One week of two-a-days: Boys’ basketball players react to Coach Mike Hintz’s demanding coaching techniques

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December 1, 2009 • Marta Kotz
Filed under High School, Sports

New to the boys’ basketball program is not only the coach, but also his aggressive coaching style.
On Monday, November 16th, the boys’ basketball season began.
To start off their season, they spent the first week of it with practices in the morning before school began, from 6-7:20, and after school, for 2-3 hours.
Two-a-days is commonly associated with football. Coach Mike Hintz has taken this term to new heights in the 2009-2010 basketball season.
The weeks leading up to the season were filled with optional, yet recommended and insisted basketball open gyms, where players would partake in 2 hour, 5 days a week of conditioning and practicing.
A few of those nights were spent running the football hills in the back of the school.
“Our practices are pretty intense, we work on a lot of defense. Our coach preaches defense,” Junior T.J. Strom said.
To recover from a 1-19 season last year, boys’ basketball players seem to be accepting these new and intense workouts.
“I think it will benefit us in the long run. Were working on a lot of new stuff that we haven’t really done before. We’re getting a whole new defense and offense. Right now we have our tryout period, to show who can play what. I think it will help a lot, because it’s teaching us quite a bit, and were learning a ton of new things, so it should help us play with more intensity,” Strom said.
Last year, practices were only after school for 2-3 hours.
As the tryout week progresses, the guys will build up their strength and refresh their skills in order to be playing their full potential for game time.
“It’s hard getting up early to go to practice, and the practices can be physically demanding at times, but it’s making us better and I think it’s working for us,” Junior Zach Koch said.
Players will resume once-a-day practices after Thanksgiving vacation.