Florida Basketball Newsletter
Providing Competitive Basketball Information
Newsletter Issue #178 - June 2, 2006

Welcome to the Florida Basketball Newsletter.  In this and future issues, the primary focus is on college exposure for girls and boys basketball players.  Contributors are Florida State University Head Coach Sue Semrau, Carl Tinsley - Oregon City Basketball (End of the Oregon Trail & River City Tournaments), Sam Lee (MidSummer Nights' Madness Basketball Tournaments) and others.  The Florida Basketball Newsletter is released irregularly and email subscriptions are free.  Any comments, suggestions, articles, columns and contributions are more than welcome and can be forwarded to Rob Hicks, hicksrob@comcast.net.

Carl Tinsley, Oregon City Basketball
College Exposure - Girls & Boys Basketball Players

Carl Tinsley, Oregon City Basketball, End of the Oregon Trail & River City Tournaments, www.ocbasketball.com - E-Mail tins@ocbasketball.com.  Its Carl's turn in the Florida Basketball Newsletter series on college exposure for girls and boys basketball players.

(1)  What is a college coach looking for in a potential player?  "Athletic ability,  Basketball Skills  especially on offensive end,  good attitude with work ethic, does the player fit into their style (is the player a good fit), academics at some schools."

(2)  What advice would you offer the student-athlete vying for a basketball scholarship?  "Make a list by your junior spring term of what you want in your college experience (is location important, style of play, academic prestige, coaching staff, conference, playing time, level, etc)   Begin to narrowing down colleges that best fit you,  then have your coach contact any university that has not all ready contacted you.  Send out game highlights to those schools, Make sure you have good advise as to your ability level to know where you can play.  I would also recommend speed and quickness and strength training in the off season since that is the biggest difference between high school and college play."

(3)  How important is it to participate in college exposure events?  "The right college exposure events are important.  But so is your regular season.  Stats are looked at and colleges will come out and see you  during the high school season.  It doesn't do you any good to go to a college exposure event that doesn't have many college coaches.  It also hurts you if your team plays in lower divisions since college coaches typically won't be there.  This means that playing in a minor event or playing at a younger age when you are good enough to play up often gets you little if any exposure. "

(4)  What are your thoughts on high school teams in comparison to travel club teams? 
"
The best case scenario is that the club team is a supplement to the high school team and not an alternative.  When the two programs work together for the betterment of the player everyone wins.  Often times a player actually looks better with their high school team because they are use to those players and that system.  I find that on the club level who ever has the best players wins but often times the players don't improve like they do with a high school program.  However, that is not always the case and some players get poor high school coaching so a club team is crucial to their development and exposure."

Youth Basketball of America

YBOA HOLDS 17th ANNUAL GIRLS’ AND BOYS’ NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Donald A. Ruedlinger, President of Youth Basketball of America, Inc. announces the schedule for the Girls’ and Boys’ National Basketball Championships to be held in Central Florida this summer.

• Boys’ National Championship for ages 9U, 11U, 13U and 15U will be held in North Orlando, Florida from June 24 to July 1, 2006.

• Girls’ National Championship for ages 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U and 15U will be held July 8-15, 2006 in Orlando, FL.

• Boys’ National Championships for ages 8U, 10U, 12U & 14U will be held from July 22-29, 2006 in Orlando, FL.

South Orlando Youth Sports Association hosts these outstanding tournaments for YBOA. These games have become the premier basketball competitions during the summer season from coast to coast. In addition to the basketball games we hold “skills contests” and present academic awards to deserving scholars among the athletes. YBOA is fortunate to have discount tickets for admission to Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, Sea World, Busch Gardens, Wet ‘n Wild and Dixie Stampede available for purchase. Check out our website to preview the events and the attractions – all designed for family fun and exciting vacations.  YBOA has made arrangements for hotel room blocks with first class accommodations along International Drive. We also have housing available for those who prefer short term home rentals. You are welcome to view these listings on our website by clicking on this link: http://www.yboa.org.

All girls are eligible to participate in the National Tournaments in either of our two Divisions: the National Division is for the teams that finish first through fourth place in their respective state competitions and the American Division is organized for those teams which place lower than fourth. We have returned to the very popular ‘double elimination’ in our girls events and now provide teams with more games and additional opportunities to win first place.

The Boys’ National Championship Tournament has undergone some changes to place more excitement into the competition. After all the teams complete pool play they will be seeded and the National Championship playoff will begin. After the final round of competition, the winning teams advance to the Championship bracket and the remaining teams are entered into a new tournament called the “Orlando Shoot-Out” and these teams play out a new bracket. The same award categories are presented to both tournaments: MVP, All Tournament, Hustler Award and trophies for all places.

Please remember that to be eligible for Nationals your team must participate in State Qualifying Tournaments if they are held in your area. If your state is not hosting a State Qualifying Tournament please contact Natalie Shelton at YBOA National Headquarters 407-363-9262 x 200 to obtain an ‘At Large Bid’ and registration packet for your team.  We hope that you will consider being a part of this great event! Please contact us at 407-363-9262 regarding any eligibility requirements.

FCAT Seminar (Florida)
Robert Moramarco has been asked by a few coaches about offering a "day lecture" or a "crash course" in helping kids pass the FCAT Math test.  Moramarco is considering hosting a 5-6 hour seminar about the FCAT Math test.

QUALIFICATIONS:
1) 93% overall pass rate this school year. 91% of  the pass rate of my students were sophomores. (I taught Informal Geometry and Geometry this year)
2) Only 6 students failed. All were within 14 scale points of passing (286 was my lowest).
3) 50% of my students this year were a Level 4 or 5, including ESE/ESOL students.
4) Students averaged an increase of 42 scale points and over 75 Developmental Scale Score points.
5) Most students scored high on the Geometry and Algebraic thinking portion of the test.
6) In 3 years at Forest High School (2002-2005), I had an 89% pass rate while teaching Intensive Math, Algebra 1A, Algebra 1B, and Informal Geometry.

Though Moramarco can't "guarantee" results, he provides steps to help students pass.  It is up to each individual to follow strict instructions and it is rigorous and intensive, but he'd like to see all students do well.  Cost will be $150.00 ($25.00 an hour) for the day, which would include a packet of questions, tips, and some information regarding the test itself.  It is a lecture format with possibly some "hands on" activities and a six-hour intensive course.

Please feel free to call Robert Moramarco (352) 215-2249 or email
moramarl@hotmail.com if you are interested or have any questions.
2006 Tournaments

All tournament host for 2006, please forward your event's info to hicksrob@comcast.net to be included in future newsletters.

MONTH OF JUNE

DATE

EVENT

LOCATION

CONTACT

PHONE

EMAIL

FEE

June 2-4, 2006

YBOA Boys State - ODD
www.floridayboa.com

Orlando, FL

Jack Love

321-228-7820

jlove@floridayboa.com

$ 350.00

June 9-11, 2006

YBOA Boys State - EVEN
www.floridayboa.com

Orlando, FL

Jack Love

321-228-7820

jlove@floridayboa.com

$ 350.00

June 16-18, 2006

WVU BASKETBALL CAMP
www.msnsportsnet.com

Morgantown, WV

Wesley Brooks

866-864-7471

Wesley.Brooks@mail.wvu.edu

June 16-18, 2006

YBOA Boys State - 8-17
www.floridayboa.com

Orlando, FL

Jack Love

321-228-7820

jlove@floridayboa.com

$ 350.00

6/24 - Jul 1, 2006

YBOA Boys Nationals
www.yboa.org

Orlando, FL

Don Ruedlinger

407-351-5258

dparks@yboa.org

$ 695.00

6/24 - Jul 1, 2006

YBOA Boys Nationals
www.yboa.org

Columbus, GA

Don Ruedlinger

407-351-5258

dparks@yboa.org

$ 695.00

MONTH OF JULY

DATE

EVENT

LOCATION

CONTACT

PHONE

EMAIL

FEE

July 10-13, 2006

Nike Basketball

NCAA Certified
Birmingham, AL

Kim Davis

850/556-2097

kimberly.davis99@comcast.net

July 8-15, 2006

YBOA Girls Nationals
www.yboa.org

Orlando, FL

Don Ruedlinger

407-351-5258

dparks@yboa.org

$ 695.00

July 15-22, 2006

YBOA Int Camp
www.yboa.org

Orlando, FL

Don Ruedlinger

407-351-5258

dparks@yboa.org

July 21-24, 2006

International Shootout

Orlando, FL

Ken Patrick

407-333-2070

kpatr22101@aol.com

$ 300.00

July 21-24, 2006

Basketball In South Georgia
www.eteamz.com/goalsbasketball

Albany, GA

Stacy Masten

229-221-7545

wsmasten@yahoo.com

$ 450.00

July 22-25, 2006

River City Classic
www.ocbasketball.com

NCAA Certified
Memphis, TN

Carl Tinsley

503-654-2066

tins@ocbasketball.com

$ 650.00

July 22-29, 2006

YBOA Boys Nationals
www.yboa.org

Orlando, FL

Don Ruedlinger

407-351-5258

dparks@yboa.org

$ 695.00

July 28-30, 2006

Big Bend Showdown
www.cometsget.net

NCAA Certified
Tallahassee, FL

Robert Hicks

850-559-1351

hicksrob@comast.net

$ 450.00