How much practice is "too much"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He needs to cross-train in other sports too. The best athletes are the ones that play multiple sports at a young age. Basketball is particularly challenging because as you age, your shot changes. The extra strength needed to heave a ball at the basket ball isn't needed when you get older and taller so all of your mechanics change.

However, footwork, court vision, defense and dribbling are the things to focus on at this age. Just going outside and shooting baskets with friends isn't always the best way to develop his skills. I see kids all the time outside playing and taking ridiculous shots that they'd never take in a game, thus developing poor mechanics and a false sense of achievement.

Conclusion: If he's practicing his dribbling and footwork, then he's actually practicing. If he's outside shooting with friends, then he's just having fun.

Yeah, my year round basketball player would have developed faster if he'd played soccer or football to get comfortable with the contact/pushing and shoving (they do that in soccer, right?).

[Anonymous]

As another poster said isn't basketball dormant during the summer and fall, or is he out there all year long? It doesn't sound like it's too much too me, he's self-motivated and seems to enjoy it. Depending on his age, he could be practicing to make the team or a goal in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As another poster said isn't basketball dormant during the summer and fall, or is he out there all year long? It doesn't sound like it's too much too me, he's self-motivated and seems to enjoy it. Depending on his age, he could be practicing to make the team or a goal in mind.

It’s all year.