On Team Concepts:
There is no “I” in “team”.

If you feel you are the best, or one of the best players on the team, then you must feel extra responsibility for making the team and each other team member better.

A championship team, is more than a collection of five good individual players. It requires at least eight or nine teammates, who work hard together, who respect, help and encourage each other, who have a common goal, mindset and spirit, and yet who all realize their individual roles and importance to the team.

It’s not who starts the game; it’s who can finish it.

On Defense:
Good offense wins games; great defense, rebounding and hustle wins championships.

Good defense comes from 50% good technique, and 50% inspiration and perspiration.

The best way to get back into the game when you’re down 10 points or more, is to play great defense and rebound. Keep the other team from scoring so you can catch up.

On Personal Character and Attitude:
Reputation is what you are perceived to be; character is what you are (John Wooden).

The true athlete must have character, not be a character.

In life you make choices, and your choices make you.

You don’t have to win a trophy to be a winner.

In basketball, there is no such thing as a perfect game. Don’t get upset if you make a mistake or miss a shot, keep playing hard and things will work out. Remember, a man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he gives up. Always think “next play” (Coach K, Duke). “A good garden may have some weeds”.

On Goals:
The journey is more important than the finish line. It’s the fun, work, and experiences (good and bad) along the way that ultimately will be the most valuable to your personal growth. If you have prepared, worked your hardest, played fair, and given it your best effort along the way, then no matter what happens, you can be proud and satisfied at the end.

If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.

To be great is hard, but it’s the “hard” (the difficulty) that makes it great…otherwise anyone could do it (Tom Hanks in the movie, “A League Of Their Own”).

On Speed and Quickness:
You must be quick, but never hurry.

Other Important “Little Things”:
Usually it is unwise to blindly “save” a ball going out-of-bounds under your opponents’ basket. Let it go out and reset your defense.

If you are caught trapped in a corner, bounce the ball off the opponent’s foot so it goes out-of-bounds. Or call “time-out” if it is a crucial time in the game and a crucial possession. But don’t waste all of your coach’s time-outs unnecessarily.

When you have a 6 point (or more) lead with only a minute to go in the game, protect the ball and burn the clock. You don’t need to score any more points (unless it’s an easy lay-up). Remember, “the clock is your enemy” now. Slow down, run the clock, careful passing, and be prepared to have to make free-throws.

There are “good fouls” (like stopping an obvious score during an important part of the game. Make the opponent shoot the free throws). There are really, stupid “bad fouls” (like fouling someone in the back-court with only 2 seconds left in the period with the bonus in effect). Eliminate stupid fouls so you can use your five fouls for important stuff, like boxing-out, rebounding, posting-up, stopping a crucial shot, etc.

A little tip on staying out of foul trouble: your number of fouls should be less than or equal to the quarter number that you are in. #Fouls <= Quarter #

So, don’t get your 2nd foul in the 1st quarter, or your 3rd foul in the 2nd quarter, or your 4th foul in the 3rd quarter, because you will most likely get your 5th foul before the game is over.

If a teammate steals the ball and is driving down the court for a fast-break lay-up, hustle down after him/her. Chances are, you will either get a pass from him/her, or get the rebound and an easy put-back basket. Always assume your teammate is going to miss the lay-up, so you get down there and get the rebound. It’s an easy way to score extra points!

To become champions, you must play four good quarters each game. It sounds obvious, but only the good teams do it! Focus on short blocks of time. Break each quarter into four minute segments and focus on winning each segment, so you don’t let up the entire game.

There are critical times in a game where key plays make the difference. To become champions, you must learn to recognize these times (“crunch time”), and pick up your intensity on the boards and on defense, and avoid costly turn-overs.

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.

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.

The ability to shoot well is a phenomenal skill. It allows

players to score more points, stretch the defense, and become real

threats on the floor.



Imagine the sweet sound of “swish” with a defender’s hand in your

face…Imagine players putting up 15, 20 points a game night in and

night out…



If players learn how to shoot well consistently, this dream can

become a reality.



The thing that separates the Elite shooters from the bad shooters

is emphasis on the basics…



Basic shooting mechanics, when practiced over and over, are the

best way to improve a shot.



Unfortunately, many players don’t focus on the basics. They might

go to the gym to “work on their shot”, but what does that really

mean? How do you properly “work” on your shot?



The answer lies in focusing on the basics, trying to perfect the

technique first, and then worry about hitting shots later.



While perfecting technique, players probably won’t hit a lot of

shots in practice. This is because perfecting technique requires

changing form and mechanics, which is not going to be easy at first.



So what is proper shooting form?



It all starts with BEEF, which you’ve probably heard about before.

Sometimes, it helps to go back and freshen up on the basics,

because we all tend to forget.



BEEF stands for:



Balance

Eyes

Elbows

Follow-Through



- Balance: This means your feet shoulder-width apart, in a

comfortable position, knees slightly bent. Proper balance is the

1st step to shooting well. A lot of players, due to their lack of

balance, miss a lot of shots. Learn how to get in a comfortable,

balanced position in which you feel firmly grounded.



- Eyes: You must keep your eyes focused on the rim when you decide

to take a shot. Don’t be distracted by your defender or anything

else. Keep your eyes firmly glued on the rim from the moment you

decide to take the shot to the moment the ball releases off your

finger tips. In other words, concentrate and focus on the shot and

tune everything else out.



- Elbows: Keep your shooting elbow straight, aligned vertically in

a straight line. Basically, your shooting elbow should be inline

with basket, not off to the side. Your elbow needs to be as

straight as possible.



- Follow-Through: This means snapping your wrist and bringing your

hand and elbow forward until it is perpendicular to the floor. In

other words, let your arm move as far down as possible after

releasing your shot. Snapping your wrists helps to add a backspin

to your shot, which is important to create that “soft shooter’s

touch”.

So learn it,teach it and stick to it.