Angels of the Hardwood at The Basketball Movement

Yanders Law’s second annual Angels of the Hardwood event is underway at The Basketball Movement!

Our favorite day of the year, the Angels of the Hardwood event has been marked on the calendar for Yanders Law and The Basketball Movement for a long time. The event is finally starting with dozens of kids coming through the doors of The Basketball Movement facility.

Multiple Yanders Law players are in attendance, helping kids find the right size of brand new Nike shoes, getting shirts for everyone, and directing them to get professional photos taken, a new Nike Elite basketball, and even courtside haircuts courtesy of our friends at CUT N EDGE barber shop.

In their new Nike Elite socks, shoes, and shirts, they will start doing simple basketball drills soon as Yanders Law coaches and The Basketball Movement trainers take them through what they do best. The lighthearted nature of the basketball portion will be a bit less intense than we usually see around here, but the inclusion and fun make it many times sweeter during the season of giving.

The gym is currently filled with the sounds of balls bouncing and kids laughing, and we couldn’t be more excited to keep the energy going!

In addition to the gear, all athletes will receive presents, goody bags filled with healthy snacks, and North Face fleece pullovers as temperatures drop outside. It is a great day of giving, but it wouldn’t be possible without ample support.

We want to give a very special shoutout to all of our sponsors:

Nike

OMS Surgery

Parkcrest Dental Group

Eastbay

Clear Creek Family Dental

Aleshire Robb & Rapp

Cox Health - Neurosurgery (Springfield Neurological and Spine Institute)

Spencer Fane

Multiple anonymous donors

We also want to thank the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, Harmony House, YMCA, and multiple area public schools for getting the word out and participating in this event.

Make sure you are following along with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram during and following the event to keep up with the good we are hopefully doing for the community that has given us so much. Merry Christmas from #LawNation!

Reminder - Angels of the Hardwood is December 15th!

Yanders Law and The Basketball Movement are teaming up again this year to bring Angels of the Hardwood to the local community.

This year will mark the second annual Angels of the Hardwood event put on by Yanders Law and its players. Yanders Law partners with the local YMCA, Springfield and surrounding schools, and Big Brothers Big SIsters to raise awareness of this event. Yanders Law is once again partnering with The Basketball Movement and its coaches to utilize their professional-level facilities that already shape the lives of hundreds of young men and women on a weekly basis.

The goal of this absolutely free event is to make a difference in the lives of children and let them know that people care. To be able to take advantage of a space modeled after NBA-level facilities will hopefully be a real treat for these kids. The Basketball Movement is not only centered on development on the court, but the establishment of character, respect, and appreciation, so it is the perfect location for Angels of the Hardwood!

During the Angels of the Hardwood event, 100 pairs of Nike shoes are given to those in need as well as Nike shirts, basketballs, and more. This year, the entire event will take place within the doors and on the courts of The Basketball Movement. Angels of the Hardwood is an idea by Rob Yanders, born out of a desire to give back to the community using the platform of basketball.

“There is no greater way to find yourself than through service for others. Angels of the Hardwood will show the boys and girls of Yanders Law the importance of selflessness and teach them about character, humility, and integrity.”

— Robert Yanders

Rob has explained that players need to understand the privilege that they have to be able to play the game of basketball. This privilege can be best utilized as a platform to reach others - either inspirationally or through acts of service. Angels of the Hardwood helps create the next generation of leaders by teaching these kids to use their advantages to give to the less fortunate.

The players involved in this free program must understand that the giving season does not come about through a red-suited man in a sleigh. Behind all of that are good, real people working hard to be able to provide for their family and friends. There is joy to be found in giving, and Yanders Law and The Basketball Movement want players to get to experience that.

“A night of basketball” will take place in conjunction with the Angels of the Hardwood event. The evening brings everything back to basketball, giving the players the opportunity to grow on the court through The Basketball Movement skill development and drills while having a ton of fun!

Yanders Law and The Basketball Movement’s Rob Yanders reflected back on his time growing up in Milwaukee and what basketball meant to him.

“Growing up I remember how much I looked forward to after-school programs at Salvation Army, YMCA, and Boys and Girls Club. Basketball meant so much because it was an escape for us. It could take your mind off a missed meal or troubles at home. It was a chance to make friends and an opportunity to be a part of something. That’s what motivates me to give back.”

— Robert Yanders

The Basketball Movement and Yanders Law are excited to continue this opportunity to be a teammate for their community. This December 15th will be the second Angels of the Hardwood event and hopefully will not be the last. Rob and his entities are driven by the development of players and people, and that shines through absolutely through the Angels of the Hardwood.

Follow Yanders Law and The Basketball Movement wherever possible to learn more about initiatives like this as well as some of the best basketball training and development available in the Midwest.

For information on how to get involved as a sponsor to help us help kids, please email yanderslaw@hotmail.com!

The Evolution of a Hooper

Founder of Yanders Law, Robert Yanders has created a new tool for anyone around the sport of basketball.

Already three or four years in the making, Rob Yanders’ Evolution is a basketball program like no other. Throughout his own personal evolution through the sport, he has acquired the knowledge and expertise to put together on-and-offcourt curriculum that benefits anyone around the sport of basketball - and it’s out now.

With numerous drills that can greatly benefit trainers, coaches, and players alike, there is already an absurd amount of beneficial content within The Evolution. It doesn’t stop there though, with offcourt curriculum to benefit players as well.

There are multiple facets to the offcourt curriculum and Rob has included so much detail that we can’t possibly unpack it all here. In a nutshell, the offcourt lessons are conveyed in a computer format; individuals can click around the various sections of the curriculum to expand on topics and ideas presented.

Some examples of offcourt topics are: who is in your circle, urgency, putting in the “unrequired” work, preparation, being intentional, and more.

The Evolution provides great benefits for coaches and trainers. The benefits can be passed along to players, or players can access The Evolution directly. This program is designed to aid everyone around the world of hoops. For that reason, there is even going to be a piece included for parents of athletes as well.

Rob has included a section in The Evolution that revolves around the concept of a basketball “midwife.” This portion is all about what parents of athletes can do to help their children succeed while accepting assistance and guidance from trained hoops professionals.

Check out more details below in the latest Vibin Session, where Writer Wil Harrington asks Rob to dish on as many details as he can regarding this exciting new program:

Click this link to go directly to Patreon, which is home to the Evolution. Patreon also has an app available so that you can have the full program right in your pocket. Content will be uploaded weekly, so now is the time to jump in. Enjoy the journey and thanks for letting us come along!

Community - Yanders Law

Ahead of the Angels of the Hardwood event, we examine the importance of community.

Community may have different meanings depending on who you ask. Communities can be big or small. They can consist of families, neighbors, peers, cities, or regions. Whatever you consider to be your community, understand that you and everyone else in it has a responsibility to make it better.

Not everyone will contribute in strengthening a community; not everyone can. That is why it is imperative that individuals such as yourself step up to the plate. Take pride in where you are from.

Any community that you have been a part of has helped to shape you into the person you are today. However, you aren’t the only one. Other individuals in your community have also been shaped by some common factors. Most importantly, others such as children are still being shaped while growing in those communities.

Widespread aid - helping on a large scale is fantastic, but not always easy. Giving back to the communities that helped shape you is an excellent way to make an immediate impact. The more you care about the people and places you are giving back to, the greater impact you will likely have.

At the Angels of the Hardwood event, The Basketball Movement and Yanders Law give back to the local community in the form of Nike Elite basketballs, Nike shoes, free lessons, motivation, and camaraderie. We turn something we are passionate about into a positive for our community and the results are amazing.

You are likely big into basketball yourself, but there are so many other ways to give back. If your talents are in music, use that to lift spirits at a local veteran’s home. If you are great with kids, get involved with after school programs. Not sure what to do? Find a great organization such as Convoy of Hope - they can always use help packing food and hygiene kits that help families all over.

However you do it, keep your community’s needs in your thoughts and allow those thoughts to become action whenever possible.

Check out more on Angels of the Hardwood here and keep following along as we use basketball to unite people and bring about positive change.

Yanders Law guard Anton Brookshire on SportsCenter

ICYMI: Anton Brookshire attended The Basketball Movement Invitational Camp, coming away with new moves, enhanced skills, and a memory for life.

There were multiple Yanders Law athletes in attendance at The Basketball Movement Invitational Camp. Isaac Haney couldn’t miss, Alex Martini was rocking the rim, Logan Applegate showed off his improved game, and Elijah Bridgers hit a game winner.

Centered around competition, the Invitational offered plenty of opportunities for players to test their mettle and compare themselves with other good players. One of the best parts of the camp was the multitude of “king of the court” style drills.

1 on 1, the player to score or get a stop stays on and remains king of the court and the next player comes on to try and stop him. The competition was fierce, but our guy Anton Brookshire stood out in a big way; so big that it gained national attention. See in the post below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SportsCenter (@sportscenter) on Oct 16, 2019 at 8:53pm PDT

What even is this move?? A half-shamgod? Anton is mulling over the name “The Lizard.” It is his move to name after all.

A big player in basketball media, Ballislife was at the camp to cover the elite talent. They posted the clip and it immediately snowballed into something big. Then SportsCenter, perhaps the biggest name in sports media, took notice.

Not since Deonte Burton have we had an athlete go so viral. This is important for his exposure as he continues to garner more exposure and NCAA interest, which has already been ramping up anyway (recently with Mizzou and others).

To get recognition on a national scale (likely international) has to be an incredible experience for young Brookshire. He is always in his bag because he is always in the gym as one of our hardest-working athletes. Congrats, Anton! As you know, if you keep working, there is only more to come.

Playing time - A basketball balancing act

Year after year, playing time is one of the top issues on the minds of players (and their families).

Whether it is justified or not, many players find themselves not getting the time on the court they desire. There are situations in which it comes down to coach oversights, preferences, or bias. Almost always though, a player can increase their playing time by stepping up their game.

“I don’t complain about playing time. My job is to play so well the coach can’t sit me.”

— Shane Battier

All of the practice and effort that goes into basketball comes together in games, so that is why it can be so frustrating to not get many minutes - if any at all. No-matter the reason for limited minutes, the frustration is understandable.

That being said, many of your minutes are truly up to you. A coach controls substitutions, but you control your abilities. In a game situation, a coach’s mind is going 100 miles per hour. Many of their decisions are based on split-second instinct. They go to players and schemes that they are comfortable with and make sense in specific situations.

During your time on the court, time in practice, and even time off the court, present your best self to your coach. Get noticed by your play and demeanor - this will place you more prominently in your coach’s mind. Naturally, this will pay off when those split-second decisions happen in games.

The best thing you can do to increase playing time is simple - step up your game. Just practicing with your team is not going to separate you from the pack. The most improvement often happens in the offseason.

Not only getting up shots, but going through basketball specific workouts like those offered by The Basketball Movement are the kind of thing that separates a team’s best players from the rest.

It can be tough to dig yourself out of the hole that the bench can sometimes be, so it will take patience and determination. Overcoming adversity is something else that helps to separate the strongest from the pack, however. It is a challenge worth taking on if you are serious about getting more minutes.

Parents - It can be tough to accept sometimes, but this isn’t your battle. Coaching decisions are not yours to make and you must understand that you have blind spots when it comes to your own boys and girls. If coaching actions seem abusive in any way, it is of course time to step up. With issues such as playing time however, just support your children and be willing to help them in any way possible.

As mentioned, The Basketball Movement is a tremendous resource in the Midwest for scenarios just like these. If a player is serious about improving in a hurry, The Basketball Movement is the perfect place to start at any level of the game.

Remember you can contact them anytime here!

"The person is the player"

A Robert Yanders quote cuts deep as we reflect on the impact your life can have on your game.

Often, we are told to shut out emotions as players. The ideal basketball player is always calm, cool, and collected. It is one thing to play with passion, but carrying feelings of sadness, anger, or even a carefree attitude onto the court can negatively impact your play. All of this may be true, but it is unrealistic to expect this from players at all times.

Whether or not you realize it, your life is affecting you on the basketball court. This can be a positive or negative thing. When things are going well in your life, you have less worries. Less worry means less distraction to take away from what you are doing in game-time situations. Basketball can be a distraction from life on its own, but life always finds its way into your thoughts and demeanor.

“The person is the player” is a favorite quote of The Basketball Movement’s Founder, Robert Yanders. Rob understands that players are more than just guards and forwards - they are people; sons, daughters, friends, students, employees, what have you.

This understanding is what makes Rob such a great coach. He cares for his players and knows that one way to improve on the court is to have a happy life.

Eliminating negativity from your life can be important for not just basketball, but everything you do. The issue with eliminating negativity is that it isn’t always possible. You can cut out toxic friends and influences, but some potentially negative aspects of your life may be more permanent.

It may be easier said than done, but it is important to try and shape the negativity into controlled aggression, motivation, and a competitive advantage. No one knows exactly what you’re going through besides yourself. If you must dwell on those issues, put a positive spin on them. Use things like basketball to enhance your life by making you rise above your problems. Not much beats the feeling of netting a shot, outrunning an opponent for a loose ball, or skying over everyone for a rebound. The harder you play, the more the issues of the world melt away.

“There are hurdles to overcome in sport and in life. Sport is a very valuable learning ground for how to live your life in the best possible way.”

— Lynn Davies

If things are generally positive in your life, you will naturally have fewer worries on the court. On the flip side though, you may have less reason to have an edge or play with a chip on your shoulder.

As a player, I (@WilHarrington) personally had a pretty carefree attitude. Win-lose-or-draw, I was about the same after each game. I was happy to have been able to play and not too concerned when I didn’t get subbed in as much as I would like. As a person, this contentment certainly seemed like a strength. As a player however, it resulted in a lack of drive that could hold me back in a competitive situation.

“Positive thinking is more than just a tagline. It changes the way we behave. And I firmly believe that when I am positive, it not only makes me better, but it also makes those around me better.”

— Harvey Mackay

Everyone is different. Each individual player has a unique situation and a unique way to cope. With Yanders Law and at The Basketball Movement, Rob Yanders and his coaches are able to bring out a competitive fire in complacent players like I used to be. They can also teach players with more difficult backgrounds to take what they feel may be holding them back and turn it into a monstrous drive to succeed.

Do your best to mold your life into what you want it to be. For help translating everything to the basketball court, reach out to your Yanders Law coaches or contact The Basketball Movement here!

Yanders Law athletes in The Basketball Movement Invitational

Multiple Yanders Law athletes are set to participate in The Basketball Movement Invitational Camp for high school boys.

From October fourth through the sixth, our affiliates at The Basketball Movement are holding their annual invitational camp for top-tier high school boys. Once again, there are expected to be several athletes in attendance from our Yanders Law family.

The camp features what you would expect from any basketball event in terms of drills, skill development, fundamental honing, and more. All of this is of course ramped up several levels by the patented intensity that you can always expect at The Basketball Movement from Lead Trainer/Owner Rob Yanders and his team of coaches.

In addition to traditional camp elements, The Invitational will also act as a showcase of sorts, since it will be featuring such a wealth of talented players. There will be intense scrimmages every day, giving the players an opportunity to show out.

These scrimmages and other head-to-head style activities allow the players to truly benefit from being around other good players. Iron sharpens iron, which is what The Basketball Movement Invitational Camp is all about.

As for who will be in attendance, multiple names of invitees have dropped already. There are still more coming too. The best chance to see the names of invitees is to catch it first by following The Basketball Movement on Instagram. Rob Yanders has been dropping the names of his selections one at a time, giving each player an individualized shoutout. This also acts as a preview of the treatment that’s to come, as the camp provides a pro atmosphere with professional photos for each player, media exposure, and access to the top level facility.

Spectators are not only welcome, but encouraged to attend! Courtside leather seats will be available first-come-first-served for witnessing this top-tier event and impressive athletes.

Again, keep an eye out on the Yanders Law names being dropped and mark your calendars! This should be another good one. Stay tuned!