Kids as Coaches – Local Athletes Give Their Time to Lead Optimist Youth Basketball Team

La Grange athletes Camden Coltrain, Clayton Cooper, and Holden Cooper don’t only perform on the field, they also put their coaching skills on display as these three are among the locals who help coach in the La Grange Optimist Club’s the Little Dribblers basketball program.

This trio coaches a team of 3rd and 4th graders.

Their contributions play a big role in the lives of others, but especially the young ones putting it all out on the hardwood.

“Little Dribblers is an excellent way for the young kids to learn the basics of basketball and build a love for the sport,” said Little Dribblers coordinator Misty Touchet. “I encourage the high school students to come in and teach the kids and coach the kids. Camden Coltrain has been coaching for a couple of years and he is excellent with the students, with the players. Cooper came in this year and was his assistant and he has been working well with the kids, too, so to teach them the knowledge that they know from years of basketball and putting it back into the community.”

Playing high school sports while also calling the shots for the kids has made them this edition’s Athletes of the Week.

Question: What’s it like being a coach?

Answer: “Being a coach, it’s really fun. Just being able to coach a sport that you love playing and being able to inspire a younger generation, it’s really surprising to watch.”

Question: Who’s a college or pro coach you look up to?

Answer: “I really enjoy watching Baylor’s Scott Drew. He’s just a really good guy and he preaches good culture. Just not having to talk or be scrappy with the other team. Let your work on the court do the talking.”

Question: What’s an important message you usually like to send to the kids?

Answer: “I like to preach to them that off days are gonna happen. So if there’s a game where we’re not hitting that many shots, that’s not uncommon for a lot of basketball teams or even just players in general.”

Question: Where’s a basketball arena you’d like to go to?

Answer: “Probably just the Rockets arena. I’ve never

See been to a NBA game, so I feel like just going there would be fun.”

Clayton Cooper

Question: What’s your favorite play to run as a coach?

Answer: “We got this one play, it’s called red. We come and screen at the top, then we let our kids do their thing.”

Question: How do you prepare for coaching a game?

Answer: “Obviously we want to win, but with them, we got to let them have fun. I remember when I was a kid and playing in those games, I just wanted to have fun, but ultimately win.”

Question: If you could coach one college or pro basketball team, who would it be and why?

Answer: “I’m gonna go with the Warriors right now because Curry’s a great player and they got a lot of other raw talent.”

Question: Who’s a basketball player you admire?

Answer: “I’m gonna say my favorite one’s probably Trae Young. I really like the way he plays and his lifestyle.”

Holdyn Cooper

Question: What’s a word of advice you like to tell your kids while coaching?

Answer: “I like to tell them to keep their heads up. They’re not always gonna have a great day, but you got to keep your head up and look for the next game. Look ahead.”

Question: What do you think is the most important part of basketball?

Answer: “For these third and fourth graders, it should be to have fun. You don’t want to make it too harsh on them, but yeah, I’d say have fun.”

Question: Do you have any interest of coaching at a higher level?

Answer: “I’d like to coach baseball at a higher level. I’m not really a big basketball guy. I like baseball. I’d like to coach at a higher level in baseball.”

Question: Where’s a basketball arena you’d like to play or coach in?

Answer: “I’d say the Bucks. They got a big arena. It looks good.”

These three step in to the role of a coach having the right idea of what it takes to be a coach, all while having an ever lasting impact on young kids’ lives.