by Alissa Skelton
The Crete News;

Crete recreational basketball team leaders have made major changes to the program in hopes to get more Crete natives to participate.

The sudden spike in Crete teams leaving the program to play in Lincoln’s YMCA program caught the recreation director’s attention and prompted the changes.

Josi Hoesche, Crete’s recreation director, has heard the parent’s complaints loud and clear. She revamped the program this year, making changes she thought parents would appreciate. But she wants to improve the program even more.

This spring, she plans to hold a forum so parents can work together to rebuild the program.

“We have to put competitiveness back into the program to compete with other town’s programs,” Hoesche said.

The program is on its way to recovery. High school students no longer coach teams. Instead, Hoesche found 20 experienced parents to coach teams. Parents are more committed to helping the kids learn the rules and fundamentals of the game, said Kirk Kingston, the supervisor of third and fourth grade teams. Kingston, said the Crete program is comparable to the YMCA program. His third-grade son, Evan, plays in the Crete and YMCA programs.  

“There’s a perceived notion that the competition is better in the YMCA program,” Kingston said. “But having been in that program, I can say it’s not more competitive.”

Hoesche said she and her fellow coaches organized the program better and implement new drills and tournaments. On Feb. 6, the program held an around the world and knock out tournament.

The kids had a lot of fun and the boys winner, Evan Kingston, won a basketball autographed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln basketball players. Evan propped the basketball on his shelf with a roll of duck tape until he saves up enough allowance money to buy a case.

“The tournament gave us a competitive atmosphere,” Kingston said. “Evan was elated about winning the basketball.”

Although Hoesche said there’s a decreasing amount of Crete recreational players, the program doubled its participants this season. Last year 70 children played, and this year 150 kids played in the program. The additional players are from surrounding towns like Dorchester.

“Josi has grown immensely since she walked into the program,” Kingston said. “Her ability to adapt and recruit has changed the program for the better.”

Hoesche said she hopes the number of participants will rise again next year. She wants Crete natives to come back to the program. Her theory is the more participants, the more competitive the program will be.

“We want to get Crete kids involved in our community,” Hoesche said.

The recreational basketball program starts in January and runs for five weeks. Games are held on Saturdays at 9 a.m. Based on feedback from parents, Hoesche made the program more structured and instructional.

Basketball players are separated into teams based on their grade level. The third and fourth-graders play at Crete Middle School and the fifth and sixth-graders play at Crete High School. Kids now have the option to participate in drills before the games. Hoesche thought this was beneficial for the kids who wanted additional practice and instruction from coaches.

“I try to recruit parents who know what they are talking about and understand the game,” she said. “We want committed parents who are willing to help kids get to the best level they can.”