Category: Coaches Corner

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Rising Above the Rim: 5 Winning Strategies to Dominate Basketball Tryouts

Photo of boys basketball tryouts- action shot

Basketball tryouts are an exciting yet nerve-wracking time for aspiring athletes. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting your basketball journey, making a strong impression during tryouts is crucial. To help you stand out and increase your chances of making the team, here are the top five things you can do:

1. Showcase Your Skills with Confidence:

During tryouts, coaches are looking for players who not only possess the necessary skills but also display confidence in executing them. This means dribbling, shooting, passing, and defending with poise and self-assuredness. Confidence not only makes you a more appealing player but also elevates your teammates’ performance. Remember, it’s not just about what you can do but how confidently you do it.

2. Embrace the Hustle:

Hustle and effort are two qualities that coaches highly value. Dive for loose balls, fight for rebounds, and demonstrate relentless energy on the court. Show that you’re willing to do the dirty work and put in the extra effort. Your determination and work ethic will set you apart from others who may rely solely on their talent.

3. Be Coachable:

Coaches appreciate athletes who are open to feedback and willing to adapt. Listen attentively to instructions and corrections during tryouts. Implement them immediately, and show that you can apply feedback effectively. Being coachable not only helps you improve but also demonstrates your commitment to the team’s success.

4. Display Team Chemistry:

Basketball is a team sport, and coaches want players who can seamlessly fit into the team dynamic. Be a good teammate by communicating on the court, setting screens, making unselfish passes, and celebrating your teammates’ successes. Show that you can contribute to the team’s chemistry and cohesion.

5. Exhibit a Positive Attitude:

Your attitude both on and off the court matters. Stay positive, even if you make mistakes during tryouts. Coaches appreciate players who maintain composure and a positive outlook. Demonstrating resilience in the face of challenges shows your mental toughness, a quality highly regarded in basketball.

Bonus Tip: Prepare Physically and Mentally

Before tryouts, make sure you’re physically prepared. Train, practice, and stay in shape to showcase your best performance. Additionally, mentally prepare by visualizing success, staying focused, and maintaining a strong mental attitude.

In conclusion, making a lasting impression during basketball tryouts requires more than just skills—it demands confidence, effort, coachability, teamwork, and a positive attitude. By embodying these qualities, you’ll not only stand out but also contribute positively to any team you aim to join. Good luck, and give it your all!

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Parent’s Corner: How to Support Your Aspiring Athlete- Emotionally, Nutritionally and Academically

Hello #EliteHoopsFamily!

Welcome to this week’s installment of Parent’s Corner. We understand that being the parent of a young athlete comes with its own set of challenges and rewards. Today, we’re delving into three crucial aspects of supporting your child—emotionally, nutritionally, and academically.

Emotional Support: The Foundation of Success

Your emotional support is paramount in helping your child reach their full potential. While coaches train them in skills and tactics, parents play a leading role in instilling confidence and resilience.

  1. Positive Reinforcement: Always focus on the effort rather than the outcome. Congratulate them on a well-played game, irrespective of whether they won or lost.
  2. Open Communication: Encourage your child to express how they feel about their performance, training, or anything else on their mind.
  3. Be Their Safe Space: It’s essential that your child knows they can turn to you for support, encouragement, or just a listening ear.

Nutritional Support: Fuel for Excellence

As we often say, “You can’t run a Ferrari on regular gas.” Nutrition plays an essential role in your child’s athletic development.

  1. Balanced Diet: Ensure your child is eating a mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats.
  2. Hydration: Proper hydration can make a huge difference in your child’s performance and recovery.
  3. Snack Smart: Pre-game and post-game snacks like fruit, protein shakes, or granola bars can provide quick energy and aid in recovery.

Academic Support: Building a Well-Rounded Athlete

Basketball is just one facet of your child’s life. Maintaining academic performance is equally crucial for their overall development.

  1. Time Management: Teach your child the importance of managing their time efficiently to juggle both sports and studies.
  2. Encourage Consistency: Consistent, shorter study sessions are often more effective than last-minute cramming.
  3. Be a Resource: Help them with their homework, or better yet, guide them to resources that can aid their understanding of complex topics.

Wrapping Up

As parents, your role in our child’s athletic journey is invaluable. Your emotional, nutritional, and academic support creates a nurturing environment where your young athlete can truly flourish. Remember, it’s not about raising the next basketball superstar; it’s about raising a well-rounded, happy, and successful individual.

Till next week,

William Jenkins

Founder and Director of Player Development, Elite Hoops Academy™ and Prosper Elite™ Basketball

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Dribbling Towards Life: A Game Beyond the Court

William Jenkins

Young Men and Ladies,

You’re not just a team, you’re a family. Out there on that court, you’re writing a story. It’s a story about teamwork, passion, and resilience. It’s about dribbling past obstacles, shooting for your dreams, and rebounding from failures. Remember, every game is not just about winning or losing, it’s about learning, growing, and evolving.

Basketball isn’t just a sport; it’s a metaphor for life. Each pass, each shot, each strategic move echoes the decisions we make in life. Every time you get back up after a fall, every time you face a stronger opponent, every time you pass the ball to a teammate, you are learning about resilience, courage, and collaboration.

Read more: Dribbling Towards Life: A Game Beyond the Court

Don’t be afraid to miss a shot. Just as in life, not all attempts will lead to immediate success, and that’s okay. Every missed shot, every loss, every mistake is a step towards growth. It’s an opportunity to learn, to improve, and to become better.

Look around you; see your teammates. Each of you brings something unique to this team, an essential piece to this puzzle. This game thrives on unity, it thrives on teamwork. When one of you wins, all of you win. When one of you stumbles, all of you rise together. You’re not just players on a team, you are a family.

So, go out there, play your hearts out. Play for the joy of the game, play for the roar of the crowd, play for the thrill of the basket, but most importantly, play for each other. Play with integrity, with passion, with resilience. Remember, champions are not just made in gyms or on courts, they are made in the hearts and minds of each one of you.

As you lace up your shoes and step on that court, remember this – It’s not about the scoreboard, it’s about the journey. It’s about the hard work, the sweat, the tears, the laughter, the camaraderie. It’s about leaving everything on that court, knowing you gave it your all.

So, let’s make every dribble count, every pass meaningful, every shot a step towards our dreams. Let’s be more than just basketball players, let’s be champions in life. Because each of you has a champion within you, waiting to come alive, waiting to take that winning shot.

Go out there and make every moment count, and no matter what the outcome, remember to hold your heads high, for you are not defined by a game’s result but by the heart and soul you put into it. Here’s to you, here’s to your journey, here’s to the champions that you are!

See You All at the Courts!

Coach William

William Jenkins
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The Sidelines and the Parental Impact: A Coach’s Perspective

Coach William instructs his Prosper Elite™ Basketball 5th Grade Team

As a seasoned coach and dedicated advocate for youth basketball in North Texas, I’ve had the privilege of working with countless young athletes at Prosper Elite Basketball. It’s always a profound joy to see our players develop, grow, and achieve. However, throughout my years of coaching, one recurring scenario often complicates our endeavors – the phenomenon of parents coaching from the sidelines.

Each game, I witness our young athletes glance towards the stands after every play, their eyes searching for approval, advice, or criticism from their parents. This unintentional behavior, albeit stemming from love and support, can often have counterproductive consequences for both the team and the individual athlete.

Firstly, having multiple voices guide an athlete – the coach on the bench and the parent from the sidelines – can create confusion and distraction. The game demands players’ undivided attention, but the peripheral coaching can disrupt their focus, diminishing their performance and their ability to follow the actual game plan.

Moreover, the continual search for parental approval may inhibit an athlete’s self-confidence and autonomy. In essence, they’re learning to rely on external validation rather than building their personal resilience and ability to self-evaluate. In the long run, this dependence could stunt their growth, not only as athletes, but also as individuals who will need to navigate life’s challenges independently.

Additionally, parents coaching from the stands can unintentionally undermine the authority of the team’s coach. When players receive conflicting directives, it can lead to uncertainty, division, and lack of trust within the team. It’s crucial for athletes to trust their coach and teammates fully in order to foster unity, mutual respect, and effective teamwork.

I understand and deeply appreciate the intent behind parents’ active involvement. The passion and commitment that our parents display are indeed valuable assets to our community. However, we must channel this energy in ways that constructively support our young athletes.

Instead of instructing from the sidelines, I encourage parents to be the unwavering cheerleaders who applaud not just scoring plays but also the valuable attempts, improvements, and display of sportsmanship. Celebrate their resilience, applaud their effort, and reinforce the values we strive to teach: teamwork, respect, dedication, and the love of the game.

We are all part of the Prosper Elite family, working towards the common goal of nurturing successful, well-rounded athletes. I firmly believe that with open dialogue and understanding, we can turn the court and the stands into spaces of unequivocal support, where our athletes can truly thrive.

TogetherWeProsper #ProsperEliteBasketball

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Game On: 5 Tips to Prepare Youth for Late Day Basketball Games

'Game On: 5 Tips to Prepare for Late Day Basketball Games'

As a parent or coach of a young basketball player, you may find yourself faced with the challenge of preparing your child or team for a late day basketball game. These games can be tough on young athletes, as they disrupt their normal routines and can cause fatigue and low energy levels. However, with the right preparation, you can help your child or team perform their best and enjoy the game. Here are 5 tips I’ve shared with my basketball teams on how to prepare for late day basketball games:

  1. Adjust meal times: If the game is later in the evening, you may need to adjust meal times to ensure that your child or team has enough energy to perform well. Have a light and nutritious meal around 3-4 hours before the game, and provide healthy snacks, such as fruit or energy bars, 30-60 minutes before the game.
  2. Hydration: Encourage your child or team to drink plenty of water throughout the day leading up to the game. Dehydration can lead to fatigue and decreased performance, so it’s important to stay hydrated.
  3. Rest: Ensure that your child or team gets enough rest leading up to the game. Try to maintain their normal sleep schedule, and avoid scheduling any strenuous activities on the day of the game. Encourage them to take a nap in the afternoon if possible.
  4. Warm-up: Before the game, make sure your child or team has a proper warm-up session to get their blood flowing and prevent injuries. This can include stretching, light jogging, and practicing basketball skills.
  5. Mental preparation: Talk to your child or team about the game and help them get mentally prepared. Encourage positive thinking and remind them of their strengths and skills. Visualize a successful game and discuss strategies for handling different scenarios.

By following these tips, you can help prepare youth for a late day basketball game and ensure that they perform their best. Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the game!”

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Putting in Work: Winter 2021 Skills & Drills

Elite Hoopers (some missing) at weekly Skills & Drills @Frisco Field house, TX

So proud of these young athletes – they showed up every Friday and put in work to get better. Each of them coachable. Each of them focused. Each of them got better!

Coach William demonstrates the importance of ‘squaring up’ during Skills & Drills Winter 2021
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Two Words That Will Stop You From Realizing Your True Potential

Team Jenkins
Team Jenkins working out

Full-disclosure: I. Am. A Dad-Coach.

Which means if I’m not at my desk clickety-clacking on a keyboard or fixing my hair (im bald by choice) for a client video call – you will find me at the nearest (or farthest) gym, field, garage or driveway working with my kids (aka Team Jenkins) helping them to become the best athletes and (pick a sport) and humans they can be. As I’ve shared in numerous prior blogs…. the power and benefit of youth sports is taking lessons learned on the court/field and translating them to life off the court/field.

Now that we have the foundation set… Let’s get started because like my Nana used to say ‘You gone learn today.’

Double Cross-over; between the legs with your eyes up

Last week during our Team Jenkins ball handling workout, I decided to introduce a new ball-handling skill… double cross-over, between the legs with eyes up. Now for those of you who don’t follow/practice/play basketball- just know that this ball-handling drill is not easy to do…. especially, when you are 6 and 9 years old. Guess what? It’s not supposed to be.

After demonstrating the proper technique it was my kiddos turn. After about 5-minutes of attempting the move my son – clearly frustrated- stopped abruptly shouting two words that I never ever thought I would hear as a dad-coach. Clearly, the look on my face after hearing these two-word triggered my daughters fight or flight senses. My daughter, looked at me- looked at her brother- grabbed her ball and headed into the house.

Foul language is a no-no our house.

That moment, I would have preferred to hear any other ‘no-no’ words come from my son’s mouth (take your pick) than ‘I CAN’T (do this)’.

I now realize that those two words presented an opportunity to teach and to learn. Allow me to share with you what I explained to my son and daughter that day- hopefully it helps you other dad/mom-coaches out there. Here’s what I told them:

Don’t ever say ‘I can’t’

The moment you ‘I Can’t’, you are focusing on something you can’t do in that particular moment.

The moment you say ‘I can’t do something’, your focus is on convincing yourself that you cant do something and guess what? YOU are the best person to convince yourself of anything, so if you say you cant do this you are convincing yourself you can’t.

You have so much power and weight on your emotions and your potential……..

instead…ask yourself ‘HOW am I going to ….?’

When ask yourself ‘How?’ you are focusing on HOW you are going to get something done and strategizing ways to get it done…you are already convincing yourself that you can do it.

How am I going to get better at the double cross-over between the legs with eyes up? How am I going to become a better husband or wife? How am I going to make $1M this year?How am I going to become the #1 sales rep in my company?

We have so much power over ourselves and weight on our emotions and potential. So instead of putting ourselves down, let’s convince ourselves that we can accomplish anything by strategizing on what it takes to get us to our goal. Let’s decide to recognize and realize our true potential.

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    My 8-year old Just Reminded Me…

    Someone sent me this pic of me coaching my son this weekend and It prompted me to share a thought about criticism and feedback- clearly my 8-year old has got it down …

    Taking constructive criticism can (most often will) help you succeed. Sometimes we may not want to ‘hear’ it or we don’t ‘ask’ for it … yet it can give us a new perspective and open our eyes to things we may have overlooked or never considered.

    Whether it’s a peer review of our work or a coach sharing how to avoid a defensive double-team on the court ☺️- constructive criticism and feedback can help us grow.

    Do you agree?

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    What Are the Odds of Competing in Men’s Professional Basketball?

    When we survey NCAA student-athletes about their expectations of moving on to professional athletics careers, the results indicate surprising confidence in that possibility. The reality is that very few go pro.

    On average only 1% of high school participants go on to play DI-DIII college basketball
     

     

    Estimated probability of competing in men’s college basketball

    High School Participants NCAA Participants Overall % HS to NCAA % HS to NCAA Division I % HS to NCAA Division II % HS to NCAA Division III
    551,373 18,816 3.4% 1.0% 1.0% 1.4%

     

    Sources: High school figures from the 2017-18 High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations; data from club teams not included. College numbers from the NCAA 2017-18 Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates Report.

     

    Estimated probability of competing in men’s professional basketball

    NCAA Participants Approximate # Draft Eligible # Draft Picks # NCAA Drafted % NCAA to Major Pro % NCAA to Total Pro
    18,816 4,181 60 52 1.2% 21.3%
    • NBA draft data from 2018.  There were 60 draft slots in that year and 52 went to NCAA players (seven others chosen were international players not attending U.S. colleges and one spent a season at a prep school).  Percentage NCAA to Major Pro calculated using the 52 NCAA selections. Since 2008, 11 international players have been drafted on average each year.

     

    • On 2018-19 opening day NBA rosters, former NCAA Division I players filled 83% of roster spots.  Two NBA players attended non-Division I colleges.  (Source: Jim Sukup, College Basketball News).

     

    • Data on other professional opportunities in men’s basketball were collected by NCAA staff with the assistance of Marek Wojtera from eurobasket.com.  Tracking 2018-19 international opportunities for the 2018 draft cohort, it was determined that an additional 839 former NCAA student-athletes played internationally, in the G-League or in the NBA as undrafted players (606 from Division I, 194 from Division II and 39 from Division III) after leaving college; this includes international players who attended NCAA institutions.  These numbers were combined with the NBA draftees to calculate an approximate NCAA to Total Professional opportunities figure (calculated as [52 + 839] / 4,181 = 21%).

     

    • We estimate that 4.2% of draft-eligible Division I players were chosen in the 2018 NBA draft (52 / 1,230).  However, in total, 53% of draft-eligible Division I players competed professionally (NBA, G-League or internationally) in their first year after leaving college (calculated as [52 + 606] / 1,230). Approximately 17% of draft-eligible players from the five Division I conferences with autonomous governance (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC) were drafted by the NBA in 2018 (38 / 228), while 80% played professionally somewhere in their first year post-college (calculated as [38 + 144] / 228).

     

    If you have the ambition to elevate your basketball career we can help.  EliteHoops located in Dallas, TX helps youth basketball players become the best they can be both on and off the court.