By Luke Meier
A while back Mike Lee posted this photo on Instagram…
This concept, and the persistence it takes to reach this level, is misunderstood. For a skill to carryover from drill work into game play, you have to absolutely crush the drill. Not be able to do the drill or move, but CRUSH IT.
You can break this process down into three stages:
Stage 1: Form
- Execute the skill correctly. This can literally take seconds or minutes depending on the player. You are able to do it slowly, but correct. The progression of stage 1 to stage 2 is the fastest.
Stage 2: Form & Speed
- Execute the skill correctly and at game speed. Getting to this stage takes time. It requires significant repetition because, at the beginning, form slips when you add speed.
Stage 3: Form, Speed, & Read
- Execute the skill correctly, at game speed, while also having the ability to make the correct read in game situations. The final jump from stage 2 to stage 3 takes the most time. It takes an immense amount of repetition… repetition to the point where the skill/drill is woven into the fibers of your body… you can do it without even thinking about it, it’s reaction. Depending on the player and their work habits, this can take weeks, months, or even years to make this jump. This is where you CRUSH IT. This is where your work turns into results.
When you’re looking at the three stages, it’s important to remember two things:
Number one, your cannot skip stages. You may progress from one stage to the other faster or slower than another player, but you can never skip a stage. Number two, this is a process which means it takes time. More often than not, it will take longer than you wish. Remain consistent and focus on the process, the results will come.