Do I Need a Basketball Trainer?

May 16, 2014 By basketballtrainer

Do I need a basketball trainer?

This seems like a pretty simple question. As a basketball trainer by trade, I am tempted to tell you yes and list the reasons why. However, let’s address this on a case-by-case basis.

“I’m a 10 year old and love to play basketball with my friends at the park. I play organized football and soccer, but don’t play organized basketball.”

Young players who aren’t playing organized basketball don’t need a basketball trainer. If you’re just having fun with your friends, no coaching needed!

“I’m a 10 year old and love to play basketball with my friends. I’ve never played organized basketball before, but I think I want to tryout for my school team in the 7^th grade.”

Yes! A young player who is looking to play organized basketball can definitely use a basketball trainer. A trainer can help you build fundamental skills that you may not have another way to build before you tryout for your school team. You want to be prepared for when those skills and that basic basketball IQ is needed.

“I’m an 8 year old and I just picked up a basketball for the first time with my dad yesterday. I had a lot of fun!”

If you’re just being introduced to the game at this age, you may want to have some fun getting familiar with it first. It may turn out that basketball is something you just do for fun outside of an organized setting. If you play in your first organized rec season and afterwards have a hunger to get better, then seek out a trainer. If you spend a lot of time in the driveway shooting, then definitely come see a trainer so he/she can help you use correct form to begin muscle memory magic.

“I just made my 7^th grade team and I’m the best player on my team. Nobody on my school really challenges me on the basketball court.”

Yes! Talented 7^th graders don’t always ended up being talented high school players, so you always want to keep improving your game. If you’re the best in your school, expand your horizons. Are you the best in the district? In your area? Being good doesn’t mean you can’t be better. A good basketball trainer who’s played at higher levels of the game can also push and challenge you the way your school team may not.

“I got cut from my 7^th grade team. I really wanted to make the team, but it turns out I’m not good enough.”

Yes! We work with numerous players like this. If you didn’t make your school team, you are ripe for training. You may not know how to improve yourself to the point of making it in 8^th grade, but a good basketball trainer should be able to help. We can tell you lots of stories of players not making it one year, then getting with a basketball trainer, improving, and making the team the next year.

“I just got cut after the season of my 10^th grade year. The coach says he doesn’t have a spot for me on the JV or Varsity teams next season.”

Yes! I’ve actually been there. When a coach cuts you after a season, it’s because he doesn’t believe in what you can develop into that next fall. You have the choice of either believing what he says about you or fighting back and improving as a player and teammate. Sometimes getting cut is the wake-up call a player needs, and it is the perfect time to get with a quality basketball trainer and improve upon all aspects of your game.

“I’ve just received a football scholarship to my dream school. I’ve enjoyed basketball training up to this point, but I’m done playing. I’m strictly a football player now.”

Basketball training is generally designed to help you be the best player you can be in an organized basketball setting. If you’re not longer competing in that setting, by all means give that extra time and energy to something else. You’ll have fun taking what you’ve learned in basketball training up to that point to be a great recreational basketball player for the rest of your life.

“Coach, I just won District MVP and just got a full basketball scholarship to my dad’s alma mater for the fall. I made it!”

Yes! You’ve succeeded at one level and will start on a new journey to succeed at the next one. You don’t need to stop improving – you actually need to improve more now! Keep training and never take on the attitude that you already know enough.

“Coach, I just signed my first NBA contract. This is a dream come true. Thanks for all you’ve done for me. I’m in the big leagues now!”

Yes! The best players in the world still work with basketball trainers. Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James and Kyrie Irving are some of the guys who still work with basketball trainers in the offseason. And yes, they are better players than their trainers ever were, but they never stop learning from and being pushed by them! Even successful professional players understand the benefit of constant player development.

For the serious basketball player, basketball training gives you a leg up on your considerable competition. It is almost a must for those wanting to maximize their full potential. Every player and family has their own budgets and time constraints. Decisions are absolutely a family matter and this really only serves as a basis for some talking points.

Contact a basketball trainer in your area to get started with basketball training today!

Basketball Player Development: How To Optimize

May 15, 2014 By basketballtrainer

6 Tips to Optimize Player Development

Young players, it’s great that you’ve chosen to get with a basketball trainer. But make sure you are optimizing that relationship! You don’t want to waste your precious resources (double entendre, pun intended). Here are 6 tips to optimizing your player development.

1. Show Up On Time For Your Basketball Trainer / Practice

This sounds simple, but it can be a real issue in basketball training. Showing up on time can add 10 quality minutes to your training session. Showing up on time does not meaning running through the door at 5:59 for a 6:00 session. Because you still have got to put on or tie your shoes, stretch and get warmed up. Showing up on time means coming into the gym 10-15 minutes early, getting yourself stretched and warmed up so that you are ready (mentally and physically) for action at the beginning of your session.

2. Don’t Fight Your Coach or Basketball Trainer

Your coach is there to teach you and mold you, and you are there to learn. Don’t fight your coach. The players who show the most improvement in basketball training are those who are open to trying to new things, who listen well and don’t have a problem receiving and reacting to constructive criticism. Remember, your player development coach is there to help you, not to beat you down. Trust his expertise and his motivation for being your basketball trainer, and don’t fight him.

3. Be Consistent About Basketball Training

Ding ding ding! If you can do this one, you are going to get results. Don’t treat your basketball training as a luxury item in your basketball growth plan. Don’t treat it like a dessert. Think of basketball training as a vital part of your diet, like meat and potatoes. Players who show up to training on a consistent basis are able to build basketball skills on top of skills. Players who skip weeks at a time or have sporadic attendance sometimes have to spend time re-learning things and getting rid of bad habits. It’s simple to think of it like this… If you show up to training consistently, you are going to get consistent results. If you show up inconsistently, the results will show up the same.

4. Take Your Basketball Training Beyond the Gym

Think of basketball training sessions as a basketball classroom. What happens after you leave most classrooms? You have homework to do. Think of this the same way. The players who learn a new skill in a training session and practice it on their own time at home are going to come back with a decent handle on that skill. The players who don’t pick up a ball between training sessions are going to have slower growth because they are only growing in the handful of ours they are in the training gym. If you want to get better faster, you’ve got to do your homework on your personal time. Here is a great resource to bring online basketball training to your driveway.

5. Set Basketball Training Goals

Goal setting is very beneficial in basketball development. In player development, it keeps trainees motivated and enthusiastic. For this reason, I always want to know when my players have tryouts, whether it is school ball or club ball. We build towards that date. If you don’t have a tryout date, set dates on your own to do certain things, like hit a certain amount of 3 pointers in a minute, execute a dribble move in a game or scrimmage, or grab a certain amount of rebounds in a game. Fresh goals every couple of weeks or months can keep you from getting lethargic and unfocused as a basketball player.

6. Repeat… Dilligently

If you are willing to put these 6 tips into your basketball training and practices, you will be optimizing your experience with your player development trainer and with your basketball development overall. Contact your local trainer for expert skills training and more tips on how to get the most out of your personal player development.

Basketball Trainer vs. Basketball Coach

May 14, 2014 By basketballtrainer

What does a basketball trainer provide that a basketball coach doesn’t?

That is a great question to ask, and as a parent of two boys (age 4 and 9) about to become basketball players themselves, one that I have thought about for a few years now. I am a former Professional Basketball Player, a former Division I college coach, and a current NBA scout. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to basketball coaches, basketball trainers, and so called “basketball people” as I put it. I have watched the AAU games all summer long, and watched Middle and High School coaches at work during their seasons. So let me tell you that your son or daughter should work with a basketball trainer for the following 2.1 reasons.

A basketball coach cares about the entire team more then the individual!

When you are a coach, your main job is to make the team the best it can be. Working with each player to make them the best they can be is important, but it really doesn’t matter which 7, 8, or 9 kids become the best. All that matters as a coach is that the best players play in that game to help you win that day. Many players get limited playing time on AAU teams, Middle School teams, and on High School teams because the coach wants to win today. The coach isn’t always focused on the long term development of each player. A Basketball trainer’s only goal is the development of each individual player.

Individual skill development isn’t being taught at practice!

In today’s sporting environment, all kids do is play games. Even in practice, most of the time is spent on scrimmaging, or concepts, not individual instruction. Players need to learn the proper techniques of how to dribble, shoot, pass, and rebound the basketball. Players need to learn the proper footwork techniques on how to shoot a lay-up and how to be ready on the catch. Players need to learn how to use screens and how to get open. Players need to learn how to guard their man but still be in helpside defense. These individual skills can’t always be taught in a team practice setting. For example, coaches can’t stop practice when they have 10-15 kids on a team every time someone doesn’t use the proper technique in the lay-up line.

2.1 Youth basketball players are not getting enough shots during practice!

Coaches are working on so many things to get a team ready for games. They have to work on setting up offensive plays, out of bounds plays under the basket, and sideline out of bounds plays. They have to work on defensive concepts like man to man, zone, and the full court press. Coaches also prepare to play the other team and the game strategy to beat an opponent. Practice ends up being all about the team and very little about the individual. Not enough time is spent in practice shooting the basketball. The most important skill in basketball is scoring and putting the ball in the net. In one 1 hour training session with a basketball trainer kids can get more shots up than a full week of practice in most cases.

When considering if a basketball trainer is right for your son or daughter remember this, “Many experts say that to master a skill it takes 10,000 hours of practice.” While your kids are actually practicing with their basketball coach, how much skill work is actually getting done? How much individual attention is really being given to your son or daughter? If you have a quality basketball trainer who provides individual or small group workouts, I know that those questions will have a much different answer. Find a basketball trainer here.

What We Can Learn From The NBA Playoffs

May 13, 2014 By basketballtrainer

5 Things Youth Basketball Players Can Learn From the NBA Playoffs

Are you enjoying watching the NBA playoffs? I know I am, and I hope you are too. As a lifelong fan of the game of basketball, I watch basketball all the time merely for the excitement of the game. Watching the playoffs as they go along, and finding out who will be the season’s champion is fun for me. However, along with watching for fun, youth basketball players can learn a lot from watching NBA playoff games. If you are a player, here are five things you can take away from the NBA Playoffs. Where do you take them? You take them into your next basketball training session and identify what skills you want to work on with your trainer.

5. Basketball Truly is a Team Sport

The NBA loves to market individual players. Great players sell tickets, jerseys and get people watching games. Truthfully great players are exciting to watch. When I was a kid, Michael Jordan was the big superstar the NBA pushed as its main draw. Today, that player is Lebron James. But look at the teams in the playoffs, and look at some of the stars who are not there. Kevin Love and Anthony Davis are not in the playoffs this year. Even though these guys were 2 of only 5 players to average 20 points and 10 rebounds this season, their teams were not good enough to make the playoffs. Another notable name missing this year is Carmelo Anthony. His New York Knicks did not make the playoffs, even though Carmelo was the league’s 2^nd leading scorer and became just the first player in 11 seasons to average at least 27 points and 8 rebounds in a season. On the flip side of things, the Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks both pushed championship contending teams to 7 games in the first round of the playoffs without an identifiable superstar on their rosters. Although great individual players can really make a difference in the game of basketball, at the end of the day one player doesn’t override team chemistry and overall great team play.

4. Champions Don’t Stay Discouraged

We generally think of the team that wins the playoff series to be “better” than the team that lost it. And that is generally true. But what does that “better” really mean? In the first round of the playoffs, only one series was a sweep, meaning one team won every game against the other one. Every other team that ended up winning lost at least one game in the series. Teams are so good in the NBA, and basketball is such a dynamic sport in general, that it is rare for one team to beat another team every time they play each other. But championship teams don’t stay discouraged. They know that just because they lost last night doesn’t mean they can’t win tomorrow night. In the history of the NBA, no team has completely swept through the entire playoffs without a loss, although some teams have gotten close. Good teams, and especially championship teams, are able to lose and shake the memory of that loss right off. As a youth basketball player, you should be the same way. Learn to not let the losses hit you so hard, and also don’t let the wins lift you too high. Stay even-keeled and keep fighting through your team’s schedule.

3. Winning Intensity is High Intensity

Teams in the NBA playoffs all have the same goal, and that is to win the NBA championship. When you watch the playoffs, watch how hard the players are playing. I want you to notice that winning basketball is played at a high intensity. To beat a team in the playoffs, you really have to beat them. Teams are not just going to lie down, as they’re all fighting to stay alive and advance. This being the case the winning teams have to pay hard and at their best. If you notice, a lot of the star players in the playoffs will increase their scoring and rebounding averages because they know this is true. Winning intensity is something all youth basketball players need to see and understand

2. Execution is Super Important!

As the playoffs get deeper and more teams get eliminated, teams become more evenly matched and you see less blowout victories and more close games. This year we even saw that in the first round. When you watch these close games, watch how important execution is at the end of them. Talented individuals playing erratically normally don’t win championships, because you can’t count on erratic behavior to win a close game. Teams that execute at the end, and talented players that execute, are the ones usually holding up the trophy in June. Things like getting a high percentage look at the basket, finishing defense possessions with rebounding, protecting the ball (no turnovers) and making free throws can be the difference between celebrating a championship and suffering ultimate heartbreak. You can ask the 2013 San Antonio Spurs about that – that one hurt me to watch. Youth basketball teams can see the importance of team execution, and also individual players can see the importance of being sound when it counts by watching the NBA playoffs.

1. It Is Hard Work to Achieve Basketball Success!

When is the last time your favorite team won the NBA Championship? My Houston Rockets last won 19 years ago, and they’ve only ever done it twice. When is the last time your favorite player won? If your favorite player is Lebron James, he’s won the past two seasons. But before that, he got to the Finals twice before and lost, and he didn’t win a championship during his first 8 seasons in the league. He’s considered to be one of the best players to ever play. The point to that is its hard work to achieve basketball success. Youth basketball players should notice how many teams have great players, great chemistry, are bouncing back from adversity, are playing hard and executing…. and still don’t end up as champions. Don’t forget that whoever ends up being champion is playing an extra two months of basketball past the end of the regular season as well. However, the team that does win does do the foundational things to win. They may have just executed better, had better chemistry, had the better player when all other things were equal, etc. Basketball is a fun and competitive sport, but just as with many things in life, it takes hard work to achieve success, and success is not guaranteed. But success can be achieved!

Youth basketball players, enjoy the NBA playoffs, and good luck to your team! Happy watching and ask your neighborhood basketball trainer any questions you may have on this.

Basketball IQ Training

May 13, 2014 By basketballtrainer

How To Train Your Basketball IQ

A common phrase used all the time by coaches is you need to improve you basketball IQ. When you break it down basketball IQ encompasses a lot of skills and areas of the game that one can improve to increase their IQ. In reality it is probably too broad of a term and should be broken down and explained to each individual relating specifically to their game. We want to share with you some areas of focus that will help you improve your basketball IQ as well as help you understand when a coach tells you to improve your IQ but doesn’t clarify which area of your IQ you should focus on.

When we talk about basketball IQ we aren’t referring to how smart you we are looking at your overall basketball knowledge and how you apply it to playing the game. There are a few areas you can focus on to improve your IQ.

Basketball IQ Space and Movements

Learn and study what basic movements and spacing should look like in the game of basketball. What do we mean by this? Understand all the basic skills and be willing to use all of them at any time like shooting, passing, ball handling, attacking the rim, rebounding, and screening. Understanding spacing is crucial to you being efficient on offense and a good teammate. Learn to drift to corner on drives, fill open spaces around the perimeter, cut back door when your dribbled at, and understand when to get out of the way.

Basketball IQ & Your Team System

Understand your teams systems and what your coach wants you to do in it. Try to learn your teams system inside and out. You want to be able to know every position in your teams offenses and defenses. Not only can you fill in for any position on your team but you can also help out lower basketball IQ teammates do their job more effectively. Make sure you understand your role in your teams systems and you apply yourself to being a master of that role. It doesn’t mean that your role can’t grow and change but master what you are given now and then watch how your coaches trust grows with you as your IQ increases.

Basketball IQ and Homework

Finally study the game. Watch NCAA and NBA games to learn from the top players in the world. Try not to get caught up in the flash and entertainment side of the games and watch the offenses/defenses they use. Watch players that play similar positions as you or watch players that play the same style that you want to emulate. When watching teams like Duke, Kentucky, and Wisconsin watch how their offenses are effective but very different. You may not ever run these offenses but you may play against teams that do. As you play more and study more you will learn that there aren’t that many different styles of offenses and they copy each other in some way or another. Don’t just watch video of games… go and see them in person. It will give you a different perspective and allow to appreciate the athleticism and skill it takes to get to the next level. Your coaches and basketball trainers are uniquely qualified to help you train your Basketball IQ.

Defy Basketball “Limits”

May 12, 2014 By basketballtrainer

What Are Your Limits And How Can You Defy Them?

Limits are for the birds when it comes to the game of basketball. Limiting yourself can come from a lack of confidence or a lack of current skills. The limits others place on you can come from the current perception they have of you and their lack of belief in your ability to improve, grow, or mature. Both types of limits are for the birds. I want to take a second to talk about the limits others can put on you, and how you can throw those limits to the wayside and achieve success. I hope it inspires you to do the same, and to throw away some negative limits you may have put on yourself because of listening to others. Here are the real-life stories of three guys I’ve known in my basketball life who defied the expectations of others and achieved basketball success.

Three Basketball Players Who Defied Their Limits

I have a buddy who attended the same college as me. We weren’t teammates, as he came after I was done playing, but we’re friends nonetheless. In high school he was considered undersized for a shooting guard, but he was and still is an outstanding shooter, and a good overall basketball player. He was a good player in a small town and had a breakout senior year to really put his name out there on the recruiting map. The scholarship offers he received were to some pretty decent sized Division 1 programs, but he wasn’t satisfied. He told me that his plan was to get to a bigger university in a bigger city so that he could network and build a life for himself in that new city after he graduated. He was thinking ahead – smart man. My buddy did something pretty risky; he decided to play junior college basketball instead of taking a D1 scholarship offer. He did this to have another chance at showcasing himself for top college coaches. He bet on himself. And his bet paid off. After his freshman year of junior college, in which he averaged 18 points per game and was named an all-conference and all-region guard, he was offered a full scholarship to my alma mater, a school that did not offer him a scholarship out of high school. He parlayed the college degree he received and his visibility as an alumnus player into a successful dual career (one sports related, one non sports related) in the city after he graduated.

I went to high school with a guy who is currently in the NBA. He has actually carved out quite the career, as he’s been in the league since graduating from college in 2005. We were cool in high school, and I remember him vividly telling me that he was going to be 6’2” when he got older. He had a growth chart mapped out. He told me this while he was 5’7”, the height at which he graduated high school. He was also known as a good player in our area, having been a 4 year Varsity player, but because of his size he wasn’t offered a college scholarship to play basketball. He accepted a walk-on role at a program in a neighboring state and averaged 11 points per game his freshman year. After a year there he transferred to another school across the country and continued to improve as a player. By his senior year in college, he was the third leading scorer in the nation. Oh yeah, and he was also an athletic 6’2”. After going undrafted in the 2005 draft, he had a successful NBA summer league showing and was signed by the Sacramento Kings. He has been a point guard in the NBA ever since, while also racking up more than a few “dunk of the year” level highlight dunks in the process. This man is now an athletic, dunking NBA veteran, whereas he was barely dunking his senior year of high school and not one Division 1 program offered him a scholarship. But he always believed in himself and always kept working towards his dream of playing in the NBA.

Another guy I know from back home I met through playing club basketball when I was a senior in high school. He actually wasn’t a teammate of mine, as he was two years younger than me and wasn’t “good enough” to move up and play with our older team. He played on the younger team in our program, and we would all practice at the same time and our teams would scrimmage against each other. After practice, this guy and I would hold mini dunk contests against each other. He would tell me that he could out-dunk me and I would tell him I could out-dunk him. In all honesty, at that time I thought we were about the same, but of course I could be biased. His game wasn’t there yet but he could really get off the floor. This guy was in a tight situation entering his junior year of high school because his coach was contemplating sticking him on the JV team again. Well, his junior year came and he ended up breaking onto the Varsity team, and by the end of the season was its best player. He transferred schools following that season and blew completely up… in a good way. This guy averaged 33 points a game his senior year and was rated as a Top 3 national basketball recruit in his high school class. He was a McDonald’s All-American and was recruited by some of the top schools in the country, but he didn’t attend any of them… because he jumped right to the NBA out of high school, in 2005. This guy is currently one of the most exciting and high flying shooting guards in the NBA, and he is a former NBA slam dunk champion. This guy went from not being sure if he had a Varsity spot the summer before his junior year to jumping to the NBA a couple years later. He soared over the limits people had set for him.

Most players have encountered some sort of adversity in their basketball lives, and the players who overcome it don’t allow others to have the final say-so on their basketball success. Because limits, especially the ones that others put on you, are truly for the birds. Start break through your basketball limits today. Basketball Trainers can often help you break through limits – find a basketball trainer today.

*Note: The players are JD Lewis, Ronnie Price and Gerald Green in the order of the story.

This article was written by Austin Basketball trainer Chris Price who still loves watching both young and accomplished players defy their limits.