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TESTIMONIAL:
My daughter was in the 3rd grade when she first picked up a basketball and she caught the fever immediately. Being vertically challenged (at 15, she measures 5'4" but hopes to squeeze a couple of more inches in her height), she relies mainly on her speed, ball-handling skills and guts to get playing time. We found the Wildcats program when our daughter was in middle school and at a major obstacle in her game - her own belief in herself.
The Wildcats program is wonderfully balanced. The practices drill the kids on all the basics. Not the most popular part of the program, since they work them really hard. Still, the kids cannot deny the positive effect it has had on their play. The Saturday Madness program and the league play give them a chance to get game experience. Our daughter was introduced to the Wildcats through Saturday Madness and loved it from the beginning. It too, is not for the faint of heart. Kids from all over the Austin area come together, boys and girls, and play to WIN. I think the co-ed nature of the games is a real plus for the girls as it tends to teach them to be more aggressive on the court and they work hard to earn the respect of the guys. It's a great community environment and as a parent, you have to love seeing these kids get together on a Saturday night having a great time in a supportive and safe setting.
The most powerful part of the program, in my opinion, is the coaching staff. These parents come out and volunteer their time because they love the game and they love the kids. I think the biggest difference this organization has made on our daughter's play (she had previously been working with an AAU team), was that the coaches work with these kids as individuals. When Ruthie was made to feel like she was valued as a player, her game turned around dramatically. It's not that the kids are coddled, far from it. Somehow the coaches have found that balance to develop good players and good teamwork and the kids absolutely enjoy giving their best to these coaches.
The Wildcats program is a prep program and designed to help the players make that varsity spot on their high school teams. It is designed for kids who want to work hard and seriously compete. Currently, our daughter is playing on her junior varsity team in high school along with two fellow Lady Wildcat players. I know she will miss the program tremendously when she gets too old to play with the Wildcats. Luckily, we have a ten year old son just getting started and are looking forward to many more years with the Wildcats.
Sincerely
J.B.
TESTIMONIAL:
My son's basketball skills have improved greatly through his work with the program. His school coach told us he couldn't believe the difference in his play from last year to this. He made the JV team as a sophomore and he owes it all to the Wildcats program.
Sincerely,
M.S.
TESTIMONIAL:
This program was a lifesaver for my son whose self-confidence was essentially chipped away by some "select" coaches. My son almost quit the game he loves so much but with the help and encouragement of Darrel and the other great volunteer coaches, my son was able to improve his basketball skills and did very well on his MS "A" teams. But what is great about this program is that it also emphasizes community service and teaches each player that they have a greater responsibility.
In a nutshell the Wildcats program teaches and reinforces the "values of the game" - Passion, Discipline, Selflessness, Respect, Courage, Leadership, Responsibility, Resilience.
Sincerely,
V.P.
TESTIMONIAL:
I am delighted to see the explosive growth and success that Coach Darrel Smith's Austin Wildcats program is experiencing. That's what happens when you get involved in children's lives for the right reasons, and provide a living example of a proper code of conduct on a daily basis.
As Director of one of the country's top showcase programs I see a lot of the cut throat, win at all costs attitudes displayed by my fellow coaches. Although we all want to win, I see the same smile on Darrel's face, and his same high level of excitement for his Wildcat kid's development as well as their accomplishments whether he has just helped coach them to a win or a loss.
Darrel has unknowingly motivated me to keep the total focus of my own program on the kids and not let it drift to adults and appeasing their egos.
Sincerely,
Coach Max
Director
Texas D-1 Ambassadors
Texas Basketball Inc.
TESTIMONIAL:
My son fell in love with basketball after many years of playing select soccer. Not only was he behind in skill development but he is the youngest in his grade and physically a late bloomer. The Wildcat program gave him a chance to participate and develop when there was no other opportunity available for a child of his skill level. He has made his high school freshman and jv squads and will play varsity next year at a highly competitive 4A high school. The Wildcat program provides a mixture of disciplined practice, competitive tournament participation, and loosely structured pick up play that balances the social and basketball development of the child.
Sincerely,
N.W.
TESTIMONIAL:
We have been extremely pleased with the Austin Wildcat Basketball Program. It is a great program that teaches the “fundamentals” of basketball. It helps the kids understand the game and strives to help them reach their full potential. They have a great atmosphere that is serious as well as fun!
It is hard to find an off-season basketball program in Austin that accepts everyone. The Wildcats allow everyone to participate and learn the game of basketball. They have wonderful coaches that encourage them to succeed, work together, enjoy the game and have fun. Our daughter’s confidence and skills have improved greatly with the help of Darrel and the Wildcats program. Due to her hard work and strong fundamentals , she was recently moved up to varsity on her high school team and continues to love the game of basketball.
Sincerely,
M.S.
TESTIMONIAL:
As parents, we try to encourage our kids to be physically active and to help them reach their athletic potential. For them to succeed, our kids need a place to learn and to perfect the required skills of their chosen sport. But it can't be just "any place." We're picky! And we're supposed to be. So we look for a place that is the "best fit" for our child- someplace that reinforces the attitudes we hold dearly in our own homes as well as a fun, safe environment where our children will be supervised yet given plenty of room to grow, to learn and to become confident in their abilities. We want them to be part of something that teaches the value of being part of a team, the value of hard work, the value of commitment and the ability to rise to a challenge. Throw in a lot of fun and great friendships, and you have The Wildcats Program.
Several years ago, my daughter didn't make her middle school basketball team. She was devastated. She hadn't played that much basketball, really, but she did have some raw talent- she was a fast runner, a strong weightlifter, and a high jumper, but she lacked the experience needed to play ball. Thanks to Coach Darrel and to Wildcats, she's playing it now!
Darrel Smith and his Wildcats program have opened a whole new world for my daughter. Jennie eagerly anticipates Wildcat games, practices, tournaments, and Saturday Night Madness events. (Saturday Night Madness events are truly a favorite!) She would rather be playing basketball with the Wildcats than doing anything else. She is the one who reminds me that there is practice that day, the one who does her homework so she can go, the one who cleans her room early so she won't be late- nothing else has this amazing effect on my child!
When I drop her off for practices, she knows how grueling those two and a half hours of dribbling, passing, shooting, SAQ drills, etc.. are going to be, yet there's that big ol' smile on her face! She is excited to be there, to be part of the work, the fun, and the commitment to something truly special.
Coach Darrel has taken Jennie and shown her exactly how hard work can pay off. He is a coach whom she trusts, respects, and for whom she always wants to do her best. She simply doesn't want to let him down. She listens to him, learns from him, and believes in him, because he believes in her. His energy, enthusiasm and obvious love of the game are contagious. Darrel is not an "in your face" kind of coach; he goes for the heart and the head instead, teaching the kids to love the game and to think while playing it. He is truly a remarkable role model for the kids.
Jennie is reaping the benefits from having been part of this incredible program for the last two and a half years. In addition to playing for the Wildcats, she is also playing JV basketball for her high school. She acquired the skills to accomplish this goal exclusively due to her being part of the Wildcats program. Additionally, she held a summer job as a basketball referee at a local rec center; never would she have had this opportunity without the experience she gained with the Wildcats.
I found a treasure when I found the Wildcats program for my daughter. She has come to view her teammates as a second family, people she can truly count on and turn to as trusted friends. For me, just as exciting as watching the games is observing the camaraderie that has developed between the players. They care about each other, and there is a genuine respect among them. During a tournament, Jennie will insist on staying after her games to watch more games so she can support other Wildcats; they just love being around one another. As Jennie will tell you, "Yeah, we're tight."
I have no doubt that years from now, when Jennie reflects back on her teen years, her mind will go to the time she spent as a Wildcat before anything else. But for now, she'll keep on playing ball!
Sincerely,
D.S.
TESTIMONIAL:
I love many things about the Wildcats program. It is very different from select AAU basketball teams who focus on performing at tournaments. At Wildcats, there are no tryouts and no "making the team". If you want to get better at basketball and are willing to work, Wildcats will make you better. The philosophy is that if you can master the basics, you are better positioned to make your school team. How true is that of many things in life? The example set by the other kids of working hard is contagious. You'll be surprised at how tired your child will be after practice. You hear stories about how some of the best Wildcats players weren't any good when they started, but they kept working and kept playing and are now very successful on their school teams. It is inspiring for the kids and offers hope to parents like me whose child is not naturally gifted.
One of the reasons that the kids get better is the great quality of volunteer coaches. They are not there because they are getting paid. They show up week after week because they have a love for the game that they want to share with the kids. They each have different skills and are not afraid to take a kid aside and work on their shot, or show them how to do a move. They want to see the kids succeed. I can't say enough about how helpful the coaches are.
Wildcats Program has instilled a lifelong love of the sport in both of my kids by making it fun. Too often the only exposure they get to basketball games is with a ref, a clock, and a score. Pick-up games played on Saturday nights are a wonderful way to try some new moves, play a position you don't normally get to play, and just have fun! This brings me to the friendships part. These kids are really close. I guess when you work hard together, you build strong relationships. Some of my kids' best friends are from Wildcats.
I love the flexibility of Wildcats. Normally when you agree to be a part of a team, it becomes your life. You feel required to make every tournament and every practice. One of my kids is also a serious swimmer and swim meets and practices overlap with basketball tournaments. This is okay with Wildcats as you only have to commit for a tournament at a time. You don't feel like you are letting the team down if you can't play because there are others that can. It is a great way to keep improving you child's basketball game, even if they are involved in another sport.
Lastly, the Wildcats program feels it is important to give back to the community. We play many tournaments and leagues in East Austin at a place called Dove Springs. Each year, Wildcats sponsors a toy drive where the kids bring either money or toys. The kids run the toy drive and also purchase toys with the donated money, wrap them (with the help of many dedicated parents) and hand them out at Christmas time at the Dove Springs Winter Party. It is a rewarding experience for all those involved.
If your child is interested in improving his or her game, is willing to work, and loves basketball, Wildcats is the place for them!
Sincerely,
R.D.
TESTIMONIAL:
I would like to share some comments I have about the Wildcats Program. I have three children and they all play at least three sports. I have spent a lot of money on their sports.
My two younger children play basketball and both have been in the Wildcats Program for at least two years and it shows. My ten year old plays in a local prep league and she is one of the better ball handlers in the league. My fourteen year old son is a freshman at Westlake High School. Although there are scholastic advantages to attending Westlake, there is a huge athletic disadvantage. That is, because of the large size of the school, winning a spot on one of the basketball teams is very competitive.
My son went from being a B-team player in middle school to being an A-team player on the freshman team at Westlake. He has one of the highest shooting percentages on the team and plays over half of most games. The coach routinely puts him in at the end of every fourth quarter and in overtime periods.
There is no substitute for hard work; however, without learning the fundamentals that are reinforced in the Wildcats Program, hard work without good form will not take a player very far.
More importantly, Wildcats is not just about skills and the game. The program also stresses making a contribution to the community. The Christmas toy drive and the other philanthropic aspects of the Program are building character in addition to basketball skills. Thanks!
Sincerely,
B.L.H.
TESTIMONIAL:
Our kids have stuck with basketball not only because they love the game, but because they've had a positive learning experience through Wildcats. We've just returned from our son's high school game, in which Wildcats were represented heavily on both sides of the court.
Our daughter got such a great foundation through Wildcats that she and two of her fellow Wildcat teammates controlled the middle school court. The kids have a sense that Darrel and all the coaches give 110% in all areas of the program, so they're willing to work hard, too.
Most importantly, the athletes are given great opportunities to give back to the program and to the community. So Wildcats are growing not only into great basketball players, but great community members, as well. We attribute Wildcats with both our son and daughter being not just basketball players, but basketball leaders.
Sincerely,
D.W.
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