Sports in Peril, 18u National Coaches

#2 posting 5.13.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SPORTS IN PERIL
The StarTribune is starting a three part look at high school athletics. Today the focus is on the financial side. Some schools may not be fielding teams soon due to $$$ problems.
This is what is happening---with higher costs and $320 fees to play parents will expect their kid to play. What is going to happen is the 7th-12th player will fade away. They won't spend the money to sit on the pine. Depth will be an issue.
Also an issue will be the youth programs. Right now it takes $$$ to play. There are kids, I am convinced, that are falling through the cracks because they don't have the ka-ching to play. Good athletes are literally going undiscovered.
A smart coach will scour the elementary gyms and test out which youngsters show promise with speed and strength tests, and who has a natural competitive aggressiveness. They will then steer them into basketball.

PRO CAREER
The Badgers' Jolene Anderson has had success with the Connecticut Sun in the preseason.

SEASON WRAP
Illinois looks back at their season which featured honorable mention all American Jenna Smith from Bloomington Kennedy.

18U NATIONAL TEAM
The coaches have been named for the USA 18u National girls basketball team: Carol Owens (Northern Illinois) will be the head coach. Assisting will be Joe McKeown (George Washington) and Terri Mitchell (Marquette). That team will be headed to Buenos Aires, Argentina for FIBA Americas Championship July 23-27.

Next up: later today with three more out & abouts: Metro Stars White vs Southern Minne Magic; MN Stars DeWitt vs Stangs; and MN Stars Jihad (Lady Cats) vs Gym Rats
go to gbbrecruit2.blogspot.com for the other out & abouts from last weekend.