WHO WE ARE (LEGAL STUFF):

MIAMI AIR FORCE BASKETBALL, INC. is a Florida nonprofit corporation. We are exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

WHAT WE DO:

MIAMI AIR FORCE BASKETBALL is a travel basketball organization based in Miami, Florida. For the 2017 season, we are fielding one team, a 7th Grade travel team.  We intend to play across several organizations, like YBOA, USBA and USSSA.

MIAMI AIR FORCE provides young men with the opportunity to receive intensive training in basketball while learning how to be responsible and important members of the community. As an organization we teach these young men to establish and then meet their own high expectations. It is our job to help these young men activate and reach, if not exceed, their fullest potential. And, we help them prepare for the rigors of playing at higher levels of competition, whether in school or in travel ball. 

The MIAMI AIR FORCE coaching staff is comprised of several coaches with nearly 30 years of basketball coaching experience between them. 

WHERE WE PLAY: 

The MIAMI AIR FORCE is privileged to practice at several facilities, including the Calvin Rose Athletic Center at Miami Country Day School. We extend a hearty thanks to MCDS for their support of our program. 

HOW WE ARE DIFFERENT:

We use state-of-the-art training methods to drive our players' improvement. Our coaches believe in several core theories: (a) Repetition  -- so that players form muscle memory and certain motions become so ingrained they are performed naturally; (b) Customization -- our conditioning programs, practices as well as our skills drills are designed with each player in mind so they target areas that need improvement; (c) Correction -- we strive to make sure that players execute drills, exercises, and movements correctly because players play the way they practice; (d) Competition -- players should  constantly test themselves against their peers so they understand their own capabilities and learn the effort necessary to improve; and (e) Conversion -- while converting opportunities on the court is something we emphasize, in this instance, conversion means employing small changes to our offensive schemes and to our defenses so that we confuse opponents while challenging our players to improve their basketball IQs.

Mixing Modern with Tried-and-True Methods:

You will not see this team running the 3-man weave and you won't see them perform static stretching before the kids have warmed up. We also don't rely on training programs that are one-size-fits-all. Every practice is unique and customized. And, if a drill isn't working, we'll discard it and implement Plan B.

Our practices are unlike those at most other programs.  After a warm-up, we start with a brief dynamic stretching program and then switch to targeted conditioning and exercise programs.  For players who need additional strength, we concentrate on plyometric core strength movements.  Several players have seen noticeable gains in their core strength after just a few weeks. 

Coaches employ different methods to increase speed and fast twitch muscle groups in other players. For these players we supplement core strength exercises with programs that target quickness. We developed these exercises after consultation with expert kinesiologists.  Again, players have seen remarkable results thanks to our emphasis on Customization.

As part of our Repetition philosophy, after targeted conditioning, players cross-train on basketball skills.  Our intent is to ingrain players' muscle memories so that these basketball moves and skills can be repeated naturally and quickly under pressure. We make sure players get enough repetitions in every drill, something our facilities allow us to do.

We regularly try to simulate the worst conditions our players could conceivably face. As part of our emphasis on Competition, players are challenged by each other all the time. So, our players shoot under pressure, pass out of traps, shoot over taller defenders, and they practice certain schemes against numerical disadvantages.

Finally, we close with team drills.  Our approach contrasts with that of other teams, whether they are school or travel teams that focus on team concepts to the exclusion of individual skill enhancement. That's not our approach. We definitely work on team building, just not to the point where players' improvement suffers or they regress. It's during work on team concepts, that we emphasize Correction perhaps more than at any other time

We use modern analytics to teach our players how the game has evolved. The data guides us in designing schemes to defend against modern attacks while helping mold offensive sets. When we implement our defenses, for instance, it's only after we have evaluated our players' capabilities, studied the available defenses at length and then consulted with experts who are available to help us. Once we have decided on the primary defense, we build in modifications, so that it can be changed during the game to adjust to game play.  It's the same process with our offensive schemes. We build in numerous options as part of our Conversion approach.