Raising fundamentally sound basketball players is about balance—between competition and training. As a parent/coach of two point guards who both started as freshman on their high school varsity teams and earned conference Player of the Year honors by their senior season, I’ve seen firsthand how essential it is to prioritize regular skill development alongside game experience.
While many youth athletes play multiple games each week, I limited my children and other players to 2-3 games per week. In fact, I started a tournament company called One Day Shootouts to allow sufficient time for team practices and individual training. This approach gave everyone the time they needed to train consistently and focus on refining the fundamentals: shooting, dribbling, passing, and defense. Game time is crucial, but without proper training, players don’t develop the technical precision and basketball IQ necessary to lead on the court.
In those extra training sessions, my son, daughter, and other talented players worked on decision-making, court vision, and how to handle pressure situations. They didn’t just rely on game experience to grow—they invested hours into mastering the small details that make a big difference.
By avoiding the trap of over-scheduling games, we ensured they weren’t just playing—they were improving. This balance between games and training allowed them to develop their skills at a higher level and become standout players. When game time came, they were physically and mentally sharp, equipped with the tools to not only compete but excel.
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