Effort- The Key to Success

Attention all High School basketball players:

There is a lot of parody in high school basketball this season. In my opinion, the 2008-09 Illinois High School State Championship for boys is open and ready for the taking. The issue is that most high school players lack consistency in effort in their practices and games. This is a major key for players when the game is on the line and they are forced to execute under pressure.

Many of the high school players I have watched this season will have an outstanding game followed by a mediocre or bad game. Most players equate having a good or bad game by how many points they scored. Scoring is important. The score would not be kept in basketball games it were not. The other component that is often overlooked is giving consistent effort. This is an intangible that off sets a bad scoring night. This keeps players on the basketball court at crunch time as well.

Close basketball games are won by players having the ability to execute plays. The ability to execute plays comes from practicing hard and being consistent with their effort. It seems simple but it requires a discipline that many high school players lack. College coaches expect players to have this quality along with talent.

Remember, consistency in practice and games is the key to success!

Yours in Basketball,

Coach Stewart