Basketball

Both Carter and Rylan are playing basketball this winter.  We have never loved the league Carter plays with (EWA - East Williamson Athletics) but it's super convenient and most of the kids at the boys' school play in that league.  We decided to keep Carter in the league but have Rylan try out the Nolensville league.  We initially thought we could get him on a team with a friend whose dad is coaching but Rylan got drafted in the first full round (there were a couple of kids picked in a small round before him if a coach didn't have an assistant coach).  Even though that didn't work out, Rylan lucked out and got a great coach.  He's actually the grandfather of one of the players and is an unpaid assistant coach for the Brentwood Academy boys varsity team.  So he actually knows what he's doing - he's very patient with the kids, knows what he needs to teach them, and also how to teach them (there are still a few that are unteachable though!)

Carter knew about half the kids on his team already.  One boy (Zack) is in his class.  Zack is probably the strongest player and Carter is the second (though not by much).  I think playing in the ultra-competitive BA Flight league this summer (in which Carter's team got killed in every game) made Carter a lot better.  Plus being a little older.  He's dribbling so much better, has a much more fluid layup, and gets things like pulling up and taking a shot or ducking around someone with their arms up to take a shot.

Carter's coaches are okay.  They have never coached before and their kids have never played before.  So while they lack experience, at least they aren't the jerks that only want to win (and thus play their kids very unequally - the worst kids only play the minimum required amount) and get nuts during the games (the main reason we don't love EWA).

Rylan is also the second best player on his team  The best player, Asher, just looks so natural and fluid while playing.  But Rylan is doing amazing and impressing us every game.  He is an especially good at defense.  He is really good at guarding his man and watching the ball.

Both boys could still work on their confidence and aggressiveness but they are doing great!

Rylan's team is 3-2.  I think that has a lot to do with having a good coach this season.  Carter's team is 1-4.  I think their record is partly due to their coaches - they didn't draft very well and they weren't prepared for the level of competition that is in this league.  During the initial practices they were telling the kids that other players can't steal the ball from them when they are dribbling.  I have no idea where they got that idea!  They are trying but they really haven't taught our kids anything this season and don't have the best plays.  But the league is also weird in that teams are formed via a draft but the age group spans two years and coaches can keep a team together in the second year.

Both boys are having fun and ultimately that is all that matters.  They've both scored every game except one each (I think).

I haven't taken an videos of Carter yet but here are a couple of Rylan ...