Try-out Season has begun

Basketball Tips - Tryouts, how to make the team...

I'm the coach and you are a player trying to make my team. So how do you impress me with your skills, and what is it that I am looking for in try-outs?

The things I look for are solid fundamentals... don't be flashy. I like kids who play tough defense, hustle after loose balls, play aggressively (but not dirty). I love kids who box out and rebound. I like kids who are good passers, and avoid turnovers. I like team players. Don't try to impress me by dribbling between your legs.

Be the first one arriving for practice and the last one to leave. Show me work ethic. Hustle hard during drills. Show respect for the coaches and the other players. Ask the coaches to help you with your weaknesses. We all like to practice the things we are already good at. You get better by working on your weaknesses.

Are you a tall inside player? If so, impress me with your rebounding, defense, and some post up moves. Example: a drop-step baseline move

If you are a guard, show me you can handle the ball and keep under control. If you can shoot the "3", fire some up during shoot-arounds. I like a perimeter player who can shoot the outside shot, but can also drive to the hoop, can see the whole floor and pass, and can handle the ball well. Show me your outside moves.

Be physically "in-shape" (conditioning) when you arrive at try-outs.

During tryouts, don't be intimidated by better players, or players who made the team last year. There will always be a few players at try-outs who are better players and who you know will make the team. But you too can be an important part of the team to as a "role player" .

Remember that hard work, hustle and a good attitude will impress the coach, even if your shooting is off that week.

Basketball Camps

Off-season training

Things to look for in a basketball camp

1) Ratio of instructors to players

2) Number of participants, is there a limited number or can anyone and everyone attend

3) Dedication to skills vs scrimmages , look for higher skills focus

4) Gender mix, girls tend to be shy when playing with boys and boys tend to ignore girls no matter how good the girls are

5) Instructor gender , girls learn best from girls and vice versa

6) Is it all basketball or is there other activities, that is a personal opinion but it is your money

7) Qualifications of instructors

8) Compensation of instructors, you tend to work harder when you get paid instead of volunteer hours

9) Does camp provide regular feedback to players

10) Is the player going because they want to or because they are forced to.

One step Further

Basketball moves derived from the lay-up


Finger Roll: The most widely used lay-up method in basketball nowadays

Three Pointers: The threes seem to be a blessing when it comes to outscoring the opposition, but...

Reverse lay-up: two defenders jumps at you on the near side, go to the other side

Tear Drop: Oh yeah, make the hoop cry and make your defenders cry

Up-and-Under: The move spells out, "I refuse to commit myself."

The Layup

Tips on perfecting a basketball lay-up

Doing a basketball lay-up slowly with no defenders is very easy but not so when you are guarded. Here are the tips for scoring in a lay-up under pressure :

1.Take BIG strides when you are carrying the ball for a lay up

2.Glance at the hoop while you are carrying the ball towards the basketball hoop

3.If you are driving full speed, convert the horizontal momentum to vertical by jumping higher before release

4.Sometimes, changing your pace when taking the steps or power-hopping works well

5.Place the upper arm of your non-dominant hand on the side to resist defender's pressure

6.When you are about to get up in the air, turn your hip and upper back towards the defender to push yourself away

7.Add a slight spin onto the ball to further reduce the horizontal force it carries

More Shooting

More Shooting Tips

1. Half-bent your knees before shooting a basketball for more potential power
2. Your dominant hand should have its fingers spread out
3. Only the fingertips should be gripping onto the ball
4. Your other hand should support the ball on the side
5. The ball should be brought above the head in one motion
6. At this point, the angles at your armpit, elbow, and wrist is at 90 degrees
7. While extending your knees, extend your forearm and snap your wrist
8. Make sure you follow through with your wrist movement. If it feels natural to jump upon release, do so

" You will always miss 100% of the shots you do not take. "

More words from Coach Wooden

Words from a Great Mind

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be."
"A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment."
"I'd rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent."
"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"
"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes."
"It isn't what you do, but how you do it."
"Ability is a poor man's wealth."

Fundamentals of Shooting

Basketball Shooting Tip #1: FUNDAMENTALS


1. For shooting the basketball you must have your entire body in the right position to ensure that you have the greatest chance of making the shot. First you should have your strong arm up and Bent at a 90 degree angle.

2. Also have your weak arm up along side it as a helper hand. This is a basketball tip OFTEN overlooked.

3. Then flick your wrist and push your arm up to propel the ball towards the net. The first step for you is to learn these fundamental basketball shooting tips, and then you can move on to the next section below...

Coach Wooden

Rest in Peace, coach Wooden.

Why are Girl ballers more fun to watch ?

I just came back from our organizations annual volunteer dinner and besides the great food I was also able to participate in some great conversation. One thing that came up was the subject of why girls play a more fundamentally sound game of basketball versus that of youth boys. You see even for any given age group there is a distinct difference between the girl’s game and the boy’s game. Girls seemed to more concern with doing the fundamentals and making that one extra pass whereas boys are m ore determined drive the lane regardless of how many players are guarding them or who is wide open. In the past the argument was that boys are more athletic and thus use their physical attributes to succeed while on the other hand girls tend to use the mental aspects to further themselves. Either way girls tend to worry more about “being good than looking good” on the court anyways. One theory that sparked my interest was the theory that girls don’t watch the NBA as much as boys and therefore do not try to emulate the pros.

If you get a chance watch a WNBA game this summer and you will see what I mean.

Hardest Shot in the Game

There are only mere seconds remaining in the game. The score is tied or worse there is only a 2 point differential and your shots will determine if the team wins or loses. The crowd is silent; no one is in front of you. It is just you, the basketball and the net! Every eye in the building is watching you, not their child or favorite player BUT only you and waiting to see what happens. You dribble the ball, you spin it backwards, you look to the net and you shot. As the ball is in the air all eyes are watching its path and you are hoping that all your practice has paid off.


THE FOUL SHOT !!!!

Commonly known as the Free Throw, it is far from free as even though you have no one guarding you the pressure can be intense . I like to refer to it as the hardest shot in the game. In the pros you have the fans from the other team doing everything they can to distract you but in the youth leagues you can hear a pin drop. Talk about pressure, knowing that everyone is waiting for you to either make the shot or in some cases miss the shot.

Now some can handle the pressure and that is what makes the difference in a game. I have seen youngsters at the age of 9 years old hit nothing but net with 1.2 seconds in a tie game and that is a sign of what you call a player. Of course there is the likes of Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics who can be depended upon to hit both shots in a crucial playoff game but even when he is shooting you can still feel the tension even watching on television.

So next time you see a player go to take a foul shot do not think about how lucky they are to have no one guarding them but rather watch to see how they handle the pressure.

Shooting drills

We have all heard the saying “ teams are made during the season and players are made during the off-season.”. Well there are many things you can do to improve yourself during the off-season including conditioning drills but perhaps the most important thing you can do is to make sure you shoot on a regular basis. It doesn’t matter where you shoot just as long you get some shooting in. Here are a couple basic drills to help you out.


Mikan Drill

Named after the first real big man in the NBA, George Mikan. Start on the right side of the basket, while standing within layup range, go off of two feet and shoot a right handed layup. As the ball comes down, keep your arms up, take two steps to the left side of the basket and repeat the same motion only shooting a left handed layup. Grab the rebound, take two steps right, keep your arms up, and shoot a right handed layup. Repeat this rhythm drill for a total of 10 rotations.

Superman Drill

This drill uses the same motion as the Mikan Drill only it is extended to the outside edge of the "painted area" (more commonly known as "the lane"). Start somewhere between the lowest block and the next block toward the free throw line. The difference in the drill is you are not trying to make a shot. Throw the ball off the backboard above the rim at an angle. You want to get grab the "rebound" from the opposite side of the lane without letting the ball touch the ground. Younger players will want to take more than the ideal maximum of 3 steps to get to the other side. This is also a "rhythm" drill. Keep your arms and hands up. This a tough drill used for rebounding and footwork. Keep the rotations to no more than 10. Remember, stay outside the lane!

KEEP SHOOTING !!!!

Why Sports ?

1.Team Spirit- Team sports actually do build teamwork skills. Playing sports is fun and allows your child to learn social skills in a low pressure atmosphere. It also gives your child something to do and a group to belong to. It is important for early child development that children have a group of friends that has the same goals and interests.

2.Character and Self-Esteem-Research has found that kids that play sports, especially girls, are more likely to have a positive body image and higher self esteem. Sports are also known to help kids develop discipline. They learn to set goals and then work to achieve those goals. They learn that by working hard they can accomplish the things that they want to in their lives.

3. A Healthy Future-The immediate benefits of daily exercise can extend far past childhood. In the teen years kids involved in sports are less likely to take drugs or smoke because of the impact on their performance. Girls who play sports are also less likely to become teen moms.

According to the President's Council on Physical Fitness:

“Childhood activity improves child health which, in turn, is beneficial to adult health. An active lifestyle during childhood has a direct benefit to health in later years. An active child becomes an active adult who, in turn, has a lower risk for disease than an inactive adult.”

4. Dumb Jock is An Oxymoron- Motor skills, strategic thinking, and even math skills are learned by playing sports. Children develop strategic thinking as they figure out plays and the best way to get around a player or score a goal. Math skills are used as they calculate scores and stats. Statistics also show that kids who are involved in sports while in high school are more likely to experience academic success and graduate from high school.

5. Family Bonding- Unlike some other activities, it is very easy for parents to be involved in their child’s sports team. From coaching to volunteering as a booster, a sport can act as a common bond between a child and a parent, especially later in life.

Ready to begin off-season

“The only place that success before work is in the Dictionary. “


Now before I start introducing a series on drills to work on in the off-season, I just want to share one of my favorite basketball stories. Please watch and enjoy. Please click on the link below if you love basketball.

Great basketball story

More Basketball Tid-bits

Cool Tips for Basketball Players: Guinness World Records for Basketball

1. Most underhanded free-throws in one minuteNBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry - 24 free throws

2. Longest time to spin a basketball on one finger (using one hand)Joe Odhiambo - 37.46 seconds

3. Longest time to spin a basketball on your nose Jack Ryan - 4.00 seconds

4. Longest time to spin a basketball on a toe Jack Ryan - 9.53 seconds

5. Most wheelchair basketball free throws in one minuteTIE NBA players Trooper Johnson (Golden State Warriors) & Jeff Griffin (Utah Wheelin' Jazz) - 25 free throws

6. Most bounce passes ending with a slam dunk in 30 seconds Milwaukee Bucks Rim Rockers (individual names TBD) - 21 bounce passes

7. Most times a basketball can be dribbled in one minuteNBA Player Jordan Farmar (Los Angeles Lakers) - 228 dribbles

8. Most basketball free throws made in one minute(female)WNBA Player Becky Hammon (San Antonio Silver Stars) - 38 free throws

9. Most basketball underhanded half-court shots in one minuteNBA All-Star Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets) - 2 shots

10. Most basketball over handed half-court shots in one minuteNBA All-Star Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets) - 4 shots

11. Most three pointers in two minutesNBA All-Star Jason Kapono (Toronto Raptors) - 43 three pointers

12. Most free-throws made in one minute while blindfoldedJack Ryan - 5 free throws

13. Most free throws made backwards in one minuteTIE NBA Mascot Harry the Hawk (Melvin Banks) & Nicole Joseph Dumas - 3 free throws

14. Highest basketball front flip slam dunk with a trampolineHigh Impact Squad Jerry Burrel - 10 feet 9 inches

15. Farthest basketball front flip slam dunk with a trampolineHigh Impact Team member Kevin Vandervolk - 19 feet 2 inches

Why play sports ?

A lot of people preach about playing sports for the “Fun of It”, but is that the only reasons for youth to be involved in sports. Quite honesty, I think yes it is !!!!

I was recently reading an article which outlined some other benefits of playing sports ;
“Research or studies have found that kids, especially girls who play sports tend to have a positive body-image and high self-esteem. Kids involved in sports are less likely to take drugs or smoke because they realize the impact that these destructive activities can have upon their performance. Girls who play sports are also less likely to become pregnant

Statistics show that kids who are involved in sports while in high school are more likely to experience academic success and graduate from high school. Playing sports improves the Math skills in children. Sports help to build leadership skills, sportsman spirit, and teamwork. Sports can also give children a sense of pride and accomplishment. Moreover, they can make good friends with people having similar or same interests.

A very important benefit of playing sports is that it makes a person happy. It has been found that exercising or playing sports leads to the production of happiness molecules in your body. Hence, sports generate positive or constructive energy.

Need I say more ?

More Basketball Names

Dominique’s prowess on the court coined him “The Human High-Light Reel” because every night he did something spectacular. Larry Bird was known as “The Hick From French Lick” and “Larry Legend”. One of the most power dunkers was Darryl Dawkins so his nickname of “Chocolate Thunder” is fitting. Clyde Drexler could just fly when dunking so his moniker became “Clyde the Glide”.

Dirk Nowitski is the proud owner of three nicknames “Dirty”, “Dirkules” and “The Diggler”. Gary Peyton was known for his smothering defense and became “The Glove” and on the opposite is “kid Delicious”, Kevin Durant for his scoring ability. Of course “Krpytonate” for Nate Robison and for some unknown reason Bruce Bowen is call “The Mosquito”.

Anfernee Hardaway was called “Penny” early in his childhood and naturally Dwayne Wade is “D-Wade”. Rafer Alston is known as “Skip To My Lou” after his streetball past. Allen Iverson became “The Answer” because he answered the city of Philadelphia’s prayers, he also was just “AI”. Chauncey Billup’s earlier nickname was “Smooth” and now it is “Mr. Big Shot”.

Basketball Tid-Bits

Cool Tips for Basketball Players: NBA Interesting Facts

Dikembe Mutombo, one of the greatest NBA shot blockers of all-time, legal full name is Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean Jacques Wamutombo. Trying same that name five times fast.

Pete Maravich, one of the greatest college and professional scorers in the history of the game holds the record for most points in a game where the player has fouled out. His 68 points against the Knicks are the highest total ever for a player who was disqualified from a contest.
Sometimes it’s good to foul out (yeah, right, try telling your coach that!). Maravich was also a gifted ball handler and several of his neighbors have claimed they witnessed him dribble a basketball while in a moving car at speeds up to 20 mph. Do not try this at home.

Speaking about not fouling out, did you know that Wilt Chamberlain never fouled out of an NBA game? When you think about it, this is incredible considering he averaged 46 minutes a night through his career and in 1962 played every minute of every game.

The only two players in NBA history to turn the ball over more than 4,000 times in a career (trying doing that in a single game, I dare you) was Karl Malone and John Stockton. Interesting enough, Stockton holds the NBA career record for assists while Malone in points. Even more interesting, the Top 7 All-Time leaders in turnovers were all named to the NBA’s 50 greatest players including Moses Malone, Isaiah Thomas, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, and Magic Johnson.

Basketball for Parents or youth ?

At what point does parental involvement become too much? We have all heard or seen that parent who screams and yells at kids games. I am not referring to that parent who screams and cheers for their team but rather that parent who insists on criticizing the refs for everything they do. And I mean seeing this scenario at a game where kids are only 8 and 9 years old. There are multiple advertisements and pamphlets which remind us that the game is for the youth and for them to have fun. Now these scenes can be dismissed as a crazy parent but when parental involvement starts to go on behind the scene then I believe it has gone too far.

I can recall instances where parents have complained that their child did not get enough playing time and this was after the first game of the season and they players were if the fine age of 10 years old. Now unfortunately this continues to happen all through the playing career of a youngster. I have even recently heard of a case where a coach in university basketball was forced to leave their job because the parents complained their child was not getting enough floor time. This last instance makes we wonder at what point do we just let the kids play !!!!!!!

I urge all parents to sit back, watch enjoy and just let kids of all ages just be kids.

Whats in a Name

Some of the greatest athletes and some very interesting characters have played in the NBA and have been given nicknames that follow them their whole career. Even some of the old timers had nicknames. George Gervin was the called ‘The Ice Man” because nothing rattled him and he could make shots fro anywhere. Oscar Robinson was the “Big O” and Bill Russell was so great his nickname was “Bill”.
Walt Frazier was called “Clyde” after the character in Bonnie and Clyde. Nicknames really became prominent in the 1980’s as the hip-hop era took hold a player’s nickname was used more often. Everyone knows the Michael Jordan is “MJ”, “His Airness” or “Air Jordan”. Only the players that transcend the game get multiple nicknames. Shaquille O’Neal is known as "Shaq", "The Big Aristotle", "The Big Diesel", "The Big Cactus", "Shaqtus”, his reference to playing in Phoenix and the "The Big Witness" in reference witnessing the king Lebron James.

Kobe Bryant is known as the “black Mamba” because he can strike and score so quickly or “Mr. 81” after scoring 81 points in a game. Magic is used moor often than Ervin Johnson and Julius Erving was known as “Dr. J” for his sweet jumper and Chamberlin was “Wilt The Stilt” because of his height.

More than a Game

Great athletes don't think.
They are just great performers and for the most part they can't boil it down to what makes them so special. They might have a story they like to tell themselves but in reality it's a combination of things. When it comes to their confidence and lack of fear (that's what confidence is, not caring for the outcome and/or expecting a positive result) it all comes down to the thought processes in their head.
For starters, I would say you should focus on your strengths. When driving against your opponent it's a matter of what you focus on. If you EXPECT that he or she is going to reject you, and you actually believe that, you are very likely to get rejected because it's the self-fulfilling prophecy taking place.
What you expect to be true generally is. Instead, not only should you focus on the things that make you a better player (and the fact that you've come to this website) tells me that you are willing to improve. Some people play the game for the sake of playing the game. But not you, to you, basketball it's more than just a game.

Basketball Canada to host FIBA Qualifier ?

TORONTO - The FIBA-Americas Evaluation Committee has arrived in Toronto in order to inspect the facilities and have meetings regarding the 2011 FIBA-Americas Championship bid.
The FIBA-Americas Evaluation Committee is composed of FIBA-Americas President Horacio Muratore, Secretary General Alberto Garcia and Event Manager Javier Otero.
They arrived Tuesday and will have meetings with Canada Basketball and government authorities from Wednesday through Friday.
"Canada Basketball is well prepared, all the requirements have been met and it will be very important the support from the government, bid partners and the private sector," said Muratore.
The committee already visited Argentina and Brazil, which showcased strong bids and have shown full support from all sectors in order to make this event successful.
"Canada is making a strong bid to make this event [successful]. Their last big tournament was the 1994 FIBA World Championship. We are very happy to have three strong candidates," said Garcia.
“Canada Basketball is excited to host the FIBA Americas Evaluation Committee in Toronto as part of our proposal to host the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship for Men,” said Wayne Parrish, Executive Director and CEO for Canada Basketball. “Working closely with our bid partners, we have an eventful site visit planned that will showcase the very best of Toronto, from the award winning Air Canada Centre arena to world-class hotels, restaurants and venues. I am confident that Canada meets all of the requirements to host this prestigious tournament.
“Canada has demonstrated our capacity to successfully host a wide variety of international sporting events and Toronto is a multicultural basketball city eager to invite the world to celebrate our great sport. With 2011 marking the 120th anniversary of the invention of basketball by Canadian Dr. James Naismith, the timing would be ideal to host the FIBA Americas Championship for Men while commemorating this milestone on home court.”
On May 22 all three bidding countries will make a presentation to the FIBA-Americas Central Board in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After the presentations, the members, except the bidding countries, will vote for the best candidate.
The country that gets the lowest number of votes in the first round is eliminated and a second round of voting begins with the two countries left. The one that gets the most votes wins.
After the result is known, there will be a news conference to announce the host of the 2011 FIBA-Americas Championship, which is a qualifier for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Sports Illustrated: The Basketball Book

Basketball Defense - The Final Installment

17. Change quickly from offense to defense when you lose possession of the ball.


18. Block out your man when a shot is taken, than move aggressively for the ball. Grab the ball quickly and firmly without tipping it as you may when on offense.

19. Do not leave your feet unless the ball is in the air.

20. Force dribbler toward side, corner, or a congested area. Be sure to stop the baseline drive when guarding a man on the side of the floor.

21. Take two quick steps backward toward basket when your man passes, but keep your eyes on him and try to block his cutting lane.

22. Discover the strong and weak points of your man, and play him accordingly. Note that the offensive man may also be faked.

23. Know the system of your opponent and adjust to it.

24. Help your teammates and protect against the easy shot.

25. Earn the right to be proud of your defense!

More DEFENSE

7. Anticipate movements. Study your man. Make it difficult for him to have the ball in jumping-shooting range.


8. Keep good balance, relaxed and ready. Do not let the head bob up and down.

9. Talk. A talking defense is likely to be a good defense. Yell at a shooter and keep a moving hand in his face. Encourage and help teammates.

10. Be alert to avoid or shift on screens and call all shifts. It is better to shift toward rather than laterally, and the shift must be made without question when called.

11. Open up toward the ball with one hand pointing toward your man and the other toward the ball.

12. Make the offensive man commit himself.

13. Float when away from the ball. The further your man is from the ball, the further you may be from him.

14. Dominate your opponent. Be aggressive. Never relax when on defense. If you must rest, do it on offense.

15. Do not be caught standing or flat-footed, and never stand straight up.

16. Play the ball up underneath the arms of a dribbler or driving shooter and not down across the arms.

Offence scores points, but defence wins Championships !!!

25 Things You Should Remember On Defense


1. Keep between your man and his basket when he has the ball and is in a dangerous cutting area or position, with your back toward the defensive basket. Stay between him and the ball when he is near the basket. Stay an arm's length away when he has the ball.

2. Make it difficult for your man to receive the ball in scoring territory. The most effective defense is played before your man gets the ball.

3. By split vision, try to keep both your man and the ball in your sight at all times. As a general rule, give your man two thirds of your attention and the ball one third. Look through your man, not at him.

4. Never cross your legs. SLIDE! (Unless you are trying to catch the ball).

5. Do not charge an opponent or get your head leaning forward. Keep body low and advance cautiously protecting the most dangerous side and ready to retreat or slide to the right or left.

6. Sprint back when you lose possession of the ball, but look over your shoulder for guidance.

( remaining to be posted later )

PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! ( despite what Iverson says)

There are a number of reasons why practice is the critical element in your athletic performance.

• This is, of course, the time when you improve your technical skills, and get individual or team plays down to the point where you can execute them automatically, without having to stop and think about what you are doing.
• This is also the time where you work on weak areas, and expand your range of skills. Some athletes are content to stay in their comfort zone, and use practice as a time to get ego-strokes rather than to bring some of the weaker aspects of their game up a notch.
• Practice can be an important period in terms of your self-confidence. As things go well in practice, you will feel more encouraged, and generally confident in your abilities to execute under pressure. The most important key to athletic success is the ability to deliver the goods at crunch time.
• It is also a time to work on your mental game. If you envision yourself as a player who can go strong late in the game, if you want to be a team leader, if you could do a better job of re-focusing and getting back into the game after making an error or, if your game would benefit from better anticipation -- than you should be practicing and solidifying these mental skills at the same time you are looking to make progress on your physical skills.


What is important to remember in all of this is that significant progress will be accomplished to the degree that you take personal responsibility for making progress. Too often, athletes, especially in team sports, show up to practice physically, but not mentally. They go through the motions and put in the hours, but they have not taken the time to articulate to themselves clearly what they plan to get out of the practice, so their progress is sporadic rather than focused.

Here are some important steps that will help you become personally accountable for your own progress:

• You should have a clear sense of what you are trying to get out of the practice. What is the outcome you desire (for example: tighter ball control, to cut down on your turnovers, greater confidence in your court decision-making ability, or more explosive moves). If you have not figured out exactly what you want to happen, or rely on the coach to do this, you are not likely to make as much progress.
• Since, you are responsible for team goals, and whatever the coach decides you should be working on. But you must not let that prevent you from assuming responsibility for your personal goals as well. You can even meet with your coach in advance, to identify individual goals for yourself.
• In order to make good progress, you also need a game plan. What are the things that you can do to accomplish your goals for practice? These include reminding yourself of your goal and giving yourself positive feedback for staying focused.

In sum, what you want to do is:
• Set goals
• Engage in the work of achieving them, and
• Evaluate your efforts
As you apply this strategy to improving your athletic skills, you will be incorporating a life skill that will serve you in personal and professional concerns in years to come.

Good Luck!!!

BUT WHY COACH ?

It was only one possession,
Why must my coach scream,
My poor defense permitted the basket,
But what can one hoop mean?

As the pass comes my direction,
And I fumble it into the stands,
The coach’s voice rings loud and clear,
“Catch with your eyes and hands!”

C’mon coach, it’s a single possession,
Our team will be okay,
It’s just the first two minutes,
My gosh, we got all day.

At the 2nd quarter mark I remember,
That the center is strong and stout,
A putback for two, quite simply due,
To my failure to turn and block out.

But it was only one possession,
I didn’t commit a crime,
My team is ahead and I’m playing well,
And there’s still plenty of time!

As the halftime buzzer is sounding,
And I watch the ball bank in,
I know I will hear from my loving coach,
Of my questionable effort to defend.

But is was only on possession,
Coach- don’t have a heart attack!
We’re down by one, but we’re having fun,
I know we’ll get the lead back!

The second half mirrors the first,
But it’s early, it’s not a big deal
That my failure to use a pass fake
Results in an unlikely steal.

But quickly I sink a jumper,
I’m greeted by high fives and slaps,
But the next possession I give up a lay-up,
While suffering a mental lapse.

But it’s only one possession,
C’mon coach, chill out.
It’s crazy to see you disgusted,
As you slap the assistant and shout.

“Victory favours the team making the fewest mistakes.
Single possessions are the key.
So treat them like gold and do as you are told.
And play with intensity.”

I step to the line for one and one,
But I’m having a concentration lapse.
The ball soars through the air – Good Lord, it’s a brick!
I’m afraid the support will collapse.

In post game I sit at my locker,
Pondering what more I could do,
I realize the value of each possession,
What a shame that we lost by two.

Who is the game for ?
As I write this , I cannot help but think back to a classic movie I saw while growing up and recall the phrase “ LET THEM PLAY, LET THEM PLAY “ . Thus the theme of this note.

I cannot stress how important the LOVE of the game is to children both young and old. I have noticed throughout the years that the players who are able to develop and grow are the ones who have a passion for the game of basketball. It is not always the ones who play on a winning team or are the best shooters but the ones who just love to play the game. If they feel the passion for the game then they will dictate how much they want to play or practice. I have said in the past that one of the jobs of parents is to provide kids with the opportunity to enjoy the game. They will all not enjoy watching the game being played by others, or going to camps, or playing on an extra team but offer them the chance.

Let’s remember the game is for them and not us. If they are not a star now, that is okay their love will carry them through these times. As a parent we must make sure they are having fun, as not every coach will have this as their focus and it is sometimes up to the parents to remind children of their reason for playing. It is also important to keep things in perspective as the years go on and remember that they are still young. It is funny how quickly some kids forget a loss while we parents never seem to forget them. Also do not underestimate how much our children listen to us and feed off of our actions and words.

Bottom line, basketball is a great game which can provide children with not only great experiences but also instill teamwork, commitment, and confidence in our children. Let’s allow them to play the game for as long they can.

This note applies to all youth of the young age 5 or 6 but I strongly believe that this message applies to all young people ages 4 – 18 yrs old.

Basketball Tips

Basketball Tips - Tryouts, how to make the team...
From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook, @ http://www.coachesclipboard.net
I'm the coach and you are a player trying to make my team. So how do you impress me with your skills, and what is it that I am looking for in try-outs?
The things I look for are solid fundamentals... don't be flashy. I like kids who play tough defense, hustle after loose balls, play aggressively (but not dirty). I love kids who box out and rebound. I like kids who are good passers, and avoid turnovers. I like team players. Don't try to impress me by dribbling between your legs.
Be the first one arriving for practice and the last one to leave. Show me work ethic. Hustle hard during drills. Show respect for the coaches and the other players. Ask the coaches to help you with your weaknesses. We all like to practice the things we are already good at. You get better by working on your weaknesses.
Are you a tall inside player? If so, impress me with your rebounding, defense, and some post up moves. Example: a drop-step baseline move (see Inside Post Moves)
If you are a guard, show me you can handle the ball and keep under control. If you can shoot the "3", fire some up during shoot-arounds. I like a perimeter player who can shoot the outside shot, but can also drive to the hoop, can see the whole floor and pass, and can handle the ball well. Show me your outside moves (see Outside Moves).
Work on your skills at home, or at the nearby playground in the summer (off-season). Work on the correct things, not just the things you are already good at (see Practicing in the Off-Season).
Be physically "in-shape" (conditioning) when you arrive at try-outs.
During tryouts, don't be intimidated by better players, or players who made the team last year. There will always be a few players at try-outs who are better players and who you know will make the team. But you too can be an important part of the team to as a "role player" .
Remember that hard work, hustle and a good attitude will impress the coach, even if your shooting is off that week.

Copyright © 2002-2006, James A. Gels, all rights reserved.

Want to be a Basketball Player

So you want to be a Basketball Player

Throughout my travels to various basketball gyms during the past ten years I have heard many coaches speak and watched many practices and games. During this time some phrases seem to be always repeated whether it is 8 year girls or 18 year boys.
They are:
- Box out
- Cut to the ball
- Follow through on your shot
- Dribble with your head up
- Screen to help your ball handler
- Stay low on defense

I am sure you can think of many more common phrases but many of the ones I have mentioned all seem to have one thing in common, they represent the mental aspect of the game more than the physical. I believe if you can make these part of your basketball habits then you can start to call yourself a player.

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Choose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, for they will become your character. Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny.”