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Rollers players work on skills at home
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Posted on Apr 15 2020
A screen grab of the video shared by Rollers Basketball Club coach Joe Diaz shows him demonstrating dribbling skills to their players. (Contributed Photo)
Basketball never stops for members of the Rollers Basketball Club.
Rollers head coach Joe Diaz said that although social distancing and curfew are in effect in the CNMI because of the COVID-19 pandemic preventing them from practicing and playing outside, the group’s players still have the opportunities to hone their skills.
“We do online drills. We never stop learning and we want to keep the kids active and busy even though they are at home,” Diaz said.
The Rollers coach sends his players videos on different basketball drills. Players then follow the demonstration and take videos of their drills. Videos are then sent to Diaz for evaluation.
“I review the drills they do and correct them if they made mistakes,” said Diaz, who personally appeared in the videos to demonstrate the proper way of doing the basketball drills.
Drills differ every week, giving players enough time to master them.
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- In this file photo, Rollers 2’s Jay Art Palmes throws up a shot against two Ol’Aces 1 defenders during their boys U18 game in the 2019 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Saipan Tribune)
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- Rollers Basketball Club player Kaia Travilla practices her dribbling skills after following a demonstration video sent by coach Joe Diaz. (Contributed Photo)
“This week, we have the left hand dribble and then in and out. This week is all about working on the handle,” the Rollers coach said.
Majority of Rollers players are participating in the online program, including the group’s female members. The club has 122 players, according to Diaz, who encouraged their members to keep working on their skills amid this crisis.
“Do something at home, stay fit and active. I know it’s hard, but let’s stay positive and pray that this coronavirus will be gone, soon,” the Rollers mentor said.
Before basketball games were called off, several Rollers players were suiting up for teams competing in the One Pacific Promotional Basketball League 2020. They also played for various schools that saw action in the 2019-2020 Public School System Interscholastic Boys High School Basketball League.
