REMINDER ... OPEN GYM TODAY

Open gym today is from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at SMS. Players who want to do a longer workout can show up at 6:30. One on one games begin at 7:15... 3 on 3 begin at 7:40 ... 5 on 5 or 4 on 4 half court games begin at 7:50... full court games begin at 8:00. High School players ... grades 9 - 10 - must show up for the whole time between 7 - 9... Older players (alumni, etc...) can show up anytime. Open gym guidelines apply! See below... Guidelines come from Texas A&M Women's Coach Bob Starkey. These guidelines are a part of a number of great programs across the country. We don't want to be good ... We want to be great...


Keys to a good summer should include:

1. Commitment: As coaches, we will make the gym available but it is up to the player and the team to make use of it.  During our Final Four run at LSU, the players would drive Starkey and his coaching staff crazy to open the gym for them.  Seimone Augustus would play 2 hours of pick up with the Lady Tigers and then drive across town and play pick up with a boys high school team.  Several of their players would head to the rec center to play with men after pick up.

2. Concentration: It is not enough just to walk in a gym and play.  The great players/teams go into each opportunity knowing there are specific things that they need to work on and they must have a high level of focus during pick to improve upon those areas.  Habits can be developed and improved upon in the summer --good ones and the bad ones -- based on the commitment and concentration of the player(s).

3. Effort: The average player goes through the motions in pick up and in their summer workouts.  They will give a little effort at times but nothing consistent.  And that is largely why they are "average" players.


PLAYERS... IT IS YOUR JOB TO MEET WITH COACH LIMBER AND I SO THAT WE CAN HELP GUIDE YOU IN YOUR SUMMER WORKOUTS. WE WILL TELL YOU WHAT WE THINK YOU'RE GOOD AT, AS WELL AS TWO ASPECTS OF YOUR GAME YOU NEED TO WORK ON. YOUR JOB... IT TO WORK ON IMPROVING YOUR GAME OVER THE SUMMER. A PROGRAM FOR ALL PLAYERS WILL BE SET UP TO FOLLOW.


 GOLDS' GUDELINES FOR PLAYING AND WORKING OUT AT OPEN GYM TIMES:

1. ALWAYS PLAY MAN TO MAN DEFENSE
Good pressure on the basketball (even if you get beat on the drive)
Get a hand up on every shot ... Closeout with feet/hips/shoulders square to sidelines
Make contact, blockout, and finish the possession
Get in the passing lanes
No switching

2. RUN OUR OFFENSIVE 
Spacing: High and Wide ... Low and Wide... 5 out... 4 - 1 ... 3 - 2...
Minimize your dribble usage
Take good shots... hunt 9's, 8's and 7's
Set good screens to get your teammates open
No ball screens
No plays or entries

(This is also a great opportunity for your veteran players to teach your new players our motion offense rules.)

3. START WITH HALF COURT GAMES
Even if you have enough for 5/5, start with a couple of half court games
Will help us to develop our man defense and offense principles

4. UTILIZE CONVERSION
After half court games, finish up with full court games

5. GET BACK ON DEFENSE
Even 4/4 games can be played full court

6. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY
3/3, 2/2, 1/1
Play, play, play

7. BE A GOOD TEAMMATE
Encourage teammates
Upperclassmen teach our freshman how we play
Help younger players to understand offensive/defensive principles

8. PLAY HARD
Is there any other way?!

MAXIMIZE OUR SUMMER PICK-UP GAMES... HOLD OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE... DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME, OR SOMEONE ELSE'S TIME...

1.  PLAYERS PICK THE TEAMS

Gives players a chance to know where they stand with their teammates.  Makes captains give thought as to who they think can help them win. First player... "I GOT GAME!!!" Pick your team... Second player to call "I GOT GAME!!!" Picks his team ... play... Some one off says "I GOT NEXT!!!" ... Picks his guys and gets ready to compete...

2. PLAY SHORT GAMES

Play  7 to 9 points.  2's are worth 1 pt. and 3's are worth 2 pts. This creates a greater sense of urgency and can cultivate more intensity.

3. VALIDATE THE WIN WITH A FREE THROW

After a team gets to the point total needed to win, a player (selected by the losing team) must hit a free throw for the victory to be complete.  Otherwise OT is started for that game is at 0-0 and is played first to 3 pts. wins... followed by another free throw. The same process is repeated.

4. NO SUBBING DURING THE GAME UNLESS A PLAYER IS HURT. PLAY THROUGH FATIGUE.

Use each game as an opportunity to become more fit.

Extra players choose teams amongst those left over on the sidelines

One player must call next and choose his team.

If players are needed ... losing team shoots 3 pointers for spots.

Winning teams stay on... PLAY THROUGH FATIGUE...

THERE WILL COME A TIME

WHEN WINTER WILL ASKS,

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE THIS SUMMER?”