In this youth league, even the coaches are kids

Players respond to young mentors

On a recent Saturday afternoon, when it was nice enough outside to ride bikes and play baseball, a group of third- and fourth-grade boys sprinted up and down the basketball court in the North Quincy High School gym.

Parents sat in the stands and an adult officiated as the Sacred Heart North Quincy youth basketball league held one of its many all-star games. But on the sidelines, boys and girls were coaching and running the scoreboard.

"It was something that was never planned," league director Mark Jaehnig said. "It's something that, when it happened, we applauded it and encouraged others."

This season, about 70 youths ages 11 to 18 coached in the league of 800 play ers.

Year after year, more youngsters come forward to ask for an opportunity to lead. It's been a pleasant surprise for Jaehnig, who began the program 19 years ago.

In watching the young coaches deal with their peers, Jaehnig has noticed a more relaxed environment.

"What happens is there has been an elimination of all the screaming and yelling going on, and I could be one of the worst offenders sometimes," Jaehnig said.

Billy Croke, 23, grew up in the Sacred Heart league and watched his father and grandfather coach through the years. He became the league's first youth coach eight years ago after asking Jaehnig for the chance. Croke began coaching middle school-age kids as a high school freshman.

"I loved it. I thought it was a blast," said Croke, who graduated from Boston College High and Villanova. "They usually listened to me, which was surprising."

Parents seemed to be nervous at first, but as Croke interacted with the youngsters and used his own former practices as a guide, he gained the parents' trust, he said.

"They're young, so you want to keep it fun and entertaining with that age group to teach them the basics," Croke said.

He made such a connection with many of the players that he went to watch a few of them play this past season as members of the BC High basketball team, the 2008 Division 1 South champions.

"It's a little different from watching them play on that level than when they were fifth-graders, but it was still fun," Croke said.

In coaching prospects, Jaehnig is looking for youngsters who are committed to one-hour practices once a week, games on weekends, and calling parents to alert them about schedule changes.

There is always an adult around the teams no matter who is coaching, but it is up to the youth to lead the practices. Parents sometimes help, but eventually the youngsters take control, Jaehnig said.

Tom Largey of Quincy said that when he first heard about the concept of youth coaches, he was unsure about how the process would work for his 9-year old son, Bobby.

"At first, the concern was whether the coaches were mature enough to handle 8- and 9-year-olds at practices," Largey said. "I wondered if they would be able to teach basketball, but they put those fears to rest early."

Kelly Cox said her son, Ryan, a second-grader, was responsive to having a young coach. She said the concept also is being tried in her son's youth hockey league, where high school students volunteer at practices.

"The little ones really look up to them," Cox said. "They see them in the neighborhoods, and then to lead them on the court is a good thing."

Andrew Jaehnig, 12, persuaded his friend, Matt Donovan, 12, to join him as a coach this season. They used fun drills to get through practices. They also play in the league and said they like the setup.

"When I'm playing, I like having a kid coach because they're nicer and don't yell as much," Andrew Jaehnig said.

Eighth-graders Kiley McDonald and Courtney Timmins teamed up to coach fifth- and sixth-grade boys this season. The girls had such a good time, they're throwing a pizza party for the group.

"It was good to teach the kids stuff we already know," McDonald said. "We try to stay positive, and if there is a foul, we take them aside and tell them why."

Bobby Ovino is a BC High senior who is involved in the program as a coach and a player. "I always felt like I had the knowledge of basketball," he said. "I'm also playing for a travel team and learning plays, and I'm [teaching them] to my kids."

Jake Dockrey, a 10-year-old player, said he would like to try coaching one day because "I would get to help little kids learn how to play youth basketball."

And as long as the youngsters want to try, Mark Jaehnig said, the league will find a way for them.

"We might not develop any professional ballplayers, but we may develop some professional coaches."