Our high school recently hired a new boys varsity basketball coach. The coaching job is a great one and many coaches wanted it from around the area. The job was eventually given to a man who pledged to build a program and who said he would, in addition to helping the boys improve their basketball shooting and overall basketball training, have the boys play hard all the time. When I first listened to him say those words I took it at face value and thought to myself that the statement was a good one to make because we are in a small school district and the best way to increase our winning percentage is to take the same group of kids and increase the level of effort being given. I did not have an idea of what tactics he would use to get them to play harder, he said he would and he seemed very confident in his ability to do so.

I had believed that my teams had played hard. We dove on loose balls most of the time and got beat in game situations only a few times per game by not getting back to play defense. I was curious about what the new coach’s definition of playing hard was, because I was not sure what I was going to be able to do to turn it up a notch or two. In the back of my mind I was hoping he would see my kids play and say to me afterwards that they were already playing hard. I was wrong.

Our new high school basketball coach told the players the second they stepped into the gym that it was no longer acceptable to play the game at anything less than full speed. He let them know that if they were not in good enough shape to play the game fast they should go home and get into condition and come back to try again. He began to point out each time that individual players did nor sprint up and down the floor, where they missed help assignments on defense, where they did not get back in time to prevent an easy layup in transition, he brought up every time a player did not take a charge, and he constantly implored the players to play at full speed. His comments were constant and sometimes resulted in his frustration with our players boiling up to the point that he yelled at them, which also shook some of them up.

A great shift began to occur as the month of June went on and our scheduled summer sessions came to a close, the kids began to get it. They started to understand that he was not going to accept half an effort, they figured out that he was going to call them out each time he saw them not giving the effort he was looking for, and it changed the makeup of the team.

My basketball coaching most significant takeaway for this coming season after having spent 5 weeks with the new coach – do not accept anything less than 100% effort, ever. I re-learned something that I have known for years as well, that the coach sets the expectations for the way the team plays and if he sticks to it and gets his players to believe in it they will follow him. That is why coaches like Tom Izzo and Lute Olsen are successful year after year, they have a demanding style and they relentlessly force their teams to play that style. I am looking forward to a whole new level of effort this year from my team. It should be a great season.

It is now football time. It is a time I struggle to get through each year. It is the time that both of my boys will put on their football equipment and go get smashed around while defensive teams try to throw them to the ground. It will all be legal but, oh, how I pray they do not get seriously injured while they do it. Basketball season is just fifteen weeks away from starting and both of them have been able to work over the summer to improve their game. I sat down to think about how they can keep their hoop talents honed while still playing another sport as their primary sport for the next few months.

We will not have an issue with the lack of time to devote to their basketball workout until school begins in a few weeks. Until then they will dribble and play daily with their teammates in our backyard and we will wrap up our summer basketball leagues. There is still some good basketball left to play. When school begins fall sports will dominate their time. They will get home after dark on some days and will not have the opportunity to just go to and play like they were able to all summer long while they played baseball.

My solution for a young athlete is something that is hard for them to do successfully. The solution is to plan a lot more to be able to set aside time to get the work in for the out of season sport. The way I like to do it best is to say that a player will play the out of season sport for at least 3 hours per week in a basketball practice mode. Ideally they will not wait and get the whole time in on a Saturday afternoon but if that is all that is available, I will take it. In a perfect world they can get to a gym a couple of nights per week and do basketball shooting drills (not goofing around but actually shooting drills being done at game speed). I would then ask that they break off a little additional time on the weekends to be able to devote to different skills such as basketball dribbling. In a perfect world they can play pick up games with players of similar talent on the weekend to really round out the effort and keep them almost game sharp. I realize that sometimes the coach of the in-season sport will not want the players to participate in any off-season games. If that is the situation you are in you have to acknowledge and abide the rules of your team.

When I was growing up I was influenced by my coach who used to tell me that the only reason they had football season was so that the rest of us could get ready for basketball season. My mother was also fearful of an injury to us and losing our basketball season so she forbid us to play football. I loved her.

My kids go to a small school so most athletes participate in multiple events. If the students decided to participate in only their favorite sport the football team would barely be able to field a team. That is not fair to the football program so there is a lot of coordination that goes on to help the athletes play multiple sports. It is a joy to watch.

The one thing you can do to keep your skills honed during the season leading up to basketball is to keep playing. Basketball is the sport that a player can have their talent erased from not playing regularly and it can take the longest time to get it back. Don’t get caught taking a step backward from what you have gained over the summer with all of your hard work by not playing over the next couple of months.

Basketball is the most popular sport that has originated from North America. From the very beginning, it has owned the hearts and souls of spectators and players alike. It is then no wonder that every American would want to be associated with the sport and that is why United States Basketball League was created to combine business with the sport of basketball. Regarded as the “League of Opportunity”, USBL gives a chance to NBA hopefuls to showcase their talent. The season of United States Basketball League is from late April to late June.

The organization gives budding players chance to switch from college level basketball to professional level playing. It also helps them to stay in shape when the drafting for rookies begins for NBA league. Many players have made it to NBA and found incredible success. The rules are same as in NBA, but there is a stipulation that each team must have minimum two rookies in order to give chance to new talents. That is why there is great demand for United States Basketball League in small towns scattered all over America. It was also the reason why USBL started franchising in 1990 and has more than 10 franchised units to its credit till date.

To be a franchisee of USBL, you need moderate start-up money and you will become an “owner” of a United States Basketball League team. You can use the company’s trademarked logo and related merchandise as well. Your area will be exclusive and you have to find an arena for organizing your home games. Your franchisor will approve the place before you lease it. You will be trained on every aspect of the business – from administrative areas to the rules of conducting the game. The franchisor will select the referee and other officials for your games and also schedule your team’s game. USBL will help you even in drafting of players and promotional matters of your team. The revenue earned from sponsors and others will be shared with you.

So, if you love the game of basketball and want to know more about United States Basketball League, then link to the following page http://www.firstprizefranchise.com/usbl-united-states-basketball-league/

LeBron James' Mother
(for more on LeBron James Mother, see Site605)

What Happened: LeBron James' mother, Gloria, argued with Boston Celtics players Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett after her son, Lebron James, and Pierce fell into the nearby audience during the fourth game of the playoffs in Cleveland. "Even though that's my mother, the commissioner doesn't care if it's your mother or your kids or anybody, you can't allow fans and players to get involved like that," he said. "And I can't afford for my mom not to be at every last one of my games." James said, "I told her to sit down with some language I shouldn't have used. Thank God today wasn't Mother's Day, it was yesterday." LeBron said he was worred his mother would get in trouble with the NBA.

Commentary Exhibit A: For LeBron, each ballgame is a nail-biter. His mother must react every time he sticks his fingers in his mouth.

Commentary- Exhibit B: We doubt she did enough to deserve a response out of David Stern. Maybe she would if James didn't tell her to "Sit your (butt) down!

Flashback- Jan 06: LeBron James' mother was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Gloria James was pulled over by police, who were working security for the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, said Akron Police Lt. Rick Edwards. Gloria James almost hit the police car with her Cadillac, police said. The officers said the 37-year-old James smelled of alcohol and she appeared to be disoriented, Edwards said. Apparently, Gloria James struggled with police as they attempted to put handcuffs on her. They put her in the back seat of the housing authority car where she yelled obscenities at the officers, Edwards said.

How to Jump Higher to Dunk a Basketball

Dunking a basketball has always been the source of awe for the basketball fanatics.

Sometimes, dunks can even determine the name of the outcome of a competitive and exciting game. That is why most basketball players nowadays are aiming to get the perfect dunking skills for them to be able to show off or flaunt.

However, doing such or attaining such a skill, requires a lot of discipline. That is because to be able to dunk better, the basketball player has to improve and work out his larger muscle group - the legs.

Jumping

It is very elementary. The knowledge that jumping requires agility and strength of the leg muscle group is a basic and very apparent and logical.

Jumping requires applying force to the feet, and to be able to jump higher, more force is needed.

That is why to be able to jump higher and dunk a basketball better, here are some useful tips that can be of great help to you, the basketball player.

1) Do leg exercises

There are a number of leg exercises. The good thing about it is that these exercises can be done even outside the gym. These exercises can be very simple and can be performed even if you are just standing in the bus terminal, waiting for the next ride.

a. Stand firmly on the ground. Then stand on your toes, down to the ground, and do the procedure repeatedly.

b. Jump up and down. It does not necessarily be higher.

c. Jog round if you have time. Jogging is not just a good leg exercise but also an effective cardiovascular activity.

d. Jump using a jumping rope.

e. Stretch your leg muscles every now and the. It does not only relaxes you but also improve the circulation in that muscle group.

2) Wear the best shoes when playing the game

There are good shoes out in the market nowadays that are very comfortable and ideal for basketball games. Basketball shoes currently are considered necessities in the lives of basketball players.

Sometimes, shoes add up to their confidence, which in turn boost agility, inspiration and then, performance. Imagine having a dunk, people will be staring at your shoes, so prepare for the occasion and wear the best shoes. Your shoes tell stories about you, don’t you think?

Overall, jumping higher to dunk a basketball depends on your mood during the play. Open up your mind, be happy and relaxed while playing the game.

To learn more tips on jumping higher, please visit http://www.how-to-go-up-strong.com/

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