Parent's: Let's Get One Thing Clear. · Chris Jordan's Skill Lab

Parent's: Let's Get One Thing Clear.

Hey everyone,

My peace and my time are the most valuable things I have right now. Basketball training is my passion, and I take it seriously. I've watched players who put in 2+ years with me transform their game completely. That's the standard I train to. It's time some of you match it.

If your daughter is in one of my girls' groups, this isn't about you. You're good, stop reading.

If you're the parent of one of my boys, read every word of this and pass it on to your athlete.

This is not:

A babysitting clinic
A gym for recess
A place to goof off
A place to not take seriously

Some groups are one bad week away from being cut completely. Starting today, if a player isn't working hard, isn't locked in, and isn't taking this seriously, they're gone. Just like a team cuts a player, I'm cutting players who waste my time.

I will train fewer kids who are serious over a full gym of kids who aren't. Every time.

The rule: 3 chances. That's it. The third time a player is clearly not trying, they're cut. No discussion, no fourth chance. Go find another trainer.

Here's another change, effective immediately. If a player is goofing off mid-session and it's blatant, I'm pulling you out right then and there. You'll sit out the rest of that session, your parents get that session's money back, and when they pick you up, you're going to have to explain to them why you got pulled.

Some of you are getting older now, and I have to start treating you like young adults. I have to treat you the way life is actually going to treat you. Training with me is a privilege. It's also an opportunity. And the moment you start goofing off mid-session, congratulations, you just lost that opportunity.

When a player gets cut for good, there will be no explanation. I'll text the parent that they're cut, and that's it. If I like the parent, they might get an explanation. Most likely they won't. Parents know their kids. I shouldn't have to explain something you probably already know.

I know I joke around. That doesn't change anything, a player can laugh and still work hard. But I also see now that when I joke around, it gives other players an opening to joke around too and stop being serious. So I'm cutting that off. I'll save the jokes for the groups who've shown me they can do both, laugh and still put in the work. Everyone else, this is strictly business now. I don't coach effort. I never will. If a player needs to be talked into trying, they don't belong in my gym. They belong at home, getting ready for the C team, or no team.

Let me stress this one more time. If your young athlete cannot take basketball skills training seriously, please do us both a favor and go find a trainer who's willing to tolerate that, because I'm not. That's an hour of my life every week, and if it's being spent on a group of kids joking around and not taking it seriously, that's an hour I could be putting somewhere more productive. My time is valuable to me. The moment I feel like it's being wasted, things have to change.

This is the last time I'm addressing this. If you're on this list and thinking about coming in, reread this email 3 times before you do, because I'm not going to waste my time explaining it again.

One more change, effective now: no more free evaluations.

In the last 2-3 months, over 20 parents have told me their kid is "skilled" or "advanced," and then I get them in the gym and they're barely a beginner. I don't know why people can't just be honest about where their athlete actually is. From now on, your first session comes at a cost, no exceptions. And if it turns out your kid is a true beginner, I'm going to refer you to another trainer. I don't have the time to train a 7th or 8th grader who's never played a day of basketball in their life and is expecting a miracle. I'm done with that.

If you know your child is a beginner, please find another trainer. I'm done tolerating dishonest intake forms.

Come to work, or don't come at all.

Chris Jordan

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Parent's: Let's Get One Thing Clear.