1 Playing Basketball at the Next Level-hoopskills.com

Playing Basketball at the Next Level -by Coach Andy Louder http://www.hoopskills.com

Have you ever wondered why certain basketball

players don't measure up to their potential?

Players that have incredible abilities and

potential but then can't make it beyond

organized high school basketball are a dime a

dozen. There are many possible theories out

there why this is so but we feel that the reasons

are few and simple. Our purpose for this article

is to explain those reasons and give players the

awareness they need to stand out from their

peers and to make it to the level of competition

they desire.

Lack of Focus

For most players it is very easy to get bored with details when it comes to

fundamentals and technique. Let's admit, it's a lot more fun to play pick-up games

than to work on things like proper foot movement, shooting technique, ball control

and etc. Because of this most players neglect to focus on small details of their

game. All great players have spent countless hours in the gym working on the fine

details of their game and have made the commitment necessary to learn the

proper drills and fundamentals that will enhance their skills.

At the High School level of competition a good player can still stand out and

dominate their competition without focusing on the little things. However once

they get to the next level, if they haven't developed the proper fundamentals and

techniques of every facet of the game they will almost always under-perform and

have serious regrets. So when you have spare time during the week, instead of

organizing a pick-up game start focusing on the small detailed fundamentals of

your game and work on perfecting them.

Lack of Drive

2 Playing Basketball at the Next Level-hoopskills.com

Playing big time basketball requires a lot of your commitment and time. Many

players think they have the passion it requires to excel at the next level when in

reality they aren't even close. Liking to play lots of basketball and pick-up games

doesn't qualify you for having the necessary drive. Those that really have the drive

give up many meaningful things in their life just to dedicate more time to the game

of basketball. It's a tough thing to do because when you're young there are so

many things that you want to get involved in.

You want to spend time with your friends, you want to go to parties, you want to

spend every waking hour with your girlfriend/boyfriend and that's just to name a

few. The reality is, the game of basketball has become so competitive that if you

don't make it your #1 focus and then back that up by setting your priorities around

it, you'll be left in the dust. Certainly we don't feel that it's necessarily wrong to

have other interests than basketball, we just want to make it clear that those

players that really have the drive make basketball their top priority. Once again a

player can actually do very well during high school with a lack of drive but once

they get to the next level they will face the consequences.

Lack of Intensity

This is sometimes what people are referring to when they say that a player has the

"it" factor. Basketball players that are intense almost always succeed because they

absolutely hate to lose or perform poorly. A lot of players are extremely gifted and

have tremendous potential but because they lack intensity they can never win the

big games and will not be able to make it beyond High School Basketball. Some

argue that intensity is something that cannot be taught or learned.

They claim that it's something you are just born with. We adamantly disagree with

that. A player can learn and acquire intensity if they make an effort to do so.

Nobody can do it for them though and that's what is so frustrating for most

coaches. You have to make the decision that you are an intense player and then

you must perform with aggression and passion over and over again until it

becomes a habit. Once you truly develop intensity you will play with a very

aggressive attitude and you will not tolerate poor performances by yourself or your

teammates. If it doesn't bother you very much when you lose or under-perform

you have a lot of work ahead of you.

3 Playing Basketball at the Next Level-hoopskills.com

Lack of Confidence

If you don't think you are going to make every shot you put up you don't have

much of a reason to be on the court. Great basketball players have enough

confidence in their abilities to take the shot when it's there. When players suffer

from poor shooting or poor performance it often times has nothing to do with

their mechanics or abilities and everything to do with their head. Do whatever you

have to do to develop confidence in your abilities. If it requires you to spend hours

and hours in the gym so be it. Also work on your mental preparation. Thinking

about your shots and imaging you making them is just as important of a pre-game

activity as stretching and warming up. Don't ever go into a game where you

haven't spent a good ten minutes meditating about your performance. Go through

scenarios in your head and imagine yourself handling them with confidence. Make

yourself aware of the fact that you will miss some shots from time to time but that

it won't hinder your concentration and confidence one bit. It seems silly to a lot of

people and that's one reason why it doesn't get done very often but it's something

all great players do.

Lack of Humility

It's one thing to be confident about your abilities but if you're so confident that

you deny the weaknesses in your game you've hit a wall that will block your

progression as a basketball player. Nobody is perfect. The minute you think you are

so good that you don't need to practice is when you start setting yourself up for

failure. If you've become better than most players in your school and in your area,

rest assured that there are players all over the world that are twice as good as you

and are competing to play at the same level you are.

Summary

Good basketball players exist all over the world. With the game of basketball

becoming so popular and so competitive only the best of the best have what it

takes to play at the next level. Although it can be very difficult players can turn

themselves into stars if they have the focus, drive, intensity, confidence and

humility that is required to stand out.