The game of basketball brings excitement to people around the world. This excitement comes in many forms and for some it involves competing on the basketball court. If you want to excel in basketball there are several things that must be done. The formula for success is a combination of love, desire and hard work. Each one of these things can be broken down into many smaller pieces which will direct your path to success.
1. Love Practice
Practicing can be routine sometimes and if your team is having a bad year it can become even more dreadful. It's on the coaches to try and switch up practice to make it interesting and fun but that won't force players to compete. The players that truly love the game will come to practice everyday ready to work hard no matter what. This includes days when players bodies are hurting, school is difficult and other distractions are in play. Be a team leader by loving practice and working hard everyday!
2. Love Competing
True competitors are hard to come by these days and the players that do choose to compete find the most success in the long run. Competing involves a variety of different things such as: practicing hard everyday, challenging yourself to be a better teammate on the court, and trying to out work everyone in every aspect of the game. Oftentimes, players are complacent in mastering one skill or part of their game. Players that compete want to be well rounded and work hard everyday to achieve this goal. Make sure to compete in games and also everyday at practice, to help improve your game and your teammates'.
3. Love Learning
One thing the late and great Kobe Bryant always said was, "learning never stops in the game of basketball". It's impossible to completely master the game of basketball because it changes and evolves everyday. Watching and analyzing film is a a great way to get better and also shows your dedication to learning the game. The players that take the time to watch film of themselves and opponents also have the most success on the court come game time.
Another great way to learn is by listening to coaches even if their styles of coaching differ. There are always things you can learn from different coaches and apply to your game. The players that choose to stop learning are the ones that fall behind the curve pretty quickly. To avoid this, be sure to stay on top of your game by listening, watching and learning each day!
4. Love being Coached
Players that love being coached are typically the most well-rounded and also have the most favor within their team. I know every coach out there loves players that listen and love to learn! These players understand that they have the potential to be an extension of the coach on the court. They are extremely valuable and usually find themselves getting a majority of the playing time.
When players love being coached they will listen and provide their undivided attention. They will only challenge the coach when it's the correct time and place. They will apply what they learn and the game plan on the court successfully. Make sure you are a coachable player and a leader for your team!
5. Love The Hard Work
Never be satisfied with the level that you are at! Players usually lose their edge when they become complacent and feel that they are on top of the world. This is one of the worst things that can happen because usually when an athlete figures this out it's too late to correct. The best way to avoid this is to love and continue pushing yourself beyond your limits.
I remember my college coach telling me that I had to get past this metaphorical wall that was holding me back. My coach used to say that I would never reach my full potential until I did. It took me a while to understand what he was talking about but when I finally did, my career took off. I realized that I needed to push myself more and outside of my comfort zone. When I figured this out, I found more success than I could have ever imagined!
6. Love Improving
The wonderful thing about basketball is that there are so many obstacles that can be overcome. When these challenges are mastered it's the best feeling in the world. Improvement involves overcoming these challenges each and everyday. Coaches want teams full of players who constantly strive for improvement.
Our motto here at Dr. Dish Basketball is to Be Better Everyday. Some days players will make leaps and bounds and other days just minimal progress will be made, but as long as this is happening players are heading in the right direction!
7. Love The Game
Loving the game of basketball is probably one of the most important things in my opinion. If coaches or players don't love the game of basketball then its almost senseless to put time and effort into it. When you love the game of basketball it makes everything else more enjoyable. It makes rough times more bearable and it heightens the level of success. Loving the game can come in many forms and can be developed in many ways. I learned to love the game in my driveway and at the park with my friends. Because I loved the game so much I was willing to put the time and effort in to become better. Learn to love the game first and great things will follow!
8. Love Winning
The last sign that you truly love the game is if you love winning. many times players don't care if they win or lose and only worry about their own personal stats or achievements. These players can become problems in the long run if attitudes and perspectives aren't changed. The goal should always be team first and everything else after.
When players and coaches put the team first then winning is a by product of this. When players and coaches taste what it feels like to win championships and titles the desire to win increases. Be sure to love winning and build a legacy along the way!
This blog post was inspired by this Instagram post:
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