J.A.M. Newsletter: 07/15/13

J.A.M. Newsletter: 07/15/13
Dear Coach, Parents, Players Welcome to this July addition of the JAM League summer newsletter. Our 21st annual fall league is fast approaching and it is time to begin making preparations for the upcoming season. Look for informational post cards regarding events and dates this next week. Important information regarding fall registration, early bird registration, fall basketball clinics, and summer tournament info is all available at www.jamball.com. 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. Special News Flash - Four of key youth organizations form “Basketball Alliance of Colorado” Collaboration to benefit youth hoops all along Front Range. Front Range, Colorado 2013 – Four of Colorado’s marquee youth basketball organizations, the Gold Crown Foundation, JAM Basketball, Southern Colorado Basketball, and Colorado Youth Basketball have joined forces to create the new “Basketball Alliance of Colorado” (BAC) to advance the mission of further developing Colorado youth basketball. The four long-standing basketball organizations have enjoyed individual success over the years and will now work together to cross-promote events, share best practices in operating youth basketball programs, and collaborate on youth basketball-related issues. The Gold Crown Foundation, JAM Basketball, Southern Colorado Basketball, and Colorado Youth Basketball share common goals of sportsmanship and now will share a common vision of how to continue to develop and improve youth basketball along the Colorado Front Range. As the BAC develops, the four organizations will also collaborate on designing and operating new youth basketball events. February 28th - March 2nd 20014 middle school state tournament will be our first event. It will be the biggest and best middle school state tournament Colorado has ever experienced. Stay tuned for details: - Mark Sharpley 12 Surefire Basketball Tips for the Off Season One of the keys to developing your game in the off season is developing a great attitude. Players who are focused on enhancing their game must have his/her antennae’s up and be constantly “track down the great stuff” in life. If we hope to “track down the great stuff” we must concentrate on the off-season and be searching for the correct mindset on a daily basis. Below are ideas we hope you will read and perhaps share with your teammates. It is important to remind yourself and fellow teammates of the correct mindset for off season preparation. The summer is moving along quickly. As a player, what should you do now? Scheduled practice time is now more infrequent. How do you plan? Here are a just a few thoughts on how to recover and prepare for the next season. 1. Take time to relax. It has been a long, physically and mentally draining spring and early summer season. If you want to improve, you have to give yourself a chance to recover. 2. Start mentally preparing for school. Make sure you read at least one book this summer. 3. Talk to your coach and evaluate your season. Talk about what you did well and what you did not. Determine the areas you need to improve on. Discuss the things you would like to do and how to accomplish them. 4. After taking some time off, develop your off-season workout program. The program should be about 75% skill work and 25% play. 5. Develop your shot. If you want to become a GREAT shooter and raise your percentage, it MUST happen during the off season. It's just TOO difficult to develop these skills and improve during the season. It must be done during the off season! 6. Maintain a strength training program. Your objective should be to gain strength from now until the end of the summer. 7. As you continue in the summer months, add more play to your workout. You should be at about 50% skill work, 50% play. Don't neglect your training and strength work. Great strength gains can be made during this period. 8. Go to a skill development camp. Learn from other coaches, play against different players. The more diverse your summer experience, the better player you will become. 9. When the summer is over, your routine changes. GET AHEAD in the classroom. Once the season starts, it is easy for your schoolwork to slip. 10. Change your workout routine to 25% skill, 75% play. 11. Switch your strength training routine to endurance and strength maintenance routine. 12. A week before the season, take some time off. Get ready to go. Speaking of off season opportunities: The Shot Doctor Clinic will be held July 20th and July 25th – Cost $40.00 - For further information please call Derrick @ (303) 638-9459
A Word to the Wise
"The pain of discipline is far less than the pain of regret " ~ Sarah Bombell