J.A.M. Newsletter: 04/10/14

J.A.M. Newsletter: 04/10/14
Dear Coach, Parents, Players Welcome to the 21st annual JAM spring league. This week’s league addition of the JAM League newsletter will focus on basketball fundamentals. League play kicked off to a great start. Remember Our #1 priority for JAM continues helping coaches and parents build confidence in today’s youth. Continue setting goals to make sure plans are in line to improve your game. Stay tuned each week for an additional newsletter. - Mark Sharpley Basketball Fundamentals: The fundamentals of basketball are the most important thing to master. The reason being, solid basic fundamentals will make you and your team better no matter what age level or situation that occurs on the court. There is conclusive evidence why the best college, NBA, and top ranked coaches around the globe spend the majority of their practices on solid fundamentals. A basketball player if faced with a variety of difficult situations: Different team’s use different tactics including pressing, switching defenses, how they play the post, how they attack in transition, and on the glass. Coaches and players face opponents that have individually and collectively scouted you and your team’s offense and defensive schemes inside and out. Plus you will see opponents and styles you have never faced before. No doubt we see different levels of competition from youth recreation leagues, competitive youth leagues, middle school, high school, college, and professionally. Players will play for different coaches that have very different coaching styles. An example is a player may have a middle school coach that implements a press, and then as they move forward their high school coach plays zone defense and then adversely their club team coach only plays man defense. Coaches may play a fast paced style of offense, or a slow tempo. Players could literally see a dozen different offenses and defensive schemes throughout their basketball career. There are many different situations that coaches and players face. And the one consistent element that works against all situations no matter the age level or team is being well schooled and skilled in the fundamentals. The following list is items that make the best teams and players. Individually: Shooting correctly, being proficient from the free throw line, developing a signature move and counter moves, correct passing technique including velocity on your pass, working on ball handling series, footwork ability (including pivoting, jab steps, and jump stops) attacking the glass, defensive slides, post play, guard development, cutting and moving without the ball. A few team concepts include: Defensive schemes and rotations, ball and player movement, screening (how to set and receive screens), executing pick and roll and pick and pop basketball to name a few: Great luck this season and we will see you on the court.
A Word to the Wise
"A winner is someone who recognizes his/her God given talent, works their tail to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish their goals. " ~ Larry Bird