What are all the obstacles that prevent a player from making it to Varsity HS team?

After 750+ consult calls with clients over the last 5 years, I came up with a top 50 that consistently get in the way of players success:


1. They don't know how to measure their skill level or readiness for HS

2. Anxiety that they are falling behind their peers

3. They don't know how to predict success at high school level

4. Parent's don't know basketball

5. Parent's don't know how to translate what they do know in a way the player will listen

6. Player won't listen to parent advice (even parents that are college coaches have this problem!)

7. Team coach doesn't have time to help them

8. Not aggressive in games, despite obvious skill in practice

9. Lack confidence to make decisions

10. Won't attack the basket, fear of being blocked, not comfortable finishing through contact

11. Pigeon-holed as unskilled big player - told to only rebound and screen

12. Fast athletic defender, but can't score

13. Hot potato - always passes to avoid pressure

14. Hesitates - misses opportunities that they claim they never had

15. Told not to shoot - "pass to the shooter"

16. Told not to dribble - "give it to a guard"

17. Rec level competition level is too low - boring

18. AAU intensity too high - overwhelmed

19. Verbally abusive coach

20. Coach punishing mistakes

21. Coach lacking knowledge/ experience

22. Coach focused on winning with best players, no time for bench players

23. Player wants to have a life - can't play year-round 6 days per week

24. Family budget - Too expensive to play tournaments year-round

25. Rule follower - knows the plays, directs other players, but struggles when play breaks down

26. Multi-sport athlete - schedule conflicts with playing normal basketball schedule (Skiing in the winter)

27. Won't box out/ go after the ball

28. Doesn't watch HS games before attending HS

29. Doen't know HS coaching staff before 9th grade tryouts

30. Doesn't konw about/ attend Summer workouts or League as incoming freshman

31. Injury - misses 6 weeks of season (that same ankle every season)

32. Burned out - thinks their working hard, but seeing no results, decides to quit in 8th grade

33. Politics - town/ school/ tournament team coaches didn't select them

34. Not getting playing time they deserve due to class/ team size

35. Not taught fundamentals

36. Not taught how to move without the ball

37. Not taught plays/ principles to coordinate with teammates

38. Don't know what to work on at home

39. Don't know how to practice effectively on their own

40. Don't have a hoop/ gym to practice at on their own

41. Don't have enough practice time with team (rec season 1 hr per week)

42. No method to maintain progress year round (6-9 months off season)

43. No opportunity to level up besides following age/ grade (stick with peers -even if none of them are serious about basketball)

44. No way to pro-actively track progress

45. No video or method of self-assessment

46. No feedback outside of coaches “eye test”

47. No room for mistakes in practice or games (subbed out after every turnover)

48. No time for trial and error through free play (never plays pickup games for fun)

49. No program to play for outside of town rec/ travel season

50. Believe playing more 5v5 games is the only way to get better


How many has your player experienced? Let me know in the comments!

See you on the court, 

Coach BJ


P.S. If your player is in 7th grade and ready to level up their skill set and mindset to play varsity high school basketball, click here
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