Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
Explore Baltimore County: Youth basketball: Catonsville Rec coach a winner
Coaching two boys basketball teams in the Catonsville Rec program can be a daunting task, although Kelby Brick routinely faces more challenges than his colleagues.
Despite being deaf, or perhaps because of it, the Catonsville resident is able to give his sons' 12-and-under and 9-and-under squads more to ponder than a hastily scribbled play drawn on an eraser board.
For one thing, kids learn that some people have obstacles to overcome -- and often do so capably.
"It's been a really good experience for them to have a coach who is expanding their awareness," said Barbara Clark, whose son, Ethan, 9, plays for Brick.
Brick not only coached his older son, Austin, and younger son, Cody, he led their respective teams to second-place finishes in season-ending tournaments.
His sons know American Sign Language, and they interpret information from their dad and pass it on to teammates.
Moreover, Austin is the prime assistant coach for his younger sibling's team.
During a recent playoff victory, Austin shared the pride he felt after a clutch basket by Peter Hergenhan.
"That was a play dad called," Austin said. "He saw they were playing man-to-man on Cody, so we told him to draw the defender out to open the middle. He (Kelby) told the point guard (Peter) to drive in and shoot."
"It's fun when the kids do something right," said Kelby Brick, who watched the successful play with a broad smile.
Scoring wasn't the only reason for his team's success this season.
"Both of the teams are two of the best defenses in the whole league," Brick said. "And that is satisfying because it shows that everyone really contributes, and really plays hard and hustles. It's important, because off the court you will remember to do well and that you have to do things right."
Ethan, a point guard, got the message.
"I always try and steal the ball," Ethan said "I enjoy doing everything. As long as I am on the court, I am happy."
Ethan's dad, David, the timer during the playoff game, has watched the kids learn the game without missing a beat.
"I think they respond just like they normally would," he said. "They understand certain signals that he gives, and there are very few that you are going to give at this age anyway."
The one thing Clark knows is they are having fun and winning at the same time.
"I think they are having a good time, in spite of Austin yelling at them all game," he said with a laugh.
A scrimmage against the Maryland School for the Deaf earlier in the season helped the team understand what an important tool good court vision can be.
"It's really about the eyes and watching the ball, like where it's hitting the rim," Austin said. "With a deaf coach, we try to get the kids to pay attention.
The words are coming from his mind, so we try to get the kids to watch coach."
Like other coaches, one of Brick's goals is to soothe frayed nerves during games.
"The biggest challenge is, that sometimes kids panic on the court, and that comes with experience," he said. "As a coach, I try to put them in more positions where they are in a familiar environment, so they panic less."
Although basketball season is over, Brick's not done teaching. He's helping to coach the 10-year-old Catonsville travel baseball team with Rich Ryan.
Ryan said Brick has been a boost for the kids, who treat him like any other coach.
"It transcends any kind of hardship," Ryan said. "The kids treat him like a normal coach."
Ryan says he has difficulty teaching the kids because "they are all spaced-out and not listening when I'm talking."
By showing how to keep their hands up in a batting drill or putting their legs in a sliding position, Brick's more demonstrative teaching method can be very effective.
"He goes over and does it for them," Ryan said. "It's been great."
One of his basketball players must have had a similar feeling when he handed Brick a note that read: "You have been the best coach that I have ever had in any sport. I hope that next year I will get you as a coach again."
Coaching two boys basketball teams in the Catonsville Rec program can be a daunting task, although Kelby Brick routinely faces more challenges than his colleagues.
Despite being deaf, or perhaps because of it, the Catonsville resident is able to give his sons' 12-and-under and 9-and-under squads more to ponder than a hastily scribbled play drawn on an eraser board.
For one thing, kids learn that some people have obstacles to overcome -- and often do so capably.
"It's been a really good experience for them to have a coach who is expanding their awareness," said Barbara Clark, whose son, Ethan, 9, plays for Brick.
Brick not only coached his older son, Austin, and younger son, Cody, he led their respective teams to second-place finishes in season-ending tournaments.
His sons know American Sign Language, and they interpret information from their dad and pass it on to teammates.
Moreover, Austin is the prime assistant coach for his younger sibling's team.
During a recent playoff victory, Austin shared the pride he felt after a clutch basket by Peter Hergenhan.
"That was a play dad called," Austin said. "He saw they were playing man-to-man on Cody, so we told him to draw the defender out to open the middle. He (Kelby) told the point guard (Peter) to drive in and shoot."
"It's fun when the kids do something right," said Kelby Brick, who watched the successful play with a broad smile.
Scoring wasn't the only reason for his team's success this season.
"Both of the teams are two of the best defenses in the whole league," Brick said. "And that is satisfying because it shows that everyone really contributes, and really plays hard and hustles. It's important, because off the court you will remember to do well and that you have to do things right."
Ethan, a point guard, got the message.
"I always try and steal the ball," Ethan said "I enjoy doing everything. As long as I am on the court, I am happy."
Ethan's dad, David, the timer during the playoff game, has watched the kids learn the game without missing a beat.
"I think they respond just like they normally would," he said. "They understand certain signals that he gives, and there are very few that you are going to give at this age anyway."
The one thing Clark knows is they are having fun and winning at the same time.
"I think they are having a good time, in spite of Austin yelling at them all game," he said with a laugh.
A scrimmage against the Maryland School for the Deaf earlier in the season helped the team understand what an important tool good court vision can be.
"It's really about the eyes and watching the ball, like where it's hitting the rim," Austin said. "With a deaf coach, we try to get the kids to pay attention.
The words are coming from his mind, so we try to get the kids to watch coach."
Like other coaches, one of Brick's goals is to soothe frayed nerves during games.
"The biggest challenge is, that sometimes kids panic on the court, and that comes with experience," he said. "As a coach, I try to put them in more positions where they are in a familiar environment, so they panic less."
Although basketball season is over, Brick's not done teaching. He's helping to coach the 10-year-old Catonsville travel baseball team with Rich Ryan.
Ryan said Brick has been a boost for the kids, who treat him like any other coach.
"It transcends any kind of hardship," Ryan said. "The kids treat him like a normal coach."
Ryan says he has difficulty teaching the kids because "they are all spaced-out and not listening when I'm talking."
By showing how to keep their hands up in a batting drill or putting their legs in a sliding position, Brick's more demonstrative teaching method can be very effective.
"He goes over and does it for them," Ryan said. "It's been great."
One of his basketball players must have had a similar feeling when he handed Brick a note that read: "You have been the best coach that I have ever had in any sport. I hope that next year I will get you as a coach again."