Basketball lessons with
Stevana Sims
From$70.87 per lesson
•
Basketball lessons with
Stevana Sims
From$70.87 per lesson
•✨Stevana is new on TeachMe.To – but very experienced with basketball. We strictly vet every instructor so you can book with confidence. Satisfaction is guaranteed. If anything go sideways, we'll switch you to a different coach or give you your money back.
✨Stevana is new on TeachMe.To – but very experienced with basketball. We strictly vet every instructor so you can book with confidence. Satisfaction is guaranteed. If anything go sideways, we'll switch you to a different coach or give you your money back.
About your basketball coach
With over a decade of coaching experience, Coach Sims has dedicated her career to developing young athletes both on and off the court. Her coaching journey began at Marion P. Thomas Charter School, where she successfully launched and built the high school girls basketball program from the ground up, establishing a strong and competitive foundation. After several successful seasons as head coach, she continued her impact in the sport by leading both Freshman and Junior Varsity teams over a three-year span, helping shape future varsity talent and maintaining a winning culture. Coach Sims later returned to her alma mater, Columbia High School, where she served as the Junior Varsity coach and assisted with the Varsity program for three seasons. Most recently, she led her JV team to an impressive 14-3 record, reflecting her commitment to excellence, player development, and team cohesion. Her coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that defense builds offense. She emphasizes hard work, consistency, and the importance of building basketball IQ, principles that have consistently translated to success on the court. Coach Sims continues to inspire and mentor student-athletes, fostering growth through discipline, teamwork, and a love for the game.
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Teaches: Not specified
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Levels: Beginners, Intermediates
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Lives in: East Orange, New Jersey
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Years Playing: Not specified
Stevana's availability
Find a location and time that works for you
Stevana's availability
Find a location and time that works for you
Availability on all locations
Near East Orange, New Jersey
No availability for this date
Didn't find a time or location that works with Stevana?
We can suggest similar coaches or arrange a different spot (even at home)
We can suggest similar coaches or arrange a different spot (even at home)
Accomplishments
➕Founder & Head Coach – Marion P. Thomas Charter Girls Basketball Program
Reputation
✨Stevana is new on TeachMe.To – but very experienced with basketball. We strictly vet every instructor so you can book with confidence. Satisfaction is guaranteed. If anything go sideways, we'll switch you to a different coach or give you your money back.
Beginner training plan
Your first lessonStart by mastering the triple threat stance, learning how to pivot on both feet, and getting comfortable with the ball through basic stationary dribbling and ball-handling drills. This builds confidence and coordination from a still position, laying the foundation for movement later.
Lesson 11+In these ongoing sessions, the focus shifts to advanced skill development, integrating everything learned so far into high-intensity, game-like workouts. Each session targets a specific theme, such as shot creation, contact finishing, or game scenarios. Players practice moves like step-backs, euro steps, and off-ball cuts while simulating real situations like late-game possessions or scoring out of isolation. Conditioning is integrated to build endurance and mental toughness, with every drill designed to sharpen execution, creativity, and confidence in solo training.
Lesson 4-10In Lessons 4 through 10, the focus shifts from isolated fundamentals to integrating skills in realistic, game-like ways. Lesson 4 introduces proper shooting form and close-range finishing, reinforcing mechanics like balance, follow-through, and soft touch. Lesson 5 begins combining skills—dribbling into passes or layups, simulating real offensive sequences. Lesson 6 challenges coordination by developing the weak hand and reverse finishes, building ambidexterity and creativity around the rim. Lesson 7 focuses on solo defensive work, including footwork, closeouts, and lateral movement, helping develop on-ball pressure and reaction time. Lesson 8 targets rebounding and second-chance scoring, using the backboard to simulate live rebounding scenarios and finishing under pressure. In Lesson 9, the player begins practicing pull-up jumpers and basic footwork moves like step-backs and jab-step shots, adding dynamic shot creation. Finally, Lesson 10 brings it all together in a full individual workout that blends ball-handling, passing, shooting, and movement into flowing, continuous drills—preparing the player for real-game conditions.
Lesson 2-3Progress into controlled movement while dribbling. Practice zig-zag cone drills, speed changes, and protective dribbling with both hands. This lesson teaches how to keep control while moving and introduces offensive movement mechanics.
Learn the mechanics of proper chest and bounce passes (using a wall), and begin working on basic layups with proper footwork. Combine passing with movement and finishing to start linking skills in sequences.
Youth players
Working with kidsFor kids, the focus should be on fun, basic coordination, and building a love for the game. Lessons should be shorter (30–45 minutes), include playful language, and turn drills into games. Instead of strict technique, emphasize movement, balance, and basic control through activities like dribble relays, layup races, and pass-and-chase games. Use visual markers (cones, spots, colors) and give lots of positive reinforcement. Skill goals should center on learning how to move with the ball, use both hands, shoot with proper form close to the basket, and understand simple concepts like pivoting or triple threat. Keep things energetic, with plenty of variation and time for free play.
Working with teenagersTeenagers can handle more structure, intensity, and detail, allowing lessons to extend to 60–90 minutes with a stronger emphasis on technique, effort, and progression. Begin by focusing on footwork, efficiency, and consistency, all while maintaining an engaging learning environment. Incorporate drills that challenge decision-making and simulate game situations, such as combining dribble moves into finishes, practicing weak-hand layups, and creating shots off the bounce. As conditioning and mental focus become more crucial at this stage, introduce goal-based drills like “make 5 in a row” or “beat the clock” and track improvement. This phase also prepares teenagers to learn self-correction and train with purpose, equipping them for higher-level team play or competition.
What you need to bringEssential Items for the Basketball Lesson
1. Athletic Wear:
Athletic shorts and a T-shirt or jersey
Basketball sneakers with adequate ankle support
2. Basketball (Optional):
Bring your own properly sized and inflated basketball, if available
3. Water Bottle:
Stay hydrated by bringing a full bottle of water
4. Notebook and Pen (Optional):
These can be useful for recording drills, plays, or feedback, particularly for players focused on improving their basketball IQ.
5. Towel (Optional):
A towel can be beneficial for wiping away sweat during an intense session.
6. Positive Attitude and Willingness to Learn:
Be prepared to demonstrate diligent effort, actively listen, and continuously enhance your basketball skills.
What I can bringBasketball (size appropriate)
Cones (6–10)
Chair or obstacle (1–2)
Jump rope
Resistance band (optional)
Towel
Phone or stopwatch (for timing drills)
Frequently asked questions
Cancellation Policy
We totally understand that life can be unpredictable and plans might change. That's
why we've got your back with our flexible cancellation policy, designed to give you
peace of mind when booking private sports lessons with our awesome local instructors!
If you need to cancel your lesson, no worries! You can get a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours of making your booking. We want to make the process as hassle-free as possible for you.
And if you simply want to reschedule your lesson, change the date and time, or adjust the number of students joining, we've got you covered there too. You can easily make these changes within 24 hours of booking, and up to 72 hours before your lesson starts.
Our goal is to make your experience smooth, enjoyable, and worry-free. So go ahead and book with confidence, knowing that we're here to accommodate your needs every step of the way!
If you need to cancel your lesson, no worries! You can get a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours of making your booking. We want to make the process as hassle-free as possible for you.
And if you simply want to reschedule your lesson, change the date and time, or adjust the number of students joining, we've got you covered there too. You can easily make these changes within 24 hours of booking, and up to 72 hours before your lesson starts.
Our goal is to make your experience smooth, enjoyable, and worry-free. So go ahead and book with confidence, knowing that we're here to accommodate your needs every step of the way!
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Basketball with Stevana S.New to TeachMe.To