ARCADIA SPORTS PAGE ARCADIA SPORTS PAGE Page 54 November 2012 Senior co-captain Jensen Barton slams home a spike against rival Sunnyslope. At press time, the Titans were within reach of starting the state championship tournament with a home match. Arcadia was the preseason number-one ranked team but went 1-2 against defending state champion Sunnyslope during the regular season. New hoops coach wants citizens, not just players By Nathan Humpherys In my book, saying a coach expects more of his players off the court than he does on it isn’t backhanded. It’s a compliment all the way. Arcadia’s new boys’ basketball coach, Stephen Danford, didn’t describe himself in so many words, but to borrow an old cliché, it appears the high-top fi ts. After spending the past three years as an assistant, Danford has some clear expectations in his fi rst year as head coach. Danford expects his players bring the pressure on defense and to burn opponents with fast breaks on offense. He’ll also spend plenty of time drilling fundamentals, which he says can be a weakness with today’s high school basketball players. The starters – and almost the whole bench – behind last year’s run to the state semi fi nals graduated, leaving Danford a young and inexperienced team. Such teams typically have growing pains, sometimes struggling with consistency, but Danford’s standard will be improvement, game after game. That’s about as much as any coach can ask of his players on the court, but off of it, Danford asks more of them than many of his peers do. He wants his team to exceed the higher academic eligibility requirements the school board recently handed down and will implement things like mandatory study halls to help them do so. But that’s only the start. “I think it’s important for the players to give back to not just the school community, but the Arcadia community at large,” he said. The team is starting the season with a food drive, has signed up to help out at places like shelters and soup kitchens, and is looking to do even more. Danford said that any service organizations in the community that needs help should contact the team. He’s got a lot of young players who are ready and eager to help. Many coaches talk about the importance of their player’s grades, but’s its less common to talk to a coach who places such an emphasis on community service, so I asked Danford why he thought it was so important to be involved with volunteer work. “I think it creates a more well- rounded person to be more aware of their surroundings . . . You can’t go through life with blinders on about the problems in your community,” he said. It’s hard to argue with that. It’s also dif fi cult to predict how a young team will do, especially before the season starts. There are few givens, aside from the certainty that challenges await. But it certainly sounds like the Titans’ basketball team will have matured in more ways than one by the time it’s all over. AKF Black Belt Academy 4041 E Thomas Rd • Ste 108 • akfblackbeltacademy.com • akfblackbeltacademy.com 4041 E T 4041 E T FOCUS FOCUS Self Development • Creativity • Respect Self Development • Creativity • Respect Emergency Preparedness • Con Ƃ dence Emergency Preparedness • Con Ƃ dence Responsibility • Balance • Integrity Responsibility • Balance • Integrity Self Discipline • Values • Loyalty Self Discipline • Values • Loyalty Leadership • Knowledge • Leadership • Knowledge • FOCUS FOCUS First Aid • Motivation • Fitness First Aid • Motivation • Fitness Self Esteem • Courage • Goals Self Esteem • Courage • Goals Persistence • Attitude... and more! Persistence • Attitude... and more! The six tenets of Kyuki-do (Courtesy, Humility, The six tenets of Kyuki-do (Courtesy, Humility, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, Indomitable Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, Indomitable Spirit) are the foundation on which we build. Our Spirit) are the foundation on which we build. Our program gives children (and adults!) the tools program gives children (and adults!) the tools necessary to live a healthy and happy life necessary to live a healthy and happy life through the following pursuits: through the following pursuits: call now for a call now for a 30 DAY FREE TRIAL 30 DAY FREE TRIAL 602-955-1030 602-955-1030 HUBBARDSWIM.COM 602.971.4044 JOIN US for year-round indoor swim lessons FREE BABY SPLASH 8 wks - 5 mos LITTLE SNAPPERS 6 mos - 35 mos GROUP LESSONS 6 mos - 12 yrs REGISTER TODAY! learn-to-swim, strokes & squads PHOENIX, MESA & PEORIA