"Athletes are born, basketball players are made"
"Somewhere there is a kid in a gym practicing, where is your child?"
Q: Where does Coach Earl hold training sessions?
A: In the Iowa City area: UI Field House, Mercer Park Aquatic Center, Robert E. Lee Comm. Rec. Center. In Rockford: Flodine Boys & Girls Club, Belvidere YMCA. In the Quad Cities: Any YMCA, Moline, Bettendorf, Davenport.
Q: How much does it cost per session?
A: [Grade School: $8-$10 per hour] [Jr. High School: $10-$12 per hour] [High School: $12-$25 per hour].
Q: What is the length of a session?
A: [Grade School: 1 hour] [Jr. High School: 1-1½ hours] [High School: 1-2 hours] Depending how serious you and your child are about getting better.
Q: How do I pay?
A: By cash or check, payable to Venom Sports.
Q: If I pay for multiple sessions do I get a discount?
A: Yes. Usually Coach Earl discounts $2-$4 per session if you pay for 10 sessions in advance.
Q: Do the sessions ever expire?
A: No. It's like a punch card/pass system. You and Coach Earl will keep track of sessions used and any unused session are saved. Use them however long it takes, months, years, etc.
Q: Does Coach Earl train boys and girls?
A: Yes. Both need training to make them better players.
Q: Does your child have to be tall or a post player for Coach Earl to train them?
A: No. Coach Earl does fundamental training for all positions to ensure your child has the best chance of success at any level.
Q: How old must a child be to start?
A: Coach Earl has trained 3 year olds how to pass, dribble, and catch a ball with either hand. Coach Earl's 7 year old daughter can execute basic passing, ball handling and dribbling skills that some Jr. High kids can't do, because she has been taught and practices 1-4 times per week starting a year ago. So the answer is, any child over the age of three.
Q: How many times a week should a child train with Coach Earl?
A: At least once a week. For best results two times a week to make the drills a force of habit and to teach a new way of playing and thinking. Three times a week for the serious player who has aspirations of playing college ball.
Q: What does Coach Earl teach?
A: Mostly fundamentals. Things coaches can't or don't have the time to teach in today's world. Coaches have to win. They run plays and do some drills, but can't develope a player if a player isn't already good, then it's too late. Coach Earl's goal is to make your child a player by teaching him/her the proper way to pass, dribble and shoot with both hands equally. Plus shooting form is big. Most kids have not been taught proper ball hand placement in their jump shot.
Q: Is it a positive environment?
A: Coach Earl never yells or swears at kids. Positive reinforcement is the key to give the kids every opportunity to learn the right way and have fun doing it.
Q: Does Coach Earl have special traveling team rates?
A: Yes. Coach Earl would come in during your child's team practice and help consult the coach in teaching specialty plays, zone defenses, out of bounds plays, full court half court press and overall practice drills to improve the team and ready them for a major tournament. Cost is usually $5-$10 per child per practice.
Q: Will Coach Earl travel to your city to coach your child or train your team?
A: Yes. If you can get a group of 2-5 kids and have a local gym reserved in any Iowa or Illinois city.
Q: What if your in the Quad City, Naperville, Illinois or Iowa area, will Coach Earl come and train you?
A: Yes and No. Coach Earl has a partnership with his younger brother Dorian (Development) www.ball247.com, to train kids jointly when one or the other can't be in the area.
(There aren't really 55 reasons. That was Coach Earl's lucky number in High School, College and the Pros)
1: My child is already good enough.