Once again, I’m pumped. Last week, I sent out congratulatory messages to two of my Elite Basketball Trainees, Kaitlyn Borghese for being selected to the Monmouth Ocean County Parochial Basketball League All Star Game and Chris Tsatsis for being named to the Brooklyn Queens CHSAA “A” All League Team. Just as an aside, Chris hit the game winning three pointer last week to send his high school team, St. Edmunds Prep to the City finals (they lost in the finals, but they had a great and unexpectedly succesful season). This week I would like to add another player to the list of Elite Basketball Trainees who have been honored recently. Congratulations to Keegan Woods for being named Co-MVP of the President’s Weekend Tournament at Rebounds in Neptune. Keegan currently plays for the fifth grade Mid-Monmouth Team from Fair Haven, NJ.
It’s that time of year again. I’m not talking about March Madness and my oh so terrible NCAA Tournament picks, that’s next week. I’m talking about the end of the basketball season for many players across the country. Basketball season is starting to wind down for almost every level, and in most cases, it has already finished up. As this occurs, many of the players and parents are still in the basketball groove. Consequently, they are either looking to continue moving forward and build off a great season or try to better their skills based on a not so successful one. With this in mind, I often receive many emails around this time of year from parents and players looking for teams to play on in the spring. Although this may seem like a great idea, it definitely is not the soundest approach to developing and improving your performance on the basketball court.
Game play is great and an obvious part of a player’s development, but it should not be the foundation of a player’s off season developmental program. The off season should be reserved for the improvement of the areas of a player’s game that they have desginated in need of improvement, namely skills and sports performance. There is no way that playing on a team and focusing on games in the off season can help you accomplish this goal. Often times the primary focus of a team’s practice is to work on their offensive plays and build their team defense. This leaves little time for skill development. Skill development which should be one of the essentials to a solid off season program requires endless repetition, and the repetitions necessary to become a knock down jump shooter or an excellent ball handler simply cannot happen throughout the course of a team practice (unless that is the focus of the team practice). Furthermore, the current state of game play throughout the spring and summer in many cases has turned into glorified “slop.” The market for travel teams and AAU teams has become over-saturated and simply stated, there is just not that many good basketball players out there to make all of these teams competitive. As a result, you end up with weekend tournaments that have a few good teams and an excessive amount of bad teams. This leads to blow outs during games in which the play turns poor very quickly, and creates a situation where no one on the court, good or bad, is learning anything. This creates a situation is definitely not good for the development of anyone’s game.
So if game play is not the answer, than what is? Honestly, what you as a player work on in the off season is up to you and how you evaluate your current status as a player. When the season ends, take some time (two to three weeks) to rest your body and evaluate your season and your game. Be honest with yourself and write down a list of your strengths and weaknesses based on the season. I also recommend seeking out the opinions of your coach, your parents, and maybe even opposing coaches whom you may have a good relationship with. Opposing coaches are the ones who design game plans around players’ strengths and weaknesses so they should be able to give you solid advice on this subject.
Once you have written down your list of the areas of your game that you need to improve develop a step by step plan to improve. Chances are there are skills that need improving as well as strength, power, speed, agility, etc. With this in mind, the foundation of your off season player development program should be primarily based on basketball skill development and sports performance training. In order to develop your skills as a basketball player, it requires a lot of repetition. This can only be achieved by making it one of the bookends of your developmental program. By doing so, you will be forcing yourself to take the necessary repetitions it requires to shoot the baksetball well off the catch and the dribble, handle the basketball effectively, finish in various ways at the rim, make different moves out of the triple threat, and pass the basketball with accuracy from a stationary position and on the move. Consistent repetition is the only way for any player to become better at any basketball skill they are seeking to improve.
Beyond basketball skill development, sports performance training needs to be the other bookend to your off season basketball development. I hear the phrase, “I don’t have the time to lift.” from athletes and they could not be more right. No athlete has the time to lift or train their body, they must MAKE the time, and the time should be in the off season. Sports performance training is the only way to develop your body and better yourself as an athlete, and being a better athlete will make you a better player on the basketball court. A well designed sports performance program aside from the obvious health benefits will serve to make you stronger and more explosive. It will help increase your vertical jump, your quickness, agility, conditioning and flexibility. Finally, sports performance training will increase your confidence and give you a mental edge over your competition. Ultimately, this is an absolute must for any basketball player who is looking to be successful on the court.
Basketball skill development and sports performance training need to be the foundation upon which you build your off season basketball training program. Game play on the other hand should only be a supplemental portion of this program. Basketball skill development requires consistent repetition that cannot be achieved during games. Furthermore, sports performance training is essential to your development as an athlete and a basketball player and time needs to be made during the off season when you are not bogged down by game play. So save the search for the team for the fall leading into the winter and devote your time to becoming a better basketball player this off season because the off season is where players are made.
Committed to taking your game to the NEXT level.
Rich Stoner
USAW Sports Performance Coach
Elite Basketball Training, LLC
Ps. Don’t forget to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, and make sure you visit www.basketballspeedandagility.com for the hottest basketball speed and agility product on the market.
I have to say, I am really pumped this week. I just found out that two of my players that have been training with me over the last year have received some great accolades. With that in mind, I would like to take the time to congratulate Chris Tsatsis for being selected to the CHSAA Brooklyn Queens “A” All League Team and Kaitlyn Borghese for being selected to Monmouth Ocean County Parochial Basketball League All Star Game. Both Chris and Kaitlyn have been committed to taking their games to the NEXT level through basketball skill development workouts and sports performance training. This comitment has really shown in their play on the basketball court and consequently they have been rewarded appropriately for their hard work. Great job Chris and Kaitlyn keep up the good work.
Now, on to today’s subject of training youth athletes. The question is posed to me all of the time, “Is it okay for my son/daughter to be working out at a young age?” My answer is always a resounding, “Yes…if done properly.” Obviously, the key to this is the, “…if done properly part.” Studies today have shown that athletes can show benefits from sports performance training as young as seven years old (believe it or not, I have worked with a seven year old). Under the supervision of a trained professional and by choosing the correct exercises, results can absolutely be produced and these athletes will see improvements in their overall health, sports performance, and confidence. The key is choosing the correct exercises, adhering to strict form, and making it fun.
All of the youth athletes that come through Elite Sports Performance (the sports performance training branch of Elite Basketball Training, LLC) are first evaluated based on their general physical preparedness. This evaluation includes tests for speed, agility, core strength, upper body pushing and pulling strength, and much more. Based on this evaluation, a program is the developed to improve the areas of weakness for that athlete as well as their overall physical performance. This is not much different from my older athletes however, in the case of the youth athletes, the choice for their main exercises differs. In the case of all of the youth athletes at Elite Sports Performance their initial programs consist primarily of body weight exercises. An example of some of these body weight exercises can be seen in this video below:
*Please note that this athlete is very strong for his age (he holds the pushup record of 73 in a row for my gym) and easier variations of these exercises can be performed.
Youth athletes must master their own body weight before they are allowed to progress to the use of weights (medicine balls then actual bars, kettlebells, and dumbells).
One of the major concerns for parents who seek sports performance training for their young athlete is the risk of injury. Injuries often occur, not as a result of the athlete’s age but because failed instruction on correct form. Strict attention must be paid to their form during this developmental age. Primarily because poor form can cause injury. Furthermore, these athletes have most likely never lifted before therefore and they can be taught the correct way to to perform the movements leading to benefits in the long run.
Finally, it is important to remember that these are afterall just kids. With that in mind, there may be days that they are pumped up to be there and others where they are simply there because Mom and/or Dad made them go. Either way, it is important to keep the program and the atmosphere fun. Develop a relationship with these athletes and let them know that you care and that you are there to make them better. Furthermore, make the workouts competive and lively. Use games like “Tag” or a relay race as speed and agility or conditioning drills. Doing so will keep the atmosphere light and eliminate the feeling of working out.
In today’s time, working out in a well designed sports performance program is not only acceptable for young athletes, but in many cases, recommended. The key to designing this program is choosing the correct exercises in particular bodyweight exercises. Once the correct exercises have been chosen, it is imperative that there be a strict adherence to form. Doing so will ensure that the athletes avoid injury and learn the proper form for more difficult lifts in the future. Finally, making the program fun is a key factor for the young athletes. It will lighten the mood of the workout and ensure that they keep coming back. Following these parameters will improve the athlete’s overall fitness, their sports performance, and their confidence, and will ultimately go a long way towards building the fundamental base these athletes need to be successful in their sports as they become more competitive.
Let us know what you all think about sports performance training for youth athletes by writing in the comments section below, and of course, if you are part of the Elite Basketball Training family and you have had success on the court this season please email me personally at rstoner42@gmail.com so that I can personally congratulate me on my blog.
If you haven’t already done so, don’t forget to get your hands on the hottest product on the market at www.basketballspeedandagility.com and increase your speed, agility and quickness on the court.
Just got back from a great weekend of hitting the slopes in Vermont. It’s always nice to get away with some friends and do some skiing especially when the conditions are good and they were surprisingly good. Now that I’m back and rejuvenated from the long weekend, I wanted to continue with my recent post on attacking out of the triple threat. Last week’s post entitled, “What I Witnessed Looked Like Rec Soccer (Part 3)” discussed the importance of being able to attack from a triple threat position. From a basketball skill development perspective coming to triple threat is one of the essential keys to the game and is always one of the initial skills taught to youth players and a key focal point for the older players at the Elite Basketball Training Academy. Coming to the triple threat position allows the attacking player to be able to dribble, pass, and shoot. Once in the triple threat position there are a series of basic moves that a player can complete that includes:
Jumper
Jab and shoot
Jab, shot fake, shoot
Jab, shot fake, and go (rocker move)
Jab opposite, rip through, and go
Using this series of jab moves will help you create space for you to either shoot or put the ball on the floor to get off a jumper off the dribble, get to the rim, or draw two defenders and create an open shot for your teammate. However, there are times when the defense is better and more advanced moves are necessary to counter the defense and create space.
In order to create space for yourself and your teammates, in these more difficult situations, you must have what I call the “Big Four. The ”Big Four” includes:
Step back
Step back/Pull back/Crossover
Pullback/Spin Move
Step Back/Pull Back/Crossover/ Spin Move
These moves require a higher degree of difficulty than the fundamental moves mentioned earlier. The key component with all of them is to maintain your low center of gravity as you step back and pull back. This will help you keep your shoulders over your feet thereby keeping your entire body in a balanced position to the make the move or shoot the jumper. Overall, mastery of these moves requires time, effort, and repetition but they will ultimately prove useful in creating when encountering better opponents.
Let us know if you have any other Big Time moves out of the triple threat to add to my Big Four by commenting in the comments section below.
And, don’t forget to get your hands on the hottest basketball specific speed and agility product on the market at the low low price of $14.99.
A few weeks ago in a post entitled “Teach Players How to Play” the subject of teaching basketball players, particularly at the youth level, how to play basketball and not teaching them set plays was discussed. What prompted the original exploration of this topic was a conversation with a local youth basketball coach who told me that his practice was primarily based around working on offensive plays and that there was no time for skill development and other aspects of the game that I described as priorities.
Two weeks ago, in somewhat of a follow up to, “Teach Players How to Play,” the subject of my post, “What I Witnessed was Like Rec Soccer” turned towards teaching players three fundamental components of basketball to go along with their skill development. First and foremost, the player needs to be able to get open on his own. Then in my second installment of this three part series, What I Witnessed Looked Like Rec Soccer (Part 2), the concept of moving effectively without the basketball in order to create space for themselves and their teamates was discussed. Finally, today’s focus will be what the player can do out of the triple threat once they catch the basketball. The ability to come to triple threat and be able to create space out of a triple threat position is more of a basketball skill development topic than the two previous topics and can be worked on in a team setting within the confines of an offense, or even while teaching players the various cuts and screens written about in last week’s post, and individually.
Creating space out of the triple threat is one the fundamental basketball skill components that are taught at the Elite Basketball Training Academy. As mentioned in past blog posts, working on your team’s plays or offense is great, but if the player cannot do anything once they have caught the basketball, it is a true waste of your time. This tends to often be the case at the youth level and sometimes at the high school level. As a former varsity basketball coach triple threat moves were always worked on during the breakdown drills of our offense. I found this to be the most successful way to teach these skills while continuing to progress in our offense and have the players understand what type of move to use based on how the defense presented itself. For the purpose of today, the focus will be on the basic triple threat moves that are necessary to master before progressing to other advanced counter moves that some of the high level high school, collegiate, and professional players use.
For me, I prefer to incorporate various types of footwork into my trip threat drills that include stepping in from a straight on position, coming off a screen and using your inside pivot foot, and/or catching the ball going away from the basket and having to front pivot or reverse pivot in both directions. Doing so adds another dimension to these triple threat drills and will further prepare the players for more game-like situations. Once the ball is caught there are a few fundamental skills that you can use to score out of the triple threat position. First, if the defensive player is playing off you, you can shoot the basketball. This is obviously the simplest scenario but if the defense is playing tighter on you, it may be necessary to use what is commonly referred to as the jab series to create space for yourself to shoot and/or score. The fundamental skills in the jab series include:
Jab and shoot
jab, shot fake, shoot
jab, shot fake, go (rocker move)
jab opposite, rip through, go
Using this series of jab moves will help you create space for you to either shoot or put the ball on the floor to get off a jumper off the dribble, get to the rim, or draw two defenders and create an open shot for your teammate. These can be worked on in a variety of drills and are once again the basic moves out of the triple threat position (for more advanced moves that can be used as counters to these fundamental moves check back for next week’s post).
The game of basketball is all about the ability to create space with or without the basketball. In order to do so, the basketball player must be able to get themselves open and also have the ability to cut and move effectively without the basketball. Furthermore, once the player catches the basketball they must have a series of moves and counter moves to utilize with the basketball in their hand. The jab series is an excellent group of skills to develop that will help the player score out of the triple threat position or open up opportunites for other offensive players on the court. As a matter of preference, I always like to use three on three breakdown drills to teach these components within the confines of your offense. Three on three provides more open space on the court and is therefore less intimidating for youth players, or any level player. Being less intimidating will ultimately allow them to become more comfortable trying new basketball concepts and help build success. However, from an individual skill development perspective, there are many drills that can be used to develop these basketball skills (for examples of these drills please click the youtube icon in the side bar to view the Elite Basketball Training youtube page). Overall, the fundamental skills of getting open, moving are necessary for your succes in the game of basketball and need to be a part of your team and individual practices.
As always please let the Elite Basketball Training community know your thoughts by commenting below. And don’t forget to get your hands on the best basketball specific speed, agility, and skill development product on the internet at the super low cost of $14.99 at www.basketballspeedandagility.com.
A few weeks ago in a post entitled “Teach Players How to Play” the subject of teaching basketball players, particularly at the youth level, how to play basketball and not set plays was discussed. What prompted the original exploration of this topic was a conversation with a local youth basketball coach who told me that his practice was primarily based around working on offensive plays. There was no time for skill development and other aspects of the game that I described as priorities.
Last week, in somewhat of a follow up to, “Teach Players How to Play,” the subject of my post, “What I Witnessed was Like Rec Soccer” turned towards teaching players three fundamental components of basketball to go along with their skill development. First and foremost, the player needs to be able to get open on his own. Then they also need to be able to move effectively without the basketball in order to create space for themselves and their teamates. Finally, the player, once they catch the basketball, needs to come to triple threat and be able to create space out of a triple threat. Today’s blog post will focus on the second of the three components, moving effectively without the basketball.
The game of basketball is all about the ability to create space with or without the basketball, and having the ability to move effectively without the basketball can serve this purpose. It will not only create space for yourself but also for your teamates. As a matter of preference, I always like to use three on three to teach cutting without the basketball. Three on three provides more open space on the court and is therefore less intimidating for youth players, or any level player. Being less intimidating will ultimately allow them to become more comfortable trying new basketball concepts and help build success.
To start, three offensive players are placed on the perimeter (usually outside the three point line but in the case of the youth level inside the three point line will work) on both wings and at the top of the key. The simplest way to teach moving without the basketball is in a pass, cut, and replace format. The player at the top of the key enters the ball to the wing and then can use a shallow cut to cut away from the basketball while the opposite wing replaces them at the top of the key. The ball is then reversed through the player at the top of the key to the other wing and the cutting process is repeated to the other side.
Another option is to have the player make a basket cut to from the top of the key while following the ball then replace the opposite wing who has replaced him at the top of the key. It is important to note that players should not be robotic when working on cutting, moving, replacing, etc. The players should vary the type of cuts they use in order to simulate a more game-like situation. Point out to the players that they should see the defense and take what the defense is giving them. For example, if the defense is sagging off, then a shallow cut away may be more appropriate and will ultimately get them more open. However, if the defense is playing tight on the offensive player then a hard basket cut could serve to loosen the defense up and create more openings for the offense. Bottom line is, that players need to see the defense and the open spots on the court in order to help them make the correct decisions on where and how to cut. All the while make sure the players keep their spacing at around 15 to 17 feet between each other. Doing so forces the defense to really have to work to guard the offense and scoring should be easier than if the offense’s spacing was tight. Once you have taught these two types of cuts, add three defenders and have the offense try to score by specifically using a basket cut or a shallow cut. You can limit their dribbles to between one and three and really make them focus on moving effectively without the basketball in order to get open.
Aside from cutting, another option for getting open is the screen. Using the same format with three offensive players have them work on passing and screening away. For this component, it is important to teach a couple of technical points to the screener and the player being screened for. With the screener, teach them that in order to set an effective screen, they must be low, wide, and have their back facing the spot that you want the offensive player to receive the basketball. For the player receiving the screen, it is important for them to set their defender up in away and then run them through the screen. Not setting the defender up is somewhat lazy and can lead to them not getting open to receive the pass. As a matter of preference, I always teach the offensive player to come off the screen and step into the ball using an inside pivot technique (planting the foot closest to the basket first). This is more effecient and can lead to more scoring opportunities for the offensive player. Once these techniques have been taught and properly mastered add the defense and have the offense try to score using the pass and screen away option.
Going forward as the players become more familiar with seeing the court and reading the defense allow them to use what ever option they see fit. However, do not hesitate to stop play to qualify key points based on mistakes that are made. This is how the players will learn to play effectively and in the long run, it will make whatever offense you run much more successful.
Please let me know what other techniques you are using to teach players how to play and stay tuned for next week’s post where I discuss various options on how to create space out of the triple threat.
