Coach helps players gain skills
Fengel volunteers as girls coach
By Joanne Fox, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, February 11, 2008
Chad Fengel volunteers as a coach for a seventh grade Northside Girls Basketball League team, which practices at North Middle School. (Staff photo by Tim Hynds)
Taking a cue from sportswriter Grantland Rice, coach Chad Fengel insisted it isn't so much about whether his team wins or loses. It's how they play the game.
For the past five years, Fengel has coached a Northside Girls Basketball League team, but couldn't state his team's win-loss record.
"We don't keep stats formally," he said. "I'm more concerned with whether or not the girls are getting the skills they need to play basketball."
Fengel offered to help with coaching duties when his two stepdaughters wanted to play in seventh grade in 2002.
"I played sports in high school and ran track in college, so I was familiar with the rules and strategies," he said. "I just wanted to help."
Tryouts are held for the league in late November and Fengel said every effort is made to put in everyone who comes out. This year, there were more than 70 in the sixth, seventh and eighth grade alone in a league that has 38 teams in grades four through eight, said Kirk Walker, head girls basketball coach at North, who coordinates the league with Fengel and other volunteers.
"As head coach, you want to be involved with the middle school kids as much as you can, so you can develop a strong feeder program for the high school," Walker said.
Fengel sees the practices and games as opportunities for the girls to become, not necessarily great basketball players, but better athletes.
"We work on dribbling, free throws, shooting form and positioning on the court," he said. "We really focus on defensive positioning."
For some players, it will be the preparation needed to play basketball at the high school level, since the Sioux City Community School District does not have a middle school sports program.
"We do see ourselves as a feeder program for the high school," Fengel acknowledged. "But it's not our only goal."
Without the power of a school behind them, the coaches can't impose consequences on players whose grades are lower than average. But Fengel stressed all the coaches are aware of player performance in school.
"T.J. (Fennell) and John (Vanderloo) keep us informed about how the girls are behaving in school and their academic performance," said Fengel, referring to Fennell, the juvenile court liaison officer at North Middle and Vanderloo, North Middle physical education instructor and head boys basketball coach at North High School.
"We talk to the girls to reinforce how important it is that they do well in school," Fengel added. "We remind them that if they want to play at the high school level, they're going to have to have good grades or they can't play anyway."
Grades don't seem to be a problem, Fengel said.
"Two years ago when the middle school honor roll came out, we did some calculating and discovered 80 percent of our girls on the basketball team were on the honor roll," he said. "I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that they're here by choice."
Standing at one end of the basketball court, Fengel led the team (self-named the Patriots) through a variety of drills, including layups and rebounds. The girls -- a variety of ages, maturity, heights, weights and skill levels -- ran through those with a fairly high level of accuracy.
But the nuts and bolts of basketball took a bit more attention. Fengel demonstrated the strategy to get the ball from one player to another, while being guarded by two defenders. You could see the wheels turn in the girls' heads as they sought out someone to pass the ball to, while two defenders were jumping in front of them with hands held high to block the ball.
"If they learn something and continue the sport, I know the program has been a success for them," he said.
Fengel continues to be associated with the league, despite the fact his stepdaughters are in high school.
"I love working with the kids," he admitted. "When they grasp the skills needed to be good in basketball -- when that light bulb goes off in their heads and they get it -- it makes it all worthwhile."
Since Fengel's been associated with the league for five years now, you would guess some of those girls who started back in 2002 are part of the North High Stars today.
"Some are playing," he said, guardedly. "But I'm not taking credit for any of their successes."
Fennell disagreed.
"Without guys like Chad who gives the girls an opportunity to play ball, we wouldn't have a winning program at the high school level," Fennell insisted. "That's what he attempts to do, espouse all those skills so girls can play and be coached at the high school level."
"We couldn't do this without strong parental support and a great group of coaches and some high school girls who volunteer with coaching a team, too," Fengel stressed. "I think that speaks volumes about the commitment to the program."
Game time
The Northside Girls Basketball League games are on Sundays at North High School. Games start at noon and run until 5 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults; $1 for kids 12-18; free to kids under 12; and a family ticket is $5. For more details, visit http://northsidegirlsbb.tripod.com
For the past five years, Fengel has coached a Northside Girls Basketball League team, but couldn't state his team's win-loss record.
"We don't keep stats formally," he said. "I'm more concerned with whether or not the girls are getting the skills they need to play basketball."
Fengel offered to help with coaching duties when his two stepdaughters wanted to play in seventh grade in 2002.
"I played sports in high school and ran track in college, so I was familiar with the rules and strategies," he said. "I just wanted to help."
Tryouts are held for the league in late November and Fengel said every effort is made to put in everyone who comes out. This year, there were more than 70 in the sixth, seventh and eighth grade alone in a league that has 38 teams in grades four through eight, said Kirk Walker, head girls basketball coach at North, who coordinates the league with Fengel and other volunteers.
"As head coach, you want to be involved with the middle school kids as much as you can, so you can develop a strong feeder program for the high school," Walker said.
Fengel sees the practices and games as opportunities for the girls to become, not necessarily great basketball players, but better athletes.
"We work on dribbling, free throws, shooting form and positioning on the court," he said. "We really focus on defensive positioning."
For some players, it will be the preparation needed to play basketball at the high school level, since the Sioux City Community School District does not have a middle school sports program.
"We do see ourselves as a feeder program for the high school," Fengel acknowledged. "But it's not our only goal."
Without the power of a school behind them, the coaches can't impose consequences on players whose grades are lower than average. But Fengel stressed all the coaches are aware of player performance in school.
"T.J. (Fennell) and John (Vanderloo) keep us informed about how the girls are behaving in school and their academic performance," said Fengel, referring to Fennell, the juvenile court liaison officer at North Middle and Vanderloo, North Middle physical education instructor and head boys basketball coach at North High School.
"We talk to the girls to reinforce how important it is that they do well in school," Fengel added. "We remind them that if they want to play at the high school level, they're going to have to have good grades or they can't play anyway."
Grades don't seem to be a problem, Fengel said.
"Two years ago when the middle school honor roll came out, we did some calculating and discovered 80 percent of our girls on the basketball team were on the honor roll," he said. "I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that they're here by choice."
Standing at one end of the basketball court, Fengel led the team (self-named the Patriots) through a variety of drills, including layups and rebounds. The girls -- a variety of ages, maturity, heights, weights and skill levels -- ran through those with a fairly high level of accuracy.
But the nuts and bolts of basketball took a bit more attention. Fengel demonstrated the strategy to get the ball from one player to another, while being guarded by two defenders. You could see the wheels turn in the girls' heads as they sought out someone to pass the ball to, while two defenders were jumping in front of them with hands held high to block the ball.
"If they learn something and continue the sport, I know the program has been a success for them," he said.
Fengel continues to be associated with the league, despite the fact his stepdaughters are in high school.
"I love working with the kids," he admitted. "When they grasp the skills needed to be good in basketball -- when that light bulb goes off in their heads and they get it -- it makes it all worthwhile."
Since Fengel's been associated with the league for five years now, you would guess some of those girls who started back in 2002 are part of the North High Stars today.
"Some are playing," he said, guardedly. "But I'm not taking credit for any of their successes."
Fennell disagreed.
"Without guys like Chad who gives the girls an opportunity to play ball, we wouldn't have a winning program at the high school level," Fennell insisted. "That's what he attempts to do, espouse all those skills so girls can play and be coached at the high school level."
"We couldn't do this without strong parental support and a great group of coaches and some high school girls who volunteer with coaching a team, too," Fengel stressed. "I think that speaks volumes about the commitment to the program."
Game time
The Northside Girls Basketball League games are on Sundays at North High School. Games start at noon and run until 5 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults; $1 for kids 12-18; free to kids under 12; and a family ticket is $5. For more details, visit http://northsidegirlsbb.tripod.com
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