basketball tryouts

Question
Thanks a lot for the advice, I really appreciate it.
Im about 5'6'' and i normally play shooting guard or small foward. I can handle the ball okay. My jump shot is pretty good, and i can shoot 3 balls too. I think my major weakness is that sometimes when i play against tougher opponents i tend to lose confidence and shrink back. I try to just blend into the game and try too hard not making a single turnover. Also, sometimes i become not so aggressive, and my coach on my city league team often reminds me to shoot the ball more. I would like to improve on that, and my other skills too

Once again, thanks again for the great advice.

O yea, what do u mean by open runs in gyms or bball courts?

Thanks  

Answer
Hi Mike,

Open runs = pick up ball at a local gym or park.

bball courts= basketball courts.

The game of basketball is part physical and part mental. It sounds like you work hard and have the skills to play the game. What your lacking is confidence and the comes under the mental part of the game.

I always tell my players it is just a game and if you think about it, I mean really think about it, it is just that, a game. Your not saving a life like a doctor or putting your life on the line like a soldier, police officer, or firefighter. You are playing a game, a great game at that but just a game so have fun and enjoy it. One of the great things about basketball is you can mess up one day and be the hero the next day. You will never be the hero unless you are willing to take a chance and see what you are capabable of doing on the court.

I think players gain confidence one way by practicing hard and working on there game. Another way is pickup games / open runs as the games dont mean anything and team play is limited. Find yourself a gym or park where they are playing pickup games and see what you can do. You might get balled up the first couple or even ten times you go but you will get better if you go and play your game and believe in yourself. These are the games where you can try new things and see what you can really do. As I wrote it might be tough early on but that will help you grow as a player and a person. There might be older, bigger, and better players but again that will make you better in the long run if you don't get down on yourself and keep striving to get better.

Remember Michael Jordan was cut from his high school varsity basketball team, and look at him, he didnt quit or stop believing in himself. He worked on his game and became one of the best or the best players of all time. I don't know who wrote it or where I got it from but when one of my teams is playing a tough opponent I always write on the board "If you believe you can you can and if you believe you can't you wont" The mind is powerfull tool, use it to your advantage and not to your disadvantage. You already got the same name as one of the best players of all time know work on getting his game. You can do it if you believe in yourself and work hard. Good luck and let me know how the game is coming along.