Basketball Education: How to be a better student of the game

Pick any hall of fame basketball player or coach, no matter what the era, and you will find they all have one thing in common. Whether Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or Tim Duncan, it doesn’t matter; they are all intense students of the game. They're basketball educated and scholars of the hardwood.

If there was a Valedictorian of the Hall of Fame, my vote would go the legendary Coach John Wooden. Coach Wooden said “If I am through learning, then I am through.” We’re always learning. It is an essential part of humanity and continues our desire to evolve. This should be an essential part of a player's development as well.

As a player or coach you must continue to evolve within the game. We’re all students of the game, and as the great John Wooden says, if anyone is feels that they are done learning then that person should remove themselves from the game.

What is basketball education?
Why should a player or coach be basketball educated?
How do I become a student of the game?

For me basketball was a game that my father introduced me to at a young age. It was something I played in the backyard and at my local rec center. During my youth, I never thought about the game from an intellectual standpoint, because I was too busy having fun with it. To be honest, I really didn’t understand the value of basketball education until I was a sophomore playing in college.

For most young players, the game is just fun until it begins to give back to you. Studies show that around middle school and early high school goals start to formulate and we begin to have a more serious approach to life. It is at this time when young players are the most influential and receptive to coaching and developing good fundamentals. 60% of children between the ages of 6-14 experience positive growth and development, while 25%-40% experience a declining motivation and involvement with school programs and sports.

It is at these ages that youth can start to exhibit their individuality and master new skills and seek emotional support from adults. Youth during this time, the desire to learn correctly increases as they begin to isolate themselves as individuals. (Princeton.edu). This means that young players during this time learn the most about the game and basketball education is an essential part of development.

To be a scholar of the hardwood, one must know the game. Below are the essential points of basketball education.

Know the fundamentals
Understand the rules of the game
Know the General history of the game
Know the roles of the 3 entities in a Basketball Game: Players, Coaches and Officials
Know the Equipment: Floor Dimensions, Ball dimensions, rim and backboard
Understand what strategy is and how it applies to basketball
Grasp a firm understanding efficient practice methods and drills

Lets look at each point of reference mentioned above. Below we have a chart that breaks down each point by subject, benefit, application, and results.

“I want to continue to do is to help these young women be successful. You just don’t say goodbye at the end of their playing career and end it there Pat Summit” - Hall of Fame NCAA Womens Coach

For many people basketball is for life. There are a lot of players who want to make the transitions from playing to coaching, officiating and managing teams. This is a natural progression and an easy career choice for most. However to reach the higher levels in the profession it usually takes more than just the knowledge you gained while playing.

Developing your Basketball IQ from an early age will benefit you greatly, should you choose to continue in the game as a career. During the course of your basketball career you wil begin to instill values and definetions of sucees as they pretain to your philosophy. This is where your foundation of being an educated individual will come into play. Basketball education is not solely confined within the dimentions of the court or restricted to the walls of the lockerroom. Basketball education is understanding the impact the game has on the world and those around it. You owe it to yourself to become knowledgable and spread that knowledge and understanding to everyone you come in contact with.

Below is a video of the great John Wooden discussing the differences between winning and suceeding. This talk focuses of the subjuect of life rather than basketball, although Coach Wooden uses basketball as a segway to connect the interest.

As you heard in the video, success is what you define as success, but universally we all must strive for success and getting there takes some work. This means, how can one say they’re successful, but has not tried or attepted anything? How can one be successful if they have not achieved a greater level of enlightement or education? Once you have tried or attemted to further develop yourself then the results of that attempt will be succefull as you see fit.

Success in Basketball at the higher levels requires many variables. Lets stay with the element of Basketball Education: Becoming a better student of the game. Below is a bubble chart that shows four elements to achieving success in the game of basketball.

It’s a simple concept to understand but difficult to master. The chart above maps out four areas of discipline to focus on. Basketball education starts here and continues into well into your career. Basketball Education is a way of life, it’s a choice you make to dedicate yourself to the game and all it has to offer. Knowledge truly is power, never underestimate your mental abilities as it related to your basketball career.