With many basketball parents, there seems to be a mindset. They think you have to get on the right AAU team to improve a child’s basketball skills in the offseason. You have to have your player go to the best clinics and camps. They need private coaching.
Not so.
While we understand the benefits of those activities, many basketball players, including NBA stars, have figured out that the best way to advance their skills in the offseason is through individual workouts. Players spend more time on the court and less time in cars, which saves time and money, and the improvement in skills can be significant.
To get the most out of these offseason workouts, we’ve crafted some guided plans to ensure players do the right things. Here are the details:
MVP Off-Season Workouts
Here’s what you get:
– 18 carefully designed 66 minutes* of basketball workouts in this ebook
– Minute-by-minute breakdown of activities for each workout session
– Activities rotate from one to the next quickly to keep players interested and for the aerobic benefit. – Illustrations to help understand activities and an appendix with more detailed explanations of drills.
– Designed for either six weeks with three sessions or 9 weeks with two sessions each week. Players who play another sport in the offseason frequently find the 9-week time period works best.
– An inspirational story and quote for each workout
We recommend that players read the stories and quotes before each workout. This reinforces life lessons like never quitting, overcoming obstacles, and the power of persistence.
– Information young basketball players should know.
– MVP Tips. Includes insider secrets to rebounding successfully, targeting your shots (aim small, miss small), shooting free throws more effectively, the importance of the first dribble, and many more.
See 7 Tips For coming up with your team name.
Basketball Offseason Training Topics include:
- What Coaches Like
- Nutrition Advice to help you Play your Best
- Set Goals to Achieve More
- The importance of rest and sleep
- The value of the student-athlete.
Why are the workouts 66 minutes in length?
Most basketball players don’t do enough off-season workouts. The players who do practice typically practice for about one hour. By completing 66-minute workouts, players using this program are investing 10% more into their game. This can translate into much bigger gains come the regular season.
Why offseason workouts are important?
Repetition of an exercise builds muscle memory. By focusing on individual skills during an offseason workout, a player gets plenty of opportunities to fine-tune those skills and improve upon them.
No waiting. You can accomplish a lot in a bit when it’s just the player, the hoop, and the basketball. There are no lines when you practice by yourself.
Your team’s coaches don’t have enough time to devote to every individual skill. Regular season games usually present too few opportunities to hone a skill. Practices during the regular season provide more opportunities, but typically, a coach has many other topics to cover. Let’s say a player wants to work on their up-and-under post-move.
A game might provide just 2-3 opportunities to try this shot. The topic might only be covered once at one team practice, and a player might work on the move into some scrimmage. However, an offseason workout might include dozens of opportunities weekly to work on this move. Lots of reps lead to improvement.
Learn at Your Own Pace
Breaking down the bigger game into smaller components makes it easier. If a player scrimmages and scrimmages, that player will likely get better at basketball. Suppose the same player takes a different approach by scrimmaging some but also putting concentrated effort into improving some fundamental basketball skills. In that case, the player will likely improve at a much more rapid pace.
It provides a platform to strengthen weaknesses and build on strengths. Individual workouts can be tailored to work on areas specific to a player’s strengths and weaknesses.
There is plenty of time until the next game. Working on your shooting stroke during the season can be difficult. Corrections can be made by working on shooting during the offseason, and lots of practice can take place before a game. It’s the ideal time to work on shooting.
Practice on Your Home Court
It’s a relaxed environment where no one is watching. Individual workouts enable players to take lots of risks without fear of evaluation or criticism. Sometimes, it’s by taking chances and some risks that players really improve their game.
As youth basketball coaches, we frequently receive questions from players’ parents about Summer AAU team opportunities, basketball clinics, and basketball camp recommendations for their young basketball players. There are many choices to be made, and sometimes, it can be stressful for the parents as they determine the best course of action.
Do What the Pros Do
In their eagerness to see their children advance their basketball skills, many parents will make a big commitment—both in terms of dollars and time—to ensure that their kids have every opportunity to improve their game. Are these types of opportunities worthwhile? Yes, they certainly can be. But many players at the youth basketball level all the way up through the NBA can take a different approach.
We recommend individual off-season workouts to parents who want their kids to work on their basketball game during the off-season. Significant improvements can be made to the player’s game, and the financial commitment is minimal.
Players like Dirk Nowitzki, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Love commit to offseason workouts at the NBA level. After a short break upon the conclusion of the NBA season, they work hard at improving their game during the off-season. Scrimmaging and 5-on-5 play are part of the equation, but the focus is on individual skill development.
Players return to regular season teams with new skills that take their games to a new level. Maybe it’s better long-range shooting or improved post-moves. The work done during the off-season contributes significantly to what makes stars perform at their highest levels.
How the basketball workouts were designed?
Some of the thinking that went into the overall workout plan and each individual plan include:
- A focus on Fundamentals. We emphasized the building blocks of a good basketball player because that easily transfers from one team to the next.
- Strong emphasis on ball handling and shooting. These are two critical areas that can be practiced individually effectively, and the offseason is a great period to work on these skills.
- All-around player development. Youth basketball players shouldn’t just learn guard skills or post skills. The best players are well-rounded. They know how to do both types of skills, which makes them tough to guard.
- Shift activities quickly. Moving from one activity to the next quickly keeps players interested and enables them to work on many different skill sets.
More Considerations
- Increase difficulty over time. Some of the fitness drills will become progressively more difficult. Initially, the basketball offseason wants players to grow accustomed to using different muscles, and then, as the plan progresses, we’ll ask for more repetitions or longer periods.
- A fitness focus. Players play their best when they’re in shape. It’s hard to execute at the highest level if you’re tired, lack strength, or are just out of shape. To address these needs, a part of each workout session includes general fitness exercises.
- It is designed for an individual but can be used with a bigger group. One player on his or her own can complete the activities for these offseason workouts. However, workouts can be more fun with a workout partner or two. These plans will accommodate that. A whole team could work together if there’s a big enough court area with multiple hoops.
- Plans were designed for healthy kids who have played basketball before. If you have any concerns about having your child participate in this program from a health perspective, consult with your physician. Kids should bring a water bottle to their court and drink water as needed.
What do players need for these workouts?
For this offseason workout plan, players will need the following:
- Two basketballs, eight cones, or eight Post-it notes (or anything to mark a spot on the ground)
- Basketball hoop and dribbling area – (a driveway hoop will work)
- One tennis ball
- Water bottle
- Jump rope (optional)
- Two Chairs (optional)
MVP Offseason Workouts for Youth Basketball — reg. $23.99
Visit The Shop
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Nolan McMonagle Nolan McMonagle has coached multiple basketball teams for his local school and the YMCA. With a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Central Washington University, he has worked alongside a physical therapist on a professional indoor football team. In addition to helping treat players’ injuries, he put them through exercise programs to enhance their performance.
Mike O’Halloran Mike O’Halloran has coached his 4 children on 15 different basketball teams. He created the Well-Prepared Coach™ line of sports books and has authored three basketball books. He is the founder and editor of www.SportsFeelGoodStories.com, selected as a Top 10 Blog for Youth Sports Parents by Blogs.com. His articles have been featured in The Post Game and on the home page of Yahoo.com.
Praise for O’Halloran’s Well Prepared Coach – 30 Youth Basketball Practice Plans book for coaches:
“Thanks for the 30 Practice Plans! I coach 5th and 6th grade girls basketball and after winning only 3 games the previous 2 years combined, I began using your structured practice plans each week and now we are now one game away from the league championship!”
–Mike Jadach, JV Coach Assumption School, Ansonia, Connecticut
“Last year I coached a 5th grade boys basketball traveling team. It was my first year coaching and the kids’ first year playing. I used your practice plans and they were great for me and the kids did real well. This year they are playing 6th grade ball at their school and are so far undefeated. I will be coaching them again after their school season is over and will definitely revisit your practice plans.”
–Fred Dubray, Coach – Mobridge, South Dakota
MVP Offseason Workouts for Youth Basketball
Players get pumped up for their workout sessions with an inspirational story and quote.
Each workout session is 66 minutes long and begins with a warm-up.
Sample: Offseason Basketball Workout
Structured Plans For Players.
Other important topics are addressed related to nutrition, goal setting, getting rest, the importance of being a good student/athlete, and what coaches like from players. Here’s an excerpt:
Sample of other advice provided to players: “10 Things Coaches Like” excerpt
MVP Offseason Workouts for Youth Basketball
Price: $23.99
Visit The Shop