Page 48 January 2017 30th Street & Indian School Road 602.957.8402 Lindstrom Family Auto Wash Your Neighborhood Car Wash Visit us at LindstromAutoWash.com for the “Deal of the Month!” Not valid with any other offers. Must present coupon. Expires 01/31/17. Not valid with any other offers. Must present coupon. Expires 01/31/17. Not valid with any other offers. Must present coupon. Expires 01/31/17. 15% OFF Any Detail Package $3 OFF “The Works” Car Wash $2 OFF Regular Car Wash Not valid with any other offers. Lindstrom Family Auto Wash Not valid with any other offers. Lindstrom Family Auto Wash Not valid with any other offers. Lindstrom Family Auto Wash PROFESSIONAL DETAIL SERVICES Engine Cleaning • Dress (top only) • Express Shampoo Express Wax • Leather Cleaning Conditioner • Complete Interior Exterior Over Spray Removal ARCADIA NEWS ARCADIA NEWS ARCADIA NEWS By Rachael Bouley Up until recently, the Arcadia neighborhood lacked a community youth basketball league. Families instead had to commute to the Scottsdale YMCA or sign up for a club membership to get their kids on the court. That’s where Matt Gordon stepped in. With 13 years of experience as the head men’s basketball coach at Phoenix College, Gordon was already passionate about the sport, and had enrolled his daughter in several Phoenix- area youth basketball leagues. While watching his daughter, he noted the need for improvements, noticing that many local leagues are coached by parents who try their best, but don’t know the ins and outs of the sport. “I observed and watched and thought I could really improve the way this is going, so instead of just complaining, I decided to do something about it,” Gordon said. “We developed a youth league that incorporates games and instruction but stresses development for youth. We hire former college players or former college coaches who have a good understanding of the fundamentals and have the ability to teach them.” Now going on its second year, Arcadia Youth Basketball welcomes children pre-k through eighth grade to develop their skills and make new friends on the court, regardless of previous experience or level of ability. They are taught by seasoned veterans, with years of experience playing and coaching basketball. “Kids respond a lot better because it’s not mom and dad teaching them,” Gordon said. “We have a ratio of eight or nine kids to one coach.” Parents have been taking advantage of this new opportunity right in their neighborhood, with over 500 young athletes participating in the league since its inception. “There was a need for it in our community, and I wanted to cater strictly to Arcadia,” Gordon said. “Our league is just for Arcadia kids, so it forms a bond with the community.” All practices and games are held at the Monte Vista Church on 40th street, just south of Osborn Road. With one practice during the week and games on Saturday, young basketballers are getting exposure to the sport and the techniques to play the game fairly. “We are teaching the basic fundamentals, how to be part of a team and the rules of basketball,” Gordon said. “We tell them when they are traveling or double dribbling, and we teach them what they are doing wrong and how to fix it.” Gordon relies on his experienced lead trainers, Stevie Ledesma and Ken Carrillo, to provide a quality experience for neighborhood kids. With a wealth of connections in the professional basketball community, Gordon has also been able to secure some of his former players to help out from time to time, ensuring all participants get the help and coaching they need. “The coaches have a good understanding of the game, good energy and positive attitudes,” Gordon said. “They make sure that every kid will get to touch the ball and be part of the team. I think there will be a lot of good experiences for these kids because they are all individually taught how to play.” “I like playing basketball because I get to play with my friends,” said six-year-old Lucia Smith, who plays in the league. “Shooting and running to get the ball are my favorite parts.” With their six-week leagues and four-week skill development sessions, Gordon and his coaches make sure that Arcadia families have access to youth basketball year-round. For the middle schoolers, a competitive club program has been implemented to give them a more challenging environment to further develop their skills. For Gordon, the most rewarding part of operating the league is offering families a valuable experience and giving local kids a platform to play the sport he loves. “It’s giving back to the kids and offering a service in the community that wasn’t there before,” said Gordon. Arcadia Youth Basketball League is a slam dunk with families The AYBL gives Arcadia kids the chance to play ball with their neighbors, classmates and friends. We are teaching them the basic fundamentals, how to be part of a team and the rules of basketball.” ‘‘