Arcadia Youth Basketball’s AdmiHer Program for Girls

At Arcadia Youth Basketball, we believe in championing all of our athletes, and we recognize that our female athletes are often most successful when they are coached together and  AYB is taking concrete steps to support the young girls in programs.  Arcadia Youth Basketball is proud to launch AdmiHER, the only all-girls youth basketball program in Arcadia!  AdmiHER was established with a mission to support the growth of girls’ basketball through coaching, mentorship, and health and wellness programming. 

Who Can Play?

AdmiHer is designed for girls, ages kindergarten through 5th grade.  The programs include both introductory and developmental levels and are open to any skill level.  No experience is necessary, and we also welcome young women excited for real competition.

Meet the Coaches

April Schilling- WNBA Assistant Coach for the Dallas Wings. 

AYB is thrilled to have the knowledge and experience April brings to our programs.  April Schilling played in two Final Fours for Pat Summit and spent time playing in the WNBA.  As an assistant coach in the WNBA, April has coached players such as Lauren Cox and Erica Wheeler.  She is currently the Girls National Team Head Coach at Bella VIsta College Preparatory.   

Sydney Wiese- WNBA Player for the Phoenix Mercury. 

Sydney Wise brings an amazing skill set to the AYB programs.  She was a four time All-Pac 12 team point guard and third team All American as a member of the Oregon state Beavers.  Sydney was drafted with the 11th overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft.  As an Arizona native, Sydney is honored to give back to the young girls in the community in which she grew up.  

Structure and Goals

AdmiHER is a great way for girls to learn fundamentals together in a fun innovative environment from some of the best coaches in the business.  This program follows the same successful structure that makes AYB so rewarding.  Our athletes learn the fundamentals and develop basketball IQ to truly reach their maximum potential.  Our training sessions focus on a variety of fundamental skills to improve the athlete’s skill set, understanding of the game and confidence. 

Register Today!

At Arcadia Youth Basketball, we aim to form healthy athletes and advance the role of women and young girls in sports.  We have an amazing team of professional coaches, including WNBA players to help guide your child and set them up for success.  We offer consistent fun and high-quality athletic education allowing each individual the ability to grow at their own pace with dependable support.  Check out our programs today, spring sessions are the perfect time to give AdmiHer a try. 

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Be Part of Our Team: Arcadia Youth Basketball Sponsorships

Have you noticed all the sponsorship banners hanging in our gym?  Would you like to add your business or family name?  Now is the perfect time to secure your sponsorship for 2023.  The opportunity to sponsor the work we do at AYB not only benefits our programs and the youth of this community, but it benefits you as well.

Why AYB has sponsorships? 

Sponsorships are essential to helping us continue to make improvements to our gym, train our coaches, add to our programs, and provide scholarships.  For example, over the past years, we have been able to replace the gym floor, bring on new highly qualified staff, and start programs such as AdmirHer, our all-girls youth program run by WNBA players.  At AYB, we do things differently; we hire our own coaches and run skills-based programs.  We believe in the development of the players and employ our own coaches to offer a higher standard of coaching that is effective and incredibly enjoyable to our athletes.  Sponsorships allow us to continue working with high standards while offering scholarships to underprivileged kids.  We believe everyone deserves to play. 

Sponsorship Opportunities and Benefits

Ad on our Website 

Placing an ad on our website will include a picture of your choice, text with details, and a link to your website.  We see an average of 100 parents and kids visiting our website each week to view schedules, find updates and view players of the week.  Our website is frequently accessed as people seek out information on our unique programs and highly qualified coaches.  Your business will receive recognition as a sponsor, and with a link directly to your own website, traffic will increase. Cost: $150 per year 

Banner in the Gymnasium

Step it up to the next level with a banner! Place your banner up in the gym for all to see during games and practices.  Along with AYB, Monte Vista also hosts men’s leagues, open gyms, youth training, church events, and more.   Get as many as 1,000 eyes on your business per session.  Banner sponsorship includes an ad on our website (over 5,000 visitors per year). 

Cost: $500 for six months/ $1,000 for the full year 

AYB Sponsor

This is it!  Maximize the opportunity and contribution to our programs.  By becoming an AYB sponsor, you will experience the benefits of having your banner up in the gym for all eyes to see during our games and practices, as well as men’s leagues, open gyms, youth training, church events, and more.  You will be recognized on our website with over 5,000 visitors per year.   Plus, being an AYB Sponsor pays for all league fees for a full calendar year for your son(s) and/or daughter(s), up to 3 players.  Cost; $3,000

Thank You to Our Current Sponsors

We would like to recognize our current sponsors.  Arcadia Youth Basketball (AYB) would not be possible without you.   The game of basketball can be a powerful tool in developing our youth, and we aim to provide the youth of Arcadia a place to learn, develop, and grow through their love of basketball.  Thank you for allowing us to bring our programs to the neighborhood of Arcadia and making it accessible to all who want to play.  

THANK YOU! 

• Goldie’s Motors
• The Thunderbirds
• Fox Restaurant Concepts 
• Gulfstream Pictures
• Clark Street Financial 

Join Us!

We can’t wait to make you part of our team!  To become a sponsor, visit our website or email Matt Gordon at arcadiayouthbasketball@gmail.com.  

Arcadia Youth Basketball is a community-based basketball program created to provide the neighborhood of Arcadia (Phoenix, AZ) with a basketball program that focuses on skill development, team training, and league games, all while providing a fun and safe environment.  Visit our website and check out our winter rec league or club teams.  Experience the difference of AYB Basketball! 

Growth Mindset for Better Performance

How do you respond to trying something new?  Are you up for challenging yourself to new things?  Do you try things once and then decide they are too hard?  Do you find yourself worrying you may get things wrong?  Trying new things is actually a workout for your brain.  Your brain is like a muscle and can actually create new pathways when you deliberately challenge yourself.  How you respond to new challenges says a lot about your mindset.  

Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset

The way in which you view your own abilities not only affects the way you feel but also shapes what you achieve.  Your mindset determines whether you stick to new habits and go on to develop new skills.   A growth mindset believes that abilities can be improved through effort and learning.  With a growth mindset, you will embrace challenges, build confidence, and welcome feedback.  Alternatively, a fixed mindset believes abilities cannot change; if you are not good at something, that is it; it’s just not something you are good at.  With a fixed mindset, you will avoid challenges and negatively compare yourself with others.   Studies have shown that individuals with a growth mindset experience fewer behavioral and psychological problems and have a reduced risk of burnout.  A growth mindset promotes motivation and increases performance. 

How to Build a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is an overall way of looking at life, learning, and challenges. You will not be able to achieve a growth mindset 100% of the time, but a few keys can help.  First, be open to feedback and able to recognize when you might be in a fixed mindset space.  Remember it is ok to be wrong, and you may not be able to solve the problem or master the skill yet. The focus should be more on the process than perfection.  We have found it’s beneficial to praise our athletes for their efforts over natural talent.  We encourage discussion about when things are difficult and try a variety of approaches to find the solution.  This not only helps with mindset and motivation but encourages teamwork and problem-solving skills. 

In particular, with children, it’s important to encourage positivity and keep their minds open to possibilities.  Mindset can be shaped with daily affirmations and proper focus. One idea is to use movement as a way to create new pathways through the brain.  Something as simple as a yoga pose can reinforce the idea that you are a warrior, you are strong, you are focused.  Try starting the morning with a warrior pose to remind yourself you are hardworking or a chair pose to gain focus. 

Join us in 2023 

Maybe it’s time to try something new and start working on your growth mindset.   2023 is a great time to try one of our programs at AYB.  Once we are working together in our AYB Recreational or Club Programs, we include your brain as a muscle we will train. Our coaches know when to push and challenge our athletes as we motivate and focus on the possibilities ahead.  Sign up for a winter session or contact us with questions and keep your brain growing. 

The Power of Positivity

True or False? Sports are 100 percent mental?  TRUE! 

You may have heard the saying sports are 90% mental and 10% physical, but the truth is our thoughts influence actions and our actions influence thoughts.  You cannot achieve in sports without the mental aspects of the game.  The never-ending cycle of thoughts and actions links poor performance to an athlete’s thoughts.  “Make sure your worst enemy doesn’t live between your own two ears.” —Laird Hamilton

GET YOUR MIND RIGHT 

On the sideline of a sports game you will hear phrases like “clear your mind”, “don’t over think it”, “pay attention”  “focus” “concentrate”, “relax and just play”.  Getting your mind in the right place is key to success on the court or field.   So how do you get into the positive mindset?  We have a few suggestions that might help.  

Improve your mood-  Try playing music, laughing with a friend, get some fresh air, or relax with a book.  Any activity to get your mind off the negative and shift your thoughts will help. 

Positive Self-Talk-  This can be as simple as a catch phrase you say to yourself.  Think of it as your mantra.  “Power”,   “Focus”,   “I am Ready”…whatever inspires you. 

Visualize Your Success-  Imagine a moment when you achieve success.  Use all your senses.  Hear the crowd cheering, smell the air, feel the ball in your hands, see the shot go in, taste your success!  

The best time to practice these steps is before you’re on the field or court. By practicing when you are in a good head space, calm, and motivated, your brain will remember that feeling when repeating the steps at game time.

BUILD YOUR TEAM 

At AYB, we know the importance of supporting our athletes with positivity. When a coach or teammates are critical and negative, it can be hard to stay in the positive mindset necessary for success.  We recommend surrounding yourself with coaches and trainers who can help you see what went well and set goals that encourage improvement.  Find a coach who will help you with the mental aspects of your game.  Sportsmanship, self-control, motivation, communication, and focus are just as important (if not more) as dribbling, shooting, and defense.  Set yourself up for success by building a positive support system to help you grow in development as a player and as a person.  It will take practice to get in your positive mindset, but the more you work at it the quicker it will come and you will see yourself skyrocket as an athlete.  

STICK WITH IT 

A positive attitude can be most helpful when facing adversity.  Sports come with setbacks, injuries and lulls.  Being able to push through these hard times is what separates decent athletes from great athletes.  Many highly successful athletes attribute their success to a time they faced a challenge and made it to the other side.  Victory is sweetest when it comes through hardship and some pain.  When you hit an obstacle or face a setback, use it as fuel for the future.  Getting down in the dumps will only lead to a lack of progress.  Embrace the hardship and view it as an opportunity to show what you are made of.  

GIVE AYB A TRY 
If you are looking for a positive environment to immerse your child in, we have programs designed for each age and level.  At AYB, we use basketball as a powerful tool in the development of our youth.  We aim to provide the youth of Arcadia a place to learn, develop, and grow through their love of basketball.  AYB is offering a winter mini-session, the perfect opportunity to give AYB a try. 

4 Tips for Reducing Screen-Time Without a Fight

Living in the technology age, it seems like kids become more and more glued to screens. And maybe you’ve noticed an impact on their behavior the more screen time they have. We understand how important it is for your child’s mental and physical health to reduce screen time. Here are a few tips that may help you towards getting your children off screens and back into the real world:

Tip #1: Lead by Example

Kids are sponges. When they see their grown-ups doing things (good or bad!) they are likely to mirror it. So, if you’re trying to get your children to cut back screen time, try cutting back the time you spend on screens around them too. It may not happen overnight, but the more they see you present and engaged the more likely they are to do the same.

Tip #2: Schedule Screens

Scheduling screen time can be a useful tool to getting kids off screens and in the moment. This can look like blocking off times of the day that screens aren’t allowed and working in smaller amounts of time that screens are allowed. Maybe this looks like 20 minutes of screens after school, no screens during mealtimes, and active or playtime after dinner. Or maybe screens only on the weekend, and no screen time during the school week. Play with it to figure out what works best for your family. 

Tip #3: Join the Fun!

Getting outside and active as a family, planning family game nights, going to sports games to support family members, or even sitting in on practice are all examples of ways you can get in on the fun and get kids off the screens. When you get engaged in activities with your kids, the results may surprise you! Pretty soon they’ll be asking you to get outside and play instead of extending that screen time. 

Tip #4: Get Support from AYB

We believe in the benefits of professional coaching strategies here at AYB. We take your child’s mental & physical health seriously, and our coaches and staff show it. Being a part of a team and getting active may be the distraction your child needs to get them back out in the world and off those screens. Click over to our registration today and jump into some fun!

Youth Sports; Value the Process Over Results

As the saying goes, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. Playing sports is so much more than winning and losing. It’s about the journey of hard work, dedication, challenge, and achievement. It’s that journey that teaches children to overcome obstacles – on and off the court. Here are just a few of the ways that focusing on the process of youth sports can benefit our kids:

Athleticism

Sports Media fosters a “win-or-loser” mentality. However, the goal of organized sports is not just the outcome of the game, it’s the hard work, dedication, and consistency that makes the game worth it. Athleticism is more than just playing for the winning team, it’s putting in work, figuring out what makes your child passionate, and teaching them to take care of their body in the process.

Fostering Growth Mindset

Participating in sports builds resilience in children and carries over into adulthood. The game is more than just winning– failure just means there’s room to improve. Getting your child comfortable with failure and instilling that it is merely an opportunity for growth is a major key in being successful in sports and life outside of sports, too. These are skills we teach to children to use on and off the court and hopefully in their lives for years to come. 

Exploring Sports

As kids are growing, it’s important to diversify the sports they play in. Playing the same sport can actually take a toll on growing bodies due to the overuse of the same muscles and joints, leading to a higher risk of injury now and later in life. It can also cause overdevelopment in the muscles used to play specific sports. Playing different sports prevents burnout and allows children to experience using their bodies and brains to perform under new rules and coaching strategies to find what speaks to them most. 

Arcadia Youth Basketball’s Philosophy

We believe that athleticism goes far beyond agility, fitness, and strength. Athletes learn to take care of their bodies, strengthen their minds, and go after their goals. Athletes are not always winners and are encouraged to learn from their mistakes. AYB believes in professional coaching strategies to set your children up for success on and off the court. Check out our Winter Rec Academy and Club Seasons to get your child enrolled today!

Stick With It! Encouraging Your Child to Finish the Season

Some children are very “sports motivated,” some are more “sports neutral,” and most fall somewhere in between. Getting children that are on the less sports-inclined side of the spectrum to games and practices may cause some friction between the grown-up and the child. Maybe they even break down and tell you they want to quit. So, how do we give them that extra push to help them stay motivated and involved in sports? Here are some tips:

Finish What You Start

It’s okay if your child decides they don’t like a sport, but it’s important to encourage them to finish what they started. If they get through the whole season and still feel like it isn’t for them, then maybe it’s time to move on to the next thing. It’s the notion of “we won’t know until we try!” Offer up some encouragement, too. This can sound like, “You did a great job giving it your best today!” or, “I know you didn’t win, but I saw you hustling out there on the field with your teammates. Great job!” 

We Can Do Hard Things

Remind your child that they can do hard things! Sometimes the desire to quit comes from a fear of failure. Even if their sport is hard or they aren’t a star player, it’s important to not give up. Giving gentle reminders that growing and improving is a process and encouraging them to try and follow through is important. Cultivating this mindset will help them in this sports season and all of life’s seasons beyond! Practical ways you can implement this could be a mantra you say together or affirmations in the car on the way to practice. Highlight examples of when they overcame their fears or tackled an obstacle successfully.

Take it Play by Play

Of course, we know all of these things are easier said than done, and there are exceptions to the rules. You know your kid best and if a sport is taking a toll on their wellbeing, you know when it’s time to call it off. Your child’s health, mental and physical, is always the top priority. So take it one day at a time and trust your gut!

AYB Can Help

At Arcadia Youth Basketball, our goal is to help form healthy athletes. We have an amazing team of professional coaches here at AYB to help guide your child and set them up for success. Our specially trained coaches offer each player consistent, fun, and high-quality athletic education, allowing each player to grow at their own pace with dependable support. 

Cultivating Positive Body Image in Young Athletes

We hear a lot about body image and kids – positive impacts, negative impacts, what’s good, what’s bad – but what really is body image? Simply put, body image is the way you feel about your body. Examples of this can look like feeling proud of what your body can do, how it looks, and even how it changes. Of course, we want our kids to feel good in their own skin, so here are some ways you can help your young athlete cultivate a positive body image:

Make it a Family Affair

Doing activities, games, and exercises as a family is a great way to spend time together, bond, and get everyone moving! Participating together as a family solidifies that exercising and getting outside can be fun and sets the groundwork for lifelong healthy habits. Examples could be a family basketball match in games like H.O.R.S.E, around the world, or knockout. Maybe throwing the baseball, passing a volleyball around, badminton, pickleball, or even ping pong! Make it extra competitive by setting up a leaderboard to see who will make it to the top.

Daily Affirmations

Affirmations are a great way to build confidence– in adults and kids! Every day you can practice affirming yourself and other members of your family around the dinner table, in the mirror every morning while styling hair, or even on the car ride to school. Examples of things you can say are “I am capable, I am kind, am beautiful/handsome, my body is strong, and I can do hard things!” 

Teaching Positive Activity Habits

Staying active reaffirms the notion that our bodies are strong and capable, and routines are a great way to implement positive lifelong habits in children. Following a plan and providing structure helps exercising become less of a chore and more of an activity to look forward to. Bonus pro tip: asking your child what sports they are interested in trying or getting better at will help keep them engaged and motivated to stay active!

You Can Count on AYB

At Arcadia Youth Basketball, our goal is to help form healthy athletes. This includes a healthy and positive body image. We feel this is best accomplished through the guidance of professional coaches. Our specially trained coaches offer each player consistent, fun, and high-quality athletic education, allowing each player to grow at their own pace with dependable support.

Why Specializing in a Sport May do More Harm than Good

A family’s busy schedule typically means there is only time for one sport for each child in the family (if that!). But playing the same sport season after season, and or coupled with intense training on and off-season, can do more harm than good for a young athlete. Solo sporting can lead to both physical and mental issues, on and off the playing field. Here’s why:

Repetitive Motion Injuries

Young bodies are going through constant growth and change. Muscles and ligaments are working to expand as the body grows, and repetitive movements can put undue stress on these already stressed tissues. To avoid repetitive motion injuries, delay sport specialization and limit playtime by taking breaks both weekly and longer throughout the year.

Burn Out

The mental side effect of sports specialization is that a child can burn out on the same thing over and over. Growing brains crave new and interesting concepts to evaluate in order to grow. Repetitive sports can cause a young athlete to get tired of the “same old same old”.

Decrease in Athleticism

While one would think being active in one sport would increase athleticism, science has found that sports specialization can actually hurt young athleticism. Not working different muscle groups regularly can overdevelop some areas while leaving other areas underdeveloped. This can lead to a decrease in agility, strength, and overall fitness too.

AYB Makes MultiSports Manageable

Managing multiple kids and multiple sports schedules can be a headache. But Arcadia Youth Basketball makes it much easier to balance more than one sport. Our AYB Academy combines skills practice and games into one on Saturdays. This schedule allows young athletes to expand their skills and enjoy game time too, in a manageable schedule. Click over to our registration page for more information and to sign up for our next season!

5 Reasons Summer Camp is a Must

With all the stress, changes, and challenges our kids have faced in the last year during the pandemic, it can be challenging to decide on a summer schedule. While it may be tempting to keep kids home this summer – out of caution or to give them a break – it may not be in their best interest. Why is that? There are 5 reasons why summer camp is a must for kids:

Routines are Beneficial

While they may fight it, children really do thrive in routines. Knowing what to expect and when is extremely beneficial for their mental state. Summer camp offers the ability to create a schedule and routine, with less structure than a school day. The summer camp routine offers the benefit of predictability, without the stress of schoolwork.

Move It Move It

Being physically active has many major benefits for our kids. In addition to the physical benefits of stronger muscles, improved blood flow, and better coordination, physical exercise has mental benefits as well. Endorphins are released by the body during exercise. This hormone triggers a positive feeling in the body and reduces the perception of pain. Physical activity is linked to improved sleep as well.

Learn in New Forms

Our kids are asked to learn through various mediums throughout the day at school. Summer camp offers a new way of learning, most often through physical work. Whether it’s learning new sports, crafting, cooking, learning a new skill through touch is great for brain development.

Form New Relationships

Whether it’s meeting new friends or learning how to bond with a coach, summer camp offers the ability to create new relationships. Getting outside of their normal circle of friends and teacher relationships can help improve social skills and expand a child’s ability to adapt to new situations.

Independence Growth

The different structure of summer camp from a school setting means there are new opportunities for growth in independence. Learning to make new friends, operate in a new environment, learn in new ways, and be responsible for new tasks – away from the help of parents – creates new ways to grow in independence.

AYB Has You Covered

Arcadia Youth Basketball has a great summer camp program! Our schedule makes it easy to accommodate other camp schedules, sports practices, and vacation schedules too. Click over to see the schedule and get registered today!

5 Ways to Train in the Off Season

Your child should absolutely embrace an offseason. Consistent and repetitive movements from sports can cause unnecessary wear and tear on young bodies. According to Healthline.com, athletes who play multiple sports with breaks in between sports see less injuries, less mental burden, and less burnout on sports all together. Instead of racing from one season to the next, taking time off and engaging in new and different training can be extremely beneficial for young athletes. Here are five ways to stay active and train during the offseason:

Set a Goal

Creating a goal to work towards when your child is not actively playing a sport can help keep them motivated. A goal may be to run faster, make a certain number of shots in a row, or even just to be active every day. It can be specific or broad, as long as it’s keeping them moving every day.

Have Fun

Training for young atheletes sholdn’t be a grind! Have some fun with it by creating an obstacle course. If an offseason goal is to improve the height of a vertical jump, create a course that requires jumping up, over, an around objects.

Create quick and efficient workouts using the Tabata method. Have your child choose 10 exercises. Using a stopwatch or Tabata app, do each exercise for 1 minute with a 10 second break in between each. Run through the exercises at least one time, or more if they like!

Try Something New

The offseason is the perfect time to try something new. Find a local gym or field that will let your child try out a sport for an afternoon. Or pick up some used equipment to enjoy in the backyard. Even new workout techniques like jumping rope or parkour is a great way to stay active and flex those mental muscles too.

Think About Opposing Muscles

Using the same muscle groups over and over can cause injury and or fatigue. The off season is the perfect time to work on strengthening opposing muscle groups. If your child plays baseball, have them work on movements that are the opposite of swinging and running, such as jumping and shooting a basketball instead. While it may seem counterintuitive, having strength overall is more beneficial for a young athlete.

AYB Academy

If your athlete is in need of some fun during their off season, AYB Academy is a great option. The AYB Academy has been developed to meet the needs of middle school and high school athletes, across teams, schools, and leagues. This revolutionary program, coached by former NBA and college coaches, will help players develop and learn outside of their team, giving them focused and personalized instruction. Small group, individual, and team programs are available and are in 5 session packages. Click below for more information and to register. 

13 Questions to Ask Your Child Athlete

There are many aspects of team sports for our kids. Not only are they learning and improving skills for the sport, they are also learning to navigate teammates, working as a team, competing, and learning from a coach rather than a parent or teachers. That said, there are ways to foster positive thought and conversation with your athlete to support them in the learning process.

• How do you feel after that game/ practice?
• Who played the best? Why?
• Who was the best teammate out there today?
• What was the best part of practice / game?
• What is your favorite pump up song?
• What skill do you feel the most confident in? Which do you feel the least confident in?
• What are 3 things you’re most proud of from the game? * using numbers is a great way to stimulate thought!
• What was the most challenging part of today’s game / practice?
• How were you a good teammate today?
• What did your coach say was important for the game / practice? Do you agree?
• What are 2 things you could do to improve on your performance today?
• Are you enjoying this sport? Why?
• How do you want me to cheer for you at the game? *getting silly demonstrating how you might cheer can help lighten what could feel like a tough conversation

The most important part of asking these questions is listening to the answer. Being sure to really hear what your child is telling you can be challenging, but it will likely lead to bigger and better conversations because your athlete knows they can open up to you and be heard.

“You have to remember that the hard days are what make you stronger. The bad days make you realize what a good day is. If you never had any bad days, you would never have that sense of accomplishment!” – Aly Raisman

The Arcadia Youth Basketball Difference

We know parents have choices when it comes to where and for whom their kids play sports. Whether it’s through a for profit league, a city rec league, or even school athletics, each option is unique and brings pros and cons to the table. At Arcadia Youth Basketball, we set ourselves apart from other leagues in several ways – each one makes AYB different and we think that difference makes our league great for our players. Here’s how:

Professional Coaches

While most leagues and even school teams rely on parent volunteers to coach, AYB utilizes only professional coaches. We love our parents and we are grateful that they are willing to volunteer their time! But when it comes to teaching young athletes, many learn best when they learn from someone other than mom or dad. Our coaches are taught and also coached on how to best work with athletes of all ages, abilities, and skill levels. Professional coaching means that each player, no matter which coach they are working with, is getting the same level of instruction, encouragement, and skill application.

Set Game / Practice Times

Both of our leagues, Rec and Club, offer set game times and practice times, and all at the same location as well. While that might not seem like a big deal, giving our players and their families the ability to maintain a consistent schedule just makes life easier! In addition, our set times and location also makes being a multisport player and or a multi athlete family, a lot more manageable.

Separate Leagues

As we have developed our program at Arcadia Youth Basketball, we found that boys and girls learn and achieve in different environments. In addition, varying skill levels can intimidate some players. Which is why AYB separates male and female athletes in order to give each group of players the best and most supportive environment to learn.

Skill Building and Practice

Each week, our Rec league learns an additional skill and also builds upon the previous weeks’ skills. During weekly games, referees make calls more frequently as the season progresses, giving players lots of room to learn in a game setting. The result of this real life application of their weekly skill sets is that the players truly understand how to apply what they learn in practice in a game setting.

Register Today

League play is now open – register today! We are continuing to incorporate COVID-19 safety protocols to ensure player and coach protection. Visit our website to learn more.

Normalizing Failure; Why Learning How to Fail is Vital for Athletes

It took Diana Nyad 5 tries to swim from Cuba to Florida. And yet despite failing those four times, that’s not what she’s remembered for. Instead, she’s known for her perseverance – her ability to adapt her strategy and try again. As this is true for Diana, it’s often not the case for the rest of us. So often failure is seen as a negative and something to be ashamed of – this is especially true of our kids. But the reality is that failure can be one of the greatest teachers for our kids. Here’s why:

It Promotes Healthy Risk Taking

When our kids are afraid of something, they will do everything they can to avoid it. This is true in the physical sense, but also mentally too. Fearing failure, a child my lie to avoid having their failure discovered. Or they will avoid the task all together if they are afraid that they won’t succeed – which can mean missing out on fun and exciting opportunities.

Failure is Educational

The old adage of “learn from your mistakes” isn’t just a nice saying, it’s at the very core of why failure is a positive aspect of our lives. Learning to take time and reflect on a situation that didn’t go as planned, thinking about what went wrong and why, and then creating a solution is key to utilizing failure to the advantage. Instead of hiding away failure, normalize it through honest and open discussion free of judgement.

Builds Perseverance

Learning to stick with something, even when it’s challenging, has life long benefits. As parents, it’s often so much easier to not push our kids out of their comfort zone, or to save them from failure or frustration. But giving our kids the opportunity to grow in their perseverance has far reaching benefits in both athletics and education.

Encourages Empathy

It’s said that empathy is one of the hardest things to teach our kids and yet it’s also one of the most important. Learning how to feel what someone else is feeling can be a challenge. But when we’re able to see ourselves in someone else’s shoes, we’re able to experience meaningful interactions in a much deeper way. Great leaders, both on the field and off, are empathetic people. Being allowed to experience failure in a positive way helps to build empathy for teammates, peers, and others too.

Still Not Convinced?

Head over to your favorite search engine and type in “famous athlete failures”. Your screen will instantly be filled with stories of Usain Bolt coming in third in the World Championship 100 meter race, Serena Williams losing at the US Open, and John McEnroe at the French Open losing 5 straight sets. Each of the stories ends with a quote from the athlete about how that failure propelled them to their next win.

4 Things Not to Say to Your Child Athlete

Watching your child play sports can be thrilling, but it sometimes can leave a parent squinting through their fingers if their child isn’t having a great game, season, or even practice. In those tough situations, it can be hard to know what to say. Parents know their child best, but we can all use a little guidance when it comes to parenting an athlete. When it’s been a rough game, here are 4 topics to avoid – and what to focus on instead.

Don’t Ask Why

Challenging as it may be, asking your child to explain or justify their performance isn’t helpful. Just like at school, they’re still learning when it comes to sports. Mistakes will be made and that’s all part of the process.

Do ask how your child feels; how do they think the game went? Where could they / the team use improvement? What went right? What went wrong? How could it be fixed?

Leave the Official / Coach / Teammate Out of It

It can be easy to blame an official for a bad call, the coach for calling a good play, or a teammate for a botched play. But as the saying goes, there’s no “i” in team and blaming others isn’t productive.

Instead of blaming, focus on the fact that everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes, and that’s ok.

Don’t Overinflate Their Abilities

Continuously inflating your child’s abilities can be detrimental in two ways. First, it can build an ego that is difficult to coach. Second, some kids may feel that they are being held to an impossible standard.

Praising your child for their overtly great skills is important, but looking at other areas is helpful too. Sportsmanship, being a team player, not giving up, strong effort, etc are all important areas to praise as well.

Winning Isn’t The Only Goal

Over emphasizing winning can put undue pressure on young athletes. If an athlete is only focusing on winning, they may also be missing out on the other benefits of team sports.

Instead, try to focus on the experience. What did you enjoy most about practice? The game? The scrimmage? Follow up on what they liked best about those areas.

Want More?

Click over to our blog page to find more about youth sports and coaching young athletes.

How to Improve Hand Eye Coordination in Kids

You might not think about hand eye coordination very often, but the truth is that we use it far more often than we realize. From catching a ball, to reading music while playing an instrument, to writing on a page – all of these tasks require varying levels of hand eye coordination. Improving this skill is not only helpful in every day life, but also in sports. For our kids, improving hand eye coordination has far reaching benefits, one of which is enjoying sports more.

What is Hand Eye Coordination?

Hand Eye Coordination is the process in which an individual’s visual system conveys information from the eyes to be used to direct the movement of hands. It is demonstrated in both small, fine motor ways such as tying a shoe, and also in gross motor, large movements like catching or bouncing a ball. Being able to accomplish both big and small motor skills is first learned and then improved through repetition and practice.

How it Benefits Our Kids

From the time an infant is 6 months old, they are encouraged to grasp and pass objects between their hands. As they continue to grow, their hand eye skill set becomes larger and more refined; grasping at pieces of cereal leads to grasping a crayon and maneuvering it draw a picture.

For older children, hand eye coordination becomes more prevalent in youth sports. Being able to bounce, kick, hit, or grab a ball or other equipment is essential. While improving hand eye coordination is likely to make them better at a sport, improving it can also make that sport more enjoyable too. When frustration and anxiety are reduced, kids have a chance to have more fun with the sport.

Exercises to Improve Hand Eye Coordination

Like with most things in life, practice makes perfect! Repetition of any skill will build confidence and perfect motor skills. Keeping a positive attitude, even when the exercise is challenging, is key.

Balloon Bounce

Fill a balloon with air (not helium) and keep it in the air by bumping it, kicking it, tapping it, etc.

Pillow Fight

This silly game is actually a great way to practice and perfect hand eye coordination. Keep it fun and easy!

Catch (over and under throws)

Throw or roll a ball back and forth, varying the motion of the throw. Overhand, underhand, kicks or pushes, they all work to improve coordination.

Small Ball Dribble

Dribble a small ball, such as a tennis ball, with one hand. You can also alternate hands, or use the non dominate hand too.

Balance Beam

This can be as simple as a line drawn on the ground, a short beam to walk on, or even a small wall for those that are up to the challenge!

Missing P.E.? Arcadia Youth Basketball Has You Covered

Do you see a big difference in your child when he or she is active in a sport? That’s not a coincidence. When our bodies are active, there are a plethora of health benefits, including chemical changes that put us in a better mood – and that includes our young athletes too. With many students beginning this school year through distance learning, coupled with the extreme heat we’ve seen this summer, there can be a severe lack of movement in our kids. Good news- we’ve got some great ideas to get your kids moving and the endorphins flowing!

DIY Tabata

A Tabata is a form of High Intensity Interval Training or HIIT. Don’t be scared! This cardiovascular exercise strategy alternates short periods of intense, anaerobic exercise with less intense recovery periods. For this workout, the exercise portion is 20 seconds long with a 10 second rest before the next exercise. This pattern is repeated for a total of 4 minutes, or one Tabata round.

For kids, Tabata workouts move so quickly, they don’t have time to lose interest! Also letting your child design their own workout helps to keep their attention. Aim for two, 4 minute round Tabatas to start and add on as your child would like. They can repeat exercises, or choose a different move for each 20 second burst.

Here is a 1 Round Tabata example:

• 20 seconds: Jumping jacks
• ten-second rest
• 20 seconds: Push-ups
• ten-second rest
• 20 seconds: Speed skaters
• ten-second rest
• 20 seconds: Plank jacks
• ten-second rest
• 20 seconds: Sit-ups
• ten-second rest
• 20 seconds: Lunges
• ten-second rest
• 20 seconds: Supermans
• ten-second rest
• 20 seconds: Plank
• DONE!

Basketball Drills

No hoop necessary for these basketball drills (ok, except for the shooting drills)! Improve ball handling with these stationary, dribbling, and shooting skills.

Ball Handling / Dribbling Drills

Stationary Drills:

• 50 Right Hand Dribbles below knee
• 50 Right Hand Dribbles above knee
• 50 Left Hand Dribbles below knee
• 50 Left Hand Dribbles above knee
• 50 Crossover (Switching hands)

Dribbles

• Dribble around your right leg only with your right hand 10x
• Dribble around your left leg only with your left hand 10x
• Moving Dribbling DrillsDribble forward 5 steps dribbling with Right Hand, then dribble backward 5 steps with Right Hand (Repeat 5 times)
• Dribble forward 5 steps dribbling with Left Hand, then dribble backward 5 steps with Left Hand (Repeat 5 times)

Shooting

• 25 Shots from right side 5 ft away
• 25 Shots from left side 5ft away
• 25 Shots from straight away 8-10ft away
• 25 Shots moving from right side to left side 8-10ft away

Register Today

Club play begins on September 9th! Click here to register. Girls Small Group Sessions Saturdays from 9-10am and Wednesdays from 3:15pm-4:15pm start September 5th. Email arcadiayouthbasketballaz@gmail.com to register.

4 Mental Health Benefits of Team Sports for Young Athletes

It’s easy to recognize team sports as a benefit for our kids when it comes to physical health. But there are profound mental health benefits for kids who regularly play team sports as well. Studies have shown that exercise in general is beneficial for mental health for both kids and adults, but there are additional benefits when a team aspect is added to physical activity. Here are 4 mental health benefits of team sports for young athletes:

Stress and Mood

Our brains release endorphins – a chemical hormone that makes us feel good- when we exercise. In addition to boosting our moods, endorphins also help to reduce blood pressure, stress, and depression. This reaction is strong in young athletes and the benefits of an improved mood and attitude are far-reaching.

Coaching

Having an authority figure outside of parents is a huge win for young athletes. Learning how to respect and work with an adult, outside of the safety net of their parents, sets children up for success later in life when they will be consistently navigating different authority figures.

Support and Belonging

Along with endorphins, there is a feel-good boost that comes from belonging to something. Being a part of a team, and having the support of teammates contributes to mental and emotional health.

Control through Self Discipline

In an ever-changing world that feels often chaotic, a team sport can give our children a sense of control through self-discipline. Learning how to fuel their body through nutrition, rest, and recovery, as well as organizing themselves to prepare for practice and or games is an important skill and gives them a sense of order in a disorganized time.

How Arcadia Youth Basketball Can Help

AYB offers both Rec and Club leagues for athletes of all skill levels. During this time where social distancing is a must, we are offering small group sessions to keep skill sets improving and encourage movement and overall health of our athletes. Click over to our registration page to find out more.

Is Your Child Playing More Than One Sport? Find Out Why They Should Be.

In today’s world of youth sports, it can feel like if your child hasn’t specialized in a sport before 5th grade, they’re all but washed up. But the reality is, only playing one sport, season after season and year after year, isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, many health professionals agree that kids need to play organized sports, non organized (i.e. ride their bikes for fun), and get a variety of each. The developmental benefits of being a multi sport player come in several forms:

Physical

From a physical prospective, specializing in one sport can have negative effects on a child’s growing body. Overuse injuries are common among kids playing the same sport season after season. However, being active in several different areas allows for a greater variety of motor skill and muscle development and growth. For example, playing soccer can increase speed for the basketball court. Sports that require different muscle groups and coordination are ideal combinations for multi-sport athletes.

Emotional

It can be easy to forget about the emotional side of sports. But growth for many athletes happens on the mental side just as much as the physical. Being a multi-sport athlete allows players to not only learn to thrive in different environments, but also how to work with different coaches and teammates too. Adapting to new things is a huge lesson for kids to learn and often a field or court is the perfect place to do so.

In addition, preventing sports burn out is just as important. If an athlete is only exposed to one sport, one team, one coach, and they don’t like one of those factors, it can be enough to turn them off to that sport, or sports all together. Giving them a variety of options and environments to try may be just the thing to keep them in the game.

How Arcadia Youth Basketball Can Help

While it may seem like a great idea to have your child play multiple sports, doing so can be a huge commitment for families – especially those with multiple kids. At AYB, we encourage our athletes to play multiple sports, and we make it possible for families with set practice and game times, and a set location for our rec league, making navigating more than one sport at a time a greater possibility.

If you’re still not convinced, consider this; Michael Jordan didn’t pick up a basketball until he was in high school. Not only that, he was cut the first season he tried out. That loss pushed him to improve his skills and make the varsity team the following year and the rest is history. And while his Major League career didn’t work out, he had developed the skills to make the Double-A team.

1 on 1 and Getting Ready for Summer Camps and Leagues

From all of us at Arcadia Youth Basketball, we hope you are staying safe and healthy. And we are missing our players! We are very much looking forward to getting back to normal, even if it’s a new normal – more on that below. Last but not least, we have some links to great videos on ball handling drills to do at home.

1 on 1 Coaching

While we are all waiting out the stay at home restrictions, Arcadia Youth Basketball is excited to offer 1 on 1 coaching at your home or at the Monte Vista Church Gym. This will be a no contact, and socially distant session, keeping coaches and players safe while getting skills sharp! The cost is $40/hour – be sure to contact us ASAP as there are limited spaces available.

New Safety Policies for All AYB Players

We can’t wait until we can open the gym doors again for summer camp! We will be adhering to CDC guidelines to create a safe environment for our players. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Basketballs
   • Players will bring their own ball.
   • If need be, AYB will loan a player a sanitized ball for the session that will not be shared during that session.
   • All AYB basketballs will be sanitized after every session.
2. Drop Off and Pick Up
   • All players will be dropped off in front entrance (West side of the Gym).
   • All players will be picked up in the back of the gym (East side of the Gym).
3. Hand Sanitizer
   • All players will be required to clean their hands with hand sanitizer when they enter the gym and after every water break.
4. Parents
   • Parents will be able to wait outside in the patio area or in their cars, no parents will be admitted into the gym.
5. Water Bottles
   • We will have table set up outside for water bottles and water breaks.

Camp and Summer Rec League Information

We are planning to kick off summer camp in June -dates, cost, and sign up link are below (Subject to change based on CDC and Government regulations and guidelines). We will also be hosting a Summer Rec League in July on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. We will send out an update with times soon.

Sessions

– Club Level is for players currently in our Club Program Only

Week  1: June 8 – 11 (Limited to 25 per Session)

– Morning Session 8:30am – 11:30am (Rec Level)

– Afternoon Session 1:00pm – 4:00pm (Club Level)

Week  2: June 15 – 18 (Limited to 25 per Session)

– Morning Session 8:30am – 11:30am (Rec Level)

– Afternoon Session 1:00pm – 4:00pm (Club Level)

Week  3: June 22 -25 (Limited to 25 per Session)

– Morning Session 8:30am – 11:30am (Rec Level)

– Afternoon Session 1:00pm – 4:00pm (Club Level)

Week  4: June 29 – July 2 (Limited to 25 per Session)

– Morning Session 8:30am – 11:30am (Rec Level)

– Afternoon Session 1:00pm – 4:00pm (Club Level)

Week  5: July 6 – July 9 (Limited to 25 per Session)

– Morning Session 8:30am – 11:30am (Rec Level)

Week  6: July 13 – July 16 (Limited to 25 per Session)

– Morning Session 8:30am – 11:30am (Rec Level)

Ages:

2nd – 8th Grade, Boys and Girls (Grade for the 20/21 School Year)

Location:

Monte Vista Church (3313 N. 40th St.)

Cost:

1 Week – $150

2 Weeks – $275

3 Weeks – $375

4 Weeks – $475

5 Weeks – $575

Register Here

AYB Spring Update: Stay Home and Stay Active!

AYB is complying with social distancing guidelines and therefore we have halted all league play at this time. Which means we are missing our players and our coaches! While this time is challenging, we believe it we all participate in staying home now, it will allow all our players to come back together sooner.

Stay Active

In the meantime, we have put together some great videos with drills that your kids can work on while at home. No hoops necessary! Just a ball and some room to work. These skills are great for improving ball handling, shooting and overall skill.

The videos are quick and easy to follow making them the perfect way to break up a day of distance learning at home. Build some ball time into your daily schedule to keep your athletes busy, get some energy out, and improve ball handling too.

Be sure and tag @arcadiayouthbball in your posts! We’d love to see players hard at work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_4NFOSxTDE – daily drills

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESo9MQsSdDg – ball handling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v14R_DnP8J4 – ball handling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQYrYaY1chk – no basket needed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yF3kVi6zY0 – Shooting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk6f_WUpdys – 5 exercises Everyday

Help Our Community

We are grateful for Monte Vista Church and we want to support them and their community outreach during these difficult times. Monte Vista Church is collecting nonperishable and paper goods every Thursday from 2-4pm to give out to the less fortunate in our community through the month of May. Feel free to drop off goods or go to their website (www.achurchthatloves.org/give) to help the people that need it at this time.

Save the Date! Summer Camp Dates:

June 8 – 11 morning and afternoon sessions

June 15 – 18 morning and afternoon sessions

June 29 – July 2 (new dates!) morning only

July 6 – 9 (new dates!) morning only

Getting the Fun Back in Fundamentals; Arcadia Youth Basketball

Arcadia Youth Basketball was founded on two things; fundamentals and fun. We believe that when there’s less pressure, kids learn better. Which is why in 2018, our founder, Matt Gordon stepped away from coaching at Phoenix College to establish and grow Arcadia Youth Basketball in the heart of the Arcadia neighborhood.

Why AYB?

What makes AYB so different? In addition to being a skills based program, AYB is a coach run organization. Meaning all of our coaches are former college players and coaches, rather than parent volunteers. While we love our parents, not all coaches are created equal. By employing our own coaches, we’re able to offer a high standard of coaching that is not only effective, but incredibly enjoyable for our athletes.

Our practices are run like skills sessions, being sure that players learn the basics that will serve them throughout their playing years. Our coaches bring real world experience, organization, high standards, and fun to our young athletes during practices.

Recreational League

There’s nothing worse than the intimidation factor of trying something new. Our Rec League is the perfect place to start when you want to introduce your child to basketball. Rec League is designed to teach our athletes about basketball through basic skills and play – to – learn style games. Our coaches who run practice also referee the weekly games, taking care to coach as well as referee. Each week the skills learned in practice are reinforced during the games. Fouls, double dribbles, and traveling are called with more frequency each week, being sure to teach players throughout the game.

One thing we learned after our inaugural season was that our female athletes weren’t enjoying the environment. We decided to form an exclusive girl’s league where our female athletes can learn together. That one change turned our girls program from just a few players, to over 35 in our last season! The girls practice together and rotate through the same skill stations as the boys, but now have the space to socialize and learn together. These young ladies are excited about basketball and have the space to improve their skills.

Club League

In 2016, we started our Club Program that offers a more competitive environment for athletes ready to move on to the next level. Just like our Rec League, the Club Program is run by former college coaches and athletes throughout the three levels of play. We offer a developmental, intermediate, and advanced level teams with four 10u teams, two 12u teams, and one 14u team. Our Club Program is run in a league from the Arizona Basketball Coaches Association, who’s mission closely aligns with the AYB mission to create a fun, competitive learning environment for our athletes. All three levels of the Club Program play in three leagues a year, and 3-4 tournaments a year. While our schedule for the Club Program is impressive, it still allows for our players to easily participate in more than one sport.

Ready to Play

Ready to hit the court? Our Rec League runs four times a year; Summer – Spring, skills sessions Fall – Spring, and summer camp all of June. Our camp has grown from just 25 kids to over 100 this past season! A packed house means more games and fun for our campers so sign up early to reserve your spot.

Why Youth Sports Matter

Here at AYB, we value the time we spend with the young kids and adolescents in our programs. Getting to know each player’s personality and discovering ways to bring out their best qualities is a privilege.  In the midst of the fundamentals and training, AYB players and coaches have FUN and develop lasting relationships.  Your children matter to AYB programs because we know that youth sports matter to your children.   

Youth Sports Matter

Participating in youth sports has long-term benefits for the child, their families, and their communities.  There is no doubt participating in sports is good for your physical health, but the benefits of youth sports go far beyond a child’s body.  Adolescents who play sports improve developmentally, emotionally, and socially.  Research shows youth sports can increase academic performance while decreasing anxiety and depression.  Supporting your child’s participation in sports is about more than athletic abilities; it is about setting them up for a healthy and successful future. 

Health Benefits

The CDC recommends that children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 years should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. This activity should be aerobic, as well as muscle and bone strengthening.  Physically active children are more likely to develop into physically active adults, maintaining these benefits throughout their lives. 

Being active helps kids stay in shape, build athleticism, and reduce the risk for health complications such as obesity and cancer.  Playing sports helps a child develop coordination and balance while improving their cardiovascular health. In addition to these physical benefits, there are mental benefits as well. During exercise, the hormones dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin are all released at varying levels. These important chemicals can help balance mood and sense of well-being. These hormones reduce damaging stress hormones and improve sleep cycles and appetite too.  

Emotional and Social Benefits

Youth sports are a great way to work on teamwork and problem-solving.  There is also a proven link between playing a sport and self-esteem in children.  Having a team support you, a coach encourages you, and achieving goals all help children feel better about themselves.   Playing sports is a proven way to reduce stress and give children a great place to work through highs and lows.  Playing a sport can indeed increase a child’s academic performance and staying busy eliminates time to get into trouble.   A team is like a second family and teammates and coaches are a great support system to players and their parents as children grow up facing the sometimes harsh realities of real life.   

Community Benefits

In addition to nurturing a child’s physical and emotional growth, youth sports are a place for the community to connect.  Arcadia Youth Basketball is a community-based basketball program created to provide the neighborhood of Arcadia (Phoenix, AZ) a basketball program that focuses on skill development, team training, and league games all while providing a fun and safe environment.  AYB offers the game of basketball as a powerful tool in the development of our youth and we aim to provide the youth of Arcadia a place to learn, develop, and grow through their love of basketball.  Visit our website and check out our winter rec league or club teams.  Experience the difference of AYB Basketball!

AYB Club Team vs. Rec Academy

The game of basketball can be a powerful tool in developing our youth. Arcadia Youth Basketball programs aim to provide the youth of Arcadia a place to learn, develop and grow through the love of basketball.  Our recreational and club programs focus on fundamentals, advanced fundamentals, and the basketball IQ of the game to help each individual maximize their potential as a basketball player.  

Rec Academy

Our recreational program is a great start for young players and players just beginning to explore the sport of basketball.  AYB recreational academy focuses on skills, understanding the game, and gaining confidence.  The rec league will work to progress with skills and instruct players on how to incorporate those skills into game concepts.  Rec Academy sessions are held once a week for 75 minutes.  These sessions include 30 minutes of skills and 45 minutes of gameplay.  The games are a play-to-learn style, refereed by the coaches who take time to reinforce the skills learned in practice.  The main goal is to have fun and learn the game of basketball.  Rec academy is offered to ages kinder thru 5th grade. Specific session information can be found here. 

Club Program

If you are looking for a more competitive program and are ready to commit more time to basketball, AYB’s club program is a great step up from the rec academy.  Our club program focuses on individual development, teamwork, and sportsmanship.  Club players will practice three times a week with games on most Saturdays.  We have a team for everyone who wants to participate and will be grouped by ability and understanding of the game.  Players will start at the developmental level for at least one season and will move up to the competitive level when the coaches feel they are ready.  Players must demonstrate the skill and maturity level necessary to compete on competitive club-level teams.  Our program offers teams for boys 8U thru 14U and girls 12U and 14U.  

The AYB Difference

If you ask our families what makes Arcadia Youth Basketball different, you may hear various answers.  They may tell you about our skills-based program.  You may be told that with less pressure, our players learn better.  Our focus is on skills and learning the basics that will serve them throughout their playing years.  Many of our families will explain how AYB was the perfect place to start their child in the sport of basketball and not an intimidating experience.  A key factor that separates us is that AYB is a coach-run organization.  All of our coaches are former college players and coaches rather than parent volunteers.   They bring real-world experience, organization, high standards, and fun to our young athletes during practices.  Whether you are choosing to start in our recreational academy or jump up into the club program, AYB has the advantage when it comes to fundamentals and competition. 

Why the Process is the Important Part

We encourage greatness here at AYB, but we believe that greatness can and should be found in the every day, and not just in the big wins and milestones. We love celebrating the big wins just as much as the small victories, and here’s why:

Learning is the Path to Knowledge

There are many reasons why sports are a learning process. First, you learn the game and how it works. Next, you learn how to use your body to play the game. Then you begin to refine and master your skills. And all while learning how to navigate within a team. We all know these things are easier said than done, especially when it comes to children. We believe that children should learn to play sports and enjoy the process. We love to win the games, but for us, the importance of sports lies in the small wins every day. 

Winning Looks Different for Everyone

Learning looks different in everyone because each individual has their own set of strengths. We want to cultivate all learning paths here at AYB. We believe that participating in sports builds resilience in children and carries over into adulthood. The game is more than just winning. These are skills we teach to children to use on and off the court and hopefully in their lives for years to come. 

Being a Professional Matters

At Arcadia Youth Basketball, our goal is to help form healthy athletes. We have an amazing team of professional coaches to help guide your child and set them up for success. Our specially trained coaches offer each player consistent, fun, and high-quality athletic education, allowing the athlete to grow at their own pace and with dependable support through every step of the learning process. 

The Ball is in Your Court

We value the physical and mental success and strength of all the children that walk through our doors. This is why we believe so strongly about providing your children with professionally trained coaches, because we know we’re laying the foundation for not only a successful athletic career but also a successful life. Visit our registration page to enroll your child today.

Help the Whole Family Stay Hydrated This Summer

Summer is no joke out here in Arizona! And if we’re not careful, it’s easy to lose track of drinking enough water. Let us help you with a few fun ideas to keep the whole family hydrated this summer!

DIY Electrolytes

We all see those electrolyte beverages full of sugar and artificial ingredients. And while those are good in a pinch, why not make a better, at-home alternative? Based on the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, water with electrolytes and a higher pH (alkaline) hydrates the body quicker. To achieve this at home, simply add half a lemon and an 1/8th teaspoon of real sea salt (or pink himalayan salt) to 1-2 cups of water. If you like it sweet, add honey or agave syrup to your liking.

Popsicles With a Plus

Whether it be a long practice or a pool day, freezer pops are a great way to sneak in some hydration into a refreshing sweet treat. Turning your favorite electrolyte drink (store bought or homemade) into popsicles is sure to please the whole family! These freezer pop bags on amazon are a personal favorite. They turn liquids into otter-pop style popsicles and even come with a funnel for easy pouring!

Nature’s Gatorade

Coconut water is nature’s gatorade. Packed with electrolytes and naturally occurring minerals like potassium, coconut water is a great alternative to sugary drinks. Try freezing it into popsicles for an extra fun treat!

We’re On Top of It

tWhatever it is you’re up to this summer- we hope you have fun and stay hydrated! Come check out AYB’s summer camp if you’re looking to give your kids a camp full of great fun and even better coaches – and know that we always take water breaks seriously! Head over to the registration page for more information!