Day 1 of U13 try outs

Welcome to Day 1 of U13 try outs.

Please note we are guests in these gyms.  We want to keep using these quality facilities.  So please keep track of where you put your basketballs and other possessions, clean up your own trash and do NOT drink anywhere else but the sideline

You are entering a classroom not a playground.  You are required to give full attention when an adult speaks and Immediately hustle over upon hearing whistle.  You run do not walk.  You do NOT take one more shot.  Your not children any more.  I’m not into repeating myself.  You miss out, it’s on you.  Maybe you shouldn’t be here.  You need to be not just a good listener but a great listener.  Being a great listener is the first step to being a fast learner.  Please make sure to make eye contact with anyone you are listening to or speaking to.  Ask questions when you need to.

No hard or dirty fouls.  Nothing is worse to me than someone who’s lazy and a cheap shot artist.  Try your best.  If you don’t make it, it doesn’t mean you aren’t good.  We only have limited spaces.  If you mess up in a drill do not hold everyone else up.  Please go to the back of the line.

Everyone can and MUST contribute.  A Player must have a STRONG desire and passion to play the game.  Report in good condition and practice diligently every day.  Practice means working on the stuff we teach you.  Not messing around playing junk pick up or throwing up wild shots.  After today, I will know who was working on their game this summer and who was getting lazy chasing girls or playing video games.

Player needs to be willing to pay the price for the opportunity to play.  Playing time is not guaranteed.  Your role last year is not guaranteed to you this year.  Any new candidate has just as much of a chance as anyone else.  You earn everything you get.

Select is about mastering the details of fundamentals.  There are a lot of players out there with talent.  Maybe more than you.  Win or lose, we are constantly improving our fundamentals.  Our goal is that you don’t have to think about it to execute technique perfectly.

We are looking to build a team constantly improving it’s mental anticipation, instinctive reaction and intelligent aggressiveness.  An aggressive team is a dangerous team.

Everyone from our top guys down to the last man on the bench is expected to play team defense and rebound.  No exceptions.  There’s going to be a couple guys here who make the team who can’t throw the ball into the ocean except I can trust them to play our defense and rebound.  Two questions you should always be asking yourself when your playing is 1) am I doing something on defense to help the team and 2) am I ready to box out the open man.

Equally important is possession of the ball.  This means understanding what is a good shot and a bad shot, not turning the ball over, being a good passer and knowing how to space the court and get open.

The team’s success is based on unity and unselfishness – Loyalty to the team is expected at all times.  What you should be concentrating on this year is school, family and basketball.  If you got another extracurricular you love then that’s understandable and we support you to do it.  Any other stuff are non-essentials and you should limit that.  If you don’t take that responsibility on your own, your parents will cut stuff out of your life for you.  They are not going to be cut down your school commitments so if you want to play you have to do well in school.  If you don’t love working on your game than this might not be for you.  Get your mind right this year.

Let’s go to work!

Stanley