Extra

If you want to compete with older athletes—such as earning varsity minutes as a freshman or sophomore—you usually need some kind of advantage. Often, that advantage is physical: being extra tall, extra fast, or extra strong. These attributes frequently are decided by your genetics (which are out of your control). 

But not everyone is blessed with those physical gifts—but that does not mean they are out of options.

If you don’t have a natural physical edge, you’ll need to create one. That edge comes from extra experience, extra knowledge, and extra practice. These advantages don’t depend on genetics. They depend on your choices, your time management, and your attitude.

Older players often have years of experience on you. To close that gap, you must be intentional with how you use your time.

That means:

• Practicing on your own when others are resting

• Repeating fundamentals until they become automatic

• Physical training to improve strength, endurance, speed, and agility

• Studying the game through film, books, or educational videos

Every extra rep adds confidence.
Every bit of knowledge improves decision-making.
Every hour invested compounds over time.

The price you pay is your time and energy.
The results come from your consistency and commitment.
And the reward is opportunity—more trust from coaches, more confidence on the court, and the ability to compete with players who may be bigger or stronger.

You don’t need to be born with an advantage.
You can build one—one practice, one choice, one day at a time.