Hickory Hoops Academy program combines ‘fundamentals of life with fundamentals of basketball’

By RICHIE HALL

sports@readthereporter.com

As a high school freshman, Howard Burd started on his Granada Hills (Calif.) High School basketball team.

He was also bullied by the seniors on the team, as he started in place of a popular senior. That taught him a “good learning lesson,” which he has applied ever since: no bullying whatsoever.

Burd is now sharing this and other lessons with young basketball players, which is why he and Hickory Hoops Academy president Todd Zimmerman have created a life-skills component to complement the basketball instruction.

Burd said the goal is to integrate “fundamentals of life with fundamentals of basketball” with his inaugural program.  “A lot of these life lessons are personal,” said Burd.

The seeds were planted many years ago by Burd, an award-winning film producer who also got a scholarship to play Division I basketball at West Texas State University. When Burd was a high school student in Los Angeles, he participated in a life skills class organized by Jerry Buss, the then-owner of the L.A. Lakers.

“For seven days, all expenses paid, he organized classes for us that taught life skills,” said Burd. “He figured out quickly being the owner of the Lakers, 99 percent of college players were not going to the pros, so they better be serious about their education and take advantage of it.

“He really wanted you to learn how to be a young man who makes a difference in the world,” said Burd. In addition, Burd said his mother was “a very big proponent of giving back to the community and that’s always stuck with me.”

Zimmerman knows something about public service. He is a member of the Fishers City Council, serving as council president in recent years. He and Burd developed a curriculum that involved both basketball and life skills, which they shared with The Reporter, for boys players aged 10 to 14. They also plan to develop a similar program for girls.

The basketball skills involve fundamental aspects of basketball, starting with shooting in Week 1. Players then move on to offensive skills, perimeter moves, low post offensive moves and two weeks of dribbling.

“The basketball syllabus is built like a house in terms of foundation,” said Burd.

The life skills portion begins with kindness in Week 1. “Just as shooting is the foundation of offense, kindness should be the foundation of your character,” the curriculum booklet said. It’s something Burd knows about: he won the John Wooden Basketball award from the Northridge Athletic Association in 1975 as a 12-year-old after his coach wrote a letter emphasizing how much Burd cared about his teammates.

In subsequent weeks, the life skills taught to players are communication, strengths, budgets and manners & respect. Players are then given homework assignments for both the basketball and life skills learned that week and parents must sign the booklet when one is completed.

The students have been enthusiastic about completing both the basketball and life skills assignments. Zimmerman said he has “kids running up to me right before one of our games with their booklet and saying ‘Coach, I got two assignments done.’”

Zimmerman also said that the students’ parents and grandparents have had good things to say about the program as well.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Zimmerman. “I think it’s something that’s really needed. I’ve been involved in youth sports for 30 years.”

Zimmerman said there are two problems with regards to youth sports. First are the expectations of young athletes that are unrealistic, and the second is pressure of performance.

“This can be something more of a character build,” said Zimmerman “Regardless of ability, they can all be good people and they can all learn life skills and this is vital to developing our community and society using the avenue of youth sports.”

There is a reward for students who complete their assignments at the end of six weeks: gift certificates to the Ale Emporium in Fishers, donated by Tony Kwiatkowski. Adam Kallick of Kilwin’s Ice Cream also donated 50 certificates for a free dessert.

Zimmerman said this first time is a trial run, so kids from any of Hickory Hoops’ various age groups were invited to attend. Zimmerman said that there will be a separate sign up for the program going forward.

“The key is to fine tune it from the perspective of the kids,” said Burd. That includes finding out what the students like and don’t like, and what would make it more compelling.

“The best way to teach communication is to really ask great questions and to understand the needs of others,” said Burd.

For more information or to sign up for the next edition of the program, go to hickoryhoopsbasketball.com/registration.