The Definitive Guide to Making the Middle School Basketball Team
For many aspiring basketball players, making the school team is the first step in that journey. And while making the middle school team may feel nerve-wracking, it doesn’t have to be. Below, we’re going to provide you with the definitive guide to making the middle school basketball team.
While making the basketball team is not easy, there are a few steps you can take to better your chances. However, above all else, if you want to make your middle school’s basketball team, you need to be willing to put in the time, effort, and practice to prove yourself.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Above all else, in order to make it to your middle school’s basketball team, you will need to put in the hard work. This means that you will need to practice your basketball skills on a daily basis.
While you may hear differing pieces of advice and the level of time-commitment needed, we believe that practicing daily for one-hour will help you to not only refine your basketball skills but will also help you to hone your shooting, dribbling, passing, and rebounding skills.
While the level of competition at the middle school level isn’t as tough as in higher grades, you will still be competing against other players who are willing, and have been, putting in the additional time to the sport. If you want to give yourself a good shot at making the middle school team, then you too will need to put in the time.
Practice Against Other Players
While practicing by yourself is a great first step, you will also want to test your skills in real-world settings. Basketball is, after all, a team sport. And the only way to get better is to play with and against other players.
Now, you may be tempted to play against younger or less skilled players. While still good practice, we would advise playing against players whose skill levels are higher and better than your own. Not only will this allow you to develop your own game, but it will also allow you to learn differing techniques, plays, and fundamentals from them.
Work on Your Dribble
At the middle school level, many other players have not fully developed their dribbling and ball handling skills. Either due to a lack of confidence or effort, these players are doing themselves a disservice and are not fully developing all aspects of their game and potential.
To help yourself make the middle school team, you should look to practice your dribble and ball handling skills. Work on your dribble with both your dominant and non-dominant hands and learn simple crossover moves. These skills will translate well on the court and will help you to be a better ballhandler.
Develop a Deadly Shot
Whether you are looking to play the center position or the point guard one, you should have a refined shooting ability and style. This can be from any point on the court and need not necessarily be from beyond the three-point line.
Rather, if you can develop and refine an accurate, quick, and efficient shot, you will be able to help your team win more games. At the end of the day, coaches are looking for players to help their team’s win and having a deadly shot can do just that.
Get a Coach or Mentor
If you are able to, get some assistance from a professional coach or an older mentor. There are many aspects of the game that you will have yet to learn. However, a coach or mentor will be able to walk you through the fundamentals and help you to develop your offensive and defensive abilities.
While a professional coach may be expensive, you can instead opt to enlist the help of an older athlete. Whether a family member or close family friend, this mentor can help guide you through the basketball motions and drills and teach you the fundamentals.
Work on Your Endurance
Basketball is a game of endurance, and while speed can play a role in the game, it is oftentimes better to have stamina throughout all four-quarters. If you are looking to join your middle school basketball team, then working on your cardiovascular endurance will give you a leg-up against the competition.
There are a multitude of ways that you can build up your endurance. One way is to run a quarter of a mile and time how long it took you to complete. Then, the next day do the same quarter of a mile run but try to beat the previous days’ time.
Similarly, you can run a quarter of a mile one day and then look to run half a mile the next day. Keep adding distance each day, until you are able to run multiple miles with ease and without getting too fatigued or exhausted.
Lastly, a simple way to build your endurance is to run full-court drills. On a basketball court, dribble the basketball up-and-down the court ten times. Rest for five-minutes and repeat. Continue to do so until exhaustion. The next day, run the same drill but try to add one more rep and beat the number of reps you did the day before.
Give it Your All in Practice
Don’t let all that training go to waste during a practice session. Be sure to bring out you’re A-game and give it your all. Be visible both on and off the court. Make smart, calculated plays. Don’t forget, you can be an integral part of the team even without the ball. Playing good defense, making screens, hustling for a rebound, and making smart passes will all get you noticed by the coaching staff.
Be Early and Leave Late
If you’re committed to your basketball dream and to making it on the middle school team, then you need to be willing to make it to practice and the tryouts early. This not only shows professionalism but also shows commitment and a willingness to play.
In addition, don’t be the first person to leave. Stay after practice and work on your shooting skills, your dribbling abilities, and your cardio strength.
Wear Proper Basketball Attire
You wouldn’t show up to school in your pajamas, so why would you show up to a middle school basketball tryout in anything but correct and proper basketball attire?
Be sure to not only have a full basketball uniform, including shorts and a jersey, but also proper basketball shoes and socks.
Don’t forget, always dress to impress do so in a manner that gets you taken seriously.
Hustle at All Times
Too often, whether in the younger or more professional leagues, players will simply stand around waiting for the ball to come to them.
Good basketball players don’t wait for the ball to come to them, rather they create opportunities for themselves and their teammates. Whether on offense or defense, hustle through each play and make each play an opportunity to impress.
Speak to the Coaches
While practicing your basketball skills is important, you should also look to learn and glean information from the coaches and the coaching staff.
Be sure to introduce yourself to each coach individually. Ask them for feedback and listen to their advice. Show maturity and real growth by working on the aspects of your game that they gave feedback on.
Don’t Forget Your Academics
While making the middle school basketball team may be your goal, you should remember that most school’s require minimum grades in order to be eligible for the team.
Make sure you continue to do your schoolwork and maintain a grade point average to remain eligible for the team. You should learn good time-management skills and learn how to juggle both school and extracurricular activities.
Don’t Give Up!
If you don’t make it to the middle school basketball team, you shouldn’t give up or stop trying.
Remember, famously, Michael Jordan himself didn’t make the varsity team at his high school. But, instead of giving up, he worked harder and committed himself to getting better.
If you don’t make the team, simply work harder and prove yourself the next year.