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Philosophy
P.A.U.S.E. METHOD
The Trailblazers’ investment in sports as a youth development tool is grounded in strong logic: sports has the ability to engage citizens and communities, surmount social barriers, enhance personality development, teach character, and contribute to building a healthier and more cohesive society.
Researchers for the last 10 to 15 years have espoused to educators the importance relationships, relevance, and rigor have on a child’s academic success. At the same time there has been an increasingly larger void in support systems for youth beyond the academic climate in schools that could provide the extension for rigor, relevance, and relationships.
Rigor + Relationships + Relevance = High Achievement and Academic Success
The Trailblazers’ Promoting Achievement Using Sports & Education Method (P.A.U.S.E. Method) seeks to cultivate the total human development of youth—educationally, socially, physically, intellectually, emotionally, and morally—using sports, academic programs, and a caring community. The P.A.U.S.E. Method draws upon longstanding educational theory, including the experiential, social learning, behavioral, and cognitive-developmental learning theories, and research-based educational practice. Essentially this means that positive youth development occurs within the context of a proactive and connected community where all the parents, coaches, and players share the same philosophy and outcomes.
The Trailblazers’ program not only feeds the athletic appetite of young people, but provides a wrap-around support system for children and their parents through teaching of life skills, providing mentoring opportunities and illuminating expectations life has for youth.
COACHING PHILOSOPHY
The Midwest Trailblazer coaching philosophy is not built around winning. Our philosophy is that winning is a by-product of a team’s development of commitment, fundamental skills, and character. It will be the responsibility of the coaches to develop the team members’ individual character, physical skills, and knowledge of the game of basketball.
At its best, basketball is a team game. Success is built on disciplined practice which in turn leads to success in games and renews commitment to practicing. Conflicting coaching ideas, concepts, or techniques will not be taught. All coaches will share common beliefs about teaching of fundamental concepts, therefore providing a continuous and proper learning environment.
We believe playing great defense helps players understand the need for everyone to play as a team, to always put the team first, to play unselfish basketball, and to bond and believe in the power of the group. In other words, playing great defense builds character, and without character the team will not consistently win. We believe that playing great defense teaches players to work, to be self-motivated, to do what is right, to persevere when challenged, to make wise decisions, to be responsible, and to be accountable. These are the character traits of a true Champion on the court and off the court, and these are the types of players who win Championships!
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