we play games for 30 minutes

I would be really surprised if he plays any other sport because we have tried many differents ones and he really does not like team sports for some reason. While racquetball is expensive and will require a lot of driving around, he loves it so I'm willing to put the time and money into it.

that's interesting that he enjoys the drills ... every kid is different. My kids just loved to play and when they got around 10-11 I started introducing strategies to them ... but that was prolly still too young. We actually NEVER did drills.

Drills were always a personal thing for me ... I made up most of the drills I do. For me, its a time to be on the court and connect with the racquetball gods. Very therapeutic. Now that I remember, I did do some drills with them but not much ... I'd give them the same set-up over and over ... but REALLY boring. I can do the same or better during play ... and its more effective.

But, for me, drilling is very important and actually very enjoyable. Throughout my 40yrs of competitive play ... I prolly spent half the time drilling. Definitely obsessed.

gweller

I would be really surprised if he plays any other sport because we have tried many differents ones and he really does not like team sports for some reason.

To me this is one of the most attractive things about the game. It's not that I'm not a social critter, but I played team sports throughout school, and the dynamics of them were just...wrong. Tthere were elements of politics and favoritism, and your enjoyment and progress in the sport was too dependent on others...some of whom were competent...others, not so much.

Racquetball is a warrior game, and will appeal to many of that level alone. The subtle intricacies come to you later...kind of a bonsai sort of sport...lol.

Aaah, Spidey...you sound like you treat the court the same way I do, as a place of reflection, and peace. A place where you can at least enjoy the illusion of control...yes?

Someday SpideyBud...someday...we'll tee it up and enjoy a game or 5.

Q