(Youth1 Basketball) â The best way for an athlete to improve their game and show what they're made of is through making the most of playing time, or âgetting minutes.â It's imperative to a youth athleteâs development and future success. The following blog post written by renowned trainer Alan Stein (below) highlights the most effective ways to get your sneakers scuffed and jersey soaked with sweat on game days. Having an upbeat attitude and being a team player are two of the most crucial traits for any player to possess. Read through the list and ask yourselfâ¦can I do this better?
Would you like more playing time?
Of course, who wouldnât? Everyone wants to play more.
But there are only so many minutes in a game. 
Therefore, coaches play the players they believe give them the best chance to win.
How do you prove to your coach that you can contribute? You do it through your performance in practice and through your performance in games (no matter how limited that is).
Playing time is earned, not given. That is a key distinction that most players (and many parents) donât quite grasp.
Here are 17 ways you can earn more playing time toward the end of the season:
1) Maintain a great attitude at all times. Remember, your body language speaks volumes about your attitude.
2) Put your team first. Donât be the player who pouts when your team wins (because you didnât play as much as you would have liked). While that behavior is understandable, it is 100% unacceptable.
3) Be ready. When your number is called, whether in practice or in a game, you donât have time to get ready⦠you have to be ready. You need to âbe in the gameâ even when youâre not in the game.
4) Make your teammates better. You do this by playing as hard, as smart, and as well as you are capable of every day in practice. Trust me, your coach will notice.
5) Maximize every opportunity. If you get to play for 2 minutes at the end of a blowout game, make the most of it. Take it seriously and play hard! Those 2 minutes may turn to 4 minutes the next time.
6) Do your job every day. Coaches appreciate, respect and notice consistency⦠even from the â15th man.â
7) Donât be too cool. Casually going through the motions, during drills at practice or during pre-game warm-ups, is the quickest way to stay at the end of the bench.
8) Come in early and stay late. There is nothing more impressive than a player going the extra mile to develop during the season⦠especially when they arenât playing much. This is the most effective way for you to get noticed.
9) Be coachable.
10) Showcase your specialty. What is one skill you believe you have that can help your team win? Rebounding? Defending? Shooting? Make sure you showcase this every day in practice.
11) Make free throws. Do you think your coach isnât watching when you break to shoot free throws during practice and you arenât taking them seriously? Think again. And every team needs a clutch FT
shooter.
12) DEFEND! Play solid individual and team defense every rep of every drill of every practice. This alone will help you earn more playing time.
13) Be an energy giver. Raise the level of those around you during practice and from the bench during games with your enthusiasm and positive energy. If your teammate takes a charge during a game, stand up and cheer!
14) Be likeable. Why would a coach play someone who acts up? They wonâtâ¦
15) Embrace your role. Itâs not everyoneâs role to play 30 minutes or take 15 shots per game. If you want your role to expand, you need to take pride in the role you have. If you arenât sure what your role isâ¦ask your coach.
16) Protect your locker room. Donât let any outside influences disrupt your team. And certainly donât take part in conversations from whining, complaining, disgruntled teammates that undermine your coach. If you canât influence them to stop, distance yourself from them. Better yet, print this blog and tape it to their locker!
17) Be patient. If you are an underclassman, you still have the opportunity to earn more playing time next season. Do the 17 things on this list now⦠to lay the foundation for next year. And then plan to put in serious work this off-season.
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Alan Stein is the owner of Stronger Team and the Head Strength & Conditioning coach for the nationally renowned, Nike Elite DeMatha Catholic High Schoolboys basketball program. Stronger Team, specializes in providing cutting edge information, concepts, and drills to help coaches and players maximize their basketball athleticism. He is also a performance consultant for Nike Basketball and has worked as the head conditioning coach for the annual McDonaldâs All-American game, the Jordan Brand All American Classic, and the Nike Skills Academies.
Alan will be in Paramus, NJ for a clinic on Sunday, April 14, for more information click here.
Youth1 will be on the lookout for the most team-oriented, selfless players this spring and summer on a court near you, so remember to follow these 17 steps!
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