CoachRorie

Hey Coaches, Anyone hosting or know of any Middle School Basketball tournaments? We are in Clarksville, TN, 45mins north of Nashville. I prefer 1 or 2 day tournaments with a 3 game minimum. We are willing to travel up 45mins to an hr one way. We are looking at Friday, Saturday tournaments. If we can't do that we also have 2 games we are trying to fill. One date is January 11, 2016, it's our bye. We play on Mondays and Thursdays and we could be willing to squeeze in another day.

Both the boys' and girls' teams are looking for games. We have byes on December 1 and January 12, if the bye dates do not work out we are willing to travel on non-bye dates, as well. We prefer to travel to your school, since we are hosting this year's District Tournament. We typically have games already scheduled on Mondays and Thursdays from November 8-January 16. Please feel free to email me at richard.rorie@cmcss.net or call/text me 931-809-0672 cell or work 931-553-2080 ext.2181.

I've coached Middle School basketball for 7 years and have recorded the stats since day 1. I do believe that the stats can tell a lot about our team and show us where we can improve. Would it be a good idea to place a chart in the locker room to keep up w/ players' and the team's stats? For example, for every 5 or 10 pts, rebs, ast, stl, etc, they would get a basketball sticker or check. I'll also have categories where they shoot above 75% on FT, less than 2 TOs, etc. And team stats such as keep them below 35pts, less than 10 TOs, FT% above 75%, etc. I want them to strive to do better w/o worrying about individual stats. I realize there will be ones who don't score but there will be categories for them as well.

sls and tenntwin, Thank you, very very much for your input. I've only been coaching for 7 years and we had not always been participating in the TMSAA tournament. But prior to it, we didn't know of any tournaments and would just stay home, season done and pick up the following season. But now, we have been participating the last 5-6 years. We've had our up and down years, last year being our best in the tournament finishing 2nd. I do agree that there are a lot of limitations, such as when you can start practice, how many games you can play, etc. But aren't they there to help protect the kids and us, as coaches? I understand why you would want to practice year round to better improve your kids. But at the end of the season, I like my break off and so do they. Plus many of them play AAU and other sports. Like I said I'm still new and I know a lot of you have coached way more games/seasons than I have. I'm going to do some more research and I really do appreciate your input. So other than the limitations, anything else(that is a big deal)? Thanks again.

I want to add some new blood to the old Proverbial question: "Why are schools are not participating in the TMSAA tournament?" Is it distance? Cost? Tradition? Too competitive? Lack of competition? I realize that TMSAA doesn't recognize any "State Champions" in any sport. There are other local tournaments you guys are accustomed to such as TNT and the James C Haile Tournament. I have nothing against them, I'm sure there are some very great teams in those tournaments. But if you want to play against teams that have won their local tournaments or placed in the top 4, then have to win against other area teams that either won or finished ontop, just to make it to the elite 8. It only seems that any coach who wants the most competitive & proven tournament would go w/ the TMSAA tournament. I wish we could let the winners from each tournament square off at the end of each to declare a true "Champion."

2/7/12 4:15 Dickson Middle vs. Stewarts Creek 5:30 Blackman vs. Kenwood 6:45 Mt. Juliet vs. Christiana 8:00 Siegel vs. Northeast 2/9/12 winners of DMS v. SC play at 6:45 winners of BMS v. KMS play at 6:45 winners of MJ v. CMS play at 8 winners of NEMS v. Siegel play at 8 Championship 2/11 at 1:45