by Harlan H. and Messiah F.

Alamo Heights 8th grade basketball A-Team player Merritt Lasswell loves to warm up. He and his team use warm-ups before games to prepare for wins.

The team has its own routine before every game. “We normally, before basketball games, just do the usual: layup lines and shoot free throws,” Merritt explained. Though these warm-ups might seem basic or boring, they are essential for preparing for the game—and most importantly, for the win.

Merritt explained how the team prepares for games: “All of our good shooters shoot threes during warm-ups, and it translates toward the game, making them ready to shoot threes when needed.” It makes sense to have warm-ups that simulate real-game situations while helping to calm the players’ nerves and focus their attitude on the game.

Merritt shared why this warm-up has become one of his favorites and why it’s his go-to routine: “It’s my go-to warm-up because it gets us everything we need for the game and sets the mood and tempo for it,” he exclaimed. Every player needs a go-to routine to get themselves ready.

It’s important to have a reason for choosing your ideal warm-up; you can’t just say, “Yeah, that’s my favorite.” Merritt explained: “It’s my choice of warm-up because it gives us everything we need to get us ready and in the right mood for the game. It helps me get my blood flowing and prepare for the game.” A good warm-up boosts confidence and readiness.

There’s always a reason why certain warm-ups become the team’s go-to. It’s not just about the routine—it’s also about what it does for the players. “I think that when we shoot threes and free throws, it helps our team prepare for our game. This is their preferred warm-up,” Merritt said. “It helps them get their blood flowing and gets them ready for the game.” The team also enjoys another warm-up called “horseshoe,” where they start with layups and rotate to shoot mid-range jump shots. “There always has to be a warm-up that everybody does as a team and loves,” Merritt added.

You can’t just decide on one warm-up during game time; someone has to guide you so you know how to do it. As usual, that someone is often a coach. “Coach Wogstad just put it on us, and it has been clicking ever since,” Merritt explained. Coaches are there to teach the players the necessary skills and routines for the game.

To round it all off, there is always something the team does right before the game starts. “We all gather up, and the coach gives us a pregame talk about the plays and defense we will run. He gets us hyped and ready for our game,” Merritt said. A pregame talk is crucial to ensure the players are ready and know what to do.

It’s safe to say that warm-ups are important, and there’s more to it than just the warm-up itself. All the small things count. With everything that the warm-ups provide, it’s clear they help the team prepare for the game and lead them to many more wins throughout the rest of the season.