There is a transit all young player must do.
He starts playing at school or at any ACB club young teams, he tries a summercamp "to test if he likes as well as he said because he's all day with the ball and we have turn crazy and he knows the names of all the players". Passing the days, what is an after school activity for parents and an illusion for the child is becoming a routine part of family life. It seems that the child does not bad, and passes to play in the Minicopa and the cadets, and goes to the provincial selection, the regional and the Championship of Spain. Passed the Series Colegiales and arrives at the juniors, to the U-20 league and one day arrives the call to practice with the first team. Some dates after have appeared agents, then the first contract with a LEB's club, the first chance to play seriously, only living away from home. The studies were on "stand-by", but "already wins a good money playing basketball". What for all those who have the opportunity to make a living playing basketball is a natural process, begin a player and reach an ACB team requires a transit point. Is necesary a moment of change, but not always occurs. The player becomes professional but his lifestyle, his mentality and his day to day do not change. Still playing basketball as it has always done, still going out with friends, still "playing the playstation". Although now travels every fortnight, comes on TV from time to time, makes interviews, has a card with his image shooting for three, practices daily, and charges for this. But it is not his work, or at least doesn't have assimilated as such.
The problem is that we have not helped him enough for properly towards the acquisition of a successful professional mentality.
Training never finishes. We must continue training hard every day to improve the shot, the pass, defense, blocks, understanding the game...
You must be made fundamental life habits to keep a career long and balanced. The hours of sleep, rest, food, stretching, work in the pre and postseason...
You must take care of the body and give all the importance: is your work tool. Without it, you do not have nothing. Without maintaining it always adjusted close of his 100%, the possibilities to play in your best level are reduced and the options having one fateful injury multiply...
You must also prepare for the competition. The happy moment of the week that was the game has become the first reason for many days working, of the effort of all team and the objectives of an organization that has behind the illusions and the jobs of many people work can not be taken lightly and need to learn to mentally reach 100% to each game without affecting foreign or collateral aspects, taking a routine that helps that after jumpball my contribution always helps the team...
You need to know to take responsabilty and be the best critical of your own performance, without obsessing. Please: always have clear idea that the coach is not your enemy, although you not always like what he said. In most cases, is the person who thinks more about your improvement without expect nothing more than your maximum effort and good performance for the team...
Keep the brain active and develop complementary activities to basketball to help better understand all the situations that must be addressed, to be better prepared to understand what my coach is looking for, to know where I go as a player, to accept my role on the team and interact correctly inside the group, to prepare me to face my life when the sport runs. Grow as a person means no doubt grow as player.
