Last night  we held our first intensive shooting clinic. The sold out shooting clinic featured Jump Athletic trainers (Coach Reggie Fox and Meisha Fox, and Serge Angounou. In addition we also had two special guest trainers in Gerald Williams & Gabe Sandoval. The star studded cast of trainers have all played professional basketball. The clinic also featured “The Gun” a top of the line shooting machine that the kids were pumped up to see and use. Overall the night was filled with great energy and intensive training. Due to popular demand we are going to have another clinic next Sunday June 12th

This past weekend three Jump Athletic teams played in the 5th annual San Diego Memorial Day weekend tournament. Two of our 14U/8th grade teams attended as well as one of our 5th grade teams. The weather was perfect and the kids had fun on and off the court. Our 14U black team won the tournament making them the first Jump Athletic team to travel out of Arizona to win a tournament! Our other two teams played hard all weekend and as mentioned had a tremendous time off the court further developing friendships and bonding as  teams. Coach Reggie and Coach Dave did a tremendous job in leading our players through out the weekend. It was a great start to what is going to be a fun summer of hoop action!

We get asked a lot about shooting skills. It’s a part of our curriculum at Jump Athletic. (In fact we have a Shooting Clinic coming up June 5.) And these basketball shooting tips are a great way for players and parents to learn and understand the proper mechanics and techniques needed to be a great shooter.

It’s a fact. Every basketball player loves to shoot the ball! The most practiced skill in the game is shooting. Coaches spend a good deal of their practice time on shooting drills to improve their players’ skill level. After all, if you can’t shoot – you can’t score.

Whether a player is shooting a jump shot, lay-up, or free throw – there are certain techniques they must use to be successful. The basketball shooting tips below will give players, parents and coaches a better understanding of what these techniques are!

1. Players should always use proper shooting techniques. Remembering BEEF – (Balance, Eye, Elbow, Follow-Through) will help when shooting the basketball. Players must get into the habit of always using these proper shooting techniques – whether in practices or a game. If proper techniques are not used, bad habits are formed that are often difficult to correct. If players don’t have a shooting technique – they need to develop one!

2. Players should always be relaxed and concentrate on the basket. Players should focus on the part of the rim that is closest to them as they shoot the basketball. When shooting lay-ups and bank shots, players should focus on the part of the backboard where they will bank the ball.

3. Players must know when they have a good shot – and then take it. Players must find the right balance between shooting too often and not shooting enough. As players develop confidence in their shot, they will also develop the ability to know when they have a good shot to take.

4. Players should be in proper balance when shooting the basketball. Proper balance (front to back and side to side) is critical on all shots.

5. Players should follow through on every shot they take. They should also hold their follow through as this is one thing that will show them why they made or missed the shot.

6. When shooting the jump shot, players should jump naturally. They should avoid forcing their jump – it should be nice and easy. Players should jump straight up and release the shot at the top of their jump. “Up, Hang, Shoot” is an easy way to remember this.

7. Players should have an arc on every shot they take. The height of the arc will vary from player to player. Some players shoot with a high arc, while others have more of a flat shot. As long as the player is using proper shooting techniques and the shots are going in, then the arc is fine.

8. When shooting free-throws, players should be relaxed, concentrate on the basket, and have their knees bent slightly.

9. When shooting free-throws, players should keep their routine simple. This helps them concentrate more on their shot and not their routine. They should avoid excessive and unnecessary movement. They should only use the motion needed to take and make the shot.

10. Players should practice all of their shots. They should learn to shoot from any location on the court, within their range. By doing this, they become more of an all-around shooter. Players should strive for the following shooting goals: 99+% lay-ups, 70+% free-throws, 50+% field goals, 33+% 3-pointers. These goals can be modified for younger players.

For more on shooting tips, check out our shooting clinic May 15. Registration is open, but limited to the first 25 players.

In this blog, I usually talk about basketball games that we’ve played, championships that we’ve won or lost, and the introduction of new programs. One area that deserves recognition that I’m continually in awe of, but not publicly recognizing is our trainers. It’s hard not to be in awe of this fiercely talented group of people. They are the most passionate I’ve seen. It takes patience, leadership and a unique ability to get the best out of kids for a coach and trainer to be truly effective. It’s this combination of special skills that makes Jump Athletic trainers the best at what they do.

I’d especially like to recognize Coach Reggie Fox for his leadership of our training team and overall, for his design of our exceptional curriculum that Jump Athletic kids experience. I hear it from parents on a daily basis–their appreciation of his professionalism and hands-down renowned experience in basketball coaching. He has a no-nonsense teaching style that is unrivaled in the trainers I’ve ever worked with. He cares about Jump Athletic kids in a way that parents feel deeply and know it well. Under his guidance, our kids are improving their skills at a pace that’s unmatched by any other competitive or developmental youth basketball training academy and club. And we’re really proud of that.

This is what Team Awesome looks like. Talk to the parents and kids of Jump Athletic and they’ll tell you the same thing. You can get to know more about each of them here.

It’s not every day you get to work with winning team of such awe-inspiring professionals. I’m thankful that at Jump Athletic I do. Thanks for all that you do for our kids.

-Brian Sacks

Our 14U/8th grade black team took first place in a tournament today over at Phoenix College. This team is going to be fun to watch in the coming months.

Famoun Miller, one of the top 8th graders in the state showcased his talent this past weekend as he got the crowd pumped up with several dunks and big time blocked shots. Overall the team is very talented and played with a lot of energy and is primed for a great spring/summer!

To get on a Jump Athletic team check out our Club Teams page.

Jump Athletic will be conducting tryouts over the next 2-3 weeks for spring league teams. If you are interested please email info@jumpathletic.com.

With high school ball ending shortly tryouts for our 15-17U elite teams will take place. If you are interested in being a part of a top notch organization like Jump Athletic email info@jumpathletic.com for more information as to when and where tryouts will take place. Space is limited on these teams so contact us ASAP!

Jump Athletic tryouts for fall league continue this week!  Don’t miss out  on being a part of the top youth basketball training academy and club in Arizona. The results speak for themselves as each season Jump Athletic is amongst the top teams in the standings and have come in first place numerous times. The time is now if you want to take your game to the next level. For more info email bsacks@jumpathletic.com

The 10u  team won the finals of the Excel league championship tonight 24-23 in an exciting game. The team ended up 6-0. Proud of the boys. They are a great group of kids. Coach Brown has done an excellent job with them.

Tryouts for Jump Athletic competitive club basketball teams start Tuesday Sept 17. Our teams are playing at a very high level  in leagues in the greater Phoenix area–and interest is at an all time high.  This is your opportunity to play on one of our teams in the upcoming Fall league which starts Sept 11. Learn more about fall club team tryouts.