{"id":6226,"date":"2026-08-11T01:28:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T01:28:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/athletesuntapped.com\/blog\/?p=6226"},"modified":"2026-08-11T01:28:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T01:28:38","slug":"mike-dunn-basketball-shooting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/athletesuntapped.com\/blog\/mike-dunn-basketball-shooting\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Dunn on Basketball Shooting, Multi-Sport Development, and Building Athletes From the Inside Out"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"&quot;Shooting is really just the transfer of energy &quot; - elite shooting coach, Mike Dunn, explains\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FIyIkXuXnzw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">(0:00)<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Mike Dunn shares his background growing up playing baseball before discovering basketball in fifth grade<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">(1:30)<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Explains how baseball helped develop his hand-eye coordination and basketball shooting<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">(3:00)<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Talks about falling in love with basketball and why young athletes should enjoy the sports they play<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">(5:00)<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Breaks down why focusing on shooting \u201cform\u201d can sometimes hold athletes back<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">(8:00)<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Explains how younger athletes can develop better shooting mechanics through simple body positioning and setup<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">(11:00)<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Discusses the importance of preparation, conditioning, and creating energy before taking a shot<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">(14:00)<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Challenges drill-heavy basketball training and explains why athletes need to understand the \u201cwhy\u201d behind their movements<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">(18:00)<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Explains why coaches should work with athletes who are genuinely willing to learn<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">(23:00)<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Discusses shooting slumps, confidence, and separating an athlete\u2019s identity from makes and misses<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">(29:00)<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Shares his approach to working with parents and creating a collaborative coach-parent-athlete relationship<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">(34:00)<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Explains why listening, body awareness, gymnastics, and other activities can help young athletes develop<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">(38:00)<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> Shares the lesson he wishes he could tell his younger self: stay true to who you are and don&#8217;t let outside opinions define you<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 17pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Why Multi-Sport Development Can Benefit Young Athletes<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">For many young athletes, sports development can feel like a race to specialize as early as possible. But Mike Dunn&#8217;s journey offers a different perspective. Before becoming a basketball shooting coach, Mike spent much of his childhood playing baseball. He didn&#8217;t even pick up a basketball seriously until fifth grade. That experience helped shape his belief that young athletes can benefit tremendously from developing skills across different sports.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Mike explains that his baseball background gave him valuable hand-eye coordination and throwing mechanics that eventually transferred to basketball. When he began shooting, the movement felt natural because he already understood how to create and transfer energy through his body. His experience is a reminder that athletic development doesn&#8217;t always have to happen through one specific sport.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">For young athletes, activities like baseball, gymnastics, karate, and other movement-based sports can help develop coordination, body awareness, balance, and athleticism that eventually transfer into other sports.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 17pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Young Athletes Should Learn to Love Their Sport<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">One of the most important messages from Mike is that young athletes should actually enjoy what they&#8217;re doing. Mike fell in love with basketball because he could practice on his own. He loved the feeling of shooting and seeing the ball go through the basket, even before he was particularly good at the sport.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">That enjoyment became the foundation for his development. Mike emphasizes that if a sport starts feeling like a job for a child\u2014especially in elementary or middle school\u2014it may be time to reconsider the environment or find something they genuinely enjoy.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">The goal shouldn&#8217;t always be to identify the perfect sport or put a child on the most competitive team. Instead, parents should pay attention to what makes their child excited to practice, compete, and continue learning. When athletes genuinely love what they&#8217;re doing, the work required to improve becomes much easier to sustain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 17pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Stop Focusing Only on Shooting Form<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">One of Mike&#8217;s biggest coaching philosophies challenges the traditional way basketball shooting is often taught. Rather than obsessing over exactly where every body part should be at a specific moment, he believes athletes need to understand <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">why<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> they are moving the way they are.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Mike describes form as an effect and understanding as the cause. Instead of simply memorizing positions, athletes should understand how their body creates and transfers energy into the basketball.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">This distinction can help players become more adaptable. When athletes understand the movement itself, they don&#8217;t have to constantly think about whether their elbow is in exactly the right position or whether their shooting hand looks perfect. They can focus on creating an efficient movement that produces the desired result.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 17pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Building Better Shooters Starts With Preparation<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Being able to make shots in a stationary workout is only one part of becoming a great shooter. Mike explains that the next level comes from learning how to prepare the body for different situations.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">A player might shoot extremely well when standing still but struggle when they&#8217;re tired, moving quickly, coming off a screen, or creating space off the dribble. That&#8217;s why preparation is such an important part of shooting development.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Conditioning can also play a major role. As players get tired during games, their mechanics can change because their legs aren&#8217;t providing the same level of energy. Developing the physical ability to maintain good movement throughout a game allows athletes to transfer the skills they&#8217;ve practiced into real competition.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Ultimately, great shooting isn&#8217;t just about having good form. It&#8217;s about being able to prepare, move, create energy, and execute under the demands of a game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 17pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Why Athletes Need to Understand the &#8220;Why&#8221; Behind Training<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Another major theme throughout the conversation is the importance of understanding instead of simply repeating drills.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Basketball training can sometimes become overly focused on doing as many drills as possible. While drills have their place, Mike argues that athletes can become too dependent on them if they never understand the underlying reason they&#8217;re doing each movement.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Instead of constantly asking, &#8220;What&#8217;s the drill for this?&#8221; athletes should ask, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">&#8220;Why can&#8217;t I do this yet?&#8221;<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">That shift encourages athletes to become problem-solvers. Rather than relying on a coach to provide a new drill every time something goes wrong, they begin to understand their own bodies and their own game. Mike&#8217;s ultimate goal is for athletes to eventually become self-sufficient enough that they don&#8217;t need him anymore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 17pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Confidence Means Separating Yourself From the Result<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Shooting slumps are another area where the mental side of sports becomes incredibly important. When a player misses a few shots, it can quickly become more than just a shooting problem. Athletes can begin to believe that the misses say something about who they are.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Mike explains that players can start attaching their identity and self-worth to whether the ball goes in. One miss isn&#8217;t a big deal. But after several misses, an athlete may start thinking, <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">I can&#8217;t shoot anymore<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> or <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">my coach is going to take me out.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">That mindset creates a dangerous cycle where every shot feels like a judgment of the athlete rather than simply another basketball play.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Instead, Mike encourages athletes to separate themselves from the result and focus on what they can control. A make doesn&#8217;t define them, and a miss doesn&#8217;t define them. The goal is to focus on the process, execute the movement, and allow the result to take care of itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 17pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Parents Can Be Part of the Coaching Process<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Mike also offers an interesting perspective on the relationship between parents, athletes, and private coaches. Rather than automatically keeping parents away from training sessions, he believes they can sometimes become an important part of the learning process.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">When parents understand what their child&#8217;s coach is teaching, they can reinforce those concepts outside of training. Instead of creating another voice telling the athlete what to do, the parent can help reinforce the same message the coach is teaching.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">This creates a bridge between the coach and athlete rather than competition between the coach and parent. For younger athletes especially, Mike believes that collaboration can help everyone stay on the same page and create a healthier development environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 17pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Body Awareness and the Value of Movement-Based Sports<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">One of the most interesting takeaways from the conversation is Mike&#8217;s emphasis on body awareness. When he evaluates young athletes, one of the first things he notices is whether they understand how their body moves.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">He also points to activities like gymnastics and karate as valuable tools for developing that awareness. His daughter&#8217;s experience with gymnastics showed him how quickly young athletes can develop coordination, balance, strength, and an understanding of their bodies through movement.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">For parents, this doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean their child needs to become a gymnast or martial artist. The larger lesson is to give young athletes opportunities to run, jump, balance, climb, rotate, and move in different ways. Those foundational skills can benefit them regardless of which sport they eventually choose to pursue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 17pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Don&#8217;t Let Sports Define Who Your Child Is<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Perhaps Mike&#8217;s most meaningful message comes when he reflects on what he would tell his younger self.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">He explains that he spent years being externally motivated and allowing things like makes, misses, praise, and other people&#8217;s opinions to influence how he viewed himself. Looking back, he wishes he had understood earlier that his identity didn&#8217;t need to be determined by outside validation.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">His advice is simple: <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">stay on your own path and don&#8217;t try to become somebody else.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Young athletes can easily feel like their current season, team, ranking, or performance is the most important thing in the world. But sports are a much longer journey than one game or one stage of development. An athlete who struggles at 11 might thrive at 15. A player who doesn&#8217;t make a team today might find an opportunity somewhere else tomorrow.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Sports should help young people discover who they are\u2014not convince them that their worth depends on how well they perform.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 17pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Final Takeaway<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Mike Dunn&#8217;s approach to basketball development goes far beyond shooting mechanics. His message is that great athletes are built through <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">understanding, curiosity, body awareness, consistency, and a genuine love for the game<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">For young athletes, the goal shouldn&#8217;t be to chase the newest drill or perfectly copy another player&#8217;s form. Instead, they should learn how their bodies move, understand why they&#8217;re doing what they&#8217;re doing, stay open to coaching, and develop skills that allow them to become independent athletes.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">And perhaps most importantly, athletes should remember that their performance does not define them. There will be makes and misses, great games and bad games, setbacks and breakthroughs. The athletes who continue to learn, enjoy the process, and stay true to themselves are the ones who give themselves the best opportunity to grow\u2014not just as athletes, but as people.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 17pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">About Athletes Untapped<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Want to take your game to the next level like Mike&#8217;s athletes? Start training with a private coach and untap your potential.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">We connect families and athletes with <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">3,000+ vetted private sports coaches nationwide<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">, making it easy to find personalized training that fits your athlete&#8217;s goals, sport, and schedule.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Whether your athlete wants to improve their shooting, build confidence, develop athletic skills, or simply find a coach who can help them fall in love with the game, personalized coaching can make a difference.<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"docs-internal-guid-a2dbd913-7fff-35b5-23d0-14d08f18e547\" style=\"white-space: normal;\"><p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Visit <\/span><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/athletesuntapped.com\/\"><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\">Athletes Untapped<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;\"> to find a coach near you!<\/span><\/p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(0:00) Mike Dunn shares his background growing up playing baseball before discovering basketball in fifth grade (1:30) Explains how baseball helped develop his hand-eye coordination and basketball shooting (3:00) Talks about falling in love with basketball and why young athletes should enjoy the sports they play (5:00) Breaks down why focusing on shooting \u201cform\u201d can [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":6228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,30,48],"tags":[42],"class_list":["post-6226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-for-parents","category-stories-and-trends","tag-video"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - 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