January 04, 2022 | Tagged Motivation
Improve your Options to Play College Basketball
If you want to play basketball 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 the skills are declining is because American kids often hate repetition. Many view having to repeat a skill as 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 European and Asian cultures have so many people who excel at skill-based tasks is because repetition is extremely valued in those cultures. 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. In fact, having to repeat a skill is often viewed as a punishment. The pursuit of new skills, new experiences, new challenges can lead us to make mistakes. Instead of sitting in a van for 7 hours to play a few games, use those 7 hours to work becoming a high percentage shooter.
10,000 hours to success.
Read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. It explains very clearly the path to success is paved by challenging work. There is no substitute. He even puts a number to it: 10,000 hours. Michael Jordan was not born a talented 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.
Summertime 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 workout plan. Go to at least 2 or 3 camps- find camps that 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 or locker-- somewhere you see them every day. Goals make your dreams concrete.
Sacrifice.
What are you willing to give up? Right now, we live in a remarkably 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.
About NBC Basketball
NBC Basketball offers intensive training camps from beginner to college prep. Athletes from around the world attend. Get inspired and be motivated to improve your skills, leadership, and understanding of the game. NBC Basketball Program has trained thousands of athletes, many of who have gone to college and beyond. For more information visit www.nbccamps.com/basketball