The Art of Passing: A Pillar of Basketball Skill Development
Dribbling Towards Life: A Game Beyond the Court
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 CourtDon’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
Game On: 5 Tips to Prepare Youth 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!”
4 Steps for Great Team Defense from Coach Dick Bennett
Dick Bennett — who is best known around these parts as the creator of the “Pack Line” defense (and as Tony Bennett’s father) — has a simple four-step checklist for defense that I believe every coach would benefit from adopting.
As follows:
1. Get Back and Stop the Basketball
As we chat about all the time in these emails, transition defense is incredibly important for any team that wants to be competitive.
Get back first, and then man up.
While it can be better to quickly close down on the ball-handler in some situations, most of the time it’s better to put your first focus on protecting the hoop.
2. Eliminate Easy Baskets
If you lose because the opposition team knocks down a bunch of contested three-pointers and well-guarded layups, most coaches can live with that.
What we can’t live with is losing because we allowed EASY points.
> Layups
> Fast break points
> Wide open three-pointers
If your team can eliminate the “easy points” and force opposition players to shoot with a hand in their face, you’ll dramatically increase your chances of winning.
3. Keep the Ball Out of the Lane
This is where Mr. Bennett’s famous “Pack Line” defense came into play…
The strategy he employed was to instruct players one-pass away on defense to stay in the gaps instead of denying their opponent.
While this made it easier for the offense to pass around the perimeter, this defensive strategy made it very difficult to get dribble penetration.
Combined with great 1-on-1 defense, the offense is in for a tough night.
4. Bother Shooters
Last but not least…
Ensure every opposition shot attempt is contested.
This requires all 5 players to be locked indefensively.
If someone gets beat on the perimeter, help defense must be in the correct position to rotate quickly and trap or contest the shot.
Never allow them to get a clean look!
The One Skill Young Basketball Players Must Have to Become Elite
“Coachabilty describes someone who wants to be coached. This manifests itself as someone who likes being challenged, loves learning, strives for more and more and then works tirelessly at what they’re taught.” – Coach Geno Auriemma
Yeah, I get it. When it comes to basketball we all want our child to be the highest jumper, the quickest and best athlete on the floor. After all, if our kids are going to make their middle-school team, that AAU select team, or start on Varsity at the local high school- they gotta be the best…right?
Here’s a little secret- While all those physical attributes (quickness, agility, strength) are advantages to excelling in basketball- there’s one aspect of the game that young basketball players must embrace to become elite.
COACHABILITY
Being coachable and being teachable go hand in hand. Go ahead and let that sink in. Coaches are teachers and players are students- basketball is the subject. As a coach/teacher we want to feel that our player/students care about what we say.
Coach Jenkins Tip: Parents. Please let the coach ….’coach.’
How do You Know if Your Athlete is Coachable?
There are three main traits that a player needs to possess to be considered coachable:
- HUMILITY A player that has humility accepts and admits that there are things they do not know, and cannot do, within the sport of basketball. Further, the player is willing to concede when they cannot accomplish a certain task alone and are willing to allow the coach to help
- SENSE OF PURPOSE A player who is willing to state their goals and demonstrate their motivation will typically be easier to reach through coaching.
- FAITH Improvement or non-improvement as a player can only be determined after the player has been through the experience with you as the coach. A player that puts faith in you is forgoing the benefit of hindsight, understanding that sometimes things need to get worse before they get better. At the same time that you are seeking or imparting these characteristics to your players, you should also encourage players and their parents to seek the same in a prospective coach.
What Can You Do to Make Sure You are Coachable?
Teaching your young basketball athlete/s to be coachable is not easy- it’s not impossible either. There are many things that we can do, say and teach as parents to help in this effort. But would be shocked to know that it starts with YOU?!
Set an Example and Stop Speaking Poorly of Coaches…
Way too often I hear parents speaking poorly of coaches in front of their children. The next time your young athlete comes to you with a complaint about his or her coach, think twice before you undermine that coach. It may be hard, but trust me- it will be worth it.
How about you? What are you doing to help your athlete be more coachable? Please share in the comments below.