STARS Basketball Club (Tenn.) has shown just how valuable video is in building a culture that prioritizes the team over the self.
No matter the sport, it’s tough to get young athletes to put the team’s needs first. But in club basketball—where gyms are packed with scouts, ambitious athletes fight for roster spots and stats reign supreme—instilling a team-first culture is a tall task.
But look at it this way (the STARS way): not every college roster needs another volume scorer, but every roster does need players who put their team in the best position to win.
That’s how STARS builds a culture. They connect the goal of their athletes (recruitment) with the club's mission of being “more than.”
More than your average club. More than just athletes and coaches. More than a collection of individuals.
Ted Quinn is a former college coach who now serves as the Director of Player Development at STARS. He said consistent use of video helps push players past a “stat-padding” mindset and reinforces the “more than” philosophy.
It doesn’t take long for players to latch onto video. Not every player is a visual learner, but there’s no doubt that modern student-athletes consume video constantly, whether it’s on YouTube, social media, or other platforms.
Delivering specific instructions is key. Asking players what they saw, what they thought, or what they could improve upon shifts their brain from thinking “How can I shine?” to “How can I help us win?”
Tony McLeod is the Director of the High School Girls' Program at STARS. He said his club athletes took to watching video quickly. Now, his teams pester him about getting the film uploaded as fast as possible and he’s happy to oblige. Plus, he can hold players accountable by using the roster page on Hudl to see who’s actually watching film.
By using Hudl as a platform for consistent growth and progress while holding one another accountable, STARS can live out its “more than” philosophy. Together, these elements have spurred the club to a staggering surge in registrations and tryouts.
This past year, STARS had over a thousand athletes try out for the non-high-school teams alone. That figure nearly doubles when you include the high school age groups.
The unique combination of success on the court, in getting players to college, and even the investment in Hudl is appealing to prospective players. It shows the club is invested in its success beyond the hardwood.
STARS Director Lance Akridge said the decision to bring Hudl to the club made sense and helped them scale up to handle a massive influx of talented players.
Assistant Director Jason McGehee said video ushers players into an evolved mindset. Watching full game film instead of highlights reverts attention to studying basketball as a means to improve and grow.
“I feel like it's one of the extra value ads that we've got here at STARS,” McGehee said. “We take something like Hudl and utilize that to benefit the players while still promoting a big ‘We Over Me’ culture.”
The STARS culture of “more than” includes Hudl because it’s more than a highlight factory. It’s an investment in growth. A tool for progress. A culture-building platform.
