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How to start a basketball team
How to Start a Select Basketball Team
In recent years, basketball has reigned as the #1 team sport in the U.S. According to Sports Business Daily, more than 60 million people over age six play the sport. And 20 million youth between six and 17 play basketball.
Due to the sports’ immense popularity, many people are wondering how to start a select basketball team to grow the game in their area.
Starting a select youth basketball team requires passion and dedication - and a ton of time. But the rewards of seeing young players improve skills and build confidence can make it all worthwhile. Follow these steps to get started!
Skip to a Section...
Choose the Focus of Your AAU Program
When you first form a select basketball program, you probably have big ideas. You may dream of traveling across the country to compete in national events. Or you may want to build a competitive high school basketball program in your area by helping to develop players early.![]()
Those long-range goals may take years to reach. At first, you need to make decisions about team or club structure. If you plan to register with the Amateur Atheltic Union (AAU), you should know you’ll be setting up an AAU club. In the AAU structure, a club can consist of a single team or many teams. Note that there are three levels of AAU club membership that range from $30 to $300.
Also, you should know that there are other select basketball organizations besides AAU. You can look into the National Travel Basketball Association (NTBA) or regional travel leagues in your area.
You need to ask yourself some critical questions as well:
Are we focusing on one age group or multiple?
Are we offering both boys and girls basketball?
What do we hope to achieve in three years, or five, or 10?
Will your program be based in one community, or an entire region?
Do I want this to be a volunteer run program? Or do I want to have part time employees coaching and running the teams?
These focusing questions and others will help you scope your initial efforts and plan for the future.
Once you have an initial overview of the program you want to start you need to start promoting the new organization.
The easiest first step is to name the organization and create a social media page on either Facebook or Instagram. No need to try to do too much at first, just create a social media page for your teams and announce yourself to the world! You can post the initial goals of the organization and potential tryout dates, age groups, etc.
You should also get a high quality logo for your program. Nowadays you can get access to professional designers easily using services like Upwork or Freelancer. Just create an account and post a simple task for logo or branding creation, and you’ll get applications from designers to work on your logo for you. You can probably get a nice logo created for around $50.
A logo will go a long way toward establishing credibility for you club and getting interest from potential players.
Set Up a Website and Online Payments
When you’ve named or organization and created a logo, setting up a website for your basketball program can also be a simple process and will be a credibility builder for your new organization.
A website should serve as the central location to post information like rosters, coaching profiles, your Mission Statement, and organization history. You should also use your website to register players for tryouts and collect club fees, post tournament schedules, and list event recaps.
As your program grows you can also list organization accomplishments - like tournaments won, college commitments, and academic achievements as your club progresses.
Depending on the software provider you choose for your program, you can also run online registration and communicate with parents through your website.
A website is a great tool to promote your basketball program throughout the year, and also manage all of the administration for your teams.
Form Your First AAU Basketball Team
After you’ve established your initial focus, you are ready to form your first team. You’ll need to secure a coaching staff first.
Parents with high school or college playing experience or current high school players may make good coaches.
If you can find like-minded parents that have experience playing or coaching, you might be able to build a coaching staff for your team quickly.
Once your coaching staff is in place, it’s time to select players. You’ll want to hold open tryouts to find the right mix of players and aim to recruit a few standouts. Try to work with the local high school programs or recreational youth programs to get the word out about your organization.
Getting your roster set is a huge step. Tell everyone to register for an AAU membership if you plan to participate in AAU basketball tournaments. Make sure your team is signed up with NTBA if you want to take part in that league’s events.
Secure Locations and Set Up Schedules
Now you are ready to start holding practices. The advantage of having a select team is that you can choose practice times that work for everyone involved.
Keep in mind that select basketball is a big commitment. And that youth athletes need time for rest between practices and games to avoid the risk of overuse injuries and burnout.
According to NBA youth basketball guidelines, players age 11 and under should have at least two rest days per week, with athletes age 12 to 18 needing at least one rest day. The NBA also recommends the following maximum weekly limits for young players:
Make sure not to overwork your players. Practice time should be limited to a couple of days per week, especially if they haven’t entered high school yet.
In choosing a practice location, put safety considerations first. The AAU facility checklist offers excellent tips, such as:
Make sure the playing surface is in proper condition
Ensure the playing area has proper markings
Make sure lighting is adequate
Ensure that facilities like bathrooms and locker rooms are in good condition
Often, secondary schools or recreation centers are good facility options. You’ll need to consider available space, times, and costs in selecting your practice venue.
Select Events and Calculate Costs
After you’ve established your team and practice schedule, you can start researching events.
On the AAU website or Exposure Events, you can search by age, state, event type, and more. Youth basketball tournaments take place across the United States, nearly every weekend of the year. However, you’re likely to want to stay closer to home during your first seasons of select basketball.
Keep in mind that tournament registration fees can add up quickly. And travel costs can add up for families too. According to cost data from USA Today High School Sports, playing on a very active team that travels most weekends can cost families up to $5,000 for two seasons of play. If your team can secure sponsorships, you may be lucky enough to lower those costs down to as little as $500 annually.
Start Growing Your Select Basketball Program
For many talented athletes, a select program is a better fit than rec basketball. If your community doesn’t yet have a select team, why not consider starting one? Elite teams help top players improve basketball skill levels and develop their talents.
Select basketball is a big commitment for parents, players, and coaches. But select teams offer young athletes a chance to compete at elite levels. And some tournaments offer exposure to college basketball recruiters. You can play a significant role in helping a gifted player maximize potential by starting a select basketball team.
Additional Resources
The 6 Top Youth Basketball Drills for Coaches
How to Build a Website for a Youth Sports Program
The Best Tools for Nonprofit Sports Organizations
How to Find Companies that Sponsor Youth Sports
How to Apply for Grants for Youth Sports
How to Start a Select Basketball Team
In recent years, basketball has reigned as the #1 team sport in the U.S. According to Sports Business Daily, more than 60 million people over age six play the sport. And 20 million youth between six and 17 play basketball.
Due to the sports’ immense popularity, many people are wondering how to start a select basketball team to grow the game in their area.
Starting a select youth basketball team requires passion and dedication - and a ton of time. But the rewards of seeing young players improve skills and build confidence can make it all worthwhile. Follow these steps to get started!
Skip to a Section...
Choose the Focus of Your AAU Program
When you first form a select basketball program, you probably have big ideas. You may dream of traveling across the country to compete in national events. Or you may want to build a competitive high school basketball program in your area by helping to develop players early.
Those long-range goals may take years to reach. At first, you need to make decisions about team or club structure. If you plan to register with the Amateur Atheltic Union (AAU), you should know you’ll be setting up an AAU club. In the AAU structure, a club can consist of a single team or many teams. Note that there are three levels of AAU club membership that range from $30 to $300.
Also, you should know that there are other select basketball organizations besides AAU.
You can look into the National Travel Basketball Association (NTBA) or regional travel leagues in your area.
You need to ask yourself some critical questions as well:
Are we focusing on one age group or multiple?
Are we offering both boys and girls basketball?
What do we hope to achieve in three years, or five, or 10?
Will your program be based in one community, or an entire region?
Do I want this to be a volunteer run program? Or do I want to have part time employees coaching and running the teams?
These focusing questions and others will help you scope your initial efforts and plan for the future.
Once you have an initial overview of the program you want to start you need to start promoting the new organization.
The easiest first step is to name the organization and create a social media page on either Facebook or Instagram. No need to try to do too much at first, just create a social media page for your teams and announce yourself to the world! You can post the initial goals of the organization and potential tryout dates, age groups, etc.
You should also get a high quality logo for your program. Nowadays you can get access to professional designers easily using services like Upwork or Freelancer. Just create an account and post a simple task for logo or branding creation, and you’ll get applications from designers to work on your logo for you. You can probably get a nice logo created for around $50.
A logo will go a long way toward establishing credibility for you club and getting interest from potential players.
Set Up a Website and Online Payments
When you’ve named or organization and created a logo, setting up a website for your basketball program can also be a simple process and will be a credibility builder for your new organization.
A website should serve as the central location to post information like rosters, coaching profiles, your Mission Statement, and organization history. You should also use your website to register players for tryouts and collect club fees, post tournament schedules, and list event recaps.
As your program grows you can also list organization accomplishments - like tournaments won, college commitments, and academic achievements as your club progresses.
Depending on the software provider you choose for your program, you can also run online registration and communicate with parents through your website.
A website is a great tool to promote your basketball program throughout the year, and also manage all of the administration for your teams.
Form Your First AAU Basketball Team
After you’ve established your initial focus, you are ready to form your first team. You’ll need to secure a coaching staff first.
Parents with high school or college playing experience or current high school players may make good coaches. If you can find like-minded parents that have experience playing or coaching, you might be able to build a coaching staff for your team quickly.
Once your coaching staff is in place, it’s time to select players. You’ll want to hold open tryouts to find the right mix of players and aim to recruit a few standouts.
Try to work with the local high school programs or recreational youth programs to get the word out about your organization.
Getting your roster set is a huge step. Tell everyone to register for an AAU membership if you plan to participate in AAU basketball tournaments. Make sure your team is signed up with NTBA if you want to take part in that league’s events.
Secure Locations and Set Up Schedules
Now you are ready to start holding practices. The advantage of having a select team is that you can choose practice times that work for everyone involved.
Keep in mind that select basketball is a big commitment. And that youth athletes need time for rest between practices and games to avoid the risk of overuse injuries and burnout. According to NBA youth basketball guidelines, players age 11 and under should have at least two rest days per week, with athletes age 12 to 18 needing at least one rest day. The NBA also recommends the following maximum weekly limits for young players:
Make sure not to overwork your players.
Practice time should be limited to a couple of days per week, especially if they haven’t entered high school yet.
In choosing a practice location, put safety considerations first. The AAU facility checklist offers excellent tips, such as:
Make sure the playing surface is in proper condition
Ensure the playing area has proper markings
Make sure lighting is adequate
Ensure that facilities like bathrooms and locker rooms are in good condition
Often, secondary schools or recreation centers are good facility options. You’ll need to consider available space, times, and costs in selecting your practice venue.
Select Events and Calculate Costs
After you’ve established your team and practice schedule, you can start researching events. On the AAU website or Exposure Events, you can search by age, state, event type, and more. Youth basketball tournaments take place across the United States, nearly every weekend of the year.
However, you’re likely to want to stay closer to home during your first seasons of select basketball.
Keep in mind that tournament registration fees can add up quickly. And travel costs can add up for families too. According to cost data from USA Today High School Sports, playing on a very active team that travels most weekends can cost families up to $5,000 for two seasons of play. If your team can secure sponsorships, you may be lucky enough to lower those costs down to as little as $500 annually.
Start Growing Your Select Basketball Program
For many talented athletes, a select program is a better fit than rec basketball. If your community doesn’t yet have a select team, why not consider starting one? Elite teams help top players improve basketball skill levels and develop their talents.
Select basketball is a big commitment for parents, players, and coaches. But select teams offer young athletes a chance to compete at elite levels. And some tournaments offer exposure to college basketball recruiters.
You can play a significant role in helping a gifted player maximize potential by starting a select basketball team.
Additional Resources
The 6 Top Youth Basketball Drills for Coaches
How to Build a Website for a Youth Sports Program
The Best Tools for Nonprofit Sports Organizations
How to Find Companies that Sponsor Youth Sports
How to Apply for Grants for Youth Sports
Kanye West created his own basketball team
It consists of promising students.
It consists of promising students.
FOLLOWING THE START OF THE GREAT JOURNEY OF DONDA ACADEMY
Kanye West is one of the most famous musicians in the world right now, the man who changed modern rap, music, fashion, and now he will try to change education and sports. We came to this conclusion when he personally announced and immediately launched his high school basketball team as part of Donda Academy. Let's talk more about this sporting phenomenon.
Kanye West is one of the most famous musicians in the world right now, the man who changed modern rap, music, fashion, and now he will try to change education and sports.
We came to this conclusion when he personally announced and immediately launched his high school basketball team as part of Donda Academy. Let's talk more about this sporting phenomenon.
What is Donda Academy?
This is a private school, about which very little is known so far. She bears the name of Kanye's late mother. This is quite symbolic for three reasons at once: Donda was a professor at the University of Chicago; Kanye has now dedicated not only music to his mother, but also an educational project; it is a dream come true to pass on your unique vision to the world to a new generation. At the moment, the academy has a small website with a philosophical message, as well as support in the person of Kanye himself and his bank account.
It is known that Kanye wants to nurture new leaders with this project for completely different areas of life - he will achieve this goal by inviting the most talented students in the United States and giving them a first-class education.
So far, Donda Academy plans to exist in the format of a closed educational institution for 50-60 talented young people.
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Post by DONDA SPORTS ???? (@dondasports)
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Publication from DONDA SPORTS ???? (@dondasports)
What does basketball have to do with it?
Kanye, through his high school program, decided to fulfill his lifelong dream of starting a basketball club. This basketball club should be based within the academy in order to promote it (and basketball is a great PR tool in modern America) and show that you can change the world without building anything for hundreds of years.
He literally decided to create a basketball team out of nothing?
Yes, exactly. The team did not yet have a hall, and the school had a building, but there were 3 players from the list of the best students in the USA (usually such players play in the NBA if their career develops without serious injuries). Remember their names: Jackie Howard (16th in the nation), Robert Dillingham (9th in the nation), JJ Taylor (5th in the nation). Already, these students are known to all university basketball programs and NBA scouts. Kanye was also able to invite players with a 4-star rating, which is also extremely rare. In general, he gathered a very strong gang, luring them into his educational project.
Is this possible?
Yes, maybe, but it caused a huge controversy and scandals, because many felt that it was wrong for Kanye to lure students to a school that does not even have any guarantees, and there is no building yet. He called the players to the team, simply sending messages on Instagram under the guidance of the head coach of the academy.
Such methods have already been called opaque, because there are rumors that Kanye could promise something else besides class education and ambition. Obviously, he was able to attract the top young athletes in the country not only through education, but also through his name, which will help athletes build their careers faster, get sponsorship contracts faster, and also get attention from scouts.
What interesting things have we seen from Team Kanye so far?
If West does something, it is always in such a way that it stands out from the competition. First, Kanye created a very unusual monochrome team jersey that fits perfectly with the style of his Yeezy brand. The Balenciaga brand also took part in its creation. If you have ever seen high school American basketball, then when you see the uniform of the academy, you will definitely be surprised: no formidable animals or huge letters with bright colors - instead of them, a dove and plain solutions (black numbers against a black jersey is a very bold decision for a school team).
Kanye also pushes/forces guys to play in Yeezy sneakers from the adidas line, which, although not considered basketball shoes, are still quite suitable for him. In addition, Kanye sends things from his collabs. He creates not just athletes, he creates style icons that will inspire everyone.
Kanye didn't forget about the merch, which he launched immediately after he first introduced his basketball team on the cover of the main basketball magazine, SLAM. Such a start discouraged even the strongest school competitors.
All the players were also placed in luxury apartments where they are taught by teachers (they also go to games with them), they were given Kanye's personal chef, the best coaches, 2 workouts a day, and also daily access to the basketball hall .
How is it all highlighted?
Kanye is constantly posting videos of his team, coming to games, inviting influential fans, selling tickets, doing away tours, and performing at matches (asked the fans to come in all black bow).
The team is monitored by a large team of cameramen and photographers who create content atypical for a school competition. All this gives a special charm to this story and every day adds to the value of the academy.
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Post by DONDA SPORTS ???? (@dondasports)
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A post from DONDA SPORTS ???? (@dondasports)
When can we see players drafted?
The first academy prospects will be able to try their hand at the 2024 draft, but most will be drafted as early as the 25th year.
Does this have a future?
It's hard to say, but it definitely has a central idea that looks fresh and topical: it lies in the fact that the modern academic education system provides only dry knowledge that is not complemented by related areas, as well as the most important element - the mechanisms for their application.
Roughly speaking, all modern schools give a black and white book, and Kanye wants to give them a book in which they can decorate all the pages and also show how to sell it - they don’t teach this in a regular school, they usually scold for this. Yes, this is a bold statement, but it is for such ideas that we love the modern world.
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Many of you regularly ask questions about how to get into the Nizhny Novgorod BC, or rather, into the junior team and the junior youth team.:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7804002/20120707_gav_sv5_038.jpg)
After talking with the head coach of BC "NN-2" and BC "NN-3" Roman Gorelovsky, we decided to answer all at once and give you a detailed plan on how to conquer Nizhny. Let's get started!
So, I'm a basketball player. I think I'm pretty good. How old do I have to be to get into the structure of the club?
Answer: BC "NN" is considering candidates born in 2000 this year. and younger.
Comment: This year we will bet on 2003 and 2004. But do not think that everything will be limited only to these ages. If a guy a little older wants to get into the youth team or junior junior league, then we will definitely look at him so as not to miss anyone. But this is selective. By and large, a boy who comes to play with us must be a practically ready-made basketball player. Of course, we allow a certain level of shortcomings, permissible marriage, but still an understanding of the game should already be formed, because this is the maximum age for the main team. That is, a player who comes to us at the age of 20 cannot be at the same level of development as a guy born in 2004.
As for the younger age limit, it is about 8-9Class.
Excellent. I fit the age criteria. What to do next?
Answer: send an application. We will talk about how to do this a little later.
Commentary: Initially, we look at where a potential player is from. If this is Nizhny Novgorod and nearby cities, then they just need to contact the club management or us, leave a request for viewing and arrive at the appointed time. If these are guys from other regions, then everything is a little more complicated here, but still the principle is the same. The necessary phone numbers and email addresses are publicly available on the site, so there should be no problems with this.
Understood. I sent an application. When can we expect a viewing?
Answer: We usually hold screenings during the May holidays or at the end of April, so as not to coincide with the days of school exams.
Comment: When applications have accumulated, we hold a meeting with the coaching staff, where we determine the date and place of viewings (usually these are May holidays), and even then we invite all the guys who left applications.
We have been following some of the local guys for more than a year, we will see someone for the first time, but we still try to look through everyone in order to find out who deserves special attention in the future.
Let's say I came to this preview and the coaching staff liked me. What then?
Answer: do not rush to relax! Another viewing session ahead.
Commentary: We have a second preview for the guys we singled out on the first one. It passes at the beginning of summer. In fact, these are some kind of fees. Last year we went to the Gorodetsky district, this year, perhaps, there will be the Meshchersky sports complex or the base on the Bor. In a word, at these training camps we make a final conclusion on each player and understand whether he made it to the team or not.
I figured it out. And what happens on the screenings? What to be ready for?
Answer: in fact, this is a regular training, but only with a special purpose.
Commentary: We simply give the guys elementary basic exercises, on which we look at the technical preparedness of the player.
That is, how he handles the ball, his dribbling, how much he controls his body, coordination, balance, how the guy learns information in exercises in pairs and triples, his physical condition and endurance, ability to play 1x1, well, game thinking . Although all this is difficult to see in one viewing fee, since constant communication and observation is necessary to fully understand the level of the player. And yet, some moments are noticeable already at the first interactions.
Will all players have a chance or do you select candidates for certain positions?
Answer: We are interested in absolutely all players, regardless of their role on the court.
Commentary: Absolutely any player can come and declare himself. Most importantly, send applications and indicate your data. We will definitely look at each guy, whether he was born in 2000 or 2004.
I am going to visit you from another region. Is it possible? Or are you looking for guys only from the Nizhny Novgorod region?
Answer: First of all, we are interested in local students who have been trained in sports schools in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
But this does not mean that the doors of the club are closed to players from other regions.
Commentary: A person can come even from the other end of Russia. As, for example, the player "НН-2" this season Yegor Chepik. We saw this guy at the IES-BASKET SBL Superfinal, brought him from Blagoveshchensk, and he has been playing for the youth team for a year now. I can say that he has made great progress this season.
I looked at your current line-up and saw that there are a lot of young guys in the rosters. Does this mean that the set will not be as large?
Answer: not at all. The fact that there are practically no children of the maximum allowable age in the teams does not mean that the squads are completed for the next season. Viewings will take place as usual.
Commentary: We do not have a plan to take as many people as possible or, conversely, to limit the limit. Our goal is to focus on the quality of the players. We want to find guys who can potentially progress better than the rest.![]()
If everything goes according to the best scenario, will I be able to get into the main team?
Answer: of course! You don't have to look far for an example. Ex-youth player Georgy Zhbanov is currently playing for the main team, and in a recent home match with CSKA he updated his performance record (18 points). In a word, everything is in your hands!
Everything is cool, but I sent a request for a long time, and you still have not answered. Why?
Response: We are not currently responding to these applications because the exact viewing dates have not yet been determined. As soon as everything is known, we will definitely let you know.
Can I get some advice from the coach before the screenings? What qualities will help me in the first place?
Answer: in short, you just have to be strong in spirit.
Comment: Unrealistic desire, perseverance and diligence. After all, to become a good player and prove yourself, often enough just a strong character.
You may be weaker physically, but mentally you are already ready to endure all the difficulties of the training process and progress every day, and this is the most important thing. All the same, many, becoming players of the youth team and junior youth league, face great difficulties, because here you are far from your home, and being a schoolboy, it is very difficult to take such a step and completely change your life. At such moments, the character comes to the fore, so that in spite of everything, you continue to train and do not turn off the path you have chosen.
I understood everything. Please provide a link so I can submit the application.
More news from the Generation-НН category Volna takes revenge on the Seven and becomes the U10 championGeneration-NN Volna takes revenge on the Seven and becomes the U10 champion
Today we're going to take a look at the main aspects of the NBA draft. It is likely that you have already heard about it, but perhaps you do not know how the procedure itself is arranged.
.
The
NBA Draft takes place annually and serves to attract new players to the league. Most of its participants, these are students playing in the NCAA, also cannot do without European players who have proven themselves well in the Euroleague and in international competitions. Often, high school students take part in the draft, although the league is struggling with this, it wants to see educated basketball players in it. By the way, it was from the school bench that Kevin Garnett and LeBron James came to the league. But Kobe Bryant got into the league after high school, straight off the street.
Let's talk about the draft procedure. Now it consists of 2 rounds. Each NBA club selects fielded players in order of their turn. Priority is given to weaker teams that did not qualify for the playoffs. Recently, a lottery procedure has been introduced. This was done so that the teams did not deliberately fail the end of the championship in order to get the first number in the draft.
A player selected for the draft NBA is obligated to sign a contract with the club that chose him, this is the law. The first contract for young players, as a rule, does not promise much profit, so they are happy to accept an invitation from any team. For them, the main thing is to get and gain a foothold in the NBA.
Quite often our players get drafted, so it was with Andrey Kirilenko, Alexey Shved, Viktor Khryapa and Sergey Monya, the list goes on, but here are those who were able to achieve at least something in the major league. By the way, in his first season, Andrey Kirilenko was one of the league's best rookies, which allowed him to take part in the All-Star game.
But you need to know how to get on the basketball team and what it takes? After all, the skills of the game can only be learned in a team.
Basketball team: what does it take to get into it?
Of course, everyone wants to be on a professional team. But this is not easy to do, for this you need to have 1 category in basketball.
Any men's basketball team, just like women's, needs only professionals. But keep in mind that this sport is divided into two categories: professional league and amateurs.
If you have been playing basketball since your school days, and then participated in university city and district competitions, this is not a guarantee that you will be interested in a basketball club. For them, the main thing is how often your team won. And if the indicators turn out to be weak, then the road to professional basketball will be closed to you. But still, what ways can you take to get there?
- All professional basketball clubs are represented on the Internet. You need to go to the site and submit your application. If they are interested in a high-level player, they can invite you to watch. But if you get a refusal, do not despair, there are other options to get into a professional club.
- Each city has a weaker men's and women's basketball team, which is much easier to get into.
If you think that you deserve the best, then you need to show yourself as a leader in this team. When your team starts to win, then there is a chance to move to a higher level. After all, in professional clubs they are watching which players from the minor leagues they can strengthen their team.
In order to get into the lower level basketball club, you also need to go online and apply. They will definitely ask where you performed. And then they will check what kind of team it is and how it showed itself in the competition.
Establishment of an amateur basketball team
In fact, you can play basketball not only in a professional team, but also in an amateur one. Of course, the conditions here are not so good, but you will be doing your favorite thing. After all, in addition to the professional league, there is also an amateur one. To do this, you need to create your own basketball team with your friends. If there are not 10-12 avid basketball players among your friends, then you can go the other way.
To create a basketball team, a recruitment must be announced. And for this, there are special sports forums on the Internet. You should immediately contact the representative of the amateur league at the regional level and find out what conditions exist so that the team can participate in tournaments. We should try to discuss in advance on what conditions your team will be able to take part in the competition.
If you have leadership qualities, then you can definitely create a basketball team and become its captain. The main thing here is desire. And if you become a great player, you can find a sports agent who will look for a club for you at a higher level.
In the history of Ukrainian basketball there are not many players who have made successful careers abroad. And if it still succeeded, then, as a rule, already experienced basketball players with an established reputation. Standing apart in this row is the pupil of the Nikolaev sport swingman Sergey Gladyr, who left to play abroad at the age of 19.
And no matter how critically someone evaluates Gladyr's successes, he has been spending his fifth season in the strongest leagues in Europe and has become one of the leaders of the Ukrainian national team, which has achieved the greatest success over the years of its existence. Due to an injury, Sergei was unable to enter the court in the Euroleague Kiev match with Budivelnyk, but this did not stop PB from talking to him about basketball and more.
- Sergey, at the age of 25 you managed to achieve a lot in sports with your work. And to whom do you owe your arrival in basketball?
- First of all, I owe it to my parents, since I have a basketball family. My father has been working in a basketball club all my adult life, my mother is a physical education teacher at the university, my sister also played basketball, my godfather is Valentin Berestnev. I often came to my dad to work in the gym and over time I fell in love with basketball. And now, since the age of five, I have not parted with the ball.
- Let's go in order. From Nikolaev, you were drafted to the NBA, and then signed a contract with the Spanish Manresa. Was it your goal to leave Ukraine?
-First of all, it was my desire. As a young ambitious player, I wanted to play at a higher level, I wanted to grow as a basketball player. At that time, I received an offer from Spain, and I immediately agreed. In my opinion, this was the perfect career path.
- You stayed in Spain for four years. How can you characterize the DIA League and how is it most different from the Ukrainian one?
- The difference in championships is big. If you compare me in the last season in Ukraine and the last season in Spain, then everything can be seen without words. More specifically, the leagues differ in the overall level of basketball, the skill of the league players, the organization of matches.
- You were selected in the NBA draft, but it didn't work out with America yet. Will there be more attempts to get overseas?
- To be honest, playing in the NBA is my dream.
But I want to not just get there, but to play. Sitting on the bench and not knowing whether you will go out on the court today or not is not for me. But I would really like to play there and feel all this rhythm and the whole level of the strongest league in the world. So yes, I will try.
- The coach of the Ukrainian national team, Mike Fratello has considerable experience in America. Do you feel its influence on your gaming development? In particular, it seems that you have added in physical terms after the national team?
- Regarding my physical development, I'm just growing up. And of course, years of hard work come into play. Mike Fratello helps me grow both technically and mentally. But what swings physical training, it depends only on the player himself.
- Throwing is considered your strongest point. How would you characterize your weaknesses on the court?
- My weakness is the passage, I'm not too strong in this component yet. Of course, I know how to walk into the aisle, but still not as good as I would like in the first place myself.
Another game aspect in which I have something to strive for is defense. Although I am considered a good defender, I myself am sure that I still need to work a lot on defensive actions.
- The Ukrainian team showed a phenomenal result in Slovenia - you are going to the World Cup. What are the team's ambitions there?
— We are going to the World Championship for the first time. And therefore, by and large, we have nothing to lose there. You just need to go out, play, give your best and that's it! In fact, do everything the same as we did in Slovenia, and then the result may be similar.
- Who is the main motivator of the national team in the locker room. Not counting, of course, the coach?
- Dima Zabirchenko, as a captain, tries to cheer everyone up and create a positive atmosphere. But he can scold, if necessary. In turn, I try to support him in all matters.
— After EuroBasket, where you were one of the leaders of the Ukrainian national team, you sign a contract with Nanterre.
Were there any offers from the Superleague?
- "Nanterre" is my personal choice. There were proposals from Budivlnik, but we did not agree. Among a number of reasons, I was not happy that I would be the fifth or sixth small player in the squad. I would have to share playing time with players like Summers, Ahearn, Minard and Drozdov. Which means I wouldn't get a lot of playing time. At Nanterre, there were not so many quality players in my position. The high level of the French championship also played a role.
- Unlike Spain, many Americans play in the French league. How do you feel in such conditions?
- I'm getting used to it slowly, with each game it's getting easier and easier. I train with athletic and fast guys, and it spurs me on. It is clear that it is not easy physically, you need to maintain a high pace of games and training. Partly because of this, the knee could not stand it again. But we will work further.
- Continuing the theme of the Americans.
At EuroBasket 2013, a new “legionnaire” appeared in the Ukrainian national team - Pooh Jetter. Do you think the Ukrainian national team is strong enough not to attract naturalized players?
- I think that at the moment we still lack the first number. As talented and productive as Mishula is, he lacks international experience. He is young and still needs to learn. For this, he has all the makings. If you take Lipovoy, he can take the ball out, play it, but still he is not the first number. Therefore, the main personnel problem of the national team was precisely in the position of a playmaker. We found a player who, in my opinion, is very suitable for our team. He fit into the team both as a person and as a player. Jeter was often the initiator of evening walks after the game, offering to walk and warm up. As a result, we went out to McDonald's for a bite to eat and talk. Pooh is very sociable as a person. And as a player, he helped us in every match.
- When you throw a three-pointer and hit, you make a characteristic gesture with your hand, putting it to your eye.
What does this mean for you?
- In Spain, the games are broadcast on TV, and two years ago one of my friends told me: "Come on, when you score, show me like this!". So in this way, I kind of said hello to him. Since then, it has become a habit, and I already do it for good luck (laughs).
- Apart from basketball, your wife is an Olympic champion (Elena Khomrovaya, fencer - author's note). And you are considered the most successful sports couple in Ukraine. How do two athletes get along at home?
- Get along very well. Actually it helps a lot. We are both athletes, and both understand what it means to be far from home, without loved ones. What is it like to be tired after a workout, when there is no desire to see anyone, but you just want to watch a movie. In addition, Lena goes to all my games.
— And where did you meet?
Sergey: We studied together at the Nikolaev Higher School of Physical Culture
Elena: We studied in different classes.
But we got to know each other closely in 2008 after the Olympics (Elena became the Olympic champion just in Beijing - author's note).
Sergey: I was also famous then (laughs). It was my first year in the national team.
— What basketball shoes do you prefer?
- I love Nike LeBron James. 10th model.
- Who was your childhood idol?
- I grew up on the games of MBK "Nikolaev". Didn't miss a single match. Then the leader of the team was Sasha Raevsky. For us, then, his level seemed something unrealistic. The most vivid memory is of 1998, when we beat Shakhtar in 3rd place. And the idol was Michael Jordan. Watching the NBA live at that time was not possible, but if I came across some kind of video, I immediately watched it to the holes (laughs).
— What is taboo in basketball for you?
- I never get into any conflicts and fights. Even if they attack a player of my team, I will only separate them. We play basketball, not boxing.
Source:
How does the draft work?
The NBA draft system is constantly changing.
Once upon a time there was an infinite number of rounds, "territorial choice", to stand as a candidate right after school.
All players who meet special conditions can be drafted, which will be discussed in more detail a little later.
Teams also participate in a lottery to determine who and under what number will choose. As a rule, the best players are taken under the first draft numbers, but this does not always happen. For example, Darko Milicic, who was selected at number 2 in 2003 right after LeBron, but never received any big awards in the NBA. On the other hand, there are players who were selected in the second round of the draft but became stars: Nikola Jokic (41st pick), Marc Gasol (48th pick), Isaiah Thomas (60th pick) and the list goes on.
The draft lottery is held one month before the draft. Based on its results, the order of selection of players by teams that did not make it to the playoffs is determined. Playoff teams are assigned a draft pick number based on their final spot in the regular season.
