SYNERGY SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES - Updated Monday, July 11, 2022

Manu Watsa is the CEO of Point Guard College - the best basketball Training Program in the World - and every Monday Coach Watsa starts the week with his Monday Mindset. I have subscribed to PGC for years and have been following Coach Watsa’s Monday Mindsets ever since he began. Here are two videos from PGC that I hope make you think and provide some motivation to begin your week:

Please Click on the 2 Links:

https://youtu.be/J2mW-_1sXfU - This first video “Fight for Your Time” is imperative for so many. Reminder… the “Off-Season” is not a time to “take time off”… instead, the Off Season is a time to work on one’s individual craft, develop skill, work on your weaknesses, get more fit, become stronger, try new activities, Get Out and Do Things. Please, don’t fall in the trap of doing the “same old thing” or get caught on your devices doing nothing. 

https://youtu.be/LS6jSZqCiQw - This second video “Get Out” provides a reminder that there are so many activities that one can be doing in the Off-Season that provide so many benefits to an individuals overall growth and development, and more importantly … are so much fun! I drove by the courts at SMS last night at 8:30 PM and they were packed! I love seeing the courts being used. That’s what they are there for. As a QB in high school and university, my Off-Season Training involved tennis, volleyball, basketball, bike riding (for time and distance), etc.; as well as, all my throwing the football (300 passes per day), footwork, strength and agility training, etc. If you want to get better you need to “Fight for Your Time” and “Get Out”. 

By-the-way… Are you getting out and working on your Better Basketball Shooting Program - at least 3x to 4x per week? Reminder, if you want to get better, you need to put time in.

Please check the summer opportunities below. I am “getting out” for three days this week and going on a fishing trip; so, I won’t be back until Wednesday night. I will post again on Thursday. Enjoy your summer!

Sorry Everyone… I am managing our Shuswap Middle School Blog and the Synergy Blog … trying to do a better job at both… anyway, I accidentally deleted my last Post for Synergy. 

Again, thanks to all the athletes and coaches for their participation and efforts this past spring and early summer. Congratulations to our four U13 girls who made the Okanagan Regional 3on3 Team and the three U14 boys who made our Okanagan Regional Team - all will be representing our region in the upcoming BC Summer Games at the end of July. Good luck and we are very proud of you. We also want to recognize Moriah Jansen, who made our BC Provincial U15 Team that will be competing in the Canadian Championships this summer. It also needs to be noted that Moriah, who continues to work hard on her game, has been identified by Basketball Canada as a prospect for our National Program. We want to wish Moriah all the best this summer and we are so excited to follow her journey as she chases her dreams moving forward. Congrats to all of our athletes who have challenged themselves and taken risks to put themselves out there by trying out for Regional and BC Teams. Synergy promotes all activities and opportunities that Basketball BC offers. Basketball BC is our National Program’s provincial representation; so, we encourage all of our athletes to go to BBC Camps, try-out for teams, and get involved in any opportunities that BBC provides. 

As we have explained to our athletes, the off-season is a time to work on one’s craft and get better as an athlete. Developing skills, working on fundamentals, and focusing on individual workouts make a player better and prepares one for the next season. Forty-five (45) to sixty (60) minute workouts are more than long enough, and if one sets a plan/creates a schedule to workout three (3) to four (4) times per week, it could really pay off in one’s overall development as a player. We also encourage our athletes to stay active and play as many sports as they can manage. One does not have to belong to a club/organization/team to gain the advantages from playing other sports. Sports like tennis, grass/beach volleyball, pick-up soccer,  touch football, baseball/softball, running in the woods, throwing “things”, jumping and climbing “things”, running, diving, rolling, etc… all good activities that one can do on their own or with friends, and all are good activities that help to improve one’s overall physical literacy. Have a great, active summer!

Summer Basketball Opportunities:

#1 - TRU Basketball Camp on June 27, 2022, to June 30, 2022. New Registrations accepted at the door. Gr. 5 - 7 from 9 AM to Noon each day and Gr. 8 - 10 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM each day. Cost $150 - Fundraiser for SMS Basketball Program.

#2 - Shooting Workout/Training Session #1 (Better Basketball Shooting Workout): 20 Participants - July 5, 2022, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Must sign-up by emailing Mr. Smith at                                       synergy basketball2014@gmail.com… first come, first serve. This shooting camp will be run by Evan Smith - 4th year Business student and member of the TRU Men’s Basketball Team; Alton Neid - 4th year Engineering student and member of the Laval Men’s Basketball Team; Moriah Jansen - Gr. 10 student at Kings Christian School and member of our BC Provincial U15 Team; and Jaden Brennan - Gr. 12 student at SAS and member of our Sr. Golds Team. All four athletes have used the Better Basketball Shooting Program to develop and improve their shot over the years. Participants will be required to follow the program over the course of the summer and fall, and record all workouts completed throughout that time. If athletes follow the program, they will shoot 200 shots per workout. The BBSP is the best shooting program I have seen over my 38 years of coaching basketball. It is the best program that helps basketball players to not only develop good technique and fundamentals, it also helps players to understand why the techniques are used and how other ways of shooting can impede one’s shot efficiency. 

#3 - Shooting Workout/Training Session #2 (Basketball BC 500 Shot Shooting Program) - Another shooting program that Evan Smith, Alton Neid, and Moriah Jansen have used extensively over the years to help improve their shooting, efficiency, footwork, and abilities. Again, our Mentors will guide our Synergy Athletes through the shooting program. July 26, 2022, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Email Coach Smith… 12 Max participants … If more are wanting to take advantage of this opportunity, another session may be offered. 

#4 - Open Gym Times throughout the summer… Please check this Blog on a regular basis and click the Tab above “Open Gym Opportunities - Summer 2022” … I am looking at opening the gym at SMS in July  during the week of July 11th to 15th… Please check the “Open Gym” tab

SYNERGY SPRING 2022 - APRIL 18 to APRIL 22

 This Friday, April 22, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, the SMS Gym will be open to our Boys in the Grade 7-8-9 Spring Synergy Program, and to those Gr. 10 and 11 players who have been attending our Early Morning AM Sessions. The Focus at Friday Sessions will be on games/competing. To meet Synergy’s Off-Season Guidelines for Open Gym Sessions, we will begin with 1on1, 3on3, and 5on5 half-court play… after our warm-up. After our mini games, we will gravitate towards full court 4on4 and 5on5 games. Fridays are optional and for those players who want to and are able to get in the gym and take advantage of this great opportunity. Players… please bring a reversible jersey, if you have one. Our uniforms and swag should all be in shortly. Please check this Blog on a regular, weekly basis. 

EASTER WEEKEND…

 Happy Easter Everyone… I hope all had a good few days off and enjoyed the weekend. We will not be holding Training Sessions tonight. With no custodians in the building, we will take the night off. I will be holding our usual Training Session tomorrow morning at SMS from 7AM to 8:10AM, and we will be having our usual evening sessions tomorrow as well. 

This coming Friday, April 22, 2022, I will be running an additional Games/Competition Session for boys in grades 7 - 9, and some girls will be invited as well. More details will be explained to our athletes tomorrow. 

Enjoy today and we will see you on the court this week! 

ON COURT TRAINING BEGINS TOMORROW ... THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2020

 SAS-APP Athletes... be ready to go tomorrow morning at 8 AM  on the SMS courts. Check your parent’s email for details. Yes, we will have a Zoom meeting on Sunday night at 8:30 PM. 

WEEK #3 - Stay Focused, Keep Training, Do Your Workouts, and Journal

August 2, 2020 - Zoom Meeting Replacement Presentation

Hey Athletes... Stay Tune Please... 

 I have been working everyday to get us registered and organized with BBC and VBC. We want to get started on the courts and on our field next week; so, there is lots to do in order for that to happen. In the meantime, workout, train, journal, set goals, knock off those goals and dream! Dream Big! Even during the heat, train, play sports and keep active. Choose the early morning or evening to do a workout or play sport. Yes, stay cool and have fun during the day, but don’t forget to work on that “Magic.” 

I will do a video post by Friday so check back on this Blog Friday morning, and I hope everyone can make Sunday’s meeting at 8 PM. We will discuss registration with BBC and hopefully VBC, as well as our start up for next Thursday. 

Enjoy the heat, the lake and your time at whatever you are doing this summer. 

SALMON ARM SUMMER ATHLETIC PREP PROGRAM - WEEK #2

JULY 20, 2020 - REMINDERS + INSPIRATION, INSIGHT, & WORKOUTS

Below is part of Steve Nash’s speech directed to today’s youth, the next generation, during his Hall of Fame Induction. Powerful. Insightful. Purposeful. Please listen to Steve’s advice to the youth of today at the end of his speech. Great advice and inspiration! You can see Steve’s full Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in the Video below. If you want to listen to Steve present his words of wisdom to the youth of today, click on the video below and scroll to 19:38. Watch the video from that point to the end. Enjoy.

“Nash’s most fond memory in the game of basketball didn’t come in the NBA. It was playing for Canada at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.”

Thanks for all who attended the Zoom meeting tonight. Another good turnout.

REMINDER: Athletes, please check the Tab above - Salmon Arm Summer Athletic Prep Program - weekly for updates. I have posted several videos for you to watch and follow. Please watch the first video on “Magic.” Tim Kight (founder of Focus 3) compares the magic that a magician is able to create to the “magic” that anyone can create in any part of one’s life. He explains how anyone can create “Magic” in any area of life, as long as the individual has the discipline “to do the work, to create the mechanics in order to execute the skill.”
One aspect of our Summer Program is to help and guide our athletes in the pursuit of “Magic” in athletics. As one trains, works out, practices and prepares for volleyball and basketball, and participates in a number of other activities, one’s physical literacy will undoubtedly improve. As one’s physical literacy improves, the individual will gain confidence and help build self-esteem. As an athlete’s confidence and self-esteem improves, they are more likely to develop the behaviours that lead to the Habits of “doing the work, in order to create the mechanics, that allows one to execute the skills.” Athletes who develop confidence are more likely to try different sports and activities.
Watch the second video of the 12 year old girl dribbling. The young athlete shows how “Magic” in the bounce can be created. She didn’t begin to dribble like she does in the video; instead, the young athlete has obviously put countless hours into her craft. As a result, she is “magical” with her dribbling. Anyone can do it. They just have to put in the time and work, and realize that a lot of failure will occur before the “Magic” will take place.
Be patient. Have fun. Do the work. Everyone progresses at their own pace.
REMINDER: Keep a daily workout journal.
1. What went well?
2. What do I need to work on?
3. How can I help others?
ADD TO YOUR JOURNAL ... Goals - Dreams - Aspirations
Habit #2: Begin With the End in Mind ... What does your end look like? Where do you want to be when ... Grade 7 or 8 is over, when you complete high school, when you are in your 20’s or 30’s, etc...? Choose the your “End” that you want to focus on and describe it. What does is look like? How are you going to get there? Set goals, write them down, and share your goals with someone you trust to start. Then, “Do the Work.”
REMINDER:
Keep track of your workouts. Record number of shot attempts and makes... how long your dribble workout takes and what dribbling drills you do. How many forearm passes or volleys you do... record your touches and the duration of your workout.
Keep your workouts short and focused... 30 minutes of Bball and 30 minutes of Vball, or 20 and 20.
Have fun and enjoy. Contact me if you have questions... synergybasketball2014@gmail.com.
PS...Set your workouts for basketball and volleyball 3 days per week each. Set a time limit of 20 - 30 minutes for each. You don’t have to do the whole dribbling workout. For the Shooting workout in Basketball, complete 5 shots for each drill/skill for a total of 100 shots in the workout. Get in the Habit of making a schedule and sticking to the schedule. Workout times can always be increased later. The Process requires patience, perseverance, and resilience.