Who doesn't want to become king of the hill?
In The Power of Moments the Heath Brothers discuss Steve Kamb's ambitious journey to play the fiddle. A video game aficionado, Kamb created "levels" of proficiency to mark his progress until he could play full songs.
Measure progress in athleticism, skill, and knowledge on your basketball journey to "level up."
SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely.
Athleticism:
- Increase repetitions of specific weight, exercise (e.g. pushups)
- Increase duration of exercise (e.g. treadmill, jogging)
- Increase quickness (e.g. three cone drill)
- Increase fitness (maximal oxygen consumption/VO2max)
- Improve consistency (of workouts). Track performance...
See performance gains by graphs or spreadsheets.
Skill:
- Prepare your MUST, NEED, WANT list
- For example, improve free throw shooting, three point shooting, attacking the basket with either hand, "game winning one-on-one actions"
- Interrupt free throws with sprints for realism
- Include multiple actions of three point shooting (e.g. catch-and-shoot, side dribble, off the dribble in transition)
- Start basket attack multiple actions off the cut, back-to-basket (e.g. Box Drills), and against a defender (one-on-one). Include non-dominant hand.
Knowledge: expand your horizons with video study of individual actions and team play
- Early offense (e.g. pistol, Obradovic)
- Choose an elite player to study (e.g. Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Hakeem Olajuwon)
- Generic offense (e.g. 5 Out)
- Transition defense
Mastery takes time, repetitions, and work. Coach Popovich reminds us, "pound the rock" to break it.
Lagniappe. Shooting range with Coach Drew Hanlen. Arc, load, flow, forward...
Tip: Get cellphone video from a family member or friend. See yourself changing.