Commitment vs. Talent/Experience

It's time to take ownership of your JV Program, talent alone will not do it. Experience alone is not going to do it. Having the commitment to work on your skill levels and then matching that skill level with talent and experience is the the way to win.

You ask what are skill levels. Well each position might have a somewhat different set. But here is food for thought:

1- Learn to pass the ball properly and accurately. A two handed chest pass is made with a hand on each side of the ball, not one hand on the side and one hand behind the ball. Passes made the incorrect way are usually not accurate, are harder to catch, have a tendency to sail or curve in the air.

2- Learn to make lay-ups. From all directions. It is the most basic shot in basketball.

3- Learn to execute your role in the different plays and offensive sets/defensive sets that your team runs. Have enough pride in your game to spend some time thinking about where your position line's up and what is your job on all the plays and defensive sets.

4- Learn to make foul shots. Work on improving your shooting form. Do you want to improve each year or are you satisfied shooting the ball as a senior no better than you can shoot the ball now? Practice doing it right. Make one little step each week or two towards doing it right and making more shots.

5- Understand where your shots will usually come from in our offense based on the position/positions you might play. Think about the shots you will most likely get in a game and work extra hard on learning to make those shots.

6- Spend time learning all the skills necessary to play your position. Points Guards have to be able to dribble and pass, 4 and 5's have to be able to score close to the basket and rebound and make outlet passes. Everybody has to be able to play defense and not turn the ball over.

7- Take ownership of your team. It is everyone's team. The best way for the team to improve is for each player to improve as an individual.

8- A coach might be able to design plays that get easy shots but it is up to the individual player to make the shot.

9- Remember, Hustle make up for many mistakes, but do not be fooled that hustle will ever make up for not developing the skills necessary to do a good job playing your position. As a coach I think I can say the one thing all coaches have in common about who plays is which players have earned the coaches trust. Can the coach depend on the player to have the skills necessary to get the job done, can the player make the shots, passes etc necessary to play that position well. Is the player going to make the effort to play hard, does the player know where she is supposed to be on offense, on defense, in transition. Is the player a team player? Think about it, work on it, and we will become a better team as each player improves their games.

All of you girls have been a joy to coach and fun to be around and if each player makes a little more effort in improving our skills you girls have a chance to make this season more special than it already is. I am proud of all of you for where we are now but everybody we play is working on getting better everyday. If we don't make the effort to get better we will fall behind.

Play Hard, Play Smart, Play Together,

Coach May