NBC BASKETBALL

7 Ways to Drastically Improve Your Skill Level

2010-02-21T21:12:00.000-08:00

1. Imitate-- Find a key player to model his or her skills and become a devoted student. Watch film, keep stats, practice his or her moves.

2. Intensive skill development--- Take a skill and repeat it as slowly but as correctly as you can. Practice the drill two times very slowly, then the third time as quickly as you can, and end with practicing the drill as slowly and accurately as you can. Do this six times.

3. Crucial skill development-- you gain skill when you put consequences on your practicing. Before you start your individual practice time, set up quick but costly consequences to help you master your skill. For example, set a goal to make 5-10 shots in a row at game speed from one specific spot on the floor. Start again if you miss. If you don't get the goal within three attempts you owe 10 knee highs (Jump up touching your knees to your chest).

4. Yagattawanna. This is an old NBC slogan. It means you have to want it with all your heart. You have to desire to be a player as if your life depended on it. If you don't care that much, you won't do what you need to really elevate your skills. What is your passion level? How badly do you want to get better?

5. Be precise. Don't call it practicing if you are just shooting around. You can go shoot around at your hoop for hours and really be doing very little good. Skills are developed in a very specific manner. Your practing should resemble what all great athletes, musicians, students, etc.. know. Painstaking, relentless, disciplined measurable practice like the shooting example listed above. There are many great resources available on how to be practice the right way.

6. Eye of the tiger. There are countless examples in sports about the second born being better athletes than the first. That's because the second often comes on the scene with the eye of the tiger, a hunger to be first, to win. First borns also have strong advantages over second borns, but all of us should find someone to compete against who pushes outside our comfort zone, who challenges us, who makes us better.

7. Mastery is worth it. Research has found those who have learned to master one area can translate that into being able to master more areas more rapidly. Be dedicated for the long term. The more you see your investment into practicing as a lifelong pursuit worthy of your best effort, the more quickly you will develop as a player.

Resources for this article include the following two books: "The Talent Code" by Daniel Coyle and "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell.

10 YEAR PLAN-- 2010-2020 "YOUR DECADE FOR CHANGE"

2010-01-11T12:29:00.001-08:00

Take time out of your schedule and sit down for about 30 minutes and begin a 10 year plan.
What do you want your life to look like by 2020?

We believe the more clear you are about what you want, the better chance you have of achieving what you want.

Write out your physical goals.
What kind of shape would you like to be in the next ten years? Where would you like to be with your athletic dreams in ten years?
How can you best achieve these goals?
Who can you partner with to help you reach these goals?

Write out your academic goals.
How do you learn best? Do you value education and where do you see education taking you to over this next decade?

Write out your goals for using your talents as a thank you to God for all He has given to you.
What are your top three talents and how can you best use them to serve others and better the world?
What do you really love to do and is this something you want to be great at 10 years from now?

Write out your goals for your family.
What kind of relationship would you like to have in ten years from now? What character changes do you need to make to be the best family member you can be?

Write out your spiritual goals.
What does your relationship with God mean to you now and what would you like it to mean 10 years from now? What is important for you to do everyday to connect to God and have a mindset that is focused on helping others not just self-focused?

After you write these out, pick a few action points you want to remember everyday. Post these where you can review them and ask someone to hold you accountable.

Make this decade a life changing one.

HELP YOUR TEAM THIS SEASON

2010-01-11T11:21:00.000-08:00

You help your team this season when you make your defense foul you. Fouls help your team get to the free throw line, frustrate the other team, and keep the other team from playing too physical.
Keys to drawing fouls:
Maintain excellent balance. Strong pivots, and fake.

Fakes are critical in the game of basketball, but you have to practice fakes and execute them often. Watch how many teams work on fakes, practicing them in warm-ups. Hardly any! If we don’t practice it, we won’t do it. Sell your fakes, get in a mirror and make sure the fakes look like the real thing. Fake high, pass low. Fake right, go left. Shot fake then cross step. Fake to get open and cut backdoor. Use your fakes to your advantage!

A BASKETBALL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

2009-12-16T07:43:00.000-08:00

A Christmas Message for Hoopers
by NBC Camps

T’was the night of the big game
When all through the crowd,
parents hoped that their children would make them so proud.
The players jostled and jockeyed for a top five position,
sitting the bench, a most dreaded condition.

Each hoped to score 30 with pomp and panache
But thirty-two minutes flies by in a flash
The ball lofted high signaling the game’s start
quickly revealing the arrogance in each player’s heart.

Each showed no discernment on good shot selection
corking it up immediately without much reflection.
Each pouted and ranted when subbed off the court,
the coaches criticized and belittled with every retort.

The point spread grew wider, the parents all moaned.
At half-time, the locker room felt like a funeral home.
Then a player apologized for hogging the ball
sparking each to take responsibility for all
of the rudeness, and ego, the critiques and the blame
for losing perspective over glory and fame.

Now humbly, the team re-entered the floor
creating opportunities for others to score.
Those on the bench cheered with great vigor
encouraging play-making with disciplined rigor.

This new attitude changed the final outcome of the game
the victory so sweet, no individual could claim.
And into my mind sprang an old Bible verse
“The first shall be last and the last shall be first.”

And I heard all exclaim as we left from the gym,
the true meaning of basketball is not just the win,
But the sacrifice, integrity and the joy of the sport
by becoming a giving teammate…on and off of the court.

NBC Camps: Change your game, Change your world

Four active steps to help propel you to the forefront of any college coach’s recruiting list

2009-11-04T11:19:00.000-08:00

1. Do your homework. Research ahead of time what area of the country you’d like to live in, enrollment sizes, urban vs. rural, private vs. public, the majors you are interested in, and be honest about what divisions in which you can potentially compete. NCAA Division 1 is definitely the most competitive; NCAA Division 2 and some high level NAIA Division 1 schools are comparable, and NCAA Division 3 and lower level NAIA schools are very similar. Every school has a different balance of athletics, academics, on-campus social life, and local attractions. It is important for you to have at least a general idea of “your perfect college.” Once you’ve established some parameters, find all the schools that fit your description. This is your foundation.

2. Create your personal profile. There are a lot of recruiting agencies and companies that can do this for you, but it’s not really necessary to have them put it together. Coaches see so many profiles that they tend to blur together anyway. You want to be organized and professional, but you can do this by putting together an athletic/academic resume on your own, or with the help of your school college counselor. Be sure to include: your name, contact information, GPA, SAT/ACT scores, community involvement, academic honors, athletic honors, years of basketball experience, kinds of experiences, positions played, height, weight, standing reach, basketball stats and any other athletic info you have available.

3. Have film available. You are so fortunate to live in a day and age where information is constantly accessible through the internet. No regular person could put up videos online when I was in high school. Now it’s simple and free to just copy the link to your YouTube account where a coach can see your skills. It’s also more convenient for the coaches, instead of giving them a DVD they have to find a player for, and time to watch it. You need to make at least four kind of videos. Different coaches want to see different things; if you make all these options available, it will be easy for us to find what we’re looking for. You should have a full game film, a partial game film (1-2 games is enough), a highlight reel, and a skills video from practice. It’s best to set up the camera in a wide angle so it captures the full court. If you can also include a short introduction video where you speak directly to coaches about your strengths, it shows your communication skills and personality in another light.

4. Make the effort in the details. Communicate to the coaches what you are looking for in a college: kind of playing style and goals for your basketball career, also what major and vocational career you're interested in pursuing. Say things like, "I am definitely interested in the Journalism emphasis in your Communications department," and "My beliefs match up well with the doctrinal statements at your school," and "I'm really looking to become actively involved with (name a variety of the programs you found that the school has)." You want to communicate that you will be a good fit for their school and their basketball program. Be professional, but be approachable; make sure all grammar and punctuation is correct, and include contact information for your parents, coaches, high school counselors, and yourself. Communicate that you would like to talk with them over the phone and eventually visit the school to meet the team and tryout.

Yes, college visits can get expensive. But after your initial contact with coaches, you can begin to narrow down your top choices to two or three schools. You really do need to visit all of these schools, meet the basketball teams, observe the coach’s style, stay in the dorms, and sit in on classes. A website cannot do justice to the actual feeling you experience while on campus.

And remember, you want to be marketable. High grades and SAT scores are always more attractive to coaches because they know you have the probability to succeed in college level academics. Earn as many scholarships as you can through academics, community service, and local organizations. Be the well-rounded person every coach wants to add to their program.

October training for basketball season

2009-10-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

Basketball season is coming! Here are some keys college coaches recommend to get you prepared to walk on the court ready to show your best.

1. Be in great shape. A good way to get back into top condition if you are not is to jog at a brisk pace for 4 minutes then sprint as hard as you can as if a man-eating tiger where trying to catch you. Sprint hard for one minute, then resume to your brisk paced run for 4 minutes. Do this a total of 4 times (4 minutes of brisk running with 1 minute all out sprinting). Each week, add 15 seconds to the all out sprint.

2. Practice passing-- Find a wall at your house and work at least 15 minutes each day on this crucial skill. Pick a spot on the wall and hit that spot 20 times with each type of pass (overhead, chest, bounce) Try with two balls going at a time and see how accurate you can be. Practice cross-overs and behind-the-back as well.

3. Shooting. Get a ball and lie on your back. Practice perfect form shooting with one hand. Close your eyes and practice visualizing making your shots. Design a 15 minute workout focusing on different key spots on the court. Practice catching the ball and shooting after a pass, making the shot after a drive. Have a goal of how many you can make in a row. Also set up a consequence if you miss -- such as a down and back sprint or a few push-ups.

4. Play lots and lots of one-on-one. Coaches want players who can attack the basket within the offense. When you play one-on-one, make it as real to a game situation as possible. In games, typically you can't use the entire floor to beat your man, you only get one side of the basket-- so do this when you are practicing. Make boundary rules, limit your dribbles, remember to rebound so that you train your body for muscle memory.

5. Post your goals on your mirror and/or in your locker.

Have questions on how to prepare for the season? Email us
nbc@nbccamps.com

FIVE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR COACH LIKE THE WAY YOU PLAY

2009-09-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

1. Be the first on the court every time and never, ever late. Get busy working on your fundamentals. Go to work on your game the second you step on the court. No conversation with teammates.

2. Have the "eye of the tiger" mindset. No one is going to out hustle you or want it more than you. You are the tiger in the fight, not the kitten.

3. Pressure your opponent. Practice is not a social hour. Practice is your time to make the person you guard miserable. Guard with such great intensity, every dribble is under duress. Make players hate to play against you. On “D” great pressure, on “O” move, move and then move some more.

4. Make your teammates better. Talk with encouragement. Call out screens on defense; set solid screens on offense. Be positive, energetic and happy to be part of the team.

5. Take care of the ball, make good decisions, pass to the open player and know the plays.

BASKETBALL DYSFUNCTION ASSESSMENT

2009-06-19T14:44:00.001-07:00

This is an entertaining diagnostic evaluation tool designed to uncover patterns and styles of play which prohibit maximum performance.

Even though there is humor in this self-evaluation, perhaps you see yourself in one of these categories.

Categories of Basketball Dysfunction

1. The Gunner:
These players compulsively shoot whenever a basketball is in their hands. Distance, game flow, and degree of difficulty are inconsequential. If the gunner gets the ball--- it’s going up!

2. The Acquiescer:
Acquiesce means to submit, or comply silently without protest. These players will always pass up the shot, (literally). Even when these athletes are midway through their lay-up, if they spy someone open past the three point line, they dish out.

3. The Bricklayer:
They hustle, they work hard, they have no touch. They immediately follow every shot by crashing the boards—even before the ball has left their hands.

4. The Ambulance Chaser:
These players are always out of control, willing to launch head-first out of bounds even down a flight of stairs, for a loose ball. They may even dive under a parked car on asphalt while playing a pick-up game of 1-on-1.

5. The Deceived:
These athletes are a legend in their own mind. They are First Team All-Backyard. They think they are the best, even when no one else does. They think humility is their greatest attribute. They will make their own trophies out of silverware, duct tape and a newspaper if they have to.

6. The Pouter:
These talented athletes have all the skills, but they get tripped up by their lip they stick out when they don’t get their way. The wrong calls, playing time, fouls…it doesn’t take much to ruffle their feathers and make them want to give up.

7. The Hacker:
These players live by the rule, “It’s only a foul if it draws blood.” Hackers foul hard and often. They rarely finish a game without fouling out. The ref usually has to stop the game several times to attend to the injured players they guard.

8. The Apologizer:
These athletes have a continual monologue of groans, moans, sighs, exclamations, “my bad’s”, coupled by headshaking, hair pulling, and browbeating. They think great plays that happen for the other team, while they are on the bench, are somehow personally their fault.

9. The Blamer:
The floor, the pass, the lighting, and the orbital pattern of the moon are all possible excuses for this player not performing well. Nothing is ever their fault. Note, blamers cannot recognize if they fall into this category.

10. The Mental Kobe:
These athletes speak in third person, are often found telling stories of personal success. They yell “And 1” after every shot. They spell team with an “I” and spend countless hours perfecting their autograph. In fact, three full South American forests have been sacrificed solely for the paper used for this project.

The Solution for all these ailments can be found at NBC Camps. One week can begin your cure. Register today.

Crowell's Player Development Program

2009-06-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

Skill Dribble Foundation

The only two ways to move a basketball within the rules of the game are passing and dribbling. At no time in the history of basketball was the dribble more important than the present time. Modern day offenses are designed to spread the defense from sideline to sideline giving the offensive player the opportunity to breakdown the defender with the intent to score or assist a teammate to a score.

Main Elements in the Dribble Skill:

Hard Dribble with on-ball hand, arm bar with the off hand, and head up (eyes see all).

Focus Points:

-Player big to the floor with feet wide, belly button to the sideline with the defender in front.

-Hard dribble to the floor with the ball bouncing no higher than the hip.

-Iron arm swinging like a runner creating a motion that prohibits the defender from reaching to the ball.

-Head up with eagle eyes seeing the entire floor at all times.

Specific Practice Plan to Build Foundation

Drill #1: 25 hard dribbles right, 25 left.

Push the ball hard to the floor, off hand swings to floor and up.

Drill #2: Side-to-side dribble with crossover in front of the body.

Two hard dribbles with the left hand while the off hand is an iron arm. On the third dribble, drop the lead foot back. Crossover the ball to the right hand, rotate feet (belly button now points in the opposite direction.

Begin slowly to master it, then go game speed for 20 seconds. Repeat the drill three times.

Drill #3: Side-to-side dribble with between the legs. (Add behind the back dribble in this drill as well.)

Two hard dribbles with iron arm off-hand. Bounce the ball directly under the center of your body. Turn body quickly so that your belly button is pointed in the opposite direction.

Begin slowly to master it, then go game speed for 20 seconds. Repeat three times.

Less time more often is the best way to master a skill. Three minutes a day, six days a week for 90 days and Drill Foundation will be your faithful servant in the game

Summer is your time to transform your game.

2009-04-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

If you love basketball, summer is your time to take your game higher.

My son Jay, started really wanting to be a player much later than most kids his age. He started wanting to be a serious player around his 8th grade year. He met with me and his mentor, Shann Ferch, (former European pro) and mapped out what he needed to do during the summer to elevate his game.

Please understand, games will not improve your skills. They will only reveal what you know. The only way to get better is through specific skill development and repetition.

Jay took the summer time to put in hours of disciplined practice at camp, in the gym, and in the weight room working to be a serious athlete.

If you want to play basketball next season, you must work hard this summer.

First tip for the player who gets limited playing time and feels the coach doesn’t like your game.

The best way to deal with this problem is to become a different player over the summer. You need to walk in next fall transformed. Physical changes are big. Cut your hair or make a noticeable physical change which makes you look older and more intense, work out everyday, eliminate sugar and eat healthy, get the eye of the tiger. Have a personal workout. Go to camp, experience new changes. You will look older, you will be more confident and you will have a chance to change your coaches mind and help him or her see you with new eyes.

Second tip:

Attitude is everything. No one can control your attitude except you. The coach controls your playing time but he doesn’t control your attitude. Always think about the big picture. Many basketball players who seldom play that maintain positive attitudes in adversity, consistently cheer for starting players, and remain loyal to the program are the men and women of tomorrow will see this time in their lives as stepping stone to success.

Third tip:

Not all players are right for all coaches. If it truly is not a fit, and you could excel at a different program or under different coaching you need to pursue change.

Choose daily to have a positive mental attitude, work hard, and think big picture. Never quit!

“The Art of Off-Season Improvement”

2009-04-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

When do players go from good to great?

Does it happen in front of thousands of screaming fans at the biggest game of the year? Does greatness fall upon someone only after a game-winning jumper smacks the net? Does it take an acrobatic, Kobe-esque, gravity-defying dunk to put you on the hoop map as one of the “great” players?

These may be the milestones that elevate a player in the fan’s eye, but the athletes who make it there, know it actually began long before those monumental moments took place. They can remember the countless days of giving up their free time in hopes of taking their game to the next level…the exhausting individual workouts where the idea of “greatness” became more than just a dream. The truth is, it’s in the off-season where greatness is grasped.

Many young athletes say they want to be great, say they want to play college or even pro someday, but only a few really take advantage of the off-season to improve their ability.

Just look at the top players today. Kobe Bryant has sky-rocketed to the ranks of the NBA elite in a very short time. Though a veteran now, Kobe became the youngest player to reach the 10,000 point mark.

Between hoisting the championship trophy in 2002 and tipping off the season in ’03, Kobe reportedly put in a grueling off-season workout, six-day-a-week, six-hour-a-day off-season program! Yikes!

Keep in mind that Kobe is one of the most well conditioned athletes in the world, but his dedication to improvement is a great example of what it takes to be great.

Another one who knows what it takes is Jackie Stiles. She’s the merciless and yet lovable 5-8 All American guard out of Southwest Missouri State who is the all-time leading scorer in the history of NCAA Division I women’s basketball. Stiles was the fourth pick in the 2001 WNBA draft going to the Portland Fire and was voted rookie of the year. The story of her workouts became something of a gossip piece during her senior year of college. The program began in high school and included making, not shooting, making 1000 shots a day, on occasion keeping her in the gym until the middle of the night.

Oh, by the way, she’s the all-time leading scorer in the history of NCAA Division I women’s basketball. Was that already mentioned? She averaged a modest 31 points per game during a senior season in which she shot 57% from the field and just under 50% from three. A check midway through the 2003 season on the men’s side showed the top scorer (per game) in the country was shooting under 41% from both the field and the three-point line. Stiles can play.

But for both Bryant and Stiles, success came with a price. For them, off-season is not about rest and relaxation, it’s perhaps the most physically and mentally trying time of the year. The great ones have turned off-season improvement into art.

Tips for Off-season Improvement:

*Develop a personal workout
Assess your game and decide which areas you really want to get better at, then develop a workout that involves both skill training and fitness training. Do this with an accountability partner or keep a journal of your progress.

*Be a student of the game
When you watch games, pay attention to more than the score. Pick out the good players, and figure out what they do well. Work to recognize what’s going on with the defensive and offensive strategies. Take notes.

*Come to an NBC Camp.
At camp you will experience several days of hard work, fun, motivation, and excellent skill training. Coming to camp will help you get better physically and mentally.

*Get out and play
You need a place to put your skills to work and have fun with the game of basketball. Find a place where you can get some good competition, play with and against good friends…and get out and play! Have fun.

ACT AS IF

2009-04-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

An effective tool in improving performance is to “act as if” what you hope to achieve has already happened. Successful athletes have the ability to see in the mind’s eye the final result before it actually happens.

When you play basketball with an “act as if” mentality, your performance will improve because you play with increased confidence, resolve and mental toughness.

How to make the “act as if” concept work for you. The following is an example:

Guarding a Player in Practice You Want to Beat Out

1. Form a mental blueprint of guarding this player with great intensity.
2. Visualize how you will stop this player using the following strategies:
A. Force dribble drives to the weak side.
B. Make them catch the ball where they can’t score.
C. Make every dribble as difficult as possible.
D. Get a hand in the face so you don’t give up a good shots.

Pretend you have a tiger and mouse in your heart …
Be the tiger and make your opponent be the mouse.

It’s all about attitude!

MARCH MADNESS WISDOM

2009-03-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

The success factor

If you love basketball, now is the perfect time of year to be a student of the game. We at NBC Central office have compiled a list of the most important factors for NCAA success the season. Use this tool to see if you can determine who will win. Being able to identify the success factors are important for your own success. Print this list off. Watch a game and keep track of how the teams advance. From the list of important success factors, which ones do you need to work on for the year?

Preparation creates opportunity for great moments. Being prepared allows a team to peak at the right moments. How prepared is a team to handle defensive and offensive sets?

Focus and eliminate distractions. Too many teams get caught up in the hype, lights, nerves and glitz of the moment. The great players and coaches never let this happen. They stay away from the intensity of the media and glamour and focus on the task ahead. How focused is the team?

Believe in the basics and remember what got you there. Good nutrition, limited sugar, lots of H-2-0, good sleep all prepare you to play your best. Teams which try and implement brand new offensive plays and defensive strategies without adequate time will face immediate challenges. Fundamental basics: rebound offensively and defensively, hit your free throws especially at the end, play with great intensity, don’t get out-hustled, stop dribble penetration. How consistent is the team in doing what they do best?

Versatility and resiliency are crucial. A successful team in the tourney has great depth and flexibility. The players can bring what is needed when it is needed. They play better and better as the tournament goes along, with greater chemistry and flow. Also, they are tough-minded and never get shaken. How unshakable and versatile is the team?

Team-oriented and unselfish point guard leadership. Personal goals of achievement need to be secondary to the overall goal of the team. This is demonstrated by the team’s point guard. A selfish point guard equals disaster. The point is the success factor to the team. They dictate the tempo, turnovers, playing style, poise, shot selection and leadership of the team. How good is the point guard?

Believe you deserve to be there. Legacy is huge in the success factor. The mindset that your team is a championship team and deserves to win is an important edge. What is the team’s legacy?

MARCH MADNESS TRAINING TOOL

2009-03-17T22:28:00.000-07:00

At NBC Camps we want to help you become a student of the game. Learning to play smart on the court requires intentional training and focus. During March Madness, get smart and use this tool to build your knowledge of the game.

Imitation: Find players you want to imitate and focus intently on the way he or she plays. Instead of watching all the players on the court, follow this player exclusively.

Key questions to ask:

What difference does this player have on the game?

What does this player do when he/she doesn’t have the ball?

List 10 skills you could learn from this player.

Does this player match your future physical build and athletic ability? If not, what can you start doing to improve your strength, speed, vertical jump, and skill level?

Decision Making: Learn to understand what to do in pressure situations. The root word for decide means “to slay”. That is why decisions are so difficult. Become an expert at knowing the best choice for the moment.

When you watch the final minutes of tight games in the tournament—tell yourself or someone else what you would do and see if that is what happens. Can you predict the best outcome?

Do you know: When to call time out? When to foul? When to go for the two or to shoot the three? How to run down the clock?

On average, the inexperienced players shoot too soon and create too much time for a potential conversion at the other end. Learn to internalize the clock and know how much time is left as well as when to shoot.

Transition: One of the hardest parts about basketball is transition, going from offense to defense or vice versa rapidly. Basketball leads can be quickly lost. Become a student of transition—learn how to change your mindset quickly from defender to scorer and how to maintain a lead once you’ve broken through.

Who are the best transition teams and what makes them better than other teams?

When a team takes a lead, what do they need to do well in order to maintain the lead?

When a team gets behind, how can they close the gap?

Watch how many turn-overs are connected to transition problems. What do you notice they did wrong?

4. Stats-- statistics can teach you so much about the game. Did you know one out of four basketball games are won because of free throws? Knowing that stat should motivate you to practice your free throws. Teams who can have a high percentage at the line are going to win more games.

a. Take one game and write down the stats for both teams. Have a sheet made up before hand to cover turn-overs, shooting percentage, rebounds. Learn to be aware of shot percentage.

b. Free throws-- what are you doing to perfect this skill. The three important ingredients for every free throw practice involves: rhythm, pressure, and percentage.

c. What is one stat you want to improve in your game this Spring? Get a game plan to help you improve.

Here at NBC Camps, we are working to help you be the best basketball player you can be. Need help answering some of these questions? Let us be a resource.
Contact us at nbc@nbccamps.com with the subject line: Play Smart questions. We want to help train you to reach your basketball dreams. See you this summer!

HOW TO PLAY AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL

2009-03-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

HOW TO PLAY AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL

If you want to play at the next level, here are several important points to consider. Deciding you want to play at the college level will require serious dedication. Most people underestimate the amount of time and intensity necessary to play at the D1 college level. This dream requires a life of discipline and sacrifice to make it a reality. Here is our advice.

Learn from Europe and Asia.
Most major coaches agree basketball fundamentals in the United States are on the decline. Though America’s athletes are getting more athletic, their skills, especially shooting, are getting worse. Just look at the shooting percentages and compare the statistics. One reason why the skills are declining is because American kids often hate repetition. Many view having to repeat a skill a punishment. However, if you want to play at the college level, you must change this mindset and begin to love repetition. One of the reasons Asian culture has so many people who excel at skill-based tasks is because repetition is extremely valued in that culture. A person who can repeat a skill thousands of times is revered. In America, many athletes want to learn something new, repeat the skill a few times and then move on to a new skill. The pursuit is forever seeking the new skill, the new experience, the new challenge. This thinking has its positive points but it needs to be merged with the discipline of repeating a skill thousands and thousands of times accurately.

10,000 hours to success.
Read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. It explains very clearly the path to success is paved by hard work. There is no substitute. He even puts a number to it: 10,000 hours. Michael Jordan was not born a great player, he was made through being one of the hardest workers in the NBA. If you want to play at the highest level you can, you need 10,000 hours of intense, disciplined workouts – not only games, but mostly individual workout hours.

Summer time is crucial.
Make basketball your summer job. You need to be working out at least 5 hours a day in the summer. The three key areas to focus on are: ball handling, shooting and athleticism. DO NOT GET LOCKED INTO ONLY PLAYING GAMES. Get a work-out plan. Go to at least 2 or 3 camps- find camps which are focused and intense. You need intensive skill work during the summer.

Write down your goals.
The research is overwhelming about writing down goals but many of us don’t do this? WHY? Sit down today. Post the goals in your bathroom where you see it every day. Goals make your dreams concrete.

Sacrifice.
What are you willing to give up? Right now we live in a very busy time. We have so many choices and commitments. You can’t do it all. What are you willing to give up? No serious athlete in high school spends excessive time with a girlfriend or boyfriend. No serious athlete in high school can afford to slack in the classroom. Coaches want players who are hard workers on the court and in life. Limit TV and computer games. How bad do you want to achieve your dream?

We want to help you get there. If you have questions about what you need to do, we would love to help.

5 more ways to be finish the season well

2009-02-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

1. Make your short shots, even under defensive pressure. A lot of players miss the inside shots under the basket because they shoot short. (Inexperienced players actually shoot over the basket). Watch the Division 1 teams, when they miss inside it is often short. The ball needs to be coming down into the hoop. Gather the strength not to let down when in traffic and focus your eyes on the target. Get it up so that it has a chance to come down through the net. Practice finishing with someone fouling you.

2. Point guards control the game. Selfish point guard = a bad team. If you play point, you need to serve the team, not yourself. Study the great point guards of the past, especially John Stockton. He makes everyone on the court better because of his servant style. He was always dictating the tempo, working the hardest, setting up others to be in a great position to score, and he rarely turned the ball over.

3. Move. Standing is bad on offense. Go set a pick, the best kinds are away from the ball. Don’t get in the way of the one-on-one attack. Rebound. Force yourself to do something productive.

4. Don’t dribble in traffic. It rarely succeeds. Secure the ball, fake, pivot. You have many options other than dribbling through multiple defenders.

5. Hit your free throws. Twenty-five percent of games are won at the line. Most great shooters who miss do so because they have lost mental concentration. Maintain your rhythm, exhale, and focus.

Shout Out: Winning as a team

2009-02-12T10:14:00.000-08:00

Shout Out
from Tracy Ellis-Ward, NBC Camps Director of Women’s Basketball

It's not all about You
With hoop season well underway, there is a focus on winning permeating amongst your team. Even if the team losses outnumber the victories at this point, on some level, most players still hold onto the hope that winning another game is within their grasp if they can just play together. My former colleague, Angela Taylor has graciously shared some personal wisdom that clearly underscores what being a teammate is all about. Angela played at Stanford University and has been a professional executive at the WNBA headquarters in New York City and served as Vice President with the Minnesota Lynx. She has proven to be just as industrious and intelligent long after her playing career ended earning her MBA while working full-time! Angela has traveled the globe which has resulted in her gaining a distinct ability to recognize talent which is vital in her current position as WNBA General Manager for the Washington Mystics.

WINNING as a TEAM by Angela Taylor
Someone asked me the other day, "What was your favorite memory of playing college hoops at Stanford." When I responded, "My freshman year," they were shocked to then hear that I only played a total of 41 minutes in 33 games that year. While we did go on to win the first of two NCAA Championships that year, it was our journey as a team that has had a greater impact on my life than actually winning the title.

What was so special about that team in 1990? Well we were a collection of individuals from different backgrounds (small towns from around the country) who were bonded by a common goal which was to win a championship. To a certain extent, we were the only ones who believed that we could accomplish such a feat, which made it all the more enjoyable. In fact, that "us against the world" attitude fueled us along the journey. If you want to be part of a winning team, you must put your team FIRST in everything you do. Individual accolades must take a backseat to team success. If each member of the team buys into that mentality and the leaders follow that rule, then the opportunities for individuals to be rewarded will be plentiful and the potential for success will be enormous. There’s no wonder that the last two teams to win the NBA and WNBA Championships (Boston Celtics and Detroit Shock, respectively) had great players who bought into the formula that TEAM > individual. Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce previously were the stars on their teams, but they came together during the 2007‐08 season to be a dominating force.
What does it take to be a good teammate? Here are three things that I know will help to make you a "championship" teammate:

1. Always Work Hard
During my freshman year, one of my least favorite drills in practice was the Zig-Zag drill where one player is working on defense & the other is working on ball-handling. The coaches always paired me up against Sonja Henning who was one of the best point guards in the country. There were times when I was trying to dribble the ball up the court against her that I couldn’t even get the ball to half court without her stealing the ball. In the back of my mind, I was thinking how nice it would be if she would "take it easy on me." She never did, and I am so grateful that she didn’t because by the end of the year, my ball-handling had improved tremendously.
Sometimes great players take it easy on younger players so that they don't get frustrated (or because they are afraid they will be mad at them), but it is important for you to challenge your teammates at all times. They will make you better and you can help make them better. For those younger players, don't think they are being mean to you by challenging you. Know that they care enough about you to help you get better.

2. Understand Your Role
If you are supposed to be the leader of the team, then lead positively by example. If you are a reserve or role player, be ready to step up when your name is called. If you keep working hard, your role may change over time. No matter what your role is, everybody plays an important part in the team's success.

3. BELIEVE - Success Takes a Positive Attitude
Winning is contagious and winning is an attitude. We all want to be around people who are positive, who enjoy what they are doing, and who want to have fun. If you want to be part of a team and contribute to your team’s success, you must believe in the same goals and buy into the team philosophy. If you fouled out of the game and end up on the bench, cheer your teammates on. If a teammate is struggling, give them a pat on the back. If your coach yells at you, listen to "what" they are telling you…not "how" loud they are telling you. If you are the star player, make sure you teammates know that you care more about the final score than your final statistics. We have all heard the motto TEAM - Together Everyone Achieves More!!! It’s true. The beauty of basketball is that it is a team sport, so make the most of your opportunity by being a great teammate!

Winning is so much more enjoyable when you have someone to share it with.
Best of luck to you on your journey!

###
Remember there is no "I" in TEAM and you will go far in life - on and off the court.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 and Matthew 18:19-21 are great Biblical reminders of the importance of
working together.

Remember to email your questions or drop a personal shout out to me
anytime at tellisward@nbccamps.com.

Heart, Soul & Sport,
Coach T
Director of Women's Basketball
& Whitworth Site Director
February 2009

THE SPEED MENTALITY

2009-02-12T10:05:00.000-08:00

By Mike Nilson

Everyone spends their off season in the gym working on their game. You can count on your competition improving their skills on the court. So, what can you do extra to get the edge? Skill training is just a piece of the puzzle. You need a speed explosion program that will enhance your game and lift you above the competition.

Speed explosion training teaches the body to jump higher and change direction quicker. It can turn a weak lay-up into a thunderous jam. It can convert a rebound into a coast-to-coast basket. It can transform a walk-on to a starter. It takes all your athletic skills and enhances them. But, more important than speed training is the mentality it requires.

There have been many books and articles written about the importance of mental preparation before games. Athletes are taught to visualize themselves being successful and to see plays before they happen. This same approach needs to be taken for your speed explosion workouts.
The only way to be explosive is to think explosive. The speed mentality is a commitment to thinking quicker and believing that every repetition is improving you. Without the speed mentality, your workouts will probably make you sweat, make you breathe hard and tire you out, but they will never help you reach your potential.

Take the first couple minutes of your workout to revisit your goals. See yourself playing above the rim. Feel yourself a step quicker. Although it sounds silly, visualization will increase the results of your workout. Believe in yourself and remember that athletes are made!

Mike Nilson
Master TeacherMike Nilson is a strength and speed training coach for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. the founder of the U-District Institute of Sports Performance, and the strength and speed training coach of Gonzaga University's athletic teams. Mike played on Gonzaga's Elite 8 and Sweet 16 teams. He received Defensive Player of the Year in the WCC and played professionally in Germany for 2 years.

Check out the Speed Camps
Dates and Locations
Newberg, OR (George Fox University)Boys Ages: 12-18Girls Ages: 12-18July 17th – July 19th Cost: $270 overnight

Redding, CABoys Ages: 12-18Girls Ages: 12-18July 17th – July 19th Cost: $270 overnight
Edmonton, AB Canada (King's University College)Boys Ages: 12-18Girls Ages: 12-18August 15th – August 17th Cost: $270 USD overnight

Speed Explosion Combination Camps
Non-Contact Football and Speed ExplosionAuburn, WA (Auburn Adventist Academy)Boys Grades 6,7, & 8 (2009-2010 School Year)June 29-August 2, 2009 Cost: $345

Volleyball Power Camp including Speed ExplosionSpokane, WA (Whitworth University)Girls Ages: 12-18August 7th – August 9th Cost: $270 overnight

Visit speed camps page

AFRAID TO FAIL by Jay Crowell

2009-01-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

Are you afraid to fail? I sure was. Hold on, I still struggle with the fear of failure everyday. I think most people are afraid to fail. As humans we do not like to look stupid or appear as if “we don’t know what we are doing.” In most cases, we play it safe in pursuit of looking cool or appearing confident or not being uncomfortable.

In life, however, you have to risk failing to be good at anything or reach certain goals and accomplishments. For example, if you want an A on a test, you know that you have to get 92% of the answers right, therefore you have to risk studying, investing your time, and giving up doing other things. Maybe you need to try out for a new team, a new job or a new position and you may feel embarrassed if you don’t make it. Or if you want to hit the game winning jump shot you have to risk missing and losing.

There is risk involved with everything. I always have struggled with risk and I have played it safe too many times. This past summer at Crowell’s Intensity Camp, I shared how my fear of failure limited me on the basketball court and in other areas of my life. My fear had crippled me from trying to reach out for new goals because in my mind I would think: “What would people think if I fail?” I remember playing in games where I would have an awesome first half and at half time I would be scared to go out for the second half because I might not play as good. What crazy thinking? But I allowed fear to overcome my mind. I was amazed how many of the campers and other coaches share my same fear. Maybe you struggle with fear as well.

A way to overcome fear lies in the willingness to fail. Several summers I went back to Spokane to visit my family and get some time on the lake. My brother-in-law, Shann, was excited to share with me his new summer love, wake boarding. He was all pumped to get me up on the water, but I was afraid I might not get up and look like a fool in front of my family and friends. I started to do the “Man, my knee is really bugging me, I don’t think I should…” garbage. I had to take a self-check and ask whether I was afraid to fail or if my knee really did hurt? Anyway, I figured it was fear talking, so I decided to give it a shot and allow myself to fail. I got a lot of water up my nose and I gave everyone in the boat a lot of laughs, but by the end of the weekend I got the hang of it – I couldn’t wait until the next summer!

When it comes to sports, you have to realize that you’re going to fail. Is there one quarterback in the history of the NFL to throw no interceptions? No. Or is there one NBA player who never turned the ball over or missed a shot? No. Everyone one fails at times. Yogi Berra, former New York Yankee great, said he loved baseball because you can strikeout seven out of ten times and still make the Hall of Fame. He allowed himself to fail in pursuit of his goals. Basketball is the same. If you can consistently make nine out of twenty shots in game play, you are an excellent shooter. That means you can miss eleven shots and still be considered great. That is a lot better than your algebra test, where can only miss one or two out of twenty problems to get an A.

I am still learning to deal with my fear, but by allowing myself to not be perfect I am overcoming that obstacle one opportunity at a time. I keep a quote on my desk that reads, “Courage is taking the first step, or a different path. It is the decision to place your dreams above your fears.” And that is my goal. My hope for you is to go after your goals and strive for excellence, but understand perfection is not attainable. You have to know that failure is inevitable, and you must be willing to fail if you want to reach your goals and dreams.

Feel free to drop me an email at Jay@nbccamps.com if you have any comments or triumphs over your fears.

Jay Crowell is the son of NBC Founder and President, Fred Crowell. Jay is a former point guard at the University of Georgia and now works as a loan officer for Bank of America.

HOW TO GET OUT OF A SHOOTING SLUMP

2009-01-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

Great shooters share these three things: Solid mechanics, investment in perfecting their shot, a history of shooting success and solid shooting percentage.

A great college player in the state of Washington called to talk to us because he was in a shooting slump. He asked our advice on how to get out. This is what we told him.

1. You have a proven record of being a great shooter. You have the mechanics dialed. Your mechanics haven’t changed your mind-set has. Work every day and get your mind-set in a good place. Move the thoughts about missing , percentage and slump out of your mind and think, “I am on fire, I love to shoot, I need the ball because it is going in.”

2. Do the small things well. Get your eyes to the sweet spot, hand in the cookie jar, don’t fade away, eyes locked on the target.

3. Get to the free throw line. Draw a foul and get to the line. Focus on your rhythm, relax, exhale as you shoot.

4. Take your shot when you are open but don’t force your shot. Don’t shoot the high risk shot right now, instead drive, create and get into the game and stop thinking about your shot.

5. Shooting slumps happen to every great player. Move on, don’t waste mental energy trying to analyze and over critique. Get mentally tough and decide to believe you are a great shooter from now on.

Need some advice on your game? Email us or give us a call. NBC Camps wants to be your basketball resource. Recommendation for summer training: Pure Shooting and Attack Moves camps read more

MORE TIME ON THE FLOOR… HOW TO EARN MORE MINUTES

2009-01-12T10:53:00.000-08:00

So you want to play more? Basketball is a tough game because it has the least amount of players on the floor and the least amount of minutes. Thirty-two minutes. And everyone on the team would like to play all of them. Here’s how to earn more of that playing time.

1. Make every minute count. You do this by being a factor in the game. Be someone your team needs on the court. What do you contribute? Hustle, steals, rebounds, offensive plays, shooting? You lose minutes when you become invisible. When the coach thinks all you are doing is running up and down the court. Come out of hiding and make a difference.

2. Make your “bunnies” (A bunny is a short shot like a lay-up). Everyone hates to see someone make a great steal, drive the length of the court only to miss the lay-up and have it go the other way. Nothing deflates a team like missing the short shot that should go in.

Why You Miss Your "Bunnies":
On a breakaway, your adrenaline gets pumped up either from the steal, from the nerves of someone chasing you, or the pressure of the spotlight. When this happens, go as hard as you can and then before your shot slow down. If you are concerned about the defensive trailer, do a power lay-up and draw the foul. Get your eyes up to the sweet spot on the back board. Relax and think swish. (Next month, how to make your bunnies in traffic)

3. Eliminate Turnovers. It’s tough when you play for a program that yanks for mistakes. Inevitably, this creates nerves because you don't want to make a mistake but the nerves cause you to make more. Remove your nerves by becoming more mentally tough. Imagine your mind is like the Pentagon. You need to have security guards that check everyone going in and out. Mental toughness is testing every thought that tries to spend time in your mind. If it is a good thought, if it makes you a better player, let it in. If it takes away your confidence, kick it out.

Turnover Tendencies: Be aware of your habits and change

A. Traveling turnovers: if you travel especially when you catch the ball and go to make an offensive move, spend 15 minutes a day working on tossing the ball to yourself, catching in two foot stop and then making a one-series move you learned at camp.

B. Passing: You might have turnovers from passing due to your skill level (you struggle with passing behind the player, you’re not strong enough, etc) or your teammates’ skill level (they don’t hold a target hand, they don’t move to the pass.. etc..) Either way, help yourself in this turnover category by:

*Never passing parallel to the baseline unless you are on the baseline passing into the post.
*Put backspin on the ball to make it softer to catch
*A bounce pass is easier for players to catch, and tougher to defend.

C. Getting stripped: Never put the ball in the candy store (middle of your body). Use your elbows and body to shield the ball. Have a guard arm up and solid when in traffic. Don’t get back on your heels.

D. Dribbling: If you are struggling with dribbling, practice 15 minutes every day. Use your left hand. If you dribble off your toe, it is typically because you have your lead foot forward, work to be in a more protective stance and step with the opposite foot forward in a crossover. Secure the ball first and never dribble in traffic if possible.

4. Be a Defensive Stopper. Be committed to not letting your man or the people in your zone (if playing zone) score. Make a goal with yourself. Interrupt their game. Don’t let them do what they want, like dribbling with the hand they want, going to the spot they want, catching where they want, or shooting how they want. Get in their space, and get them out of their flow.

5. Have Fun. When you see your minutes start slipping away, don’t become bitter. Don’t act like everything is hunky-dory as well. You can be respectful and still express to the coach you want to play. Come across with passion, not pout. People who are working hard, being intense, having fun and enjoying the game play better than the bitter, angry ones.

We know sitting the bench is very difficult. You may need to meet with your coach and ask him/her to outline clearly what he/she believes would allow you to see more playing time. Sometimes, no matter what you do, the minutes are what they are and your role is not going to change. When that is the case, you and your parents should get an objective mentor and several perspectives to help you navigate your future.

REBOUNDING: GET UP AND MAKE YOUR TEAM BETTER

2008-12-11T11:19:00.000-08:00

CROWELL’S BASKETBALL TIP

Rules for Defensive Rebounding

Assume every shot is missed and is your rebound.
Be the aggressor; initiate the contact with the offensive players. Keep them from getting up to the basket. Make the offensive players react to you.
Block out far enough from the basket that you have room to go and get the ball. This eliminates the offensive player from reaching over you for the ball. If you get stuck under the basket, spin out of this position.
Get your head on line with the ball and rebound with two hands.
Eliminate the second chance shot. If you can’t get the rebound, make sure your competitor doesn't get it either.

Rules for Offensive Rebounding

Assume every shot is a missed shot, and is your rebound.
Fight for position. Don't get blocked out. Make a move to get side-by-side position.
Give yourself an equal opportunity to rebound the ball.
Keep the ball alive when you don’t have a clear rebound.
Utilize your advantages. If your advantage is strength, get contact. If your ability is jumping, avoid contact.
Know when and where the shots come from in your offense.
Know the shooting tendencies of your teammates.
Get your head on the ball and rebound with two hands.

COACH T SHOUT OUT

2008-12-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

Mental Toughness is Three-Dimensional

When was the last time you did something that you really had no desire to do, although you knew it was right or even perhaps the best thing for you? It could be anything from doing 50 sit-ups right before bed or getting up 30 minutes early to have personal devotions. In spite of being tired or simply apathetic, you pushed yourself to complete the task with joy. Doing so takes mental toughness! See what NBC Camps Girls Basketball Advisory Board member, Krista Heidinger, has to say about the subject. Krista is the assistant coach at the University of Lethbridge, located in Canada, and also serves as NBC Camp co-director there. She played basketball at Mount Royal College in Calgary where she was a conference All-Star. She finished her playing career at Lethbridge where she was team captain and MVP.

Mental Toughness by Krista Heidinger
A tremendous amount of time, physical effort and mental preparation are involved in preparing for games. Elite athletes spend hours training. They practice their shot form, footwork, and defense. They stretch, lift weights, and do agility training as well as dry-land training. They are involved with sports psychologists, nutritionists, athletic therapists, and medical doctors. They spend countless on-court sessions practicing the skills necessary to be successful in games, and they spend hours off the court preparing for practices through visualization, watching game tape, and reviewing offensive and defensive sets. So, what separates a successful elite athlete from all the rest? It isn't just about working hard, it's about working smart. It's about Mental Toughness. If you don't think that you are mentally tough, don't worry. I'll let you in on a little secret...anyone can be mentally tough! You need only have three things: 1) Determination; 2) Discipline; and 3) Desire.

Determination can take you a long way. A determined person refuses to quit. She believes in herself and in her capabilities. She chooses to do the difficult things first, like working on her weak hand lay-ups before switching back to her dominant hand or tackling algebra homework before checking Facebook or My Space. A person of determination makes a conscious decision about achieving a specific goal and single-mindedly pursues that goal.

Discipline plays a big part in how determined you are. Being intensely focused on something requires discipline to remain in that state. It requires time and energy, as wells as sacrifice. It means that you consistently do the "little things" well (proper footwork, correct shooting form, etc.). It means that you stay focused. It means that you accept correction from your coaches with a positive attitude, remembering that every piece of advice is bringing you one step closer to your ultimate goals. Discipline means that you show up mentally and physically prepared for practice or class. It means you have done your homework, whether that's scouting another player on game tape or reading the assigned chapter for English class. Discipline means you persist even when it's inconvenient for you to do so.

Desire is the simplest of the three because it is all about heart. Desire isn't about mastering a specific skill or getting on the honor roll. Desire cannot be taught, but it can be nurtured. It’s about longing for something with an intensity that results in nothing standing in your way. Desire is the combination of determination and discipline lived out daily in your willingness to do the most difficult things and those seemingly small details with dogged and even stubborn persistence. If you have dreams of being more than an average athlete, begin training your mind in addition to training your body. Make becoming more mentally tough your first priority.

Be determined and speak positively to and about yourself, be determined to work not only hard but smart, and be determined to really listen to the correction of your coaches. Be disciplined in your approach to practice, your game and your life. Work at perfecting the "little things" and not just the "big things" that others notice. Show up on time, do your homework, persist when the going gets tough. And most of all have fun. If you lose the passion you have for basketball or anything in life, no amount of determination or discipline will get you closer to your goals. You have to love what you do or doing it will become a chore. Mental toughness is within your grasp if you believe in yourself and aren't afraid of hard work. Begin this next year in a positive way by resolving to become more mentally tough!
###

To be the best physically, spiritually and mentally, we have to live in 3-D mode. Mental toughness is more than just being determined or having desire. All three facets -determination, discipline and desire - must be intertwined purposefully. It's no coincidence that all these principles are addressed in the God's word. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart," is a wonderful promise from Psalm 37:4. How would your life be if this verse was the foundation for all your desires? Read Proverbs 3:11-12 and Hebrews 12:1-12 for more Biblical insight on this subject. Remember to check out www.nbccamps.com for more "Girls Only" advice and drop any questions or personal shouts to me at tellisward@nbccamps.com.

Heart, Soul & Sport,

Coach T
Director of Women's Basketball
& Whitworth Site Director

5 WAYS TO SUCCEED THIS SEASON

2008-12-02T19:57:00.000-08:00

We are creatures of habit and that fact alone can be a contributing factor to whether we fail or succeed.

Don't get in a rut this season. Fight the urge to fall into patterns of malaise and bad decision making.

Rise above this season by resisting the lethargy of going with the flow and instead cultivate habits that will lift you above the crowd.

Patterns of a Rut:

Playing at the same tempo

Pick up your internal tempo on defense. Hustle, dive on the court, do foot fire to keep your feet active, speak after every shot: “shot--block out.” Say this out loud so you don't just stand. Slow down before you go into your shot, don't rush the shot whether it's your jumper or lay up. Maintain a constant internal shooting rhythm. Know what this internal rhythm feels like. Make sure you have a free throw rhythm.

Sitting in the same spot on the bench

Be very careful not to get sucked into the pecking order, hierarchy a team can generate. Change it up all the time. Never get lulled into complacency (thinking you'll always start) or hopelessness (thinking you will never get off the bench). Sit near the coach, cheer and be mentally into the game, focus on one or two ways you can contribute to the team when you sub back in. Be what your team needs, don't just try and score points.

Running to the same side of the floor, driving with the same hand every time, making the same moves regardless of effectiveness.

Discipline yourself to create, not react. Don't go into autopilot and mindlessly run up and down the court. Set a screen, rebound after every shot, will your body to move and be intense.

Making the same ineffective or incomplete passes over and over because you don't make mental adjustments.

Become a student of the game. Don't telegraph your passes. Ask yourself why it’s not working and then adjust. Don't blame the ref or the coach, use your mind to figure out what is going wrong. If you are getting the ball stripped, come up with a game plan to fix it. Don't continue doing the same thing hoping for a different result. If nothing changes, nothing changes.

You are or your team is negatively predictable. For example, you start strong then end up getting blown out or you struggle at the start and have to fight your way back. You miss a few shots at the beginning and your shot is off, you hit at the beginning so then you have confidence.

Don't base your shooting on whether you miss the first shots or not. Be more mentally tough. Great shooters are going to miss, if you have good shooting skills, keep shooting. If your shooting skills are not honed, then pass the ball or drive to the bucket but please don't keep shooting when you haven't put the time in.

The more variety, variables and depth your team has to offer the more difficult to guard. Become proficient at the important skills: shooting accuracy, ball handling, effective passing, encouragement, controlling the tempo, dominating the boards, and maintaining the highest intensity and pressure. Be the team that dictates the conditions of the game rather than succumbs to them.

Good Habits to Cultivate
Pick one to work on and have someone hold you accountable
Goal Setting
Shooting and physical work-outs
Shooting rhythm
Focusing on the positives
Disciplined thinking
Mental toughness
Never quit attitude

Fazio's Corner-- Sports.... Take Your Pick

2008-12-01T12:44:00.000-08:00

If your dream is to play at the college level, you should seriously consider focusing on just one sport. Pick the sport that will give you the best chance of playing in college and completely devote your time and effort to that one sport.

That thought never even crossed my mind growing up. In my head, the measure of a great athlete was someone who could do it all. By my senior year of high school, I was competing in football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the spring. I stayed real busy and I had a lot of fun, but one thing I didn't do was maximize my potential in any one of those sports. I made the teams, even started on some of them, but I never got as good as I would have liked. When the basketball season ended in late February, I grabbed my glove and bat and headed outdoors, I didn't shoot another jumper until eight months later. I don't regret my high school career, in fact I came away with tons of great memories, a lot of satisfaction, and even several awards and honors. But I didn't leave high school with a realistic chance of playing at the next level.

Nowadays, however, because of the nature of my job, I run into many kids who have dedicated themselves solely to basketball. The kids who are now head and shoulders above their peers are typically one-sport athletes. With things like AAU, club teams, select teams, personal trainers, and year-round development programs, there are enough opportunities for people to enhance their skills all year long.

This stirs up the debate: Should children choose just one sport to compete in or should they try to be well-rounded in athletics playing in as many sports as possible?

The answer is...it depends. It depends on what the athlete wants. If your goal and dream is to compete at the next level, if you want to be a college player or even a pro, then I say go for one sport. In rare cases, when athletes are freakishly talented, they may play several sports and then get to take their pick in college, but usually that's not the case. Use some discretion here, I'm not saying you absolutely cannot play two sports, you may be able to take a season off of your top choice or even continue to work on your top while still playing your second favorite. But generally speaking, there needs to be a year-round focus.

Maybe that's not your motivation. Perhaps all you've ever wanted is to simply have fun, stay in shape, and build friendships with those on your teams. By all means then, go out for every sport, take on the challenge of trying to be a three or four sport letterman. That's the avenue I followed, and it was great for me. Don't be disappointed though, when it's all said and done, if you are not at the level you need to be to play in college. Think about it, while you spent several months out of the year jumping from sport to sport, the other guys were fine-tuning their skills, training specifically to be the best they could be at that single sport.

Now, I'm hoping there is not a huge wave of people quitting their extra sports next season...I'll have coaches all over the Northwest coming after me. I'm just encouraging athletes to seriously consider their long term goals, determine what they are shooting for athletically, and then decide what is the best route is to get there.

And remember above all to make the most out of your high school sports career, you only get to do it once.