AAU
AAU is a competitive spring basketball season where teams play in weekend tournaments against a wide variety of opponents. The difference from the regular Basketball League & Tournament season and AAU season is that during the regular Basketball League & Tournament season, teams typically play against local teams. During AAU season, teams compete against a wider variety of teams from out of town. This is advantageous and exposes kids to more opponents, playing at different skill levels. AAU allows the kids more practice time on the court, and also allows them to compete against top competition on a consistent basis throughout the AAU season. Our AAU teams are known as the Hoop Strong Warriors.



Fall/Winter & Summer Leagues
Hoop Strong competes in leagues and tournaments throughout NYC and Westchester County, as well as surrounding cities in the Tri-State area. We play in a variety of basketball leagues in the Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Weekend tournaments are mainly held during the Spring (AAU Season) and the Holidays.
Summer League season is from July - mid-August. During summer leagues/tournaments, games are held at parks and the kids compete on outside courts throughout NYC and Westchester Co. Some summer tournaments are also held at indoor facilities. Each outdoor tournament usually has a rain-site where the teams go play their game(s) indoors in the event of inclement weather.




Skills Development
Coach Mike brings his 20+ years of basketball experience to help his players develop their skills and take their game to the next level. The drills and exercises taught are designed to increase player skill level, increase player focus and increase player achievement on and off the court. Coach Mike is committed to teaching and focusing on skills such as:
 
Shooting
Players learn to shoot layups with both the left and right hand, learn to shoot off the dribble, shoot off of a screen, practice free throws, shoot from inside and work their way to the outside of the court (players begin shooting close to the basket and work their way out on the court).
 
Passing
Players will learn to keep their heads up in order to see the entire court, thus learning to distribute the basketball to the open player. They are taught the chest pass, the bounce pass, and the overhead pass, as well a post feed pass (this is a pass to the big men on the block) and a pitch-ahead pass (used to a teammate on the break).
 
Footwork
Whether trying to score, or defending your own teams basket, having confident footwork is crucial. Hoop Strong Warriors will be taught proper footwork that will set them up for success on the court, on both the offensive and defensive ends.
 
Rebounding
Players learn boxing out by initiating contact with the opposing player and getting the hips low/pushing the defender away from the ball.
 
Scoring
Kids learn how to score off the dribble and score away from the ball by running off screens and catching ready to shoot.
 
Defense Fundamentals
Hoop Strong Warriors learn to close out with the foot and hand closest to the midline, they learn to shrink the gaps and take away the dribble drives and they learn to play the passing lanes with their hands, not their bodies. Players are taught the skills of transitioning from offense to defense, sprinting back to the paint and building out to their man.
 
Offense Fundamentals
Players are taught the importance of the Triple Threat (shoot, pass, dribble), moving without the basketball, passing and cutting, and setting/using screens.


 
Player Development
Player development emphasizes and develops the individual strengths in a player. Learning how to shoot the ball in practice and training and playing at a fast pace in practice and games are examples of how Hoop Strong Warriors will take their game to the next level.These are a few specific types of player-development training protocols:
 
Understanding Your Role On & Off the Court
Players are taught to know their position on the court both physically and mentally. For example, playing the position of Point Guard (PG) means knowing how to be a floor general; controlling the tempo of the game, making good decisions, and showing leadership through work ethic and accountability.
 
Developing Mental Toughness
Having mental toughness means playing through fatigue and frustration. Being tired and winded is still grounds for needing to get the job done. Players who get frustrated with the referees, or with their own plays have to overcome this and see the game through, positively representing their team and themselves.