High School Basketball: Columbus Day Check in

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Columbus Day: the 2nd Week in October

Columbus Day is the second Monday in October and 7 weeks from the start of the high school basketball season in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is a great time for a player to evaluate his progress and his off-season plan.

Columbus Day is also a reality check. A player has to HONESTLY evaluate his goals and how hard he has worked to reach these goals. It is also the last time a player can really refocus to make the most of the final weeks of the high school off-season. For many players these final weeks, might be the last off-season weeks of a player’s career. A high school career can end in the blink of an eye, so make sure if basketball is important, you do all you can in the next weeks to be as ready as you will ever be.

Self-Evaluation

Basketball players should evaluate how they are playing. What specifically they can work on to improve for the season. If they are playing AAU or in a fall basketball league, they can ask the following questions:

  • How is my conditioning?
  • How consistent is my shooting?
  • How is my handle?
  • What scoring moves are working well?
  • How solid is a players on the ball defense?
  • How solid is it players off the ball defense?

Essentially a player should take a complete inventory of his game and have a good overall sense of where he is and a good idea of where he will be on the 1st day of the season. It is helpful to get feedback from teammates, AAU coaches, high school coaches, former players, and possibly your basketball buddy.

The player should have a realistic understanding of what level he will playing, freshman, JV or varsity, He also should have a good idea of the role he will be expected to fill, practice player, role player, starter, scorer, of team leader. If a player is a shooter, he should be making at least 200 to 500 shots a day. If he will be a primary ball-handler, the player should be working on dribble moves, two ball series, and passing. If the player is going to be a rebounder or defensive stopper. conditioning and strength training should be a priority.

It’s not too late but… it soon will be

Six weeks is exactly 42 days. A lot of time if it is used wisely, but also time that can slip away if you do not have a plan. How many workouts can a player fit in those 42 days.?Very few players complete a work out each day, however it is time for the serious player to do all they can to make sure they have the season they hope for.

It also is a good time to make it communicate with your coach. Many basketball programs have preseason workouts, captains’ practices, and sign-up meetings. Make sure to attend as many of these events as possible. Part of being a successful high school basketball player is showing up. Showing up to practice. Showing up to meetings. Showing up to lifts. Showing up to conditioning workouts. Be know as a player who shows up, because that could be the deciding factor of a coin flip player making the team or being cut.

Tick, Tick, Tick

As players grow or older, they gain a better perspective about how hard it is to be a high school basketball player. Freshman year is about survival and being part of the program. Sophomore year is figuring out who you want to become as a player and what you’re willing to do to become that player. Junior year it’s time to put it all together. Have a tremendous work ethic. Be in the best shape of your life. The best shape. Improve your skill set so that you can be a contributing member of the team. Be an essential member of the team or the most valuable player on the team. One player will step into the role of MVP and team leader. The team leader is player who has prepared better and more often than those players cheering from the bench.

High school basketball high school basketball season will be here before you know it. You’ll be running out onto the court for opening night before you know it. There is no better feeling and warming up for a varsity basketball game. The adrenaline, the butterflies, the anticipation of a great game to come with so many opportunities that you have prepared for.

Good luck and have a fantastic final part of the off-season