Off Season Program 2024 Begins March 13th

February 13th, 2024

Process

OFF SEASON 2024

One Voice Basketball will start the 2024 off season program on Wednesday, March 13 (tentative start date). As in the past,  we’ll workout Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 - 8:00 pm from mid-March to early June, and mid- August to the November school tryouts. Most of the dates will be at the Woodglen School, with a few dates at Voorhees High School. The calendar will be confirmed by March 13th.

ELIGIBILITY

One Voice is a program for girls, grades 5 -12. We’ll work with any girl who is motivated to become a better basketball player - regardless of their current skill level. All that is required is a commitment to try.

THE PROGRAM

Our model requires players to be self-motivated -  to move from where you are towards where you want to be. Last year, in an effort to get back to our program’s purpose, we required our players to commit to their individual skill improvement. We have identified three competency levels - Foundational, Intermediate and Advanced. Daily workouts will be based on your competency status (where you are now). Your workouts will be planned to maintain your current competency level and guide you towards the next level. You will be asked to agree to working, to the best of your ability, at each workout and in the time between workouts (to improve you have to put in more than a couple of hours per week).

The information below was shared last year as we began the spring workouts. Going forward we'll share it each year to assure that all interested players are informed about what we do, why we do it and how we do it. 

We run One Voice because research has informed us of the value of off-season skill development. That research contests the notion that “players play” and racking up lots of game experience in the off season is the path to improvement.

Although playing the game of basketball may be a good way to learn the game, it is not the best way to improve on basketball skills. 

Research says that the value of “just playing” is diminished after 40 hours of play. Why is playing a game not the best way to improve your skills? Consider these examples. It’s possible to play an entire game and take between 0 and 10 shots. In that same game you also may or may not get an opportunity to handle the ball under pressure and improve your ball handling. You simply can’t get enough repetitions in a game to improve your basketball skills. There’s no mechanism for stopping the game to provide feedback when the reps you do get are done incorrectly. It is possible that any reps you get in a game will only reinforce bad technical execution.

As author Brian McCormick says, “While most players spend the off-season playing six games per weekend, the expert performer works on (her) skills with a dedicated effort and mental focus on (her) specific task. Improving basketball skills is like the old adage: “Work smarter, not harder.” Work ethic is part of the equation; however, the difference is how the work is directed.”

Mastering basketball skills takes practice. One of the world’s renowned experts on skill mastery and peak performance, K. Andres Ericsson, notes that for any practice to lead to mastery of a skill, it must be purposeful and deliberate practice. Purposeful and deliberate practice requires concentration and focus. The player works with guidance and feedback to consciously change their performance of a skill. In the right environment players work without the pressure of avoiding mistakes. They concentrate on a specific skill development goal and get immediate feedback. Players hoping to master basketball skills work with direct feedback until they reach a level of unconscious competence - what some people call muscle memory. At this level you can do the task correctly without thinking about it - like riding a bike or driving a car. Once this level is achieved the player moves on the next improvement challenge.

It’s important to know that repetitions alone do not lead to improvement. Have you ever watched players in a shooting drill at a basketball camp? Typically, each player stands in line, receives the ball and launches her shot. Her feet might be out of whack, her elbow might fly out and/or she might shoot with a hitch. She then runs to the back of the line and waits for her turn to shoot again. The flaws seldom get corrected. Players are getting volume reps, which, in many cases, reinforce bad habits. You can shoot 50 free throws per day but if your form is flawed you will not improve much. Getting better at being a poor shooter is not the goal. Repetition work must involve specific goals, feedback and improved execution.

Like repetitions, the duration of a workout alone does not lead to improvement. It’s the quality of the work done in the workout that leads to improved performance. You can get more out of 15 minutes of a focused, goal-oriented workout than 60 minutes of working out in your driveway without purpose.

FEES AND REGISTRATION

One Voice is not a money making operation. We are a registered non-profit organization. Our fees cover the cost of insurance, gym fees, equipment, jerseys and related events. Our coaches are not paid, they are volunteers (we occasionally sponsor an AAU team. If we do, the team is usually coached by a  program alumna. In this case the coach may receive a stipend for the additional weekend time required). 

The cost for the calendar year is $100. In a typical year we are scheduled for 48+ workouts ($2.08 per workout). For more information or to register for One Voice Basketball go to our website at onevoicebasketball.com  click on Forms and complete the registration form and photo consent form. There is also a payment link if you want to pay with a credit card. Checks and forms can be brought to the first workout attended.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks.

Bob Peterman