J.A.M. Newsletter: 09/21/12

J.A.M. Newsletter: 09/21/12
Ah yes – we remember it well This season starts our 20th fall league. 19 years ago JAM Basketball started in the fall of 1993 as American Roundball of Colorado. The inaugural season started with 12 teams in 3 divisions. The divisions included Varsity, JV, and a 7th/8th combo division that featured one 5th grader, future Columbine great Greg Barnes. Game locations included Campus East, the old Arvada West HS, and Faith Christian. The varsity division featured George Washington HS which roster included future NBA hall of famer Chauncy Billups, and 7’01” Derek Washington. Montbello’s all state female and Division I athlete, Nikki Weddell also played for the GW squad. The Cherry Creek team featured NBA mainstay, Michael Ruffin. Can you imagine seeing those two teams battle on the small floor at Campus east? Ah yes – we remember it well. Be sure to view our website for all fall league information. Our 2nd annual Halloween Monster Bash will begin sending out information this week. 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. - Mark Sharpley The Big “MO” You probably have a few to add to our lists and may disagree with some of our choices. My purpose in adding this post is to get you thinking about how to gain momentum for your team and how to stop it when it favors your opponent. I believe that you can come up with ideas and systems to practice to teach your team to avoid momentum killers, and to work at developing the mental toughness necessary to withstand momentum killers when they do happen in games. Have a plan, make your players aware of the plan,and work at it during practice. Part of understanding how to play basketball is knowing how to control or shift the momentum. Momentum in basketball is a great thing to have on your side. Of course, you can attempt to control momentum with timeouts, but you need those for the end of the game. This news issue has some thoughts on what types of plays can shift the momentum in a game. Raising your players' "basketball IQ" by teaching them to spot those momentum shifting plays and then working with their skill levels and your team's schemes in order to do something about them, will allow you to work at getting the momentum of the game on your side. Momentum Killers 1) Bad shot selection: Kills momentum and assists opponents create scoring runs. 2) Missed free throws: Practice, practice, practice with as much fatigue and pressure as you can muster. 3)Giving up second shot baskets: Emphasize block outs, chart it as a stat in practice and in games. Give each player his or her stats. 4)Allowing opponent to score the last basket of a quarter: If you hold the ball for the last shot, your opponent is less likely to get the opportunity to score with time running down. 5)Giving up three point baskets in the fourth quarter: North Carolina’s Roy Williams says, "You must be tough enough to outlast your opponents;" Work In practice to be physically and mentally tough enough to defend with everything you have for the entire game. Turnovers that lead to scores: Your team must be able to defend the shots you take and the turnovers you make. A five second or travel turnover is better than throwing a pass up for grabs because with those turnovers, you can at least set your defense. 6)Unnecessary Fouls: Playing hard and with discipline on defense is crucial. Louisville’s Rick Pitino says, "Fouling negates hustle." Preach that to your team. If you play hard, you will get in position and be less likely to foul. If you play smart, you won't take chances that have low payoff potential and high risk for picking up a foul. 7)Loss of poise: Focusing on the task at hand and not on the distractions. Momentum Getters 1)Scoring to end a quarter: It is imperative to have a plan and practice it daily to get the last shot of each quarter. 2)Negating a basket by taking a charge Emphasize how to and when to take charges in practice and reward and praise it when it happens in practice or in a game. 3) Making a shot to take the lead in the 4th quarter: Having the right player shooting, using great shot selection, and repetitive pressurized success in practice will increase your odds dramatically. 4)Scoring against a press: Attack a press to beat it with a basket or a foul, not just to withstand it 5)Diving on a loose ball to gain/save a possession: Always get on the floor and grab loose balls with two hands 6) Answer every momentum shift by the other team: Work with your players in practice to understand what those plays are and how to answer them. Have a great week and value the process.
A Word to the Wise
"One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals. " ~ Pat Riley