Early Season Activity Underway

The Melrose Recreation Department creates a framework for competitive youth basketball. The goals include team and player skill development. The emphasis is on development, teaching offensive and defensive fundamentals and "situational basketball".

The team plans to compete in the Middlesex League schedule and in the River Valley 'A' League in order to play against some of the top area teams.

The team will begin practicing in early November with the tentative plans for:

• Monday practices 6:00 - 7:00 P.M. at the Lincoln School
• Wednesday practices 7:00 - 8:15 P.M. at the Middle School

Some 'themes' that the coaches preach:

• A team playing great team basketball can defeat better players playing individual basketball.

• The running game (transition from defense to offense and offense to defense) is the DNA (building block) of Melrose basketball. We will help you get in great shape to run.

• Defense and rebounding decide who wins. Offense determines by how much.

• The “ball is gold”. Great defense and rebounding give us back the ball. Fewer turnovers give us more chances to score.

• Offense is about creating separation from defenders, using individual moves and team coordination (pass and cut, pick and roll, moving without the ball.

• Defense is about preventing easy opportunities and limiting separation.

• Great team defense begins with great individual defense.

• Great players and great teams understand “situational basketball”. At times players and teams need to speed up or slow down the game.

• The only way to improve is to use the skills you practice during actual competition (games)

• Proper technique produces better results. “Form creates function.” For example, we will constantly remind you to dribble with your head up and 'see the floor'.

• Praise and criticism are directed toward all players to make everyone better. “There is no 'I' in TEAM.” Everyone makes mistakes and our goal is to reduce them and improve all players.

• Everyone is special but your skills are not equal. Most people prefer to practice what they are good at and where they feel comfortable. Great players work on their weaknesses. For example, you must learn to dribble with both hands.