It is important to step back and evaluate the system we have become so accustomed to that we assume it is natural and normal. I hope young girls who frequent the site and read these articles see the importance of having a critical lens and recognize the politics that can be interpreted when analyzing the current configuration of basketball and sports, recreation, and leisure in general for that matter.

Also, girls, don’t be dismayed by some of the references or unfamiliar terms (e.g. ‘hegemony’). Most Americans are only exposed to those terms and concepts at the college or university level – heck, another system that can always use a critical lens and is of course so intimately connected with our sport, and particularly the problems with fundamental skill learning in regards to the urgency of attracting college scholarship offers.

I would, however, like to address a couple things. Going back to the first article, you write that men and women are ‘wired’ differently. This is dangerous territory. Alternatively, I would suggest that women and men are indeed socialized differently (everything from the type of toys they are traditionally exposed to growing up that exercise and develop different motor skills, to other emotional or social conditioning or imperatives that are reinforced by our society, culture, etc. etc.). Furthermore, I would be careful in interchanging “female” and “women” since in academia, one refers to “biological” sex and the other to a socialized role. This would help emphasize my earlier point, perhaps.

Also, you mentioned “mistreatment by boyfriends” in your examples of issues that might distract or impede on girls’ athletic performance, or what have you. While I understand you were merely listing off specific examples, I always urge that we must be careful to assume girls’ lifestyle choices or simply assume heterosexuality, rather than using more inclusive language in order to convey that point.

I also want to stress that while we are encouraging the girls/readers to be critical and aware of the politics of the economy of basketball skills, knowledge, coaching, etc., the questioning does not end there (!). You use, as I interpret it, an anti-capitalist theoretical framework in analyzing the basketball education system, but I encourage young girls to question even further the implications of a domain whose essence involves ranking people. Please do not interpret this as a wholesale rejection of any sport that doesn’t end in a tie! May I suggest a pretty good book, “Sportsex” by toby miller, which addresses some of these questions.

loves it!

I couldn't agree more with this article. I work closely with high school girls players, and boy, it's SO obvious that many of them lacked exposure to "fundamentals" prior to high school - I, too, think girls (and boys) b-baller are done a disservice when they are not taught fundamentals BEFORE high school - and while playing high school ball. This lack of skill set is very evident on the college level as it has a "trickle up effect" on the game ...

glen i agree with you entirely and would add, that a lot of the coaches and fan club members look at the young ladies as having a distinct and different game they play. therefore a lot of the fundamentals used by other participants boys/men are not applicable. last i looked up in the library the game is called basketball and the fundamentals are the same for all participants. i never heard of anything called women's basketball. i am familiar with young ladies who play ' basketball ' the sport. i would suggest coaches approach it that way and let the bench-marks of the game determine levels and abilities, not athleticism which on the women's/girls side is apparent and visible of late. size on the ladies side has reared it's head in addition. all of this size and athleticism with out the proper skill sets being used and required means litlle if these assets are not properly taught and used in the game. too much in the past has been made of this fictious ' women's game' being so fundamental and entertaining as if this in and of itself has been created/discovered to provide the ladies with this super product above and beyond that of the existing benchmark for the game (guys). this opinion as expressed is in direct contradiction to the opinion of the colleges coaches whose lively hood is directly dependent upon the skill set of incoming players to their programs. as with yourself as an "elite spring/summer coach" over the last 10 years, i have heard the same things you have, " these kids have no fundamentals and have no idea how to play the game ie. " basketball ". i would suggest that across the board especially at the younger age level forget that propaganda about this " women's game " and focus on teaching the game and the skill sets that accompany it. treat these young ladies as potential ballers (which they can be), instead of girls playing girls basketball. lastly, i would say there is no distinct womens tennis, they play tennis, there is no distinct womens golf, they play the game of golf, this is true of swimming, diving, track and field as well as bowling. how basketball got this special exemption is a mystery. lets get the game on track by getting the ladies on track to learning the game and the proper skill sets via proper teaching, training, evaluation and status. and by the way i have tried this and also have had my teams try it. ask the ball if it cares or matters if you are a girl or not, and ask the ball does it react differently because you are a girl. i have yet had a ball reply so it must not care. young ladies, coaches, fans please raise the expectations of the ladies and what they are capable of doing when provided proper instruction. in my experience i have found they can do the exact same things as the guys, maybe not as quick, as fast, as high off the ground, but with proper training now, trust me with the ladies drive for perfection and excellence given the proper instruction they will be there!!!!

Glenn,
Interesting article. From our recent experience at the Nike TOC, I would state that most have underestimated the quality of Oklahoma girls' basketball. The quality of play here in Oklahoma is directly related to the amount of fundamentals that are taught across the state. I would hope that our team served as an example of numerous programs across our state that prove that you don't have to be 6"4" and signed to a D-1 school to play solid fundamental team basketball. By the way our camp at the end of May runs for a week and we only charge $35.00. Last year we had 136 girls enrolled. There is a definite desire here in Oklahoma to learn the game the right way. I assume, rightly or wrongly, that we are not unique. Perhaps your observation is a symptom of basketball at what is perceived to be the "elite" level. I invite you to come and watch Oklahoma basketball. At least the backboard won't be endanger of being dented in most contests.

Bill Nobles
Sequoyah Lady Indians Basketball

Awesome article! Too often have I heard high school and club coaches say they don't have the time to work on fundamentals. I think that is a cop out. Too often these same coaches don't know how to teach the game. The teams that improve over the course of the season/year are the ones whose coaches teach the game of basketball from both the mental aspect and physical skill development. Plays are easy to scout and defend. Players that understand the game and that have mastered the fundamentals aren't