Be the BEST Basketball Buddy

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This is possibly the best job in the entire world! It is a position ideal for a parent, grandparent of sibling. It can be the most rewarding and enjoyable job you ever have, but there will be no financial compensation, and may even cost you several thousand dollars.

What is a basketball buddy? A basketball buddy is the person who does everything possible to make basketball fun for a child RIGHT NOW. If you do your job well, your role might continue to high school and for a rare few into college.

But remember:

  • Most youth basketball players never play in a high school program.
  • If they do play in a high school program, they might not ever play a varsity minute.
  • If they play varsity they will probably be a role player and never start.
  • College basketball (I, II, III) is for the BEST high school players.

  1. Have a Baby’s 1st Basketball in the Crib: You never can start too early.
  2. Buy a Little Tykes Hoop: A great way to develop hand-eye coordination while having fun.
  3. Read Basketball Books Together: Develop a passion for reading. It is a great habit to read each night with your buddy. Certainly read non-basketball books too.
  4. Be a Basketball Friend: Be a friend. Make basketball fun. DO NOT BE CRITICAL. It is your child’s journey help the player enjoy each step.
  5. Be a Timer: There are many FUN drills that work on developing fundamental basketball skills. Timing the player and letting them know how many seconds are left is a great help. Your help will probably motivate the player to work harder than if he / she is working alone. Start by working on individual layup drills.
  6. Be a Workout Partner:
  7. Be a Passer:
  8. Have Fun: Be a “buddy.” Know and age-appropriate drills and games and encourage age-appropriate skills.
  9. Be A Worthy Opponent: Play one-on-one.
  10. Be a Chauffeur

AAU Individual Preseason

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August 17th – September 13th (28 days)

The time between the team final tryout and the 1st practice is a critical time for an AAU basketball player. It is the time to sharpen individual skills. Many AAU teams focus a majority of practice time on team fundamentals, press defenses, press breaks, and set plays. This small window if used correctly can prepare a player to make a great 1st impression at the start of the AAU season.

During this time a player should focus on individual workouts. Really put in the time to improve individual fundamental skills. The fall season is quick and you want to be ready to contribute and shine at the 1st tryout. Try to make a great 1st impression. The best way to do this is to just keep working.

It is also important to remember that the high school season will be right around the corner once AAU finishes, and the ultimate goal of any high school player should be to have a great high school season.

High School Basketball: Just Keep Working

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If you want to be a good basketball player, you have to be exceptional in your work ethic. You have to “Just Keep Working” no matter what.

Summer (June – August)

  1. If it is the last day of school… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  2. If you are attending a Summer Basketball Camp… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  3. If you are playing summer league… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  4. If you did not get selected to play summer league… JUST KEEP WORKING!

July

Fall (September – November)

October

  1. It is October, the last full month of the high school basketball off-season… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  2. It is Homecoming… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  3. It is Columbus Day… JUST KEEP WORKING!

September

  1. If it the 1st day of school… JUST KEEP WORKING!

General

  1. If your parents do not support you… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  2. If you are talking to college coaches… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  3. If you are not talking to college coaches…. JUST KEEP WORKING!
  4. If you are not reclassifying… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  5. If you are reclassifying… JUST KEEP WORKING!

Winter (December – March)

  1. Freshman Year: If you make the freshman, JV, or varsity team… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  2. Sophomore Year: If you make the JV, or varsity team… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  3. Junior Year: If you make the JV, or varsity team… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  4. Senior Year: If you make the JV, or varsity team… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  5. If you made a game winning free throw?… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  6. If you made a game winning shot?… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  7. If you missed a game winning free throw?… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  8. If you missed a game winning shot?… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  9. If your parents support you… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  10. If start or are the last player on the bench… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  11. If you get a DNP CD (did not play – coaches’ decision)… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  12. If you earn a starting position… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  13. If you lose a starting position… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  14. If you are on a league championship team… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  15. If you are on the worst team in the league… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  16. If you do not make the state tournament… JUST KEEP WORKING!
  17. If you win a state championship… JUST KEEP WORKING!

Spring (March – June)

  1. If you make the top AAU team, bottom AAU team, or get cut from an AAU team… JUST KEEP WORKING!

AAU Basketball Team Selection: The Waiting Is The Hardest Part

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There are many great benefits to AAU basketball, but there also are many challenges, setbacks, and frustrations. One of the most mentally challenging parts of AAU for many players and parents is selecting the right program that will fit the needs of a child and provide an opportunity for a child to grow as a player and person. Then there is the selection of the teams.

AAU programs have many factors when selecting players for a team. They also have additional factors when placing the players selected for an AAU program on the appropriate level team. What are the deciding factors on placing a player on the top level team or the bottom level team, and all the team in between? The answer is not much.

AAU is a business, so the program directors need to fill all the spots. Not every player selected will accept the spot. They may have tried out for multiple programs and find another team is a better fit. They may come to tryouts just for the opportunity to plan. These players may have no interest whatsoever in playing AAU. And others may feel snubbed the the level team they are placed on. Parents need to remember the difference between the 8th player on the top team and the 3rd player on the 2nd team is very little.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

The days between the final tryout and the announcement of teams can feel like an eternity. With social media and the digital world we live in, players will find out quickly once a few players receive and invitation. Depending on the number of teams, the top players will be contacted first and will be given a 24 – 48 hour window to respond.

Some players will choose to accept the offer to be on a team, and others will reject the offer. When a player rejects a position, the next player on the depth chart will be contacted. Once the top team has all the roster spots filled, the next team will be contacted and the process will be repeated until all teams and spots are filled.

Top Players: Nearly all competitive AAU programs seek to attract the best players in a grade. In some cases, with some programs, these players are guaranteed a spot and do not have to tryout. Most programs have a player attend at least one tryout. The coaches will select the best players to fill a roster which is typically 10 – 12 players.

These players have very little stress.

Lower Level Players: Many programs will have multiple teams, and it is clear to the coaching staff that some players will definitely be a good fit for an elite, regional, or local level. There is no question where the player will fit in.

Bubble Players: This is probably the most stressful position to be in. The question with this player is will he / she be placed on the top level team and be one of the last players on the depth chart, or will he / she be on a lower level team and have a more prominent role as a starter. As any parent, or youth coach knows if you switch the top 3 players from the lower team with the bottom 3 players on the upper team, there is probably no difference whatsoever in the season, but for those 6 players, the experiences will be different.

This might be the most frustrating position to be in, because although the coaches know this player will be an important part of the program, the player is the last to hear what team he /she is on. This will lead to days of anxiety and questioning. When the email is finally received it a complete relief. The only question is will you accept your placement?

Final Picks / Waiting List: These players are like the B list to a wedding. If others decline the invitation, the coaches will go to the B list and ask players until the rosters are filled. These spots are a great chance for a player to improve, but parents and players should understand the big picture of this player’s skill level.

All teams will handle the announcement of the teams differently, but players should know within a week.

Basketball Scoring Series: Around the World Layups

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Scoring in basketball is very challenging at all levels, but if a player tries to KEEP IT SIMPLE, and master one basic layup at time, that player can develop into an effective scorer.

Objective: To be able to score consistently, efficiently, and in a variety of ways from the 5 main spots on the floor. 

Below are the 5 spots to attack the basket from

Left Baseline: Shot fake & Rip to the Hip

  1. Baseline Power: Baseline, jump stop, & power layup off 2 feet (can add a shot fake) 
  2. Baseline Front: right hand lay-up off one foot
  3. Baseline Reverse: right hand reverse lay-up 
  4. Baseline Reverse left hand: left hand reverse lay-up OPTIONAL 

Left Baseline Show & Go

  1. Middle of the lane Running hook: dribble to the middle of the lane and take a baby hook
  2. Block Pull-up: Dribble to the block pull up jump shot

Left Wing: Shot fake & Rip to the Hip

  1. Left hand layup: Simple move! Be Strong! 
  2. Block Pull-up: Remember to “load the gun!” and keep “L locked!”

Left Wing Show & Go

  1. Right hand Reverse: Be sure to get a good angle. Take an extra dribble if you need it! 
  2. Right hand Runner: Be sure to get a good angle. Take an extra dribble if you need it! 
  3. Right hand Roll: Be sure to get a good angle. Take an extra dribble if you need it! 
  4. Dotted circle Pull-up: Get to the dotted circle, elevate and make it! 

Top of Key

: Shot fake & Rip to the Hip

  1. Left hand layup: Simple move! Be Strong! 
  2. Block Pull-up: Remember to “load the gun!” and keep “L locked!”

Left Wing Show & Go

  1. Right hand Reverse: Be sure to get a good angle. Take an extra dribble if you need it! 
  2. Right hand Runner: Be sure to get a good angle. Take an extra dribble if you need it! 
  3. Right hand Roll: Be sure to get a good angle. Take an extra dribble if you need it! 
  4. Dotted circle Pull-up: Get to the dotted circle, elevate and make it! 

Right Baseline: Show & Go

  1. Baseline Power: Baseline, jump stop, & power layup off 2 feet (can add a shot fake) 
  2. Baseline Front: left hand lay-up off one foot
  3. Baseline Reverse: right hand reverse lay-up 
  4. Baseline Reverse left hand: left hand reverse lay-up

Right Baseline: Shot fake & Rip to the Hip 

  1. Middle of the lane Running hook: dribble to the middle of the lane and take a baby hook
  2. Block Pull-up: Dribble to the block pull up jump shot

Shooting tge basketball: what is your grade?

 Numbers can be a great motivator when it comes to shooting tge basketball. It is not easy to get a passing grade. Get an A will take a lot of learning. You will have to do your homework. 

The letter grade well be associated with the shooting percentage.

Milan’s

X outs

Reverse mikansy

Free throws 

Workout grade

Summer workouts / days

Weekends

Meatloaf ar

Work week

Baseline right show and go jump stop power layup

Shot fake rip to hip jump shot

Right wing show and go layup pull up

Rip to hip lefty layup pull-up

Left wing show and go layup pull up

Rip to hip layup pull up

Left baseline rip to hip power layup baseline reverse

2 man moves

Back door cut with a bounce pass show and go

Face cut give and go

Dribble hand off

Pick and roll

Baseline flex cut

High School Basketball Summer League

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High School coaches often enter a varsity and sometimes JV and/or freshman team into a summer league. This is important to be on the list of players selected to participate. Coaches want to see how is developing and who is committed. Summer leagues can be outdoors or indoors.

Some Tips for Summer League

  1. Just Keep Working: Whether or not you make the summer league roster, a player needs to keep working. The summer is the time to grow your game. If you do make the summer league team, create a role for yourself and fill that role to the best of your ability.
  2. Play GREAT Defense: Defense wins championships! Play great defense. Cover the opponents best player. Take pride in defense. Everyone wants to shoot the ball and score on offense. BE EXCEPTIONAL! Be a players who LOVES defense. Teammates, coaches, and opponents will notice.
  3. Just Show Up: Go to as many summer league games as you. Many players will miss because of work, vacation, significant others, friends, etc. Go to all the games you can, no matter what your role on the team is. A player who is reliable during the summer, will be reliable during the season.

High School Basketball: Just Show Up

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“Eighty percent of success is showing up.” ― Woody Allen

Do you want to be a part of a high school basketball team? Just Show Up!

  1. Show up ALL THE TIME!
  2. Show up to school.
  3. Show up to extra help.
  4. Show up to pre-season meetings.
  5. Show up to Fall League.
  6. Show up for captains’ practices.
  7. Show up for preseason workouts.
  8. Show up to the weight room.
  9. Show up to tryouts.
  10. Show up to practice.
  11. Show up to the gym.
  12. Show up to the gym before school to shoot.
  13. Show up to support the other teams in your program.
  14. Show up to Spring League.
  15. Show up to camp.
  16. Show up to be a volunteer at a camp.
  17. Show up to Summer League.

Youth Basketball: Team Pushup Chart

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Name                                                                                                                                    .

7th Grade Basketball Push-up Chart Record your push-ups

“WORK HARDER”  Can we improve our strength more than another 7th grade team?

DateDecemberJanuaryFebruary March
1X
2X
3X
4X
5X
6X
7X
8X
9X
10X
11X
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29X
30X
31XX
TOTAL

High School Basketball: Individual Pushup Chart

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“The little things are the BIG things.”

To be a very good high school basketball, you have to do the little things that many other players will not do. Pushups is such a simple way to improve strength. As a player matures, he may find it necessary to have a more advance strength program, but simply doing pushups for strength will allow more time to develop the fundamental basketball skills that will help a player excel.

Let’s look at a 4 year high school career. With the leap year, there are 1,461 days. how many pushups would that be in a career? Let’s do the math:

  • 10 pushups a day x 1,461 days = 14,610
  • 25 pushups a day x 1,461 days = 36,525
  • 50 pushups a day x 1,461 days = 73,050
  • 50 pushups a day x 1,461 days = 146,100

I was never too good at math, but you could see how the numbers would change if you did two, three, or four sets.

If you are a high school player, give it try. I guarantee if you stick with it you will be one of the strongest players in your league. Use the chart or create your own. Add up your totals for each month and year.

Pushups are one little thing that you can do that will make a BIG difference in who you are as a player.

Good Luck!

Name:

Individual Pushup Chart                                                                                                        

DateJanFebMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptOctNovDec
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9
10
11
12
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29X
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31XXXX
total