Film analysis with The Basketball Movement

An undervalued skill in basketball is knowing how to adequately prepare for matchups - a skill The Basketball Movement can help you develop.

As you grow in the sport of basketball, the intricacies get more and more important. You have heard for a long time that the little things add up - that becomes more true in each level of the sport. By the time you are playing high school ball and especially hit college or the pros, you should have the fundamentals down. You will be working on the finer things.

One area that too often goes uncoached is the art of mental preparation. You may be equipped with a deep bag of on-court skills, but if you aren’t as prepared as your opponent for the mental portion of the game, the scales will tip.

Luckily, you have a resource. The Basketball Movement has been helping players develop these skills for years, not only teaching players to learn on the fly but also what to look for in film analysis. As you grow in the sport, prepping for teams and individual players becomes crucial if you wish to be competitive. Shouldn’t you learn how to get the most out of this aspect of the game? (The answer is yes)

If you as a player or coach need to learn how to adequately prepare for matchups by studying film or even what to look for in-person, contact us at The Basketball Movement.

Our facility includes a state-of-the-art film room that is designed to teach these skills with interactive smart screens and just the man for the job. Head Trainer, Rob Yanders has learned from years of collegiate and professional basketball exactly what to look for and exactly how to look for it.

This is just one piece of what The Basketball Movement has to offer, but it is a piece that will be difficult to find anywhere else in Southwest Missouri. The specific knowledge and expertise that go into providing lessons on film analysis shouldn’t be discounted. We help hundreds of players each week in so many ways, but this is one way that does not get used enough. Use us! We want to help and need you to know how much more there is than on-the-court action.

Again, to take advantage of our facility and knowledge to give you an edge, please contact The Basketball Movement here and keep it locked to this blog for more of what we do best!

Strengths and Weaknesses

You know what you are good at, and you know what needs work. Which is more deserving of attention?

As a player, unless you are blinded by supreme confidence, you are aware that you are not perfect. Perhaps you have never been the best shooter, or maybe you are an undersized post player. You also know where you shine on the court or in the locker room.

With something like basketball, it is easy to get caught up in the areas that need improvement. This is not always a bad thing; there are always opportunities to elevate skill level but do not also forget to focus on the strengths that set you apart.

Players like Shaquille O’Neal and Giannis Antetekounmpo have been mercilessly criticized for their free-throw shooting woes. They are also heavily applauded - they have both been NBA MVPs, First-Team NBA guys, and champions. Do you see where we are heading with this?

Focus on what sets you apart

Shaq was not a great free-throw shooter, but that did not matter because he was so dominant in other facets of the game.

If you are a great shooter, keep working on shooting. Never entirely ignore any aspect of the sport, but stay sharp and keep improving even your best qualities. The all-time great shooters were not content with being good. They still practiced shooting every single day. 

Even if you are hyper-focused on strengths, do not forget:

Insulate weaknesses to make sure you do not fall behind

Just because you are focused on what sets you apart does not mean you can ignore the other aspects of the game. You can become a great shooter, but coaches will be hesitant to play you if you never bothered to work on defense.

Not everyone can be fast. Stay in shape and keep your conditioning at the best level you can, but do not sweat it too much if you struggle to improve foot speed. Focus instead on footwork and body positioning to insulate this weakness. Then, get right back to focusing on what sets you apart.

Great rebounders practice rebounding. Glue guys focus on defense and ball movement. Shooters get up hundreds of shots. Be a well-rounded player, but make sure your best skills are kept the sharpest for your team.

Make sure to keep up with more on the great game of basketball here at The Basketball Movement.

The Basketball Movement Saturday Clinic

Check out the premier basketball training facility in the Midwest with The Basketball Movement Saturday Clinics.

The Basketball Movement’s bread and butter is our individual or group skill development training (contact us for more info!). We have trained elite area talent, NCAA men and women athletes, and NBA players. The Basketball Movement has a notable history of being a developer of people.

However, not every hooper is ready for intense training, whether due to age or skill level. That is why we implemented Saturday Clinics, an inexpensive way for young players to work on the basics and sharpen their basketball skills.

Every Saturday, the Clinics are held from 9:00-11:00 am unless otherwise posted on our site or social pages.

These mini-camp-style open gyms are for both boys and girls from 2nd to 8th grade. It is $25 to participate. Parents of multiple eligible athletes may be entitled to a discount.

Registration is not necessary, but if you have questions or want to ensure spots, you can call (417) 861-2166 and speak with Coach Craig.

Saturday Clinics are a fun weekend activity that we are thrilled to provide to our community. If you have any further questions, call, or email basketballmovement@yahoo.com

We look forward to seeing you!

Spring Break

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.

Who can be a leader?

When we think of leaders in basketball, we often think of point guards or top-scorers. Leaders can actually come from any position.

Inspiration can come from a lot of places. When your team is tired, a fiery speech from a coach or a commanding shout from a teammate can ignite a flame that helps everyone push through. Leaders keep heads from hanging when you're down, and egos humble when you're up.

There are a lot of great examples of leaders in today's game, from coaches like Gregg Popovich and Erik Spoelstra to players like Fred VanVleet and De’Aaron Fox.

The Basketball Movement was founded by legendary leader Rob Yanders, who taught us so much of what we know about leadership.

Leadership can be vocal or even just by example. Not every player has the personality to be a vocal leader for their team, even if they're the best players (for example, Kawhi Leonard).

Leadership does not always come from the top.

If the top player for a team is not up for being vocal, that role needs to fall to someone else. Communication is essential to basketball - on fastbreaks, offense, and especially defense.

The top vocal leader on your team may even come off the bench. Players who are engaged and helpful from the bench are much better for a team than players who quietly wait to enter the game.

The best way to be a leader - no matter your role on the team - is to lead by example. If you are a player who does not give up on plays, constantly pushes the pace, and defends tenaciously, you continually set an excellent example for your teammates. That is called leadership.

“Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It’s being able to take it as well as dish it out. That’s the only way you’re going to get respect from the players.”

— Larry Bird

You may be the last player to come off the bench at the end of the game. If you play hard and scrape your way back into the game, you can inspire others to follow.

Leadership is incredibly important in basketball as well as other aspects of life. Remember that you can be a leader by working as hard as possible and setting an example for others to follow, no matter your position or role.

Contact The Basketball Movement!

Everything you need to know about to get ahold of us here at The Basketball Movement:

The Basketball Movement provides most basketball-related services you can come up with, and we want you to take advantage of them! To do that, we must be in contact to set things up and get moving. Whether you have some kids needing individual skill development workouts or are a professional needing to work on film study, you can all link up with us the same way.

To learn more about our services or discuss pricing, availability, etc., the best way is to email basketballmovement@yahoo.com - A quick way to do that is by going to our contact page here.

One of The Basketball Movement’s trainers will use that email to answer any questions you may have or set up any workouts.

Another way to reach us is by sending us direct messages on social media. We cannot create appointments this way, but our social media manager should be able to answer basic questions or provide general information you may need. Visit our pages here: Instagram - Facebook - Twitter

We check the above as quickly as possible and will do our best to solve any problems or set up any services as best we can!

One of our favorite ways to interact, though, is in person! We do not necessarily have set hours as workouts start early and often end late, varying day-to-day. That said, feel free to come by at any reasonable hour, and there should be someone available to speak with you about any questions you may have or to figure out how to get you or your athlete involved.

Again, The Basketball Movement provides a wide array of services, from media exposure to strength and conditioning. If you want to know more about us or our affiliate, Yanders Law Basketball (AAU), drop us an email or come by. We are excited to hear from you!

2024 Goals - The Basketball Movement

Setting goals is a big key to elevating all aspects of life. The start of a new year is always the perfect time to reflect on those goals.

January is always a time for reflection and goal-setting as one year ends and a new one begins. As most seasoned athletes do, the staff of The Basketball Movement knows the importance of setting goals. For our part, we are looking confidently to the future.

We expect our players to meet and conquer challenges, and we intend to do the same, no matter the gravity of those obstacles.

Despite the immeasurable loss faced in 2023, The Basketball Movement is still growing and getting better and better each day. There is plenty in the pipeline for 2024. The Basketball Movement will continue growing because Rob Yanders always dreamt bigger and never settled while honing his craft or basketball facility. We keep that energy.

Coming off the most challenging year we can imagine, The Basketball Movement is still poised to hit the ground running. Leading the pack, our trainers, coaches, media team, and family are ready to provide the top basketball experience in the Midwest for everything on the court and off. Stay tuned for our best year yet.

Merry Christmas from The Basketball Movement

Merry Christmas, everyone! We talk a lot about using holidays and weekends to outwork your opponents, but maybe hang with family on this one.

At The Basketball Movement, we are serious about hoops. However, we are also well aware that there are plenty of things that are bigger than basketball. Here on The Basketball Movement blog, we have discussed doing inside work on rainy days, getting in a gym on holiday weekends, and more. That said, Christmas is one of the most important times of the year for stepping away from work, school, and play to focus on what is important.

This has been a difficult year for The Basketball Movement family, but as always, we also have much to be thankful for. The power of basketball and the purity of Rob Yanders’ vision for us have been a guiding light. We are blessed to still be here, carrying his dream forward and bettering our community through the game we all love.

To all of the players, parents, fans, and The Basketball Movement trainers and staff - Merry Christmas! This is an excellent time to reflect on a year’s worth of accomplishments, hardships overcome, and great things on the horizon.

Thank you to everyone who helped us to make 2023 successful in many ways despite all odds. We are proud of everything that has been accomplished and proud to have worked with everyone who helped to make it happen.

Enjoy this time with family and friends, and remember what Christmas is all about. Have a blessed and Merry Christmas, everyone!

Staying sharp over the holidays

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

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 may not be doing the same.

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.

Happy Thanksgiving from The Basketball Movement!

The Basketball Movement treats those involved in what we do like family, so we are so grateful for every member - trainers, players, parents, and everyone behind the scenes.

It was a challenging year at The Basketball Movement. Despite tragic loss, unsurprisingly, there is still plenty to be thankful for. Let us start by acknowledging that we are thankful for the legacy and life lessons left to us by the great Rob Yanders. We miss Coach Rob every day and are eternally grateful for him.

Beyond that, we are thankful for individual player achievements, successful events, We Are United taking steps forward, and much more. As great as all those things are, we are still most thankful for you.

Anyone who has teamed up with The Basketball Movement has created a bond for life. Nothing can be accomplished in what we do without the driving force of the individuals involved. Without the relationships formed, there would not be success.

We are also grateful for the outpouring of love for Rob’s family and all he left behind.

There is nothing soft or embarrassing about showing gratitude. Many individuals take time to help you achieve; the least you can do is thank them. Those small acts of kindness reassure the helpers and make them want to help again and again. You never know who is in need of reassurance, so remember to take the three seconds to make someone’s day.

We want to personally thank our trainers and staff, who dedicate so much time to bettering not just The Basketball Movement and our programs but all the young men and women involved.

Another personal thank you to the unsung heroes: Parents and guardians of the players. A final thank you to the players themselves that make us what we are. You are part of something special because you make it special. Nothing we do is possible without you, and we want nothing but the best for each and every one of you.

Everyone enjoy the holiday! If you get too full, just run out and get some shots up to burn off those excess calories. Or, hit us up and come get this work!

Training at The Basketball Movement

Ebrace ferocious work ethic at The Basketball Movement

We are known for pushing athletes to become better: better competitors, better players, and hopefully better people. We get this work year-round, not just at events or for those involved with Yanders Law or We Are United.

High school boys and girls, professional hoopers, grade school kids, college players… it does not matter who you are - we want to help you reach your next goal as a player. Hopefully, we can teach you enough about putting in work that it also carries over off the court.

Though we accept willing players from all levels, we ask a lot from the athletes who step on our court. If you cannot work hard and give the necessary effort, we do not want your money. We hold ourselves to high standards and associate only with players that do the same.

If that sounds like you, come get this work.

The Basketball Movement’s bread and butter is skill development. Our trainers include former college players, pro players, and individuals who have been obsessed with the sport for as long as they can remember. You will be challenged, and if you are willing to accept that, you will improve.

We also offer film analysis for higher-level players - one of the most undervalued skills you can have at the college and pro levels. Learning it can be difficult, and we are one of the few teachers around.

One-on-one workouts, group work, strength and conditioning… we are equipped with everything necessary to elevate your game, all wrapped up in a facility modeled with professional setups in mind.

If you or your athlete are prepared to take their game to the next level, reach out to us at basketballmovement@yahoo.com or even drop by and see for yourself what we are all about at 2135 N Sports Complex Ln, Nixa MO 65714.

Serious improvement is not for the faint of heart. We look forward to hearing from the warriors who want to sharpen their iron with ours. We’ll see you on the court.

Applying basketball lessons to life

Basketball can teach you so much. Carry the discipline and team mentality with you in all aspects of life.

The Basketball Movement and the sport itself can teach you many things. The Movement focuses on skill development, conditioning, and team training. It also focuses on "soft skills" such as leadership, speaking, film analysis, marketing, and exposure.

All of these things center around the incredible sport of basketball. However, the skills that you acquire can be applied off the court as well as on it.

Focus, discipline, and competitiveness can benefit you in practice or a game. What about after the buzzer sounds? The same skills are necessary for the most critical parts of your life, such as education, employment, and interpersonal relationships.

The discipline applied in practice needs to also apply to homework. Then, the locked-in focus of a game can be mirrored in test or quiz situations. At work, leadership and the ability to communicate effectively are paramount. Tough boss? No problem; you have probably already had a tough coach.

Follow your passion at The Basketball Movement

Hard work seems much easier when it focuses on something you are passionate about. Think of the challenging classes at school or projects at work as running lines/conditioning for basketball. Of course, there will always be parts you don't like, but they are necessary to get a well-rounded finished product.

None of this is to say that you must go through life with your nose to the grindstone 24/7. Never forget to have fun! Basketball is a blast to play, school is one of the most fun times of your life, and working means funding some of your favorite things.

One of the best places that you can go to establish great habits and a winning mentality is The Basketball Movement.

The Trainers and Coaches of The Basketball Movement have a passion not just for basketball but for developing excellent people with every opportunity to succeed.

If you are ready to contact us immediately, check here! It is always a good time to work on your game and a winning mentality for life. Let your friends at The Basketball Movement help propel you or your player to the top!

The Basketball Movement - Home of We Are United

For everything We Are United, follow along with us at The Basketball Movement.

Like The Basketball Movement, We Are United prep was started by former pro, Rob Yanders as yet another way to elevate the hoops scene in the Midwest. The prep school has quickly been established as a premier destination for hoopers looking to elevate their game post-grad.

Unfortunately, we have been unable to access We Are United prep’s website or Twitter since the tragic passing of Head Coach Rob Yanders. Fortunately, The Basketball Movement can serve as the home base for the program both digitally and physically.

As an elite training facility, The Basketball Movement is the perfect home base for the competitive basketball program and school. The same is true online, as everything you need to know about We Are United can be found through The Basketball Movement.

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You can follow us on Twitter for news and other updates, but make sure to follow along with The Basketball Movement on Instagram as the most consistent source of highlights of WAU ballers in action. Those clips feed into our Facebook stories as well if that is more your scene!

Looking strong @weareunitedprep 🦅🦅🦅 pic.twitter.com/nBveRJ8aMQ

— The Basketball Movement (@BBall_Movement) September 29, 2023

The exposure gained through The Basketball Movement mediums has helped numerous athletes gain exposure and be noticed at the collegiate level.

Also, the highlight clips are just dope.

Our social media pages and thebasketballmovement.com are your home for We Are United prep. For any questions about the program or details on how to get involved, please email basketballmovement@yahoo.com and a coach will get back to you.

Thank you for your support. Go We Are United!

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Legacy

What we can learn from the legacy of Rob Yanders.

Sometimes, when you are building something, you do not have time to step back and appreciate it. Robert Yanders knew what he was building and completed much more than he likely even knew.

What was he building? More than a professional basketball training facility, AAU program, or prep school. He was building a family and a brother and sisterhood of ambitious leaders, competitors, community members… He was building better people.

Since Rob’s tragic passing, the Springfield, Milwaukee, and basketball communities have paused to behold his works. In his time with us that was entirely too short, Rob managed to create a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals.

“Legacy” is the long-lasting impact of a person’s life. If Rob had any desire to have a legacy, we can all certainly agree that he achieved his goal.

He was not done building, but he did leave behind his blueprints. If you want to leave a legacy, you have now seen what it takes.

You do not have to be an NBA star to use basketball (or any other sport) as a tool. If you have a passion, you can use it to grow others around you. It is not an easy path - nothing is given. Do right by others, work hard, take care of your own, work harder, and do not give up on your dream.

Rob would want each of us to leave a legacy when we are no longer here. Keep that in mind throughout this week as you go to school, work, or the gym. Then, keep it going for the next month, then a year. Keep Rob’s fire going.

The Rob Yanders legacy was making people better. If you are reading this, he likely did that for you. Return the favor and KEEP ROB’S FIRE GOING.

LEGACY

Where to put in WORK

The Basketball Movement is the home for any hooper with ferocious work ethic.

High school boys and girls, professional hoopers, grade school kids, college players… it does not matter who you are - we want to help you reach your next goal as a player. Hopefully, we can teach you enough about putting in work that it also carries over off the court.

Though we accept willing players from all levels, we ask a lot from the athletes who step on our court. If you cannot work hard and give the necessary effort, Rob Yanders does not want your money. We hold ourselves to high standards and associate only with players that do the same.

If that sounds like you, come get this work.

The Basketball Movement’s bread and butter is skill development. Our trainers include former college players, pro players, and individuals that have been obsessed with the sport for as long as they can remember. You will be challenged, and if you are willing to accept that, you will improve.

We also offer film analysis for higher-level players - one of the most undervalued skills you can have at the college and pro levels. Learning it can be difficult, and we are one of the few teachers around.

One-on-One workouts, group work, strength and conditioning… we are equipped with everything necessary to elevate your game, all wrapped up in a facility modeled with professional setups in mind.

If you or your athlete are prepared to take their game to the next level, reach out to us at basketballmovement@yahoo.com or even drop by and see for yourself what we are all about at 2135 N Sports Complex Ln, Nixa MO 65714.

Serious improvement is not for the faint of heart. We look forward to hearing from the warriors who want to sharpen their iron with ours. We’ll see you on the court.

Yanders Law on YouTube

One of the best places to catch Yanders Law Basketball action is on YouTube.

The Basketball Movement is affiliated with the Yanders Law AAU Basketball program. Both ourselves and Yanders Law were founded by Rob Yanders, who has maintained a vision that has resulted in the success of countless young men and women throughout this part of the country.

Being a part of Yanders’ basketball ecosystem, many Yanders Law athletes are privileged to be followed by a top-tier media team that allows them to gain additional exposure.

The team is small, so not all athletes can be covered. Yanders and his crew do the best they can, and those results shine through.

Individual highlights and game clips can be found on social sites like Instagram and Twitter. For a comprehensive collection of more complete footage, we recommend you check YouTube!

As we said, not all athletes may be featured, but there remains a trove of exciting Yanders Law action that shows some of the best in our program. The best way to be featured is by working your butts off year-round. We know who you are.

Check out the videos, drop likes and a subscription, and stay tuned for more Yanders Law and The Basketball Movement content!

Unseen hours in the trenches

A sports analogy refers to teams being “in the trenches.” What exactly does this mean?

First, perhaps we should start by saying that the origin of saying you are “in the trenches” comes from wartime. At war, soldiers would dig and then occupy trenches with their fellow soldiers, putting them in a frightening, front-line experience that only their fellow soldiers could understand. So, we want to quickly point out that nothing about basketball or any sport can compare to combat situations - in case that wasn’t obvious.

Despite the seriousness of its origins, the saying is still used because it is easy to apply to other situations in which you and your brothers or sisters on a team go through tough times together to achieve goals bigger than any one individual. Only athletes that have put blood, sweat, and tears into a sport can fully understand the thrill of winning championships or the lows of significant losses. That is why we often hear professionals mentioning that outsiders don’t fully understand the work behind the scenes.

There is an old clip of Isaiah Thomas (the original Bad Boy Pistons Isaiah Thomas) watching back for the first time the tape of himself battling through a sprained ankle in the Finals, doing everything he could to will his team to victory before falling short. They cut back to Thomas, who was crying. When the host asks him about his emotion, Thomas begins to answer but winds up telling him, “You wouldn’t understand.”

It’s true. Almost everyone has played sports, so there may be some understanding, but the specific circumstances you fight through as an individual or as a team are unique. Isaiah legitimately gave his all in that series but could not make magic happen. Putting it all on the court and leaving it there is a big undertaking, but one that actual competitors will take on every time.

What each team goes through is what brings them closer as individuals. The greatest teams drew close in practices, on the road, in the huddle, or off the court - A.K.A. the trenches.

To be in the trenches with teammates is a special thing that should not be taken lightly. We want to help athletes understand this and use their time to become better at basketball and stronger individuals and better teammates/friends.

When you are putting in work down in the trenches of the sport, don’t just do it for yourself. Do it for your team - your brothers and sisters that share your colors. The best players are almost always amazing teammates. When and where do you become a fantastic teammate? In the trenches.

The Basketball Movement atmosphere

What is it really like inside The Basketball Movement?

The Basketball Movement accommodates many different levels of athlete. Rob Yanders could be on one court working with a professional hooper on finishing around the rim, while Coach AJ works on the other court, honing the free throw routine of a promising fourth grader.

While the workouts can vary greatly, there are also many constants. As with all Rob Yanders’ entities, there is an intensity that is unmatched elsewhere in this part of the country.

That intensity sets a tone for The Basketball Movement. Atmosphere-wise, it comes across as an electricity in the air that rarely fades. The requirement of “giving it your all” does not differ from young athletes to veteran hoopers. There is an expectation that if you are in The Basketball Movement working, you are working HARD.

For all the intensity, there is also a feeling of warmth. Yes, you are sweating your a$$ off, but we are talking about the sense of caring that Yanders and his staff couple with the intensity so beautifully.

We can push our players so hard because we know they can be capable of more, and we want them to see it too. Our hard-nosed, hard-working approach translates beyond the basketball court. We want what happens here to elevate athletes as people for life.

The tough love approach (or whatever you want to call it) is born out of an undeniable urban vibe that Yanders sees as a needed quality in crafting his vision for the basketball Mecca of the Midwest.

More tangible things in The Basketball Movement’s atmosphere are the constant bouncing of balls, swishing of nets, and the sounds of a caring staff teaching like there is no tomorrow. The hardwood smell caps off the basketball sensory overload. The facility is a hoops escape like few others.

We love it here. Players not afraid of the work it takes to get better love it here.

The workout equipment, film room, barber shop, office, press box, leather courtside seats, and more add a professional touch to a facility that we keep accessible for ballers of all levels.

If you want to check out the facility for yourself, stop by anytime. There are people in our facility getting better at nearly all hours. We would love to have you or your athlete do the same.

To contact The Basketball Movement to inquire about skill development training at any level, please email basketballmovement@yahoo.com, and a trainer will get back to you with details such as pricing, availability, etc.

So, you didn't get drafted

The 2023 NBA Draft has come and gone, with only 60 names being called. What now?

Only a limited number of individuals in the world can be a part of the NBA or WNBA. There are professional teams all over the globe, but the top of the basketball world is known to be here in the good ol’ U.S.A. With spots at the top being so limited, what will you do if you don’t make it in?

If being in the NBA or WNBA is your dream, if basketball is your passion, and if you are willing to work, nothing should stop you.

Here is what you do: Get in the gym. Come to The Basketball Movement. Meet with a trainer dedicated to helping take your game as far as possible.

Being at the top of the basketball world doesn’t just happen, not even for freak athletes like Scoot Henderson. It takes WORK. Hundreds of hours in the gym, peak physical condition and then some, and being married to the game.

If you don’t love basketball, the NBA and WNBA aren’t for you. These leagues are not for the faint of heart. The unseen hours required to make it to and stay in these leagues is a barrier to entry that few can hurdle.

So you didn’t get drafted? You aren’t working hard enough. You must have a fire to make it to the Association, and there is nothing The Basketball Movement does better than stoke that fire. If you have the work ethic, we have the work. Strength and conditioning, skill development/maintenance, film study, and more await you within the doors of the basketball mecca of the Midwest.

Our own Rob Yanders’ first-hand experience at multiple levels of the pro circuit, mixed with the passion all our staff possesses, is a recipe for elevating you to reach your potential. Reach out to us, and we will ensure you won’t regret it. You may find out this road is too hard for you, or you may just let us help you to your ultimate destination. We’re excited to find out with you.

The little things

Never underestimate the power of the little things. Set hard screens, make sharp cuts, and communicate.

If you have been around Rob Yanders or The Basketball Movement for at least a couple of clinics or a workout, you have already learned about the little things. As a true basketball mind, Rob appreciates full effort on a back cut as much as he does a pretty jumper. A hard screen is as likely to get him out of his seat as a ferocious dunk. If you are putting full effort into everything you do, you will be a standout.

These recent NBA Finals showed what it takes to win (at any level). If your shot is not falling like Michael Porter Jr.’s wasn’t? Crash the boards. If you are not counted on for scoring production like Christian Braun? Spend your time in the passing lanes. For a squad to elevate to the level of champion, the little things add up just as much as the big things.

To succeed at the little things in the game takes dedication. For starters, you need to know what you are doing. Pay attention in practice, study the game, and learn from your mistakes. Repetition is huge - oftentimes, doing the little things just comes down to muscle memory. For all of those little things to become muscle memory, you will likely have to be a pro. Until then, it will take frequent, conscious effort.

One of the best things you can do to hold yourself accountable is to remain engaged. Don’t ball-watch, but remain in constant motion on offense. Be active off the ball. If you are driving hard, the ball will find you. If you are setting good screens, you will be a better teammate and improve the whole offense.

When it comes to defense, stay low, but make yourself big. That sounds tough, but just make sure you are always in the stance and staying strong. Keep your arms out (or into the opposing player) and your eyes wide open. If you are doing your best to be ready for anything, you are probably doing the little things.

To work on the little things that make basketball such an intricate, special game, you have to get in the gym. Repetition is key, but only if you are doing things the right way. Get with a trainer or coach that knows what they’re doing and will hold you accountable.

It is difficult to say without being too cliche, but the little things really do add up. All of them add up to a whole that benefits your entire team in a big way. Get after it!