#1 Mindset

Mindset is above all the most important aspect of any skill you are trying to improve. That is exactly why mindset is our first and most important pillar. You can’t have a sound body without a sound mind. Mind over everything must be the first and utmost priority. Each of these pillars has a specific order to maximize growth. 

1. Work Ethic (Our Notebook)
2. Life Coaching (Growth Habits, Wisdom)
3. Mindset/ Mentality (Self Talk/ Awareness of Thoughts/ Growth Mindset)
4. True Confidence (Confidence vs Conviction)
5. Memory and Comprehension (Perception Training (Speed Reading))
6. Meditation/ Visualization

#2 Basketball Athleticism

Basketball athleticism is the second pillar of our curriculum for a reason. We build our curriculum pillars in chronological order of how we build our workouts. Our warm-ups before each training session are how we focus on building basketball movement. Below are the pillars of how we build basketball athleticism. Each of these pillars has a specific order to maximize growth. 

1. Pliability
2. Foot Strength/ Function/ Big Toe Strength/ Proprioception
3. Ankle Mobility/ Achilles Tendon
4. Knee Strength
5. Hip Mobility
6. Balance
7. Overall Coordination (Basketball Movements Without Ball/ Shiftiness/ Shin Angle)
8. Basketball Agility/ Vertical
9. Re-Direction of Force (Acceleration/ Acceleration)
10. Variable Basketball Athlete – Non-Pre Planned Movement/ Brain Stimulated/ Reaction/ Reflexes

#3 Footwork

Footwork is our third curriculum pillar. Footwork is arguably the most important skill in basketball behind shooting. It’s crucial we build footwork in the most efficient manner. Below are the pillars of how we build footwork. Each of these pillars has a specific order to maximize growth. 

1. Quadruple Threat
2. Split Drops (Off Dribble)
3. Skips/ Lifts (Off Dribble/ Change of Direction)
4. Steps (Off Dribble)
5. Stops (Off Dribble)
6. Wide Accountability

 #4 Ball Handling + Passing

Ball handling and passing is our fourth curriculum pillar. Ball handling is crucial to be able to create for yourself in basketball. Below are the pillars of how we build ball handling and passing. Each of these pillars has a specific order to maximize growth. 

1. Base Ball Control (Base, Elbow Extension, Unconscious Dribbling, Hand Technique)
2. Ball Speed
3. Ball Circumference
4. Ball Manipulation (Pockets)
5. Exchanges
6. Active Off Hand (Unconscious Dribbling)
7. Precision Work (A Lot of Passing Accuracy)
8. Jolts
9. Specific Go-To Moves (Can Be Like Legos Based On Our Curriculum)
10. Variable Dribbling (Visual Work/ Audio Work/ Partner work)

#5 Cumulative Movement

Cumulative movement is our fifth curriculum pillar. Cumulative movement centers around creating opportunities through movement with and without the ball. This includes ball screens, aways screens, cuts, etc. Understanding this basketball IQ is crucial to your growth. Below are the pillars of how we improve cumulative movement. Each of these pillars has a specific order to maximize growth. 

1. Creating Space
2. Change of Direction/ Pace/ Height (Misdirections/Contract to Relax)
3. Ball Screen Work
4. Off Ball Movement (Setting Up Cuts and Away Screens)
5. Curved Driving Angles
6. Physicality
7. Steps In Between Dribbles (Dribble Timing/ Stride Length/ Limiting Space)
8. Variable Cumulative Movement (Visual/ Audio/ Partner Work)

#6 Finishing

Finishing is our sixth curriculum pillar. Finishing is a crucial piece to becoming an all-around basketball player. You can not solely rely on shooting alone. Understanding the ins and outs of finishing is essential to your growth as a basketball player. Below are the pillars of how we improve finishing. Each of these pillars has a specific order to maximize growth. 

1. Finishing Footwork 1 Foot (Kyrie Finishing)
2. Finishing Footwork 2 Foot
3. Position of Hand (Under, Over, Extendo)
4. Pick Ups
5. Touch/ English/ Back Board Variations (Floaters)
6. Stops (Pump Fakes) /Steps/ Skips/ Hops/ Spins
7. Fast Finishes (Floaters/ Runners/ Running Layups)
8. Slow Finishes (Hangs/Decelerations)
9. Variable Finishing

#7 Shooting

Shooting is our seventh curriculum pillar. Shooting is the most important skill in basketball. Remember, our curriculum pillars were ordered specifically in how we structure our workouts to build the ultimate player. Don’t be misled thinking shooting is the seventh most important skill in basketball. Below are the pillars of how we improve shooting. Each of these pillars has a specific order to maximize growth. This is the most efficient way to master elite shooting.

1. Shooting Form BASE 
   1. Lower + Upper/ FGP/ Bullets/ Shooting Feet/ Shooting Path, Guide Hand, Pocket, Hand Placement
   2. Shooting Pole
2. Shooting Off Catch Stationary
3. Shooting Off Catch Move
4. Shooting Off Dribble/ Pick Ups
5. Speed of Release
6. Release Points (Range)
7. Variable Shooting (Network) 

#8 Defense

Defense is our eighth curriculum pillar. Defense is the most overlooked aspect in all of basketball. Along with it being the most undertrained. Below are the pillars of how we improve the defense. Each of these pillars has a specific order to maximize growth. This is the most efficient way to become a lockdown defender. 

1. Ball
2. Help
3. Triangle
4. Post
5. Box Out/ Rebounding
6. Press
7. Closeouts
8. High Hands/ Hand Placement
9. Balance of Body
10. Footwork of Slide/ Different Slides
11. Vision
12. Quickness (Lateral)

#9 Breath Training

Breath training is our ninth curriculum pillar. The Breath is one of the most untapped skills in all of sports. By focusing on the breath, we can drastically alter how we perform throughout our training, especially in the category of endurance. Below are the pillars of how we improve maximizing our breath throughout training. 

1. Nasal Breathing
2. Exhale Timing/ Breathe Holds
3. Diaphragm Breathing
4. Breathing Techniques (Sleeping, Box, Humming, Focus, Sleep, Relax, Calm)
5. Heart Rate Control/ Endurance Breathe Training/ Carbon Dioxide Increase (No Noise Breathing)
6. Sleeping (Mouth Taping)

#10 Variable Training

Variable training is our tenth and final curriculum pillar. Variable training is a staple for CTG, it is what we are most known for creating. Variable training is the act of focusing on non-pre-planned movement. After we have built a fundamental base in any particular basketball skill, we focus on transitioning our students to more game-like training, which is non-pre-planned movement.

In a game, nothing is pre-planned. Everything we do is respond to our opponents’ movement. That is exactly why our basketball training should not be ONLY a pre-planned movement. However, this is what most of you are doing. When we train without defense, we are pre-planning each movement we make. When we train with defense, all our movements become instinctual, without thought. This will give our students better in game results.