Basketball Academy of Long Island

09/23/2026

How we turn a missed shot into a better next rep:

Coach Sonny identifies the miss, short, long, left, or right, then makes one focused adjustment. Players repeat the same shot before moving on, building better shooting habits, range, and confidence. Every session finishes with pressure free throws.

Private shooting instruction is available for developing and advanced players who want focused practice and measurable improvement.

Contact us at 516-779-9718 or register at balibasketball.com 🏀

09/23/2026

We just finished reading a comprehensive review on basketball injuries published this year, and one finding stopped me: ACL injuries, ankle sprains, and overuse problems like patellar tendinopathy are the main reasons kids miss time on the court.

These aren't random. They follow patterns. A kid who doesn't have ankle mobility is more likely to roll an ankle. A player who moves with poor landing mechanics is setting themselves up for knee problems. A young athlete in a growth spurt who doesn't have core control is vulnerable to overuse injuries.

The good news is that most of this is preventable.

We screen every new player at intake, regardless of age. We look at movement quality. We check stability. We're not assuming anything is fine. We're measuring it.

If you're evaluating basketball programs for your child, this is worth asking about. Does the program screen for injury risk before training starts? Or do they just hope nothing happens? That question tells you everything about how seriously they prioritize your child's long, term health.

09/23/2026

Just published a new article on the BALI blog about NBA All, Teams and what makes a player truly elite. 🏀

I dove deep into how the NBA recognizes its best performers, from the early informal selections all the way to today's three, tier All, NBA Team structure.

Here's what caught my attention while researching this: it's not just about who scores the most points. The selection process factors in rebounding, playmaking, defensive impact, team success, and even the subjective "eye test" that separates good players from great ones.

The other key insight? Team performance matters just as much as individual brilliance. A player elevating their entire squad to championship contention gets more consideration than an equally talented player on a losing team.

I wrote this because at BALI, we use these same principles when developing young players. We're not just teaching scoring techniques. We're building complete basketball players who understand court vision, team dynamics, and how to elevate those around them.

What skill do you think is most underrated in basketball? Scoring, rebounding, playmaking, or defense? Drop your answer below!

NBA All-Teams, a concept that surfaces periodically throughout the National Basketball Association’s history, represents an attempt to condense the league’s rich tapestry of talent into select groupings. These “All-Teams,” whether designated by the league itself, media outlets, or fan consen...

09/23/2026

Most kids who want to get into basketball are thinking about the wrong thing.

They see NBA highlights and want to learn pull up threes. They want to dunk. They want the moves that look good on film.

But the article making rounds this week breaks down what actually matters for someone starting out. The fundamentals. Dribbling with your head up. Passing to open teammates. Defensive footwork. Rebounding. These aren't glamorous. Nobody posts videos of a kid doing shuttle runs.

Here's what we see constantly at BALI. The players who master the basics first are the ones who build real games. The ones who skip straight to advanced moves? They spend years fighting bad technique instead of moving forward.

If your kid is just starting basketball, or you're thinking about getting them into the sport, focus on the foundation work. Get them in consistent training where a coach reinforces proper form on every single rep. Let the advanced stuff come later. It will come faster than you think when the base is solid.

What skill do you want your player to nail down first this season? Shooting form? Ball handling? Let us know what you're working toward.

Knowing how to get into basketball is the first step toward playing competitive games and maybe even making a career out of it.

09/23/2026

Struggling with one-size-fits-all training and unanswered development questions? Our weekly Parent Q&A clears the confusion while our age-specific, shooting-first sessions build real progress, registration open now. Call 516-779-9718 or register at BasketballAcademyLI.com

09/23/2026

Just published a new article on the BALI blog about NBA All, Teams and what makes a player truly elite! 🏀

I dove into the history of how the NBA recognizes its best players, from the very first All, NBA Teams back in 1947 all the way to today's three, tier system.

Here's what stood out to me: it's not just about who scores the most points. Team success, playoff performance, and what we call the "eye test" all play a huge role in these selections. A player can have incredible stats, but if their team isn't winning, voters take notice.

I also explored how subjective elements like leadership and court vision matter just as much as the numbers on the stat sheet. That's actually a big lesson I apply here at BALI when we're evaluating our players' progress.

Check out the full article and let me know: What do you think makes a basketball player truly "elite"? Is it individual stats, team success, or something else entirely?

NBA All-Teams, a concept that surfaces periodically throughout the National Basketball Association’s history, represents an attempt to condense the league’s rich tapestry of talent into select groupings. These “All-Teams,” whether designated by the league itself, media outlets, or fan consen...

09/23/2026

Does your player lose the ball when changing from a low dribble to an upright stance?

Faster hands may not be the fix. Players also need to stay loaded through the hips, protect the ball from the defender, and use their eyes to set up the next move. Private 1-on-1 training with Coach Sonny builds these FUN-DA-MENTALS through personalized instruction, including ball handling, shooting, finishing, footwork, and layups. 🏀

Contact us at 516-779-9718 or register at balibasketball.com.

09/23/2026

Just published a comprehensive article on youth basketball on the BALI blog, and I wanted to share some key insights with our community.

I've outlined the different pathways young players can take, from recreational leagues all the way through to competitive travel teams and school, based programs. What struck me most while writing this was how many parents don't realize there are structured options at every skill level.

Here are three things I highlighted:

1. Recreational leagues focus on fundamentals and fun, not winning. This is where most kids should start, regardless of age.

2. Travel teams and AAU circuits offer serious competitive development, but they require real commitment from families. It's a different beast entirely.

3. Skill development is the common thread across ALL programs. Whether your child is 6 or 16, the focus on ball handling, shooting, footwork, and basketball IQ matters.

At BALI, we structure our training to meet kids where they are and help them progress at their own pace. That's what this article really drives home.

Which pathway is your child on right now? Or are you trying to figure out which one makes the most sense for them?

Youth basketball encompasses organized basketball activities for participants typically ranging from elementary school age through high school. It serves as an entry point for many into the sport, offering opportunities for physical activity, skill development, and competitive engagement. The struct...

09/23/2026

One detail from recent research stuck with me: core muscle endurance is directly connected to injury prevention awareness in adolescent basketball players.

Kids with stronger cores understand injury risk better. They move more carefully. They know what their body is supposed to feel like.

That's why we front, load core work in every session at BALI. Not because it's trendy. Because players who build trunk and lower, extremity control early don't spend their teenage years rehabbing preventable injuries.

A 13, year, old starting a more intense training program is going through growth spurts, coordination changes, and new demands on their body all at once. That's exactly when they need to lock in stability patterns.

If your child is in that age range and just moved into team play or higher, level training, this is the time to invest in the foundation. The habits they build now around body awareness and controlled movement will protect them for years.

09/23/2026

A 10, minute warm, up program reduced ankle and knee injuries by 36% in youth basketball. Not because it's magic. Because it's deliberate.

The SHRed Injuries Basketball program includes 13 exercises covering aerobic work, agility, strength, and balance. Nothing fancy. Just systematic preparation before the real work begins.

At BALI, we do something similar in every session from our youngest players through our competitive teams. We watch how kids land. We build their stability. We catch movement problems before they become injuries.

Parents sometimes ask why we spend time on these drills when the kids want to shoot. The answer is simple: we're building the foundation that keeps them healthy enough to shoot all season long.

If your child just joined a team or is ramping up intensity, ask their coach what their warm, up looks like. A structured approach to landing mechanics and ankle stability isn't wasted time. It's the difference between a kid who stays on the court and one who doesn't.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a neuromuscular training warm-up prevention program, Surveillance in High school and community sport to Reduce (SHRed) Injuries Basketball, for reducing all-complaint ankle and knee injuries in youth basketball players. Design Quasi-experimental study. M**h...