What type of development do spring players get?
Each age level has specific goals, though all teams have the overriding goal of helping players become better players, teammates and people.
For 14U and 15U teams we are trying to open their eyes to another level of competition and understand what it takes to succeed as an individual. Often times at this age, players have not experienced a high level of competition outside of their local area or believe that they have already competed at the highest level. Additionally, players at this age are still learning what their maximum effort can be. Our coaches do an excellent job of presenting tough opportunities, teaching from mistakes and getting maximum effort out of their players. The learning curve is steep but confidence and skill development at this level is often dramatic.
15U and 16U are evolving to the next level of becoming a college level player. They are starting to understand the amount of work it takes to be successful beyond their local area and realize they still have a ways to go. At this point coaches are putting in more complicated schemes and expecting more production from their players. Off season work has become critical and some players are starting to get passed up by harder workers while others continue to grind and move their way up the Select ladder.
16U and 17U players are now really “getting it”. If a player is able to make a 16U or 17U Select team it means they now possess a skill or set of skills that make them incredibly valuable to a team. The recruiting process is now in full affect and players are learning to make plays on their own within the structure of their coach’s philosophy. At this level, all players on Select rosters are the best of the best at their school and now it is the small things they do on and off the court that will separate them from the pack.