Split Second Basketball is REAL basketball, and boy, do we need it. In our present culture which focuses on the spectacular aspects of individual athleticism, Eric and Joey are all about how to learn to play this wonderful game well together with your teammates.
These guys understand how players can grow as individuals and also they will teach your son or daughter how they must and can fit in with their teammates. Both guys have wealth of experience as players at very high levels and yet, as master teachers they realize that talent is God given, but skill can be taught and developed.
As teachers, both are knowledgeable and focused leaders and will help your child grow while enjoying the all round experience of learning to cooperate in a competitive environment.
My teams at University of Victoria played against Joey Vickery when he competed for Brandon University, and I had the great pleasure of coaching him when he played for Canada’s National Team. Joey was a great competitor, a great teammate and highly skilled. He also had a great understanding of the game.
His teammates loved to play with him. He was and is a man of high character, and was always a team leader.
Joey has now turned his attention to teaching others how to play the game of basketball. He understands the laws of learning and imparts his knowledge and expertise to young athletes who benefit greatly from their experiences with him. They will have fun and will grow as players, and as people, under the leadership of Joey and Split Second Basketball.
In my 30 years of coaching, Joey Vickery from the neck up, was the most cerebral player I’ve ever coached.
If you ever get a chance to be coached by Joey, you’ve been coached by one of the most enthusiastic and talented players that ever played for me. Developing your skills and learning the game of basketball from Joey is a no miss opportunity. Parents will enjoy the very positive basketball learning experience that their children receive from Joey Vickery.
I have known Eric for the better part of 2 decades. Eric, always a serious student of the game, has become one of the best coaches of technical skills in our region.
He has developed a unique program that is unlike anything else available in BC for youth basketball training. Because of his strong connections in the basketball community, Eric has always had first rate coaches in his program. With the addition of Joey Vickery, a legend in Canadian basketball, this program is a tremendous opportunity for local youth to learn to play the game the right way.
I have had the priviledge to coach Joey and Eric together for one season in Austria. They both stood for leadership, professionalism and unmatched passion for basketball. They lead our team on and off the court to the first ever title in club history and left a legacy until today.
Being a young coach at the beginning of my carreer back then, I have also learned a lot from their experience and I am very happy to see that young players today will have the unique opportunity to benefit from Joey’s and Eric’s knowledge of the game. They are leaders by example and know exactly what it takes to not only be a good basketball player, but also a great teammate and successful person.
As a player Kevin (Pribilsky) was a very driven player. He competed at a very high level and was never outworked by anyone. His understanding of the game as a player allowed him to overcome any physical challenges he faced (being 6’0). In my twenty plus years as a CIS head coach, Kevin Pribilsky was one of the most dedicated players to improving his abilities which resulted in him becoming one of the best university level players in BC. Now, as a coach, he is bringing that same dedication and drive to helping young players in his area reach their potential and beyond. He is an excellent teacher of the game and has firsthand experience in how to best maximize one’s abilities on the basketball court.”
“Kevin used a strong work ethic while at Simon Fraser and Thompson Rivers University to develop himself into an Canada West starter and star. I enjoyed having Kevin on my bench as an assistant coach and benefited from his insights during games and practices. Kids are lucky to have a coach with the level of passion Kevin has for the game. Kevin Pribilsky is a basketball guy, a guy that loves the game, He has the ability to teach skills and tactics but also observe and correct. I encourage anyone looking to improve their skills to take advantage of this great program.
Eric has a tremendous amount of knowledge about the game of basketball. His playing experience and his ability to teach the game makes him an outstanding clinician and basketball coach.
The two things I admire the most about Eric are his ability to motivate young players and the pride he takes in the skill development of each player.
Eric’s playing days, both domestically and internationally, have allowed him to gain a wealth of knowledge and has allowed him to learn the latest drills and skill development philosophies out there. Eric has always been a student of the game and has so much to offer. Don’t miss the opportunity to work with him
Just a note to you and Eric and the full Split Second team to say – THANK YOU!!
It was the best PD day ever. Both Kate and Finn truly enjoyed the sense of a real tourney and the coaching throughout the day was fantastic.
Thanks again for all you do to set up and coordinate these remarkable life experiences for our kids. You have succeeded in creating a real community around the sport of basketball. One of the comments that I always treasure was what one of my Dad’s good players and a colleague said to me when he passed away . . . .”you know, your Dad always asked what can basketball do for this student, not what could the player do for the game” – because he did so, he taught hundreds of kids the lessons for life. Now don’t get me wrong, winning was always better than losing, but the focus was on the girls, not on the score. When he did that well, the score just reinforced it. Listening to your team of coaches kick off the day yesterday, I was struck by how they are setting them up for life – to be good and caring people, who know and enjoy ball.
Thanks again
There is an old adage that those who can’t do, teach. That does not hold true in the case of the Split Second Basketball Program. Eric Butler, a former pro basketball player, takes teaching the game to a new level.
Your coaches make all the difference. They are obviously very experienced and dedicated and their enthusiasm is contagious. I will definitely register them for more classes in the future.
Through SSB, our son has learned that hard work and perserverance pay off and his self-confidence in his athletic abilities is growing day-by-day. The confidence you’ve given him in basketball has crossed over into PE and other sports at school.
Thanks so much for the terrific camp. My kids are pretty fussy about their summer camps and they both enjoyed this one! They appreciated the gradual skill-building and repetition and the variety and intensity provided by the different types of games.
We wanted to thank you, Joey and Eric, for all your time, effort and guidance with our son. He was so thrilled yesterday when he found out he made the A team this year. You two have helped him to improve so much in the past year. His confidence in his shooting, in particular, and in himself has really grown as a result of all the encouragement and development you and Joey have given him. He is very lucky to be a part of the Cobras and to have you two as his coaches.
I can’t thank them enough for what they have done with my son. He has been infected with their joy of basketball. If you can get your kid anywhere near these guys you will have done your child a great service
Mom, this was the best camp ever because it was really fun and we learned how to get better all day long.
My daughter was in camp this week and LOVED every minute of it.
