Welcome

Dear Athletes,

Welcome to another year of Basketball. You have worked hard through the tryout period and we would like to congratulate you on a job well done. We look forward to working with you this coming season. We hope to provide you with the training, guidance and coaching that will result in your personal growth, both physically, and emotionally. It is through our care for you and love of the sport that we attempt to inspire you to become the best athlete you can be. Please take your involvement in the program seriously. You have demonstrated the skill and /or desire to represent your school. Now it is time to demonstrate the commitment, improvement and teamwork needed to make this a successful season. Work out, have fun, enjoy playing and learn the skills needed to play the best basketball you can play.

It is our sincere desire that you will enjoy playing sports as we do, as a lifetime activity.

Sincerely,

Your Coaches

Philosophy

Program Philosophy

This Basketball Program is designed to develop “athletes first, winning second.” Coaches are committed to helping you learn sports skills, fitness habits, cooperation, self-control, self-worth and sportsmanship. We work at:

• Providing you with positive reinforcement and the recognition and acceptance of your teammates, to develop the confidence needed for success.

• Improving your physical fitness, your mental attitudes and spiritual growth as instrumental to your cooperative effort and self-control.

• Demonstrating fitness habits through warm ups, conditioning exercises, diet, rest, and involvement in other sports and activities.

• Encouraging the setting of individual goals and striving to achieve them as the best way for you to improve your skills.

• Developing respect for yourself, teammates, the other team, the rules and officials, through sportsmanship.

• Keeping winning in perspective with the emotions of sports and having fun.

• Motivating you to achieve the above

This Blog is a communication tool between athletes and coaches. It is developed as a tool to help with the above and assist you in obtaining the habits necessary to have success as a participant in the Basketball program.

Program Practices

Program Practices

As a member of a Basketball program you have the privilege to represent your school or organization. Much of the school spirit and social atmosphere is a result of your athletic effort. This privilege comes with responsibilities and an obligation to set an example for your peers and younger students. The following expectations, procedures, rules and requirements are designed to assist you in your endeavors as a young athlete.

Expectations:

• To be at all games and practices.
• To be 100% committed during practice and games
• To know your role and responsibilities on the team be it a starter or non-starter.
• To pay attention to your captains; they are the coach’s reps on the court.
• To support and work together at all times; a team effort will enable us to be successful

Practice Procedures:

• All team members are expected to attend all practices.

• If you are unable to attend practice, you should see a coach personally before practice starts and you must have a valid excuse for missing practice. (Having a friend tell coach at practice or leaving a note in a mailbox is not acceptable.)

• ALL TEAM MEMBERS should be on the court and warming up by practice start time. (ALL TEAM MEMBERS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO BE AT PRACTICE ON TIME)

• Get a signed note from the Adult, teacher or person who delays you in getting to practice on time.

• Selected Tournament Players must commit to practice and participate in the tournament. Any player unable to attend the tournament should let the coaches know ASAP.

• Open Gym / shoot around may be called during vacation periods. The days and times will be determined later. You should try to practice on your own whenever possible.

Game Procedures for Players:

• Weekend games: Plan to leave earlier for the game. Give yourself extra time to arrive for the pre game talk. Your tardiness effects the whole team! Get to location early!

• Be dressed and taped at leased 30 minutes before game time. Be ready to go. Studies show that game mental preparation takes a minimum of 40 minutes to prepare yourself for a basketball game

• Prior to a game, quiet time is needed to reflect on your responsibilities as a player, team member and a representative of the Basketball Team Program. Take some time (5-10 minutes) for game preparation by visualizing yourself playing in the upcoming game. During the pre-game talk you should be ready mentally to listen and focus on instructions.

• Time-outs: Sprint to the huddle, those playing must get to a visible area to see diagrams, and listen. Time-outs are short, and meant for regrouping. For us to put together a strategy for success. This is not a time for criticism amongst others, it is a time for support and or confirmation. Be positive, be winners. Show hustle and discipline getting to the time out early and eager to listen. All players must join in on the huddle to show support and know what our game plan will be in case you are substitutes.

• Do not ask the coach to be substituted in at any time. Do not take it personally. This is part of competitive play at this level. The game will be evaluated and substitutions made as the game proceeds.

• Starters are the judgement of the coach. These players will best represent us in the games. Starters are based on a combination of skill level, team work, performance in practice and attitude.

Developmental Habits

Athlete’s Developmental Habits
(Mental preparation for practice and games)

Participation in a basketball program is limited to those whose performance and attitude during tryout meet team standards. It is important that you take your participation seriously. The following guidelines for athletes have been developed to assist you to make the most out of your participation in a Basketball program.

• Take responsibility for your involvement in the program and act on it.
• Have a clear vision of the kind of athlete you want to be, what you bring to the team and what skills and attitudes are needed to achieve your vision.
• Start with the mastering of basic basketball fundamentals and work up from there. Set personal short-term goals and achieve them.
• Following practice and games reflect on areas to improve in order to work towards your vision.
• Use this reflection to take time and renew/improve your skills, attitude, self-control, cooperative spirit and vision regularly.

The result of these guidelines is the intrinsic motivation to continuously improve yourself as an athlete. In this way you will come to games and practice ready to play the best basketball you can play.

There will come a time when you find yourself playing the best game you ever played. Even the harder skills and actions you’ve never tried before seem to be working. Your teamwork has come together, you’re working hard, focusing strictly on the game, yet all seems effortless. When this happens you have entered, “The Zone.” An experience you will strive to find it in every game.

Nutritional Habits

Athlete’s Nutritional Habits

Athletes use a daily food plan to develop and improve their nutritional eating habits. You can meet your nutritional needs by eating a balance diet with special emphasis on complex carbohydrates like potatoes, corn, beans, rice and whole grain products ( except when allergies are present.) Food like these can be a major source of energy. You do not need myths, special diets or commercial product promotions. Use the Labels on food to help you make a healthy choice. You do need foods and eating habits that add value to your diet and assist your body’s ability to perform athletically.

You may want to follow these High Performance Diet Recommendations

20% Fat, 15% Protein and 65% Carbohydrates.

At lease 3 hours before games or events follow these meal guidelines

• Eat lightly: satisfied but not stuffed
• Avoid fats and excessive proteins
• Avoid Caffeine
• Avoid Salt
• Get Hydrated : Drink Water Often

During and after workouts replenish water lost. Your body is slow to let you know it is dehydrating. Avoid soft drinks, as they slow liquid absorption from the stomach.

Teamwork Habits

Athlete’s Teamwork Habits

“Even when you’ve played the game of your life, it’s the feeling of teamwork that you’ll remember. You’ll forget the plays, the shots, and the scores, but you’ll never forget your teammates”
Deborah Miller Palmore, Basketball Olympian

As an athlete, you can begin to create an atmosphere of teamworkby:

• Coming to games and practice ready to play the best basketball you can play.

• Work hard with your teammates and have them work you hard to improve the play of everyone. The differences between you and teammates are your team’s strengths. They have strengths you don’t and you have strengths they don’t. Help everyone with their challenge to improve their strengths and weaknesses. Help your teammates look good.

• First understand your coach and teammates by listening to them, and their ideas. After all you have two ears and only one mouth. Show the courage to share your ideas.

• Work with teammates and coaches to coordinate play. Celebrate the fact that each of your teammates has different strengths and ideas. Use them to your team’s advantage. This is what creates teamwork, and synergy.

• Reflect and set personal improvement goals that will help you and your teammates come to games and practice ready to play to the best of your ability.

It is through this type of teamwork, that less skilled players effectively compete against more skilled players. Good teamwork can overcome raw talent on any day. That’s why an underdog can upset a favorite. It’s what keeps a good basketball team on top, game after game season after season. It is through this type of cooperation that teams of many different sizes and skill levels can compete against each other. Don’t just play the game your way or a teammates way. Be creative and find a new way, a better way, a team way in which everyone is able to play their best.

Basic Basketball Habits

Athlete’s Basic Basketball Habits
(Fundamentals)

When playing the game of basketball athlete’s should always know where the ball, baskets, teammates and opponents are located. The following basic defense and offense moves need to be a habit of any athlete choosing to play the game of basketball.

BALL, MAN, and BASKET

Defensively an athlete must understands and use the basics of man-to-man play. The objective here is to keep the opponent from getting the ball in scoring position. The key words to remember are “BALL, MAN, and BASKET.” This means:

• Know where the ball is
• Know where both teams baskets are located
• Know where your opponents are - the player you are responsible to guard (your man)
• Position yourself between your man and their basket on the ball side. (inside the triangle)
• Play your man tighter the closer you get to the opponent basket
• Try to get your opponent to make a mistake so you or a teammate can get possession of the ball. But remember to stay in good defensive position.
• Use the phrase “ BALL, MAN, BASKET” as a reminder of this fundamental habit

FACE YOUR BASKET, TRIPLE THREAT

Offensively an athlete must understand and use offensive basics when they have possession of the ball. The objective is to get the ball in the best position to make a score. The key words to remember are “FACE YOUR BASKET, TRIPLE THREAT.” This means:

• Know where the ball is
• Know where both teams baskets are
• When in personal possession of the ball, pivot to face your basket immediately
• Protect the ball with a firm grip, pivot and keeping it high
• Think Triple Threat: Shoot the ball, Pass the ball or dribble the ball
• Ball fake the pass, shoot or dribble to keep the defense guessing
• Passing the ball is the 1st option when out of shooting range
• Shoot the ball is the 1st option when in shooting range
• Dribble is the final option used to advance the ball, move to within shooting range or to get out of trouble
• Use the phrase “TRIPLE THREAT” as a reminder of this fundamental habit.

1. Shoot 2. Pass 3. Dribble

Knowledge and use of these basic basketball developmental habits are expected of an athlete learning to play basketball on a competitive level. An athlete needs to make these fundamentals a habit that can be relied upon during game time.