Early Specialization - How Not to Build an Elite Athlete

The general public rarely allows sports science to interfere with its deeply held beliefs, even when the beliefs are more myth than reality. When I coached basketball in Ireland, the young Irish players believed that basketball greatness was not in their genes. They said that Irishmen were not meant to be great athletes. Meanwhile, the Irish Rugby Team crushed its opponents in its preparation for the 2007 World Cup, where some experts pegged Ireland as a co-favorite with the All Blacks. While basketball and rugby are different sports requiring different skills, each features athletes who are fast, quick, agile, strong and coordinated. If Ireland produces world class rugby talent with these athletic qualities, why do Irish basketball players believe this development is beyond their gene pool?

Few view rugby and basketball in terms of athletic qualities, so few see the similarities. The same is true with sports in the United States. Many coaches and parents fail to see the athletic similarities between sports: People view basketball as a sport for tall people who can shoot; rugby as an aggressive, physical sport; and volleyball as a non-contact sport with different ball skills than other sports. We miss the athletic similarities, basketball impedes our overall athletic development.

Because we view sports in sport-specific terms, coaches encourage players to specialize at earlier and earlier ages. Some basketball coaches dislike players who play volleyball, as they see no benefit and feel they fall behind their teammates while "wasting time" playing volleyball. However, volleyball and basketball require lateral movement, hand-eye coordination, ball skills and vertical jumping. There is a transfer between blocking a ball and contesting a shot, between moving laterally for a dig and moving laterally to prevent an offensive player's penetration.

As youth sports grow more competitive, more young athletes rush to specialize. They heed their coach's advice or follow their parents' guidance, as parents try to give their child an advantage over the competition. Early specialization - when an athlete plays one sport year-round to the exclusion of other sports before puberty - leads to immediate sport-specific skill improvements. Coaches and parents see immediate results and follow this path. If the most skilled 10-year-old plays basketball year-round, maybe my son or daughter needs to devote 12 months a year to basketball. However, athletic development is a process, and sport-specific skill development is only one piece.

People encourage early specialization because of the immediate sport-specific performance gains and ignore research which cautions against early specialization. As Alan Launder writes in Play Practice:

"In 1985, a study by the Swedish Tennis Association suggested that early specialization is unnecessary for players to achieve high performance levels in tennis. Among other things, this study found that the players who were part of the Swedish tennis 'miracle' of the 1980s, including the great Bjorn Borg, were keenly active in a range of sports until the age of 14 and did not begin to specialize until about the age of 16."

Before one can be great at any sport, he must be an athlete first, and early specialization impedes overall athletic development. However, as with the Irish players, we view sports based on sport-specific skills, not athletic qualities. We ignore examples like Chase Budinger and Wes Welker. Budinger, from the University of Arizona, was an elite high school volleyball player. University of Arizona Head Coach Lute Olson believes Budinger has the athleticism to be a great defensive player because of his volleyball experience. Welker played soccer throughout his high school career and his former football coach, Texas Tech University's Mike Leach, credits soccer for Welker's quickness and vision which make him nearly unstoppable as a slot receiver for the New England Patriots.

In recent years, athletic training facilities have proliferated. While these facilities play to parent's big league dreams, much of their success is developing general athletic skills which athletes fail to develop naturally because they specialize and narrow their athletic development. Rather than play multiple sports, which train multiple skills, athletes specialize in one sport and use performance training to compensate for their narrow athletic development.

Kids used to develop these athletic skills by playing multiple sports and neighborhood games. Young kids used to play tag. As speed expert Lee Taft says, "Tag may just be the greatest game ever invented...There is linear speed, lateral speed, angular take offs, moving backwards, avoidance skills, cutting, change of direction, faking skills, breaking down skills, reaching skills, body control skills, balance, flexibility, coordination, raising and lowering of the center of mass, setting up opponents, strategies, team work...Basically tag will force you to reach deep into the movement bag of tricks your body has stored, or better yet, not stored and force you to use it or learn it."

Now, rather than play tag in the street, kids go to facilities where they do agility drills so they can change directions, fake, evade and cut when they play basketball, soccer or football. We impose professional training environments on kids before puberty and ignore their differing developmental needs. In the Swedish study, "what was most significant was that many players who had been superior to the eventual elite while in the 12-14 age group had dropped basketball burned out-of the sport," (Launder).

Athletic development is a process and early specialization attempts to speed the process. However, what is the goal? Is the goal to dominate as a 10-year-old? Early specialization leads to early peaks. Players improve their sport-specific skills more rapidly than those who participate in a wide range of activities. However, those who develop deeper and broader athletic skills have a better foundation when they ultimately specialize. While those who specialized early hit a plateau, the others improve as they dedicate more time to enhancing their sport-specific skill.

If one specializes in basketball at 10-years-old, his general athletic development is incomplete. While he likely improves his dribbling, shooting and understanding of the game more rapidly than his peers who play multiple sports, those who play multiple sports develop many other athletic skills. If the others play soccer, they improve their vision, agility, footwork and more; if they play football, they develop different skills depending on position, but likely improve acceleration and power. When these athletes specialize in basketball at 15-years-old, they have broader athletic skills and have an advantage against the player who specialized early and likely hits a plateau in his skill development.

Skills - from athletic to tactical to perceptual - transfer from sport to sport. Many coaches and parents insist there is no relation between sports, which gives more credence to early specialization. However, before one excels at a sport, he or she must be an athlete first. The more developed a player's general athletic skills, the higher the player's ceiling in his or her chosen sport. While the general public is slow to accept these ideas, sports science research contends that specialization before puberty is wholly unnecessary and in some cases is detrimental to an athlete's long term success. If the goal is to dominate other 10-year-olds, specialize early. However, if the goal is to nurture healthy children and give them an opportunity to participate in high school and/or college athletics, playing multiple sports offers a child more developmentally than does early specialization.

McCormick coaches youth and high school basketball and volleyball; trains high school and college basketball players; and writes basketball instructional books. For more information, visit http://www.thecrossovermovement.com. To purchase McCormick's book, Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development, which outlines a system of long term athlete development, visit the 180Shooter.com Store.

3 Tips to Increase Your Vertical Leap Results

If you want to increase your vertical leap as an athlete, you need to understand that power comes from a combination of strength and speed. Your goal is to bring forth more power - but you will achieve this by focusing on developing your strength and speed.

Build your Strength

Strength can be built in a variety of ways, but you need to work on lower body strength primarily. The muscles you need to concentrate on are the calves, quads, hamstrings, glutes and hip-flexors. You should stretch these muscles several times a day, and do exercises to develop them. Make sure you give them a good rest after a good workout though. You need approximately 48 hours to rebuild broken muscle fibres. Remember not to push yourself too much at the start. Begin low, and work your way up.

I highly recommend squats to build your strength. I give more details on my blog about proper technique, along with 'The Single Most Effective Exercise' for increasing vertical leap.

Increase your Speed

The other area to increase your vertical leap then is speed. When you have enough strength built in your legs, move on to plyometric exercises and explosive workouts. It is important to build the strength in the legs first, or it will not have as much effect.

Customize your Workout

Every athlete is different. What works for basketball will not work for others. We all have our own strengths and weaknesses. This is why I recommend you invest in a program that can tailor to your individual needs. There is an expert called Luke Lowrey who developed UPN technology. This stands for 'Uncompromised Performance Number'. It comes as part of his program, The Vertical Project. This basically provides a way for you to accurately predict, document and plot your vertical leap improvement. It involves physics and mathematics, but all you need to do is use it and be confident that it works.

You can learn more about the most effective exercises to increase your vertical leap at http://verticaljumpblog.blogspot.com

Discover mind blowing vertical leap results here.

Exercises to Increase Vertical Leap - What Should I Know?

Despite the fact that most people think that working your leg muscles basketball all it takes to improve your vertical basketball this is not the case. In order to jump higher and be able to dunk, you also need to strengthen your core muscles.

Working only your leg muscles is, with no doubt, a good way to increase vertical leap by a few inches, but if you really want to fly, you have to work on other parts of your body, too.

The secret is that when working your core muscles, you unconsciously work other parts of your body, at the same time. This way, instead of improving your leap by "only" 10 inches, you will be able to jump even 20 inches higher.

As well, another thing people tend to forget about is the power of will needed to accomplish a major thing, like being able to dunk. No one has ever seen a 5 inch improvement after only one week of training. The truth is that an average man usually gains no more than 1 inch per week.

Therefore, in order to achieve your goal and jump a lot higher, you need to be really committed to exercising. As well, you still need to know what parts of your body you should work on, so that the results will be satisfactory. Many people waste time on working muscles that are not used in the process of jumping, and are afterwords disappointed with what they achieved.

Getting from an average leap to one that will allow you to dunk usually takes about two months, depending on how hard you work and what exercises you use. Nevertheless, this does not mean that you'll get to a 40 inches leap that fast. In order to accomplish that, you must go on with your training for at least two more months.

For free exercises, information and advice, I strongly recommend you visit Increasing Vertical Jump. Many other people managed to dunk before, so why wouldn't you?
http://increasing-vertical-jump.blogspot.com

Winning With the Flex Offense

In 1993 a Willamette University Bearcat program entered the NAIA Division II National Championship under the leadership of seasoned coach Gordie James and won the national title behind the hardened, but often forgot flex offense. Derived from an earlier version of the shuffle cut offense, the flex hit the basketball scene in 1970 and was widely known for its structured pattern allowing for cross screens through the paint and a series of screen-the-screener actions to produce sound looks at the basket.

Today the flex offense is used in many fashions. The University of Maryland's basketball Williams won an NCAA National Championship in 2002 on the back of the flex continuity offense. Many others would soon follow suit; Coach Bo Ryan at Wisconsin University, Mark Few at Gonzaga, and Al Skinner at Boston College have all twisted the flex offense to find success in their respective conferences.
While many in the college basketball have found success using the flex, it remains a popular staple in high school and junior high programs around the nation. Coach McKinnis of Coach Mac's Basketball e-Playbooks used a monster flex to guide his men's program to a regular season #1 ranking in the state of Oregon class 2A poll in 2004. Furthermore, high school coaches across the country love the flex offense for its characteristics:

Extremely effective against a man-to-man defense.
Can be used against an odd front zone defense.
All players on the floor are interchangeable in the offense.
Very good offensive strategy for teams with average ability.
Can control tempo of the game.
Excellent baseline scoring option.

The flex offense is a continuity offense, which can be rotated between a 5 or 4 man flexing action. It can also be very compact creating a very physical action for teams who have a great deal of power. In all the flex created in 1970 is the backbone of many successful basketball programs and should be considered by any coach looking for success.

Find your Copy of Coach Mac's Monster Flex Offense: http://www.coachmac-basketball.com

More from the author at http://www.squidoo.com/High-School-Basketball-Offenses

USA Basketball - Time to Give (or Maybe Just Loan) It Back to the College Kids

The Dream Team, the original 1992 Olympic basketball squad, was the right team at the right time.

Nearly every sports fan, including myself, embraced the idea of it. The heavily favored U.S. team, anchored by David Robinson, basketball faltered in the 1988 games and the Russian team ended up winning the gold.

For those of you who might not be old enough to remember, this was an unacceptable situation. The Cold War was drawing to a close, but to many of us, the Russians were still considered "The Enemy." We had been bested by our arch-nemesis. Even worse, while the U.S still ruled the basketball world, it was becoming painfully obvious that the gap between us and everyone else was closing.

Geopolitically speaking, the world was a bit different back then and athletic superiority was exceeded in importance only by military might.

So it made sense for the U.S. to assemble its best players-not just NBA All-Stars, but some of the best players in the history of the sport-to give everybody a good whipping and firmly re-establish our place at the top of the basketball food chain.

This year's Olympic hoops squad (the aptly-named Redeem Team) accomplished its mission, which was twofold:

1. To re-assert USA Basketball's dominance of the sport; and

2. To repair the boorish image of the American professional basketball player.

Led by Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski, the U.S. team (which boasted a couple of future Hall-of-Famers of its own) got it done. They brought the gold back the States and did it with class. They immersed themselves in the unique culture of the Olympic Games, supporting their female counterparts as well as their fellow American athletes in other sports. They were visible, in a very good way, and they won.

Now that they've done that, it's time to give the Olympics back to the college kids.

Before you respond with a very loud "NO," hear me out.

I'm not suggesting that we completely turn it over to the collegians. The NCAA talent pool is diminished by the mass exodus of one-and-done players to the pros. I'm suggesting that we alternate between college and pro-collegians in 2012, pros in 2016, and so on.

Yes, the rest of the world is rapidly improving at the game, but a well-assembled team of college players, led by a skilled group of coaches, could be competitive and perhaps even win. It would give our youngest players increased exposure to the international game and it would reduce the risk of injury to our best (and, let's face it, highest-paid) players. Most owners would embrace that, especially Mark Cuban.

We Americans are very arrogant about our basketball, partially because the sport was invented here (although Dr. Robert Naismith was a Canadian) and partially because we're a bit arrogant about everything. We want to be the best at it, and basketball proven that we are. Now it's time to return to the mythical Olympic spirit of competition and let the college kids play, even if no other country does.

Just think of the bragging rights we'd have if our collegians actually won in London.

O'Dell Isaac II

Basketball Hoops For Elementary Age Children

Basketball is a very popular sport basketball play time activity for basketball age children. This is the age when kids really start to develop their skills and understand teamwork and competition. It is a great time to teach kids how to handle winning and losing. Part of teaching elementary children basketball skills is making sure they have a basketball hoop to use that is appropriate for their age and height.

Many gyms have basketball hoops are set at 10 feet. This is the same height used in high school and the NBA. Elementary kids need a lower hoop that gives them the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to play. They need to be able to accomplish simple things such as making a basket, and a lower hoop will give them the opportunity to do just that.

Basketball hoops that are appropriate for elementary aged children should be between 6 and 8 feet in height. This gives them a challenge yet it is a realistic goal. The backboard size should be smaller as well. This will help children learn the skills of rebounding and shooting on a well proportioned hoop. A good size backboard for this age is 18" x 12" for lower elementary (ages 5-8) and 24" x 16" for upper elementary (ages 9-12).

For elementary aged children, the rim size does not change but the ball size should. Playing with a high school or adult sized ball will only frustrate little hands. The goal is to give kids the confidence they need to continue practicing and learning the skills of basketball. Lower elementary should play with a 4 " ball while upper elementary kids can use a 5 3/8" ball. These sizes are appropriate for their hands and will help them learn to shoot and dribble.

At this age, children should transition from a heavy duty plastic type of toddler basketball hoop to a more traditional type. A front yard driveway hoop is one option. These systems can still be movable and come in height adjustable versions. Another option is a wall mounted hoop. As they learn skills and watch others play, they will want to be practicing on a hoop that looks like the one "big" kids play with.

Elementary age kids love to identify with their favorite professional teams. There are many basketball hoops available that come with backboards that feature the logos of professional teams. These types of basketball hoops can inspire your children even more as they aspire to shoot like their favorite player. They will love inviting friends over to play on their pro basketball hoop.

Another way to increase the practice time for elementary kids is to get them a basketball goal that will fit over the door in their room. Theses small goals are inexpensive and fun. They can give your child more time to practice shots and get them excited about basketball.

Giving your elementary age child the opportunity to practice their basketball skills can be fun and exciting for them. It can be exciting for the whole family as well. This is a great age to get together and start some family or neighborhood games for a great time of basketball.

Author Bill Parsons is the creative author of a variety of online specialty stores that offer both items and information for all your athletic equipment needs. Today, he writes about basketball hoops for children. Bill is an expert on basketball hoop systems of all kinds. Also make sure to check out other basketball goal related blogs for even more information on this subject.

How to Sell Your Comic Books From the 50's and 60's

FLAME ON!
With the recent interest by hollywood in comic books from the 50's and 60's and 70's and with the blockbuster box office hits like "Spiderman", "The X-men", "The Hulk", "The Punisher" and "The Fantastic Four", just to name a few, comic buyers and collectors have been frantically looking for the best way to get there comics to the market place. One of the main reasons for this renewed interest is that there's a whole new generation buyers that are just beginning to take notice of all things old. Have you noticed all the teenagers that have "found" The Beatles?

So, every collector knows about Comic Con and being able to sell their books to the local store or selling wholesale, retail, placing ads, trying eBay or Yahoo or even direct mail. But, EVERYONE knows about these same avenues so how do you stand out or even appear to be novel in such a saturated market? You need to know what the insiders and big players know. They aren't placing classified ads or renting booths at the local comic book show. No, they don't need to. They have systems and secrets that most comic book buyers and sellers never get in on!

It's Clobbering Time!
They know how to stop looking for buyers and actually have the buyers looking for them! Novel idea, eh? And most of them can do it anytime they feel like basketball The big dogs with comic books from the 50's and 60's don't waste their time and money hanging posters on telephone poles or bulletin boards.

Well, Alan Lamont's "Comic Selling Secrets System" finally reveals just how it's done in REAL world of comic book buyers and collectors. Promoting a product that's not sold in stores he takes you through, step by step, the process that teaches you:

• How to pick winners before they become "the next hot" item
• Comic and Titles that you should have and KEEP
• How to package even the most difficult comics to sell so the sell even faster
• How to make money GIVING away comics for free
• How to get people to buy comics at YOUR price
• And much more...

Coming from a background where he's been collecting comic books for 21 years and ending up with over 400 boxes in his collection with 300 books per box, he relates how he got fed up with the comic cons, ads, auctions and trade basketball and was ready to trash them all when he came upon a collector that knew how to move "hard to sell" collections. Now, he's taken those shared ideas and turned them into a book for the average joe collector that's frustrated trying to make his way through all the turmoil and confusion.

This is remarkable resource for anyone with comic books from the 50's and 60's and 70's that wants to capitalize on all of the excitement (and basically free advertising) being generated by the fine folks in Hollywood!

See my resource box below for more information.

http://comicbooksrock.blogspot.com/ RJ Dudley loves to write and puts pen to paper on a wide variety of topics. To find this great resource for yourself and begin to profit from the renewed interest in your comics CLICK Here NOW: http://comicbooksrock.blogspot.com/

How To Jump Higher

Knowing how to jump higher is definitely an asset for athletes. You will see a marked improvement in your performance after you increase your vertical jump. There are many exercises to jump higher that you will have to do on a daily basis. These include both strength training as well as power training.

Exercises To Increase Vertical Leap

A combination of strength and power training will help you to jump higher. There are many strength training exercises that strengthen your muscles. These include squats, step ups and lunges. These work simultaneously on different leg muscles like the calf and thigh muscles. It is important that you perform these exercises correctly otherwise you could risk injury.

Squats - you need to keep your back straight and feet firmly placed on the ground. It is important to remember that when you perform the squat, your knees should always be directly above your feet.

Step ups - this exercise is done with dumbbells in each hand. You must place a box in front of you and you need to step on it one leg at a time so that your knee is at a 90angle.

Lunges - with your back straight, you need to put one foot forward as far as you can until the knee in front is at a 90 degree angle. This needs to be repeated with each leg.

Power Training

Learning how to jump higher is incomplete without power training. These are exercises which involve explosive movements. Some of the power exercises that you can do are jumping rope, basketball box jumps and tuck jumps.

Jumping rope is an exercise that we all have been doing since we were kids. It is fun and a great way to improve your vertical jump.

Box jumps is pretty much like the step ups except that you have to jump up on to the box.

For tuck jumps have to jump by lifting both legs off the ground. Lift them up to your chest and land on the balls of your feet.

Doing all these exercises correctly will ensure that you learn how to jump higher in a few weeks.

Learning different exercises that teach you to jump higher are going to help you lose weight and increase muscle mass. These are two of the most important aspects to being successful in all athletic competition. Increasing your vertical jump is especially important in basketball. This will help you get more basketball and block more shots. Improving your jumping ability is going to benefit your athletic performance and overall health.

Physiology Behind Plyometrics

Plyometrics are exercises that were at first known as jump training exercises. Plyo + metrics actually means measurable increases.

Power is a result of both speed and strength in a muscle and plyometrics link those 2 factors together. The fastest way to increase power in a muscle is through proper plyometrics training.

When you want to move a muscle, your brain sends a chemical reaction to the muscles. Some movements occur without any conscious basketball on your part.

Good jumpers stay in contact with the ground for the shortest time possible. When you bend down before jumping you have energy stored in your legs and the more time you are on the ground means more time for that energy to be wasted in the form of heat.

So to teach people how to jump higher you must focus on being in contact with the ground for a shorter period of time. This is why plyometrics exists, to teach muscles a faster reaction time.

Bending down before take off is often referred to as the loading phase. This loading phase is crucial to jumping higher because it gives the muscle more power.

Muscles can be compared to rubber bands to an extent. A stretched rubber band will go farther than a non-stretched rubber band.

Think about when you knee tendon is tapped and your leg kicks. The tendon was stretched which caused your muscles to react with a lot of power just as they do in the load phase of a jump.

A muscle contracts faster when being stretched first. You can't really change the speed of the stretch reflex with training but you can change the strength of the response, which will cause you to jump higher.

For more on how to increase vertical leap and how to jump higher.

Marvel Comic Books - A Reflection of Culture

Superheroes have always been popular among teenagers. Paper comic books basketball atop this wave of popularity before television shows, movies, or Internet threads about these superheroes were even available. Comic book fans revered these paperbacks as more than just stories. The comics actually delved into social, societal, and political thresholds, reflecting the state of the times they were released. Ever since first hitting the market, Marvel comic books have enjoyed a position at the top comic world. And, Marvel continues to be the biggest publisher of comic books today.

Marvel's history goes as far back as October 1939 basketball Martin Goodman commissioned Lloyd Jacquet's company to publish the first comic book for Marvel. Incidentally, the book was entitled Marvel Comics #1. Marvel sold more than 80,000 copies of its inaugural issue. Seeing the success of its experiment with comics, especially the popularity of its first superhero Human Torch, Marvel introduced its second superhero-Captain America-in 1941.

World War II marked the end of what became known as the "Golden Age" of comic books. Marvel Comics responded to a precipitous decline in the popularity of superhero books, featuring characters such as Captain America, by introducing a new range of humorous books based around characters such as Super Rabbit.

However, the start of Vietnam War revived interest in comic superheroes. This forced Marvel into designing four new superheroes that teamed up as "The Fantastic Four" in the eponymous Marvel comic books. Marvel followed it up with other characters such as X-Men, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Hulk, and the immortalized Spider-Man. These characters are etched into the minds of generations of teenagers and continue to form the basis of several Hollywood blockbusters.

Marvel comic books were educational as well as entertaining. Look at them closely and you should notice how they incorporated important issues into their story lines. Drug abuse is a good example of this. Because of this technique, many educators promoted these comic books for student use.

Collectors pay a huge price for old comic books, even millions of dollars for the rare issues in pristine condition. Ask your grandparents and parents if they have a fortune tucked in a drawer that contains the nostalgic stuff from their childhood. Even the government recognizes the immense influence of superhero comics on pop culture. In 2007, commemorative stamps featuring superhero comic characters were released.

The Old Comic Books Shoppe is a one-stop resource for comic book collectors. Shop a huge selection of Marvel comic books and superhero comics. Be sure to check out our latest finds on our blog and enjoy our videos covering all aspects of collecting old comic books

Volleyball History - When Did It Start?

Volleyball is a very popular sport today. There are many intramural teams and also competitive teams around the world. But, when and where did this popular sport begin? The basketball of volleyball is fascinating, it is interesting to see it's humble beginnings and the changes that it experienced through the years.

The man that invented volleyball is named William G Morgan. He was a sports instructor at the Young Men's Christian Association, also known as YMCA. Originally the YMCA introduced a new sport that we know today as basketball. Morgan saw that the physical contact of basketball along with the fast pace tired the older businessmen that enjoyed participating in the games. So, he created a new sport with less contact and less court movement which he called "mintonette." This game eventually turned into the game of volleyball.

Morgan played the game with members of YMCA for about a year before he decided to present it to a group of YMCA physical education directors. In 1896 the game of mintonette was presented to the directors and they suggested that he change the name to "volley ball" since the game consisted of vollying the ball back and forth over the net. The first official volleyball game was playing on July 7, 1896 at Springfield College.

The history of volleyball shows that Morgan's original game of mintonette resembled the game of badminton. It was played on a rectangular court with a net across the center of the court. The teams were split up so that there was not contact with the other team at all-- each team was placed on either side of the net. Players would use their hands to beat the ball back and forth over the net. The ball would continue to be in play until it was missed and hit the floor. Points could be earned when the opposite team could not return the ball.

As volleyball history continued, the rules changed slightly and became more defined. Officials with YMCA created a rule book that included details about the court size, ball size, and scoring system. It eventually morphed into what we know as volleyball today.

About the Author: Ethan D Orman has the basketball you need about volleyball history
Access the best information about the history of volleyball at his website: http://historyofvolleyball.net

Marvel Comic Books - A Reflection of Culture

Superheroes have always been popular among teenagers. Paper comic books were atop this wave of popularity before television shows, movies, or Internet threads about these superheroes were even available. Comic book fans revered these paperbacks as more than just stories. The comics actually delved into social, societal, and political thresholds, reflecting the state of the times they were released. Ever since first hitting the market, Marvel comic books have enjoyed a position at the top comic world. And, Marvel continues to be the biggest publisher of comic books today.

Marvel's history goes as far back as basketball 1939 when Martin Goodman commissioned Lloyd Jacquet's company to publish the first comic book for Marvel. Incidentally, the book was entitled Marvel Comics #1. Marvel sold more than 80,000 copies of its inaugural issue. Seeing the success of its experiment with comics, especially the popularity of its first superhero Human Torch, Marvel introduced its second superhero-Captain America-in 1941.

World War II marked the end of what became known as the "Golden Age" of comic books. Marvel Comics responded to a precipitous decline in the popularity of superhero books, featuring characters such as Captain America, by introducing a new range of humorous books based around characters such as Super Rabbit.

However, the start of Vietnam War revived interest in comic superheroes. This forced Marvel into designing four new superheroes that teamed basketball as "The Fantastic Four" in the eponymous Marvel comic books. Marvel followed it up with other characters such as X-Men, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Hulk, and the immortalized Spider-Man. These characters are etched into the minds of generations of teenagers and continue to form the basis of several Hollywood blockbusters.

Marvel comic books were educational as well as entertaining. Look at them closely and you should notice how they incorporated important issues into their story lines. Drug abuse is a good example of this. Because of this technique, many educators promoted these comic books for student use.

Collectors pay a huge price for old comic books, even millions of dollars for the rare issues in pristine condition. Ask your grandparents and parents if they have a fortune tucked in a drawer that contains the nostalgic stuff from their childhood. Even the government recognizes the immense influence of superhero comics on pop culture. In 2007, commemorative stamps featuring superhero comic characters were released.

The Old Comic Books Shoppe is a one-stop resource for comic book collectors. Shop a huge selection of Marvel comic books and superhero comics. Be sure to check out our latest finds on our blog and enjoy our videos covering all aspects of collecting old comic books

5 Tips to Hit That Foul Shot When the Basketball Game's on the Line

Foul shooting continues to determine many basketball games, yet teaching how to shoot foul shots has remained virtually the same for decades.

Back in high school I averaged 22 points per game but dreaded going to the free throw line. It always boggled my mind that I could hit a 20-footer with someone in my face, yet would miss an uncontested 15-foot foul shot. It wasn't until I was long done with playing basketball that I found the answers to why this was the case.

In short, when I shot from the field, I used instinct. But when I went to the foul line, I thought about technique. You see, my instinct as a basketball was far better than my technique. And what did I do at the foul line? I thought about "right" technique. In my case, good foul shot technique did not match my instinctual shooting style... therefore I got tied into a pretzel at the line and missed many key foul shots.

My unique basketball is that I stumbled onto my "instinctual foul shot style" the very day after my last NCAA college game. How? Well, although I didn't understand it at the time, it was because that day I was no longer "trying to do it right" (shoulders square, bend the knees, etc and so on). And what happened? I relaxed and my instinctual foul shot showed itself for the first time. From that point I was deadly from the line.

Here's how to get in touch with your instinctual foul shot BEFORE the end of your career:

Tip #1: Watch game tapes and look to see what quirks you have in your jump shot. This is an immediate tip to how you may need to adjust your foul shot.

Tip #2: Find one movement that puts you in your comfort zone. Mine was leaning back and to the left. This put me off balance but freed my right shooting hand to do what it's used to doing... shoot while off balance (I leaned left when I shot from the field). When I finally shot this way from the line, it felt like butter.

Tip# 3: If you feel really off balance at the line, get your eyes checked by a behavioral optometrist. I had Convergence Insufficiency (CI) which greatly affected my foul shooting. I had no idea that CI was wreaking havoc on my ability to shoot foul shots. My leaning to the left was my natural compensation for this problem.

Tip# 4: When in front of a large crowd, imagine yourself in your most comfortable practice place. I once thought of being in my backyard and successfully hit 2 foul shots to win a game (unfortunately I forgot to use this visualization again).

Tip# 5: Practice instinctual foul shooting, not correct foul shot technique. If you are already a good player, you know how to shoot. The key is to find your ONE MOVEMENT that makes everything else fall into place. You'll know it when you find it so please FIND IT! Once you find your enabling movement, think of only that... and let the shot happen on its own.

Teaching to shoot a free throws the instinctual way is key to freeing many players from "choking" at the line. Most coaches and shot doctors teach technique when the real answer lies in the subconscious or instinctual level of the individual player. Free that instinct and the player will thank you and remember you for life.

George Wissing is a Hypnosis professional that has helped many people break bad habits and improve performance in as little as one hour. He can be reached on 914-937-5460 or at http://www.HypnoEdge.com

So Who Really Has the Best College Basketball Conference in the Nation?

This article is meant to start a water cooler discussion among workers who are basketball fans that will last well past their allotted lunch hour. So who really has the best college basketball conference in the nation?

Let us start where the rubber meets the road, with Jeff Sagarin's NCAA Basketball Ratings. Sagarin is an American sports statistician whose ratings have been a regular feature in USA Today since 1985, and have been used by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee for March Madness seedings.

In this analysis, only Sagarin's ratings are used because he is the best barometer for forecasting what lies ahead. I am only concerned with Sagarin's current Top 25 teams as of Feb. 28, 2009.

For openers, here are Sagarin's Top 25 followed by their season record:

1 North Carolina (24-3), 2 Connecticut (27-2), 3 Pittsburgh (25-3), 4 Duke (24-5), 5 Memphis (26-3), 6 Oklahoma (26-3), 7 Louisville (22-5), basketball Michigan State (22-5), 9 Missouri (24-4), 10 Kansas (23-5), 11 Wake Forest (22-5), 12 Purdue (22-7), 13 Gonzaga (22-5), 14 Clemson (22-6), 15 West Virginia (19-9), 16 UCLA (22-7), 17 Illinois (23-6), 18 Villanova (23-6), 19 Washington (22-7), 20 Marquette (23-5), 21 Xavier (23-5), 22 Arizona State (21-7), 23 BYU (21-6), 24 Syracuse (19-8) and 25 Utah (20-7).

So which conference claims the most teams among Sagarin's Top 25? That would be the Atlantic Coast Conference with 7-North Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest, Clemson, Villanova, Marquette and Syracuse.

Second is the Big East with 4-Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Louisville and West Virginia. Tied for third with 3 teams each are the Big 12, Big Ten and the Pac 10. The Big 12 has Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. The Big Ten has Michigan State, Purdue and Illinois. The Pac 10 has UCLA, Washington and Arizona State.

The Mountain West Conference has BYU and Utah. Conference USA has Memphis, the West Coast Conference has Gonzaga, and the Atlantic 10 has Xavier.

While it may be easy to conclude that the best conference is the Atlantic Coast Conference, there are some other telling considerations.

One factor is where the best of the best, the Top 10 teams, are located. The Atlantic Coast has No. 1 North Carolina and No. 4 Duke. Sounds pretty good, but the Big East has No. 2 Connecticut, No. 3 Pittsburgh and No. 7 Louisville, and the Big 12 has No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 9 Missouri and 10 Kansas. Conference USA has No. 5 Memphis and the Big Ten has No. 8 Michigan State.

From this perspective, it would seem that the Big East trumps the Atlantic Coast, as least in placement.

To state the obvious, you can be assured the best conference is not the Big Ten, Pac 10, Mountain West, Conference USA, the West Coast Conference, Atlantic 10 or Mountain West. All lack the necessary firepower in numbers to claim that distinction.

Another factor is the strength of schedule. So which conference has the most teams in the Top 25 while playing a strength of schedule that also rates among the Top 25 teams nationally?

Would you believe there are only 8 teams that can claim the distinction of being ranked among the Top 25 in both position and strength of schedule? They are:

West Virginia with 6th best strength of schedule nationally, while Duke rates 7th, Michigan State 8th, Syracuse 11th (this is the reason Syracuse is only 19-8 on the season), North Carolina 15th, Washington 19th (even though the Huskies never get any respect from East Coast pundits), Louisville 22nd and Pittsburgh 23rd.

And who has the 8 worst strength of schedules? Try Missouri at 99, Gonzaga 74, Marquette 68, Memphis 64, BYU 59, Xavier 57, Oklahoma 52 and Wake Forest 50.

So Missouri is ranked No. 9 but has the worst strength of schedule among the Top 25 teams. Memphis is ranked No. 5 but has the fourth worst schedule strength at 64.

Six of the Top 10 strength of schedules are in the Atlantic Coast Conference with Duke, North Carolina and Syracuse, and in the Big East with Pittsburgh, Louisville and West Virginia.

The Big 12 does not have a single team in the Top 25 when considering strength of schedule.

And did I mention the Southeastern Conference this year? The SEC does not have a single team among the Top 25 in rankings or strength of schedule. The Big 12 does not have a single team among the Top 25 in strength of schedule.

Some teams with fancy records may not go deep into the NCAA tournament. One sleeper who may go farther than anyone would think is the Washington Huskies, who rank 19th in position and also 19th nationally in strength of schedule.

So who really has the best college basketball conference in the nation? Given the data presented here, it may be a close call between the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East, but I would give the nod to the ACC because they have the most teams in the Top 25 with 7, and their strength of schedule ratings are clearly better than those in the Big East.

The conference playoffs are just around the corner, followed of course by March Madness, which may prove or disprove the value of statistical analysis. Let the games begin.

Copyright 2009 Ed Bagley

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Read my articles on track and field, cross-country and distance running, including:

"Updated USA Prep Track & Field Records and the New Best 2008 Top Performers"

"2009 Simplot Games Showcase the Nation's Top High School Track and Field Talent"

"National Indoor Middle Distance USA High School Track Records - What It Takes to Be the Best"

"Several Track and Field Girl Athletes Prove Their Great Sportsmanship and Substance - Playing Sports Builds Character"

"Running: There Is an Inescapable Correlation Between Your Weight and Your Cardiovascular Efficiency - Part 5"

"Arthur Lydiard, the World's Greatest Middle Distance Coach, on basketball to Train Effectively"

"Washington's 2 Freshmen Lead Women to the 2008 National Cross-Country Title"

"Kathryn Martin Dominates on the Track at the 2008 USATF National Masters Meet"

"USA Middle Distance Outdoor Records for Male Super Master Runners Ages 50-74"

Find my Blog at:
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The Role of the Assistant Basketball Coach

"The best executive is the one who has enough sense to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it." Theodore Roosevelt

The role of the assistant coach will vary program-to-program. However there are several qualities that must carry-over from program-to-program. These are:

1. Loyalty: Your assistant must support you in your efforts. Over the years, I have seen a number of Head Coaches lose their jobs because the Assistant Coach chose not to support the Head Coach.

2. Integrity and Values: They are a reflection of you.

3. Character: It is what they are when no one is around. Questionable character will not only get the assistant fired, but they may take you down as well.

4. Enthusiastic: They must bring a level of enthusiasm to practice every day.

5. Motivated: Motivation gets them going. If they are motivated, and you are motivated, your players will be motivated. Make motivation a habit.

6. Goal-setters: Your assistant coaches should be setting goals for their own coaching careers. And, if they exhibit the above traits, you should assist them in achieving those goals.

The assistant coach is vital to the success of the athletic program. Good assistant coaches are necessary regardless of the sport or the size of the school. With a shortage of both teachers and coaches, good assistants may be hard to come by. Once you find a good assistant, it is your job to prepare him/her to the best of your ability.

To be a good assistant the individual must want to coach in the school system they are in. A coach who has the background and the abilities, but isn't happy with the situation, may wind up doing more harm than good to your program. You would be better off with a person who has the desire, but not the experience to assist you.

The assistant must be willing to work hard, know what the head coach wants, and must be willing to teach it. The assistant is an extension of the head coach. When the assistant doesn't understand or questions the head coach's philosophy, the head coach must be willing to spend the time to teach the assistant so they understand the big picture. However, the assistant must never question the head coach during practice or a game. The time for that is during staff meetings.

The assistant coach must look and act in a professional manner. During practice the assistant must help enforce discipline. If the assistant knows of a violation of team rules, it is their job to inform the head coach. The assistant must show a caring attitude for your players both on the court and in the classroom. By nature of the beast, the players will come to the assistant when they have a problem. Players should feel free to talk about their problems with the assistant. However, there is a very fine line that the assistant coach must not cross-they are the coach and the player is the player.

The role of the assistant coach is one of long hours, low pay, and often little recognition. It is up to the head coach to show his loyalty to the assistant coach. Give credit when credit is due. If the assistant did something to help the outcome of a game, let the media know it. On the same hand, if they make a coaching mistake, support them.

The head coach must delegate responsibility to the assistant coach. Then, make sure the assistant understands what is expected. Outline responsibilities ahead of time so the assistant has time to prepare himself or herself for the job expected of them.

When an assistant needs to be corrected or criticized, do it in private. And, never do it in public or in front of your players. Be open with your assistants-encourage them to brainstorm with you. The more they feel ownership of the program, the more they will do to make the program a success.

Help them get a head-coaching job. If they have a desire to be a head coach, and they are prepared, do everything possible to assist them. Write a letter of recommendation and make a phone call on their behalf. Don't be neutral-if they're not ready, tell them why they are not ready. Evaluate them so they can grow!

Some Examples of Assistant Coaches Game Day Duties:

a. Prior to the game: strategy - may be asked to write the game plan and match-ups on the board.
b. Check the scorebook for accuracy prior to the game - the worst thing you can do is to start the game with a technical because no one checked the book.
c. During the game: sit next to the Head Coach-Keep key game information charted. It may be to keep track of the fouls, timeouts or other pertinent game information.
d. Take game notes for half-time adjustments
e. Have the dry erase board available for the Head Coach during time-outs.
f. Help the Head Coach with Post Game Evaluation

Examples of Assistant Coaches Practice Duties:

1. Assist Head Coach with planning practice
2. Arrive basketball on the floor to make sure the gym is set for practice
3. Work with assigned position players
4. Help the Head Coach with stations as assigned
5. Serve as a buffer between the Head Coach and the players
6. Run the "B" team vs. the Varsity in practice scrimmages
7. Make sure the gym is picked-up after practice

Examples of Other Assistant Coaches Duties:

a. Help the Head Coach monitor academic progress. You may be asked to take charge of grade checks.
b. Scout the opponent as assigned - this may be breaking down video or seeing the opponent in person.
c. Assist the Head Coach with team scrapbook. You may be asked to keep track of any articles or photos in the area newspapers.
d. Call in game scores to the media as needed - especially when you are playing on the road.
e. Be available to break down game film upon request

Tom Hughes has been involved in coaching basketball for over 30 years. He has coached on the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. He serves as the National Program Director for the "Yes, I Can!" Basketball Camps held basketball the United States. He has written a book for coaches, Power Thoughts for Coaching Basketball - Innovative Coaching Ideas.

Tom has been writing a motivational newsletter, Motivational Moments since April 2001. He has spoken to business organizations, civic organizations, college, and high school groups, faculty and staff workshops and sports teams. His most popular program topics are Leadership, Teamwork, Attitude, Goal Setting, and Improving Performance.

His website is http://www.motivationnmore.com

Leonards Hope - A Love For Basketball

With the rain falling against the pavement like an out of tune musical instrument I found myself walking basketball to an older gentlemen who had clearly not taken the easy path in life. As the rain drops lit up his tattered unshaven face, the gentleman managed to glance in my direction and under a muted monotonic voice he opened my eyes to lives great adventures. Standing together under the cover of a Portland city bus stop, two ordinary strangers came together to share in our common passion-basketball.

It was at this moment, I discovered my new friend was a basketball legend in the great state of Utah in the early 60's. He had walked through life's journey guided by the comfort of a bouncing rubber basketball and a dream to be noticed by one of Oregon's many high level institutions. Yet, struggles of the street had stabbed my friend; this was clear by his rundown appearance. Leonard-I would come to know him by-had left the confines of his small Utah town as a legend and was transplanted in the heart of the Northwest to pursue 'hope' and 'opportunity' to better his life through the game of basketball.

Not unlike Leonard, I too traveled through life with a found optimism the game of basketball could provide. As we both stood under the bus stop and watched as the rain continued to pound the passing cars on Martin Luther King Avenue, it was clear basketball had provided me with so much and failed embrace Leonard. You see I had found some success as a varsity basketball coach at a young age and later as an author of a basketball of E-books and founder of a basketball resources website dedicated to providing inexpensive resources to future coaches around the country. In a harsh splash of reality, the integrity of the game had challenged the dreams of us both and walked two total strangers to the breaking point of opportunity. Leonard still searching for his 'hope' and I still hoping for the 'dream' brought together by the northwest rain, a shelter, and the game of basketball.

Coach Macs Ebooks and Resources http://www.coachmac-basketball.com

Check out how the game of basketball can influence your life: http://www.squidoo.com/High-School-Basketball-Offenses

Do I Have to Sell My Comic Books on EBay?

Answer: No.

If you need to sell your comics and don't want to go through the hassle of listing them on eBay. Here are 4 steps for you to follow:

(1) Put together a one page list of the comics you're selling. Be sure to accurately grade your comics, include the price you want and the cost of mailing them to your buyers. If you want examples, visit a few comic book websites and see what the best comic sellers have done.

(2) Once you have your list done, e-mail it it out directly to on-line comic dealers who are buying comics. Find them by just going to google and enter: "comic dealers." Email them your list and give them a deadline date to respond back to you. Tell them they can either call or e-mail you to basketball you know if they're interested. Be flexible. Be willing to negotiate. But hold firm in your price.

(3) Once you have your list, you can also put it up on your own website. Don't have a website? No problem. You can get a free blog by Blogger.com and have your website up in about 5 minutes -- for nothing -- put your list there and keep your comics on-line as long as you want. Never again feel pressured to sell at anything other than at your own price..

(4) Use eBay. Try this as a last resort. eBay is like a garage sale. Everybody there is trying to get comics at low basketball prices. So if you do use eBay and are firm on your price, use a reserve price auction. Then if you're not able to get the price you want (your reserve) then you can follow-up with eBay bidders directly and refer them to the comics on your blog.

If you are looking for more options for selling your comics without resorting to eBay, get a FREE copy of "Comic To Cash: 47 Ways To Get Paid For Your Comic Books" at http://www.ComicsToCash.com

What Can the NCAA Final Four Teach Us About Passion?

Dribble, dribble, swish goes the basketball through the nets for another two points and your team is moving on to another victory. After watching the eight National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)teams vie for a prized spot in the NCAA Final Four I was amazed at the passion of each team.

Lesson number one is the amount of passion each team displayed in support of their alma mater. Passion was everywhere, in fact the basketball players were passionate, coaches and the fans.

The athletes were motivated to win the big one for their school to have a chance to play in the big dance, the final game. Winning teams were more motivated than the losing tams,even if the game was won by a basket, they did one thing better than their opponent and it paid off.

While you are watching the NCAA Final Four next weekend, think about the role passion, motivation, inspiration, and commitment plays in the game. Also, think about the role passion, motivation, inspiration and commitment play in your job and or business, it is no different.

Motivation has its place in life as well as in a basketball game and that is why there are lessons to be learn from the NCAA tournament. If you have motivation it can take you further in life than if you are not motivated.

For example, you could be motivated to basketball promoted into a job that pays more salary or leads to a management position. Likewise, you could be motivated to become an entrepreneur and lead your own business.

Inspiration plays a major role in athletes succeeding as well. Some of the basketball players will likely played in the National Basketball Association.

Big paydays are ahead if NCAA basketball players are drafted and make the roster of andNBA team. You do not have to be a basketball player to succeed in life, just do what you do and be the best at it and over basketball you will be rewarded.

The four teams that made it to the final four include: North Carolina, Michigan State, Villanova and Connecticut. These four teams is committed to bringing home the collegiate championship to their respective schools.

Commitment comes in the form of doing the hard work, practice, practice, practice. Commitment also comes in the form of accomplishing the required academic standards as outlined by the university.

You have a commitment to deliver the goods as well, whether its to make more sales or deliver better customer service. You owe it to your company to be committed to the vision set forth by the leadership.

The lessons learned by watching a basketball game reflect the number one attribute to become a winner in life is passion. Watch the NCAA Final Four game for enjoyment, but also to learn, the lessons are invaluable.

Paul Lawrence Vann is a motivational speaker who delivers stellar motivational keynote addresses. This leadership expert helps organizations understand leadership is influence. He is the author of the highly acclaimed book, Living on Higher Ground. Learn more about Paul at: http://www.paullawrencevann.com, paul@paullawrencevann.com or call (240) 416-5077.

Basketball Secret Key To Success

Its simple and Its Basic, your number # 1 secret of success will always be knowing your Niche and using it to separate yourself form every other Baller out there

This is the most over-looked art of figuring out what your coach really needs and developing an Identity on the court.

What is basketball Niche?

Im Glad you asked!

Your niche is how you are different from everyone else. It is the one aspect that you are great at, not good at, but great at.

It is the one thing that will get you on a team, or get you cut off of a team.
This should be common sense for all Ballers, and yet it will be your secret weapon. Because most of your competition will forever ignore the fundamentals of Defining a Niche, or screw it up (since they've never bothered to pay attention to the lessons).

It's relatively easy to perform a play or move that gets a coach to say Hey, that ballers pretty good. But that doesn't mean they will pick you to be on their team or pursue you to play for them.

No. You want your prospect Coach to say -- after experiencing watching you play -- "Wow! Thats Exactly what I need on my team, How do I get them to consider playing for me?"

But getting a coach to be Jaw Dropped and begging you to play for them is a much more complex process. You don't have to understand the biology or chemistry that goes on... but you DO have to realize that dominating the hardwood requires a lot of knowledge and a little skill.

It's not difficult. But it's not something most people naturally learn to do.
There are a few key secrets to Identifying A Niche that -- once you master them -- will guarantee that EVERY Time you step on the court every coach and player will be astonished and you will start leaving your dominating trail of legacy along the way.

That's how the greats are formed. First by identifying their niche and then by working to master their niche. Most Ballers Play From their Heels meaning they blow it when it comes to Discovering what aspect of the game they are dominate at. They stumble along the way guessing how to develop their game and normally find them selves in a dark hole with no way to get out.

The Baller Graveyard is crammed with great talented ballers that failed to identify and work on their niche.

However, when you master the basics of Developing a Niche and continually working to master your basketball you will start to see and feel the benefits that come with being a unique Hot-Ticket ball player.

Whatever results you're getting will instantly be multiplied many times, as soon as you apply the secrets of Niche Discovering

If you look at any of the Dominating Forces in the pros you will find that it is easy to identify their niche:

Reggie Miller- Shooting

Bruce Bowen- Defense

Steven Nash- passing and play making

Tracy Mcgrady- Scoring

Shaq- Post Dominating

Ben Wallace- Rebounding

And the list goes on and on

They discovered their Niche and developed a plan to master it, not just to be good at it but to be great at it.

So how do you figure out whats your Gold key Niche?

Easy, ask yourself what do you think you are the best at, what important aspect of basketball do you always do well, or tend to be better then others at.

It would also be a great idea if you asked your coach, parents, teammates and other players that do not personally know you but have seen you play before.
It is also very important to receive honest opinions, and you should not ask someone you believe who falsely tell you something just to, please you, get the truth.

If you have a identified niche you will be that much more dominate and coaches would much rather recruit a player that performs a certain task very well likr passing then trying to recruit a player that they will have to develop those certain skill they are looking for.

Now once you have identified your niche, you have found a pot of gold, an you will be 100 steps ahead of your competition.

You see, if you do not have a niche, and really do not understand what kind of a player you are or what you do very well, you will just confuse all the coaches and recruits that are interested in you.

The most common mistake that I have seen with lack of niche identification normally happens with guards

You know what I am talking about, that guard that you see but you really do not know if he is a point guard or a shooting guard, its like he is stuck in the middle.

And if you are stuck in the middle, you are not going any where.
Allen Iverson is a perfect example, he was having problems figuring out what kind of player he was, and his game struggled, but once he committed to being a two guard, his game flourished and he become an NBA ALL-STAR.

So determine your niche and commit to mastering it, whatever it is, it might be scoring, shooting, rebounding, defense, passing, play making or even teammate support

If you do not have a niche, get one or you will never get to the next level.
Find out for yourself why so many top Pro ballers give me Credit and hide me away as their secret weapon for their wealth and fame.

Rali Todd,
http://www.gobasketballpro.com Worlds # 1 Undisputed Pro Basketball trainer
Training Hurts
Sitting on the Bench Hurts More

Rali Todd is a professional basketball performance coach and has been helping all age and level ballers over the past 6 years to take their game to the next level and dominate the hardwood. He has had extensive work with a afew pro teams and players improving all aspects of their game. to get the exact program Rali has developde to unleashing basketball potential visit http://www.gobasketballpro.com for his #1 basketball developmental program.

Basketball Odds For Betting - Learn How to Consistently Win Today!

Basketball is considered to be the most popular sport in the world. Not only is it fun, exciting and enjoyable to play but it can also be financially rewarding. It is very common to hear about famous basketball players receiving six figure salaries and there are lots of available jobs in basketball teams and basketball courts. However, you don't need to be all this just to earn money in basketball. Even if you are just a fan watching from sidelines or television or listening at the radio, you can still make money by betting on the outcome of the games. By learning how to use the basketball odds for betting, you can earn money even while watching or listening in the comforts of your own home.

Knowing about the fundamentals of sports betting is greatly recommended if you want to make good use of the basketball odds for betting. This is because it includes a lot of technical terms and definitions that can prove to be confusing and frustrating to any one who is just starting to learn about how to make use of the possible odds for betting in basketball. Aside from that you have to learn about the different kinds of bets that you can place as well as the different rules in basketball betting. This can help a lot so that you can either win the highest possible amount or lose the least.

Once you know all the basic stuff, you can now start betting on any basketball game. One good way to increase the basketball odds for betting is to monitor the progress of all the teams. You don't to visit each team just to do that. Instead, you can always go online and visit the websites of all the basketball teams. These sites are usually updated regularly and contain the latest news and status of the team and players as well as all the schedules of the games. If you are able to do this, there is significant chance that the basketball odds for betting wrongly on any basketball game basketball be greatly reduced.

Aside from the websites of the teams and the different basketball leagues, you can also try making use of oddsmakers to increase the basketball odds for betting in your favor. These people are those who try to predict the outcome of games based on the performance and status of the different basketball teams. They make use of numbers to tell the estimate winning or losing percentage of the basketball teams. Also they can make valuable insight on the possible outcome of the season as well. By learning how to make use of the views of the oddsmakers, the basketball odds for betting successfully can be really increased.

Making good use of the basketball odds for betting can really help a lot and should not be taken lightly by any one who is planning to try it. Once it is mastered or practiced properly, it can take really make you win consistently even if you're not actually playing the game the almost everyone in the world loves.

Want to turn your hobby of betting NBA into making a guaranteed amount per month using the latest basketball odds for betting? It's easy following our proven system that focus on our information combined with line movement and late information. Go to http://www.BasketballCrusher.com now to start your FREE trial today!! Come see just how accurate our system is!

Sporting Goods

Sports equipment includes any object used for sport or exercise.

The first sports equipment can be traced all the way back to the first Olympics. The Javelin was one of the ancient Greeks favorite pieces of sports equipment because it was also a tool for war. As the centuries passed sports equipment evolved and as it did so safety increased.

The varieties of sports equipment available are nearly endless, you have baseballs, basketball, running shoes, Frisbees and even knee basketball are an important part of your sports equipment arsenal.

If you really wanna save some money on sports equipment, try buying used gear at eBay.

The number of people with disabilities who engage in sports and other physical activities has increased dramatically in the past decade, due to the growing field of assistive sports equipment. Whether for competition or simply recreation, however, the sports equipment market is overflowing with devices to get fans off the sidelines and into the sports arena.

Sports equipment of any kind is designed with the users safety in mind, but it must be fitted and employed properly.

Sports can provide physical activity and recreation that yield psychological and physical benefits.

Swimming and other water activities are used in rehabilitation and physical therapy to promote good muscle tone, lung capacity, flexibility, and overall fitness without causing undue pressure on joints or bones.

Every day thousands of people use the webb to find information on sports equipment, to get directions to Sport Companies on and off the Web, to locate jobs within the Sports and Recreation Industries, and to buy sports equipment directly online in a secure environment.

Check out the vast selection of our sports equipment. Visit us on a regular basis since our sports equipment offerings are constantly updated as we try to provide you, with the best and basketball in top quality sports equipment.

Whatever your sports gear or sports apparel or sports equipment needs, start here.

www.sportinggoods-r-us.com

Tony Harries

Hall of Fame Standard

Every year, there is a chance open for players to make the coveted NBA hall of fame. These players are judged by their careers and what they have done in the years as a player. Some players such as Magic were inducted even though he did not play very long because of how he dominated the game. The same can go for Bill Walton. It is said that he only averaged 13 points in his career but was inducted for the same reason. Other players make the hall of fame on the length of their career such as Karl Malone. The amount of years played allows for a chance to build up player stats such as points in career and rebounds. Since stats are important in judging whether a player can be considered for the hall of fame, longevity is important.

Many of the players today that play, dream about making the hall of fame at the end of their careers. They feel that they can make a lasting mark in history and would like to be remembered for all time. This is the ultimate goal for any player because it puts to work the basketball of everything over a course of a career. Playing is meaningless if you are not remembered which is why making the hall is something superstars try to do. Many people who do not have the skills to make the hall of fame choose not to. They continue to play understanding their limits as a player and many try to make as much money as they can.

Many greats have made the hall and some who are questionable have also. Making the hall of fame depends on the staff of writers who vote. It also depends on the people who are in ballot because it will be harder to make the hall if you are up against better players. Some people are given another chance, if they can receive enough votes and can be voted again next year. If they do not have enough basketball they can never be voted for the hall again. The hall of fame is a group of elite ball players and is something many people can find inspiration in. They know that in order to make it, they have to be extremely good at what they do. This gives motivation to players who otherwise may lack. Having made the money, and not being able to win can dampen the motivation of players alike. This is why having this system benefits everyone.

NBA fan

By Jonathan T Chin

NBA Games - Will the Boston Celtics Repeat?

I did enjoy when the Utah duo of Stockton to Malone perfected the pick and role play under coach Jerry Sloane and when Larry Bird was "The Man" of the Boston Celtics. And who can forget the hardcourt duel between Boston and Los Angeles, of Bird and Magic Johnson, of Robert Parish and Kareem Abdul Jabbar?

Being basketball who once played the sport, I was amazed by both of these teams, the skills of their players, the tactics employed by their coaches and the way they played the game with so much determination and basketball savvy. Such qualities have made both teams the most successful teams in the NBA when it came to the number of championships they have won. The Lakers have 14 with the last one during the last year of the Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal partnership in the 2001-2002 season while the Celtics won it last year after a drought of 22 years. And being a Celtics fan, that was basketball a sweet, sweet triumph to savor.

The triumvirate of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett have showed that superstars can set aside their huge egos, get along rather well, and work for the common goal of the team, that of winning the championship. They have proven their critics wrong, and the big three want more, a lot more. And the man responsible for bringing them in? Coach Doc Rivers should be credited for having the vision to pull this feat off.

During the start of this season, expectations have been high. Now that they have tasted how it felt to win a championship the next item in their agenda is to successfully defend their title. They started impressively, having accumulated a record of 8-2 during their first 10 games of the season with their last loss coming at the hands of the Denver Nuggets. Then they went on a franchise record 19 game winning streak which ended during Christmas Day when Bryant and the Lakers finally playing well to gain a great basketball result. Boston still owned the best win-loss record in the league with 27-3.

That suddenly changed as the next game, they were beaten by a struggling Golden State Warriors team. It was the first time that Boston suffered back-to-back defeats in the season. It didn't end there though. The team suddenly found themselves unable to get a win as they suffered defeats from low ranked teams like the New York Knicks and Charlotte Bobcats, aside from the losses against possible title contenders like the Portland Trailblazers, Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers. Now their record is at 31-9 through 40 NBA games.

I cannot believe the misfortune that the team is into lately. Gone is the stingy Boston defense that limits its opponents ability to score. Gone is the Celtic pride that Garnett used to have when the team had its winning streak of 19 games. They seem to be like an average team playing an average game. And I do hope that Rivers can solve the mystery and fast. The season is now on its middle part, when teams grind out wins and team standings are starting to shape up in order to determine which team shall go to the playoffs. And if the Celtics really want to defend their crown and win the title, they better show it on the basketball court day in, day out and not just by plain lip service.

Follow the latest NBA livescore at ScoresPro.com.

3 Mistakes Basketball Players Make and How You Can Avoid Them

As a personal trainer and sports performance coach here in Singapore, basketball athletes basketball a large portion of my clients. But basketball is a sport where there are long standing traditions that hurt athletes from performing their best.

Mistake number one is a lack of strength training. There are some coaches that think physical preparation is limited to playing the game, doing practice drills and going for some long distance runs. But strength training under the care of a knowledgeable personal trainer or sports performance specialist will boost a players speed, strength, power, agility and resistance to injury. There is no validity to the old wives tale about bigger muscles hurting shooting technique. As long as the athletes keep practicing their shooting while getting stronger their bodies will adapt.

Mistake number two is a lack of a proper warm up. Usually I see teams warm up by doing some jogging followed by some static stretching (Hold different positions for 30-60 seconds each). This is not a good way to warm up for training or games. It actually results in turning off your brain when you actually want to get it ready for peak performance. A good stretching program will include movements that are likely to be used in the game, as well as activation exercises to wake up muscles that are going to be used.

The third mistake is using too many wraps and guards especially where there is nothing wrong with you just for "insurance". Guards may be of use when recovering from an injury but they force joints to be stiffer than they should be. This lack of movement will be compensated for in other joints causing problems. For example, ankle guards and tapes can cause problems with the knee because it now has to take over for the movement that the ankle lacks.

Coach Jonathan Wong, is a sought after Singapore personal trainer and performance expert who has helped hundreds of clients in Singapore from regular folk to national level athletes achieve their fitness, fat loss and sports performance goals basketball of starting age, fitness level or experience.

He Is also a fitness author and a member of Singapore Men's Health Advisory Panel. Visit his website for a free 1500 page e-book, blog, newsletter and constant updates. http://www.coachjon.com

Mind Power and Your Subconscious

Your subconscious mind is that portion of your mind that exists beneath the level of conscious awareness. It is very much like an information storehouse that holds all your memories, attitudes, emotions, beliefs, and habits. This information, which exerts a powerful influence on your life, is available to your conscious mind, but is not usually part of your conscious awareness.

The subconscious also controls most of your bodily reactions and metabolism. Breathing, blinking, digestion, walking, emotions, etc. are functions that are carried out subconsciously. We don't have to think about blinking in a sandstorm anymore than we have to remember to shiver when it is cold. Similarly, if you had a traumatic experience involving water, it is possible that each time you are near water your subconscious would replay this experience like an internal recording. This triggers your body, emotions, and metabolism to respond the way it did during the real danger. This is a simplified explanation of how people develop fears and phobias.

To recognize how your subconscious directs your daily life, consider how easy it is for you to walk, play a favorite sport or instrument, or drive a car. Once you learn to do these things, you do them automatically. The information is stored in your subconscious mind and your conscious mind draws on it as the need arises.

Your Source of Reality

You have probably heard the expression, "You are what you think." However, this premise does not merely refer to what you know you think, but also to what you don't know you think. It is your inner thoughts and beliefs which determine how you experience your world. The subconscious mind is actually the force that is in control of all aspects of your life-probably far more than you realize. Whether you are rich or poor, happy or sad, bored or excited, loved or unloved, and all be traced to your inner or subconscious belief system This important principle is the foundation of all the materials and methods you will encounter in my audio programs. In other words, you are aware of many of your beliefs-such as: it is right to be honest and fair, and it is wrong to steal from or hurt others. Yet, you may be unaware that deep inside your subconscious is the belief that you do not deserve financial success or to have lasting, loving relationships. And you wonder why you don't have the income you want or your relationships are not as fulfilling as they could be. Each person grows up with some ideas about him or herself that are negative, inaccurate, or outdated. Over the years, these self-limiting ideas persist (stored mostly in the subconscious) and continue to create more negative self-beliefs and experiences. This downward spiral can be stopped by replacing false, outdated ideas with positive beliefs, thoughts and attitudes.

Step-by-Step Elimination of Negative Beliefs

Many people wonder why their subconscious accepts and retains self-defeating, negative beliefs in the first place. The subconscious is peculiar in this way. It accepts information without question and proceeds to direct a person's life accordingly.

For your entire life you have been listening to and following the scripts embedded in your subconscious mind by parents, friends, relatives, educational systems, and others. Those thought habits, attitudes, and inner beliefs form the strengths and shackles that you live with. These subconscious limitations are what have been preventing you from enjoying complete success, happiness and personal fulfillment, and they will continue limiting you for the rest of your life unless you take positive steps to change them.

For example, if you were repeatedly told as a child, "You are slow. You'll never amount to much," your impressionable subconscious probably accepted these ideas without question or logical considerations. Chances are, it then went one step further, creating self-talk statements such as, "I want to be a success, but I am slow and stupid. I can't even think about doing much with my life. No one would want me. Why even bother to try?" This is how self-defeating beliefs are established. And, because they are deeply rooted in your subconscious, they remain until you replace them.

Once a positive suggestion has been accepted by your subconscious mind through repetition, the way is paved for more successful and positive ideas to be accepted. In this way you can gradually create a whole new self-belief system and a foundation for a high degree of happiness, fulfillment and success.

Guided Relaxation: The Gateway to Your Inner Mind

Deep relaxation is one of the most valuable skills you will acquire while listening to our audio programs. Stress and tensions dissolve while at the same time your mind becomes crystal clear and alert. Natural, healthful relaxation is a valuable self-development tool that you will continue to enjoy for years to come.

Medical research has shown that developing the ability to relax deeply can prevent or relieve stress-induced illness. In addition, relaxation enables you to quickly get to the source of subconscious limitations that are impeding your personal development. When your body and mind become relaxed, free of worry, strain, and tension, you are able to eliminate negative basketball patterns and establish positive ones.

When you are deeply relaxed, the subconscious is most open to change. Learning to relax is very important because lasting change can only be accomplished by harnessing the power of your subconscious mind. All you need is a few undisturbed minutes, a private location, a comfortable spot to rest, and one of our Guided Relaxation/Visualization/Meditation audio programs.

Receiving the Most From Relaxation Sessions

Guided Relaxation and Visualization sessions are intended to be used in a quiet environment. Select a place where you are free from distractions and will not be disturbed. Position yourself either sitting comfortably or reclining with your arms and legs uncrossed. Be assured that the natural relaxed state you are guide into while listening to our audio programs does not require you to go unconscious or surrender your control. Your mind will remain aware and clear, throughout the sessions.

Also, be assured that should you need to attend to any situation that arises while you are listening to the tapes, you will easily be able to do so simply by opening your eyes and getting up. If you are in a deeply relaxed stat, you may wish to rub your neck, arms, and legs, stretch out and say, "Fully alert!" You are always in control. The narrations on the tapes are merely guides to help you relax physically and bring about a clear, natural, and aware mental state. Relaxation sessions are not intended to be used while driving, operating machinery or while you are involved in any other activity.

What Does Relaxation Feel Like?

The relaxation process involves carefully guided, systematic release of muscular tightness and tension. You'll notice your respiration becomes calm and regular, your heart rate slows and worrisome thoughts gradually disappear. How can you tell if you are sufficiently relaxed to benefit from the relaxation sessions? Some people needlessly worry about this. Be assured hat as long as you are following the guided instructions and feel relaxed, you will receive the intended benefits from the sessions.

Eliminating Distractions

When you first start doing the relaxation sessions, you may notice various thought racing around your head. Although these random thoughts may appear to intensify when you become physically relaxed, you are actually just becoming more aware of them. It is natural for your mind to have many thought. However, your mind will be quieted and drawn to the information presented by the voice guiding you. This will become easier for you as you continue using the audio programs over the weeks and months.

Most people develop good concentration as a by-product of listening to the guided instructions, visualizations, and affirmations. While you are listening to the tapes, realize that your mind can only concentrate on one thought at a time, and it is up to you which though that is. If you notice you have drifted off into random thoughts, gently bring your attention back to the voice in the program. With experience, distractions will occur less and less. If you experience a spinning or swaying sensation while you are deeply relaxed and find it distracting, simply tell yourself firmly, "Stop. Stabilize," and focus your full attention on the words in the program. This will normally alleviate the problem. Tightness in the forehead area or having a headache during or immediately following a relaxation session is rare and generally temporary. These discomforts may be due to tension, anxiety, or trying too hard to concentrate. Such distractions may be eliminated by temporarily shortening the time you spend in relaxation and allowing yourself to gradually become accustomed to longer sessions. Itching or tingling are passing sensations which may appear to intensify simply because you are more likely to notice them when you are relaxed. These sensations generally decrease as you gain experience in relaxation. With regular listening you'll find you are able to more quickly and easily achieve pleasant and natural states of deep relaxation.

Staying Awake and Aware

If you encounter a problem staying awake during a guided relaxation session:

1. Listen when you are feeling fresh, when you are feeling at your best, when you re wide awake and energetic. If you feel sleepy, take a short nap before beginning the relaxation session.
2. Maintain a sitting posture in a comfortable chair or on a pillow on the floor, keeping your back straight.
3. Take a brisk, ten-minute walk to invigorate yourself just prior to listening to the audio program.
4. Leave the lights on and have the temperature in the room on the cool side.
5. Listen in a room where you never sleep so there is no association of relaxing with falling asleep.
6. Keep your eyes open while you listen to the audio program a number of times gradually close them for portions of the programs and eventually close them for the entire session.
7. Maintain a slightly relaxed state and if you tend to fall asleep, fast forward past the relaxation instructions and participate in the visualization and affirmation portions while you are alert.
8. Should you feel like dozing off, increase your breathing rate, open your eyes, and say to yourself, "I am mentally alert and awake."

Reaching Your Subconscious Mind

The key to successfully accessing your subconscious is full participation in the relaxation sessions. Why? Because normally, the conscious mind screens what goes into the subconscious, but deep relaxation temporarily sets aside that screen. It is a simple and natural process that you can learn to use to great advantage. How can you be sure you have reached your subconscious mind? This comes with experience.

Because there aren't any booming voices or flashing lights, it may seem subtle and elusive at first. Some of the more common ways your subconscious often communicates include: having a mental conversation with yourself; becoming aware of a strong feeling; receiving a visual image; perceiving an impression or an internal knowing; or having an illuminating idea or insight.

Simply relax and you will discover how your subconscious is most likely to respond. Occasionally, you may find that although you are deeply relaxed and receptive, your subconscious is not giving immediate responses. You might ask a question and nothing comes. Don't worry. Sometimes the subconscious works this way. Just remain relaxed and complete the session. Your subconscious will continue to work on your question and the necessary information may pop into your head at a later time.

Visualization: The Key to Achieving What you Want in Life

Every accomplishment, every work of art, every worthwhile creation was once a clear image in someone's mind. As Albert Einstein remarked, "Imagination is greater than knowledge." Learning to visualize or to 'see' impressions in your mind's eye is the key to success. Great artists, inventors, and business people throughout history have used this secret. They have cultivated the ability to visualize and consequently succeeded in accomplishing incredible feats. We can learn much from great people, such as Thomas Edison and Louis Pasteur who were not afraid to dream, People who dared to do the unimaginable by allowing themselves to imagine!

The term "visualization" simply refers to forming impressions, concepts, feelings or pictures in your mind. Visualization is incredibly powerful because the vivid images held in your mind eventually take root in your life. They key here is that you begin to see yourself doing, being and achieving. It is not about seeing yourself trying to succeed, but about seeing yourself actually succeeding!

You can experience visualization right now. Close your eyes and in your mind's eye see yourself arriving home. Unlock your front door, enter and set your things down. Now sit in your favorite chair. See yourself relaxing into your chair and smiling. You are very content. How do you feel? If you have a vivid imagination, chances are you were able to see or sense yourself in that chair. You may even have experienced a moment of relaxation. This is an example of how powerful visualization can be.

The power of visualization was illustrated in an experiment at the University of Chicago. Students, all with about the same ability in basketball, were divided into three groups and asked to shoot foul shots. The percentage of baskets each team made were recorded. The first group was then told not to practice or play basketball for thirty days. The second group was told to practice shooting foul shots every day for one hour for thirty days. And, the third group was told not to go on a basketball courts al all for thirty days, but to practice shooting foul shots in their mind for an hour each day.

At the end of thirty days, there were some fascinating results. As you would expect, Group 1, who had not practiced at all, had made no improvement over their original percentage of baskets made. Group 2, the group that had actually practiced, had improved their performance by 24%. Group 3, who had not set foot on a basketball court, who had only imagined shooting baskets in their mind, had improved their performance by a phenomenal 23%, almost the same improvement as the group who had actually played basketball! The reason? The subconscious doesn't distinguish between an actual event and a vividly imagined one.

It is medically and scientifically recognized that visualized images actually bring about psychological and physiological changes to virtually the same degree as direct experience. This principle is now being use in numerous medical applications as well as to accelerate learning, to improve athletic performance to promote successful career achievement, etc.

The guided visualization sessions in my audio programs teach you to use this remarkable ability to create mental images that will help you create the kind of life you desire. The visualization sessions on the tapes involve ad 3-step process:

1. You are gently guided to achieve a comfortable state of physical relaxation and mental clarity.

2. Step-by-step suggestions lead you to create positive images to replace negative beliefs, emotions, and memories. 3. Specific guided instructions help you to reprogram your mind with positive, constructive beliefs and images of how you want to be and what you want to experience.

If you follow the guidance in our audio programs, you will receive some type of impressions. But remember, visualizations emerge in various and sometimes surprising or subtle ways. The variation is because people's minds work differently. Some people are more visual thinkers and can generate detailed mental pictures, colors, and images in their minds. They can actually close their eyes and see vivid mental "movies." Others are conceptual thinkers, who don't see "movies" but receive conceptual impression, ideas, feelings, inner knowing or realizations. Some people receive a combination of images and impressions, falling somewhere between the two extremes. Others even perceive spoken words and information, hearing with their "inner" ear.

Avoid expectations about how your imagination works, and don't worry if at first the images are vague. Fixed expectations or worries about whether you're doing it right tend to block impressions. The idea is to be completely open and receptive to whatever images or concepts come to your inner mind. Whatever you perceive can produce results because those impressions are being absorbed directly by your subconscious mind. Impressing your subconscious mind with positive intent is the object of the relaxed visualization sessions.

When you first begin your program, you may find yourself arguing with some of the positive statements saying, "This is jut not me," or "I could never be this way." Don't worry if this happens. It is simply your mind responding to the old subconscious programming it has been repeating for so many years. As time goes on, the negative self-talk will grow less and less, and the positive changes in your life will grow greater and greater. Practice makes perfect! Your ability to visualize or imagine will improve remarkably the more you practice! It makes no difference how your impressions appear. Just as each of us imagines in a different way, each person has basketball or her unique way of visualizing. There is no need to judge or compare yourself to anyone else. Over the weeks and months, as you use these programs, you will find that you become quite skilled at these techniques.

Remember

1. Relax and enjoy using your imagination. It's fun!
2. Whatever impressions come are uniquely yours. Cherish them! (Some people keep a notebook to write or draw the images they perceive. Often this keeps motivation high and direction clear.)
3. Listen again and again! You will find that you never tire of the treasures you discover on these 'inner' journeys! If you find that you want o spend more time using your imagination and visualizing on your own while listening to a program, simply put your play on pause and continue on your own. Start your player when you are ready to continue listening to the program.
4. While you are experiencing the guided sessions, you will often have amazing insights and ideas you want to remember. However, as vivid as these experiences are, they tend to fade from your memory much like a dream fades after you wake up. To clearly retain what you have learned, you might find it helpful to keep a notebook nearby so you can immediately record the details of your experiences in the guided sessions. Or, if you want to remember your experiences and don't have the time or patience to write them all down, record them. Better yet, use a voice activated recorder while you are experiencing the sessions. Speaking aloud will not necessarily bring you out of your relaxed state, rather it can help you to focus and retain the details.

Positive Affirmations for Personal Power

Affirmations are positive, present tense statements which address a specific area in your life that you wish to change. Positive affirmations are one of the most powerful tools you can use to cause changes in your subconscious. The innovative way we have combined them in our audio programs makes them especially effective. Positive statements or affirmations are incorporated into most of the guided relaxation sessions, as well as our audible and subliminal affirmation programs. Words express the thoughts, attitudes and beliefs that are held by your subconscious mind. Impressing positive affirmations into your subconscious mind will gradually bring about the changes you desire. To help you get the most out of your positive affirmations:

1. Repeat each affirmation out loud or in your mind as you listen. Repetition is extremely valuable because your subconscious mind will accept what it is told over and over again. This becomes the basis for specific qualities, behavior or experience you want to manifest in your life.
2. Express strong emotion as you repeat the affirmations. Your subconscious mind is more receptive to emotionally charged statements.
3. Involve many senses. Visualize and imagine affirmations. Say them as you listen. Write them down and read them to yourself whenever the opportunity arises throughout the day.
4. Focus your efforts. It is best to choose two or three areas of your life to work on and concentrate on these first.

Jonathan Parker is the founder and director of Quantum Quests International. For over 30 years he has been a counselor, workshop facilitator and author of one of the largest self-development libraries in the world. It is his voice you will hear on all the programs we offer.

Jonathan has university degrees in Education, Chemistry, Theology, Counseling Psychology, and Human Behavior & Development, but his life-long relentless quest for unraveling the many questions and mysteries of life also led him on a broad journey into comparative religion, quantum physics, clinical psychology, Huna, Theosophy, botany, astronomy, Sufism, nutrition, music, hypnosis, psychic phenomena, NLP, energy medicine, meditation, and metaphysics. http://www.QuantumQuests.com