Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 292 The Strongest 16-Year-Old in Guangdong?
What is youth training?

In many people's eyes, a coach trains beginners to be able to play in games and score points, reaching that stage.

Many junior coaches share the same mindset: teach beginners how to dribble and shoot, and then, on that basis, teach them simple passing tactics.

But these people completely misunderstand the underlying logic of basketball.

Every team-based competitive sport, especially contact sports, actually shares a common underlying logic.

How to resolve confrontations to score points and win the game.

Both offense and defense require confrontation, and confrontation is the most direct way to demonstrate speed, strength, and reaction.

This also aligns with the Olympic spirit: higher, faster, stronger.

Passing, positioning, and screening are all new ways of thinking that emerged to address physical challenges; these didn't exist in the early stages of this sport.

Therefore, when a coach wants to train a beginner into a professional player, he should look beyond the surface and start from the essence.

That is to resolve the conflict.

As we all know, the four basic skills of basketball are dribbling, footwork, shooting, and passing.

How to use these four basic skills to resolve conflicts is the most important thing a coach needs to understand to be a qualified coach.

Most coaches have experience in teaching a blank slate.

However, correcting unorthodox methods requires immense patience and strong self-discipline.

This is also the biggest problem that the coaches of the Guangdong Blue Summer Camp are currently facing.

At the feedback meeting that evening, every coach raised similar questions, saying that the training was extremely difficult and that there were too many problems to correct in many players. They said that it might not be possible to complete the training in 40 days, let alone 400 days.

After listening quietly to all the coaches' speeches, Hong Han spoke.

As the person in charge of media promotion at Blue Media, she is now shouldering the heavy responsibility of coordinating the Southern Division. Her main task is to accurately convey the spirit of Blue Media so as not to be misinterpreted or weakened.

"Actually, I don't understand basketball; I'm an outsider." Hong Han's first sentence was modest, but her second sentence was sharp.

“But Azure has a group of very professional basketball people, and we have also established a top-notch team of trainers in the United States, which is even in the NBA.”

"This project has undergone multiple rounds of review, and the core team has approved it as having no problems."

"I feel honored to work with so many Guangdong basketball elites today. After listening to everyone's speeches, I feel I need to reiterate the headquarters' core message."

"What Blue Ocean needs is a national cup competition that comes from the people and receives heartfelt and spontaneous support."

“For example, if a group of somewhat famous celebrities come to a town to perform, how many people will go to see them?” Hong Han asked.

"It should attract quite a few people; if it were free, even more people would come."

"But now you know that your neighbor's, your friend's, or your colleague's child will be performing. Logically and emotionally, would people be willing to go and support them?"

"Those involved in the sports industry in China are still at a very superficial level of understanding. What is the attendance rate for the CBA? What is it for the playoffs? Which club has achieved profitability by relying on advertising, tickets, and jerseys?"

“In North America and Europe, it’s a consensus that you can make money from the sports industry. In China, you all know perfectly well how to make money in this industry.” Hong Han glanced at the entire audience, and many coaches couldn’t help but lower their heads.

"Let me repeat what I just said. We need the people to follow us spontaneously. This is the first year, and the fact that the selected candidates are of varying quality precisely shows that we have not achieved the most basic coverage and popularization at the grassroots level."

"Who can deny that these 100 players lack talent? Who doesn't love basketball?"

"Azure has a vision for the future. In ten or twenty years, we aim to establish a non-professional league that covers the grassroots level and promotes formal training, just like the AAU in North America."

“Eighty years ago, Americans were already doing what we are doing now, so in my opinion, your complaints are insignificant; they are all necessary steps.”

"We will select those who are most passionate about basketball, most talented, and have the most potential for growth, and mold them into the most representative young basketball stars, so that they can spread their energy to a wider area from their place of residence. A single spark can start a prairie fire. This is not just empty talk, but something concrete and feasible."

"We also welcome like-minded coaches to join this great initiative to fundamentally build a strong basketball nation."

"This is also the dream of a strong nation, and the significance of the creation of Azure is this goal."

"Finally, we would also like to ask the coaching team to strictly follow the training outline set by Azure, combining training with competition, and to complete this summer camp in a scientific and healthy manner."

Hong Han stood up and shook hands with Qu Shaobin: "Let's call it a day. Keep in touch."

What could Qu Shaobin say? This young head of Azure was strong, assertive, and had high emotional intelligence. So he smiled, reached out, and shook hands: "Okay."

After leaving the training base, Hong Han dialed Wang Zhen's number.

"How is the situation?" Wang Zhen asked.

"Everything was expected and under control."

"Thanks for your hard work."

"You're just going to brush me off with a simple 'thank you for your hard work'?" Hong Han's voice suddenly turned alluring.

"Uh, I'll make it up to you when I'm done with this." Wang Zhen's voice sounded slightly awkward.

Knowing when to quit while you're ahead, the only way to get closer to a man like Wang Yumu is with better business skills. Hong Han hung up the phone and walked out of the base. Looking back, her eyes were filled with emotion.

The plan was enormous; even she herself hadn't anticipated that Azure's ambitions and original intentions would be so grand and noble.

Hong Han might not have believed it at all if it were another company, but it's different with Weilan.

The big tree behind it is Chen Fang.

Just as Hong Han was full of confidence in the plan, many teenagers in the summer camp dormitory lacked confidence and began to back down.

There are countless complaints about how terrible the training and coaches are. These young people who love basketball are suffering mental torment. But competition is about selecting qualified talents through brutal competition and training, so that they can reach higher levels.

Qin Changzheng did not, Xi Shilun did not.

They were lucky enough to be assigned to the same dormitory. The summer camp conditions were excellent, with two people sharing a single room, and the treatment was comparable to that of youth training players.

“The more stringent the requirements, the greater the potential benefits,” Xi Shilun said.

"Is that so? I think the stricter the coach is, the faster I grow, haha!" Qin Changzheng happily punched the air a few times.

Speechless, Xi Shilun glanced at Qin Changzheng on the next bed and shook his head, saying, "Are you a combat power monster?"

"Combat power monster? Haha, what a nice nickname. Hmm, I crave to become stronger, the stronger the better!" Qin Changzheng was even happier.

"Why are you always laughing? Have you been like this since you were a child?" Xi Shilun sometimes felt that this guy had something wrong with his brain.

"No! My mother died young. I was still in kindergarten at the time. My dad said I was very withdrawn." Qin Changzheng's words made Xi Shilun feel very guilty.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I...!"

"Oh, you don't know, it's nothing."

"And now?" Xi Shilun asked curiously.

“My dad told me that if I’m unhappy all the time, my mom in heaven won’t be happy either, so I have to be happy every day so that my mom won’t have to worry about me!”

"So, your happiness is for your mother?" For a moment, Xi Shilun felt a pang of sorrow.

The dormitory lights were off, with only the streetlights casting a faint beam of light through the window, yet Xi Shilun still saw the light in Qin Changzheng's eyes.

"Not entirely. Actually, I knew it when I was in elementary school. My dad was just comforting me."

"I simply chose to face all unhappiness with happiness."

"You are very strong," Xi Shilun said quietly after a long silence.

"Hey, why are you talking about this! Go to sleep, we have to get up early to run tomorrow morning. Lao Xi, we have to stick with this until the end!"

“It can definitely be done!” Xi Shilun replied firmly.

From the beginning, he never thought about it; he just came to see for himself out of a sense of injustice. But after getting to know Qin Changzheng, Xi Shilun began to care.

He didn't want to be looked down upon, nor did he want to disappoint the other person, and he was even less willing to part ways with them.

What's more, they weren't even teammates yet.

One day, we will fight side by side!

※※※

"Coach, when do I start practicing shooting?" Qin Changzheng asked, feeling frustrated, as he watched everyone else shooting while he was still dribbling the ball.

Song Yuanshan snorted: "I'll let you shoot when you can dribble ten rows apart without losing the ball!"

"Ah!" Qin Changzheng was stunned, then he asked very seriously, "Really?"

"It's more real than gold, stop talking nonsense and keep going!" Song Yuanshan turned around and went to correct the other people's shooting problems.

For those who are passionate about it, training time always flies by.

While Song Yuanshan was explaining the standing posture to his team members, he felt his clothes being tugged.

Turning around, I saw Qin Changzheng.

"Coach, I feel like I'm ready."

"Then let's go!" Although Song Yuanshan didn't believe it, he still put down what he was doing and pointed to the sidelines.

"Walk ten laps around the entire sideline, keeping a steady pace. As long as you don't drop the ball, you've succeeded."

Qin Changzheng ran over with the basketball in his arms. He strictly followed Song Yuanshan's instructions, first stepping forward, then turning his back to the basket, then taking another step and doing a crossover.

With each step, the ball changes hands and its trajectory. This may seem simple, but when combined and maintained consistently, even professionals struggle to avoid dropping the ball.

But Qin Changzheng focused all his attention on his hands. He had large, fleshy palms, and each time he slapped the ball, he did so with great force, as if the ball was spinning in his palm. Qin Changzheng became more and more confident as he slapped the ball, and he couldn't help but speed up. He could hear his teammates calling out to him.

"Seventh lap!"

"Eight circles!"

Nine laps!

As he crossed the baseline, Qin Changzheng slammed the ball hard onto the floor, then turned to look at his coach, happily opening his arms.

This image was forever imprinted in Song Yuanshan's mind, becoming an indelible memory in his coaching career.

I took a deep breath and calmed myself down.

“Come on!” he beckoned.

"Go over there and bring the A-frame ladder over here!" he ordered.

The A-frame ladder arrived, and Song Yuanshan, having somehow found a red crayon, climbed up the ladder and used it to paint the edge of the basket rack hanging from the ceiling.

Then he pointed to the red area he had painted on the side of the backboard and asked Qin Changzheng, "Can you see it?"

"I see it, Coach, what's this?" Qin Changzheng didn't understand.

After climbing down, Song Yuanshan put his hands on his hips and looked around, saying, "When you use a ball to clear away the red area in this zone, I'll teach you how to shoot!"

"Ah!" Qin Changzheng was stunned. He ran over, climbed up, and reached out to touch it.

My fingers were slightly red, but the red area, which was only the size of a cigarette pack, hadn't changed at all.

"Coach, I don't understand!" Qin Changzheng wanted to get some clarification.

Song Yuanshan didn't say anything. He took the ball, went to the baseline, and threw it towards the red area. The ball bounced back inside the red square.

"Come on, be natural. Show me how you usually shoot."

Qin Changzheng demonstrated once, and Song Yuanshan corrected his mistake in composing the ball, then instructed: "Keep your eyes on the red area, focus your attention on your wrist, relax your fingers and palm, don't press your wrist down, flick the ball out with your wrist, and aim your fingertips at the squares with each shot."

"Understand?"

"understood."

"Let's begin!" Song Yuanshan waved for Qin Changzheng to start, then walked over to the other players: "What are you looking at? Keep shooting!"

Thus, Qin Changzheng began his first ever basketball shooting training.

He repeatedly jumped back and forth, retrieving the ball after it missed the backboard and then bouncing it even further after it bounced off the backboard.

Throughout the entire training field, one hoarse young boy could be seen retrieving balls all over the field, over and over again.

The other coaches noticed as well, but no one said anything.

Only Qu Shaobin's eyes narrowed slightly. The stricter Old Song was with someone, the more he valued that person.

Actually, everyone is the same. The more you are scolded and trained, the more your coach expects of you.

The coaches' task at this summer camp is to improve the basic skills of these teenagers and enhance their strengths.

There must be a basis for eliminating people so that they can accept the elimination. The only way to do that is through competition.

Looking across the room, there's still a week until the most brutal moment for these teenagers.

During the afternoon break, Xi Shilun found an opportunity to ask Qin Changzheng, "Why does it look like you've been hitting the backboard the whole time?"

"It was arranged by the coach."

Seeing that Qin Changzheng showed no resentment, Xi Shilun hesitated to continue. He thought for a moment and asked, "How do you feel after smashing things all afternoon?"

After thinking for a moment with his eyes rolled upwards, Qin Changzheng answered seriously, "I feel more comfortable shooting now."

"Comfortable?"

"Yeah, I used to have trouble shooting, and every time I took a shot I felt a bit frustrated. But that's not the case anymore. I can shoot whenever I see a shot, and it feels great! It's just that picking up the ball is a bit tiring!"

Feeling as if he were listening to gibberish, Xi Shilun could only say, "Alright then, let's talk before bed tonight."

The training is now very systematic. Tactical lessons are arranged after high-intensity training to give players a chance to breathe. They simply teach how to pass and move, zone defense, double-team, use of movement, and pay attention to details.

But all of this seemed to have nothing to do with Qin Changzheng. He just kept smashing the side of the backboard. While others were having class, he was still smashing. While others started to coordinate their plays, he was still smashing.

Even Qu Shaobin didn't say anything. Each coach has the right to train independently, and no one else is allowed to interfere. This was agreed upon before we came.

Of course, just because the players don't understand doesn't mean the coach doesn't.

This backboard-smashing shooting drill is based on scientific principles. It simplifies everything and focuses players on the rhythm of their shot, without considering accuracy. The red box actually represents the area at the front edge of the basket.

Standing on the court, no matter what angle you're at, when you shoot, all you can see is a red line, neither too long nor too short, just the length of a palm.

This is also the best way to correct the disjointed shooting force and the interaction between the player's body and the ball.

Song Yuanshan walked over, picked up the ball, and asked, "How many times have you missed the backboard now?"

"There are far fewer than before. I just glanced away when I saw the coach coming," Qin Changzheng explained.

I tilted my head and looked up; the red square I had drawn looked much lighter in color.

This is really good material!
He secretly praised him, thinking that some unruly players would have left long ago, but nowadays, there are countless unruly kids and very few who are obedient.

"Now start, bounce the ball down, and keep hitting it. Remember, you can only bounce the ball with your left hand!"

"understood!"

As Song Yuanshan was about to leave with his hands behind his back, he heard someone call out from behind, "Coach."

"Hmm?" He turned around.

"When can I go to class?" Qin Changzheng asked in a low voice. He was a little timid, but his eyes were determined.

“You don’t need to listen!” Song Yuanshan shook his head.

"why?"

Song Yuanshan smiled: "Because they are serving you, so they need to listen to tactics and practice teamwork."

"Ah!" Qin Changzheng was stunned.

Although he still didn't understand, the boy was happy.

He grinned, revealing his pearly white front teeth: "Alright!"

At night, after the lights were turned off, Xi Shilun snorted, "He's definitely lying to you, it's a complete hoax, that bald guy is really bad!"

"No, I can read the coach's eyes; he's telling the truth," Qin Changzheng stubbornly denied.

"He's just making an example of you, dragging you out to show others so they'll train more honestly!" Xi Shilun sometimes felt that Qin Changzheng was too naive, a bit like a simpleton.

"No, I'm telling you, I took the ball and went to shoot hoops while you guys were eating."

"My shooting percentage has improved, really, and I feel like I can shoot really fast!"

Xi Shilun was speechless, and he couldn't find a rebuttal. For a moment, he even doubted himself.

"Go to sleep, you have to run 3,000 meters tomorrow!"

"Okay, I'm going to sleep now."

June was hot, and the cicadas chirped tirelessly, their sounds blending with the croaking of frogs in the night sky to create a summer symphony. The electric fan whirred, and as Xi Shilun listened to Qin Changzheng's whirring, he began to feel sleepy.

It's unbelievable! At first, I was kept awake by his snoring, but now I can only fall asleep peacefully by listening to his snoring.

His lifelong reputation is almost ruined!

On the evening of June 25th, the fifth day of the summer camp, Qu Shaobin announced that tomorrow would be the competition day, with 20 teams starting a points-based competition. Each player would be scored by the coach, and those with lower scores would be eliminated.

This points-based competition lasted for three days, and after three days, 10 players left the team.

Immense pressure suddenly descended upon everyone, but it seemed as if not a single cloud was floating over Qin Changzheng's head.

He was still hitting the backboard with the ball. This guy, who was jokingly called the backboard-hitting master, was recognized as the first to be eliminated. Everyone felt sorry for him. It was really unlucky for him to have such a harsh coach.

While everyone else was returning to their dormitories to rest, Song Yuanshan was at the training ground, staring at the backboard, lost in thought.

The backboard has a small oval that is level with the rim, and it is green, unlike the rest of the backboard.

A white patch!
They smashed away all the red, and even destroyed the underlying green.

"Have you counted how many times you've submitted your bids?" Song Yuanshan asked.

"I don't remember, I never counted," Qin Changzheng replied, scratching his head sheepishly.

"You really can't get this effect without hitting it tens of thousands of times," Song Yuanshan muttered to himself.

"Come here!" Song Yuanshan beckoned the boy to come near the free throw line.

He used his feet to measure, and said, "Dribble one step in from the three-point line and shoot. Dribble in from outside the three-point line at the baseline and shoot. Dribble twice from the wing and shoot."

"Remember, dribble with your left hand and shoot with your right hand. This order is crucial!"

"Coach, can I ask why?" Qin Changzheng finally asked for the answer he had been holding back for a long time.

"Because only in this way will you always be facing the basket and directly confronting the defender!" Song Yuanshan's eyes suddenly sharpened.

"This is the starting position for a ball-handling attack. Remember, when you have the ball, keep your back straight. Only when you are breaking through can you bend down. Every time you dribble forward, you must first bend down, then move forward, then straighten your body to look at the basket, and finally shoot."

Qin Changzheng listened carefully and memorized every word.

"Also, don't jump deliberately. Let your mind lead the movement, your feet follow, your eyes stay on the rim and don't move around. Don't focus on your hands, focus on your shoulders first, and your arm will naturally extend. All subsequent shooting movements of your arm will then follow smoothly."

"Remember the mantra! With intention, the ball goes in."

"Let's begin!" Song Yuanshan completely imparted his understanding of the essence of shooting to Qin Changzheng.

One ball, two people, three shadowless lamps.

On this summer night, the chirping of cicadas and the croaking of frogs, along with the sound of basketballs hitting the rim, carried far and wide.

After an unknown amount of time, just as Qin Changzheng was completely immersed in the joy of shooting, the lights suddenly went out.

"It's ten o'clock, you should go back to your dorm." Song Yuanshan's voice rang out in the darkness.

"Oh." Qin Changzheng reluctantly followed the dark figure in front of him and walked outside.

Song Yuanshan escorted him all the way to the dormitory entrance. Under the streetlights, the boy turned around and asked, "Coach, I think I'm very strong now."

Looking at the filthy boy, Song Yuanshan nodded: "You are already the strongest here."

"Really?" Qin Changzheng was surprised; he had thought he had some kind of problem.

"Tomorrow's game will prove it. Go take a shower and go to sleep."

"Alright!" The boy skipped into the building, and Song Yuanshan smiled with satisfaction as he watched his retreating figure.

"You think it's so promising?" a voice called from behind.

It's Qu Shaobin!

"Of course, if he makes up for his shooting weakness, I can't think of anyone here who can guard him."

"At 183 cm tall, all muscle, his vertical jump is conservatively estimated to be over 1 meter. Even if he goes to the Dongguan youth training team, who do you think can defend against him?" Song Yuanshan asked proudly.

Qu Shaobin actually thought about it for a moment. He considered it twice and finally shook his head: "Nobody!"

"In my opinion, Qin Changzheng is already the strongest 16-year-old in Guangdong! No matter how things turn out for Weilan this time, just discovering someone like Qin Changzheng is already a huge achievement!"

"Make your move sooner rather than later. If you wait another month, Dongguan will lose the competition!" Song Yuanshan said meaningfully before walking away.

Qu Shaobin was left standing there, stunned.

Let's see how the game goes tomorrow!
Qu Shaobin still hadn't made up his mind. It wasn't that he didn't have a good impression of the team, but rather that he didn't want the club to benefit from the money that Weilan had spent. Trying to poach players would be too much trouble.

Song Yuanshan said that because he didn't understand; he knew the inside story.

This Blue Sky Project aims to replicate Chen Fang's epic journey, with the ultimate goal being to go to the United States, attend a top American high school, get into D1, and then compete in the NBA draft.

If one year isn't enough, try two, five, or ten years.

Chairman Yao has stated that there are multiple paths to youth training in schools, and we must fully support them.

Now that people are rich and powerful, the better the talent, the harder it is to get them. Opportunities like Chen Fang's will never come again.

"Go to sleep, go to sleep." Sigh, Qu Shaobin felt heartbroken just thinking about all this.

Just wait and see, I'll see just how amazing Qin Changzheng is tomorrow!

(End of this chapter)