How are you spending spring break this year? How are your opponents spending spring break this year?

Life will always be handing you great excuses for not honing your craft—bad weather, a full schedule, holidays, no gym, and so on. Of course, there is nothing wrong with taking breaks or needing time off - life happens. Just remember that the players you strive to be better than you may not be doing the same.

Even the workhorse himself, Rob Yanders, would preach to his top athletes about the importance of seeking peace. You can consider ball to be life, but without balance, you can inadvertently burn out, chipping away at the razor edge of your passion for the sport. Taking time to rejuvenate the body, mind, and spirit is not just a good idea; it can often be essential.

Keep in mind also that time taken away from your craft, especially extended time, comes with a price. You must hone the edge of your passion but also keep the other edge sharp as well - your skills.

While time off can be critical, the important part is finding balance. If you take too much time away, there is a good chance that others are outworking you. Opponents do not stop coming. Some fall off, but many keep pushing themselves to improve constantly. If you do not want them to catch you, or if you are the one trying to catch them, you must always be working in one way or another.

Spring break is a great time to reset in many ways. Younger athletes get a break from studies, and many take time away from work to be with family. It sounds like a good time to tighten up your handles to us!

To get in the gym and get better while you have the chance, reach out to us here.

Enjoy your time off, but remember what it takes to be the best! If you know what that means, we look forward to seeing you soon.

Poor weather? No problem. Indoor court, outdoor court, no court - there is always a way to keep working on your game.

Basketball is, of course, an indoor sport primarily. If the weather is good enough to get to a gym, you can practice to your heart's content. Not everyone has court access (young players can at least check out The Basketball Movement's Saturday Clinics), but there are always things you can do.

Are you locked in the house with bad weather? Grab a basketball (no, we're not going to tell you to play pickup games in the house). Do some around-the-world drills to keep your handles and the feel of the ball fresh. Lay flat on your back and get some shots up, not hitting the ceiling, just watching the ball's rotation to check your release and flick of the wrist.

Sharpen your mind

Whether you are a player or even a coach, there is always studying to be done on the game. Watch game footage. You do not have to have tapes of opponents or anything like that. Watch some NBA or college hoops. Get on YouTube and watch some of the greats to learn footwork and where to be on D.

Visualization can be a big part of the game. In the same way pros visualize the ball going in the hoop at the free throw line, you can put yourself in the shoes of the players you see on the screen. Keep your eye out for players you think you can model your game after.

Not everyone can be LeBron James, but there are things to be learned from any player that has made it to college or the NBA. Work on your weaknesses, but also focus on your strengths to become elite.

If the weather has you cooped up, keep these things in mind. Also, check out The Basketball Movement on YouTube for footage of players worth modeling your game after.

For more on everything hoops, keep in locked to The Basketball Movement.