Pioneer Elite Mission statement – To develop fundamentally skilled, knowledgeable, hardworking, and competitive individuals who compete as a team. Teaching the lessons of sportsmanship and pride in red & white we will prepare future Pioneer basketball players.
Philosophy of the Program
Our most important responsibility is to develop teams and individual players, not win basketball games. We feel our goals are unique from other programs in that we are a feeder program, with the task of teaching fundamental skills that will prepare players for the present and future participation at Kirkwood High School.
We feel by doing things the “right way” we will teach fundamentals that will benefit players as they grow in the game and our teams will win games as a byproduct teaching the game correctly.
Eligibility for the Pioneer Elite program
In order to participate in the Pioneer Elite program you must meet one of the criteria listed below:
- Live within the Kirkwood R-7 school boundary
- Attend Kirkwood schools as the child of a current faculty member, or via the VTS program or Riverview transfer program.
- Live within the boundary area, attending a school, which is not directly affiliated with another area high school. (ex. MICDS, Chaminade, Westminster)
Benchmarks of the Program
Our players will learn how to play man to man defense.
All players will be encouraged to develop perimeter and post skills regardless of size.
Players will give 100% effort and will treat opponents, teammates, and coaches with respect at all times.
Coaches will act as professionals.
Partnering our Programs
The Pioneer Elite program has been designed to model the Kirkwood Basketball program. All coaching terms, offenses, and defenses are modified from those that are taught to the players at the high school level. The Pioneer Elite 8th grade teams will NOT work with the high school staff at any time to comply with MSHSAA regulations.
Coaches in our Program
We have limited teams in our program as we feel we must have quality coaching at each level. Our coaches are volunteers who are giving of their time to work in the Pioneer Elite Basketball program.
