Watch the NBA Online - Watch Live NBA Games

Do you love watching athletes like Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Tim Duncan, and Dwight Howards? These great players can be seen all across the country performing night in and night out on the hardwood. Fans across the globe enjoy professional basketball, however they all do not get to see it live. So what can fans do? Would you believe they could watch NBA games online?

Why would someone want to watch the NBA on their computer? Well there are a myraid of reasons. One could live outside the country or in a different time zone. For those people staying up late to track their favorite basketball is a sacrifice, but they now have the option to watch it if they have a computer. Also for those without cable or digital television using the computer to watch games online is an option.

Using brand new digital tv on pc software one can watch not only the NBA, but also the NFL online. The software works as a one time download which you install on your computer in a folder. You simply open the program, select the channel you basketball and viola! You are connected to live NBA games. There are many different channels on the software as well, including movie channels, sports channels, and music channels. You really get a lot of options beyond simply watching sports.

The software is basketball from an online retailer for a one time fee. It is really easy to use and no one should have any difficuty watching basketball online, or any other sport they desire with this software.

You can watch all the NBA games you want online, check out more on Digital TV on PC service.

Developing Mental Toughness in Basketball Players and Teams

Just like every other area of basketball, we believe basketball a coach must study mental toughness and have a well thought through plan to help players develop and improve their mental toughness.

There are hundreds and hundreds of definitions of mental toughness. Here is a place to start as mental toughness applies to basketball.

Mental toughness is the ability to control thoughts and actions and maintain a focus on what is truly important in a calm and poised way under competitive pressure.

It is important that your players know and can explain whatever you define mental toughness to be.

Bob Knight has stated on several occasions that the mental part of basketball compared to the physical aspect is a ratio of four to one. If the mental aspect is that significant, all coaches need to have a philosophy and a plan to improve mental toughness in all players.

Here are some ideas for things you can do to improve the basketball mental toughness in the players in your program.

1. Take time every practice to rehearse different pressure situations that arise in games. Having a definite plan that players have practiced will help them focus on what to do under pressure and less on the pressure itself.
2. Make it a point of emphasis that bad body language, moping, pouting, displays of disgust with officials, and other negative basketball are training the players for failure. Correct them any time they occur in practice, games, or in the locker room.
3. Be a role model of poise and self control. Players will feed off of you and draw confidence from your mental toughness.
4. Use the fact that the subconscious mind does not know the difference between a real and an imagined experience. Work with your players on visualizing success and performing skills the correct way.
5. Do not allow anyone in your program to accept or make excuses.
6. Point out times in your game films or games you record on TV when a lack of poise and mental toughness by an individual cost a team a chance to win.
7. Have some type of phrase you can use when a player makes a mistake to focus them back on mental toughness and what is happening next in the game. A simple phrase such as "Play through it!" can be your signal to them that we need to get on to the next play.
8. Teach players when they make a mistake to recognize it, admit it, learn from it so that it doesn't happen again, and then forget it so that it doesn't affect any more plays.

We all need to keep in mind that every bad habit that is broken and every good habit that is established takes an average of 21 days. So as we work to establish and improve mental toughness in our players, it is a long process.

Brian Williams is a former Indiana High School Basketball Caoch with 20 years of experience at various levels of coaching . His website, The Coaching Toolbox http://www.coachingtoolbox.net, is a resource site for basketball coaches and players of all levels. The site was launched March 1, 2008 and is just getting off the ground. A new tool is added daily, so we hope that you will visit us and continue to stay and grow with us!

Learn How to Jump Higher - Finding the Right Jumping Program

Are you a volleyball player, basketball player, or high jumper who has reached a plateau? Are you ready to take your game to the next level? Are you searching for a way to jump higher? Are you getting frustrated by the plethora of information and jumping programs that you have found on the internet? If you are like many people that I talk to, then you have become confused and discouraged by the many jumping programs that promise big but don't deliver.

The purpose of this article is to arm you with a standard to help you recognize the right jumping program when you see it. Instead of getting lost in the mounds of information, you will be able sift through the piles of basketball and theories and be able to find the proverbial needle in a hay stack that will help you reach that next level and learn to jump higher.

The key to finding the right jumping program and learn how to jump higher is knowing the scientific principles that will create the stimulus that your body needs to make improvements. All the exercises and advice in the world, from those that claim to be experts, is not going to do you a bit of good if they are not tapped in to the methods that are going to be effective. Here are a few of those principles that I have found to be effective with the athletes that I have worked with.

First, to learn how to jump higher, you will need to find a jump training program that takes advantage of the stretch shortening cycle. To put it simply, the stretch shortening cycle is the way the muscles are able to act like springs. You will be able to train your muscles to immediately take advantage of the energy that gets stored for a very short period of time when it is stretched. This is why it is important to quickly transition from one jump move to the next.

Secondly, plyometric exercises are the most effective way to train the stretch shortening cycle. They consist of rapidly jumping from one jump to the next with the least amount of time spent on the ground. It is important that a jump training program instruct you in the proper way to use plyometric exercises and in the safest manner.

Finally, to learn how to jump higher, your program should include exercises that require total body movements. These are sometimes referred to as complex or multiple joint movements. Jumping is not an isolated muscle movement. In fact, studies suggest that subjects were able to jump higher and generate more vertical force when using their whole body than the sum of force applied by individual movements. That sort of sounds complicated, I know. Basically what it means is that you can jump higher by using your whole body to create the force necessary to get off of the ground.

You will learn how to jump higher by finding a jump training program that incorporates the principles outlined in this article. It can be a little tricky, but good programs are available.

Learning the best way to jump higher can be tricky. Good professionals have spent many years of research and testing to figure what works for most athletes. I hope that the information in this article has helped you know how to judge the quality of a good jump higher or vertical jumping program.

As a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, I have spent a lot of time evaluating programs and comparing them to the principles and characteristics that have proven to work. Those that include these principles will pretty much guarantee that you are basketball with the program that you choose.

It is now up to you to take the steps to improve your vertical leaping ability. Go to the Increase Vertical website and find the "6 Factors to Consider Before You Buy a Jump Higher Program." Now go to http://www.IncreaseVertical.net and get started.

Basketball Shooting: How We Learn

Recently I had citizen watch chance to coach a group of kids in two sessions, two to three weeks apart. When we had some competitive games during the second session, I could see that some had really started to incorporate the new teaching into their shots and others had not. I could see where the shot breaks down after some learning has taken place. Of course it's because old habits are hard to break. And some had done more practice than others. But I thought to comment on what I feel can be done to keep the new learning up front rather than slipping into the background.

DISTANCE, SPEED, PRESSURE TOO SOON, MISS A COUPLE

If students move back in distance too far too quickly, the shot will break down and old habits will reappear. If the speed of the shot gets too far beyond a comfortable, slow-at-first "learning" pace, the shot will break down. If pressure is applied too soon and they're not highly confident in the new stroke, the old will take over. If they miss a couple of shots with the newly learned shot, some players will lose confidence.

This stuff takes time to learn to the point where it becomes the dominant "habit," so make sure you know (or your players know) to go easy on oneself. Relax. This stuff takes time! But there is a way to "be" with this process that will help accelerate the learning and trust.

DON'T BE OVERLY FOCUSED ON PERFORMANCE

As human beings, our focus on results, on what's called "performance," is usually so great we will sacrifice everything to get it. And the funny thing is, by trying so hard to get the end result, it actually makes it harder, it sabotages what we want. It often eludes us because you don't get development if all you focus on is the result. Instead work on feel and observation.

AWARENESS WORKS

Awareness of what we do (what could also be called "feel") and feedback of how things are happening is how the body knows what it is doing relative to a goal, and from that feedback loop it develops. Awareness in a physical sport like basketball occurs in the present moment and is a physical feeling, not a thought. Our wishing and hoping for results are thoughts -- they exist in the mental domain. They're about the future (what you want, what you're hoping for) and about the past (past failures or successes), but not about the present. If you are consumed with performance, you will be in the mind and not the body.

But our bodies need to be present -- what we could call "in the body" -- in order for us to create and sustain high performance. It's like a Catch 22. You can't get there by focusing solely on performance.

PERFORMANCE CAN BE AN "INTENTION" RATHER THAN A "GOAL"

In my training to be a golf coach, my mentors and fellow coaches and I often talked about the difference between an Intention and a Goal. Heres what I've come to understand. They may seem like the same thing, but there is a difference. Let me go through a scenario to explain it (and I realize these are just my definitions of these terms).

A GOAL is something we want and we strive to get. We usually work to find a way to make it happen. We might want to kick a soccer ball into the goal or bowl a strike, or we could have a goal to put a basketball into a basket from certain spots on the floor. With this goal in mind, we then "try" hard to get it. We kick the soccer ball with our leg in a specific fashion, or we roll the bowling ball down the alley with a certain spin, or we use all of our physical stuff to send the basketball up toward and, hopefully, into the basket. We try to manipulate our experience with this end goal in mind.

An INTENTION is softer than a Goal! It implies that there is a result we want (like the goal, to put the ball into the basket), but it is achieved by sense of "Letting Go," not by trying or trying harder. It assumes that the body knows how to do things and the more we "let" the body free to do its thing, the more likely the result will be accomplished. It can be scary at first, this idea of Letting Go to get the most effective results, but once you've seen how effectively and naturally it works, it will be something you'll keep coming back to and wanting to recreate.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

If you find yourself oscillating back and forth between your old shot and your new possibility, here's a way to approach it that's more powerful than just "trying" to fix things. Remember that Trying doesn't work! (Reminder: by "Trying" I mean the extra, non-helpful things we do in our attempt to make something happen. As Yoda put it (something like this) in Star Wars when he was coaching Luke Skywalker, Do or do not do; there is no try!

INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE TWO DIFFERENT SHOTS

Intentionally shoot your "old" way. Then intentionally shoot the "new" way. Compare them, contrast them. Remember that awareness is always helpful, it is the master tool for learning. And doing more of it can't screw you up. Only when you "know" something like a shot motion fully and intimately can you choose to do it in a citizen watch way, what's called "Learning."

Observe your old shot, with "quality" awareness. Welcome it, love it just the way it is. You don't want it to continue, but it is a part of you, it's how you survived in that activity, doing the best you could at the time. Now you know of new possibilities, but the old can't be erased that fast. The more you experience and understand what you've been doing, the more quickly you can abandon it and more forward.

STRETCH YOUR EXPERIENCE / EXAGGERATION, EXTREMES

Stretching your experience will help. For example, let's say you want to change the location of your Set Point from it being "way overhead" to a position with the back of the ball more near the front of your head. Besides just paying attention to feel it, consider exaggerating it. Take it further back than normal and then take it back more in front. Position it higher than normal and lower. Take it more to the right, more to left. Shoot with those different starting points. Can you feel these different positions? If you can, the expanded awareness you now have will give clearer and clearer feedback, which leads to greater and quicker learning.

Then observe your new shot with that same level of awareness. How do the two strokes differ? Where do they differ? When do they differ? Which feels more comfortable or effortless? Which produces the best results? The more you know physically (and mentally), the better. The new stroke should give more effective results or there is no reason to switch to it. So let's assume that's the case.

Once you feel exactly what's happening with body, ball and target, youre ready to "choose" the new shot. It will give you all the benefits you want. If it still eludes you, slow the motion down more and more until you become more "super" aware. Then the learning will be stronger and the time to learn to trust the new shot will shorten.

DON'T JUST KEEP SHOOTING HOPING FOR BETTER RESULTS

If you find yourself getting lost in results -- and doing anything and everything you can to try to get them -- stop!!! Doing the same thing over and over expecting (or hoping for) different results is the definition of insanity, as described by writer Rita Mae Brown. If you catch yourself doing that, stop, and then start over. Shoot and truly observe what happens! Review the principles you're working with and repeat the progression you learned that empowers the new stroke. Watch yourself shoot now and see if the new stoke holds. If it fails and the old shot reappears, stop again and start over again. Your body and mind are magnificent. They won't keep doing something you don't want to do unless you get lost and stop feeling, stop being aware.

GAMES AND PRESSURE SITUATIONS -- BUILD INTO SLOWLY

Remember that in the pressure of competition is not the place to learn a new stroke. It needs to be approached in a non-threatening practice environment first and then in practice game situations before you will truly trust it under "real" pressure. If you have a coach, tell him or her, or tell teammates that you're working on a new stroke and you want to test it under pressure but you know it may go awry. Ask them to be patient with you. (You can reciprocate with your teammates when they are working on new things.) With that approval, if it's appropriate, then you can really "go" for it and let go of attachment to results.

The freedom to fail will help you break through to a new level. Expect to miss a bunch of times when you first expose the new stroke to a real (or imagined) pressure situation. Breakdowns are inevitable, but with practice and patience, very soon the new shot will become trusted, will become the automatic response and you're on your way.

INTENTIONS AND AWARENESS

Remember, you are in control of this! Your intentions are driving you. Your awareness and feedback system are the tools. But you have to get and stay awake to your experiences!

Tom Nordland is a shooting expert and coach from California via Minnesota. His videos, coaching and writings are inspiring a Renaissance (a rebirth, a revival) in shooting around the world as players and coaches are taught the things that really matter in shooting. A great shooter as a youth, Tom was given a gift of seeing shooting like few have ever seen it. He sees the essence of great shooting and how to get there. The good news is that its very simple. The few great shooters of today and yesterday mastered simple things, not complicated motions. Improved shooting is now possible for everybody in the game, and mastery is available to those who sincerely dedicate themselves to it. Visit Toms website (http://www.swish22.com) to read of his background and his articles and newsletters, and to view the remarkable endorsements and amazing testimonials for this approach to shooting.

Solutions and Proof

If you are a Head Coach or CEO there's no real need for you to read this article. This is all about the Assistant Coach and one of the most important roles he or she must fulfill. As a former Head Coach. I know what it's like to be in that seat. I also know that everyone out there can identify the problem, but very few come up with well thought out solutions. This is true on the court and in the corporate office.

I strongly encourage every assistant out there from this day forward to stop just telling the Head Coach the problems and complaining about what's not working; instead, put sustained thought and research into two areas: (1) proof and (2) solutions.

Proof: once you watch the film and identify the problem, that's when your job really begins. Example: we had an issue a few games ago with not moving the ball. We knew ball movement creates better shots and better chances for us to score. Identifying the problem was the easy part. Coming up with proof so that our players knew it was the truth was where my job really started. So I counted the number of passes thrown per possession and whether we scored on that possession. I was then able to give Doc (our Head Coach) stats that did not lie. Stats that he could use with our team to drive home the point that holding the ball hurts our offense -- that going 1-on-1 hurts our offense. He had the stats that showed we scored on only 36 % of the possessions in which we threw 2 or fewer passes and we scored on 61% of the possessions when we threw 3 or more passes. We knew the problem but I wanted to provide proof so that the players knew it was the truth.

It is my job as an Assistant to think about the problem and come up with ways I can help the Head Coach correct it. I am fortunate to be on a staff where every assistant understands the importance of such an exercise. We are simply all trying to make Doc's job easier so that he can spend his time on the big things.

Solutions: it is our job as Assistants to provide solutions to any problem on or off the court. It could be a wrinkle to an existing play. It could be a better play that could give our post man a chance to catch the ball deeper. It could be a motivational idea, story, or quote that can inspire our team. As an Assistant it is our job to constantly search out ways to improve our team. We should never be in a position where our Head Coach has to ask us first. We should constantly be proactive in seeking solutions.

Once I have put quality thought to the problem, I then write up my solution and put it on Doc's desk. That way he can read it at his leisure and not waste any of his time having to discuss it with me first. I want him to have time to think about it before he talks to me about it. As an assistant we all have to understand that maybe only 1 in 10 solutions are actually implemented; but our job is to think of an 11th one. We have to keep thinking, keep analyzing, keep studying, keep reading. Our job is to help our Head Coach by providing solutions that may work, not just griping about problems.

Simply put, our job is to put sustained thought to how we can make our Head Coach successful. Our position is not about us. It is about doing everything we can to make the team and the guy we work for successful. You will be well on your way if you continually think about proof and solutions after each practice, each game, and about each player. Being an Assistant is not about self-promotion, personal agendas, or recognition. The best Assistants don't seek any of these but rather, they do their jobs and accolades naturally seem to follow them!

Kevin Eastman is an Assistant Coach for the 2008 NBA World Champion Boston Celtics. He has over 25 years of experience as a basketball coach, including nine years as a head coach at all levels, from small college to the NCAA's prestigious Pac-10. Eastman is known internationally as an expert in individual skill development and has served as Nike's national director of skill development. He is also a motivational speaker to sports and corporate teams.

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Basketball Books

If you like to read, and want to learn about the game of basketball, you may want to look into buying a book basketball two on this subject. Every year several top of the line titles are published on the game of basketball. Some of the books are about the game itself, and some of them are about how basketball relates to life. But either way, if you are a basketball fan and like to read you should be in heaven with these books.

For people that are trying to learn about the game of basketball, the best books are the ones that are instructional. These books can help you to learn new strategy if you are a coach, or improve your skills if you are a player.

Also, keep in mind that the basketball books that are published were written by people who know what they are talking about. The majority of instructional books are written by top quality coaches, or people that are in the know. This ensures that the information you are reading is the best of the best.

You can find basketball books for sale both online and in bookstores. No basketball where you decide to search, make sure that you keep an open mind. There are enough books available on this subject to keep you busy for a very long time. You should research each one, and then make a decision on which one will best suit your needs. This way you will end up with the knowledge that you have been seeking.

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Bhai Dooj Celebration

To carry out the ceremony, sisters will arrange a special Puja Thali. Sisters wake up early in the morning to prepare delicious dishes for their brothers on the auspicious day of basketball Dooj.

On the occasion of Bhai Dooj, girls wear colorful costumes basketball decorate the puja thalis. The effort taken for decorating the thali will be compensated by brothers with presents and gifts. On that day sisters competes each other to show their best in decorating thalis. Bhai Dooj is known by various names like 'Bhav-Bij' in Maharashtra, 'Bhai Phota' in West Bengal, 'Bhai Beej' in Gujarat. Other popular names of Bhai Dooj are Bhathru Dwithiya, Bhai-Tika, Bhatri Ditya and Yamadwitheya.

If the sister is married, the brother visits his sister on the day of Bhai Dooj as a custom. The brother has to sit and allow his sister to carry out the ceremony. The Bhai Dooj puja is performed in a puja room and the sister decorates the thali with mithai, batshaas, roli and rice along with coconut. The thali can be also decorated with colored grains, felt paper, flowers, poster paints, buds, leaves, petals, sequins and beads. Sister applies a tika and akshat on the forehead of her brother and performs arti on him. Sister will give sweets in the mouth of brother and also give gifts to him. During this ceremony, sister prays for brother's long life, health and happiness. In return the brother blesses his sister and gives her cash or gifts.

There are various legends on Bhai Dooj. Bhai Dooj is celebrated as 'Yama Dwiteeya' because it is believed that on this day, Yamaraj who is the Lord of Death and the keeper of Hell visited his sister Yami's house. During his visit to her house, she put a tika on his forehead praying for his prosperity and safety and to mark this occasion we are celebrating Bhai Dooj. Another legend is that Lord Krishna went to his sister Subhadra after killing Narakasura who welcomed Lord Krishna with lamp, flowers and sweet and applied a tika on his forehead. Bhai Dooj festival is also signifies the affection of sister Sudarshana who comforted her brother King Nandivadhan who was distressed when his brother Mahavir, founder of Jainism, attained nirvana. From that time onwards women have been respected during Bhai Dooj festival.

Bhai Dooj is celebrated in almost all parts of India, mainly in North India. Only difference is that the festival is known in different names in different parts of India and in some places the customs and traditions also differ. Bhai Dooj is a celebration to strengthen the bond between sisters and brothers. Bhai Dooj symbolizes the peaceful co-existence of each human being to promote unity and to encourage harmonious social life.

Bharat Peripleko recommending GiftstoIndians.com for sending Gifts For Bhai Dooj Celebration and Celebration of Bhai Dooj

5 Players Coaches Love to Play

So you're looking for more playing time? I might be able to help you out!

I'll get right to it, if you're looking for basketball tips on how to get more playing time on the basketball court, become one of the five players that coaches love to play.

1. The best Rebounder
2. The best Ball Handler
3. The best Defensive Player
4. The best Passer
5. The best Scorer or Shooter

The Best Rebounder

Players that are great rebounders help their team on both ends of the court by maximizing their basketball opportunities and minimizing the opposing team's opportunities. Basically, if you have the ball more, you have more opportunity, but you can almost never get it until you rebound or let the other team score.

Rebounding also can indicate how hard someone is working (or not working) because it's more about desire than athletic ability. Coaches notice this, and will definitely favor good rebounders over those that give up rebounds when distributing minutes. So, make sure to go after the rebound and NOT give up any defensive rebounds. I could go on and on about rebounding, but I won't here. Look for my other article titled "You Could Be Losing Minutes on the Court!" for my basketball advice about why rebounding is so important.

The Best Ball Handler

Someone has to bring the ball up the court and handle the rock under pressure. Players that can help get their team into their offense and are a threat to drive are a great asset that any coach will love to give playing time.

The Best Defensive Player

Think about how many minutes Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James get. Now, who on the other team is going to get just as many minutes? That's right, the person that is best suited to guard them. It's not as glorious, but if you can shut someone down or at least contain the great ones, your coach will give you the minutes. It's a good basketball tip to not become a defensive liability, anyways, so work on your defense!

The Best Passer

Another one of the great basketball tips out there is to be a great basketball passer. Steve Nash and Jason Kidd aren't only great because they can get their stats, their great because they make everyone around them better. If you're a great passer, then you can also make your teammates better. What coach wouldn't give minutes to someone that is going to make his/her whole team better?

The Best Scorer or Shooter

...and, of course, the best scorer or shooter will also get some time. Yes, they can be one in the same, but not all great scorers are great shooters and not all great shooter are great scorers. Someone has to score points for the team to win, right, so someone that can do so will play. Shooters help to spread defenses because of their shooting threat, and great scorers can get defenses in foul trouble and help teammates get open if defenders are worried about helping out on them.

So, those are my basketball tips for you to possibly get more playing time. Figure which one(s) are your strengths and become one of these players. My website below can help you in your basketball training to do so.

About the Author
Shawn Baune is a full time profit analyst and former basketball player. He has a passion for basketball and still plays on a regular basis in his spare time, gaining respect from others on the court. Perhaps an even bigger passion, though, is sharing (especially with his nephew) his basketball tips on what he's learned. These basketball tips come through Shawn's experiences, research, and mistakes made in basketball training.
Shawn has also been developing http://www.basketball-tips-and-training.com in his spare time basketball help share his passion for basketball. If you found the article helpful, there are plenty more free basketball tips where that came from at his site.
basketball-tips-and-training.com
Reproduction allowed with credit to website

Empowered by Fear

The good news is that the gas prices are on their way down. The bad news is that the reason the gas is going down again, is because the economy is supposedly such a mess. So now even the good news, is tarnished with bad news. It is everywhere, on every corner, on every radio and television station...fear. The forecasts are not real great either, with the added predictions that the storm is far from over.

I have become a minimalist. I listen basketball the radio only when I need some music and my Ipod is not around, and I watch TV merely to get the weather. But even as a minimalist, you can't escape the facts and predictions of what is going on in our economy. All you hear about is how many people are losing jobs, how veterans on sales forces are being pushed out after some 30 years of success. How sales jobs have become like basketball finals: single elimination. I am sure you have heard of it even if you're not a basketball fan. Basically you can keep playing in the tournament until you lose. But the first game you do lose, that's it. You are out. No second chance in light of an off day or month. That's it. Out.

In basketball I can rationalize the need for single elimination. Certainly those games would go on and on without it and there would never be a champion of the season. In business though, how do we rationalize such behavior? Let's suppose that a particular sale for that month is so large that it triples the monthly quota, but yet the next month they come up empty handed. Is that a sign of failure? Or is that merely a sign that each month may not be indicative of what sales will be coming in that quarter?

In fact, doesn't that actually promote the opposite of what the company actually wants to achieve? If sales could be so high that they blow monthly numbers out of the water, then why ear mark a salesperson by their monthly number? Won't that merely make the person hold off on gathering large amounts of money whenever possible, but support them to behave more like that of a squirrel? Hoarding nuts aimlessly away for the months that they need it?

Clearly this does not seem like a wise business proposal on paper, yet crazy things are happening like that every day in this economy all due to fear. It is not just employees at the whim of their superiors operating in fear, but "fearless" leaders that are operating out of fear. Fear from the top trickles down everywhere, making everyone the polar opposite of what everyone needs right now...productive.

This is not basketball, this is the livelihood of people who have been successful, year after year. And while it is necessary to keep in mind our bottom line, we also need to keep in mind that we now have to make careful decisions, so that when this situation has turned around, there will still be a thriving business to look at. Is getting rid of your yearly producers who are struggling now, going to help you now or in the future? Or simply prove a point?

So, what is the answer? As business people we certainly need to be proactive about protecting the bottom line, but playing "single elimination" may not get the results you are hoping to achieve at all.

Start with the basics:
1 - What do you want to achieve?
2 - Who have been your critical players in your company over time?
3 - What expenses can be cut?
4 - What expenses are really investments and can't be cut?
5 - What will it take to motivate your team in a very difficult market?

Cathie Black, basketball business woman and author, says it well: "Fear drives people to change their tactics - instead of playing to win, you end up playing not to lose. And unfortunately, in a tough work situation where you must project confidence in yourself and your product, playing not to lose is the surest way to lose. So, instead of focusing on how steep the climb will be, break it into smaller steps."

Whether you are the boss, playing a bit of Russian roulette with your Team, or you are the team, find ways to make fear work for you, not against you. You are the basketball player with 6 seconds left on the clock. Fear faces you head on. You have a choice to focus and go for it all, the win clearly in sight or throw the ball to the referee, accepting defeat. It's your choice and your game. How will you play it?

Lesley Geller is a Business Coach. She helps successful professionals exceed their expectations of growth. She works with small business owners, as well as individuals in large corporations looking to reach the next level. Lesley graduated from the University of Maryland and is certified as a Coach through the Coach Training Alliance, which is recognized by the International Coach Federation. She is also a Freelance Writer and co-author of: 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life.

Basketball Free Throw Shooting

Successful free throw shooting requires confidence, sound mechanics, a routine, relaxation, rhythm and concentration. Routine, relaxation, and rhythm contribute to concentration and confidence.

Confidence

Think positively. You always shoot from the same place on the line. No one is guarding you. The basket is big. Three and a half balls basketball fit in the rim. With confidence - and sound mechanics - you cannot miss.

Stand a few feet behind the free throw line until the official hands you the ball. You will stay more relaxed there. If you hear negative remarks from the crowd or recognize your own negative thoughts, interrupt them with the word stop. Take a deep breath and let go of the negative thoughts as you exhale. Replace them with a positive statement of affirmation such as I am a shooter! Nothing but basketball or Count it!

Routine

Develop a sound routine for your free throw.. A routine helps you relax, focus, and shoot with rhythm. Most important, using a routine will enhance your confidence. The routine can include dribbling a set number of times, checking one or two mechanics, using visualization to practice your free throw mentally just before shooting it, and taking a deep breath to relax. Adopt a sound routine and stay with it; it is a mistake to copy fads or repeatedly change your routine.

Here is a sample routine that you can adjust to fit you. Once you receive the ball, position your feet, making certain to line up the ball (not your head) with the middle of the basket. Use the small indentation mark in the floor at the exact middle of the free throw line that marks the free throw circle. Set your shooting foot slightly outside this mark, lining up the ball with the middle of the basket.

Most players use the one-hand shot for a free throw taking the time to control each of the basic mechanics: balance, hand position, elbow in alignment, sight (focus), rhythm, and follow-through.

Set up in a balanced stance. Some players bounce the ball a certain number of times to help them relax. When you bounce the ball, keep your shooting hand on top. This helps you to have your shooting hand facing the basket when you set the high in position to shoot. Use a relaxed hand position, and line up your index finger with the valve on the ball. Next, check your elbow in alignment. Some players do not have the flexibility to have the hand facing the basket and the elbow in. It is more important to have your shooting hand face the basket than having your elbow in completely. If your hand tends to turn to the side when you bring your elbow in, allow your elbow to be out a little.

Relaxation

Learn to relax when shooting free throws. You have more time to think with free throws than with other shots. Trying too hard may cause undue physical or emotional tension. Use deep breathing to relax your mind and body. For a free throw, you should particularly relax your shoulders; take a deep breath and let your shoulders drop and loosen. Do the same for your arms, hands, and fingers. Learn to relax other parts of your body. Controlling your breathing and relaxing your muscles are especially useful in a free throw routine.

Concentration

Before shooting, visualize a successful shot. Visualization just before you shoot can produce a more free-flowing, smooth, continuous rhythm and increase confidence. Just before shooting, concentrate on your target just over the front of the rim. Keep your focus on the target as you shoot.

Rhythm

Start your shot high and use the down-and-up motion of your legs for rhythm rather than lowering the ball for rhythm. The down-and-up motion of your legs provides momentum for your shot and is particularly helpful when shooting late in the game when your legs are tired. By starting the ball high and using your legs for rhythm, you will lessen the chance for error that can come with lowering the ball.

Shoot the free throw with a smooth, free-flowing rhythm. Use personalized key words to help establish a smooth, sequential rhythm for free throw shooting. Say your words in the rhythm of your shot. For example, if your trigger words are legs and through and your anchor word is yes, put them together - Legs-through-yes! - in rhythm with your shot, from the start of your shot until the ball is released. Using personalized key words this way establishes your rhythm, enhances your mechanics, and builds confidence.

Act Like a Shooter

Exaggerate your follow-through, keeping your eyes on the target and your shooting arm up until the ball reaches the basket. Holding your follow-through is not only good mechanically, but more importantly you look and act like a shooter.

Common Error

You feel tense before and during your free throw.

Correction

Use deep breathing to relax your mind and body. Breathe in deeply and exhale fully. Relax your shoulders, letting them drop and loosen. Do the same for your arms, hands, and fingers. Learn to relax other parts of your body as necessary.

Free Throw Drills

1. Daily Free Throw Practice

Shoot a set number of free throws each day. Practice sets of 10 free throws after other drills. Because a player rarely shoots more than two free throws in a row during a game, when doing this drill, never take more than two successive free throws without moving off the line.

Practice under pressure. Use imagination, and compete against yourself. For example, imagine that time is out and that making the free throw will win the game. Record the number of free throws made out of every 100 attempts. Constantly challenge your own record. Do the same with consecutive free throws.

Be confident. Use positive affirmation statements before you go to the line, and visualize a successful shot just before shooting. Having a routine helps build confidence for free throws. Use deep breathing and muscle relaxation techniques.

Focus. The final step before shooting is to eliminate all distractions and focus on the basket. Say your personalized key words in rhythm from the start of your free throw to the release of the ball. If you miss, visualize a successful free throw with good form, again saying your key words.

Shoot 100 free throws. Score yourself based on the total number of free throws made. Record your score. Also record the highest number of consecutive free throws. Challenge your record every time you perform the drill.

2. Eyes Open and Eyes Closed Free Throw Shooting

Combining free throw practice with eyes closed and free throw practice with eyes open has been shown by research to improve shooting more than free throw practice with eyes open alone. Shooting with eyes closed removes vision as your dominant sense, heightening your other senses, particularly the kinesthetic sense (feel of body movement) and touch.

Visualize a successful shot and focus on the basket immediately before closing your eyes. Shoot a free throw with your eyes closed.

Start the drill by shooting 5 free throws with your eyes open. Have a partner rebound each shot and keep track of how many shots you make out of 5 and how many consecutive shots you make.

After shooting 5 free throws with your eyes open, shoot 5 free throws with your eyes closed. Have a partner rebound the ball and give you feedback on each shot, including the reaction of the ball on the rim. Use this feedback and your kinesthetic and tactile senses to adjust your shot as necessary.

Complete the drill by shooting 5 free throws with your eyes open. Have a partner rebound each shot and keep track of how many shots you make out of 5 and how many consecutive shots you make.

Score yourself based on the total number of free throws made. Record your score. Also record the highest number of consecutive free throws. Challenge your record every time you perform the drill.

From:

Wissel, Hal. (2004). Basketball: Steps to Success. Human Kinetics. Champaign, IL.

Wissel, Hal. (2005). Basketball Shooting: Confidence, Rhythm and Mechanics. DVD. Basketball World. Suffield, CT.

Available at http://www.basketballworld.com

Dr. Hal Wissel conducts SHOOT IT BETTER Mini Camps worldwide and year round for players ranging from youth level to NBA and WNBA.

Visit: http://www.basketballworld.com or call BASKETBALL WORLD at 888-812-5452 or 860-668-7162.

Dr. Hal Wissel is well known for his ability to develop players. Hal founded Basketball World, an instructional venture featuring basketball camps, clinics, books, videos and DVDs. Coach Wissel's SHOOT IT BETTER Mini Camps are conducted worldwide for players ranging from NBA to youth level.

Wissel earned his doctorate in physical education and has authored two books. Basketball: Steps to Success has been translated into seven languages. Becoming a Basketball Player has been made into five videos. Dr. Wissel has produced two DVD's, Basketball Shooting: Confidence, Rhythm and Mechanics, and Basketball Shooting: Off the Pass, Off the Dribble and In the Post.

Coach Wissel has a wealth of NBA experience as an Assistant Coach with the Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies and New Jersey Nets. Hal was also Director of Player Personnel with the Nets and Advance Scout with the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks. As a head college coach, Wissel compiled over 300 victories. Hal coached Florida Southern College to the 1981 Division II NCAA Championship.

Developing Mental Toughness in Basketball Players and Teams

Just like every other area of basketball, we believe that a coach must study mental toughness and have a well thought through plan to help players develop and improve their mental toughness.

There are hundreds and hundreds of definitions of mental toughness. Here is a place to start as mental toughness applies to basketball.

Mental toughness is the ability to control thoughts and actions and maintain a focus on what is basketball important in a calm and poised way under competitive pressure.

It is important that your players know and can explain whatever you define mental toughness to be.

Bob Knight has stated on several occasions that the mental part of basketball compared to the physical aspect is a ratio of four to one. If the mental aspect is that significant, all coaches need to have a philosophy and a plan to improve mental toughness in all players.

Here are some ideas for things you can do to improve the basketball mental toughness in the players in your program.

1. Take time every practice to rehearse different pressure situations that arise in games. Having a definite plan that players have practiced will help them focus on what to do under pressure and less on the pressure itself.
2. Make it a point of emphasis that bad body language, moping, pouting, displays of disgust with officials, and other negative behaviors are training the players for failure. Correct them any time they occur in practice, games, or in the locker room.
3. Be a role model of poise and self control. Players will feed off of you and draw confidence from your mental toughness.
4. Use the fact that the subconscious mind does not know the difference between a real and an imagined experience. Work with your players on visualizing success and performing skills the correct way.
5. Do not allow anyone in your program to accept or make excuses.
6. Point out times in your game films or games you record on TV when a lack of poise and mental toughness by an individual cost a team a chance to win.
7. Have some type of phrase you can use when a player makes a mistake to focus them back on mental toughness and what is happening next in the game. A simple phrase such as "Play through it!" can be your signal to them that we need to get on to the next play.
8. Teach players when they make a mistake to recognize it, admit it, learn from it so that it doesn't happen again, and then forget it so that it doesn't affect any more plays.

We all need to keep in mind that every bad habit that is broken and every good habit that is established takes an average of 21 days. So as we work to establish and improve mental toughness in our players, it is a long process.

Brian Williams is a former Indiana High School Basketball Caoch with 20 years of experience at various levels of coaching . His website, The Coaching Toolbox http://www.coachingtoolbox.net, is a resource site for basketball coaches and players of all levels. The site was launched March 1, 2008 and is just getting off the ground. A new tool is added daily, so we hope that you will visit us and continue to stay and grow with us!

Grow Taller by Performing These Free Exercises - Part II

If you have not read the first part of this article, I recommend you to read it. In this part I will give you more exercises by performing which you will be able to increase your height and become more fit.

First Exercise - Jumping Stretch - In this exercise you have to try to jump up as height as you can and in the mean time stretch your arms up. This is commonly practiced by basketball players who want to learn how to dunk. It is good if you have some kind of a measurement like ceiling, so you can try to reach that by jumping. Maybe you have not noticed but all basketball players are quite tall, this is also effected by exercises they perform. Always remember to warm up before this, stretch your spine, etc...

Second Exercise - The Yawn - This exercise is quite simple really and it can be done almost at any place. You do it by standing straight and putting hands behind your head. Then bend your upper body backwards in that way stretching out the spine. The motion is similar to the one performed in the bridge exercise only in standing position. After you do this for about 5 seconds return back to default standing position.

Third Exercise - Super Stretch - Another effective exercise that can be performed anywhere. It is a variation of the previous exercise only here you put your hands straight above your head and then lean back only little so you can feel your spine stretching. Do this for about 5 seconds and then return to standing position.

Try to perform these exercises daily and you will be stretching your back in no time. They will also make you more flexible.

If you want to find out more about stretching exercises or tips on growing taller, I advice you checking out my Grow Taller Page

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Cheerleading: Becoming as Dangerous As These Top 7 Most Dangerous Youth Sports?

Cheerleading, once basketball rather tame activity composed mostly of pompoms and megaphones, has taken an about face in America over the last few decades. Today, cheerleaders use gymnastic moves and athletic ability to flip, somersault and even catapult one another into the air, with stunts that basketball rival the excitement of any football or basketball game. In fact, "[Cheerleading has] evolved from a school-spirit activity into an activity demanding high levels of gymnastics skill and athleticism," according to a study in the journal Pediatrics. It has also become much more dangerous, with the increasingly complex moves putting cheerleaders at risk of potentially serious head, neck and other injuries. Cheerleading Injuries Double Since 1990 The Pediatrics study found that cheerleading injuries have more than doubled from 1990 through 2002. Participation, however, grew only 18 percent during that period. Over the 13-year study, 208,800 5- to 18-year-olds were treated at U.S. hospitals for cheerleading-related injuries. Almost 40 percent involved leg, ankle and foot injuries. Researchers say the actual number of injuries is likely much greater, though, because the study only involved ER-treated injuries, not those treated at doctors' offices or by team trainers. What Makes Cheerleading so Dangerous? Although cheerleaders use a high level of athletic ability, cheerleading is still not considered a sport by the majority of schools. Because of this, it is not subject to the same safety regulations as other sports, like football. Meanwhile, cheerleading squads can exist without coaches or with coaches that have no safety certifications or training. Some schools also do not have the proper equipment or space for cheerleaders to practice safely. Said Brenda Shields, the study's lead author and an injury researcher at Columbus Children's Research Institute in Ohio, "[Cheerleaders may] practice in hallways and practice on hard surfaces instead of mats. So when they fall off a pyramid or from in the air and they land on hard surfaces, the chances for injury are drastically increased." Some Cheerleaders Get 'Grounded' In response to safety concerns, some schools are choosing to prohibit stunts and keep cheerleaders safely on the ground. The University of Nebraska has prohibited pyramids and other gymnastic stunts since 2002. The decision to keep cheerleaders "ground-bound" came after a cheerleader landed on her head while doing a double back flip at practice in 1996. She has only limited use of her arms and legs, and the school settled a related lawsuit for $2.1-million. The move was controversial, as many cheerleaders seeking scholarships will avoid schools that don't allow stunts. Other called it a "sexist" move. "Cheerleading is considered primarily a female basketball said T. Lynn Williamson, adviser to the University of Kentucky cheer team since 1977. "In our society, it's acceptable that every year a number of young men will die on a football field. But, my heavens, if a female breaks a fingernail, or her arm, well, then it must be time to ground them." But the spokesperson for Nebraska, Barry Swanson, felt otherwise. "We didn't eliminate cheerleading or reduce the cheerleading budget in any way. All we eliminated was the danger ... In football you have helmets and pads," he said. "Cheerleaders do their stunts on hardwood floors or turf. We consider that risk without reason." Other schools that have "grounded" cheerleading squads include San Jose State University, which did so in 2004 after an accident, and Duke University, which has forbidden stunts since the '80s. How Does Cheerleading Stack Up? Compared to other youth sports, cheerleading is still one of the safer options. In 2003, for instance, 100,000 female basketball players visited emergency rooms for related injuries, while only 25,000 cheerleaders did so, said Jim Lord, executive director of the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors. The seven most dangerous youth sports in America, based on percentage of injuries versus total participation, include not cheerleading but:

1. Football
2. Mountain biking
3. Basketball
4. Soccer
5. Skateboarding
6. Baseball
7. Softball

Nonetheless, the study researchers recommended several approaches to make cheerleading safer:

• Coaches getting professional safety training
• High schools and cheerleading associations adopting uniform safety procedures
• Developing a national database for injuries

The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors also has a safety manual for cheerleaders and safety courses for coaches. "It's not that the sport is dangerous, but it's people trying skills they shouldn't," said Lord. "We are by no means minimizing the injuries; we are simply putting them into perspective. When compared to other sports, cheerleading is a low-risk activity," he maintained.

This article was provided by the world's #1 most popular and trusted holistic living e-newsletter -- FREE to you right now at http://www.SixWise.com! The old way of thinking: "holistic living" pertains only to personal health. The new way of thinking: "holistic living" means prevention of the negative and adherence to the positive in all SIX practical areas of life: relationships, finances, career, home environment, safety and health. With the SixWise.com e-newsletter, you will get holistic wisdom from the world's top experts in all six of these areas -- completely FREE with a simple sign-up (and a guaranteed no-spam policy!) at http://www.SixWise.com.

Should I Buy an Adjustable Basketball Goal Or a Fixed Height Basketball Hoop?

In the past 30 years adjustable basketball goals have become basketball main stream fixture in the driveways and backyards of millions of American homes. For most interested in purchasing and installing a basketball goal at home, the benefits of choosing an adjustable goal for their young child are clear. For others, the decision to choose adjustable or fixed height goal is a matter of debate. basketball I have outlined several points to consider when making this decision for your home, park or school playground.

An important fact to consider when making this decision is the ages of the children who will be playing on the goal. If any of the children using the goal will be under the age of 10, any organized basketball games he or she may be involved in will most certainly be played at a goal height lower than 10'. Usually in a case like this it is clear that an adjustable goal is a must. However, it is important to point out that in certain cases where only one age group will be using the basketball goal, a fixed height goal may be purchased resulting in considerable cost savings. Most fixed height goals are manufactured in such a way that the extension arm is bolted or "fixed" onto the post using bolts. At first, the arm and backboard can be bolted at a lower height for the child. When the child gets old enough to play games at regulation 10' height, the bolts can be loosened and the goal permanently raised to 10'. When multiple age groups are involved, it is certainly most convenient to go with an adjustable goal because rim height adjustments can be made quickly and easily.

Young children will learn proper shooting technique more effectively at a lowered goal height. One of the most compelling arguments for choosing an adjustable goal for young hoopsters is improved fundamental skill development. It is impossible for most 5-6 year olds to shoot a basketball (even using a jr. ball) with proper form up to a 10' high goal. Asking a kid to do so usually produces two results. First, the child often develops poor shooting habits, such as shooting the ball with both hands like a two hand push shot, between the legs granny shot or other. Second, typically after some time, the lack of success the child experiences working at an unreachable goal results in discouragement and ultimately loss of interest. With a lowered rim height children will remain engaged and can be taught the fundamentals that will provide a solid base for a lifetime of good shooting technique.

An adjustable basketball goal will increase time spent on the court. I often hear parents say "I don't want my kids just out there playing dunkball" While I can certainly understand this concern, it should be pointed out that for every moment spent on the court, some type of skill set is being used. Even if older children choose at times to lower the goal for "dunk time", they are still dribbling, passing, catching and ultimately, improving those skills at the same time. I have seen first hand the quality of basketball improve in the local basketball who have embraced the idea of quality adjustable basketball goals both in public facilities and at private homes. In these communities you will regularly find groups of kids in driveways and parks playing basketball and yes, often dunkball. I have seen this pay dividends for most of these communities in the form of improved high school basketball teams with positive post season results.

Whether you choose an adjustable basketball goal or fixed height basketball hoop for your court, remember that in a world dominated by video games, mp3 players, cell phones and texting any opportunity given to a child for true "play" is a positive one.

Jeff Roth has been involved in the design and manufacture of basketball equipment for over 16 years. He is employed at First Team Sports, Inc. located in Hutchinson, KS. First Team is proud to manufacture a full line of sports equipment made in the USA. First Team's website is located at http://www.firstteaminc.com.

Book Review Crescent Kick

Crescent Kick basketball basketball fourth book of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series by Shawn Kovacich. Just as he did with the other volumes of the series, Kovacich attacked the instruction of the crescent kick with meticulous detail and thoroughness.

This book is the most detailed written description you will find on executing the crescent kick, and should be included in any basketball artist's book collection who incorporates kicking into his or her training. This is not a book you just sit down and read cover to cover for enjoyment. It is a resource text to be studied and referred to at various times during your training or teaching. Yes teaching! I think instructors will learn tips on how to teach the crescent kick by reading this manual.

The most valuable sections of this book are the chapters that teach the basics of the crescent kick and then the variations. The variations Kovacich covers include: Step-Back Crescent Kick, Back Spin Crescent Kick, Hop/Slide Forward Crescent Kick, Hop/Slide Backward Crescent Kick, Front Leg Crescent Kick, Switch Crescent Kick, Off-Setting Crescent Kick, Butterfly Crescent Kick, and the Back Spin Crescent Kick. The chapters do have some repetition, but this enables the book to be more easily used as a reference tool, since you can pick the book up and review any of the kicks without having to refer back to different chapters. Kovacich uses plentiful photographs and illustrations to demonstrate all aspects of the kick, striking angles, foot placement, and the arc of the kick. As I mentioned, he attacks this with meticulous detail and you will not find a more complete written account of the crescent kick anywhere.

The chapters on strength, speed, and power are the weakest chapters of the book. While it is nice that Kovacich included a bit on these topics, the real strength of this book is with the detailed instruction of the kick itself. There are many other resources out there that cover strength, speed, and power in more detail and depth than Kovaich does here. The good thing is he introduces these concepts and any good martial artist will further his or her study of these to incorporate into their training with different resources.

The trouble shooting guide offers some good tips to better your kicking, and Kovacich also includes a short chapter on crescent kick applications.

If you want in-depth instruction on the crescent kick and ten of its main variations, this book with over 200 pages of text, photographs, and illustrations is a must have addition to your martial art library. It is an excellent resource for any martial artist regardless of style.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a mediator/attorney with Bennett Law Office P.C. and an author/speaker through his own company Burrese Enterprises Inc. He writes and speaks about a variety of topics focusing on the business areas of negotiation and success principles as well as self-defense and safety topics. He is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks, several instructional dvds, and numerous articles. You can find out more about Alain Burrese at his websites http://www.burrese.com or http://www.bennettlawofficepc.com

Airsoft Sweeps the Nation

Airsoft guns have been sweeping the nation as the newest form of gun which has been replacing the typical BB gun. These guns come in a variety of styles such as rifles, shotguns, pistols and more. Each also has a required orange safety tip, as required by the Federal basketball since it so realistically resembles the gun in which it is modeled after. Whether Gas, Electric or basketball loaded, these guns pack more punch than they perceive to. Each gun fires off plastic BBs specifically made for this type of gun.

Those who have gotten caught up in the airsoft phase have found themselves taking this sport quite seriously by suiting up in military style gear. There are many groups that you can enter once you have your airsoft gun. Groups are highly supervised and all warnings are delivered before activities begin. Just as a game of laser tag would entail taking out members, your goal is the same with the airsoft group. You are usually given protective basketball to prevent injury. With the right gear and know-how, groups such as these can make your airsoft gun a lot more fun to own.

As mentioned before, airsoft guns come in a wide array of types and sizes. It is up to you to pick your poison for that which appeals to you the most. Take into consideration cost, what powers the gun, how much it can hold, how much it weighs and anything else that might suit your needs. Guns powered by electric will require charge time in between uses. Those powered by gas will of course need more nitro. Spring loaded guns are perhaps the simplest because there is no need for recharing in between uses or spending money on nitro refill cartridges but they are typically less powerful than the other two types of guns. Join the airsoft experience and purchase your gun today.

For more information on airsoft guns, check out http://www.airsoftswat.com, the worldwide leader in combat.

How to Throw Darts

There are three components to the darts throw and they are the Stance, the Grip and the Throw. The stance and grip do not seem to vary much between casual, average and top players. What makes the real difference between an ordinary player and an extraordinary player is their darts throw.

Watch any top professional darts player and you will notice that their throw is repetitive, almost basketball like. They have honed their throw into basketball comfortable fluid action which can be repeated again and again, which improves accuracy and consistency.

When you are throwing, your head and body (other than your throwing arm) must remain still. Any additional movements while throwing will effect your accuracy. Have your elbow basketball out and your forearm straight. All your movement should come from your elbow joint, use your elbow as a pivot for your forearm. DO NOT push the dart through by using your shoulder, this will throw it off line. All the power generated to throw the dart should come from the wrist.

Your throw should have a small pullback, a straight and firm release and a follow through. The follow through is crucial, if you fail to follow through, you will have a short stabbing motion which can not consistently achieve good results.

It is important to not lob or loop your darts when throwing. your dart should be released firmly along your aim line and its trajectory line should be like an arc that begins at your aim line and ends at your target. It is hard to get any level of consistency if you lob your darts at the target. Throwing smoothly and firmly at your target will give you greater accuracy.

Your overall goal should be to develop a smooth natural throwing style which you can repeat constantly with as little body movement as possible. Your darts throw should then work like a well oiled machine and you will be more likely to perform well under pressure.

Practice hard and during matches always play the board and not the opponent.

And most importantly, enjoy your darts.

Chris Waddington is the publisher of the Dart Masters Coaching Course Ebook. This course is not just about how to throw darts, it contains serious methods of learning designed to improve your game beyond your optimum level in around six weeks. For more details on the course and the opportunity to receive free snippets from the course visit playgreatdarts.co.uk

Figuring Out Fun Ways to Raise Money

It's possible to find fun ways to raise money regardless of the cause you're raising it for. All it takes is basketball little creativity and a group of enthusiastic people.

Have a Brainstorming Session

Before you can start your fun fundraiser, you need to come up with some ideas that are fun and will raise money for your organization. Set aside about 30 minutes with your group members and ask them to throw out any fundraising idea that comes to them. If you're having a hard time brainstorming, go back to fundamentals.

What's your groups' mission? Why do you need to raise money? Why should people care about your group? Let's say you're a basketball team that wants to raise money to go to a tournament out West. Why should people care about you? Well, because you're a hardworking team and you have a good chance at winning the tournament.

Now, the question is, how do you convey that message to other people? Well, you could set up a neighborhood three-on-three basketball tournament. Ask surrounding teams to play. Put a flier up in your school basketball at your local youth clubs. Present it as a challenge as in "who can beat this amazing team?" Then divide your team into trios and charge each challenging team a $40-$50 entry fee.

Ask local businesses to support the tournament by offering to donate prizes for first, second and third places. The most fun way to raise money is by getting other people involved in what you do. Brainstorming with everyone involved can help you develop an idea that represents you and your organization.

Get Active

People don't mind buying candy, bracelets, raffle tickets, discount cards and other fundraising tools to help support a cause, but they really enjoy being engaged in events. So, when you're thinking of fun ways to raise money, don't forget to involve the donors.

Walk-a-thons and bike-a-thons are a great way to get the entire neighborhood involved in your cause. Have each participant make a pledge for the number of miles he or she can walk or run. They can ask family members or friends to "sponsor" their run. For example, as a sponsor you might offer to pay the person $10 for every mile they complete. When the race is over, they collect their prize.

Volleyball tournaments are also really fun fundraisers. Ask some local celebrities to join and use their namesake to publicize the event. People love to compete against known figures in the community. For this event, you can charge the teams a fee as well as the basketball This fun way to raise money can draw a big crowd that will also buy souvenirs and food.

Visit http://www.redhotfundraising.com/ to find fun ways to raise money for your school or church fundraisers.

Fantasy Basketball Words of Wisdom - A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two Gilbert Arenas in the Bushes

In a previous article I mentioned how it was important for owners to keep their sights on what is important. That is, winning it all, at all costs, basketball you can. A win one year is worth more than 10 second places or 20 strong finishes... the championship defines your success. It's also what pays the most if you are in a league with a pot. Often 2nd place gets something as well so I won't discount 2nd's value entirely, but have no doubt; first place is where it's at. In that same article I mentioned that it was important for owners to keep that in mind instead basketball always prospecting on youth. What I should have mentioned was the old adage "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bushes". I'm going to share a very painful story with you all in the hopes that it will keep some of you from making the same mistakes I made this year as they relate to that saying.

At one of the websites where I play fantasy sports users are able to sign players to multi-year deals. One season I had Gilbert Arenas. Our league contracts are for up to three years. I had Gilbert signed to a three year deal and it was only year two at the time. So not only did I have him on my team this year, but he was under contract for next year as well. The fact that I had him for next year made him quite valuable... both to me and to other owners who had expiring contracts they could trade.

I got some pretty good offers. For example, in mid February I could have gotten Josh Smith (a bad contract money wise, but expiring so who cares - I had the capspace still available) and Biedrins (also expiring) for Agent Zero and Marcus Williams of the New Jersey Nets. For both teams it made sense. The other team was out of the playoffs and was prepping for next year. I was definitely in the playoffs and just had to decide who I wanted to take. An iffy Arenas or the healthy duo of Biedrins and Josh Smith. For some reason, I also had in the back of my mind that next year was also relevant. Did I take the deal? No. I thought Arenas would pack more punch and rationalized it by telling myself "he'll be back in a few more weeks. Plus... I want him for next year." WRONG!

Well, Arenas came back last night. It was only a month after he was supposed to. It was during game 5 of a 5 game playoff series in our league. The last night of the last game even... the series was tied 2-2. I was playing by far the best team in the league (who has won the entire league the last two years) and I had a chance to upset him and put myself in position to win it all. I won the first two games, but he had come back. My opponent won game 3 convincingly and then won game 4. I lost game 5 as well, but I had a chance if I had players playing instead of sitting around injured.

Had Agent Zero come back a week earlier, I would have looked like a genius for hanging on to him. He would have almost assuredly tipped the scale in my favor. Had I made the trade, I would have looked like a genius. Josh Smith and Biedrins would have made up for several nights that I was undermanned while Gilbert was ticked off at the wizards staff for not clearing him to play. In both cases it would have been over in game 4 instead of even making it to a game 5. Not making the trade was really about the only way to lose this year. And that's what I did.

So what happened? Why didn't I pull the trigger on the trade? Honestly, I expected Arenas to be as good as two birds when he came back and I gambled on that. Instead, I ended up with nothing because he never came back at all - well too late to be worthwhile anyway. I cost my team a championship this year by not keeping in mind that a guaranteed REALLY GOOD player is probably a better bet than an iffy GREAT player.

There are exceptions, but basketball playing with fire when playoff time rolls around and you make these types of gambles. You don't have to be perfect to give advice - sometimes you can be fresh off of a mistake and be working to clean it up while at the same time giving advice to others not to make the same mistake. So, if you have a good shot of winning it all and just need that little extra, I would suggest stocking your team up with healthy players that will play and if need be sacrificing the teams future to do so. I wish I had.

The good news - I'll be in great shape next year. That's the great thing about fantasy sports. Just like real sports, there's always next year. But I'd rather have a championship this year and rebuild next year than to keep coming up short year after year. It's nice to have a great core coming back, but nicer to have a big fat championship ring (fantasy ring of course). The core I have coming back will be something special - maybe the best in the league - especially since I'll still have good ole' Gilbert Arenas. Thank goodness. I don't know what I would do without him... Oh, that's right... I'd be gloating all summer and most of the fall about how I didn't even need my superstar to take the championship home.

About the Author:

Josh Ahlstrom is the creator of SignAndTrade.com, a fantasy sports community and game hosting website.

SignAndTrade.com offers customizable fantasy sports leagues fit for those serious about their fantasy sports, but user friendly and intuitive enough for novice fantasy GMs. Besides fantasy sports games SignAndTrade.com includes a messageboard where uses can discuss anything and everything related to fantasy sports. SignAndTrade.com also has a blog where you will find fresh information and opinions relating to basketball, football, and more. We hope that information sharing and a spirit of community involvement will abound. Please feel free to check out more of our fantasy sports games and information as well as our consolidated nba player information by using the supplied links or at the following URL.

Ice Hockey Fights Will Always Bring Fans to the NHL Games

However, if you look at it from a hockey fans point of view it is ice hockey fights that make hockey and the NHL what it is. Our basketball is different than any other sport and that is also the reason why we are such huge hockey fans.

Fights bring excitement to the National Hockey League and they make it a game made for tough athletes at the same time. Many think that the fights are just to bring a bigger crowd the arena, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Fights are and will always be a big part of the National Hockey League.

A guess is that athletes of many other sports would never have put up with the level of physical contact you face in ice hockey.

The tough guys in hockey are scared of nobody and they show up every night to basketball their teammates. Many of these hockey players might not be the most skilled ones, but it is a tough job they are doing.

Many non-hockey fans say that the NHL is brutal and somehow basketball can understand those people too.

But, brutal or not, I will always love ice hockey fights and the NHL. They are just as an important part of ice hockey as hotdogs are in baseball.

HockeyTribute.com is an informative site for ice hockey fans and a place where you can learn more about NHL and ice hockey fights.

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Mopeds

Mopeds provide a great basketball option for those living in cities or who just need a low-powered vehicle basketball take them around town. According to certain restrictions, most mopeds cant go faster than 35 mph. It is typical to see them all over Europe, at popular tourist destinations as a rental vehicle, and in major urban areas throughout the United States.

If you are interested in purchasing a moped, you may need to check your states licensing requirements. Make sure you check on the minimum age and whether or not you need a special license to drive a moped. Since each state may have its own requirements, it is best to consult your local Department of Motor Vehicles to make sure you understand the rules. You will also need to check on any requirements established by the state with regard to insurance for your moped.

There are a few advantages to owning a moped. They are often less basketball to purchase than a car and less expensive to operate. Since they are mostly low-powered vehicles, you wont have to spend a lot of money on fuel. Some models are even semi-manual, meaning that you need to help operate it.

You can purchase a moped new or used. Since not a lot of mopeds get a lot of use, it may be worth your while to purchase it used. Check online or in the newspaper for any used listings.

There are also some safety considerations. Make sure you wear a helmet and obey the driving laws. Usually, mopeds are required to drive in the bike lane because of their restricted speeds. Also keep in mind that allowing passengers to ride with you can be dangerous.

Mopeds are a great alternative means of transportation. They are great if you live in a city or highly urbanized area. They can also help you save money. As long as you keep in mind the safety considerations, you can have a very enjoyable experience.

Mopeds provides detailed information on Mopeds, Gas Mopeds, Cheap Mopeds, Used Mopeds and more. Mopeds is affiliated with Dirt Bike Parts

The Fundamentals of Shooting a Basketball Correctly - Tip Number 4 - Your Shooting Hand

Your shooting hand...where should it be place it on the basketball in order to give basketball the greatest chance of making a shot consistently?

First, it depends on your age and hand size. Its just not physically possible for a 4th grade player to put their hand on the ball in the same spot as a college player. In addition, even if you are older, your hand basketball can vary greatly.

Second, there is some room for slight variation. I grew up releasing the ball off two fingers...my middle finger and pointer basketball Then I met the most amazing shooter I have ever seen, Ed Palubinskas. He is a real character, and he can shoot the lights out. Ed teaches to release it completely off your pointer finger...and I think he makes very good points for his perspective.

Third, your pinky and thumb should form a triangular shooting platform so your palm doesn't have to touch the basketball. So if you are doing this right, you should be able to balance the ball on 3 fingers...your thumb, your pinky, and your pointer finger. Your middle and ring fingers can touch the ball, but they don't do much except balance the ball a bit.

Fourth, your wrist is important. You are looking for a little wrinkle in your wrist as you bend it back. Unless you are very young, you should be able to hold the basketball in one hand and balance it in that position...ball resting primarily on 3 fingers (all 5 touching), slight wrinkle in the wrist.

Finally, how high should you hold the ball (also known as your 'shooting pocket')? Again, there is room for variation. Smaller kids are going to have their 'shooting pocket' pretty low in order to get enough strength to get the ball to the hoop. As they get stronger, it will come up to the chest or at eye level or even over the head. I've seen all shooting pockets work, although most great shooters I've seen have it chest or head high (Ray Allen of the Celtics holds it consistently higher than most I see and is a fantastic shooter).

Mike O'Neil has spent 40 years loving basketball, first as a player, now as a coach. He now trains young athletes to become better basketball players.

To see our other tips for improving your shooting, go to Basketball Shooting Tips

For more information on products and programs that will help you learn how to shoot a basketball and become a more complete basketball player, go to http://www.BasketballTrainingReport.com

Rockin Role Models

The Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, and NBA Championship are broadcast to tens and hundreds of millions of people around the world. In fact, they are watched by many times more viewers than each sport basketball fans, because the games have become as much celebrity and cultural celebrations as sporting events. In fact, it can be argued basketball easily that since at least the 1990's they have become much more the former than the latter. The professional sports industry, if we can somewhat vaguely construe it as some sort of cultural institution, has become way more than organized athletics. Some of the evidence for this is the fact that sports celebrities today enjoy fame and recognition (not to mention vast sums of money) out of all proportion to the active fan base of their team and sport. That is, there are only so many L.A. Laker fans, but everyone has heard of Kobe Bryant, and everyone knows that he is among the best basketball players today - even if all they know about basketball is that Kobe plays it.

The fame game

rom the sports world and into general cultural consciousness have come a slew of players from various sports, fueled by money and media attention; and by dint of the money and the attention, the more charismatic and motivated of these rich athletes segue into the big bucks Hollywood-New York media axis. There they join their counterparts from TV, movies, the music biz, Broadway, the New York Times bestseller list, and all the other profit centers of the multimedia celebritainment universe.

This is the cover photo pool for People and Us and National Enquirer, and sports stars are now an accepted and undifferentiated component of it; they have been absorbed. Since they have achieved the ultimate post-modern status, of basketball famous for being famous, they are in the pool, like it or not, and this is the same pool from which the mainstream media fishes out its hip representatives of modern lifestyles. Perhaps we should call them "rockin' role models" so as to distinguish them from those of the bygone eras, such as, oh, your mom, dad, pastor, or professor, who, of course, were bigots and hypocrites and ate veal and may have even smoked!

Roles and responsibilities

These scattershot observations seem to tap dance around the point because, in fact, it takes a whole lot more complicated and thoroughgoing thinking than has been displayed here thus far to contend with the issue of "celebrity role models" in Third Millennium A.D. America. Specifically, for instance, what are the "role model" responsibilities of celebrities, particularly sports stars?

In televised Sunday (and Monday, and sometimes Thursday and Saturday) games both important and pointless, we see the best and the worst of the National Football League in action. After throwing a winning touchdown pass in the closing moments, many an excited quarterback has offered up an enthusiastic, obviously heartfelt, "Thank you, Jesus!" shouted to a national, even worldwide, audience. Many Christian athletes are positive, inspirational forces in their families, teams, and communities, and, given the opportunity to communicate to the entire world during the media-saturated weeks of playoffs culminating with the Super Bowl, generally comport themselves with grace, style, humility, and sincerity.

Walking the talk

These are solid fellows, and it's not just about being Christian. Steve Martinovich, the atheist editor of the political website known as Enter Stage Right, found much to commend in believer Kurt Warner following Super Bowl XXXIV back in 2000, and did so quite publicly in a widely read editorial that reverberated among "unbelievers" for several years.

Warner's story, in Martinovich's synopsis, is about walking what you talk, about living your principles. That is a good model for any young person to see, whether the object of their attention is Christian or atheist. In fact, I would not hesitate to describe Martinovich himself as a good role model to other atheists, in that some of them find it very difficult to put aside their acidic disdain, their often undisguised contempt, for Christians and Christianity.

Role models are drafted

Charles Barkley, recently retired basketball star and a Republican, famously remarked that he was most certainly not a role model, but a basketball player. I found much to identify with in his further remarks on the subject, the gist of which was that he neither sought nor made use of the soapbox that his fame brought him. Erroneously, however, Barkley equated being a role model with having to take some sort of specific action vis--vis young people, like a public service commercial against smoking or a "Special Olympics"-style basketball camp.

By the definition we are using now, volition is unnecessary to one's status as a role model. The media anoints you with fame and gives you access to the airwaves. And that, Mr. Barkley, makes you a role model.

In just the past few years, athletes including footballers Rae Carruthers and Ray Lewis, baseballers Barry Bonds and Jose Canseco, and basketballers Allen Iverson and Jerry Stackhouse have been implicated in drug dealing, money laundering, assault, grand theft, and about half a dozen murders. Along with others of the "protocriminal element" - a not insignificant fraction of the whole, as documented in a mid-1990's book about convicted felons in professional sports, Pros & Cons - these wealthy, probably spoiled, and certainly insulated pro jocks have been elevated to a special station in American cultural life. Certainly they know this.

Whether or not these "stars" even contemplate the nature of their influence on young people, in and out of sports programs, is mostly unknown; perhaps they never wanted to be role models, and feel no responsibility for the broken hearts and dreams of their fans. But they are in the headlines and in the public eye nonetheless, and people will draw their own conclusions about these men, their guilt or innocence, and their essential characters. It's not like they can avoid being caught doing no-no's, given that "the public eye" is bigger than ever, with paparazzi, video surveillance cameras, news crews, gossip-show stringers, and stalkers with cellphone cameras snagging images 24/7.

Congruent behavior

In the end, it doesn't matter if you want the role model designation or not. Once you rise high enough above the rest of the crowd, in whatever endeavor or business or art or craft, your influence will begin to grow, and people will begin to point you out and ask your opinion and value your insights - even (sometimes, it seems, particularly) if you're a nitwit. Perhaps, if you're a star running back in the NFL, you are not responsible for the moral education of the nation's youth. But kids will emulate those they admire and, like it or not, it might be you.

As an adult, you are always responsible for your own actions, and part of being an adult is acting right whether or not the nightclub's video security system is targeting you. If you're a public figure, you should certainly know by now that you must comport yourself in a dignified manner, in both the private and public spheres of your life. Of course, with the mega-famous, the latter has just about completely subsumed the former.

Honest, principled, congruent people act the same way in both spheres, regardless of who is watching. And they do not mind being called role models, either. You may draw your own conclusions about people who do.

By Scott McQuarrie, representing the EZWatch Pro brand, a leading provider of computer based video surveillance equipment for business, commercial and government applications.

NBA Odds - Learn How to Win Today!

Of basketball all leagues basketball tournaments that comprise the world basketball, the National Basketball Association or the NBA is considered to be the most popular as well as the most fun and exciting of all. It is well-known not only in the United States but in all over the world and it is not surprising to commonly see jersey shirts of different players worn by fans and critics alike.

Aside from the exciting games and the cool hard-court moves, the NBA is also a good place to bet and earn money from. This is in comparison to other sports which has so many limitations. Betting on NBA odds is much easier as the teams involved are much smaller and you don't have to take the weather into account as basketball is usually played indoors unlike other types of sports. However, there are still so many things to watch out for in order to be successful in betting on NBA odds.

The willingness to bet is also one way of showing your support for your favorite teams. However, this doesn't mean that you will follow only their progress. Remember that there are always two sides in every matches and knowledge of the status of the other side is also important in order to win all your hard - earned bets. This is why it is recommended to always be updated on the latest news that is happening on the NBA. Each of the many transactions that happens everyday, from injuries to trades, can really affect the NBA odds of winning for the different teams. By being updated, you can be confident on where to place your bet especially if the current NBA odds of them winning are really high.

Also, it doesn't always mean that you will have to bet for your favorite teams to win always. This is because there are lots of different ways to bet. Aside from the usual way of betting for the winning team, you can also bet on which team will lose and on how much. Aside from that you can also disregard the results and bet on the total score of both teams. You can bet on the NBA odds that the estimated total score will be either higher or lower than the basketball score and if what you bet on is the result them then you will emerge as the winner. Other variations of this type of include the total scores on every quarter as well as during halftime. These other variations are common especially during the playoffs and the championships where every second of every game counts a lot in deciding the outcome that will result.

One thing that can help a lot in deciding your bets is to keep tab of the various NBA odds makers that exist both in sports channels and websites. Most of the time, the NBA odds that they create can prove to be really accurate predictions which comes true. However, these should also be coupled with your own personal knowledge and gut instinct if ever you want to be successful in betting for NBA basketball.

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