Motivation is Unique to Every Person

One of the great things about motivation is that it isn’t the same for everyone.  As a player, you may find motivation in music while another player finds motivation in impressing a girl or boy.  It doesn’t matter what it is, know that you don’t have to instill another’s motivation onto you.

In grade school, middle school and early the highschool years my motivation was to impress my Dad every time I stepped out on the court.  This was both good and bad; the good, I was able to get better as a player everyday.  The bad, I was playing for someone else and mostly out of fear.  I quickly grew out of this because it was an unhealthy motivation for me.  Luckily, I found a more personal motivation in high school and that was to play to win.  Really, I’m a very competitive person and winning became my motivation.

Someone Else Should NOT be YOUR Motivation

Like I mentioned above, my Dad was my motivation for years and this really tampered my game.  Instead of playing for fun, I would play in fear to not let my Dad down.  The motivation became negative and therefore the game didn’t seem fun to me anymore.

Become personal with your motivation and just keep it ingrained in your brain or even better, write it down so you can see it everyday.

Where do I Look to Motivate Me?

Actually finding what it is that motivates you is one of the hardest things to do.  So, where the heck do you start looking?  Again, there’s no straight answer to this.  My top suggestion is to find what you love and see if it’s big enough to get up everyday and work your hardest.  For example, let’s say, besides basketball, you love school.  Is this big enough to wake up everyday and do your drills?  Probably not.  But what if succeeding in basketball will get you into a better college?  That would motivate me everyday to be better than everyone else.

Mix up Short-term and Long-term Motivations

If you motivation to succeed in basketball is to go to a college of your choice then this would be your long-term motivation.  Sometimes your long-term motivation won’t carry you through the day so its important to add in some short-term motivation.  I find motivation in music, I love to listen to artists like Jay-Z, Tupac, Eminem, Linkin Park and Kanye.  The music flows through my veins and pumps me up before I play.

Final Word

Motivating yourself to play above average is not a bad thing; don’t let anyone else say that it is cockiness or your dreaming.  Play for yourself first and try to succeed in the game of basketball because it does open up doors later in life.  By trying to be above average, you will develop life long skills that you can carry on as you get older.  This is why athletes are said to become more likely to succeed in their careers.

I’ve set up this page because of the requests I’ve been getting from new and “old” visitors. If you don’t know where to start and need some kind of direction with our articles and drills then keep reading. I understand that there is a good amount of content here so I’m going to point out the basic and most important one’s to get started.

Basketball Drills Online continues to be one of the best basketball resource for the sport of basketball…so I hear. As we continue to roll out new content on a regular basis, some of the most important articles and drills may get lost in the shuffle. We like to think all of articles will help you but we know you don’t have unlimited time in your day.

The following is a look at the most important content to get started on this site.

Note: If you like our content and want to get it straight to your inbox along with exclusive tips & advice be sure to subscribe to your email list!

Drills

Shooting Drills

Conditioning Drills

Dribbling Drills

Rebounding Drills

Big Man Drills (post drills)

Fundamental Guides

How to Shoot the Perfect Jump Shot: This is the most popular article on the site and I’ve gotten countless feedback on it. We wrote this article to help you shoot the perfect jump shot and to increase your percentage. This article is great for all positions.

How to be a Better Point Guard: This article was written based on Beau’s experience as a point guard. He played the point position up until college. If you want to become a better all around pg then you must read this article.

How to Box out Your Opponent: Whether your the shortest or the tallest player on your team, rebounding is very important. The most important step to rebounding is boxing out and we explain how to properly do this.

How to Prepare for a Basketball Game: Preparing for a basketball game can help you boost your play by two-fold. In our eyes there are two ways to prepare; preparing to win or preparing to fail. We teach how to prepare to win a basketball game.

How to Get Quicker in Basketball: This is an article with a handful of drills that are effective in improving your quickness as a player. Quickness is a key component in excelling as a player in all positions.

How to Go from Good to Great: If you want to become the best player possible you really need to dedicate yourself for 12 months, not just the winter season.

How to Dribble a Basketball: You might be saying to yourself, “I know how to dribble a basketball, it’s easy!” Well, it is easy but there is a correct way to do it also that many young players don’t realize. This guide will show you how and give you tips on how to reduce turnovers.

References to Get Started in the Game of Basketball

Understand the Rules & Regulations: If you don’t understand the rules then practicing your skills becomes obsolete. Learn and study the game first and then take full action.

Understand Basketball Positions: Learn the five basketball positions and get somewhat used to mastering one or two of them. Throughout your basketball career you might go from one position to the other but if you are great in one, the chances are you will remain in that position for a while.

The most helpful articles for a beginner

7 Ways I Increased my Vertical Jump by 5″ in One Summer! This is a look at Beau’s tips he followed one summer to increase his vertical jump. This is an honest review and one program (Jump Manual) that was used to build strength in the lower body.

What to Eat Before a Basketball Game: The food that we intake has a huge influence on your body and mind’s performance on the court. Eating properly is the best way to increase efficiency on the court. Have you ever eaten something fatty or greasy like a pizza before a game? Most likely you don’t feel light on your toes and the smallest movement seems like a haul. Well, that is because of the chemicals in the food. The article gives you examples of what and when you should eat before a game.

7 Things you Shouldn’t do on Defense: Defense wins championships…and it will keep you out on the court. This article sheds light on things you shouldn’t do on the defensive end.

Tips for Basketball Tryouts: If you need some helpful tips on making the team then you can learn a thing or two after reading this article.

I’ve worked with many middle school, high school and college players in the off-season and I can assure you that the following tips will help you immensely next season.  Of course, like all of my suggestions on this site, you may need to tweak the advice for you.

1.  Run Long Distance

One of the best ways to improve your game is to work on your stamina.  So many basketball players tire out in the second half.  Running long distance 3 to 5 days a week is like highway miles for your body.  In order to improve your stop and go game you need to be able to go the distance.  A word of advice is to gradually increase your distance and not go overboard with it.  Set a starting point and ending point, that way you can work on your goal without it be infinite.

2.  Work on Mastering the Basics

Over the course of your basketball career you will hear coaches and parents tell you that fundamentals are key; they definitely are.  Fundamentals enable you to expand your game, not the other way around.  There is an art form to shooting the perfect jump shot.  Dribbling the right way can lead to less turnovers.  Making solid passes allows you to move the ball up the floor quicker.  Having the correct defensive position will enable you to move side to side faster.  Breaking it down, basketball is a simple game so master the skills that make up 95% of the sport.

3.  Set a Schedule…and stick to it.

The great thing about the off-season is that it is about 3/4 of the year, this is a long time.  That means you can improve your game 2-fold.  Honestly, you can look like a new player from the previous regular season.  Because you have months to improve your game it is important to stick to a premade schedule.  One day could be dedicated to dribbling drills with sprints.  The next day could be dedicated to spot shooting.  Think about the areas you need to improve and schedule this the most.  Leave a day or two for complete rest so that your body can recover from the hard work you put in.

4.  End each workout with free throws

As a player it is important to improve your free throws…when your tired.  The best way to do this is to shoot free throws after every workout.  When you shoot, make sure the power comes from the ground up.  Use your legs to get the proper strength in order to get the ball above the rim.  Most missed late game free throws fall short of the rim.  Keep your motion the same but emphasize the bending of your knees.

5.  Play AAU (if possible)

AAU stands for Amateur Athletic Union which is a nationwide non-profit organizing that dedicates themselves to promoting athletics.  Basketball AAU stands as the most competitive state and nationwide offseason basketball league/competition.  The best of the best compete on recruited AAU teams.  Most, if not all, teams require you to tryout and it is a bit of a time commitment because of the tournaments and practice schedules.  The main AAU tourneys are the state and nationwide basketball tournaments.  First, you have to compete and win your state tournament to move on to nationals.

AAU is a great way to improve your game in the offseason because it’s actually organized ball with the best competition.  All the drills and workouts should be your first priority but playing organized basketball when you can should be second on your list.

As a side note: I remember my brother was in 7th grade and his team made it to nationals in Tennessee.  There were kids there dunking with ease as a 7th grader!  They dominated NH AAU basketball but didn’t win a single game down there.  It goes to show you the level of competition outside of your state. 

Below are tips to help you play better aggressive defense without fouling the opponent.

Play the passing lanes

Aggressive D doesn’t always mean one-on-one defense.  Like all aspects of sports, it means team D first and individual D second.  In order to play the passing lanes correctly you need to see man/woman and ball.  A great way to intercept a pass is to anticipate where the ball is going by looking at the ball handler’s eyes.  At the same time, make sure you see the person you are guarding with your peripheral vision.  When you see your man and the ball at all times your chances of getting caught backdoor are slim.

Don’t play too close (and not too far either)

One way to easily get a foul all on you is if you crowd the offensive player without leaving any room.  When you are chest to chest with your opponent, 99% of time it will be a foul on you.  Instead, back off a foot and get low so that your base is wide.  This lessens the chance of your opponent going around you and you can move side to side more efficiently.  When playing aggressive one-on-one defense, your goal is to make the ballhandler pick up his or her dribble.  When they do pick it up, get as close as possible to then with your arms straight up mirroring where the ball is.

Aggressive defense is not playing too far either.  As a defensive player, the more room you give your opponent, the more choices they have.  When you give the offensive player 5 feet, they are able to see the floor better and be able to dribble, shoot or pass.

Find a good balance, my suggestion is to play two feet away from the ballhandler.

A charge is aggressive D too

Coaches love when their players take charges.  I beleive taking a charge is the ultimate aggressive team defense.  You are sacrificing your body in anticipation for a foul call on your opponent.  It is not the player you are guarding but someone who just got beat off the dribble most likely.  In order to be that team player, always be between your man and the ball and anticipate the drive.

Play with your feet, not your hands

Like I mentioned above, the goal for one-on-one defense is to make your opponent pick up his or her dribble.  This means you need to move your feet and stay in front of your opponent without slapping down at the ball (foul almost everytime).  Instead of hammering down at the ball, move your feet from side to side and periodically poke your hand in if the dribble is high.  Believe it or not it is possible to stop a player from scoring if your hands were tied behind your back.

I just wanted to send a BIG thanks to you guys for being patient as we redesign the site and make it the best basketball resource on the web!  We continue to be in the process of improving the site day by day with new features, revamped articles and more drills!

Some of the new improvements that we are working on include:

• Guides: We have provided a guides page, here, in order to provide free content in an effective way.  We feel that this information is very important to all basketball players of every age and gender.   We will continue to publish these quick and easy to read guides to help you or your child out.
• Newsletter:   We have gotten many requests for an email newsletter.  We have finally executed your requests and setup a newsletter for the community.  Don’t worry we won’t spam you everyday with products.  Instead, we will send you periodic emails from time to time with helpful tips.
• New Drills & Workouts: We haven’t updated our drills since last year.  Yes, we feel guilty about this.  We will be rolling out new and improved basketball drills from this day forward.  We are excited to hear the response from you guys.  If you have a basketball drill that is not on this site feel free to contact us here.
• Guest Authors:  In an effort to provide more content that will benefit our readers, we will be setting up guest posting on this site very shortly.  Visit this link to write for Basketball Drills Online!

E-Book Coming 2012!

We will be publishing our first e-book this year.  We have begun the process of getting the materials together.  The e-book will be a comprehensive guide to becoming a better basketball player with articles & advice, workout plans, drills, progress spreadsheets and more!

We are very excited about this book because it represents our basketball knowledge and everything we’ve learned and gained from the game.

To get an announcement and coupon code prior to the launch, simply sign up for our mailing list!

Thanks for all the support you have given us and we look forward to bringing you an even better site in the coming years.

1. It’s a 5 on 5 game, so use your teammates.

2. Remember B.E.E.F when shooting the basketball.

3. Remember to pack jersey, shorts, socks and sneakers at the least.  This is assuming you are already wearing underwear.

4. Stretch at least 15-30 minutes before practice and games.  It’s always a good idea to stretch afterwards also.

5. Know your role on the team.  If you are there for defense then play tough D.  When everyone knows their role on the team, you synch into a good team.

6. Practice with the right ball.  If you are a male, don’t use a girl’s ball to practice (and vice versa).  Your muscle memory will be out of wack.

7. Have fun, it’s not the end all if you have a bad game.

8.  Keep your eyes on the rim when you shoot.

9.  Play with kid’s better than you, it will pay off in the future.

10. Invest in some nice sneakers.  You dress well, you play well.

11. Always listen to the coach.  He may see things on the sideline that you don’t see on the court.

12. Mix up strength and endurance exercises.  It’s not good to concentrate on one, basketball is a game of stamina and strength.

13. Trust muscle memory.  To build this up, you need to practice, practice, practice.

14. Set priorities.  If hanging out with friends is more important than practicing in the backyard then go for it but the player who practices will be one step ahead of you.

15. Always be learning.  Study the game of basketball, whether it’s a new technique or the history.  Learn from this site.  Whatever it is be a student of the game.

16. Don’t be afraid to be successful.  Some people shy away from the spotlight.  If you want to become someone, step up and own the stage.

17. Don’t let anyone bring you down.  If a teammate tells you to stop shooting because your bad at it, work on it for next year and show him or her up!

18. Use the backboard.  Coaches hate when you finger-roll it off the back or front of the rim.

19. Be flexible.  Don’t be stiff on the court.  Relax and be loose.

20. Share the rock.  Pass and you shall receive.

21. Do you.  If listening to Tupac pumps you up before a game, then listen to him.  Every player is different in terms of what motivates them.

22. Have good posture.  I may sound like your parent but having good posture enables your core to be strong and not sore.

23. Don’t get discouraged with teammates.  Even though you might not approve of their play, you need to keep an even keel and encourage your teammates.  You guys or gals are there for 2 reasons, have fun and win.

24. Don’t play to impress.  Play for only you.

25. Never take a break on defense.  Only take breaks when the whistle blows.  If you need a break, raise your hand for the coach to take you out.

26. Always look to expand your skill set.  For example, if you are a low post player and you have “perfected” the drop step, move on and try to practice the up and under move.

27.  Look up to NBA players but don’t play like them.  Play your own game because once you start copying someone is when you tend to make mistakes.

28. Be involved with every play.  If there is a timeout huddle and you are not one of the 5 current players on the floor, listen and know what’s happening anyways.

29. Play year round.  I know some players play other sports but, if you are serious about basketball, you will the time each season to work on your game.

30. Find a target on the rim to concentrate on when you shoot.  Always look at this spot.  For me, I’ve always concentrated on the back of the rim.

31. Always be in position.  Whether we are talking about a place on the court or your body, always be ready to make your next move.

32.  See plays before they happen.  There is a thing called basketball intuition that I think is learned.  Try to be one step ahead of your defender.

33. Never through cross court unless there is a person absolutely WIDE open.  Many passes that get intercepted because the passer throws it too far so the defense can adjust.

34.  You’ll get in funks.  Throughout my years as a player, I’ve gone through many multiple games where I couldn’t find the bottom of the barrel.  I knew it would pass and I found other ways to help me team out.

35. Don’t pollute your body.  When you eat like crap, you play like crap.  Food has a big influence on how our body and mind operate.

If you have any other tips, please feel free to share them in the comments section!

Stretch before and after a game or practice (as much as you can)

This is the most important thing you can do to prevent injuries.  I understand that it is a tedious task and you just want to pickup the basketball and shoot.  Stretching prior to any physical exercise is key because it allows your muscles to stretch and warm up a bit.  When your muscles are tight, the elasticity is tougher which can cause tears and such.  Another important and overlooked time to stretch is after the workout.  You muscles have been working extra hard and you need to reward them with a good stretch.

Check out this article on how to stretch both your lower and upper body (article).

Warmup

There’s a reason why layup lines exist.  It is to help you warm up your muscles and ease into practice or a game.  You should take this time to jump, run, move your arms, twist,etc.  Don’t go 100% here, instead use it what it’s made for…warmup!  As warmups progress and you got some runs in, then step it up a notch and play at game speed.

Where Mouth Guards

It’s inconvenient to wear a mouth guard but when I was in high school, I was required to wear one and I’m very happy I did.  I swear, a couple times I would of lost at least two teeth if it wasn’t for my mouth guard.  Let’s face it, getting an elbow in the chops hurts no matter what your wearing.  A mouth guard won’t make it any better but it will save on your dentist bill and future relationships.

Wear appropriate attire

I see many basketball players don’t wear the right shoes or shorts.  When it comes to shoes, make sure the soles aren’t worn out.  Many basketball players slip and injure their arms and/or ankles because their soles don’t have any grips.  In addition, make sure your sneakers are high tops that are tied tight.  Stay away from low cut sneakers as this doesn’t support any awkward ankle movements.  As far as shorts go, there is one suggestion…don’t wear baggy shorts that go past your knees.  Too many players can tripped up in their shorts because they are too large for their own good.

Final Thoughts

It’s really hard to prevent any injuries unless you play scarred but you can help yourself with the above tips.  I’ve had my fair share of injuries in my playing days but nothing too serious.  I took precaution before hand so I can play all out during my games.  Eventhough I was a scrappy player, I always witnessed other players getting hurt because they all they wanted to do was play from the get go.  Do all the prep work for your body to be at it’s optimal peak and go out there and play basketball w/o worrying about a sprained ankle.

Stay Disciplined ~ Play first, School second

First piece of advice is to stay disciplined.  If you are really serious about improving your game, you will need to block off a couple hours, 5 days per week to practice.  My advice, maybe most parents won’t agree with, is to play first and homework second.  As the days progress, daylight will end sooner in the day.  You should get out there while it’s still light out and warm.  This is the case for the northeast anyway.  Now, this is where the discipline factor comes into effect, you cannot ignore school work.  After you workout, you should eat dinner then sit down and do your homework.  PLEASE, don’t be one dimensional by only playing basketball.  Many more doors will open up when you have a good education, trust me.

Join a Gym

If you are in highschool, I think it’s a very good idea to join a local gym that has a basketball court.  I worked a part-time job in high school so that I could pay for a gym membership.  This will enable you to practice at night or when it rains and possible play with some competition.  You can also run, lift weights, swim, do yoga and more at a gym.

Play on the weekends and play alot

Weekends is a great time to get together with other players and play ball.  During the week is where you should craft your individual skills and the weekend can be for playing 3 on 3 or 5 on 5.  I’ve said it before in previous posts, playing against good competition is just as important as practicing on your own.  I remember when I was in middle school and high school, I would call up all my friends and tell them to meet me at a certain time.  I would probably get 75% of them to show up but we would play for hours.

Play a Fall Sport

Playing a fall sport doesn’t directly affect your game but it does help with conditioning and staying in shape.  I recommend this to all kids prior to highschool.  I believe it’s very beneficial to play three sports in order to be an all around player.  For example, soccer helps with your endurance and foot work which proves to be extremely helpful on the basketball court.

Final Thoughts

I just want to make it clear again regarding my first point.  School work is more important than basketball so please don’t ignore your studies.

Before the start of the season, I think it’s important to practice and play (with good competition) whenever you can.  There is a fine line though, you don’t want to overdue it because the winter season is long and you want your legs to be fresh going into tryouts.  If you took my advice, you should have been practicing during the summer which makes it easier for the months ahead.  Play hard and work hard should be your motto for the next couple months!

#1: Played anytime I could

The summer is great when your in school.  For a lot of players that means ample time to play, play, play.  Instead of sitting on the couch and watching TV for 5 hours straight, I chose to go outside and play ball with anyone and everyone.  I would either setup pickup games with my friends or go to the park and hopefully there will be some players in game mode.  Scrimmaging and playing pickup games is great because you are competing but at the same time you can play for hours without the structure.  Anytime you are moving on your feet, you are getting a workout and becoming stronger.

#2: Bought running shoes and actually ran

Most basketball players ignore the benefits of running.  Running allows your muscles to become long and lean which will lead to more versatility and flexibility.  Not only does running improve your jumping abilities, it also enables you to be conditioned.  Basketball is a game of short and quick sprints, by only playing on the court you are limiting yourself with your conditioning.  During the summer, I woke up at 8:00am (early for a highschooler) and ran about 3 miles 5 days a week.  Not only could I feel my legs become more bouncy but my mind and thoughts became to be clearer.

#3: Didn’t waste my time on Jump Soles

When I was in high school the big thing were jump soles.  They were funny looking moon shoes with an expensive price tag of $100.  I’m not going to lie, I was tempted to buy them and see what heights it would take me to but opted to go ole natural.  I’m not here to tell you they didn’t work but my friends who did buy them ended up wearing them a couple times and tried selling me the kit for $75.  This is the only program I would of purchased back then (it wasn’t available 10 years ago).

#4:  Developed a workout plan and chart

It is extremely difficult to stay consistent when you workout and especially during the summer months when school is out and your friends are at the beach.   Instead of spending my days laying on the sand, I took advantage of the time to help me be a better leaper.  I owe a lot of it from the workout plan I devised.  It’s been 13 years since that time so I’m sure my plan and chart doesn’t exist in the world today.  I pretty much laid out all of the exercises I could find on the internet and picked about 15 of them I would do throughout the week.  I created an excel spreadsheet with a column for the workouts and if I did them on that particular day I would check it off.  One of the products that I stand behind is the Jump Manual, they actually offer a great workout plan specifically to improving your jumping abilities.

#5: Did the Right Exercises and Drills

I setup a system where I did the basic exercises daily.  I didn’t use any gear or a special slingshot, I chose to stick to the basics and it worked.  There are literally thousands of drills and exercises you can do but my strong advice is stick to what you know and don’t go overboard in finding new methods of exercise.  Below are exercises and drills I did on a regular basis for 3 months straight.

• Jump Rope: Before every run in the morning, I jump roped for 10 minutes.  This was a nice way to warmup while strengthening the calves.  I always started slow and and finished fast.  Short, quick jumps enables you to be quicker and more explosive.
• Calf Raises:  This can be done anywhere.  If you are just starting out, I suggest doing these on the ground.   To do them effectively, you need to have your feet should width apart, slowly lift your heel off the ground and then slowly come down.  Do this for a certain amount of reps and you will soon feel the burn.  As you gain strength in your calf, you can use steps of stairs to do these.
• Low Squat Ankle Jump: This is a great way to build thigh muscle and increase strength of your knee joints.  Begin by holding the squat position.  After you are low to the ground, bounce up and down on the balls of your feet while maintaining the squat position.

#6: Ate Healthy for the First Time in my Life

One of the things that always weighed me down was my diet.  I made it a point, in the summer of 2000, to eat a much healthier and balanced meal.  Prior to this commitment, I constantly ate like crap.  I was a typical teenager eating greasy burgers, fries and sipping on Coke and Slurpees.  After every passing day I could feel more and more energized.  I never understood the importance of food and the human body but it was a little miracle!

 #7: Had a Goal in Mind – slap the backboard

When you have a goal in mind and written down then you are actually working your butt off for something.  Without the light at the end the journey will seem meaningless.  My personal goal was to be able to slap the backboard during a layup.  I had about a few inches to go before summer began and it was very rewarding to see my hard work pay off.  Now, if I had a goal of dunking by the end of summer then I would be utterly disappointed.  Dunking was unrealistic for me because I was 5 foot nothing and still developing my lower body strength.  It is important that you set manageable and attainable goals so that you know in the back of your mind that it  is possible.

 Final Thoughts

Increasing your jumping ability takes lots of time and hard work.  On average I probably spent two hours a day, 5 days a week on strengthening my legs.  I knew that being able to jump higher paired with my skills would make me a much better player.  You might be asking yourself, did you ever do any drills?  Of course.  I found the time to mix in “perfecting” my basketball skills.  It wasn’t easy to find the time, stick to a routine and consistently sweat my butt off but it did pay off in the regular season where I say all of my prior averages increase.

It all changed in the summer of 2008 when Chicago Bulls won the first pick in the draft.  They decided on a local kid who played a year for the Memphis Tigers, his name…Derrick Rose.

This bright, young point guard who grew up in the Chicago area has gone under the radar to most likely win his first MVP.  He has dug the Bulls out of the trenches to finish first in the East.  What can youth basketball players learn from this talent?  The following are some aspects of Rose’s game to watch and learn from during the 2011 playoffs.

Humbleness

If you listen to his comments during and after the game, you would have no idea this man one of the top basketball players in the world!  He carries himself like a true teammate and champion.  A great lesson for kids, no matter how good you know you are, always approach yourself like you are a work in progress.  Don’t let your success get to your head, you have a long road ahead of you!

Toughness and Fearlessness

One of the aspects of D Rose’s game that I admire is his mental strength.  He can will himself and his team to get the “W” no matter how poorly they are shooting.  He never takes a play off because he knows that could be the game.  Rose will slash through the defense and go right at the big guy’s to get to the line.  Point guards should be the leader and if your teammates see your never give up attitude, they will follow.

Leader

If you watch an entire game you will constantly see Derrick Rose point and talk to his teammates.  He is an extension of their coach, Tom Thibodeau.  He is always thinking one step ahead of the competition and letting his players know what his next move will be.  If you are a youth basketball player and more specifically, a point guard, make the coaches life easier and be a leader out on the court.  It will get you through so many things in life.

Work Ethic

If you remember Rose’s shot in college it was mediocre, at best.  Now, he can crossover, step back and drill a shot in a defender’s face with ease.  He was always lacking a steady jump shot but this year he improved that facet of his game.  What’s his secret?  Hard work.  Not during the season but the summer months.  I’m sure he made it a point to improve his jumpshot everyday he woke up and now it’s paying dividends for his offensive game.

Change of Pace

It may look like Derrick Rose is constantly moving at a fast pace but you’re eyes are playing tricks on you.  If you watch closely, he changes his pace on every possession.   Sure, if he sees a hole, he will attack it but to get there he has to slow down to get the defense to react one way or the other.  The important lesson here is mix up your speed to keep the defender guessing.

Crossover Dribble

The crossover dribble is one of the best moves you can do as an offensive player.  When mastered, you can get by any defender with one powerful dribble.  Watch how Rose keeps the ball low and explodes from one hand to the other; it’s a great mix of finesse and power.  Click here to learn how he does it.