BASICS SPORTS

PRIVATES with COACH SOPHIA WIARD
2025-08-22 17:00 - 2027-01-01 18:00 (America/Detroit) | Ferrysburg: 17520 Ridge Ave, 17520 Ridge Ave., Spring Lake, MI, 49456, United States
1 or 2 players permitted, not extra for 2nd player

Many privates are BY APPOINTMENT. Please inquire to 616 402-1600
Coach Sophia Wiard is the 2024 MAC Player of the Year (U of Toledo) and one of the best players in the country (D1). Her team beat U of M 2 years running and played in the Big Dance, beating Iowa State in the 1st round!
Highlighted in Basics Mental Strength Champions clip. Highly recommended training as players attempt to reach their potential

PRIVATES with COACH ALONA BLACKWELL
2025-12-31 - 2026-12-31 | Kuyper College in GR, 3333 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49525, United States
1 or 2 players permitted, not extra for 2nd player. All of Coach Alona’s privates are BY APPOINTMENT. Call or Text 616 402-1600 to inquire.

Alona Blackwell is the 2019 Grand Rapids area Female Athlete of the Year
She starred at D1 Oakland University for 4 years, earning all conference.
Her 5th year was spent at Aquinas College where she set the single season scoring mark (25 PPG)
Privates also available at SAME TIMES with Coach Gabe Newhof here

Basics Mindset Schedule - click here
2026-01-01 - 2026-12-31 | Ferrysburg: 17520 Ridge Ave, 17520 Ridge Ave., Spring Lake, MI, 49456, United States
“Hi, I’m Coach Jim McGannon. Any individual, team, program or business that chooses the Mindset training will improve, and often that improvement comes QUICKLY. Bad outcomes, losses, failure and adversity are most often NOT HANDLED correctly. This training corrects those mistakes. Get ready to improve by practicing what the pros practice! Call, text (616) 402-1600 or email jim@BasicsSports.com with questions. Applies to ALL SPORTS. Parents-Coaches encouraged to attend.

My bio is here. D-1 at Dartmouth (2 sports), played pro basketball in Europe and also pro golf (5 years) based in Pinehurst, NC. 6’9″, 260 lbs. Founded Basics in 2006.
TIP – this is what the pros work on everday.
SCHOOL BASKETBALL TRY OUT DATES

MS Boys: late October (varies by school)
HS Boys 11/11
HS Girls 11/18
MS Girls: January (varies by school)

It is a significant advantage to understand and practice the Mindset tools. About 1% (1 in 100) of the high school players are prepared for adversity.

Step 1: Register, you will receive the Mindset Assessment.
Step 2: Fill out the assessment, about a 20-25 minute exercise.
Step 3: Our meeting is about 75 minutes long. GET READY! Improvement is often seen immediately.
Parents + Coaches attend at no cost. HIGHLY encouraged.

FALL THURSDAYS - 20% OFF until 9/20
2026-01-01 - 2026-12-31 | Ferrysburg: 17520 Ridge Ave, 17520 Ridge Ave., Spring Lake, MI, 49456, United States
Thursdays
20% Off code good until 9/20. fall20 lower case
All packages are bundled with and INCLUDE Saturday games in Ferrysburg and the Basics Mindset! (Basics does NOT charge admission to our games)

Sunday Skills – REGISTER
Monday Skills – REGISTER
Tuesday Skills – REGISTER
Wednesday Skills – REGISTER
Thursday Skills
Fridays – Private Training only HERE.
Sats – Games REGISTER

Shooting Videos

Keep the ball up
8th grader- attended dozens of shooting clinics. Played in college
Free Throws (REQUIRED before Try Outs)
The Turn Around Jumper – Advanced players ONLY
Can you make an UNCONTESTED 15 footer – Advanced players ONLY. D-1 demo.
Shoot the 3! Same kid as # 2.. Top college shooter

Coaching Youth Coaches - Grades 6 and Younger
2026-01-01 - 2026-12-31 | Ferrysburg: 17520 Ridge Ave, 17520 Ridge Ave., Spring Lake, MI, 49456, United States
Helping Youth Coaches Run Competitive Practices: 10th Year!
Flyer-Coaching Youth Coaches pdf
Many youth coaches are volunteers or parents helping out, which is GREAT! These sessions will greatly assist these coaches in organizing practices that help build skills.
Competitive practices (organized, repetitive, skill based) will lead to competitive teams. NO PLAYS. A large % of youth practices actually teach plays, about the last thing these young players need. NBA Coach discusses this here.
Why plays should be AVOIDED at these tender ages: We do NOT TEACH PLAYS. We teach players HOW TO PLAY.
2 dates: On the Beltline and in Ferrysburg
Skills include

Ball Control precedes Ball Handling
Use of both hands
Developing WIDTH, learning to create space
Dribbling skills (both hands)
Sharp Change of direction
Learning to protect the ball with your body
VISION skills taught throughout all drills
Footwork – MANY skills but primarily MOVE YOUR FEET!
Jump Stops and Pivots
Shooting – proper form
Passing – use of both hands AND creating space to pass
Defensive concepts – stay IN FRONT of your man
Teaching HELP defense – be ready to HELP your team mates

FALL - SUNDAYS - 20% off until 9/20. Use Code below
2026-01-01 - 2026-12-31 | Ferrysburg: 17520 Ridge Ave, 17520 Ridge Ave., Spring Lake, MI, 49456, United States
Sunday
20% Off code good until 9/20. fall20 lower case
All packages are bundled with and INCLUDE Saturday games in Ferrysburg and the Basics Mindset! (Basics does NOT charge admission to our games)

Sunday Skills
Monday Skills – REGISTER
Tuesday Skills – REGISTER
Wednesday Skills – REGISTER
Thursday Skills – REGISTER
Fridays – Private Training. Call 616 402-1600
Sats – Games REGISTER

PRIVATES with COACH NATHAN BATTS
2026-01-01 - 2026-12-31 | Ferrysburg: 17520 Ridge Ave, 17520 Ridge Ave., Spring Lake, MI, 49456, United States
In Ferrysburg 1 or 2 players permitted, not extra for 2nd player

Many privates are BY APPOINTMENT. Please inquire to 616 402-1600
Coach Batts is highly conditioned, powerful and a fundamentally sound trainer. With older players, he will play 1 v 1. There is no HS player in the area who can duplicate his speed, strength and skill. What this means is if you can hang with Coach even a little bit, you’re going to blow by area competition. Coach was All area in HS, played college football at Davenport.

COACH McGANNON - BB, Mindset, Golf
2026-01-01 - 2027-01-01 | Ferrysburg: 17520 Ridge Ave, 17520 Ridge Ave., Spring Lake, MI, 49456, United States
Mindset sessions are by appointment and apply to ALL SPORTS.
Call 616 402-1600
Examples of Winning Outcomes. Scroll to bottom for Mindset Registrations

West Catholic 42. Notre Dame Prep 14. Nov 29, 2025 @ Ford Field
8th State Championship since 2010 – ie The best football program in Michigan
West Catholic has been thru the Mindset training 3 X.

Team and program training by appointment only. Please inquire to 616 402-1600
Privates are good for 1 or 2 players. Same cost.
Coach McGannon founded Basics in 2006. Over 200 graduates are playing or have played in college, 17 D-1. Coach played 2 sports in the Ivy League at Dartmouth, basketball and golf. His 5 years of pro golf included 2 trips to the PGA Tour Q-school, where the Basics Mindset was born. He trained with legendary Coach Pete Carril, and his college coach Gary Walters was Carril’s protege. Walters went on to a 20 year career at Princeton as Athletic Director. Coach McGannon’s bio here.

Coach demonstrating BB Skills via video. His skills training is NOT POSTED; please inquire to grab some time. The shooting videos below speak for themselves.

Keep the ball up when shooting – advanced players only
Defensive Positioning – a MUST HAVE skill for competition
The Jump Hook – every post player should possess a jump hook going BOTH ways
Free Throws – the skill that wins (and loses) more games than any other
Ball Control
The Step Back
Basics Skills channel here

Rockford U14 Travel Hockey Club Cornerstone U. Track and Field
Golf
Yes GOLF!! Coach has won the Muskegon County 4 X, qualified for the Michigan Amateur 3 X, US Open sectional qualifier once, D-1 at Dartmouth, PGA Tour Q-School twice. Qualified for the NCAA Championship. NOTE: ALL GOLF LESSONS are by appointment and the emphasis will be on the SHORT GAME, particularly Chipping and putting – see below. More Golf info here. Call 616 402-1600 for more details or to set up a time.

Simple and effective Chip and Run shot here.
The key element of the Pre-Shot Routine (IDENTICAL to Free throws!)

PRIVATES with COACH DYLAN MEDENDORP
2026-01-01 - 2026-12-31 | Ferrysburg: 17520 Ridge Ave, 17520 Ridge Ave., Spring Lake, MI, 49456, United States
1 or 2 players permitted, not extra for 2nd player

Coach Dylan is a patient, intelligent, skilled coach
Dylan was a Basics player through MS and HS (all conference at Whitehall)
TERRIFIC defensive player and coach, and knows how to teach all the skills

PRIVATES with COACH Gabe Newhof
2026-01-01 - 2026-12-31 | Kuyper College in GR, 3333 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49525, United States
6’9″, 230 lbs
All State at Unity Christian
Freshman of the Year – Crossroads Conference at Spring Arbor
Averaged 24 and 10 his senior year
Signed by James Madison D-1 in Virginia
DROP STEP Demo shows his Basics Training
Came over 100 X to Basics in Grade and high school
Privates also available at Kuyper with Coach Alona Blackwell HERE

NOTE: Sun Oct 11 1130-100 PM will be a Coaching Youth Coaches Clinic. Register below. More info here.

MONDAYS - Skills - Scrimmaging - Shooting - 20% off until 9/20
2026-03-01 - 2026-12-31 | Ferrysburg: 17520 Ridge Ave, 17520 Ridge Ave., Spring Lake, MI, 49456, United States
Mondays – Fall Posted
SLIGHTLY EARLIER DAY: 500-700 PM. Shooting Clinic with Coach McGannon on 8 SPECIFIC dates. See Event. 20% Off code good until 9/20. fall20 lower case
All packages are bundled with and INCLUDE Saturday games in Ferrysburg and the Basics Mindset! (Basics does NOT charge admission to our games)

Sunday Skills – REGISTER
Monday Skills
Tuesday Skills – REGISTER
Wednesday Skills – REGISTER
Thursday Skills – REGISTER
Fridays – Private Training only here
Sats – Games REGISTER

Shooting Videos

Keep the ball up
8th grader- attended dozens of shooting clinics. Played in college
Free Throws (REQUIRED before Try Outs)
The Turn Around Jumper – Advanced players ONLY
Can you make an UNCONTESTED 15 footer – Advanced players ONLY. D-1 demo.
Shoot the 3! Same kid as # 2.. Top college shooter

Fall- WEDS - 20% off until 9/20.
2026-03-04 - 2026-12-31 | Ferrysburg: 17520 Ridge Ave, 17520 Ridge Ave., Spring Lake, MI, 49456, United States
Wednesdays with Coach Sophia!
20% Off code good until 9/20. fall20 lower case
All packages are bundled with and INCLUDE Saturday games in Ferrysburg and the Basics Mindset! (Basics does NOT charge admission to our games)

2024 MAC Player of the Year at Toledo. D-1
1500+ points, 600+ boards, 600+ assists.
Beat U of M her Junior AND Senior years
Played in the Big Dance and the NIT.
Private Training BEFORE and AFTER

Monday Skills – REGISTER
Tuesday Skills – REGISTER
Wednesday Skills
Thursday Skills – REGISTER
Fridays – Private Training only call 616 402-1600
Sats – Games REGISTER

Ferrysburg Pre-Season Prep Fall 2026
2026-03-15 17:30 - 2026-11-18 20:30 | Ferrysburg: 17520 Ridge Ave, 17520 Ridge Ave., Spring Lake, MI, 49456, United States
Stay tuned. Schedule posted soon.
School Try Out Dates

MS Boys: late October after football ends
HS Boys: the week of November 11
HS Girls: the week of November 18
MS Girls: mid to late January 2027

Other Recommended Preparation

Private 1 v 1 Training HERE
The Basics Mindset Training (Mental Strength) HERE

MS + HS Girls Spring - Tues + Weds Practices - Teams or Per Diem Skills
2026-04-01 - 2026-06-03 | Whitehall VAC, Whitehall, MI, 49461, United States
Summer Bundle expires June 9. Sibling-Buddy Discounts REGISTER
Sophia will work EVERY WEDS in Ferrysburg this summer!
