That’s Not Basketball
You’re Not Even Doing the Thing You Said You’d Do Youth basketball programs sell two things, depending on the age group. For the younger kids, they sell development and a love of the game. For the older kids, they sell recruitment — exposure to college coaches, a path to the next level. Both of these […]
The Transfer Portal Changed Everything — and High School Players Still Don’t Know It
Let’s be honest about what you’re really competing against. High school players and their parents still think recruiting works the way it did in 2015. You think you’re competing against other high school seniors for that scholarship spot. You’re not. You’re competing against a 20-year-old junior who averaged 12 points per game in the Big […]
Here’s How You Fix Youth Basketball. Nobody Will Do It.
Here’s How You Fix Youth Basketball. Nobody Will Do It. Let me be clear about something before I start. I’m not writing this because I think the people running youth basketball are evil. I’m writing this because the system has been built — whether intentionally or not — in a way that prioritizes everything except […]
Is Youth Basketball Development Actually Helping Your Child — Or Just Keeping Them Busy?
We Care. The System Doesn’t. Let me be real with you for a minute — not as a marketer, not as someone trying to sell you something, but as someone who has spent years in gyms, on sidelines, and in conversations with kids and families who deserve better than what youth basketball development s currently […]
Stop Paying for Basketball That Doesn’t Teach Basketball
The truth is, a lot of youth basketball right now is built on a lie. Not an intentional one. But a lie all the same. The lie is that everything is moving forward because we’re participating. We’re spending money and playing games, therefore we’re getting better. And parents—you have to see this clearly, because you’re […]
The Worst Habit Anyone Can Have: What is Your Standard?
Letting someone else set your standard is probably the worst habit anyone can have. It’s easy to help players get better. We teach them, and they learn. We rep skills. We put them in competitive situations. They all get better. But then, they start to rely on us for their standard. It’s a quiet trap […]
Stop Chasing Exposure. Start Chasing Excellence.
In youth basketball, the chase for exposure has become louder than the pursuit of excellence. Scroll social media and you’ll see commitment edits, circuit announcements, rankings graphics, and “Blessed to receive an offer…” posts that may or may not be accurate. You’ll see highlights galore but that doesn’t make you recruitable. Everyone wants to shine, […]
Improvement Is Only the Beginning for Basketball Players
You’ve Improved — Now What? Progress feels amazing. You see the results, hear the praise, and feel like all your hard work is paying off. It’s natural to think, “I’ve arrived.” Here’s the truth: improvement is only the beginning. Growth never stops. Every level you reach is a checkpoint, not a destination. The Harder You […]
Basketball Playmaking Development: “Don’t Play For Yourself” is the Wrong Answer
There’s a contradiction in basketball playmaking development that shows up everywhere. We criticize players for being selfish. We complain about kids “playing for themselves.” We preach ball movement and team offense. We tell players to “make the right play.” At the same time, we discourage players from ever trying to make a play. Then we […]
Why So Many People Think Basketball Training Is a Waste of Time
There’s a common belief in basketball: players just need game reps. Or worse, that basketball training is a waste of time. Read the last post if you want to know why game reps aren’t always the answer. Parents invest heavily: thousands of dollars on camps, private sessions, and year-round gym time. Players put in hours […]