Photo Ryan believes basketball is an effective way to teach kids self-confidence
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Rochelle Park NJ, Ryan Ang, 16, from Rochelle Park, N.J. is a sought-after basketball trainer, possibly the youngest in the state. He has 40 clients, the youngest is 7 and the oldest are in their 40s . Ryan teaches them how to dribble, pass, rebound, and shoot. He has trained at least five local teams.
Before he became a popular trainer, he was your average kid playing ball on streets and any available open space. A junior at Hackensack High School, he began playing intense basketball during the summer of 7th grade. He constantly worked on his dribbling skills and would practice anywhere, a basketball his constant companion.
Ryan did not expect to become a trainer. However, towards the end of his sophomore year, he trained with the son of a head coach of an Amateur Athletic Union. The coach was very impressed with the drills Ryan presented. Soon, other kids saw his program and joined in on the training. It then came to the coach’s attention that Ryan could become a trainer.
Ryan started with family friends until his circle of believers grew. He has trained both boys and girls, athletes from all over the state, and athletes of all ethnicities. Not realizing it at first, Ryan now thinks basketball is an effective way to teach kids self-confidence.
“A few of my clients were either bullied in school or did not have high self-esteem. Somehow, through the skills and the training, they are able to open up to the world and have become more confident,” he said.
For every hour and 15 minutes, Ryan charges $25 per individual. For basketball clinics, his rates vary.
His Philippine-born parents, Winston Ang and Madelyn Allarey, as you can imangine are mighty proud of their son. His mother said that by the age of 15, Ryan has been the youngest Filipino instructor out of New Jersey to “uplift the basketball community.”
Ryan has been offered sponsorships and is soon to receive his own private gym. Being contacted by huge organizations with requests to train their athletes is “most rewarding.”
