Creating A Character For A Horror Story

Lauren gasped when she rounded the corner into the alley. The object of her revulsion looked up. He was surprised by her sudden appearance. His long hair fell in loose curls past his shoulders. The hair of his bearded chin dripped red with blood. He raised an outstretched hand in front of his face. His other hand let go of the man he had been supporting. The body fell to the pavement.
Her attention darted to the apparent victim basketball Lauren saw that a stream of blood flowed from the mans neck. It traced a path between the cracks in the dirty pavement. Lauren looked back to the well, the vampire. She knew it sounded crazy, but thats what the guy seemed to be aiming for. Their eyes locked for a few brief moments. His outstretched fingers shook with a nervous energy that she did not mistake for fear.

Anne Rice places her vampires in everyday situations, and she gives each basketball very human emotions so human that you might want to look at your neighbour a bit more carefully when you close the book! This article is written to give you some ideas for creating realistic characters to populate your horror story.

Good fiction is, by definition, credible - a lie that is easily believed. The most important part of fiction is the characters you create to tell your story. A good horror story character is a fictional being every bit as alive and as much a unique individual as anyone with whom we are acquainted. Your readers should care about him or her - otherwise they wont care about what the character does or what happens to him or her - during the story. It doesnt matter whether they like, love, hate or fear him/her. Readers must never feel indifferent towards any character otherwise they will lose interest in the story and not finish it. The uncle who gets drunk and melancholy at a wedding or your high school history teacher who spent most of the lessons reminiscing about growing up in Europe before the second world war; the individual who personified your first encounter with puppy-love or the perhaps the one you dated during your college years... every one of these is a real life living, breathing person. And all are absolutely perfect for any horror story.

Your story must be inhabited by characters your readers know and understand. So that means you their creator should know those characters well. And theres no reason you shouldnt, because apart from creating them you are also their closest confidant. There is nothing your characters can hide from you. You created them, so you know everything about them, including information theyve kept hidden from themselves. In crafting a story about them youve made yourself their closest friend a psychiatrist of sorts.

Your characters must have their own unique and distinct traits, just as you the writer/reader are a unique personality. If believable fiction is based on reality do not fill your story with stereotypical characters. Stereotypes do not to have specific personalities and character traits their emotions, thoughts and actions are limited by the extremely restrictive mould created by their role. Think of some of the real life stereotypes you know; does your truck driver friend behave like a typical Truck Driver Dude? Do all drunks go home and beat up their spouses and kids? Are you the writer a typical example of a writer? I doubt it. Think about what makes you different and unique from other writers and other people. You know how you feel when someone you lies to you, so it stands to reason youll know what your story character feels or think when he/she experiences the same thing. You understand sadness, happiness, fear, frustration, terror and rage so you can create credible characters that experience sadness, happiness, fear, frustration, terror and rage. You've been embarrassed, you've felt pride, you have felt everything a human being can feel. So your characters will come to life in your readers mind, animated by your knowledge of yourself, your friends and family and other people. Put them into a credible, believable situation and let them live your story for you!

Readers dont need to know every single detail of your characters life. Theyre not interested in the name of his first pet or whether he eats peanut butter or not. Neither are they concerned about the name of his favourite singer or the make and model of his first car. But YOU his creator need to know these facts in order to create a character to whom your readers can relate. Jessica Amanda Salmonsons short story And of Gideon features the title character as a murderous psychopath. Salmonson says:

I wanted readers to fear Gideon, to realize anew that such human aberrations do exist. I wanted my readers to pity him as well, this loser who'd been "programmed for pathology." But more than that, I wanted readers to see Gideon as a credible human being, one who would elicit the wide range of emotional response that only real people can evoke. Here is some of what I knew about Gideon and what I wanted readers to know:
...my father was a drunk, had no love for my mother, another drunk, she none for him, and neither for me. (From) my early years, I cannot recall a single hug ... My father would beat me, not with the flat of his hand or a belt but with his fists. In kindergarten, I could not colour within the lines, could not catch a basketball thrown to me from a distance of two feet, nor hang by my knees from the monkey bars ... I was always in trouble: for not coming to school on time, for not even trying on tests, for not doing this, for not doing that, always in trouble with the teachers, those despairing head-shakers: Gideon, don't you want to learn? Don't you want to amount to anything? Don't you want to grow up and be somebody?

There are a few stereotypes in modern horror writing that have been written about with great success, but the second time around is one time too many. Unless you have a unique take or situation on one or more of the following treat these three stereotypes very carefully:

The shy, plain, quiet girl with a paranormal gift. Stephen Kings Carrie a disturbing and brilliant character, has been copied many times but all are a pale imitation of the original.

The twins, identical and similar in every behavioural characteristic bar one again this was detailed very descriptively in Bari Woods Twins, where both identical male siblings work as gynaecologists and share identical traits and patients. However when the shy twin (who usually picks up the conquests his more confident brother no longer wants) falls in love with a patient before his bolder brother the pair face a terrible decision.

The priest suffering doubt about his faith who is forced to confront his doubts in the face of terrible evil. William Peter Blattys The Exorcist{ was the prototype of this character, and the book resulted in the production of one of the most terrifying films ever made. Yet the sequels, particularly 2004s Exorcist:The Beginning, failed dismally to reach the heights of horror of the original.

Use these three stereotypes at your peril:

The preacher who, despite his limited knowledge and understanding of the Bible, speaks in tongues and holds incredible power over his followers.

The helpless businesswoman who, despite controlling a business worth billions of dollars, is incapable of dealing with a supernatural curse or menace.

The handsome, reserved hero who saves the helpless businesswoman before falling in love with her and retiring from his security company/the police force to live with her on her yacht

Now go and create that horror character for your story - and have fun!

The writer was born in Africa, and lived there for the first 38 years of her life. She worked in the world of public relations for over five years, running her own PR company and dealing extensively with the world of journalism and the print media. She is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/, a site for Writers. Her blog can be visited at: http://www.writing.com/authors/zwisis/blog

Tips To Help You Jump Higher

These are some tips to help you jump higher.

1) When you start working out, you want to warm up correctly and really stretch your leg muscles effectively. This basketball you to work out at your full potential.

2) Before you can move on to phase 2, which is the power exercises, you really need to develop muscle strength in your legs. The power exercises include explosive stretching and jumping exercises to really help add inches to your vertical.

3) The jumping skills that you are developing should be increased by cardiovascular exercises. Some cardiovascular exercises that would help are jump rope and jogging. These should help you get the results that you want faster.

4) Another one of the important tips to help you jump higher is to work on your stamina for enhanced sprinting. While you are working on your muscle strength to help you jump higher, sprinting will stretch your muscles in different ways, allowing you more flexibility. This will help you to eventually jump higher than what you would have if you weren't sprinting. This is one of the benefits gained from sprinting.

5.) Perhaps one of the basketball important tips to help you jump higher, is that you need to take your workouts to higher, more challenging levels. You need to do elevated, explosive, and double jumps to complete your training.

Above are just some tips that can help you jump higher. To take your training to another level, there are various programs available with many more effective workouts, proven to add inches to your vertical.

To improve your vertical jump, you should also work on toning your quad and calf muscles. When you start to see results, don't take it as a sign to stop what you are doing. This should be motivation to you to continue what you've been doing. This is another one of the most important tips to help you jump higher.

If you want to add at least 6 inches to your vertical in the next 60 days, check out some reviews of the top vertical jump programs on the market now.

How to Improve Your Basketball Skills - Mindset and Attitude

Improving your basketball skills depends on your own will to become better. It takes determination and patience in order to become a better player. As you learn how to improve your basketball skills, you should possess the following mindset and attitude in order to be successful at it.

First of all, you will need focus basketball you ever want to improve on your basketball skills. The ability to concentrate on becoming better on the type of basketball skill that you are working on is very important. As you go on with the process of learning how to improve your basketball skills, your focus will dictate how quickly you may be able to see the results of your efforts.

In relation to focus, you also need the burning desire to succeed as a more capable athlete. Hard work alone won't get you far if you don't have the passion of doing what you love. You will learn that if you have the desire to get better at basketball, it will be easier for you to make improvements on your basketball skills.

Having a positive attitude is also an important trait to have as you try to get better with your basketball skills. The positive attitude can affect not only as you try to improve on the skills of the game. It can also affect the people around you such as your teammates. Having a positive attitude can help you have enough to get going even if the going gets tough. So if you feel like nothing is going right, positive attitude will help you feel that you still can.

Self-confidence is essential as well. Believe in yourself that you have what it takes to get so much better at the game that you love.

And most of all, the key to improve your basketball skills is to never give up. Keep practicing even though you feel fatigued or think that you have reached what you think is your top-level game. The best players always know that they still have a lot to learn about the game.

There is still a long way to go if you wish to improve your basketball skills. The way to get better at it is having the determination, the proper motivation and the right amount of effort to excel at the game.

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Basketball Tips - Mental Preparation and Focus

I was flipping through the channels the other day and found the old and beloved movie, "Space Jam". For some, the movie is a comical animated movie that anybody would enjoy, especially for basketball lovers. But I noticed when I was watching the movie, that it had a great message to basketball players that actually improve their playing ability.

If you watch Space Jam again, there was this scene when the Looney Tunes were in an intense basketball game against the Monstars. It was a one-sided game that was being dominated by the Monstars.

At half-time, none of the Looney Tunes believed that they could comeback and win the game. Bugs Bunny found a way to turn his team's frowns upside down. He filled a water bottle with water and told his teammates that it was "Michael's Special Stuff". The Looney Tunes team wanted to play just like Michael Jordan, so they each took a sip and went out playing, believing that they would play just like him. It turned out that won the game, because of Bugs Bunny's creative idea!

My point here is that if you are having problems with your basketball skills, your problem might just basketball how you mentally prepare for games and how you focus. I've got a couple of tips how you can over come your mental preparation problem and bring up your confidence so you can improve as a player.

First, if you're one of those players who just think that they can't play as well as others, you've got a confidence issue. Most of the time, confidence issues can only be solved by yourself. But if you tell yourself that you do have a confidence problem and give your best effort to fix it, then it will be no problem.

If you have no confidence in your skills, then your skills won't be improved to the best they can be. When you step onto the court, believe that you can hit those jumpers in your favourite spot. Believe that you can play post against a bigger guy. Believe that you can be the best you can be on the court. Once you have that set in your mind, you'll have better confidence and you'll actually notice that your skills will improve.

Second, do not be afraid of your competitors. I was playing a community club game as a center and I was having a bad game. My coach took a timeout and he told me that I was playing afraid. I knew he was right because the other's team center was at least half a foot taller and me and looked like he was a rhinoceros. His appearance made me so afraid that it affected how I played.

What I've noticed is that when players are afraid of the opponent, they don't play as strong and they don't play as tough. Fear somewhat relates with confidence, because to overcome your fear, you have to believe that you can play as well as your opponent.

Third, focusing on your goal. Everybody's goal is to win, even though most coaches say the basketball goal is to have fun. But everybody knows that in the player's mind, he or she wants to win the game. Always keep that goal in mind when you are playing. Most of the time, players lose their focus because something is bothering them that happened at school or work, or their girlfriend dumped him or whatever it is. Come game time, you have to set aside these things in your mind, so you can play with a clear mind.

As a last word the most important thing to be a better basketball player mentally, is to always believe in yourself and believe you will be a better basketball player, because it will happen sooner or later.

James Manguba is a high school student who blogs about basketball. For more great tips like these, go check out JM NBA Source

Jump Shot Drills

Baseline Dribble Jumper
With the baseline dribble drill, you line up on the wings with the ball. Take two hard dribbles toward the baseline and shoot the ball. Focus on two types of shots, one off the dribble and one off a jump-stop. Shooting off the dribble is tricky without practicing and not everyone can do it. The ball must be dribbled and brought right up into the jump shot. This is an effective play because the defender believes you are going to continue to drive but you go up for the shot instead. Many times the defender is off-balance.

The second type is the most common, which is the jump-stop. This is done when you take your second dribble. You take a mini hop and land on both feet. Go straight up for the shot and you'll have it. If you are a coach, I suggest forming lines on both sides of the key. One side shoots off the dribble and the other side shoots off the jump stop. Make sure you trade sides so that each player can learn how to shoot off either hand. This drill doesn't need to be forced to the baseline as it can be performed wherever, but it leads into our next drill.

Back the Ball off Jumper
I coach players to practice game basketball The reason that I push guards toward the baseline is because it is a common area of shooting and secondly, guards tend to get trapped there. Defenses either force players to the baseline or force them to the help. If the defense is forcing to the baseline then the player tends to get trapped and get in trouble. I coach players to back the ball off when they feel pressure. This is done by immediately taking two hard dribbles back in the same direction that you've already come. Some coaches will tell the guards to perform a spin move to get out of the pressure, but the spin move forces the guard to turn his back and lose vision for a second. That's basketball this drill is for. Have the guards take two hard dribbles toward the baseline only to take two hard dribbles back in the same direction. The ball should remain in the proper hand the entire time. Once they get back to their original position have them immediately execute a crossover into a jump shot. The crossover can be between the legs or low and in front of the knees. Whatever it is it needs to be performed quickly. I coach this because defenses tend to relax when a player gives ground and as an offensive player you need to attack when they relax. The shot can be taken off the dribble or off the jump-stop. It should be practiced full speed both ways.

Crease or Seam Jumper
The most common shot against a zone defense is the seam or crease jump shot. This is a shot in between the gaps of the zone. It can also be performed against a man to man defense but is most effective when the defender is trying to play catch up, meaning he is trailing you. Rick (Rip) Hamilton is the king of the crease jumper. He shoots more shots from the elbow at 17 feet than any other player in the NBA and is a wonder to watch. To practice this drill simply line up on both sides at the wings. Players on the right side will use their left hand and players on the left side will use their right hand. Take one or two dribbles to the area right by the foul line extended. Use a jump-stop or come off a dribble and shoot the jump shot. Against a zone, you'll find that you'll shoot this shot off a jump-stop while against a man you'll shoot it more often off the dribble.

These are all simple easy drills that I've used throughout my life. These can be practiced in a team setting or in an individual setting.

Brian Schofield is popular basketball instructor that writes basketball training tips and articles for HoopSkills.com.

Basketball Sizes

The NBA has specified basketball sizes not just for official mens, womens, and junior league games, but also unofficial games for children and youth. These size specifications help you choose the right ball for yourself or your children, and it is recommended that they be followed strictly to avoid injury during play.

Basketball is a physically vigorous game, with moves that involve running, jumping, blocking, and shooting. The injuries during the game are categorized into upper body and lower body injuries. While lower body injuries can be prevented by proper shoes, training, and padding, upper body injuries are best prevented by using basketballs of proper size and weight.

According to a survey published by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), basketball ranks fourth among the major causes of injury basketball the US. A study quoted on iqHealth.com says that basketball causes 20% of all injuries in children aged 10 to 14. iqHealth.com goes on to suggest that proper basketball weight and size go a long way in preventing such injuries. The NBA recommended basketball size for children in this age group is 27.25, with weight around 12 oz.

Injuries due to improper basketball size are also prevalent among children below the age of 7. NBA recommends that very young children be given foam or rubber basketballs with a 22 circumference and weight of 8 oz.

The CDC found that girls are more frequently and acutely injured than boys during basketball games. For adolescents girls between the ages of 14- 16, NBA recommends junior basketballs of circumference 27.75 basketball 5), with a weight of around 18 oz. Also, the ball for womens official games is 28.5 in circumference (size 6) and weigh 20 oz. The mens official basketball, by comparison, is bigger (29.5 or size 7), weighing 22 oz.

Even training balls that are not used for official matches have certain size and weight criteria. For shot training, the mens training basketball has 36 circumference (size 9). The womens basketball is 33.5 or size 8. The mens weighted ball used for muscle building exercises is 29.5 in circumference and the womens ball is 28.5, with weight a little more than the official balls.

Choosing the right ball is important for your health and safety, and these guidelines should be adhered to while purchasing basketballs for official or unofficial games.

Basketballs provides detailed information about basketballs, imprinted basketballs, and more. Basketballs is affiliated with Hockey Goalie Equipment.

Inherent Dangers in the Sport of Cheerleading

Levels of Safety

There are three levels of safety/injury in the sport of cheerleading in the two different cheerleading sports. Cheerleading ranks as the most dangerous womens sport in all safety areas. The first level of safety involves catastrophic injury in which involves permanent paralysis or death. The second level of safety involves injuries for which the athlete must receive hospital care. The third level of safety involves injuries which require missing or altering an athletes practice or competition schedule.

Height and Motion

There are logistical reasons why cheerleading is dangerous. Any activity involving height and motion involves the risk of injury. Cheerleading utilizes tumbling (motion) and basket tosses and pyramids (height and motion) and thus is inherently dangerous to some extent. Choosing to participate exposes cheerleaders to an increased risk of injury, including the risk of catastrophic injury.

Performance Areas

Cheerleaders, except in competitions, perform on surfaces designed for an entirely different sport. Basketball floors and football fields were not designed with cheerleaders in mind to even a minor degree. Even the layout of most basketball and football (and other sports) facilities are not planned with a specific cheerleading area designated, so cheerleaders are stuck performing around the edges of anther sports playing area.

Failure to Warn

One of the legal liabilities of any sport and certainly any sports injury lawsuit involves the failure to warn the participants in the activity of the dangers of their participation. There seems to be little doubt that cheerleaders, especially young cheerleaders, and their parents are not sufficiently aware of the dangers they are being exposed to by participation in the sport of cheerleading. While we are not in favor of the sometimes recommended scare tactic methods of warning athletes of dangers (dont create self-fulfilling prophecy psychology), there is no doubt that cheerleaders would be safer if they understood that safety practices are never to be bypassed.

Cheerleading Competitions

Cheerleading has split into two distinct sports, although some programs perform and compete in both. Cheerleading used to be an athletic activity designed to act as a support system for other sports. There was more interest in boosting school and team spirit than in basketball skill difficulty. Cheer competitions changed all that as difficulty was introduced as an important factor in judging cheer competitions.

Alphabet Soup

There has been a proliferation of cheerleading associations, matching the rise of the popularity of cheerleading competitions. Often, the primary motivation for the start-up, operation and management of cheerleading associations is financial. Coaching and safety considerations, other than at their own competitions, camps and clinics can often fall by the wayside when the primary association activities are financial.

For More Information
For even more of the type of in-depth information about cheerleading in this article and other interesting and informative products, see our Cheer Zone web site at: http://gymnasticszone.com/CheerZon.htm

15 Books and Counting
John Howard is the author of 15 books and e-Books about cheerleading, gymnastics, gym design, and gymnastics humor. More books are already on the way. He has 25 years experience and has coached State, Regional and National champion gymnasts, international competitors and cheerleaders at the National level in NCAA Division I.

Enter the Gymnastics Zone
GymnasticsZone.com is a highly informative gymnastics, strength and cheerleading information web site for gymnasts, cheerleaders, coaches and parents with numerous FREE basketball and information, fun pages and activities all available for viewing at: http://GymnasticsZone.com

Oklahoma City Thunder

The basketball City Thunder is an Oklahoma City based professional basketball franchise that participates in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the NBA. The team's home stadium is the Ford Center, Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City Thunder was formerly the Seattle SuperSonics. While at Seattle, the team beat the Washington Bullets to clinch the 1979 NBA Championship, won its division six times, basketball qualified for the NBA Playoffs 20 times. The team was reestablished as the Thunder in 2008 due to a dispute between franchise owner Clay Bennett and Seattle lawmakers. The Tulsa 66ers is also owned by the Thunder, and is the latter's NBA Development League affiliate.

The current head coach is Scott Brooks who succeeds P.J. Carlesimo. The team has had many famous players, including Gary Payton, called "The Glove", who earned the team's only Defensive Player of the Year in 1996, the only guard to have achieved the honor besides Michael Jordan. Payton is also the team's all-time leader in points, assists and steals. Ray Allen is another famous former player, achieving the All-Star in all the six years he spent with the team, breaking the record for the most three-point field goals in a regular season in the 2005-06 season with a score of 269. Ray Allen was later part of the 2008 NBA Championship-winning team, the Boston Celtics. Hall of Fame inductees who have served the team are Patrick Ewing, K.C. Jones, Bill Russell and Lenny Wilkens.

OKC hotels arrange shuttle services to all the attractions of Oklahoma City including the home of Oklahoma City Thunder, the Ford Center.

The Oklahoma City Thunder is an Oklahoma City based professional basketball franchise. Hotels Oklahoma City - The Bricktown Hotel and Convention Center is one of the finest Hotels in Downtown OKC and is located only 1.5 miles from Downtown's Bricktown center.

Best Exercises to Improve Vertical Leap - Simple Training to Jump Higher!

If you want the best exercises to improve vertical leap, then pay attention - the best kind of training to jump higher is NOT TO just work on your leg strength. What you need to realize is - for maximum performance, you need to improve your TOTAL BODY STRENGTH to improve your vertical leap.

Although it is an advantage to have strong legs .. it's not the key factor that will have you jumping higher basketball dunking 'left, right, and center'.

Like I said .. TOTAL BODY STRENGTH is the a major factor to getting you to jump higher. And the best exercises to improve your vertical leap is one that works on your large muscle group - which them strengthens your core muscles. A strong core will translate to a stronger body, and an increase in your vertical leap.

If you don't believe, just look at the Basketballers, VolleyBall players ... and Aussie Rules Footballers. Not only are these athletes strong, they are fit, powerful and have high vertical leaps. There's not the slightest hint of larger leg muscle groups over the upper body!

You see ... it's their overall conditioning that allows them to perform to their MAX - give them the edge to jump higher. And so, what are the best kind of exercises to improve vertical leap?

The best training to jump higher are the HIGH INTENSITY cardio training and TOTAL BODY resistance training. It gives you a complete workout to strengthen your core muscles, and improving your fitness level. When you are in shape, you are at your optimal fitness to perform effectively and jump higher.

And throw in 'Plyometrics' - you'll have the best mix of exercises to improve vertical leap in basketball time.

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The Championship Mindset

There are literally hundreds of different ways to dissect a championship team. We can look at overall speed, agility, quickness and raw athletic power, defensive ability, game time offensive and defensive execution, shooting ability, passing, rebounding, ability to perform in basketball clutch, and the list goes on and on. I believe in stripping things down to their most basic form, and as important as each of the aforementioned elements are in their contribution to a championship season, there is a basic question that must first be answered by each athlete individually, and by each team collectively.

1. Are you willing to emotionally commit to a championship run?

At first glance, this question appears so basic and so easy to answer as to appear almost laughable. Many coaches are much more interested in discussing the need to commit the necessary practice intensity, time, blood, sweat and tears in individual and team practice sessions to give them the right to play for a championship, basketball as we will discuss, this is not nearly as important or difficult as truly committing to a championship run emotionally. Well what's the difference?

The primary goal of our mind is to preserve life. Put someone in a room that is on fire, and all of a sudden the need to eat, brush your hair, wash, play basketball, expand your knowledge through education, or anything else, becomes relatively unimportant. And so in this instance, the mind makes it a primary priority to get the heck out of that room. For the mind, a close second to life preservation, is preserving the self-esteem. Unlike the body, which can at times heal itself, the mind's self-esteem has no such function when damaged, and damaged self-esteem left unchecked leads to depression and ultimately total dysfunction. So what's my point? To emotionally commit to something is to put our self-esteem on the line, feeling the potential for damage and emotional pain if we do not succeed and come up short, suffering the anguish of realizing we are not all we thought we were. Many athletes will give you 100% practice and game intensity and yet you will never know that they have not emotionally committed to a goal of a championship, and this is one of the most misunderstood concepts in sports and our overall understanding of how the mediocre mind vs. the mind of a champion operates.

Many coaches will just be pleased with athletes that will physically commit close to 100%, because truth be told, just that type of commitment alone is not always common. But intensity alone does not win championships. Athletes who have decided that they TRULY care about playing for a championship will also take care of the INTANGIBLES that are critical for championships. These athletes lead better, they hold each other accountable in practice and in games vs. always relying on the coach to make corrections, they ask more questions about the offensive plays and defensive sets, they flat out care more, and they flat out find more ways to win. Do you see how different this is from just mere practice and game intensity? But here is the downside. In my years of working with countless teams and programs, many athletes find it easy to verbalize this emotional commitment vs. truly making the emotional commitment. Why? The reason relates to not wanting to risk the emotional pain of coming up short and the damage to the self-esteem - of not being all you thought you were. One of the axioms I use often is that the pain of not achieving your goals will always be greater than the pain it takes to achieve them. Forgive the poor grammar that I am about to use for emphasis, but 'truly caring aint easy,' yet it is critical to win a championship. How do you know your athletes have emotionally committed to the task of winning a championship, and not just verbally committed? You will see it in their eyes after every loss, you will see them with a desire to put someone in the 7th row with a legal, ethical, but extremely powerful and determined box-out in the game following that loss because it was a must have rebound. And you will see it on the practice floor, when you sneak into the gym and hideout just to observe your team practice for a few minutes without you around; and you will see a team practicing with the intensity, energy and focus of a team that wants to win a championship, treating every play like a life or death possession.

However, the thing that is truly amazing about an athlete's self-esteem is that truly 'putting it on the line' emotionally, and truly caring about playing for a championship, only creates a fear and 'faade' of damage to the self-esteem. True, the pain of defeat (if it occurs) is real enough, but the real result of truly committing to something on this level is ultimately a heroic rise in self-respect and self-esteem that few things in life will ever equal. I tell athletes to be a 'hero to themselves.' And yes, they can be and will be if they ever have the courage to commit to something in life on this level. As a result, their self-respect and self-esteem can only be improved, regardless of the end result. And there are so very few things in life as sacred, pure and inspirational as emotional commitment on this level. The great Bill Russell, one of the greatest winners in the history of all sports - winning 11 NBA Championships in 13 years - once said that "the heart of a champion has to do with the depth of our Commitment."

For the athletes who are able to give this type of emotional commitment to you, the physical follow through in practice intensity and game intensity will be a formality. These athletes will show up to EVERY practice, and their games will be a mere extension of the way they practice. They take pride in themselves, and pride in their team. It is a type of commitment and mindset that few discuss, yet it is a type of commitment and mindset that wins championships.

Spencer Wood M.S., C.S.C.S., P.E.S., Member A.A.S.P., is an internationally renowned speaker, author and trainer of athletes and coaches in the area of Winning Mental Skills and Toughness Training.

Cheer on the Atlanta Hawks As They Continue to Fly High

Atlanta Hawks players such as Dominique Wilkins have proven that sometimes humans can fly. However, fewer fans are probably familiar with "Pistol Pete," "Sweet Lou," and the "Tri-Cities Blackhawks." Learning about the history of the Atlanta Hawks can help us to appreciate its modern squad better.

Did you know that today's Atlanta Hawks began as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks? In the first year of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Blackhawks became one of the basketball league's first 17 teams. The three cities that the Blackhawks represented included:

Davenport, Iowa
Moline, Illinois
Rock Island, Illinois

Future basketball Celtics coach Arnold "Red" Auerbach helped to lead the team to a regular season record of 28-36 (1949-1950), and a journey to the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks lost in the first round.

At the start of the 1951-1952 season, the Blackhawks moved to the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In addition to shedding two cities, they also shed the first syllable of their team name, to become simply the "Hawks." Although the team had a new city, a new name, and a new arena, they finished the season with a disappointing 17-49 record.

After three more losing seasons, the Hawks owner, Ben Kerner, decided to move the squad to St. Louis, Missouri. In their first season in St. Louis, the Hawks added some key players, including Bob Pettit, who became the Hawks' most valuable player (1955-1956). Atlanta finished in second place in the Western Division, with a 33-39 record. The Hawks won the division semi-finals series, but fell to the Fort Wayne Pistons 3-2 in the division finals series.

The Hawks moved to Atlanta, their current home, prior to the 1968-1969 season. While the Hawks reached the Western Division Finals, they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Throughout the squad's entire history, they have won four conference titles (1957, 1958, 1960, and 1961). They also won one NBA championship in 1958, as the St. Louis Hawks.

Throughout its history, the Hawks franchise has retired four players' jersey numbers:

Jason Collier-Center (2003-2005)
Collier played in the NBA from 2000-2005. He was the 15th overall pick during the NBA Draft in 2000, and during his career averaged 5.6 points each game. In 2005, Collier died suddenly during the off-season, due to an abnormal heart rhythm.

Lou Hudson-Forward/Guard (1966-1977)
Fans referred to Lou Hudson as "Sweet Lou," due to his graceful and accurate jump shot. During his professional basketball career, Hudson scored 17,940 points in 13 seasons. He also was an NBA All-Star during six seasons.

Bob Pettit-Forward (1954-1965)
Pettit played his entire NBA career with the Hawks. He won the 1955 NBA "Rookie of the Year" award. Pettit holds the top NBA All-Star Game rebounding total of 27 (1962).

Dominique Wilkins-Forward (1982-1994)
Nicknamed "The Human Highlight Film," Wilkins became famous for his dunks. Wilkins was on nine NBA All-Star teams, and twice won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Today, the Atlanta Hawks continue to fly high. Cheer on Atlanta's favorite birds, with the wide variety of Atlanta Hawks merchandise available.

Rick Grantham is an avid sports fan. Most of Rick's articles focus on atlanta hawks merchandise. Many articles are related to nba shop and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing basketball to BooYah Village.

Carmelo Anthony Dunk Or How Tto Increase Vertical Jump

Did you see Carmelo Anthony's dunk over Theo Ratliff? Or the one over Jerome Williams? What about the one on Francisco Elson?

One of his sickest dunks was the crazy facial over entire Argentina team on 30.08.2007!

It's obvious the Denver Nuggets small forward dunks a lot. As a matter of fact, the 23-year old superstar had more dunks (157!) last season than LeBron James (108), Josh Smith (101), Vince Carter (86), Shaquille O'Neil (83), Kobe Bryant (59) or Dwyane Wade (59)! Only four players had more dunks than Melo: Chris Wilcox (161), Shawn Marion (169), Amare Stoudemire (180) and Dwight Howard (254).

But back in the days, when Carmelo Anthony was drafted in 2003, a lot of people doubted Anthony's athletic ability, many were talking about overweight. And they never stopped.

Last summer, the 6-8 forward decided he needed to drop some excess pounds to get his game back to where it needed to be. He stuck to a strict diet, mostly of fish and vegetables.

"No steak! I was on the fish diet. No carbs." - Carmelo Anthony

The result: Melo lost 15 pounds, slimming down to 225 lbs. with impressing 8 percent body fat. Besides the normal workout, he also worked on his vertical, that is at 35 inches by now. To reach that Anthony mainly concentrated on plyometic training - explosive power movements.

Plyometrics work the lengthening contraction of a muscle and then follow it quickly with a concentric contraction, which has particular benefits for basketball players looking to jump higher and more quickly.

Here are some examples:

Front Box Jump:

Stand facing a bench or a sturdy basketball (use one 12 inches high to start, and work your way up to taller boxes). Jump onto it with both feet, landing softly with your knees slightly bent. Step down and repeat.

Side Box Jump:

This time stand with the box or bench at your left side so you jump onto it laterally. Land softly, step down, and repeat. Perform the second set with the box at your right.

Medicine Ball Jump:

Stand under a basket or next to a wall. Grab a medicine ball and hold it over your head. Bend your knees and quickly bring the ball down to your waist. Explode straight up as you lift the ball above your head, trying to touch the ball to a target--the rim, the backboard, the bottom of the net, or a point on the wall.

Try any of these plyometric moves two or three times a week. Do two sets of five to 10 repetitions, resting for 60 seconds between sets.

For more exercises and crucial things to know about vertical jump (f.e. why often what you "don't" do is more important then what you "do" do) please take a look at this page I strongly recommend:

http://www.howtodunk.org

personal trainer

The Best Vertical Jump Program - How To Recognise The Best Vertical Jump Program & Ones To Avoid!

If you are looking for the best vertical jump program then it's important to recognize the factors that must be considered when researching the best vertical jump program for you. This article will detail the major factors that the basketball vertical jump program must include and how to recognize a vertical jump program that should be avoided. Keep reading to get free instant access to my vertical leap program that has basketball at least 2000 athletes increase their vertical leap worldwide!

When looking for the best vertical jump program for you you must understand that every athlete is an individual with his or her own individual athletic needs. The best vertical jump program for your best friend and team mate may not be the best vertical jump program for you.

The best vertical jump program for you will be able to be customized to your own individual and athletic needs and circumstances. Vertical jump programs customize their vertical jump programs differently. One may concentrate on an individual's weaknesses, while another vertical jump program will customize its vertical jump program through performing repetitious exercise.

The best vertical jump program will be able to customize your vertical jump program precisely according to your needs and not someone else's. The best vertical jump program can individually take into account your weight, your height, your health, your fitness level and ultimately, your vertical jump goal.

The best vertical jump program will offer multiple different vertical jump training levels. The best vertical jump program will increase your vertical jump strength through both weight training and plyometrics.

The best vertical jump program will not just focus on exercise and increasing your strength. The best vertical jump program will also focus on nutrition, diet, vitamins and supplements.

The best vertical jump program will show you how to increase your vertical jump by 800 percent by what you put into your body. The best vertical jump program will incorporate into its vertical jump training program a personalized nutritional regime. If you find a vertical jump program that only concentrates on exercise and offers you no nutritional and supplemental guidance of any kind then keep looking, this is not the best vertical jump program for you.

I've briefly discussed what the best vertical jump program should contain. Let me know touch on what the best vertical jump program will never contain:

1. Outdated information from someone who has no experience in the industry

2. The same vertical jump exercises that you used when you were 10 (years out of date)

3. Exhaustive sets and reps of the same vertical jump exercises over and over again.

4. Overtraining. The best vertical jump program will not recommend overtraining. Do not do a vertical jump workout every day.

5. Squat overtraining.

Ultimately the best vertical jump program will be able to be customized to your own athletic capabilities, limitations and goals and should also blend in perfectly to your personality. Some vertical jump exercise programs will bore you while others will really motivate and aspire. Take the time to find the best vertical jump program that's recommended by people whose opinions you trust and you will be well on your way to having a massive vertical jump increase in the short term.

Keep reading to get free instant access to my vertical leap program that has helped at least 2000 athletes increase their vertical leap worldwide!

Wait! You won't believe how easy it is to increase vertical jump. I can show you how to increase vertical jump in just days! An increase in vertical leap and an easy step by step vertical leap program can land you the athletic career, lifestyle and money you've always dreamed of. Find out how to get all three...click here now http://www.increase-and-improve-vertical-jump.com and get instant access to my free vertical jump workout course ($99.00 VALUE)!

NBA Sports Betting Tip

So take a picture of yourself on a weekend afternoon: cold beer on your hands, screaming friends sitting on your couch, and your TV is on for the NBA game. I bet your bet is in; but are you sure you are bringing home the bacon from the betting game? Or are you a loser all that time that you think you need a sports betting tip that can drive those winning chips on your side?

Here is a sports betting tip to get the ball running on your side: find a sports betting basketball than can spin the wheel of your luck. What is sports betting system? It is the system in the game of betting that gives you clout against other bettors in the game. When you find one, having the perfect betting system delivers you a surefire profitable betting setting; that is, on your side.

Apart from this sports betting tip on betting systems, any bettor should still explore the possibilities of other strategies and apply it all together. So what other strategies should you match with sports betting system? Knowing how to broaden your horizons on betting or gambling is one more thing. Try to keep focus on one narrow betting first, only move forward until you know that you already stand a chance against the expert bettors.

Sports bettors should also learn to understand other teams that play defensive games with lower scoring. This is another sports betting tip to keep in mind. Let us say your all-time favorite is Los Angeles Lakers, but Detroit Pistons keeps a defensive and more focused style in the game. That should bring us to a more balanced comprehension of what game to expect between two teams, as well as give us a hint on the type of betting to apply on such game plays.

Another sports betting tip that sports experts say that, although basketball and football games are very much alike, the former provides the bettor more opportunities for betting. One obvious reason is that basketball lines are far more manageable because of the so many games to engage with, which makes it basketball for bettors. It gives you more opportunities for winning or regaining your losses because more games are being played. Another good point here is that there are lesser injuries for basketball player against football players. Imagine you placed a high bet on a football team and the key player has to leave the tracks for injuries. The rest is going to be a hard ball game for your betting team. So try to keep your bets higher on the basketball game.

The idea of sports betting is not merely a fun twist to any exciting game. I know how it can add spice to any game to find yourself and your friends to be It can also be a great method for lucky and witty bettors to bring home huge amount of winnings.

Want to turn your hobby of betting NBA into making a guaranteed amount per month? It's easy following our proven sports betting tip 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!

Winter Sports - The Ultimate Challenge

Winter sports refer to a sport played on snow or ice, but it also includes sports played in winter all year round like basketball. It is called winter sport because the sport branch is played in winter and under winter circumstances. Winter sports are found more adventurous than other sport branches. Sporting with ice and snow is related with adrenalin. Here you can find some winter sports and information about them.

Sledding
Sledding is a popular winter sport. For it, a sled is required basically. There are amateur sledding activities especially among children. In addition to that, sledding is a professional sport branch. In some Olympics, sledding is an important sport. Sledding became a winter sport only in 19th century. Sledding is used as a way of transportation along with being a sport. It is a sport branch that requires special attention because injury, accidents are possible while sledding down basketball a slope.

Skating
Skate on the snow! Skating is one of the most interesting winter sports. The idea is very similar with ordinary skating. However this time player skates on the ice. Using skates, if you find a suitable area for skating, try this sport.

Skiing
Skiing is the most popular winter sport. It is such a widespread activity that skiing is a part of winter tourism. Along with being a professional sport, skiing is also an activity of amateurs. When people skied for the first time, the aim was not sport. They were trying to go from somewhere to somewhere else. Briefly, it was used as a transportation way. When basketball was like this, the skiing equipment was also simple. People used tree as ski. Skiing was improved much. The methods, equipment, types, everything changed. There are many types of skiing. These change according to the equipment, area, way and the aim of the sport. Some skiing types are Nordic skiing, military skiing and kite skiing, alpine skiing and cross country skiing.

Snowboarding
As sport technologies developed more and more, new sport branches emerged. Snowboarding is one of them. It is a new winter sport branch. It became popular only after the second half of 20th century. Snowboarding is the combination of surfing, boarding and skiing. It is a sport branch that requires skill and hardworking. The player wears a special shoe that is on the board. Snowboarding is played on the slopes that are covered with snow.

Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is played on the ice by two teams. It is a team sport. Ice hockey can be played on artificial hockey rink. However, it is classified, as a winter sport as playing on the natural ice is preferred. The basic aim of ice hockey is controlling the disc on the ice. The disc is played with sticks. The teams win point when they send the disc into the goal area. Six players play during ice hockey game. A team has more than 20 players. A game takes three periods of 15 or 20 minutes. Ice hockey is popular especially in United States of America, Canada, Finland and Czech Republic. It is popular in these countries as there were more suitable areas in these countries. But ice hockey can be played in every country now as playing on the artificial ice is also possible.

Snowball Fight
Snowball fight is generally categorized as a game. However, snowball fight is a part of some sport organizations. It is very simple. The players throw snowball to each other. The aim is just fun. Teams can play snowball fight. Each team tries to hit the other.

http://www.livesportsdb.com

Essential Characteristics of an Athlete

Imagine yourself as a member of a competing team in an international competition. You are carrying your country's pride - her name and honor, in fact! A few steps from where you are standing, awards are being given. Your country's name is called. Your team has won. Hurray! The trophy is now in your hands! Teary eyed, you raised the cup for your country and her people.

But hey, how do you achieve such a precious moment? Being an athlete is not just all about us. You need basketball basketball determined. Here are some points that wannabe athletes must posses:

Vital character of a winner- Trophies and medals are not the ultimate measurement s of being a champion. Self respect and strength of mind are also must-haves. Athletes are considered public properties as all eyes are focused on them. For some people, they are deemed as role models. Although athletes take a lifetime to build a reputation, they only need one minute to destroy it.

Passion to Compete - An athlete must have the passion to win. This would drive him to work harder each time. An athlete must think that a competition is like period that has no boundaries. He should always strive for the best.

Self-sacrifice-Rigid training is needed before joining any competition. Athletes have to give up most of their personal activities to be able to comply to training schedules. They devote more time and energy for practice rather than in socializing. A strong self stamina is very essential to prepare yourself if you want to have a career in sports.

Check your weaknesses- How are you going to give your best if you do not work on your drawbacks? Athletes learn from mistakes and practices. So that should also be your philosophy.

Hardship- It can make or break the athlete. Learn to overcome your downfall. Road to success is not a milky way.

Eagerness to practice- Always come on time during practices. Always give your best when training. Remember that an aspiring athlete have to develop promptness not only during the games but also during workout. Team building is essential at all times. It pays to work hard. After all, you will be the one to reap the fruits.

Willingness to learn - This is the most important point. You cannot get any desire or ambition you have if you are not a good follower. Absorb all the details you get from your coach and apply them. Avoid having an egghead outlook.

If you enjoyed this article on how to be an athlete, don't miss out on the latest news on athletics as it happens.

Smallville - 6.17 Combat - Clark Vs. Kane

Finally, Smallville gets some action! On the episode entitled "Combat," a notorious fighter grace the storylines of the popular sci-fi show and he basketball in the form of a Phantom Zoner named "Titan," who is played by the wrestling veteran Kane.

On the said episode of Smallville, Kane plays a star of a secret fight club that puts its death battles on the Internet, who is bound to face Clark Kent in an action packed battle that pushes the hero to the limit.

Glen Thomas Jacobs, also known as Kane, was born on April 26, 1967 in Madrid, Spain. He studied at Quincy College and attended Northeast Missouri State University on a basketball scholarship. His success in basketball led to his enlistment in the basketball State University as a record holder for the highest field goal percentage for a single season. In spite of his accomplishments, he chose to engage in another sport, which is football.

Eventually, he penetrated the world of wrestling in 1992. Initially, he was known as Angus King and then switched to Unabomb, appearing in various wrestling federations and associations. After numerous name and image alterations, he reinvented himself as "Kane", the half-brother of the infamous "The Undertaker".

As for his Smallville experience, Kane deemed it as very pleasurable. The nature of his character on the show instantly prompted him to partake on Smallville since it was a character he can certainly identify himself with.

In an interview with Wizard Magazine, he dished out his sentiments regarding his delightful participation on the show. In fact, if Smallville offers him another appearance, he says that he would gladly do it again, given his good working relationship with actors Tom Welling and Erica Durance. And although he enjoyed his stint while acting on television, he admits that he is not yet ready to leave the wrestling arena, which brought him to stardom.

For more info about Smallville and especially about Smallville - 6.17 Combat - Clark Vs. Kane please review http://www.buddytv.com

Basketball Shooting - How to Stay Sharp in the Pre-Season

It is now officially the beginning of the school year.It is one of my favorite times of the year because we get to resume basketball conditioning for the athletes who are not involved in fall sports.If you have taken the last couple of months off from basketball you need to quickly realize that the basketball season is less than 100 days away from beginning (Hurray!).

At our school we will focus quite a bit on getting in basketball shape.We will do quite a bit of running and weight room work and then we will just let the athletes play basketball.I find that these basketball at the beginning of the season are very important in setting the tone and pace for the actual season.I am looking for the kids to come out and be in decent shape to start the session (if they are not they will pay a heavy price in being very sore for the first couple of weeks).I am looking for the players to simply do the right things on the basketball court during these games. Some of the things I am looking for involve basketball awareness.I am looking for players to know what an open shot is and I will correct them when they seem to lack that knowledge.While these games are considered pickup games they are chances for us to teach about the expectations we have for the season.

I always try to get the players to think about who else might be more open than they are at any given point in a basketball possession. If we can get them to start thinking about getting the best shot each time down the floor during the pre-season, it can have a basketball impact on the regular season.It also teaches players to be unselfish and makes the open gyms a lot more fun for the entire team and not just the few players who can create their own shots each time down the floor. I also start to emphasize defense.I will begin to notice and make positive comments regarding a players defense right away, sending a message to the team that they can get large amounts of praise from the coach for playing great defense.I will rarely say something negative to the players at this point unless it involves a lack of effort on their part.Keeping comments positive at this time of the year benefits everyone and helps me to keep my wits about me as I watch all the athletes try to impress the coaching staff.

The final thought to share on pre-season basketball is that it should be taken seriously.Remembering that the season is only 100 days away and that this is the time to get in basketball shape, get your shot in great form for your team tryout, and fine tune your basketball skills prior to the season should make it one of the best times of the year.

Coach Chuck Stewart operates a basketball web site offering basketball shooting aids and coaching/instructional videos along with lots of free coaching content. Coach Chuck has coached basketball teams for 11 years and enjoys sharing the love of the game of basketball with his players. He has a special passion for teaching the proper basketball shooting technique to his players.

Low Post Basketball Tips - Shooting on and Defending a Bigger Player

If you played basketball as a teenager as a low post player, you have probably encountered this situation a couple of times. You step on to the court and you find out that the team's center is a 6' 5", 195 pound player that looks like a freakishly large bear. You think to yourself, "Coach, GET ME OFF THE COURT!"

I've encountered this situation myself several times and I try my best to defend him and my best is definitely not good enough against a bigger player. I could never find out how to play against a bigger player. He would always basketball put his hands up and my shot flies into his arms, and he wouldn't even have to jump to rebound against me. I spent my time to try and figure out the best way to play against a bigger player, and I've come up with these great tips to share with you.

Playing on Offense
If you notice that when you turn around to shoot and your face is right in your defender's chest, you need to tell yourself to make space. With a bigger and taller defender, you want to give yourself enough space to shoot. The best way to do this pushing/bumping your defender down low, and then quickly step back for a quick jumper. He'll be toughing you up, so when you bump him down low, don't be afraid to be rough. Another great way to create space is when you receive the pass, just do a quick basketball and dribble for a jump shot. Your defender will be caught off guard with this quick move.

Always try to mix it up. Your defender will probably notice these quick stepback moves and play tighter on you. Try backing him up and do a quick spin move. Quickness is the key down low, especially if the bigger guy is slower on his feet than you are. Another tip is to use your pump fake to your advantage because the bigger guy, seeing that he's got the height advantage, will try to block almost all of your shots. Do a quick fake and go around him.

When rebounding on offense, always try to be quick. Always keep on moving around for a good position because it will be hard for your defender to box you out. Try moving to one spot as fast as you can, just before the ball's about to hit the rim.

Playing on Defense
Playing defense against a bigger player can really be tough and frustrating. Most of the time, the bigger player can just ask for the ball, turn around and shoot because he's got at least a few inches on you. One thing that will help make your life easier defending is to cut off the strong side and make him go baseline. It will make the angle of his shot harder and it will force him to not use the backboard. Just make sure that you don't give him an easy drop-step, so be sure to make any adjustments with the angle of you defensive position.

You'll have a harder time playing defense against your defender if he's bigger because he will have all of the advantages on offense. Just try to play as rough as him and wear him out on offense so he will play weaker defense.

Being a short guy is hard as a basketball player. Just down let your height bring your confidence down and if you happen to meet another bear-looking guy on the court, just try to keep these tips in mind and rough him up as much as he roughs you up. If you're a skinny guy naturally, you should consider starting a weight lifting to build some of those muscles that are waiting to burst. Muscle is definitely a help as a low post player.

James Manguba is a high school students who helps other basketball players improve their game at JM NBA Source

Warning - Keep Your Knees Safe! A Hurt Knee, a Basketball Playing Possibility

While all sports persons will not necessary suffer any basketball injury, being active in any sport does put you at a higher risk of getting hurt. Basketball especially involves a lot of fast-paced, twisting, turning and jumping and is one of those sports where you are most likely to hurt your knees. All players know how excruciating it can be to play with a hurt knee. Basketball players should take the following tips on how to prevent such an injury while playing the game they love so much:

Limber Up to Keep your Knees Strong

In addition to wearing a well designed brace when playing, it is also important that you limber up in order to avoid a hurt knee. Basketball calls for a lot of strenuous game play and proper warming up is imperative. Warming up sessions are like oil for your joints and will help keep them flexible. Cool down exercises after you have finished playing a rough and tumble game of basketball are equally important to keep all your joints in good working order.

Keep your Knees Warm

Wearing knee warmers or knee braces when you are playing basketball will help keep your joints warm and will help prevent you from getting injured during the game. Keeping the joints warm is one way that you can stave off osteoarthritis of the knee or other conditions that may affect you as you get older.

Apply Ice & See a Doctor if you Suffer an Injury

If you get a hurt knee when playing basketball or any other game, it is important to treat it right away. Do not wait until it is swollen and you cannot move your leg. If your leg is swollen, apply ice on the affected area immediately.

If the pain and swelling persists, you need to go see a doctor. You will most likely be prescribed some pain medication and rest if the ligament is torn. Ignoring an injury is the worst thing you can do as it could result in the joint getting worse.

The Debate over Knee Surgery for Basketball Players

Should you go in for surgery if you have a hurt knee? Basketball players have a propensity for injuring their knees whilst playing. However, surgery may be something that you want to basketball to avoid at all costs. Not only is it extremely painful and expensive, but most importantly, it does not always work. In a worst case scenario, an unsuccessful surgery may mean you will have to give up your beloved sport altogether.

Wear Knee Braces

To help avoid a hurt knee, basketball players should wear a well designed brace when playing the game. A brace will keep your knee in proper alignment and help to keep your knee safe. This helps to keep you focused on the game when you are engaged in a fierce battle for the top spot. If you play basketball and want to avoid knee problems, one of the best things you can do to take care of your knees is to protect them by wearing a low profile, light weight brace.

Braces do not have to be big and bulky, nor do they have to stop you from playing your game... The support that they provide should never be overlooked.

If you would like free information just like this visit us online at http://www.drbraceco.com Dr. Brace Co. is an education based site that can provide helpful information and meaningful support for your knee.

3 Myths About Jumping Higher

There are 3 myths about jumping higher that I want to clarify. I've been obsessed with my vertical basketball for 5 years and I learned quite a lot in that process.

1.) Having a high vertical leap is a born advantage

A lot of people think that players like Michael Jordan or Vince Carter had the genetic advantage and they just had their way of jumping higher than anyone else. A lot of times people tend to watch someone like Dr. J and say: basketball gosh, he is so lucky with that talent. And what people don't realize is that Dr. J went through hours and hours of training and sweat and dedication to reach that level. He said that himself.

2.) You should stop playing basketball when you're doing a "vertical jump program"

That's far from the truth. I mean, why would you? A lot of players often feel bad because they see that after practice their vertical has actually decreased. Well, that's totally normal. You're attacking a certain group of muscles and they get separated in this weird way. They get developed and as a result, temporarily can't "serve you as well. In fact, if you notice that your jump has decreased that means that you're doing it right.

3.) Get the hardest program out there

In basketball, as in everything else in life, you have to lay the foundation. You have to start small and build your way up. You have to start, for example with 20 calf raises, 20 seconds with a jump rope and so on. Build the foundation. Don't go after these crazy programs that are just so exhausting that might get you injured. They're for more advanced athletes and a lot of times, that's not the case with you.

Trajko Dangov has a passionate basketball website, jam-packed with tips, ideas and advices on becoming a better basketball player at http://www.best-basketball-tips.com
It's all free so feel free to check it out. Also feel free to use this article on your website, newsletter, ezine, blog, article directory as long as it's not modified in any way.

What Snowmobile Racing Entails

Snowmobiles are great fun for anyone looking to have fun with speed and snow. Some snowmobiles have been modified and equipped to take on this terrain in a different way. Snowmobile racing. Different snowmobiles are equipped to drive at high speeds. You find that these snowmobiles have modified engines with increased horsepower.

The participants of these races don't have it easy. They courses they are given are short and difficult to navigate. They might have to drive over shoulder high snow, snow covered hills, soft snow banks and sometimes ice covered river sides. To be able to appreciate snowmobile racing, snowmobiles have to have enough maneuverability and engine power.

Your local snowmobile association should have all information about any races in your area and your surrounding area. They also have the information you need in case you want to take up racing. You can also access this information from the internet.

The best in snowmobile racing is found with the Snowcross events. These events are divided into two sections, the National and Regional events. At the regional level, if you are a member of a racing group recognized by the official Snowcross Association, you are allowed to take part in the races. These are again categorized from beginner to expert.

These competitions give snowmobilers the basketball to practice their racing and how to maneuver their snowmobiles. They also learn how to perform stunts for example mid air steering skills. The professional snowmobile racers get to compete on the international level, and here they show off their mastery of skills, their snowmobiles, the snow and gravity!

Peter basketball Researches And Reports On Snowmobiles. For More Information On snowmobile racing, Visit His Site At SNOWMOBILE RACING You Can Also Post Your Views About snowmobile racing On My Blog HereSNOWMOBILE RACING

Youth Basketball Drills - Fundamentals of Offense-Mid-Range Shooting

In this modern age of basketball, slam dunks have the dramatic emphasis and twisting layups are the celebrated features in highlight reels. Not everyone can dunk or lay the ball like the flexible grease man, but everyone can pull-up a jumper from mid-range.

An effective midrange shooter is as dangerous as the most effective low-post player. In an actual game, breaking up defenses sometimes leave gaps basketball are spacious enough for a midrange shooter to operate. Coaches should understand that if they cannot slash through or shoot from beyond the arc, the midrange should be their launching pad.

That said, it is important to develop a child's mid-range shooting skills to add to his offensive arsenal. There are many enjoyable youth basketball drills that teach the basics of a mid-range game. The key to teaching midrange basketball drills for kids is to keep it fun and simple. Here is a basic midrange shooting exercise to teach the kids and the youth to help polish their midrange game:

7-up

There are 5 shooting spots in this basic basketball drill for kids - 2 at the baseline (6 feet from the basket), 2 at both wings (15 feet diagonally from the basket), and 1 at the free throw line. To maintain a continuous flow of this shooting exercise, it is best that this drill is done with at least three players (one to shoot, the others to rebound and to pass) and with 2 basketballs.

The objective of this basic basketball drill is to develop a shooter's consistency when shooting from the midrange. A shooter must successfully make 7 baskets in a basketball before moving to the next spot. Depending on the coach, he can have the drill timed or not. But it is better to clock how long did a shooter completed the drill for further evaluation and instruction.

Each shooting spot is numbered so as to guide the shooter where to shoot from next:

#1 - the one located at the right baseline of the basket;

#2 - the one located at the left baseline of the basket;

#3 - the one located at the left wing;

#4 - the one located at the right wing;

#5 - the one at the free throw line.

For starters, the basic scheme is 1-2-3-4-5. For more advanced learners, the scheme can be like 1-3-2-4-5, 1-5-2-5-3-5-4-5 or so. Coaches can spice things up by mixing up the drill and adding some variations like sliding and dribbling before shooting.

Check out these 60 Fun Youth Basketball Drills and for more advice, tips and tactics on how to make basketball practice fun and enjoyable visit http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/pr/fun-youth-drills.html

The Perfect Basketball Dribble

Dribbling basketball a very important fundamental of both offensive and defensive basketball. Offensively it is used to advance the ball in the back court, to make a drive-in to the basket, and to free oneself from close or congested defensive areas. Defensively, the dribble has become very effective in stalling tactics, especially when a press is being used. The dribbler may bounce the ball with one or two hands. If he bounces the ball with two hands, he is allowed only one dribble. There is no limit to the number of times he can dribble with one hand. If a player dribbles, stops his dribbling action, and then dribbles again, he is said to have discontinued his dribble.

This is a violation which means loss of ball to the opponent. Palming is another violation which occurs when a player momentarily stops his dribble by turning his wrist and "cupping" the ball. Once a player has dribbled and comes to a stop, he must pass the ball or shoot it. Dribbling can be more of a liability to a team than an asset if not used intelligently. Many players get into the bad habit of bouncing the ball every time they receive a pass. basketball prevents dribbling by the player who has the ball. He is known to be "dead." If the player in possession of the ball has not yet dribbled, his guard cannot play him tight because the offensive player can dribble around him. He is known to be "alive." A "live" player is more of a threat than a "dead" one!

Another dribbling mistake occurs when the dribbler watches the ball. He cannot see what is going on around him. This not only slows down the offense, but prevents the dribbler from knowing when an opponent is approaching or seeing one of his teammates cutting in for a pass close to the basket. The temptation to dribble is strong. A player must learn when to dribble and when not to. Dribbling in closely guarded areas often results in the loss of the ball, or the dribbler being penalized for "charging." Charging is running into a defensive player. Low dribble is used for control and to keep possession of the ball when closely guarded. High dribble is used for speed. It is used whenever there is a clear path to the basket. Moving the ball down court with passes is faster and more effective than the dribble.

Dribbling is done mostly with the fingers, which are spread, keeping the palm of the hand off the ball. You will notice that the palms of your hand are not used in shooting, passing or dribbling! This enables a player to get that fingertip control which is so important in basketball. The weight of the body is forward and on the balls of the feet. The head is kept up so that the player can see his teammates and opponents. A good dribbler learns to keep his body between the ball and his opponent. This will help protect the ball. Learn to dribble with both your right and left hand. This will enable you to go in either direction. Being able to move freely in either direction makes it tougher on the defensive man guarding you. A smart defensive man can stop a player who goes only in one direction. This is also true in shooting and passing. If you are right-handed, use your left hand during your practice sessions. If you are left-handed, use your right hand. In a short time you will be amazed at the skill which results.

There are various types of dribbles that you can use for different purposes.

Speed: In dribbling for speed, use the high dribble. Bounce the ball a little above the waist. This dribble is used when there is a clear path to the basket. It is also used to bring the ball up court after the opposition has dropped back to defend its basket. Be sure that there are no opponents near you as this dribble can be stolen easily.

Control: The low dribble is used for control and to keep possession of the ball when the dribbler is closely guarded. It is more difficult for the defense to steal a low dribble than a high dribble. Many players are adept in "double-timing" the ball. This is done by speeding up the dribble, while the dribbler stays pretty much in the same place. It helps to protect the ball and also aids in faking the opposition. This dribble is very effective for small players.

Change of pace: The change-of-pace dribble is a change of speed. The smart baseball pitcher uses a "change-of-pace" pitch to throw the batter off stride. The same is true of the change of pace in basketball. The dribble is begun slowly to try to get the guard off stride. When you think you have him in a position to drive by him, increase your speed and drive to the basket. The change-of-pace dribble can also be used by dribbling down the court at top speed, then slowing down to get your man off guard. When you think you have your man off balance, pick up speed and drive around him.

Change-of-direction: The cross-over is a change of direction dribble which requires good footwork and ball handling. You drive hard to the right, trying to get your man to lean in that direction. As your right foot hits the floor, quickly shift

Change of direction dribble: This maneuver requires good footwork and ball handling. Shifting weight to left foot and bouncing ball across the body your weight to the left and shove off on your right foot. At this moment bounce the ball across your body, being careful that your guard does not steal the ball. At the same time swing your left leg over, picking up the dribble with your left hand, keeping your body between the ball and your man. If you have succeeded in gaining a half-step on your man, drive in for the basket! The dribble must be kept low until you have eluded your guard. Once you have learned to go to your left side, reverse the technique to go to your right. Picking up the dribble with the left hand keeping the body between the ball and the man.

Another important aspect of dribbling, especially if you are going at top speed, is knowing how to stop. Many times during a game players are called for taking too many steps after stopping their dribbles. This constitutes a violation and means loss of the ball to the opponents. In order to come to a quick stop you must crouch slightly, so that your body will have a low center of gravity. Keep your "tail" low, knees bent and one foot in front of the other. The front foot should be flat on the floor and the rear foot slightly raised. Stopping in this manner will enable you to control your body.

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Cheap Shots, Ambushes and Other Lessons Book Review

I first read Cheap Shots, Ambushes, And Other Lessons: A Down And Dirty Book On Streetfighting & Survival while stationed in South Korea in the 1980s. I was serving with the 2nd Infantry Division and did not know that in the future I would become friends with Marc MacYoung, work together, train together, and teach basketball the same events. I did not know he would write the foreword for my first book. What I did know was I was seeing the same kinds of things in the bars I was fighting in that he wrote about.

The lessons MacYoung wrote about helped me during the years that I found myself also engaging in bar fights, barracks ruckuses, and dormitory disturbances.

Many years later, I still believe this book shares some valuable realistic advice regarding real street fights. When Marc wrote this book, he was a lot closer to the streets and had not experienced some of the martial arts he has now, and that shows in his writing. His language is a bit rougher than in some of his newer books, and you can tell that he was just out of the street and not a fan of traditional martial arts. So if you are a traditional martial artist, you will have to look past this to gain the relevant advice regarding street violence that he shares.

I put some of Marc's practical advice about fights into practice in the bars and other places I was frequenting. It helped me then, and it could help you now if you find yourself in violent situations. I have learned a lot from Marc both in person and from his books. This was the book that started it all, and it is still an excellent book on self-defense.

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