3 Training Secrets to Help You Take
Your Game to the Next Level

To really take your game to the next level, you have to train as effectively and efficiently as possible.

For the most part, player improvement is directly related to the effectiveness of the training program used.

In otherwords: a player can improve quickly and over a long period of time if they have a well designed, progressive, and challenging personal training program.

If two playes have roughly equal physical abilities (i.e. quickness, agility, jumping ability etc.), the player that has a better training program is likely to improve at a faster rate, and in the long run, become a better player.

There are so many aspects to a good, quality training program, that it's nearly impossible to cover everything in an article, or even a few articles. Literally, you'd have to write dozens of books on topics such as improving basketball skill (shooting, dribbling, rebounding, passing, defense, post play, perimeter play, etec.), as well as improving physical abilities (on topics such as speed training, agility training, improving vertical leaping ability, acceleration, change of direction, just to name a few).

So what we try to do is tackle a topic or concept that has universal appeal. In other words, specific enough that it will be effective and useful, but wide-reaching enough that it can help just about any player (of any age or skill level). Somtimes it's a difficult task, but that's the nature of an online newsletter such as this where we aren't actually training our players live, and in person.

Having said that, we want to touch on 3 very important concepts of basketball training. I believe, without a doubt, that any player can benefit tremendously from using these 3 tools in their personal training program, especially during the off-season.

Game-speed Training

I talk about this concept a lot, and for good reason: it is a key element of effective training program and skill development.

Many players are under the false impression that any training (shooting practice, dribbling practice, agility drills, etc.) is good training. No doubt, there is some value in just about "any" practice or training. But becoming a big-time player is rarely accomplished with poor training technique or programs.

The concept of game-speed trainining is pretty simple: practice at a high-level of speed (and intensity), so that you really push yourself, and push the envelope in terms of your skill level. The bottom line is that if you don't implement a game-speed training approach, you'll find that when you do get into a game (or even practice), you'll get left behind. The speed of the action in real competition is fast and furious, so you have to train yourself to read, react, and move at that high level of speed.

Overload Training

Overload training is another workout and training concept that I talk a lot about because it's so effective. Overload training means that workout and train doing more than you normally would in a game situation.

A simple example of an overload drill might be a two-basketball dribbling drill. Obviously, you'll never have to dribble two basketballs in a game. And dribbling two balls forces you to really develop good ball handling skills.

Many players watch the basketball while they dribble, and dribbling two balls at the same time doesn't allow this. Therefore, when done right, the drill forces you to improve as a ball handler.

Another overload-type drills might be things like making a post player keep his arms high above his shoulders while doing a rebounding drill. Now, in a regular game, the player would be able to start his jump by swinging his arms to get some upward momentum to go up for the rebound. But this drill forces the player to keep his arms high (which is a good habit to be in anyway), and forces him to develop the ability to get off the ground quickly without taking the time, or receiving the benefit of, swinging his arms for upward momentum.

Explosiveness Training

Another key part of a solid training program is emphasizing explosiveness and explosive moves.
Basketball is not a game where a lazy run or half-hearted jump will be of much value to a player or team. It's a game where quick, explosive moves are a requirement.

Therefore, training with these types of movements is essential to player improvement. For example, a rebounding drill is enhanced (and more valuable) if a player or coach emphasizes a quick, explosive leap up for the rebound, and then a quick and explosive follow-up put-back shot.

Likewise, a post player drill is enhanced if a player works on a drop-step move, followed by an explosive leap up for the power shot. The key is to mentally focus on exploding up to the basket.

The simple act of having this concept at the forefront of the mind while going through drills will have a double benefit: not only will the player enhance his training by training harder and more effectively, but the next time they make that move in a game, their first thought and move will be to explode up the basket. In other words, by practicing with this type of movement, it starts to become a habit that carrries over to game.

Integrate game-speed training, overload training, and explosiveness training into your personal and off-season workouts and you'll see amazing results. In fact, the benefits to using these training concepts should be seen almost immediately, and grow over time.

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