# The Jersey Shore Basketball Roadmap
The Shore Basketball Roadmap Part 2: Choosing the Right Trainer
If there is one thing we all have in common as basketball parents, perhaps it is the unlimited potential we each see in our young athletes. And maybe this creates some sense/feeling of responsibility to help our children tap into that potential, to draw it out, and give them an opportunity to experience personal greatness. And so as joy becomes love for the game, and the road gets harder as the arena gets bigger, one question we might ask is; should my kid get a trainer? It's a fair question, and an expensive one if you get the answer wrong. Here's how to think it through, from the perspective of a few of the trusted trainers here at the shore.
When Is Private Training Worth It?
“Progress is not Linear”, stated Coach Jenny Greene of New Jersey Rise in Manasquan. “A common mistake parents make during the training journey is rushing the process, and all too often, it manifests when comparing their athlete to others in their peer group. This is unfair to the athlete and ignores the unique journey each player is embarking upon.”
“However”, she went on to explain, “the most productive trainer/athlete pairings begin early enough in the journey that the athlete has a chance to buy-in to the training philosophy of the trainer/program. New Jersey Rise is a highly competitive, development and exposure focused AAU program for girls. She describes the ideal situation for the athlete being a long term purposeful journey together. We feel she may be on to something.
“The difference between a good trainer and a great trainer is all about the bond formed between trainer and athlete.” Offers Coach Quincy Wathington of North Shore Hoops. “This is signaled when the relationship moves from being a series of siloed transactions into a partnership filled with purpose”.
“I think it is essential that both parents and players go through a kind of self-evaluation”, coming from Coach Jay Stockwell of Ocean County Elite. “It really is essential that athletes have time to process set-backs before the ‘what next’ becomes a group decision. The players believe in themselves more than we realize; they are their own biggest critics.”
Coach Ben Badeen added “You[athlete] have to embrace discomfort, failure, to grow in this sport. We try to make practice hard so the game becomes easy”.
There are many differing opinions publicly available about this question of when. A clearly identified gap, A drop in confidence, dissatisfaction over playing time, or simply losing the joy for the game. Yet, if we listen to experienced trainers who began as young athletes themselves, we may want to consider that set-backs are part of the journey; and that we may be over-rotating as parents.
If we choose to listen to these suggestions, we may conclude that it is good policy to be on the lookout for good training opportunities often, but with an eye toward finding the one fit that will take our athlete from an unsure primary school player to a high school athletic young man or woman with a record of accomplishment and contribution to team sports at very competitive levels.
Group Training vs. Private Lessons
Group training (small pods of 3-6 players) is usually the smarter first move. It's cheaper per session, it still gets a kid individualized coaching cues, and it adds a layer most parents underrate: competitive pressure. Kids push harder when someone else is watching and competing next to them.
“There are a lot of intangible benefits coming from small group trainings. Players are able to work on toughness, work ethic, and test their skills at game speed”. Says Coach Ben Badeen, “Every rep has intentionality. This leads to muscle memory, and eventually, a ‘do it until you can’t do it wrong’ mindset. And then, decision making improves as players develop options in their game that they can use under the pressures of live play”
“Surrounding your athlete with a good team and good coaches”, explains Coach Quincy, “has a huge impact on the player development on the individual level. And having one or both involved parents, taking an interest in the young athlete’s journey, is of equal importance”.
“It is also very dependent on the level of the athlete”, shares Coach Jenny. “ a younger athlete may make huge gains very quickly with a little more individualized attention paid to their fundamental skills and grasp of sometimes unnatural concepts of attack and defense.”
One-on-one training can make sense when:
A specific mechanical flaw needs constant, immediate correction
The player is working toward a tryout or showcase with a tight timeline
The player is advanced enough that group pacing is too slow
“However”, notes Coach Ben, “I often ask myself if I am hearing the players voice, or am I hearing the parent’s voice?” Food for thought.
Red Flags to Avoid
Trust matters more in youth basketball training than in almost any other youth sport purchase, because the product is hard to measure. Watch for:
No clear curriculum. If a trainer can't explain what they're working on this month and why, they're improvising on your dime.
Vague promises tied to exposure or rankings. "This will get him seen" is a sales pitch, not a training plan.
Long-term contracts pushed before a single session. Legitimate trainers let results build loyalty; they don't need to lock you in upfront.
No willingness to let you watch. Real training holds up to observation.
One-size-fits-all sessions. A trainer running the same drills for an 8-year-old and a 15-year-old isn't actually training your kid — they're running a script.
Conversely, “DO look for a trainer who inquires about your athletes training background. Do they know your last trainer? Do they plan to contact the trainer and get some helpful feedback?”, emphasizes Coach Jay.
Questions to Ask Before Spending Money
Before booking anything, ask:
What is your coaching style? What type of athlete tends to do well with you?
What is the curriculum? What time is spent helping athletes translate sky high dreams into tangible goals? Is it discussion only, or do you document goals?
What is your training philosophy around developing & focusing motivation in athletes?
Explain how you teach & demonstrate accountability to athletes
How do you define success in your trainer/athlete relationships?
A trainer who answers these clearly and confidently is worth paying. A trainer who deflects into generalities is a red flag regardless of how good their Instagram highlights look.
How Often Should Kids Train?
This depends heavily on age and goals, but as a general framework:
Ages 7-10: Skip formal private training. Prioritize pickup, rec leagues, and unstructured reps.
Ages 11-13: 1x/week is plenty if paired with team practice and games. This is the age where a good group program shines.
Ages 14+ and serious players: 1-2x/week privately, but only if it's layered on top of, not instead of, actual game reps. Training without games is just rehearsal with no performance.
More isn't automatically better. A kid who trains four times a week but never plays in live games develops moves that don't hold up under pressure. The goal isn't volume — it's matching the right type of work to where the player actually is.
Having said that Coach Ben had very prescriptive action for committed high school athletes. “3 to 4 days in the weight room, 2 days of conditioning, on top of 5 days of basketball.”
Looking for a trainer at the Shore who fits your kid's specific needs? That's exactly what Hoop Atlas NJ's Find My Match is built for — tell us what you're working on, and we'll point you in the right direction.