Each new basketball seasons brings with it a different set of challenges. To stay sharp, I encourage coaches to look for new ways to maximize their opportunities to win games. This article highlights three strategies that can be employed to improve as a coach and optimize your results.
As your coaching career rolls along it is natural to get set in your ways. I challenge you to look at your philosophies and teaching methods each season and entertain new ways of coaching basketball. Personal improvement and productivity can lead to amazing results you could never imagine. This out of the box type of thinking and call to action can make a huge difference in your upcoming season.
My top bit of advice is to develop your own coaching TOP 3. Establish exactly what they are and how to integrate them into your overall coaching philosophy and plan. Commit to them 100%. Beyond that, think about what areas of your coaching you want to improve in and how to do that. You can build this into your goals for the year.
Here are three creative ways to gain positive results from your season;
1. Get a mentor that can help you on a weekly basis, if not daily. Find someone to help you stay accountable to what you really want to do in your coaching.
2. Buy video editing software. I believe players are very visual and love to watch themselves. This can be a huge tool for you in terms of self-scouting (practice clips) or game preparation. Sideline Sports in particular has a great line of software tools that are very affordable to the youth or high school coach.
3. Begin to keep a "black book" for your coaching. The contents of this notebook are the essential beliefs/philosophies of your coaching. Example-don't have every OB play you have seen and written down at clinics in your black book. Include only those you have run and will run in the future. This is a very condensed version of you as a coach. It is your coaching Bible. Many coaches do not adopt a Top 3 or a black book and I believe that leads to being unorganized and inefficient coaching and poor results!
Use at least one of these four recommendations and prepare to see amazing changes and great results from your improved coaching ability.
I hope this helps........this comes from not only coaching for 25 years, but also in mentoring hundreds of coaches, currently and in the past.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_Brown
Monday, October 20, 2008
4 Tips on Making Your Basketball Jump Higher
Are you looking to make your basketball jump higher? Whether you are slamming a dunk, or blocking someone else's, a good jump is crucial to having a good game. For some people, a good jump comes naturally, but most athletes need to work at it. No matter what, both natural jumpers, and those whose jump comes from training, can always find a way to improve their vertical leap.
Of course, it is not always easy. Every athlete knows about the dreaded plateau. That point in training when no matter how hard you work, the best you can do is just maintain. Sometimes a plateau lasts a couple of weeks, sometimes months or years.
If you are looking to make your basketball jump higher, and you have hit a plateau, it is probably time to rethink your training program. While every body has its limits, very few athletes ever really reach the limits of their body's abilities. Almost every training technique, however, has limits to the amount of benefit it can give. Sometimes a plateau occurs when your body is adjusting to the most recent improvements a training program gives, but sometimes it comes when the training program does not have anything else to offer.
When you hit that plateau, and are ready to find a new program, make sure that you look carefully at any program that promises to make your basketball jump higher. Any program you start should cover several areas.
Exercise--
Obviously any training program should have exercises and workouts designed to give you the improvement you are looking for (a higher jump). A good program will also explain what benefit each exercise gives, and what muscles are used giving you a comprehensive overview of all aspects of that particular program.
Diet--
Your body can not do anything if it does not have the fuel it needs. A good training program will either give a fully detailed diet to go with the exercise plan, or give solid advice and guidelines for designing your own diet.
Downtime--
Since muscles actually improve between workouts, a good program will also advise you on how much downtime you need between heavy workouts to get maximum effect. Keep in mind, everyone's body is different, you may need more or less then the recommended downtime to get maximum effect.
Safety--
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_K_Wilson
Of course, it is not always easy. Every athlete knows about the dreaded plateau. That point in training when no matter how hard you work, the best you can do is just maintain. Sometimes a plateau lasts a couple of weeks, sometimes months or years.
If you are looking to make your basketball jump higher, and you have hit a plateau, it is probably time to rethink your training program. While every body has its limits, very few athletes ever really reach the limits of their body's abilities. Almost every training technique, however, has limits to the amount of benefit it can give. Sometimes a plateau occurs when your body is adjusting to the most recent improvements a training program gives, but sometimes it comes when the training program does not have anything else to offer.
When you hit that plateau, and are ready to find a new program, make sure that you look carefully at any program that promises to make your basketball jump higher. Any program you start should cover several areas.
Exercise--
Obviously any training program should have exercises and workouts designed to give you the improvement you are looking for (a higher jump). A good program will also explain what benefit each exercise gives, and what muscles are used giving you a comprehensive overview of all aspects of that particular program.
Diet--
Your body can not do anything if it does not have the fuel it needs. A good training program will either give a fully detailed diet to go with the exercise plan, or give solid advice and guidelines for designing your own diet.
Downtime--
Since muscles actually improve between workouts, a good program will also advise you on how much downtime you need between heavy workouts to get maximum effect. Keep in mind, everyone's body is different, you may need more or less then the recommended downtime to get maximum effect.
Safety--
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_K_Wilson
Friday, October 17, 2008
Learn How to Increase Your Vertical Leap - See Improvement Fast
Are you in basketball, gymnastics or any sport where a good vertical leap is important? Are you ready to learn how to increase your vertical leap? As any athlete knows, it takes time and work to get improvement on the field, but learning how to increase your vertical leap can be surprisingly easy if you get the right kind of program.
If you want to understand how to increase your vertical leap, the first step is to understand how the vertical leap works. A vertical leap begins with a standing start not a running start. It uses quads, and muscles of the p-chain (hamstrings, glutes, etc.) to provide sudden, explosive power to lift the body vertically off the floor. A vertical leap therefore requires muscles to be both strong and fast. Fast, because all the strength of the muscles has to be applied in a fraction of a second, or most of it is wasted. Learning how to increase your vertical leap, therefore, consists of both strength and speed training for the muscles involved.
A big mistake some people make is spending an enormous amount of time working on their quads, and neglecting the other muscles involved. This makes really powerful quads, but does not do anything to improve the vertical jump. That is because all the muscles need to work together at the same time in any jump and even if one muscle is much stronger then the others, it will not be able to use all its power. If a stronger muscle does use all its power, the other muscles will be injured.
Another mistake to avoid when learning how to increase your vertical leap is over work. Constant work will damage muscles rather then improving them. This is because muscle strength and speed actually increase between workouts, rather then during the training. If you do not have enough downtime (usually 24 hours) between major workouts, your muscles never have a chance to recover and improve.
And do not forget to maintain a good diet as well. Some athletes have seen significant increases in performance just by changing their diet, and making sure to get enough vitamins and minerals each day.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_K_Wilson
If you want to understand how to increase your vertical leap, the first step is to understand how the vertical leap works. A vertical leap begins with a standing start not a running start. It uses quads, and muscles of the p-chain (hamstrings, glutes, etc.) to provide sudden, explosive power to lift the body vertically off the floor. A vertical leap therefore requires muscles to be both strong and fast. Fast, because all the strength of the muscles has to be applied in a fraction of a second, or most of it is wasted. Learning how to increase your vertical leap, therefore, consists of both strength and speed training for the muscles involved.
A big mistake some people make is spending an enormous amount of time working on their quads, and neglecting the other muscles involved. This makes really powerful quads, but does not do anything to improve the vertical jump. That is because all the muscles need to work together at the same time in any jump and even if one muscle is much stronger then the others, it will not be able to use all its power. If a stronger muscle does use all its power, the other muscles will be injured.
Another mistake to avoid when learning how to increase your vertical leap is over work. Constant work will damage muscles rather then improving them. This is because muscle strength and speed actually increase between workouts, rather then during the training. If you do not have enough downtime (usually 24 hours) between major workouts, your muscles never have a chance to recover and improve.
And do not forget to maintain a good diet as well. Some athletes have seen significant increases in performance just by changing their diet, and making sure to get enough vitamins and minerals each day.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_K_Wilson
Proven Ways to Increase Vertical Jumping
I want to share with you some proven ways to increase vertical jumping with some very simple exercises. A lot of people look at basketball players as genetically built machines for jumping, but the fact is most of these guys have had to train very hard to achieve what they had today. They didn't wake up one day and were able to dunk the ball. They put in the work. I always tell people this to give them a reality check about the way things are. If you want to increase your jump, so you can dunk the ball, than you need to premeditate it. All great athletes have premeditated a moment. I'm going to show you exactly what you're going to need to do to increase vertical jumping.
One of my favorite exercises that I've done is walking around on the balls of my feet. It's a lot harder than you'd think when your goal is 30 minutes of it. This exercise works the exact muscles required to jump. When they get stronger, but more importantly, springy, you get so much added distance to your jump. If you're able to do this with relative ease, try doing it while walking around backwards.
Another important strategy to increase vertical jumping is raw strength. This means doing actual weight training on your calf area. There are a large variety of exercises to choose from, but the best is the standing calf press. I only have one rule for this; be explosive as you push up. Some people do it slowly, which doesn't give that realistic push of a jump.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Nash
One of my favorite exercises that I've done is walking around on the balls of my feet. It's a lot harder than you'd think when your goal is 30 minutes of it. This exercise works the exact muscles required to jump. When they get stronger, but more importantly, springy, you get so much added distance to your jump. If you're able to do this with relative ease, try doing it while walking around backwards.
Another important strategy to increase vertical jumping is raw strength. This means doing actual weight training on your calf area. There are a large variety of exercises to choose from, but the best is the standing calf press. I only have one rule for this; be explosive as you push up. Some people do it slowly, which doesn't give that realistic push of a jump.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Nash
Goal Setting Strategies For the New Season
Each new season brings a level of freshness and excitement for coaches and players. Along with this excitement comes pressure to succeed by winning games. Coaches face big responsibilities with each new team and must handle pressure that gets out of hand. In this article I will share some ideas and thoughts for the basketball coach as they begin a new campaign.
Expectations and pressure are part of coaching. The wise coach will approach the new year by setting goals. Goals are important by giving the coach team a focus and direction to their efforts. Expectations are laced with pressures to win and exceed previous successes. It is important to avoid predictions that will paint you into a corner. Expectations are tricky to reverse once they are not bet.
I encourage coaches to spend quality time establishing goals for their season. These goals are well thought out and are based on the coach, the players, and the team as a whole. Make sure you set your own coaching goals and share them with your staff and an accountability partner like a mentor. This will help you stay on course because accountability will help you "see" things that need to be challenged that you cannot see.
Set personal and family goals also. These goals of self improvement and enhancing relationships are your most important life focus, no matter how important we think coaching is. goals.
Here are some guidelines to writing goals before the season:
1. Goals must be realistic but written to stretch you and your team a little out of your comfort zone.
2. Write your goals specifically. Instead of aiming for offensive improvement, strive to get the ball to the paint every third possession and get to the foul line a minimum of 15 times a game.
3. Make goals measurable so you can evaluate them. Measure improvement in these areas; a) overall progress by the team, and b) individual player progress, c) specific areas of the game such as defense, offense, and skills.
4. Make your goals time sensitive. By your fifth game you may want to attain a specific level of team play or team defensive results. Use increments of time to gauge all parts of your game. Measuring improvement can be determined by your record but in itself your record can be deceiving. Closely examine your efficiency in specific areas such as turnovers, shooting percentage, and opponent's transition baskets.
5. Develop a schedule to review and re-adjust your goals. You can't afford to go an entire season and look at your goals at the end. Set periodic times to check and review each of your goals to stay on task. It is OK to re-write or revise your goals as they will never be perfectly written. Some will be too lofty, some not lofty enough. The key is to realistic, yet always to reaching for more than you have done in the past!
This season take the approach of goal setting to set you and your team on the right path. The benefits will be many and your focus will be on your team and not the expectations of others. Goal setting can be the best motivator in sports if designed and utilized properly.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_Brown
Expectations and pressure are part of coaching. The wise coach will approach the new year by setting goals. Goals are important by giving the coach team a focus and direction to their efforts. Expectations are laced with pressures to win and exceed previous successes. It is important to avoid predictions that will paint you into a corner. Expectations are tricky to reverse once they are not bet.
I encourage coaches to spend quality time establishing goals for their season. These goals are well thought out and are based on the coach, the players, and the team as a whole. Make sure you set your own coaching goals and share them with your staff and an accountability partner like a mentor. This will help you stay on course because accountability will help you "see" things that need to be challenged that you cannot see.
Set personal and family goals also. These goals of self improvement and enhancing relationships are your most important life focus, no matter how important we think coaching is. goals.
Here are some guidelines to writing goals before the season:
1. Goals must be realistic but written to stretch you and your team a little out of your comfort zone.
2. Write your goals specifically. Instead of aiming for offensive improvement, strive to get the ball to the paint every third possession and get to the foul line a minimum of 15 times a game.
3. Make goals measurable so you can evaluate them. Measure improvement in these areas; a) overall progress by the team, and b) individual player progress, c) specific areas of the game such as defense, offense, and skills.
4. Make your goals time sensitive. By your fifth game you may want to attain a specific level of team play or team defensive results. Use increments of time to gauge all parts of your game. Measuring improvement can be determined by your record but in itself your record can be deceiving. Closely examine your efficiency in specific areas such as turnovers, shooting percentage, and opponent's transition baskets.
5. Develop a schedule to review and re-adjust your goals. You can't afford to go an entire season and look at your goals at the end. Set periodic times to check and review each of your goals to stay on task. It is OK to re-write or revise your goals as they will never be perfectly written. Some will be too lofty, some not lofty enough. The key is to realistic, yet always to reaching for more than you have done in the past!
This season take the approach of goal setting to set you and your team on the right path. The benefits will be many and your focus will be on your team and not the expectations of others. Goal setting can be the best motivator in sports if designed and utilized properly.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_Brown
Monday, October 13, 2008
NBA Tickets - The Positives in the Sonics' Move
With many people focusing on the bad things about the Sonics leaving Seattle, I'd like to take a look at all the good things that will be encouraging fans in Oklahoma City to purchase NBA tickets. Since the city of Seattle gets to keep the Sonics name, I'll simply refer to them as "the team."
The team is really an up and coming franchise with a bright future. As with any successful franchise, it starts with a superstar, and the team certainly has one in Kevin Durant. This kid is the real deal. At just 19 years of age, he averaged 20 points per game in his rookie season. He's unquestionably the leader of this young team and is going to be an incredible offensive player. Durant's skill set is amazing for a player of his height, 6-9. He's already got one of the best midrange games in the NBA. When he adds some more muscle to his thin frame, he'll be able to post smaller players up, as he did in college, but still have the quickness to blow by bigger defenders. He's also a pretty good three point shooter and will only improve in that department. He's long, athletic, a great character guy and the kind of player who wants the ball in his hands in the big moments. He had a few spectacular game-winning shots last season. One that comes to mind was shot from a spot closer to half court that it was to the three point line and Durant cashed it in effortless fashion. He's the type of draw that sells NBA tickets.
The Robin to Durant's Batman is Jeff Green. Green is the perfect complement to Durant. He's a smart, versatile guy who possesses point forward ability and is a good defender. He can take over games on nights when Durant struggles and looks to fit the mold as a great number two option. The team also drafted UCLA point guard Russell Westbrook with the fourth pick in the 2008 draft. Westbrook is really athletic and a great defender. The team needed someone to run the offense and Westbrook fits the bill.
Those three players are the core of the franchise at this point. They are all high character guys who are all about winning. The team has some other pieces, like Chris Wilcox, that aren't likely to be part of their long-term plans but could draw some nice value on the trade market. The team also has three young centers in Johan Petro, Robert Swift and Saer Sene. None of the three has stood out much, though Petro looks the most promising.
The team is building its future with good players with good attitudes. The sky is the limit for the franchise and people in Oklahoma City should be excited to get their hands on NBA tickets for years to come.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Dunn
The team is really an up and coming franchise with a bright future. As with any successful franchise, it starts with a superstar, and the team certainly has one in Kevin Durant. This kid is the real deal. At just 19 years of age, he averaged 20 points per game in his rookie season. He's unquestionably the leader of this young team and is going to be an incredible offensive player. Durant's skill set is amazing for a player of his height, 6-9. He's already got one of the best midrange games in the NBA. When he adds some more muscle to his thin frame, he'll be able to post smaller players up, as he did in college, but still have the quickness to blow by bigger defenders. He's also a pretty good three point shooter and will only improve in that department. He's long, athletic, a great character guy and the kind of player who wants the ball in his hands in the big moments. He had a few spectacular game-winning shots last season. One that comes to mind was shot from a spot closer to half court that it was to the three point line and Durant cashed it in effortless fashion. He's the type of draw that sells NBA tickets.
The Robin to Durant's Batman is Jeff Green. Green is the perfect complement to Durant. He's a smart, versatile guy who possesses point forward ability and is a good defender. He can take over games on nights when Durant struggles and looks to fit the mold as a great number two option. The team also drafted UCLA point guard Russell Westbrook with the fourth pick in the 2008 draft. Westbrook is really athletic and a great defender. The team needed someone to run the offense and Westbrook fits the bill.
Those three players are the core of the franchise at this point. They are all high character guys who are all about winning. The team has some other pieces, like Chris Wilcox, that aren't likely to be part of their long-term plans but could draw some nice value on the trade market. The team also has three young centers in Johan Petro, Robert Swift and Saer Sene. None of the three has stood out much, though Petro looks the most promising.
The team is building its future with good players with good attitudes. The sky is the limit for the franchise and people in Oklahoma City should be excited to get their hands on NBA tickets for years to come.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Dunn
Proven Methods to Jump Higher to Dunk
I'm going to show you some proven methods to jump higher to dunk. Do you think that basketball players just one day woke up and they could dunk the ball? For some, they had that natural ability, but for most of these athletes they had to train hard everyday for along time to just achieve that. If you're looking to make a team, or just to impress your friends, dunking the ball is an amazing thing to accomplish. I'm going to show you some exercises that you can try that can help add on six to eight inches in just a few months. For a lot this is enough to jump higher to dunk.
My first exercise for you to do is the standing calf press. It's really just a great way to strengthen those main muscles in jumping. You'll want to do this at a heavy weight, but you'll also want to push off explosively. A lot of people do this slowly, but I think doing the push up should be explosive, while coming back down should be slow. I think that gives a good balance to the process.
My next exercise to jump higher to dunk is to just walk around on the tips of your toes for around 30 minutes. It sounds easy, but it's incredibly difficult. This is going to keep those jumping muscles much more springy. The speed in which you engage the jumping muscles will determine how high you go. That's why just building up the muscle strength isn't enough, you have to make it very quick.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Nash
My first exercise for you to do is the standing calf press. It's really just a great way to strengthen those main muscles in jumping. You'll want to do this at a heavy weight, but you'll also want to push off explosively. A lot of people do this slowly, but I think doing the push up should be explosive, while coming back down should be slow. I think that gives a good balance to the process.
My next exercise to jump higher to dunk is to just walk around on the tips of your toes for around 30 minutes. It sounds easy, but it's incredibly difficult. This is going to keep those jumping muscles much more springy. The speed in which you engage the jumping muscles will determine how high you go. That's why just building up the muscle strength isn't enough, you have to make it very quick.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Nash
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