Dear Coach, Parents, Players
Welcome to the August addition of our JAM newsletter. Time is fast approaching for the 2012/2013 academic year and our 20th annual JAM Fall League. Make sure to view our website for fall league registration and all future events. Our #1 priority for JAM continues helping coaches and parents build confidence in today’s youth. Fall is in a blink of an eye, make sure plans are in line to improve your game.
- Mark Sharpley
SHOOTING IS AN EVERY DAY THING
Here is a simple tip that makes a lot of sense. Work on shooting form and techniques every day. Notice the words EVERY DAY. Shooting is not a once in a while thing. To be a great shooting team/program/player you need to be focusing and working on it EVERY DAY.
I see teams that shoot well because they are EVERY DAY people. These are coaches and players that stress shooting form and technique EVERY DAY. Adversely I see programs and players that shoot awful. Sometimes just dreadful and can’t seem to throw the basketball in the ocean. Remember Plays don't make basketball players or win basketball games. Players make plays.
IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT THE MATH
So why shooting should be emphasized every day; It's very simple-Accurate shooting is CRUCIAL for a team's overall success. Ask yourself this question: How many teams have you ever seen that can shoot extremely well but couldn't win?
We all understand defense wins championships, but we have seen teams that played their tails off on defense and came up short in the standings. Why? Simply put, because they couldn't put the ball in the basket. Basketball will always be about scoring the most points. The team that puts the ball in the basket the most times WINS.
So shooting is HUGE in this game. The poorer your team shoots, the harder it becomes to win. And the poorer you shoot as an individual,the harder it is to get floor time. No one has heard of the player who must leave the floor for playing hard or shooting the ball well. Most experts believe it is accurate shooting that gets a team over that hump.
Two important areas to stress in preparing for upcoming seasons:
1) To play and practice harder than any team or individual you face all year. This includes playing hard on defense, loose balls, rebounding etc.
2) To out shoot your opponents. In other words technique and form must be stressed all year long.
Summer traveling basketball season is now complete. Fall season is just around the corner and there are several months before the regular winter seasons. I would suggest focusing a minimum of an hour each day on shooting and not just a five minute station. Five minutes? Isn't shooting worth more than five measly minutes? Think of shooting as a main dish and not just an appetizer. It's not a raw carrot or a Ritz cracker. High profile coaches truly believe shooting is crucial in today's game. The 3 point arc has changed the game entirely. Please stress to your players and yourself the importance of shooting. EVERY DAY is the best way!
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