want to be a Dual Athlete w/ no experience and...

Question
Hello Coach Louis,

I live in Southern California and currently attend a Junior College, I would like to play on both the football and basketball teams at the same time, I am very much out of shape, currently 6'0 at 200 lbs but I do have long arms (the only inherited athletic advantage I have, sadly my dad is 6'4 and 180, (he doesn't work out at all) so I didn't get the metabolism or the height, since when I was super skinny when I was 18 or so, I was 160, which leads me to believe I need to drop the weight first, but I also need to learn technique so let me lay out my problems and ideas for solutions.

I am very old for someone wanting to play college football/basketball at any level ( turning 22 this summer and only a freshman currently)

If I want to make it on the Div I level, I need to be awesome here and unfortunately time is against me in college and the professional ranks(plus the whole going against guys who have played the game(s) their entire lives).

My only sport experiences has been in recreational basketball classes and a basketball city league when I was 10, only played one season and I was on the D team and we lost every game, and due to too much negative pressure from my dad, I quit playing, I was homeschooled and only got into the idea of playing sports in the past year.

Background info:

A. I have not had 12 attempted units yet at my school and I am planning to wait a year before trying out for the respective team(s) (for training and increasing mental and physical focus), so I am not going to become a full time student until then.

B. My JC sucks in both of these sports, the football team went 3-7 under the new head coach (he was brought back for this season) last season and the basketball team went 8 - 21 last season also under a new head coach (he was not so lucky and was either fired or resigned after this past season, there is no new coach currently) so this situation very slightly improves my chances of making the team(s).

C. I have mild cerebral palsy (which was not diagnosed until I was 17), which effects my walking/running gait, making me terribly slow in the 40 yd dash (9 sec in a self timed dash w/ basketball shoes on artificial turf) I also wear glasses and have hearing aids, the gait has yet to be corrected due to lack of money for leg/ankle braces, plus the tests needed for the doctor to tell exactly what is wrong w/ the gait form.

Here are my ideas for solutions:

1. For weight loss, I hit the gym, currently I can only bench 100 lbs at max (assisted bench press machine) for 6 reps, and I walk for at least a mile outside on a track, I can run hard for only about a quarter mile, and also walk the treadmill indoors and I am currently looking for a warehouse job to get exercise through working once my college PE class is over.

2.For technique I am thinking of signing up w/ a local club rugby team, not the same game of course, but similar enough in some aspects, I want to play at a high level though, and I'm not sure if a local city league will help for basketball ,I am also thinking of calling up some HS coaches and see if they could help w/ training or scrimmages w/ their JV squad(s) or something similar.

3.I however do run into a problem at positions, since the only position I can play at my height in basketball is Point Guard, since I have no real experience, this would obviously be a problem having to run the offense, for football I would prefer either the cornerback, wide receiver or running back positions, currently out of reach due to being slow and weak.

Anyway Coach Louis, I wish to be a excellent player in both sports in college, and await your advice on what to do in my rather unique situation and desire, thank you!

I am not expecting you to know too much about the basketball side but I am mainly wondering on what to do on the football side.

Answer
Dear,
I think it is great that you have found a new love for the sports of basketball and football. I know how you feel. Sports have been a part of my life for over 30-years.

I am sorry to say that playing sports is not for everybody. You might want to read a little about coaching basketball and football. I think you will be happy you did.

If I were you I would focus on my grades and look into other ways to get involved in sports. There are lots of ways to be a part of the sports world without playing on a team. What about team manager, Film editor, Game stats, Team scout, Team event organizer, Booster club, Assistant coach, And when you have paid your dues head coach.

If you want to learn more about becoming a football coach, please let me know. I would be happy to help you in anyway I can.

Your friend, Coach Louis