Blog

Trent Scarbrough grew up in Central Florida where he played his high school basketball at First Academy of Leesburg. Trent was known in the area as a long-range shooter making 72 three-pointers during his junior campaign. Trent ended up as one of the top shooters in the state in his division during his senior season, finishing third. Trent made 203 three pointers for his career while shooting at a 45% ratio. He went on to play his college ball at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Coach Trent offers quality advice for players at all levels as they enter try-outs. Execute these steps to make a strong impression & maximize every opportunity to move yourself forward. Coach Trent learned many valuable lessons as he navigated his playing career. The following expectations are what he shared with his current clients at Just Hoops:

Coachable/Discipline:

• When the coach is talking, keep eye contact with them the whole time (if kids are talking and messing around when the coach is talking, do not be a part of that group).
• If he/she asked for a volunteer to demonstrate a drill, be the 1st to raise your hand.
• Ask follow up questions if you are not 100% sure what they are asking you to do
• Sprint to every huddle (you should want to be the first one there)
• Ask the coach if they need help cleaning up after the tryout

Willingness to make winning plays:

• Dive for loose balls
• Talk on offense and defense, communicate with your teammates.
• Do the little things (Set good screens, stay low on defense, hustle to every spot)

Be a good teammate:

• Give high fives, fist bumps, etc. to your teammates
• Help your teammates off the floor if they get knocked down
• Remember you are trying out for a team so coaches will be looking for who can work together and be a good teammate.

1. Be positive
   1. It rubs off. If you complain about them not being in the starting lineup, they will do the same. Be an attentive listener.
2. Be realistic
   1. Someone may be bigger, faster, stronger, tougher, or smarter. Know their limitations and encourage them to make the best contribution that they can. Everyone on the team will have a role and encourage them to be the best they can be in that role. Star in your current role while finding ways to improve your weaknesses outside of required activities.
3. Don’t knock the coaching staff
   1. How can you expect your child to play to their fullest if all they hear from you about the coach is negative? The coach represents authority so you will give them the wrong message if you ridicule the coach and his/her teachings. Support the coach’s rules, philosophies, and playbook. Encourage building high quality connections with strong communication channels.
4. Support the other players
   1. Treat each player as if they were your own. Don’t dislike a player because you don’t like their parents or their role on the team.
5. Don’t be a know-it-all
   1. Coaches spend many hours with these young people that the parents may never see. Be a good role model and let the coaches’ coach.
6. Be an active parent
   1. Monitor their academics and insist that they earn good grades. If you put academics first, your child will be more successful.
7. Have an awareness of your child’s social activities
   1. Monitor their friends, hangouts, relationships, curfew, language, and rules. Talk to them about drugs, alcohol, cyber-bullying, and mental health. If you don’t communicate well in these areas, the wrong people will influence them.
8. Be unselfish
   1. Don’t use the sport for the wrong reasons. Let them play because they love the game.
9. Don’t baby your child
   1. Sever the umbilical cord. It’s a tough world out there so let them begin to prepare for it. Let the coaches push your child. Let the coaches make them tougher mentally by challenging and holding them accountable.
10. Don’t live your life through your child
    1. You had a chance to be young. Let them create their own story. Don’t force any sport down their throat.