"Life Coach"

At the age of 33, God called me into the ministry of youth sports. And now after nearly 23 years of service working with youth, families and communities, I would describe myself more as a "Life Coach" than anything else.

As a "Life Coach" I'm committed to shaping the life of children, teenagers and young adults in a way that strengthens and prepares them for life on earth as well as eternal salvation.

Being a former basketball player, coach and trainer has been tremendously fulfilling, however the life lessons that I've learned (good & bad) in my career and the Godly wisdom that I've gained from living a Christ-centered life has had a profound to hav impact on my willingness to help young people prepare for life outside of sports.

Hoop Hunter Definition of an Advance & Intermediate Player

Deon’s Definition of an Advanced Player:

An advanced player (A.P.) to me is someone who has an above average basketball I.Q. in a variety of areas. This person has mastered the 5 basic fundamentals of the game (dribbling, passing, shooting, defending and rebounding) and can demonstrate their knowledge of each skill individually or during a light or competitive scrimmage without the ongoing assistance of a parent or coach. When being trained and learning new skills & concepts, they excel!

This player has a good feel for the game and can represent themselves without the help of others. They understand defensive and offensive concepts, strategies & schemes of the game.  They understand how to effectively play 1 on 1, 2 on 2 and 3 on 3 with confidence and assertiveness without looking out of place.

Deon’s Definition of an Intermediate Player:

An intermediate player (I.P.) to me is someone who has the ability, skills and talent needed to be an advance player but they need more time, experience and personal growth & development training to help them reach their full potential. And in some cases this person lacks the self-drive needed to advance and improve their overall game & play.

An intermediate player (I.P.) is someone who is capable but hasn’t mastered the 5 basic fundamentals of the game such as; dribbling, passing, shooting, playing defense & rebounding the basketball. And neither have they demonstrated that they’ve developed a passion to compete against their peers.

This person has a concept & I.Q. for the game, but simply need more time to develop or they may need to play against better competition. When this player plays against top level competition, they sometimes lack the self-determination needed to perform and peak levels.

*Important Note: The definition of what an Advance Player and Intermediate Player is, is subjective and a matter of opinion, however, what’s listed above is to be used to give you a bench mark to evaluate which category your child may be seen by coaches. This definition targets players from grades 6th-12th.  

Hoop Hunter Basketball's DNA

Who Is Hoop Hunter Basketball?

Hoop Hunter Basketball is a Christian Basketball Training Organization.

What's Our Specialty?

Player development training from an individual, small group or team setting.

What's Our Goal?

Our goal is to help players develop the skills needed to successfully play the game of basketball in a friendly or competitive manner to the best of their ability.

What Are Our 4 Pillars For Success?

Our 4 Pillars for success are; We Teach, We Motivate, We Inspire & We Praise each player.

What Are We Not?

A Baby Sitter!!!!

About Trainers

Trainers are professionals who fully believe in themselves and the areas that they are highly qualified to teach. Their work is no longer work, it's become their passion. They take personal pride in teaching others how to reach their fullest potential. Training works!

Difference Types of Personal Trainers:

1. Dog Trainers
2. Horse Trainers
3. Voice Trainers
4. Microsoft Trainers
5. Athletic Trainers
6. Sports Specific Trainers (football, basketball, hockey, golf, tennis, rugby, track, sky diving, wrestling, baseball, softball & soccer).
7. Piano Trainers
8. Water Polo Trainers
9. Weight Trainers
10. Business Development Trainers

Kids Friday Night Out

Dates:  Oct. 17^th & Dec. 5th

Kids Friday Night Out is a community event for children ages 5-12 years old.  The goal of this event is to give parents a safe and friendly place to bring their children to have fun and interact with new friends on a Friday night.

During this event children will get a chance to participate and enjoy lots of games & team competitions such as; basketball, jump rope, relays, book story readings (age appropriate), movies, small group activities, freeze tag, Simon says, red light green light, four squares and many more age appropriate activities.

Our professional staff consist of HHB/BBI adult workers and high school student volunteers. Parents must sign up, register and pay for each child (discounts are available for families with multiple children) before they can participate in this event.

Parents may not drop their child off in the parking lot.  Parent must come inside the building and sign their child in for the event. You will be given a claim ticket for each child. Parents are expect to pick their child up no later than 8:15pm. Upon picking up your child, you will need the claim ticket or else your child may be taken to the nearest zoo.

HHB/BBI will not provide food for this event. We ask that you feed your child prior to bringing them to this event. Children may bring also bring a light snack and drink if they wish.

Hoop Hunter Basketball/Building Believers Inc.’s code of conduct:

Each child must respect the authority of all our staff. If for some reason this can’t be achieved by way of reasonable request, we will request that you pick up your child immediately.

“We want the Children to have respectful, friendly Friday night fun.”

Dates:  October 17^th & December 5^th

Drop off:  5:30-6:00pm / Pickup:  8:00-8:15pm

Activities:  6:00-8:00pm

Cost:  $25.00 for first child, $20 for each additional child in the same family

Location:  Hoop Hunter Gym, 10600 Dunham Rd. Roanoke

Registration:

We encourage parents to register no later than the Wednesday, before the Friday Night Out event.

Register online:  http://www.hoophunter.com/#!kids-friday-night-out/c1hb 

In the event we don’t have enough registered to fully conduct this event, we will notify those who have registered by email the day before the scheduled Friday night.

Parents Bare Some Responsibility

Proverb 22:6 Says to train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Parents bare the responsibility to teach and train their children to obey, they're also expected to recognize the gifts that God has bestowed upon their children and get them properly trained so that they can use them in a God pleasing way.

Parents & Raising Kids

Parents bare the responsibility of raising their children, not the school, not the church not MTV or BET.

Kids need rules and boundaries. Rules without relationships will always equal rebellion. 

So while raising your children, remember to hug,love and affirm them in the Lord.

World View vs Christian World View

Television networks & radio stations are constantly looking for ways to snatch the Christian way of thinking out of our kids and into mainstream secular world views. 

We as parents bare the responsibility of raising our children with a Christian world view particularly while they're in our homes and living under our roof. 

To do this, we must constantly talk with them about the things that we know the world doesn't want them to know, we should turn off the tv and have dialog with everyone in the family. And last, we should continue to invest in a weekday family devotion without any interuptions. And that means cell phones off! 

The Choice Is Yours

10 things parents do that irritate their teenage kIds

1. When parents ask them to turn off their cell phone while eating dinner with the family.
2. When parents ask them questions all the time about who they're with and where they're going.
3.When parents ask them to wake up because they're sleeping too late.
4.When parents say no to a sleep over at a new friends house! 
5.When parents give them a curfew that they think is too early.
6. When parents take their cell phone as a form of punishment.
7. When parents communicate with their friends parents to make sure the truth is being told.
8. When parents tell them to take something stupid off fb or twitter.
9. When parents snoop around in their room (snoop dog).
10. When parents no longer trust them.

Who's The Parent In Your Home?

pic.twitter.com/MfzY2jt

Congratulation to Courtney Kerr, senior, guard from Paradise H.S. who committed over the weekend to play college basketball at MSU.
Hoop Hunter Basketball is proud of you. Congrats to Mary Beth & Chris Kerr (proud parents). Thanks for allowing HHB to be apart of the journey.

4-The Love of Life and The Game!

The bible tells us to love God with all of our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Why then is it so hard for people who attend middle & high school sporting events to like, respect and love one another?

If there's a challenge worth participating in, it would be to be apart of a school district who's parents, fans, students, community & critics, pledges to like, respect and love 1 another during all competition events.

Which means that together, we're agreeing to hold ourselves to a higher standard than the norm and that we will represent what true fans and participants at sporting events should look like throughout the world.

The Challenge-Raising The Standards at Sporting Events!

I'm Not Poor, I'm Rich

If you see me and you think that I'm poor simply because I don't dress like you, shop like you, take vacations like you, live like you, have eloquent dinner parties like you nor do I have swanky friends like you; it's because throughout my life, I've been sending my deposits and laying up my treasures in heaven.

Of course I'm Rich!

Treaures in Heaven:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

Things That Ruin H.S. Players Reputation!

1.You can be a very outstanding player but having a poor attitude will ruin your reputation.
2.You can be the best player on the team, but having a parent that can't keep his/her mouth shout will ruin your reputation. 
3.You can have the brightest future as a student-athlete but having friends & teammates who drink and smoke will ruin your reputation.
4. You can live in the best neighborhood in Texas but talking about others and putting those who aren't like you down will ruin your reputation.
5. You can be the most popular student-athlete in the school but refusing to show up for practice on time, finishing line drills and always pointing the finger at others when it's really your fault will ruin your reputation.
6. You can have very good intentions but degrading others on twitter and putting all your business in the street at the expense of winning friends over to your side will ultimately ruin your reputation.
7. You may not like your coach all the time but telling the world all the time that he/she stinks ultimately will ruin your reputation.
8. You may not like nor agree with your parents during your teenage years but telling your friends you don't care for them will ruin your reputation.

People who don't care about their reputation aren't worth hanging around.

Choose to Care!

Kirk Franklin - Smile Music Video featuring Steve Harvey

Life is too short to always be frowning, check out this video and lets see if we can get you to start smiling. And remember, life is never as bad as it seems. So smile.

The Title of My 1st Book: (Someday)

"When I See You, I See Me"

The reason I relate to so many people in the world is because in some way, shape, form or fashion, I've walked in those same shoes that I see others now wearing. 

Too often, many of us who have crossed over the bridge of struggle, strife, turmoil, lack, doubt and even poverty, forget to look back and help our fellow brothers and sisters cross over those same bridges.

God is watching how we treat others who are less fortunate. And He expects us to reach back and help others find their way as well.

Matthew 25:45
"And he will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'

"Don't Forget Where We Came From"

Building Believers Inc. says, "Lets not forget about the kids"

As a child, my parents told me that if I wanted to do well in life, that I needed to get a good education, trust & obey God, love others regardless of the color of their skin, be a good person and good things would come my way, and she was right. 

My mother also told me, "Never to forget where I came from". Today, when I become aware of communities who have kids and families with greater needs than others, I'm reminded that I have a duty and responsibility to get involved and give back, knowing that once upon a time, that was me. 

Please join my efforts as we look to adopt and sow in communities with kids who have greater needs than others. 

We will need lots of high school volunteers to carry out a much needed mission.

Lets Not Forget About The Kids!

Support The Building Believers Mission

As a child, I was a product of the City of Dallas Parks & Recreation Department. The positive attitudes and leadership of the directors, staffers along with the talented individuals who came from outside our community to invest in our lives, (by bringing healthy programs to our community) helped shape and impact the lives of many children as well as my life.

Through our non-profit organization, Building Believers Inc., God has placed it on my heart to

adopt a community who has the same type of needs (if not greater) that our community had when I was a child. 

So in the near future as I get things worked out with the community leader (s), I'm going to request the participation and support of those of you who believe in helping children who have greater than normal needs. And through basketball specific events and additional life skill programs, we are going to produce in them the hope that they too can have a successful future.

Like

My Late Grandmother & The Good Book!

Years ago while my grandmother was still alive, she encouraged me to live 100% for Christ and to not be ashamed by what others would think of my decision.

Take a look at the most important phrases that she spoke that changed my life for ever, "The good book is the only book you need to help you live a happy, healthy and whole life" and "baby, I dare you to trust God".

Well, I did both and today, my life is full of joy, peace, happiness and fulfillment. But most importantly, I know that my salvation is intact!

As A kid, I Picked Up Cans, Bottles & Mowed Lawns To Buy My 1st Pair of Chuck Taylor's

"Sacrifices" 

As a kid, I was introduced to the game of basketball at an early age. When I was in the 3rd grade, I spent hours watching my oldest brother and others play competitively at the local recreation center in Dallas, Texas. And over time it led me to want to become a really good tall basketball player.

After I developed a desire to play basketball, my first 2 request to my father was, "Hey dad, can you buy me a pair of Chuck Taylor (high top tennis shoes) and a rubber basketball?" I can remember my father asking me, "Do you want them bad enough to work for them?" And the answer of course was, Yes!

After agreeing to pick up trash in the local community, mow lawns and even pick up bottles and cans in the neighborhood, I finally earned enough money to buy the shoes and the ball. That was one of the biggest initial "Sacrifices" that I would make throughout my entire career. Those lessons led me to want to work hard daily to be the best that I could be throughout my entire life.

As I reflect on the one most important lesson that I learned as a kid, it would be, "If you want something bad enough and you're willing to make a Sacrifice and work for it, it's worth it." 

And that's where my life long values and my basketball journey began. 

Sacrificial Giving Brings Happiness

When we give sacrificially to our spouse, love ones, co-workers, neighbors and even those who aren't deserving, in exchange we will receive a fulfillment of happiness that money can't buy. 

Players Who Sit The Bench Should Bring Their A-Game & Stop Settling

I don't understand how anyone could simply sit on the bench all year long and watch others play without finding some area of weakness in their game that they can exploit and expose when they practice against them daily.

Based on my personal evaluation of players when I watch their team play, the majority of those who play do little silly things wrong often and most get away with it without it ever being exposed. And sometimes when it's exposed by their coaches, they keep doing it because no one has shown that they can do things any better.

Advice From Hoop Hunter:

If I were you (the player), I would get tired of sitting the bench.  I would start competing and exposing my teammates weaknesses during practice daily by competing. I would work my tail off even if I found just one thing that the team needed that I could do better than everyone and I would do it.

And even if my efforts to get off the bench doesn't win me as much court time as I would like, I would find contentment knowing that everyday, I got better and I made my teammates better by Bringing My A-Game.

"Eventually Poor Guard Play Will Catch Up With Every Middle & High School Team"

Why do the majority of middle and high school teams only have 1 to 2 really good ball handlers on the team when the majority of the team  is made up of mostly perimeter players (guards)? This is a shame and players who play on the perimeter (guards) must be held more accountable for their actions and they must learn to take on more ball handling responsibilities. Having 1 to 2 dribblers on a team isn't enough to make it through the entire season less known deep into the play-offs.

Watching teams who do not have an adequate amount of talented ball handlers on the team who can see the court, make good decisions, read defenders before they pass the ball and those who can  make plays by penetrating the lane, makes the game hard to watch.

And in many cases, these same players only want the ball when they play against non-aggressive defenders. Most are intimidated by aggressive defenders.

It's never too late to improve your ball handling skills, however, it takes commitment, dedication, self drive, and the willingness to change (THE WANT TOO FACTOR).

HHB Is Seeking Part-Time Office Help

Hoop Hunter Inc.

Roanoke, Texas

Christian Youth Basketball Training Organization is seeking an experienced office personnel to work mornings, Mon.-Fri., 20 hours a week.

Job Description

Must be effective and tech. savvy using word, excel, fb, twitter, website, blog, excellent communication & people skills, good with scheduling, advertising, must be able to multi-task and must have good professional phone etiquette.

Starting Salary 12.00 per hour

Send current resume to hoophunter@hoophunter.com