Keys to Success on the Court

When you think about yourself individually as a basketball player, it is important to understand the value of being a well-rounded player. Basketball is a team sport, if every man on the court was all about scoring the most points, the team would not be successful. A real basketball player understands the successfulness of a team is based on more than scoring. A good coach will recognize that it’s the players that sprint back on defense, go after the rebound, set a good screen, box there player out, talk on defense, hit their foul shots, make good passes and other little things that add up who make a basketball team successful.
One of the best things about basketball is that there is a long off-season. A basketball player is made in the off-season, they shouldn’t wait until a week before tryouts to touch a ball. The more you practice, the more you will help yourself and your team. It is never too early to be doing ball handling drills, shooting drills, rebounding drills, etc. Hard work leads to results, but don’t waste your time doing drills/practicing things the wrong way.  Understand the importance of doing things right, and at game speed. Listen to what your coaches tell you- Not only do they know you as a player, but they know your team and what it needs. Be a student of the game and take it upon yourself to learn new drills and push yourself to new limits. There are so many resources out there- go to games, talk to coaches, do your research every coach in the world learns new drills everyday.  Learning the tools to becoming a good player can be the difference in becoming great and almost getting there.
In addition to doing drills and practicing, a lot of the game of basketball is mental. It is important to learn the game and have a high basketball IQ. Having a good understanding of the game will allow you to gain confidence in yourself and will earn your teammates and coaches trust in you.  Being able make decisions in a game on your own is very important when you’re playing at a competitive level. Be a student of the game and continue to learn everyday.
You are the one who can control your success on the basketball court! It is up to you to decide how far your want to push yourself.  Anything is possible if you put the work in but no one can control that but you! You will run into teammates, coaches, parents, and others who will tell you can’t do something. You may also run into people who will tell you that you are going to be a star and that you have a lot of potential. By knowing you have potential, you should push yourself even more and not take it easy. Potential is just the chance to do something good but without hard work, you will fade quickly.
Now that we have shared some insight on what we know will make you the best player you can be, it is up to you to put the work in. Figure out who you want be and never give up. Be patient and be consistent! Good luck!