DR. WALLACE: I'll be a sophomore at my high school this fall. I want to try out for the basketball team, even though I didn't attempt to do so last year. I'm a pretty good player in pick-up games down at some of our local gyms and outdoor basketball courts.

I'm regularly chosen early when sides are picked for different players wanting to play three-on-three or four-on-four games. What I lack is specific coaching, but I'm confident that my raw ability is enough for me to be coachable enough to become a member of our school's junior varsity team this fall.

I spoke to my father about this because he played high school basketball when he was a teenager, but he seems to always be too busy to spend a lot of time with me one-on-one. His standard comment to me is, "Son, just go out for the team, you'll get all the coaching you need when you try out this fall."

But my worry is, I don't know the plays, the drills or any of the background information that several of the other players will already be familiar with. What can I do about this? I can't afford private coaching from anyone else, because I don't have enough money to pay for it this summer. — I Really Want to Make the Team, via email

I REALLY WANT TO MAKE THE TEAM: My advice is to find some friends or relatives of yours who have played varsity or junior varsity basketball at some point in their lives. Do as much networking as you possibly can, as I feel the odds are good that somebody connected to you who has experience will at least spend a few weekend afternoons with you to show you the basics.

You can of course scour the Internet for basketball drills, and my specific advice is to pay particular attention to dribbling and ball control, to screening out properly when it comes time to go for a rebound and to use the summer to really build up your stamina.

Basketball is a running sport, and you must be in top shape to sprint up and down the court as needed during key moments of any game. Therefore, you should do both distance running and some sprints this summer. Make sure you're in the best possible physical shape you can be in once the summer ends.

Also, work on your vertical jumping exercises for your legs and calves. Practice jumping and stretching with both of your arms, alternating each one individually into the air as far as you can reach. The fact that you feel you already have natural ability plays to your favor, and using the full summer to brush up on your stamina and ball-handling skills will greatly help you to prepare for your tryouts this fall.

RECOURSE CAN BE INVOLVED AND IS BEST AVOIDED

DR. WALLACE: I've read a previous column of yours about a reader who had mentioned having no interest in drinking alcohol, but wanted to try just one or two drinks to celebrate their milestone 21st birthday. You encouraged the person not to do so! Why is this?

It's weird how you can be 20 years 364 days old, and alcohol is illegal, and then magically the next day and for the rest of your life you're allowed to drink alcohol with no recourse or penalties. So, what if the reader wants to try one or two drinks and then go back to being a non-drinker? I feel your stance on this issue is beyond inflexible, and quite frankly, ridiculous. — A 21st Birthday Drink is No Big Deal, via email

A 21ST BIRTHDAY DRINK IS NO BIG DEAL: I stand firm with the advice I gave at that time, and I'll give it again today in the same set of circumstances.

Sadly, alcohol has ruined many individuals and associated families via its high potential for accidental misuse or addictive or intentional abuse.

An individual who previously stated having no interest in alcohol whatsoever does not need to sample alcohol just because of an arbitrary day on the calendar in their life. I would say the same thing about heroin, fentanyl or any other drug or substance that has the potential to do damage. Your letter stated that anyone turning 21 can drink with no recourse at all, but I would argue that is not always true. There may not be the illegal act of underage drinking involved, but even a few drinks for some individuals can lead to an automobile accident or worse. I've seen enough "recourse" regarding alcohol in my career to last a lifetime.

Yes, some individuals can carefully manage their alcohol intake and not suffer dire consequences during their lifetime, even though that potential always exists just under the surface. But for a person who states they have no interest in it, I don't see any reason to change that stance at all, simply because of a milestone birthday.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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