Page summaries below
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Our Player Profile service has excellent reach. Above, Whitehall's Emily MacArthur meets U of M's Denard Robinson on a recruiting visit to Ann Arbor set up through Basketball Basics.
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There are almost always too many kids in gyms for universal skill development. We limit the number of players to between 12 and 14, and we often have fewer. The best players will always improve and garner the coaches attention. We believe ALL players should improve, including the best players, the players who are modestly skilled and the players who are beginners. This can only be achieved because so few are permitted to play.
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If the goal is the WIN and compete to the best of your ability, practice time must outnumber play time by 4 or 5 to 1. Players do NOT improve by simply playing games, nor will they improve measureably with a ratio of 1 or 2 practices to each game. Here's why. We believe no game exerts more PRESSURE on its players than basketball. Under pressure, a player will execute what comes naturally and most quickly to mind. We call these actions HABITS. Habits are built one way, and one way only: through repetition. While games are fun and important, it is not uncommon for players to receive few if any repetitions of the game's key skills. There may be 0 or 1 or 2 opportunities only, for example, for a player to execute a pass off the dribble, or a rebound and appropriately executed outlet pass or the use of the inside pivot off the dribble to create a shot or the basic skill of JUMPING TO THE BALL on the catch. These, and many others, are CRITICAL skills that determine who wins and who loses basketball games. These reps do NOT come in games, but practice. This is why our ratio of practice to scrimmaging is often 4, 5 or more to 1.
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"If you think you are through learning, you are through." Coach Wooden.
This comment is placed directly under the piece above for a reason. While we have some of the area's top players attend our instruction, I can only guess that we don't have a larger percentage because either a player or coach feels they can not learn anything else or they simply do not know we exist. It can not be the fees we charge becasue if a player can not afford to pay, they don't have to. (See partnership link) I believe most players feel they can improve more by playing tough competition, or travelling to venues in far off places to play in leagues, etc. There is some value in these choices. Our AYBT presence is a terrific choice in this regard, WITH the appropriate ratio of 4 or 5 to 1 practice time over game time. (See M-LIVE article on this summer's performance)
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In high school basketball, it is not uncommon to see the bigger, stronger, more athletic team win. Relating to the comments above, this is because the beatan team's SKILLS are not as sharp as they could be or should be. How can any team expect to compete with a bigger, stronger and faster team and win the game? It makes no sense because it's TRUE if the less athletically-gifted team doesn't CONSTANTLY work their tails off in practice on the game's basic skills. The only way to compete with teams of superior size, speed and athleticism is to employ sharper skills and better conditioning. Two recent series highlight this comment;
1. Duke and Butler were not among the top 15 most athletic teams in 2010's NCAA tournament. Yet they squared off in the Finals because they had the best skills and conditioning. Their practice plans all include a very healthy dose of basic fundamental skills and training.
2. Dallas Mavericks vs Miami Heat in this year's NBA Finals. On paper, it looked like a no-brainer. Miami was bigger, faster, stronger and younger. Dallas won in 6 games because they had sharper skills, they played better as a team and they were clearly superior in handling adversity.
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Many Middle School Girls play in the Winter (try out dates in January 2013). These schools include Grand Haven, Coopersville, Allendale, Kenowa Hills, RP, Muskegon, Holland, Jenison, Comstock Park, Shores, Rockford and many others. Stronger players are encouraged to PLAY UP with the High School Girls in October and November in their pre-season preparation sessions.
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Kody Ambrose, Mason County 2014
Emily MacArthur, Whitehall HS, 2015
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Bundling discount for all Summer Camps: 12 player limit.
You may cross sports to achieve discount. Bundled camp discounts must be sent in at the same time.
"Please register Elliot for basketball Camp 7, Michelle and her buddy Aubrey for Volleyball Camp V-8. 3 total camps, the $150 per camp fee will be mailed to your Spring Lake address."
"Please register Mike for basketball Camp 13 and Soccer Camp S-4. The $175 per camp fee will be sent to your Spring Lake address. Thank you."
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All instruction, leagues and services in FERRYSBURG unless noted otherwise. This Winter on WEDNESDAYS ONLY, we wil host our Middle School Boys series and Shooting Clinics at Maranatha near Hoffmaster State Park.
Summary approach: Limited to 12-14 players. 95 to 100% INSTRUCTION, we rarely scrimmage with kids this young. Hundreds and hundreds of basic repetitions of the game's primary skills: Vision, Footwork and Ball Handling. Scrimmaging is NOT RECOMMENDED at these ages.
Summary approach: Limited to 12-14 players. 90% INSTRUCTION, we will scrimmage with this group but the scrimmage is instructionally based, meaning we CONTINUE TO INSTRUCT during the scrimmage. Hundreds and hundreds of basic repetitions of the game's primary skills: Vision, Footwork and Ball Handling. Kids this age can really IMPROVE because they are beginning to build competitive habits. PLEASE NOTE THE RATIO of Instruction to Scrimmaging (90/10). This is why over 90% of the players who attend make their school teams.
Summary approach: Limited to 12-14 players. Roughly 70% INSTRUCTION, we will scrimmage with this group but the scrimmage is instructionally based, meaning we CONTINUE TO INSTRUCT during the scrimmage. Hundreds and hundreds of basic repetitions of the game's primary skills: Vision, Footwork and Ball Handling. Kids this age can really IMPROVE because they are continuing to build/form competitive habits. PLEASE NOTE THE RATIO of Instruction to Scrimmaging (70/30). This is why over 90% of the players who attend make their school teams. For the 1st time, we introduce fact-based, measurement drills to compare/contrast skills and identify areas for improvement IF the player has the goal to play competitive school or AYBT basketball.
Please note it is normally difficult with this age group of girls to attract full clinics. We unfortunately cancel or combine more clinics for this group than any other. We do permit stronger girls in this age group to play with the boys and to play UP with 7th and 8th Graders. We also encourage group sign ups (up to 12) to more effectively permit the instruction to take place. (See Site Visits, we can travel to your home gym)
Summary approach: Limited to 12-14 players. Roughly 70% INSTRUCTION, we will scrimmage with this group but the scrimmage is instructionally based, meaning we CONTINUE TO INSTRUCT even during the scrimmage. Hundreds and hundreds of basic repetitions of the game's primary skills: Vision, Footwork and Ball Handling. Kids this age can really IMPROVE because they are continuing to build/form competitive habits. PLEASE NOTE THE RATIO of Instruction to Scrimmaging (70/30). This is why over 90% of the players who attend make their school teams. For the 1st time, we introduce fact-based, measurement drills to compare/contrast skills and identify areas for improvement IF the player has the goal to play competitive school or AYBT basketball.
Summary approach: Limited to 12-14 players. Roughly 60% INSTRUCTION, we will scrimmage with this group but the scrimmage is instructionally based, meaning we CONTINUE TO INSTRUCT during the scrimmage. Hundreds and hundreds of basic repetitions of the game's primary skills: Vision, Footwork and Ball Handling. Kids this age can really IMPROVE because they are continuing to build/form competitive habits. PLEASE NOTE THE RATIO of Instruction to Scrimmaging (60/40). This is why over 90% of the players who attend make their school teams. We use fact-based, measurement drills at this age to compare/contrast skills and identify areas for improvement IF the player has the goal to play competitive school or AYBT basketball.
Summary approach: Limited to 12 players. Roughly 60% INSTRUCTION, we will scrimmage with this group but the scrimmage is instructionally based, meaning we CONTINUE TO INSTRUCT during the scrimmage. Hundreds and hundreds of basic repetitions of the game's primary skills: Vision, Footwork and Ball Handling. Kids this age can really IMPROVE because they are continuing to build/form competitive habits. PLEASE NOTE THE RATIO of Instruction to Scrimmaging (60/40). This is why over 90% of the players who attend make their school teams. We use fact-based, measurement drills to compare/contrast skills and identify areas for improvement IF the player has the goal to play competitive school or AYBT basketball.
Summary approach: Limited to 12-14 players. Roughly 50% INSTRUCTION, we will scrimmage with this group but the scrimmage is still instructionally based, meaning we CONTINUE TO INSTRUCT during the scrimmage. Hundreds and hundreds of basic repetitions of the game's primary skills: Vision, Footwork and Ball Handling. It is assumed players signing up for our High School instruction already have good to very good basic skills. Our high school instruction IS NOT remedial. PLEASE NOTE THE RATIO of Instruction to Scrimmaging (50/50). This is why over 90% of the players who attend make their school teams. We use fact-based, measurement drills to compare/contrast skills and identify required areas for improvement.
Summary approach: Limited to 12-14 players. Roughly 50% INSTRUCTION, we will scrimmage with this group but the scrimmage is still instructionally based, meaning we CONTINUE TO INSTRUCT during the scrimmage. Hundreds and hundreds of basic repetitions of the game's primary skills: Vision, Footwork and Ball Handling. It is assumed players signing up for our High School instruction already have good to very good basic skills. Our high school instruction IS NOT remedial. PLEASE NOTE THE RATIO of Instruction to Scrimmaging (50/50). This is why over 90% of the players who attend make their school teams. We use fact-based, measurement drills to compare/contrast skills and identify required areas for improvement.
