COVID-19 has shut down the sports world as of right now, but that doesn’t mean that player development stops, and Reuben Williams is fully aware of that.
Williams, a 2016 Poly High graduate, runs his own basketball skills training. His training varies, either working with a group of kids or sometimes just one-on-one with the athlete. This pandemic has changed this process for Williams.
“COVID-19 has closed all the gyms and schools we usually work out at, so now we have to improvise and find different spots to workout at. I went from doing five workouts a week to only doing one workout every two weeks,” Williams said when asked about how COVID-19 has affected his training.
“Instead of me running a large scale business now, I’m just kicking it with the people I consider family. As a family, something we like to do is hoop. So now I’m just taking the knowledge that I have and putting it to the ambition they have, and with that, the training evolves,” Williams said about his current training with his clients.
Williams said he understands that with pandemic he may not be able to work with some of his clients face-to-face, but still offers solo at-home workouts.
“[For] the people who don’t have the resources to work out with me, my mentor has sent me workouts that I share with all my kids,” Williams said.
The safety of Williams’ clients is his number one priority, especially with all the precautions the world is taking right now because of COVID-19.
“We wear masks, but when we don’t it’s only because we know each other’s health, and I sanitize every ball and equipment that I use with my kids,” Williams said.
One of Williams clients, Santa Clara University freshman Giordan Williams, understands the importance of his training with Reuben during this time.
“It’s been a grind during this quarantine. I know a lot of guys who aren’t taking advantage of this time we have, so I feel like this is my opportunity to take advantage and get ahead of some guys,” he said.
Williams is a super energetic trainer who likes his kids to match his intensity.
“This is a blessing and a curse. Now that we have no gyms, kids have to get it out of the mud. When the season resumes, you’ll see who was training and who wasn’t. It will be a huge separation between players this upcoming season.”
During this interview, the workout was taking place at the residence of Yolanda Williams, Giordan Williams’s mother.
“As long as they use proper caution and sanitization, masks, etc. Our boys have invested so much time and effort into their basketball development. If home training is what’s available and accessible, by all means we will utilize it,” Yolanda Williams said when asked about if she had any concerns with her son’s at-home training.
Williams has bigger plans post-quarantine, planning to officially launch “Guard Skills Training”.
“My focus for 2020 and 2021 is to help at least 10 kids get scholarships, through our training curriculum and our recruiting consulting firm,” Williams said.
Williams understands that all high school kids are going through this quarantine and pandemic together and has one message for them.
“There is always more work to do, and there is someone better than you. That’s in business, life, and everything in general. Continue to work because if you stop, you are giving someone a chance to be better than you,” Williams said.