Look, more point guard drills!!
Because nothing says, “I’m training to be a point guard” quite like staring at the ground while dribbling with your coach pushing you in the chest.
The Lakers blog was excited about seeing these intense drills. If I was the Lakers coach, there are dozens of things that I would rather my point guard do during his off-season workouts.
Read moreThe Myth of Personal Trainers
Originally published in Los Angeles Sports & Fitness, March/April 2015. Read more
Motor learning theory, basketball skill trainers, and skill development
Originally published in Hard2Guard Player Development Newsletters, Volume 5, available as a paperback or Kindle. To subscribe to the newsletter, go here.
Whenever I write about trainers, trainers respond. Trainers tend to be defensive because the industry is not established fully. Many do not understand the reason or need for basketball trainers. As a basketball trainer, I see both sides of the issue. Read more
The Basketball Business: Basketball Skill Trainers and Hype
On a message forum, a dad asked for a really good trainer for his son (he did not specify his age). He said only a trainer with experience working with college and pro players need apply, and he made a derogatory remark toward youth basketball trainers. Read more
Why Basketball Skill Trainers Fail
In today’s game, almost everyone uses a basketball skill trainer of some kind. Players work with an individual coach on general skills or have a shooting coach to work on their shot or they attend a weekend clinic with a trainer to do a variety of drills. Read more
Deliberate practice: The maintainer or the trainer
I was a basketball trainer, one of the legions of former players and coaches who earn an income working privately with basketball players. To some, this is evidence of an epidemic of misplaced priorities, as young players seek additional coaching and training much like a professional athlete; however, to others it offers hope to young athletes motivated to work hard and succeed. It depends on one’s perspective. Read more
Who decided that a point guard has to be small? More importantly, what is a point guard?
We expect a point guard to be a leader and have a high basketball I.Q. Why don’t we expect or challenge all players to develop this game awareness? Why rely on only one player?
English soccer academies wait until players are 11 to play full 11v11 soccer; in Italy, youth basketball players participate in skill-oriented clinics at 6-years-old, but start competitive games at 12. In the United States, kids play 5v5 full court games and compete for national championships when they are 8-years-old.
The PBDL emphasizes learning and development. Presently, players and parents have numerous recreation options - leagues based on fun and equal participation, typically for beginners - and numerous competitive opportunities - teams focused on strategy, game preparation and winning. There are few true development leagues - until now.