aggresiveness

is there anyway a i could learn to be a more aggresive player or do i just have to be more aggresive literally and mentally by myself when playing basketball.
I think i have already asked a question like this before, but when i play basketball i always think the players on my team are better than me, so i don't play agressively at all, and i get scared if i mess up they are going to get mad at me or think negatively about me. Even though i know i am better than them.

Ekam: I am going to send you a lind on an article that was written by Jay Billas who is an analyst for ESPN and a former player. I have been coaching many years and this is the best article on "Toughness" i have ever read. I coach professional basketball in Asia and gave a copy to all my players to keep. read it son, its well worth it, If it doesn't make you a better player I'll eat the article..good luck coach mac

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/insider/columns/story?columnist=bilas_jay&id=3868904&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncb%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dbilas_jay%26id%3d3868904

This is a great article Coach Mac.... pretty much covers the whole game doesn't it! Thanks for sharing this with us.

From reading ekam's prior posts it seems like part of his problem is self - confidence.

Ekam, you need to start believing in yourself and your own abilities.
IF you don't no one else will either. You are telling us that you are a good player - then go out there every day you are with them and prove it... by that I mean, be the hardest working player on the floor... day in and day out. I gurantee you that they will respect you for that... and that has nothing to do with talent.

We used to tell our players this... "while some teams may be better than us - NO ONE will out work us!" So, you be one of those guys..... gain some confidence that way..... Play to your strengths and work on your weaknesses in practice.

Play Hard - Play Smart - and above all HAVE FUN!

thanks alot for your repplies coach mac and coach sar, no matter what the question you guys really give great advice

No problem Ekam -

I hope helped you ... good luck

Its our pleasure Ekam, post that article above your bed try to complete at least three of the principles each practice and it will make you a better more aggressive player. As Coach Sar says, you need a dose of confidence young man and the only way you will get it is by out working not only your opponents but also your teammates. remember one principle "Work so hard out on the floor, that your coach will be forced to take you out." and once you are finished, ask yourself these questions, "Did i do everything I could have done to make my team better, to make my coach better and to make myself better. I have heard athletes say that they have given 100% out there. well as you know, 100% is perfection and i have come to believe that no one gives 100% There is ALWAYS something more you can do. Did you aggressively pursue that loose ball, Did you go hard after that offensive rebound, Did you work your tail off to shut your opponent down defensively?
Good Luck son enjoy the greatest game on earth. Coach Mac

Great advice Coach Mac!

This IS the greatest game on Earth to my way of thinking... I coached football, baseball and basketball.... but this game is my favorite.

everytime we're dribbling or when we get a pass do we look at the hoop right away

When you are dribbling you need to keep your head up so you can read the defense and look at your options.

When you catch a pass you should square up and get into a triple threat position... to see if you can shoot, pass or need to use the dribble.

what about when driving in and we get in trouble what should we do, because i don't have a lot a lot of game experiance yet.

Also during a scrimmage i started thinkng if i should crossover my defender or do something else, is that okay or do we just react when playing basketball

I also know a lot of moves but during a game or scrimmage i never do them, is it becasue i have never practiced them and therefore they are not stored in my mind which means in a game situation, during different kinds of situations where i can apply those moves, but they are not in stored in my mind and have not mastered them (i think i already know them), so i can't react right away to the situation, instead i have to think of doing some kind of move and then, and by the time i think of something, theres nothing left to do

Ekam: STOP THINKING AND SIMPLY PLAY THE GAME. Do what comes naturally to you. Practice the moves ...yes...use them when playing pick up or even scrimmaging with your team. However, if you don't have the confidence during a game to use them then don't, do what you do best. basketball is a simple game, you pass the ball, you catch the ball, you shoot the ball, you score the ball. Stop over thinking you are going to make yourself dizzy and get gray hair just like me.... Coach Mac

lol thanks

No kidding ekam -

You got me dizzy reading that last post of yours.

ekam_dhaliwal wrote:Ekam: STOP THINKING AND SIMPLY PLAY THE GAME. Do what comes naturally to you. Practice the moves ...yes...use them when playing pick up or even scrimmaging with your team. However, if you don't have the confidence during a game to use them then don't, do what you do best. basketball is a simple game, you pass the ball, you catch the ball, you shoot the ball, you score the ball. Stop over thinking you are going to make yourself dizzy and get gray hair just like me.... Coach Mac

This is great advice from a "blue hair" (what they call people with gray hair in Florida) Play the game and have some fun.... don't over think it, play and react.

lol, i was just trying to make sure we have to practice a move before a game so it can get sdtored in our mind.

Of course you practice things before you try it in a game... but you seem to be thinking too much.... have some fun.... play hard, play smart and have fun.

do you guys have drills or tips for guards driving in the lane and scoring

Ekam: you continue with this blog, and you will have more posts than Coach Sars. Driving the lane is all about quickness, foot speed, being able to go either way left or right, great ball handling and body control. There are a million drills to teach one on one moves, but teaching quickness is a different story. This is the one game played, that you really don't have to be fast to play but having great quickness is a major asset. However, I have seen on too many occasions players driving the lane getting caught up in the air and have no place to go with the ball resulting in a turnover. If you are going to drive the lane, always give yourself a way out..i.e. drive and dish to a teammate, drive and kick out to a shooter on the perimeter or drive and score or get fouled. If you look to the left side of this blog, for player tips and basketball drills, Joe and Jeff have a great variety for you...once again...good luck and let us know how you are doing..Coach Mac

Be nice now Coach Mac.....being retired has its benefits! IF I get to one million posts I can win a Ferrari Enzo! :-) J/K


Ekam - Listen to Coach Mac, he has and always does give great advice....

I was watching a Video by Barry Adams and he was talking about bumping the defender to knock him off balance just before going into your shot....Play 1 on 1 with some one - take them inside and try it out once you get inside.... hope this helps.

Good luck and don't drive yourself nuts over a game thats supposed to be fun.

Ken: can you let me have your eamil address or msn I.D. so we can communicate privately. thanks Coach Mac

thanks, i'm a guy that asks a lot of questionsand sometimes i ask stupid questions too