As we head into the summer, a.k.a. the "off-season," I encourage you to make sure that you're doing your part. Regardless of what level players are at - high school, college, etc. - you have to do you part at improving. The off-season is where players are made, and with the ever increasing importance of competing in the summer with AAU-type teams, I think a lot of players lose sight of the need to improve individually. Don't get me wrong, I do believe there is value in playing at a competitive level with and against other high-caliber players. However, I think that players need to also accept the responsibility of dedicating themselves to some individual skill work.
I do, and have done, a great deal of individual player development and team development - and there is no doubt that such instruction time throughout the summer is beneficial. If I didn't believe it was of value, I wouldn't waste my time doing it. However, players need to understand that whether it is working one on one with a coach or practicing with a team, that time alone is not enough to help you improve drastically as a player. Basketball is all about developing habits, and developing habits takes continued repetition day after day. For example if you are working to improve your shooting form or trying to work on your footwork in the post, working on this twice a week is not going to be enough to develop mastery of the skills. It's something you need to out and make a conscious effort to improve every day. You may not have to spend hours in the gym each day, but at least dedicate some time every day working to get better.
You could be working with the greatest coach in a one on one setting, but if you don't accept the responsibility and dedicate yourself to improving on your own - their expertise will only take you so far. As a coach who is fortunate enough to work in one-on-one and small group settings, I make it clear to them up-front that unless they put in the time and effort when we are not together, their level of improvement will be limited. If you want to develop in any area of your life, you are the one who is ultimately responsible for your level of improvement. Sure, others can assist you along the way, but the onus ultimately falls on you.
Learn while you are with your coaches, but work to apply those concepts that they teach you, on your own. When I work with players in the off-season, part of our workouts are spent on giving the player drills they can do on their own, as well as helping them to be able to recognize and feel when they are doing things correctly versus incorrectly. As you continue to put in more time to develop yourself you will understand your body better and be able to more readily recognize what adjustments you need to make - as you are working out and during the course of a game.
You're sure to spend a lot of time in the gym this summer, a majority of it spent playing games. Many of which are meant for helping expose you to college coaches. You're in a wonderful situation, so take advantage of it. If you're not working to improve individually and simply striving to gain exposure, coaches will recognize that. When I was coaching at the collegiate level and spending my summers in the gym watching the sea of players, nothing was more disheartening than seeing a kid that I had really liked previously not get any better from year to year or from their school season to their summer. Whether you are an underclass-woman who coaches will see compete for a few years, or a junior for whom this summer is critical in your recruiting process... will coaches see you improve? Or will they see the same player in July that they saw in February or April? Send the message to coaches that you want to get better and not simply want to be recruited.
Be your best!
