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How to make high school basketball tryouts
8 Tryout Tips Guaranteed to Get You Noticed (And What To Avoid So You Don't Get Cut)
Do you know exactly what the coach is looking for in tryouts? Do you know everything you need to do?
You may think that you do, but its highly unlikely.
Actually, what you think would help with tryouts may be the exact reason you get cut from the team. Sad thing is that Ive seen players like you make these critical mistakes over and over and over again.
Ive been fortunate to conduct tryouts for youth clubs with over 400 kids. Ive also been part of high school varsity tryouts with 100 kids for a state championship caliber team at the high school level.
Im able to give you the critical tips that can help you make the team and avoid those mistakes that get you cut.
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1. Do what you do well.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is trying to impress the coach by doing things that are outside your skill set. This often results in a disaster for you.
If you are a good rebounder, grab every rebound.
If you are a good shooter, shoot when you are open.
If you are a good finisher, attack the basket when a lane is open.
If you are a good ball handler, make the simple passes, the simple moves.
If you are not a good 3-point shooter, dont step out and shoot one during tryouts. Ive seen kids literally hit the side of the backboard trying to do this.
The coach will instantly think, Wow. This kid does not know a thing about shot selection. Maybe hes a low IQ kid.
Trust me... with the limited time that a coach can see you... this is not the impression you want to make. Even if you play great the rest of the time, the coach already has impression about you and thats hard to change.
Here is a good measure... can you make 7 out of 10 shots unguarded from a spot. Maybe 6 out of 10 for youth players. If not, dont take the shot at tryouts.
2. Hustle! Hustle! Hustle!
There is no excuse for any player on this one. You just have to commit and develop that mentality.
When the ball is on the floor, dive on the floor. Box out on every shot. Sprint on the fast break. Sprint to spots on the floor on defense.
Communicate on defense and offense. Be loud and do it often.
These are things that every player can do and every player should do.
This is why you see players who arent skilled make the team. Theyre willing to do the little things that make teams good or great.
3. Dont be just one of the guys in the crowd - Make a great first impression.
Here is a great way to make a first impression.
When the coach calls everybody in at the beginning of the first tryout...
Instead of walking out there or jogging out there like every other kid.
Sprint! Sprint directly to the coach and stand right in front of him. Stand tall and keep eye contact on the coach during the entire talk.
I guarantee youll have the coachs attention. Ive conducted tryouts. Ive been in rooms with coaches discussing who to cut. This makes a difference.
Your buddies may give you some crap, but youll be the one laughing when you make the team or get more playing time than them.
4. Avoid the amazing play mentality. Do something that makes you stand out in a positive way.
This is not what you think. This is not making an amazing play. Remember... do what you do well.
Flashy doesnt impress coaches. It may look cool on the playground, but thats why you dont see NBA guys doing streetball moves during games. Its flash. Its hype. Its not effective against good players.
You should do something with substance that coaches will notice in a positive way.
Earlier, I mentioned communicate on defense.
One time when I was conducting a tryout for 3rd to 8th graders, we were with the 4th grader session.
All of the sudden, across the gym, I hear a blaring yell Screen! Screen! Screen! It was from this little guy named Tommy.
Ten seconds later, I hear Tommy yell again, I got ball!
This continued the whole day. He communicated early. He communicated loud. He communicated often. (ELO Early Loud Often. Kevin Eastman would have been proud.)
There may have been 30 other kids communicating in the gym, but he is the only one I remembered. I didnt know him before the tryouts, but I sure know him now. Guess what... he made the first team.
5. Dont be shy Talk to the coaches before tryouts.
Too many make the big mistake of being too shy to talk to the coach. And this can make a huge difference with making the team.
Sometimes, this simple act will elevate you in the eyes of the coaches because they know that you care and youll do whatever it takes to help the team.
Be specific. Tell the coach that you really want to make the team. Ask them what they need on their team.
6. Be a great teammate Great attitude and sportsmanship
Every coach wants a player who is a great teammate and makes the players better around them.
You can do this by...
Being a great practice player and challenging your teammates during practice to make the team better.
By putting everybody in a better mood with your positive attitude. Lets face it... were all humans and its more enjoyable to have a little fun in life. Nobody wants to be around a person with a poor attitude.
Display great sportsmanship. When a coach sees you helping players off the floor and playing hard but clean basketball, they know that they can count on you not to lose your cool and hurt your team in a negative way at an important time.
7. Get there early / warm up properly.
Getting there early shows the coach that you care and that he can depend on you to show up on time to practices and games.
Also, make sure to warm up prior to playing, so you are playing your best as soon as the whistle blows. First impressions are very important.
8. Who cares if you screw up Next play!
If you make a mistake... oh well, it happens. Everybody makes mistakes.
Always go on to the next play.
The best players react in a positive way to those mistakes and dont let them snowball into a bunch of mistakes.
There are no guarantees in life. However, if you use the tips mentioned above, you will dramatically increase your chances to make the team and earning more playing time.
If you are serious about becoming a better player, we offer Basketball Camps throughout the country during the spring, summer, and fall.
To check out the different camps, Click Here.
Recommended DVDs & eBook:
The Attack & Counter Skill Development System
This eBook & DVDs will improve your shooting, ballhandling, footwork, perimeter moves, post moves, finishing, aggressiveness, quickness, confidence, mentality, and your all-around game!
Designed by NBA skills coach Don Kelbick, this unique and comprehensive system is incredibly simple when compared to other skill development programs. Yet it works with NBA and pro players at the highest level... (more info)
What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions...
11 Tips for Basketball Tryouts (How to Stand Out and Get Selected)
The first day of basketball tryouts can be a nerve-wracking experience for players.
No matter how long you've been playing or how many tryouts you've attended, everyone gets those little butterflies in their stomach before walking into the gym.
Today, I'll try to calm your nerves a bit...
Below I've listed several things you can do to prepare for basketball tryouts.
Whether you’re a freshman trying to make your high school team, a youth player attempting to earn a spot on a travel team, or an athlete hoping to make an impression on an AAU coach...
The 11 tryout tips below can help you.
11 Basketball Tryouts Tips:1. Arrive in Fantastic Shape
Possibly the single best thing you can do to improve your odds of getting selected is making sure your body is in good condition BEFORE tryouts begin.
Basketball tryouts always involve A LOT of running or transition play.
Some coaches even seek to find out which players can fight through fatigue.
You want to be able to focus on playing your best, not simply surviving the tryout.
If you arrive in peak shape, you'll have a big advantage over many of your peers.
2. Trust Your Preparation
It’s easy to feel nervous due to the stress of the tryout.
Try to fight off these nerves by trusting yourself and the work you have already done!
Preparation equals confidence.
Think about it…
If you have spent countless hours developing your shot, improving your ball handling, studying the game, and practicing against good competition, why wouldn’t you feel confident?
You deserve to make the team!
All you have to do is go out and prove it.
3. Arrive Early and Get to Work
In many areas of life, it’s possible to make a good impression by simply showing up early.
(this is one of the many life lessons basketball will teach)
If your tryout is right after school, get ready quickly and get out to the court.
If your tryout is in the evening, ask your parents to can get you there well ahead of the start time.
While this probably won’t be the make or break factor on who makes the team, it gives you a chance to show the coaches you’re serious about making the team.
If you don’t already know the coach, make a point to introduce yourself to him or her.
When you take the court, begin working on your game immediately.
Coaches don’t want to see players messing around and shooting half court shots before practice.
Begin with form shooting or completing a ball-handling routine.
4. Your Body Language Is Important
This is an aspect of the game that players often overlook.
Coaches place a huge premium on body language.
Understand that you're communicating your attitude not only with your words, but also with your eyes, reactions, and facial expressions.
Be sure to make eye contact and nod your head to show understanding.
Don’t pout or stop playing if you miss a shot or think you get fouled.
Your coaches WILL constantly be assessing these things.
If they think you're inattentive or easily rattled / frustrated, it will hurt your chances.
5. Be the Loudest Player in the Gym
Communication is huge!
There are several ways to help your team, as well as your own chances of making the final roster, by focusing on communicating well.
First, the defensive end of the floor is a great place to constantly talk.
Does your coach give you specific verbals to use?
Maybe he or she wants you to communicate “BALL,” “GAP,” “DENY” or some other defensive phrases.
If your coach doesn’t specify, simply call out what you are doing throughout each defensive possession:
“I got your help!”
“I’ve got the ball!”
“Force him left!”
A talking defender is usually an engaged defender.
Just as important, you can elevate the environment of the practice by offering reminders and encouragement to your teammates.
Basketball tryouts do pit players against one another as everyone is fighting to make the team...
But coaches want to keep players who are great teammates!
A player who is constantly encouraging those around her will have an advantage over someone who keeps to herself.
Make sure your coaches and teammates hear you!
Finally, you may be asked to learn some new plays, drills, or concepts during the tryout period.
If you don’t understand something, be sure to ask a coach.
This is important for two reasons:
(1) Asking a question to gain clarification is certainly better than messing up the drill.
(2) Asking questions show that you are engaged and that you want to learn more.
6. Get “Teammate Touches”
This is another form of communication.
Show support for your teammates by high-fiving and fist bumping as much as possible.
This is a simple way to show leadership and to enhance the practice environment.
Get touches when running to the end of a line or after a teammate makes a good play.
Challenge yourself to get one touch and to make two comments of encouragement each minute of your basketball tryouts (when a coach isn’t talking, of course).
7. Focus on the “Little Things”
Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens once said:
“When considering the consequences of not doing the little things, you realize there are no little things.”
Coaches understand this, and smart players do as well.
Coaches want players on their team they can trust to do everything possible to help the team win.
Of course you can help yourself in tryouts by knocking down shots…
But everyone has the occasional poor shooting day.
So make sure you aren’t relying on having a good shooting day by finding other ways to make a great impression on the coaches.
Take a charge
Communicate loud
Dive on a loose ball
Listen with your eyes
Battle hard for rebounds
8. Play to Your Strengths
This tip is crucial.
As a player, you must realize what you do AND do not do well.
All players will have strengths and weaknesses.
You’ll make the best impression on the coaches by focusing on what you do well.
For example:
If you’re not a great shooter, it doesn’t make sense to throw up a wild shot every time you touch the ball in hopes of draining a three-pointer.
That’s likely not the best way to show the coaching staff how you will help their team.
On the other hand…
If you excel at rebounding, challenge yourself to be the BEST rebounder in the gym.
(Who would possibly cut the best rebounder on the team?)
Or maybe you’re a quick and savvy defensive player...
Make an effort to pressure your opponent full court and disrupt your man every time he or she has the ball.
By the end of basketball tryouts, make sure the coaches know exactly what you do well.
You’ll have time to improve your areas of weakness throughout the season.
9. Sprint the Floor on Every Possession
Transition is a tremendously important part of the game.
Players who sprint in offensive transition can accumulate easy baskets. And players who run hard in defensive transition can wipe out easy opportunities for the opponent.
Both are crucial to winning games, and both can make an impression on your coaches.
Doing this well comes down to a few factors.
The first goes back to tip number one…
Be in shape!
Next, try to develop a mindset of running hard.
You don’t have to be the quickest player in the gym to run hard.
Players who can read the play and take off immediately in transition have a huge advantage over those who “ball watch”.
Coaches often talk about the importance of the first three steps in the transition game.
When your team gets a defensive rebound, take off!
If your opponent rebounds the ball, sprint back and be ready to make a play!
Your coaches will notice.
10. Details, Details, Details
Basketball coaches are inherently detail-oriented.
If a play calls for a player in the corner, they want him all the way in the corner.
If a screen is supposed to be set on the elbow, that’s where it needs to be.
Be sure to listen and do your best to execute the nuances of the game.
You can also show your attention to detail in how you execute the fundamentals.
For example:
Many coaches include a brief form shooting segment in their practice plans.
Don’t simply flip up the ball...
Get your feet set, snap your wrist, and hold your follow through!
Executing these details show that you are focused and trying to do your best.
11. Compete Your Butt Off
Your team’s basketball tryout is a competition.
While it’s not productive to get caught up in comparing yourself to other potential players, you do need to be ready to compete hard.
The best way to compete is by simply doing YOUR best in every part of the tryout.
That’s all anyone can expect you to do!
If you play as hard as you can in every drill and scrimmage, you will put yourself in great position to not only make the team, but to excel and have a great season.
Conclusion:
Coaches understand that the basketball tryouts process can be stressful for players.
Trust me, it can be stressful for us as well!
Coaches want to see players excel and show how they can help the team.
So relax!
Prepare yourself to the best of your ability, be confident, be a great teammate, focus, and do your best. If you do those things, you are bound to have a successful tryout.
Good luck!
the grandson of the inventor of basketball spoke about the creation of the game Instead of rings, there were fruit baskets, and the game itself ended a few minutes later with a massive brawl.
The new sport was invented by physical education teacher James Naismith. On the occasion of the anniversary of the creation of basketball, RT interviewed the grandson of the innovator, Jim Naismith. He talked about how his grandfather got the idea to throw the ball in the basket and what rule James considered the most important.
Corpus Christi is a small city in southern Texas on the Gulf Coast. The Naismith family lives here today, whose famous ancestor James Naismith invented basketball.
James Naismith's grandson Jim is an engineer. He is in his 80s. There are many indications in his house that the memory of the creator of basketball is reverent in the family: old photographs on the shelves, biographical books and literature about this sport. In one of the bedrooms, half the room is occupied by a massive antique dark wood bed - it belonged to James Naismith himself.
Jim Naismith and his wife have already been to Russia. Their daughter Margaret participated in the student exchange program and studied for one semester in Yaroslavl. At the invitation of the Russian family in which she lived all this time, the Naismiths visited their daughter. The trip, according to them, made an indelible impression on them, and they maintain friendship with the family from Yaroslavl to this day.
This December, basketball celebrated its 126th anniversary. In 1891, the first game took place in Springfield, Massachusetts. RT spoke with spouses Jim and Beverly Naismith about how their famous ancestor came up with the idea of throwing the ball into the basket, what Naismith considered the most important rule, and whether basketball is loved in the family of the creator of this sport.
— Tell us about your grandfather: what was he like in his youth?
Jim: I was only three years old when he died. So I don’t remember him myself, but in recent years I have made a lot of efforts to find out everything about him and understand what kind of person he was. Stories of this kind always begin with origins.
His parents were Scottish, but at some point immigrated to Canada, where in 1861 James Naismith was born in the small town of Almont, Ontario. His father and mother came from Christian families and undoubtedly passed on spiritual values to their children, of whom they had three. My grandfather also had an older sister and a younger brother.
Unfortunately, when my grandfather was nine years old, his parents contracted typhoid fever and died within two weeks. The fact that at such an early age he lost both parents could not but leave a very serious imprint on his life. The influence of this event can be traced in his further actions, in his attitude towards friendship and other values.
This was a turning point in his life. After the death of his parents, the boy was taken in by his maternal uncle and grandmother. But soon his grandmother died, and he was left only with his uncle, Pete Young, a bachelor who never married.
Naturally, it was very difficult for a young boy to grow up in a family of only two people - himself and a single uncle. On the example of his parents and uncle, he understood that a man should provide for his family. And it made itself felt. As soon as he entered high school, he dropped out, explaining that he could not study and help his family at the same time.
He started to work. In the summer he helped his uncle on the farm, and in the winter he worked for a Canadian logging company. The forest was harvested in winter, since it was impossible to transport logs through mud, but ice and snow were perfect for this purpose. Thanks to such a significant physical exertion, grandfather was very strong. When he entered the institute, he was 173 cm tall and weighed 75 kg. That is, he was not a large and tall man, rather, very strong and stocky.
When he dropped out of high school and went to logging, one can imagine that he found himself in a very rough environment and picked up the appropriate habits there. One story can be remembered here. Grandfather sat and drank at the bar. He must have been quite drunk. Most likely, it was on the day of the payday, while he still had money. At the other end of the bar sat a man who asked his grandfather if he was Margaret Young's son. "Yes," replied the grandfather. - And there is". To which the man said: "Seeing you now, she would roll over in her grave." I don’t know if this story is true or not, but I heard about it from different people.
Then something broke in him and he decided to change his life. This required a very strong impulse, and, in my opinion, what happened in the bar became such. He decided to get back on the right track and continue his studies in high school.
But at school he was told that since he quit, he would have to start all over again. Some of his entries (in his diary. - RT ) indicate that he understood that he would have to devote the next four years of his life to this, but if necessary, then necessary. However, two years later, he not only finished school, but also began teaching there. The teacher was his maternal great-uncle, and one day he became so ill that he could not continue to work. Then the grandfather was asked if he would like to teach in the class of his relative. That is, in two years, he went from a high school student to a high school teacher, which not only speaks of his determination, but also indicates the recognition of his abilities and strength of character by others.
After finishing school, Naismith discussed the possibility of continuing his studies with Uncle Pete. And, apparently, Uncle Pete agreed to help him prepare for admission to the theological seminary, which was run by the Church of Scotland in Canada. Grandfather continued his education in Montreal, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. After that, he entered the Presbyterian Theological School, adjacent to McGill University, where he received his first higher education. He completed a three-year program at the school, which allowed him to receive holy orders in the Presbyterian Church. It seems to me that this is what his older sister and Uncle Pete wanted for his grandfather.
But at that moment, the grandfather probably realized that this might not be the best way to use his abilities.
In addition, Naismith loved competitive sports, especially, shall we say, "tough" ones: rugby, Canadian football , hockey, game of American Indians - lacrosse. And in Montreal, he was advised to pay attention to the program that the Youth Christian Association (YMCA. - 9) was conducting at that time in Canada and in the USA.0043 RT ).
He followed the advice and visited the branch of the program at Springfield College in Massachusetts (USA). In Springfield, he met the head of this program, and they instantly hit it off: they had similar views on life. Then Naismith applied to study at Springfield College, and eventually became a teacher there. A copy of his application has been preserved, from which it follows that his full name is James Naismith. In the application, he wrote that he aims to use competitive sports for the benefit of youth.
— How did he come to create basketball?
Jim: The backstory is fairly well documented by Naismith himself. He had a class of young people - 18 people, I think - who, in bad weather, during the cold Massachusetts winter, had nothing to do with themselves, so they often misbehaved at school. And the program manager set a task for my grandfather: to come up with some kind of game for these guys that you can play in the cold season, indoors, so that they become interested and spend time usefully instead of being hooligans. According to my grandfather (we still have copies of his records), at first he tried to modify the games he already knew - football, American football and others. But, in his own words, he eventually realized that if you take a game that students already love and change something in it, then they will never accept these innovations. It became clear to him that he needed to invent the game from scratch. And so he did.
Interestingly, my grandfather initially decided that the game should be with a ball, because most games use a ball. I just had to figure out what kind of ball it would be. He decided: let the ball be big enough that it could not be hidden, and elastic enough that it could be thrown to each other and caught. Today, such a ball would simply be called a football: it was round, made of leather.
So, the ball was - now it was necessary to come up with an analogue of the gate, where you can throw the ball and get points for it. But first, Naismith thought about the trajectory along which the ball should fly to the goal. He understood that the principle used in hockey, where the effectiveness of a shot on goal depends on how hard a player hits the puck, is not applicable in an indoor gym with brick walls, columns and hard surface.
Then he remembered a game he played as a child in Canada called Duck on the Rock. In it, a smaller cobblestone is placed on a large boulder, and the players must knock it down with a throw of a stone and pick it up from the ground so that they are not caught by the driver. In this game, the most successful throw is obtained when you throw a stone not in a straight line, with all your strength, but with a canopy so that it falls on the target from above. This allows you to knock down the top stone, but so that it does not fly too far from the bottom - then it is easier to catch it, thereby earning points.
Thus, the trajectory of the throw was already looming in the grandfather's head. And he thought: the ball must hit something. Initially, he wanted to use a box as a gate: according to his plan, it had to stand on the floor, and the players would stand around and protect it from the opposing team. Then he began to mentally try it on the wall, lifting it higher and higher. And I must say that the gym in which he worked was on the basement floor, and at a height of about three meters, the railing of the first floor gallery began, from which a view of the gym opened.
And Naismith thought: what if we take a box and attach it to the base of the railing - that will be the "gate". And then it turned out like this: the grandfather turned to the man in charge of the household and asked him for a stepladder and a couple of boxes. And he, returning, said: “I can’t find boxes, but there are a couple of baskets for picking peaches. Will they fit?" The baskets were the right size, so they hung them up.
The description of the very first match is preserved in an interview that my grandfather gave when he was in New York at the end of 1939 years old, the year of his death. He had nine people on each team. They played with a leather ball, and peach baskets hung on the walls. He explained to the players the meaning of the game: the task is to throw the ball into the opponents' basket, points are awarded for this. “Then,” he recalled, “I threw the ball to them, blew the whistle, and the first ever basketball game began.”
And all this interview was recorded on tape. I had never heard my grandfather's voice before, but about a year ago, a researcher at the University of Kansas found an audio recording of this interview in the archives and made copies. For a long time, she was not known. And there is the voice of James Naismith - a rather high, one might say tenor, and very lively.
My grandfather told me that the very first basketball game had just started when a small pile soon formed in the center of the court. The guys broke up so much that several people ended up with bruises on their faces, one shoulder was dislocated, and one player lost consciousness altogether. Here the reporter who interviewed asks his grandfather: “Did you have any rules there?” And he answers him: "Apparently, they were not enough."
Then, continued the grandfather, I added a little to the rules. The most important of these was rule number three, which said you can't run with the ball. I burst out laughing when I heard this. That is, the rigidity of the game did not bother him. It seems to me that he had nothing against a hard game - he only disliked boring games.
This game was the first in his understanding. I always say that I know two things for sure: that my grandfather invented basketball and that he never lied. So this game really was the first, and he obviously played it even before writing those very thirteen rules (the first set of rules published by Naismith in 1892. - RT ). He made them after the first game. And this is normal, it always happens in life: we go through trial and error, in the process we identify shortcomings, make corrections and try again. And so over and over again, until we are satisfied with the result, in this case, the game. On the recording, I heard him say that after the amendments to the rules, it still turned out to be a good sports game.
I'm so glad my friend from the University of Kansas found the tape where I first heard my grandfather's voice - strong and energetic, even though he was 79 years old at the time. I'm older now (which I'm happy about) and that's very important to me.
This is a long story, but I hope it gives a clearer idea of what my grandfather did and why and how it fits in with his life in general. He had the right to preach, but often helped those who could not afford to pay for his services. I know that for a couple of years he worked with a group of parishioners near Lewis, Kansas. I think, simply because he had the time and desire.
By the way, my grandfather took my father to Sunday meetings where he ate so much chicken that he was allergic. Once in the hospital, the doctor asked him: “What are you allergic to?” And the father answered: “For penicillin ... ( Laugh. ) Jewish ...” (Jewish penicillin is called chicken broth, because the Jews believe that it has healing properties. - RT ). It seems that a good sense of humor in our family is inherited. I know that both grandfather and father loved to joke. Like my mom and Aunt Peggy, that's what I call my older cousin. They all had a wonderful sense of humor. It seems to be our common family trait. I think my grandfather also had a great sense of humor. Sometimes, of course, because of the jokes, you can get into trouble, but usually people like it.
- What about you - do you like basketball?
Beverly: Yes, we love him. We watch it infrequently, maybe a couple of times a week on TV. But sometimes we go to matches with great pleasure.
Jim: We love watching teams understand that it's not the individual players that matter, but the teamwork. The main thing is the team spirit and well-coordinated game. Sometimes hostility may arise between the players, but during the game it fades into the background, and the question becomes a priority: how to defeat the opponent together?
Of course, we have favorite clubs, but I won't say which ones. The games of individual teams, which have a stronger team spirit, we watch with particular interest. I am already retired and do not go to work, but I always knew that a strong team spirit is the main condition for the success of any enterprise. If he is, everything is on the shoulder, and if not, nothing will work.
Beverly: James Naismith once said, "If your opponent is down, help him up, otherwise you won't have anyone to play with."
Jim: No rivals, no game. ( Laugh. ) He perfectly understood what he was talking about.
— Do the younger Naismith generation honor traditions and play basketball?
Beverly: Our daughter Margaret's children also played basketball. In the US, there is a program called Upward Basketball, which is implemented in sports sections at churches, from the first grade of school to the seventh. This is a wonderful program! Children are taught the principles of mutual respect and sports behavior. And of course, how to throw the ball into the basket. I remember once I attended five games in one week.
All of our grandchildren played basketball. Our granddaughter Natalie played in high school, and eldest daughter Ann didn't give up basketball until her second year of college. She apparently loves sports.
— By the way, do your friends, acquaintances and neighbors know that you are descendants of that same James Naismith? And how do they react to it?
Beverly: Most of our close friends know. But sometimes we run into complete strangers and they say, “Just look at him! Look at those mustaches!” Jim is like two drops of water similar to his grandfather, I can show a photo. So a lot of people are guessing. But sometimes people think we are joking.
Jim: A man was interested in my name and asked if I was related to the man who invented basketball. I replied, "Yes, that was my grandfather." He objected: "It can't be, you're too young!" ( Laugh. )
My father was born when my grandfather was already 52 years old. We are such centenarians - there are only two generations from me to the inventor of basketball! People are very surprised when they find out that my grandfather was born in 1861. But this is true.
Basketball school in the USA: how to get an athletic scholarship
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Basketball school in the USA: how to get an athletic scholarship
Even with basic information about the "peculiarities of national education" in America, it is easy to conclude that education in the States is an expensive pleasure. Despite this, it is in the United States that people tend to come not only for academic knowledge, but also for a sports career.
Studying at a basketball school in the United States opens up truly great prospects for a promising athlete (one of our students called these prospects "enchanting"). Even before planning a budget for education, you can try to get a so-called sports scholarship to study in the country of your dreams. A sports scholarship can cover up to 100% of the cost of education.
Not sure where to start? Let's follow together!
1. Decide on an educational institution.
Education in the United States is represented by a fairly large number of institutions: foreigners are accepted by private schools in the country and its universities. The American school is a full-fledged twelve years of study, often supplemented by the Post Graduate Year, so among high school students you can meet not only teenagers, but also almost adult young people.
The best option for a foreign student is a two-year so-called Junior College or Prep Year at school, since entrance exams are not required for admission.
2. Prepare Highlights + Summary.
This is a short game video for a basketball school in the USA, accompanied by a concise story about your personal academic and athletic achievements. The video is your presentation for American coaches, so the Highlights format is cuts from the most striking moments from training and games. So the movie will look the most advantageous.
Prepare a comprehensive resume that lists your age, measurements (height and weight), and position on the basketball court. Write down your achievements by points (for example, a member of the regional team, the champion of the country in 2000 among young men). Good academic performance will be a significant plus, since the American coach is always interested in players with good academic grades.
3. Contact the trainer. Or better yet, coaches.
Have the courage to offer yourself as an athlete to a specific coach. It is most logical to contact him directly: schools and colleges in the United States leave the contacts of their coaches in the public domain on official websites in the appropriate sections. An important point: it should be remembered that there are a lot of people who want to get a scholarship, so coaches receive dozens, if not hundreds, of such letters a day. Therefore, you should not bet on one specialist.
Let's say your option is a basketball school in the USA, in the state of California. Take the state High school list, get the contacts of the coaches and send them your materials. Even if only a third of your requests are answered, you are guaranteed to receive interesting funding proposals. This is especially true for really promising young players.
Our advice: good trainers are found in sports summer camps operated by the Exposure Camps program - consider this option as an alternative.
What is a basketball school in the USA?
Studying at High school involves an independent choice of the subjects studied, in addition to the compulsory general education (mathematics, English, history and, of course, physical education), as well as the preparation of an individual schedule. The main requirement is to collect the required number of hours for each of the groups of disciplines. Thus, students of different grades of higher education can sit in one lesson.
Maybe 6 out of 10 for youth players. If not, dont take the shot at tryouts.
Play to Your Strengths
The new sport was invented by physical education teacher James Naismith. On the occasion of the anniversary of the creation of basketball, RT interviewed the grandson of the innovator, Jim Naismith. He talked about how his grandfather got the idea to throw the ball in the basket and what rule James considered the most important. 
At the invitation of the Russian family in which she lived all this time, the Naismiths visited their daughter. The trip, according to them, made an indelible impression on them, and they maintain friendship with the family from Yaroslavl to this day. 
On the example of his parents and uncle, he understood that a man should provide for his family. And it made itself felt. As soon as he entered high school, he dropped out, explaining that he could not study and help his family at the same time. 
One story can be remembered here. Grandfather sat and drank at the bar. He must have been quite drunk. Most likely, it was on the day of the payday, while he still had money. At the other end of the bar sat a man who asked his grandfather if he was Margaret Young's son. "Yes," replied the grandfather. - And there is". To which the man said: "Seeing you now, she would roll over in her grave." I don’t know if this story is true or not, but I heard about it from different people. 
However, two years later, he not only finished school, but also began teaching there. The teacher was his maternal great-uncle, and one day he became so ill that he could not continue to work. Then the grandfather was asked if he would like to teach in the class of his relative. That is, in two years, he went from a high school student to a high school teacher, which not only speaks of his determination, but also indicates the recognition of his abilities and strength of character by others. 
It seems to me that this is what his older sister and Uncle Pete wanted for his grandfather. 
In it, a smaller cobblestone is placed on a large boulder, and the players must knock it down with a throw of a stone and pick it up from the ground so that they are not caught by the driver. In this game, the most successful throw is obtained when you throw a stone not in a straight line, with all your strength, but with a canopy so that it falls on the target from above. This allows you to knock down the top stone, but so that it does not fly too far from the bottom - then it is easier to catch it, thereby earning points. 
I had never heard my grandfather's voice before, but about a year ago, a researcher at the University of Kansas found an audio recording of this interview in the archives and made copies. For a long time, she was not known. And there is the voice of James Naismith - a rather high, one might say tenor, and very lively. 
It seems to me that he had nothing against a hard game - he only disliked boring games. 
I'm older now (which I'm happy about) and that's very important to me. 
They all had a wonderful sense of humor. It seems to be our common family trait. I think my grandfather also had a great sense of humor. Sometimes, of course, because of the jokes, you can get into trouble, but usually people like it. 
I am already retired and do not go to work, but I always knew that a strong team spirit is the main condition for the success of any enterprise. If he is, everything is on the shoulder, and if not, nothing will work. 
I remember once I attended five games in one week. 
We are such centenarians - there are only two generations from me to the inventor of basketball! People are very surprised when they find out that my grandfather was born in 1861. But this is true. 
A sports scholarship can cover up to 100% of the cost of education. 
So the movie will look the most advantageous. 
