OBA = OrangeBallAcademy
Here was supposed to be a cheesy sales pitch like:
"Do you dream of becoming a basketball star?
Our academy is the place that will change your life! Only here will you find a unique atmosphere and the best training conditions!
Regardless of your current skill level, we’ll transform you into a world-class player! Our unique methods will make your skills skyrocket at an incredible pace! Training with us, you’ll become a leader admired by everyone! It doesn’t matter who you are – with us, success is guaranteed!"
...yeah, yeah...blah blah blah... just another cheap talk...
And here’s how it really is:
I won’t take you anywhere you’re not willing to go yourself. But if you’re determined to become a better player and ready to put in the hard work, now we’re talking! I’m here to help you develop your basketball skills, provide you with insights to better understand the game, and introduce the right behaviors into your playing style. But let’s be honest – at first, we’ll probably focus mainly on the fundamentals of the game.
It’s these fundamentals that give you real (not artificially inflated) confidence in your play.
This is often noticeable during games, where most players makes quite a lot all kinds of mistakes – missed passes, inexplicable shots, unnecessary turnovers, wrestling with opponents, and verbal spats with referees. Sure, you can’t fault them for their determination and heart, but it’s their lack of fundamentals — both in skills and proper behavior — that prevents them from playing in a better, smarter way.
However, during the same games, you might notice one, maybe two, exceptional player – someone who approaches the game with more composure, evaluates situations better, makes smarter decisions both on defense and offense, and even seems to tire less. That’s the one! This is the guy with mastered fundamentals!
Those solid basics give him confidence and make him invaluable to the team.
Yes, he probably has also plenty of experience, but most importantly,
he has mastered the fundamentals of the game.
Interestingly, these versatile players are rarely the tallest, fastest, or most naturally gifted, but still, they are always a serious threat to their opponents on offense and often an unbreakable wall on defense.
And that’s precisely what I aim to teach my students – how to become a good, all-around basketball player. Solid fundamentals are the foundation for further development.
Now, imagine a player who has mastered the basics and also has additional talents – maybe they’re an exceptional shooter, have an Olympic-level vertical jump, or are as fast as a sprinter. That’s the kind of player who has the potential to go very far.
But let’s bring us back on earth, shall we?
So is that all? (You might ask) With OrangeBallAcademy I'll learn only the basics?! Of course not! We’ll go further – to the NextStep program, where we dive deeper into behaviors on defense and offense, figure out how to make you even better, maximize your strengths, minimize your weaknesses, and so much more – all depending on how far you’re willing to go.
It all comes down to the philosophy of OrangeBallAcademy:
(First) Work hard – (to) Play smart – (and finaly) Dominate the game.