The Philosophy: Test Out to Move Up
Placement in an SF Champions training group is not permanent and is not based on age. It is based on performance. To move from a Developmental group to an Elite group, a player must "Test Out" of their current bracket by hitting objective benchmarks in Skill, Shooting, Speed, and IQ. No benchmark, no promotion — no matter how talented a player looks. This system makes every kid competitive about their own stats, and makes parents respect the process.
Monthly Metric Benchmarks
Test Out to Move UpRun once per month during Monday Skills or Wednesday Shooting Lab. Coaches log results in the Player Passport Google Sheet. These numbers are the objective standard — they don't change based on who's watching.
| Metric | Level 1 — Foundation 2nd–5th Grade |
Level 2 — Developmental 6th–8th Grade |
Level 3 — Elite 9th–10th Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Weak-Hand Layups 10 attempts from left baseline |
5/10 No contact. Focus on form. |
8/10 At game speed. |
10/10 Through contact. No misses. |
|
The "Champions 100" 100 shots from designated spots |
40% Form focus. No rushing. |
60% Catch & shoot game speed. |
75%+ College-range distances. |
|
Full Court Dribble Baseline to baseline, strong hand |
<12 sec |
<8 sec |
<6 sec Must include a hesitation or cross. |
|
Suicide Sprint Full court, touch all lines |
<35 sec |
<30 sec |
<26 sec |
Drill-Level Breakdown by Session Day
Each benchmark maps to a specific drill. Coaches use these exact drills during testing so results are comparable month over month — same drill, same conditions, different numbers.
Skill Testing
Weak-Hand Layups
Makes out of 10 attempts from left baseline. Graded at rest (Foundation), game speed (Developmental), through contact (Elite).
Mikan Drill
Makes in 60 seconds, alternating sides. Tests footwork speed, touch, and finishing without a dribble. Pure repetition benchmark.
2-Ball Dribble
Time to midcourt dribbling two balls simultaneously. Measures hand independence and control under pressure.
Shooting Testing
Form Shooting
Makes out of 20 shots from 8–10 feet. Stationary. Grading pure mechanics, release point, and arc. Foundation-level benchmark.
Spot-Up 3s
Makes out of 50 attempts from five 3-point spots (10 each). Catch and shoot off a pass. Developmental and Elite benchmark.
Moving / Off-Screen
Makes out of 50 shots coming off simulated screens. Tests footwork into the catch, balance, and shooting under movement. Elite benchmark.
IQ Testing
Spacing Awareness 1–5
Does the player create and maintain proper floor spacing? Do they fill gaps or bunch up? Coach grades 1–5 during live play.
Defensive Rotation 1–5
Does the player rotate to help on dribble penetration? Does they recover to their assignment? Graded on reads, not just effort.
Game Management 1–5
Do they know the score, clock, and foul situation? Do they speed up or slow down appropriately? Measures decision-making awareness.
Friday IQ Metrics — The Big Three
Non-SubjectiveDuring Friday Small-Sided Games, a Stat Lead tracks three hard numbers and a coach grades three IQ categories on a 1–5 scale. Together they give a complete picture — the numbers tell you what happened, the grades tell you why.
Assist : Turnover Ratio
2:1
Promotion target. Means the player values the ball — they make the right pass instead of forcing the wrong one. Coaches track this live during small-sided games.
Deflections / Steals
3+
Per game. Measures Active Hands and defensive anticipation. A player getting 3+ deflections per game is reading the offense, not reacting to it.
Paint Touches
5+
Per game. Does the player have the handle and strength to get to the rim? 5+ paint touches per game in small-sided play signals Elite group readiness.
Friday IQ Coach Grades — 1 to 5 Scale
| IQ Category | 1 — Not There Yet | 3 — Developing | 5 — Reads the Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spacing Awareness | Crowds the ball, collapses lanes, no sense of floor balance. | Holds position when reminded, but doesn't self-correct. | Creates and fills gaps automatically. Widens the floor without being told. |
| Defensive Rotation | Ball-watches. Doesn't help on drive. Loses assignment after screen. | Rotates late — gets there, but a step behind. Assignment lost on second action. | Early rotation. Communicates switches. Recovers to assignment after helping. |
| Game Management | Unaware of score, clock, or foul situation. Same pace in all moments. | Knows the score, but doesn't adjust tempo or decision-making accordingly. | Slows or speeds the game situationally. Calls plays. Talks teammates through the moment. |
Attendance — The Multiplier
Impossible to ArgueAttendance is tracked at every Mon/Wed/Fri optional lab with a physical sign-in sheet, logged into the Player Passport. No interpretation needed — the number is the number.
90%+
Tier 1 — Elite
Automatic Priority Consideration for promotion. This player is doing everything right off the court. Their numbers get reviewed first.
60–80%
Tier 2 — Developing
Maintaining current level. Skill may be strong but attendance gap limits promotion eligibility. Coach should address in the Individual Touch text this month.
<50%
Tier 3 — Inconsistent
Subject to Re-Leveling regardless of skill. Missing the optional labs means missing the tactical reps that higher groups require to function.
The Player Passport
Google SheetEach player's metrics, attendance, and rubric scores live in a shared Google Sheet. Coaches enter numbers after every evaluation. Parents receive View Only access so they can track progress in real time — and watch the benchmarks get closer month over month.
| Player | Grade | Weak-Hand % | Champions 100 | Dribble Time | Sprint Time | A/TO | Deflections | Attendance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player Name | 7th | 9/10 | 64% | 7.4 sec | 31 sec | 2.3:1 | 4 | 88% | Dev → Elite |
| Player Name | 7th | 6/10 | 55% | 8.9 sec | 29 sec | 1.4:1 | 2 | 72% | Developing |
| ← Replace with real player data in the Google Sheet → | |||||||||
How to Set Up the Google Sheet
- 1.Create a Google Sheet titled "SF Champions — Player Passports [Year]"
- 2.One tab per team (e.g., "7th Grade", "9th-10th Elite")
- 3.Columns: Player Name, Grade, all four metrics, IQ Big Three, Attendance %, Current Level
- 4.Share with parents as View Only — never Edit access
- 5.Update after every monthly testing session
Gear Checklist — What Coaches Need
What Parents See vs. What Stays Internal
The Player Passport has two layers. Parents get the objective performance data — the numbers they can act on. Coaches keep the qualitative notes internally. This separation protects both privacy and trust.
Visible to Parents — View Only
Internal Only — Coach Eyes Only
Google Sheet setup: Keep two separate tabs — one shared with parents (View Only link), one restricted to coaches only. Never share the master sheet. Parents should see progress, not evaluations of their kid's attitude or a comparison to their teammates.
What This Means for Your Player
Progress is Visible
You will see your kid's numbers improve month over month in the Player Passport. Watching a shooting percentage climb from 40% to 58% over three months is more motivating than any trophy.
Goals are Clear
Your player always knows what they're working toward. "Get to 8/10 weak-hand layups by February" is a better motivator than "work harder." The metrics create the target.
Decisions are Fair
Group placement is based on numbers, not relationships. If your player hits the benchmarks, they move up — period. There's no arguing with a stopwatch or a shot chart.