Basketball: How The Game Is Played

The unpredictable fast pace action, the change of directions, and amazing displays of athleticism. Everyone can grab a ball, head to a court, and play some ball. The game is so easily mocked that the actual skills to perform at high levels sometimes or in some places go underappreciated. Unlike most team sports, which also have individuals that need to mash together if they value winning.

Basketball players have to understand both defensive strategies and offensive strategies. Also have the ability to switch between the two, often simultaneously. Though, it is many different intangibles that come with excelling at basketball. The fact remains anyone with enough passion and determination can become a solid player. Of course, that takes years of what Les Brown calls “sweat equity”.

Let us back up a bit, why do I feel the need to stress that anyone can make themselves into a solid ballplayer? Yup, regardless of height, size, and whatever other metrics that people love to use as an excuse for why you can not or why it will be hard to achieve your goals. Ever since I could remember, I played ball, the attention ballplayers got, and the dedication to the process. I always had my eyes on the future, while sort of drifting through the present greatly to my dismay. Every coach that believed in me would equally doubt me, and most coaches had zero belief in me.

During elementary after, halfway getting my act together academically, my mother allowed me to play organized basketball in 5th grade for the first time. Up until that point, all I knew was streetball which meant, playing with the big boys. With that confidence, I felt like the best player on the team, leading our squad in rebounding and points.

Our school did not have enough girls that wanted to play basketball to form a girls’ team. There was a talented girl ballplayer that the boys' team coach allowed to play for the boy’s team. Looking back that was a huge deal in the fight for gender equality, but at the time, I was a child, and the ball is life. After that season, that girl, though she could hoop was named our team MVP, I was pissed and could not see the big picture in that. The goal was to make the NBA, and here I took that elementary coach gesture as a smack in the face.

By the time middle school come around, I would like to say I choose the school with the best hoopers though, it was talented, and it was second to a rival school. The 6th-grade coach thought I was too arrogant for his team, and the neighborhood travel team coach felt I was too soft. Those types of statements; could have never been made to kids nowadays, but it did not deter me.

Then 7th and 8th graders played ball together in middle school. The coach RIP Rev. Wade took a liken to me. He excelled at installing key principles in me not only about basketball but also life. During that time, another local traveling team took notice of me, right after the 7th-grade season. The coach Michael Powell was another staple in my development. He helped me with skill development, disciple, knowledge of the game, and real game-time experience. That started at 12 years old over 20 years ago, and though it is a ton more to my story, I only share this to highlight the work that goes into becoming a ball player or really whatever you desire to be.

I realize that many student-athletes have the same or even bigger ambitions than I had/have. In term, I worked with many younger athletes to help their dreams come true. Normally, we only get the summer to work out because I still play overseas. However, by the time next summer, it is a new bunch of youth athletes to train. I love to help them, preferably the kids that love the game. How to keep them improving during the winter months that I was gone playing ball myself?

Getyourstatsup.com was launched six years ago, to promote me as a basketball player and minorly display I also do personal coaching. Even though getyourstatsup.com is still active we needed to commit to the future, so two going on three years now, we change to bulltraining.online. There we have and continue to build the skill development portal. To give my players throughout the years access to quality content for free.

There is a catch, if we have not worked together in person then you have to qualify to get free access. That is through the bulltraining.online student-athletes Facebook group. Some key criteria are being NCAA clearinghouse eligible, approval letter of parent or guardian, and submitting a video displaying your ability to play ball. We are in the beginning phase of the FB group, which we believe could help get student-athlete ready for college and hopefully a scholarship. That explains the setup of the whole process and criteria. If you want to know more, please get in contact with me via FB or Bulltraining.online.

Live life free and stay fit!

J’Nathan Bullock CSCS