8U Boys and 9U Girls Tryouts

THIS SATURDAY

November 15, 2008

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
 at Hoops City U

WCBA Teams (6) will be formed in February, 2009 - Contact WCBA for more Info 

The Hoops City U AAU club program will offer up to 28 boys and girls basketball teams in the 2009 season! Certain age groups will have multiple teams. Hoops City U "Finest NCAA Exposure", "Heat", "WCBA" and "Developmental" Teams will be formed throughout the year. A detailed brochure highlighting program components, philosophy, schedule and expectations is available by emailing Coach Seymour at rik@hoopscityu.com. Although most teams will not begin practice until January/February, selected age groups are being filled now to ensure program objectives are achieved.

Our core skill development fundamentals that receive intense emphasis are detailed below:

BALLHANDLING: A player needs to be highly skilled and able to be proficient using either hand. If not, that player will get attacked and overwhelmed by the defense. A player needs to know when and how to dribble, how to set up his defender to make a move utilizing proper footwork.

SHOOTING: If you cannot shoot the ball, you will always be able to get an open shot, because nobody guards a bad shooter.  We practice game shots at game speed.  Shooting "game" shots over and over creates muscle memory, and provides confidence to the shooter. The first thing shooters must learn to do is to look at the basket when they catch the ball. Defenders must believe that you are a threat to shoot the ball to be able to incorporate shot fakes and other offensive moves.  Good shooters utlize proper footwork to create space and get open.  Our organization offers multiple team clinics to teach athetes these skills to move when they do not have the ball.

PASSING: We teach that the quality of  the pass determines the quality of the shot.  In order to score, the defense has to be moved, and the pass is the most effective way to move a defense. Players need to be taught how to properly throw every type of pass. The first rule of passing is that, if you have a clear path to an open player, pass him the ball.  Passing should not be a last resort, after you have exhausted all possibilities to obtain your own shot. Rather, you should pass the ball to get your team the best quality shot. If a player cannot pass, he cannot play, and the ball dies in his hands.

FOOTWORK: Basketball is played with the feet, and every phase of the game is dependent upon good footwork. In any game, a player plays 90 percent or more of the game without the ball.  Learning how to play with your feet, offensively and defensively, is of vital importance for basketball players at any level, and an area in which athletes need the most attention and instruction.

The Hoops City U Program:

Coaches - With no disrespect to the well intentioned volunteer parent coaches that devote countless hours toward their child's improvement by coaching their son's and daughter's AAU teams, our organization offers a DIFFERENT approach.  All of our new staff Head Coaches are compensated, basketball collegiate and high school instructors that have no immediate relation to any player on their team (no children, siblings, etc.).

Practice Locations: Each team will utilize a variety or practice locations within the Triangle Area including a minimum of once a week at the newest Basketball only facility, Hoops City U. Members of our AAU teams will have the opportunity to train on advanced equipment, shot analyzers, vertical jump imporvement apparatus and more.