Steve D'Agostino

We're like, yo, you're going to lose. It's going to be messy, but you've got to figure out a way to get through it. And so that inherently putting them through more adversity and everything that they do, then they tend to start figuring out, okay, you know, I haven't beaten this shooting drill, you know, seven days in a row. And then on the eighth day, they get it. Boom, you did it, you know?

We're like, yo, you're going to lose. It's going to be messy, but you've got to figure out a way to get through it. And so that inherently putting them through more adversity and everything that they do, then they tend to start figuring out, okay, you know, I haven't beaten this shooting drill, you know, seven days in a row. And then on the eighth day, they get it. Boom, you did it, you know?

So we put that into all of our development stuff.

So we put that into all of our development stuff.

Yeah, I think it's it depends on the kid. Right. And really how, you know, opposed to contact and all that they are, you know, but we throw them right to the fire. I mean, most of the time there's no especially when they're in eighth, ninth grade, younger kids. Yeah. OK, you ease them into it.

Yeah, I think it's it depends on the kid. Right. And really how, you know, opposed to contact and all that they are, you know, but we throw them right to the fire. I mean, most of the time there's no especially when they're in eighth, ninth grade, younger kids. Yeah. OK, you ease them into it.

But most of our drills are, you know, when we're doing, let's just say like finishing drills, which is like layups around the basket and stuff. We'll work on some like on air, meaning it's just like reps one on zero. But most of them are live. They're one on one. It's a defender pushing you out. It's a rebounding drill where, again, two guys or two girls are pushing against each other.

But most of our drills are, you know, when we're doing, let's just say like finishing drills, which is like layups around the basket and stuff. We'll work on some like on air, meaning it's just like reps one on zero. But most of them are live. They're one on one. It's a defender pushing you out. It's a rebounding drill where, again, two guys or two girls are pushing against each other.

And so the more they're exposed to that contact, the more comfortable they get in it. But you can't talk your way through that. You have to experience it. That's my biggest thing, too, with like...

And so the more they're exposed to that contact, the more comfortable they get in it. But you can't talk your way through that. You have to experience it. That's my biggest thing, too, with like...

with youth kids and high school kids and all that right I always hear coach like well I told them yeah but when you were a kid you didn't listen to any adults you learned from experience right and so yeah as coaches we want to keep telling them and telling them and so they're hearing the same things over and over again so that once they do experience they're like oh crap that's what he was talking about they don't just learn by hey you got to be more physical

with youth kids and high school kids and all that right I always hear coach like well I told them yeah but when you were a kid you didn't listen to any adults you learned from experience right and so yeah as coaches we want to keep telling them and telling them and so they're hearing the same things over and over again so that once they do experience they're like oh crap that's what he was talking about they don't just learn by hey you got to be more physical

No, throw them in a physical drill, be physical, get beat up for two, three, four, five days, and then you figure out how to be comfortable with it, you know? So we throw them right to the fire. It's the only way.

No, throw them in a physical drill, be physical, get beat up for two, three, four, five days, and then you figure out how to be comfortable with it, you know? So we throw them right to the fire. It's the only way.

People think it's like such a good thing for their kid to be the best player in middle school. And I would almost argue that it's not, you know, that you're better off having them like not be the best player and be chasing because that best player can be complacent. And so like, how do you fight complacency? I think the kid has to constantly be challenged.

People think it's like such a good thing for their kid to be the best player in middle school. And I would almost argue that it's not, you know, that you're better off having them like not be the best player and be chasing because that best player can be complacent. And so like, how do you fight complacency? I think the kid has to constantly be challenged.

I think that they have to not only play in a space where, OK, they can go be the best player and kill because they are the best player, but then go play against older kids, too, where they get beat up a little bit and they're not the best player. And so I. It's hard. And again, the kid's going to lead the way.

I think that they have to not only play in a space where, OK, they can go be the best player and kill because they are the best player, but then go play against older kids, too, where they get beat up a little bit and they're not the best player. And so I. It's hard. And again, the kid's going to lead the way.

And so a lot of these kids, when they're in middle school and they're the best player, in middle school, you don't even know what hard work is. And so you're just talented. And so when you get to high school, some of these kids, they're not that personality where they're going to put in the extra work, especially as others keep catching up to them.

And so a lot of these kids, when they're in middle school and they're the best player, in middle school, you don't even know what hard work is. And so you're just talented. And so when you get to high school, some of these kids, they're not that personality where they're going to put in the extra work, especially as others keep catching up to them.