I was reading an article about working with young people new to the workforce and the author said, “Today’s youth can see the mountain summit, but they can’t see the mountain”. They know where they want to be but they have a hard time seeing, and sometimes accepting, what it takes to get there. I wish I could say I was different but I wasn’t. It’s not only true of today’s youth, it’s been that way for a long time.

We see something similar happen each March as we start a new off season training program. Something brought the young players to our program. Maybe it was watching local high school players compete. Maybe it was watching basketball on TV. Maybe they had fun playing rec. ball and want to keep learning and playing. They show up with a picture in mind, an expectation that motivates them. They want to be good players – now. They all want to get where they’re going - yesterday. They can see the summit but they don’t want to do the hike, they want to take the chair lift.

In reality it takes time. There are no short cuts. Even though the players may want to be dropping 3’s, or dribbling between their legs it actually starts with something else. It starts with social stuff - acclimation. Before they can settle in to the work it takes to be a good player they have to assess and adjust to our environment. Then they can get down to the skill development work.

Young kids new to the program and kids returning often look around, trying to size things up, to see where they fit with their current skills. Some think, “OK, I’m going to do alright here”. Others may be thinking, “I’m so far behind some of these kids. Will I ever catch up?” Each kid handles their feelings in their own way. Some are determined to show what they can do. They listen and apply information. Others, more sensitive to failing, hold back, “trying safely” (kind of trying – without taking on too much risk). Others act like it doesn’t matter much to them – if I act like I don’t care it’s less embarrassing when I struggle. It’s all OK. All of the kids are involved in what some call “status management”.

They are figuring out where they fit in this new environment: How do things work here? Who are the leaders? What are the rules? Can I fit in here? Surrounded by other kids, some familiar, some not, they are trying to manage the social part. A lot of time and energy goes into trying to manage status. So much, in fact, that initially they might have difficulty internalizing the information shared about skill development.

As I’m sure you know by now we work with a broad range of age groups and skill levels. We can’t tell you that all of these kids will become good players but we can say, with some certainty, that they will have an opportunity to develop their skills and develop meaningful relationships with other kids who share the enjoyment of basketball. Whether they take advantage of that opportunity is up to each individual kid.

 For our part we’ll create those conditions by consciously addressing three areas:

Ø We’ll do our best to reduce fear and apprehension by making each player feel welcome, and safe (free of ridicule, teasing or disrespect),

Ø We’ll create context – helping them see they are part of something special, a high school program with a long history of success, part of a group of former players, current players and future players who share a love of basketball.

Ø We’ll work on affiliation – working to help players connect with other players, making new friends and beginning to develop meaningful relationships with others.

With that in place we can provide information on skill development and we can hold each player accountable to the learning. The rest is in the hands of the player. If you want to be a player there’s a few questions to be answered. Can you use the information and apply it, improving the way you do basketball things (balance, dribbling, passing, shooting etc.)? Are you willing to do the repetitions it takes to anchor the learning? Your progress will be slow if the only time you practice is in the gym with us. You have to work in the garage, in the driveway, in the basement or at the park.

Can you handle the feedback? This poses a dilemma for us. We can see how young kids sometimes feel hurt when they are corrected. They want to please and they want affirmation. If you perform repetitions using incorrect form or technique you are reinforcing the incorrect form or technique – you are not getting better. We have to give feedback, even if it’s hard to hear. Our message is, “We have high expectations here and we believe you can meet those expectations.” It is the foundation of a skill all good players develop over time – mental toughness.

So, what does it take to be a player?

TIME – repetitions and experience.

EFFORT – not just hard work – purposeful effort.

HUMILITY – understanding that you are not perfect, you will struggle and at times fail.

PERSEVERANCE – when you fail, fail forward.

COURAGE – push yourself past comfortable.

EMPATHY – understand that it is not just about you.

COMMITMENT - to you your team and the game itself.

YOU HAVE TO LOVE IT – all of it – the struggles, the fears, the failures and successes.

If you are truly intent on making it to the summit there is only one path – practicing with intent or purpose. A coach at a clinic I attended said, “Athletes are either compliant or competitive.” When you show up, do what you are supposed to do and leave you are a compliant athlete. You do what’s expected of you – only what’s expected.

Competitive athletes, on the other hand, are those who practice with purpose. It’s not about what you are supposed to do it’s about what you need to do. They focus on specific aspects of their game, breaking the skills down and working on specific improvements like a specific pivot, your “go to” move or the follow through on a shot. They focus on that aspect until it is improved enough to move on to the next area of improvement. When you practice with purpose you are challenging the status quo. You are saying that you are not satisfied with your current, comfortable level of play. You realize that if you are comfortable you are standing still – you are not progressing. You are falling behind.

The competitive athletes are OK with the discomfort that comes with pushing yourself further than your current level of confidence. They are focused on closing the gap between where they are today and where they want to get. They realize that the gap is the hike from the bottom of the mountain to the summit and the only way to get to the summit is by finishing the hike. If you want to be a player make sure you are working on closing the gap, taking a couple of steps towards the summit every day.

Bob Peterman