May 06, 2026   |   Tagged Skills,

Partnering with your Coach to create an Offseason Plan

Partnering with Your Coach to Create an Offseason Plan

Now that your season has come to an end, the question becomes: what will you focus on to return even stronger next year?

Most coaches emphasize the importance of having a structured offseason plan—one that targets areas for growth and improvement. However, many athletes struggle to know where to begin, especially if they have not had individual conversations with their coach.

Sudon DeSuze, an NBC Camps Coach, understands that a coach’s impact begins with intentional communication, consistent feedback, and a commitment to helping athletes take ownership of their development. Currently an assistant coach with the Pacific Lutheran University Men's Basketball program, Coach DeSuze shares practical steps to help athletes make the most of their offseason.

Three Key Focus Areas

Coach DeSuze encourages athletes to reflect on three essential questions:

1. How can coaches help prepare athletes for the offseason?

2. What areas should athletes prioritize for physical skill development?

3. How can athletes focus on their mental growth?

Start with Reflection

“First and foremost, I stress to our athletes that they need to begin with a reflection of their season and overall performance,” says Coach DeSuze.

This includes identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. From there, meaningful conversations can take place, leading to clear and targeted development goals. He emphasizes several non-negotiables for his athletes:

· Maintaining physical conditioning

· Building strength through consistent weight training

· Keeping a basketball in their hands

These foundational habits establish accountability and set the tone for productive offseason work.

Committing to Skill Development

Once areas for growth are identified, athletes should prioritize their development with intention and structure. Coach DeSuze highlights the importance of:

· Ball handling- Work on both your dominant and non-dominant hand, developing confidence with the ball

· Shooting-Reps with pressure, and moving around to add in conditioning, don't limit to only certain areas on the court

· Footwork- Playing off 2 feet, utilizing different step throughs, euro steps, pivots

· Passing- Work on reps with 1 hand, and 2 hands in different spaces on the floor, utilize as part of shooting reps with partners

These skills should be developed in a controlled training environment and reinforced through competitive live play. Consistent, high-quality repetitions are critical. To support this process, he recommends tracking workouts or journaling progress. Setting measurable, specific goals helps athletes stay focused and accountable throughout the offseason.

Developing Mental Toughness

Equally important is mental growth.

“I am a strong believer in helping athletes focus on the process, not just the outcome,” Coach DeSuze explains. “There will be good days and bad days, but resilience is what drives long-term growth.” Athletes should adopt both a growth mindset and a competitive mindset in every workout. Watching film if available—both personal game footage and higher-level competition—can also provide valuable insight into how players respond to challenges and adversity. Keep the focus on the process and the journey instead of looking for outcomes. Learning how to be resilient through failure or struggles while continuing to push forward is part of the process of building perseverance. Coach DeSuze often reminds his athletes: “You have to seek discomfort in your offseason workouts in order to truly grow.”

The Most Important Question

Ultimately, the most important question an athlete can ask themselves is:

Have I communicated with my coach, and do I clearly understand the areas I need to improve?

This partnership with your coach is the foundation of an effective offseason plan and one that will lead you on the right path toward growth. As you approach this offseason partner with your coach or coaches, create a plan, and be accountable for your process.

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