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 Basketball is a simple game; the following four stage progression gradually builds upon simple concepts, teaching players how to play the game and progressing from simple to more complex and general to specific. The first stage takes a skill like movement without the ball and introduces a simple concept: get open; very little technical knowledge or explanation is needed. In the second stage, the basic instruction of "get open" grows more specific, as players get open in areas where they can attack the basket or present a passing lane to a teammate. In the third stage, the basic concept gets more specific, as players concentrate on using screens to get open. In the final stage, coaches take the basics and build an appropriate system for his personnel, so each player gets open in specific spots using specific cuts or screens. Unfortunately, the current learning paradigm skips the first three stages and moves players directly to the complex and specific. Use this model to guide basketball development over a period of years, not a matter of days. If we are committed to developing the next generation of basketball players and maximizing their talent, we must use sports science and the most successful development models. These six areas highlight deficiencies in the current system. The entire sports culture needs a new approach, critical thinking and a science-based plan. By rushing development in pursuit of junior national championships and high school victories, we short-change the elite athlete, who peaks early in his career, and the nonelite athlete, who lacks exposure to a variety of activities. A long term athletic development model serves the interests of the elite and non-elite athlete, while the current American development system fails everyone. |