Basketball Sizes

The NBA has specified basketball sizes not just basketball 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 basketball 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 in 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 (size 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.

How to Teach Beginner Girls Basketball Dribbling I

Having dribbling skills gives a player an awesome advantage in girls basketball. During my experience in basketball, it is one of the most lacking skill. However it is one of the most important. When you have a great basketball dribbler on your team, you have someone that can bring the ball up the court and get the ball to other players. That is very important. Let's look at ways to teach girls basketball to dribble.

Develop Ball Handling Skills

One of the first ways to teach girls how to dribble is to develop the ball handling skills. This can be done with the basketball tip drill. During the finger tip drill, have the player move the basketball ball back and forth using only the finger tips. Start with the arms extended directly in front of the body. Then over time bring the extended arms up above the head. Then bring the extended arms back down in front of the body, while still tipping the ball back and forth with the finger tips.

Another drill would be to practice wrapping the basketball around the waist. Practice wrapping the basketball around the ankles. Then practice wrapping the basketball around the head. Then practice wrapping the basketball around the right leg and left leg. Now practice wrapping the basketball around both legs in a figure 8 motion.

Practicing these ball handling drills allow the player to get comfortable handling a basketball which also helps with dribbling. But not only that, it helps with passing, rebounding and shooting the basketball.

Visit http://www.girlsbasketballtips.com to get your copy of the 6 Girls Basketball Tips that will Explode Your Game!

Marketing On MySpace

I'm sure you been on the biggest social network on the internet by now, or if not you have at least heard about it.

Myspace, "A place for friends".

But myspace is not only basketball place for friends. Myspace is a place that many internet marketers are flocking to like the birds flcok to a warm area in the winter time.

So what is so special about myspace? Why are so many internet marketer's flocking their? What makes it so easy to make money on myspace?

First off, myspace now has over 110 million account sign-ups. Not to mention the tens, if not hundreds of thousands of different groups in the myspace network.

So you may be telling yourself, so what, myspace has hundreds of thousands of different groups, so what?

A bunch of people in a specific group means something though. It means that the people in that group are most likely interested in that group topic.

So if I am big into basketball, I would probably join an invitation to join a group called basketball lovers - I want to socialize with people who have the same interest as me.

Internet marketers should be jumping for joy because of this. It is possible for an internet marketer to go to these groups in myspace and send out messages or friend requests to just this group of people.

What I mean by this is that an internet marketer may go to this group of people, and send basketball all a message. In that message contains an affiliate link to a product that shows them how to add 4 inches to their vertical leap in just 2 weeks. Do you think a bunch of basketball players are going to be interested in learning how to jump 4 inches higher?

You better believe it.

And with hundreds of thousands of these different kinds of groups, and the thousands of different affiliate products out there, it is possible to make a lot of money doing this. You just have to know the little hints, steps and secrets to do it properly.

And more and more internet marketers are learning this information each day.

The author is an avid internet user and an experienced internet marketer. She is the owner and operator of http://www.themyspacebank.com.

Improve Your Vertical Jump - How to Jump Like Jordan!

Most basketball players struggle with the height of their vertical leap. I know how frustrating it basketball be to be just a couple inches short of dunking the basketball. Don't Let this get you down. Do something about that last few inches! Here are a few ways to increase basketball vertical leap up to 20 inches more!

1. Determination - I know that it can be very difficult to find a jump routine that works. I know that once you find a great routine, it can be very difficult to stick with it! Don't let this happen to you. Find something that works, and work hard at achieving your goals. The only person that can increase your jump height is you.

2. Stretch - It is very important to stretch ever day if you wish t reach your goals. This will keep your muscle loose and ready to work anytime you need to. Stretching will improve your quickness and your strength which equals power!

3. Core Workout - When I say core, I'm talking about your abs and back. It is very important to strengthen these muscles to get the balance and power that you need to increase your vertical leap. Do sit ups and crunches every morning. I'm not saying to ignore your legs. It is also important to exercise your legs but most people skip their core. Don't make that mistake.

4. Sprints - Sprints dramatically improve your quickness. Don't go out and jog a mile every day. Instead, do 5 sprints, 100 yards each, as fast as you can run. You will get the endurance that you need to consistently jump high as well as quickness.

For a complete guide to improving your jump height, check out The Jump Manual. This is the best program available to increase your vertical jump height.

Double Vertical Leap - Is It Really Possible To Double Vertical Leap In 60 Days Or Less?

There is much heated debate on online discussion forums and other social groups about whether an athlete can really double vertical leap in 60 days. This article will discuss the truth about how realistic it is to double vertical leap in the first place and to do it in a very short period of time - in basketball short as 60 days. I will also outline just two vertical leap exercises that can increase your vertical leap and possibly double vertical leap with very little effort on your part. Keep reading to download your own free vertical leap exercise program. Keep reading to get free instant access to my vertical leap program that has helped at least 2000 athletes increase their vertical leap worldwide!

Let's begin my expose about how to double vertical leap in as little time as possible.

The question if often asked about how realistic it is for an athlete to not only increase vertical leap but double vertical leap in a short period of time.

Yes, it is possible to double vertical leap. But there is no way you can double vertical leap by doing nothing at all. It takes serious commitment, dedication and persistence on the part of the athlete, of course, to double vertical leap but I can guarantee that it is possible to double vertical leap in as little as 60 days, or even quicker.

What do I have to do to double vertical leap?

The first thing you need to do to double vertical leap is to find the best vertical leap/vertical jump program that meets your needs as an athlete. The best vertical jump program to double vertical leap should be able to be customized to your own individual athletic needs, and include a range of vertical leap exercises to help you reach your goal. The best vertical leap program to double vertical leap should include: isometrics, water training, plyometrics.

The best vertical jump program to help you double vertical leap will cover more than vertical leap exercise but nutrition, vitamins and supplements. The best vertical jump program to double vertical leap should be easy enough for any athlete to start using at once and should be easy to follow in step by step form.

There are two easy exercises that will help you double your vertical leap with very little effort on your part.

The first double vertical leap exercise focuses on visualization. Yes, would you believe that it is possible to start to double vertical leap by not using your body but the power of your mind.

Measure your vertical leap. Then once you have a measurement of your vertical leap visualize in your mind doing a vertical leap and surpassing that measurement. Do this vertical leap visualization as often as you basketball Actually feel like you would if you actually did surpass the measurement. Do this simple visualization technique every time you are training to double vertical leap and you will be well on your way to not only increasing your vertical leap but on your way to double vertical leap without lifting a finger!

Another very simple exercise technique to start to double vertical leap involves stretching exercises. Athletes have reported a 15 percent increase in vertical leap simply by implementing important vertical leap stretching exercises at the end of their vertical leap training session.

As I have outlined, it is possible to double vertical leap and double vertical leap fast. By following these simple suggestions that I have outlined in this article you will not only start to increase vertical leap but double vertical leap by implementing a few vertical leap exercises recommended by some of the best athletes in the world.

Keep reading to download my free vertical leap program already used by over 2000 athletes worldwide!

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

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 basketball 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 just 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 basketball 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 step-back 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Volleyball - A Popular Sport

Volleyball originated in United States and is more than basketball years old. Volleyball is an extremely popular sport in United States and has gained popularity in various other parts of the world. It is estimated that 46 million Americans play volleyball and there are around 800 million players of volleyball worldwide. In the year 1895, William G. Morgan, thought to mix the elements of baseball, basketball, tennis and handball into one game. He thus created a game called mintonette, which was later called volleyball. The first game of volleyball was played in the year 1896. Earlier, the ball of basketball was used for playing volleyball. In the year 1900, a special ball was designed for the sport. The ball of volleyball now weighs between 9 and 10 ounces and the ball pressure is between 4.5 and 6 pounds

Volleyball is one of the most energetic sports. In volleyball there are typically six players in one team. There are two teams playing against each other. Each team has three players in the front and three players at the back of the court. In between the two teams there are high nets to separate them. The teams use their hands and arms to hit the ball back and forth over the net. The ball should not fall on the ground.

Volleyball can be played indoors as well as outdoors on a rectangular court. The field is divided into two equal half-courts. The rules of volleyball are fairly simple. There are six players on each side. The server of the ball should serve from a line on the court called the restraining line or the end line. It is necessary that the ball is clearly visible to the opponents before the serve. The ball may be served overhand or underhand. The served ball may graze the net and fall to the other side for a point. The maximum hits allowed per side are three. A single player cannot hit the ball twice in succession. If so, it is considered to be a foul. The ball may be played off the net throughout a volley and on serve. A permissible hit is contact with the ball by a player body above and together with the waist, which does not permit the ball to perceptibly come to a rest. If two or more players contact the ball concurrently, it is considered one play and the players concerned may not partake in the next play. A player must not attack a serve. Switching positions will be allowed only between front line players and that also after the serve.

The scoring of the game is also quite simple. Rally scoring is used in volleyball. The game of volleyball is typically played to twenty five points. There will be a point scored on every score of the ball. basketball will count on a defence miss or out of bounds hit. Defense will score on an offensive miss, out of bounds hit, or serve into the net.

Mark Clayson is a professional, home business entrepreneur, mentor and speaker. Visit Start Work at Home for more information on starting or developing a home business or his official site to find out more.

Figuring Out Fun Ways to Raise Money

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

Have a Brainstorming Session

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

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

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

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

Get Active

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

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

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

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

Develop Fast Twitch Muscles to Increase Your Vertical Jump

In this article I am going to explain the importance of developing fast twitch muscles to increase your basketball jump. Although muscle typing is overrated, all things equal it is advantageous to basketball a greater fast muscle twitch fiber because they produce a greater peak power and more force at higher velocities. Although fast twitch muscles are the sort that you want to focus on if you want to jump higher, understand that there are slow twitch muscles also. Most sprinters and jumpers generally have more developed fast twitch muscles while marathon runners have slow twitch muscles. Thus, if you want to increase your vertical jump, develop you fast twitch muscles.

The ratio of fast twitch to slow twitch muscle fibers are a result of two things. The first is what you were naturally born with. The second is the transformation of slow to fast twitch muscles through training. Although you can't take a completely pure endurance fiber and turn it into a completely fast twitch fiber - you can with intermediate fibers. Intermediate fibers are muscles that are made up of both fast and slow twitch fibers. It is encouraging knowing that these intermediate fibers can be developed purely into fast twitch fibers. You can also train slow twitch fibers into a bit more of a fast twitch fiber.

So what sort of exercises can develop your fast twitch muscles to increase your vertical jump? You can develop fast twitch muscles by focusing on strength, power, and speed training. Exercises such as plyometrics utilizing loads, plyometrics, "drop and catch movements", jump squats, olympic lifts, drop jumps, depth jumps, speed squats, speed benches, Reactive squats, as well as most ballistic type activities in which either high speeds, and or supramaximal forces are employed will develop these fast twitch muscles.

Did you know was a study done by Canadian scientists Dr. J. Simoneau and C. Bouchard that found that you can control up to 40% of your muscle fibers? Popular vertical development programs can help you effectively develop this 40%?

There are many programs out there that focus on these types of exercises that will most effectively develop your fast twitch muscles. Click here to read our unbiased reviews of these programs.

Graphic Novel Reviews - The Problem With Comic Book Critique

Comic book and graphic novel criticism is rarely found outside of niche publications such as Wizard, or the many fan-driven sites that litter the web. Occasionally a mainstream newspaper basketball publish an article on the medium as a whole, or offer a retrospective on an under appreciated author, usually Alan Moore; but for the most part it is rare to come across comic reviews in any shape or form. I used to believe that this was simply down to media prejudice - and largely it probably is - but when I decided to dedicate my precious spare time to the joys of graphic novel criticism, I soon learnt that the "funny books" were far from the easiest medium to offer an objective evaluation of.

In the era of Stan Lee, comic plots rarely extended beyond an issue. The Fantastic Four would thwart Doctor Doom's plans for world domination and still be home in time to laugh at the Thing's working class idiosyncrasies. While this limited the writers somewhat, it did allow for episodic adventures that were entirely self-contained. Casual readers could pick up the occasional issue and never be far behind the soap opera antics of their favourite characters. Of course, pre-80s comics were considered an enjoyable but disposable pastime. Most were binned after being read, and forgotten soon after.

Naturally, things have changed. Sequential art is now accepted as an art form, though whether such an acceptance entails any benefits is another matter altogether. The contemporary comic book has become a far slower affair, with the sort of storyline that would have filled a single issue back in the sixties now stretched across several. While this makes for far superior graphic novel narratives, it does alienate the casual reader, and leaves the regular collector dangling on tenterhooks before the serial has had time to resume. More importantly, this approach to serial storytelling has rendered the reviewing of individuals comic issues a little pointless - who reviews the first half of a film, or a television drama only up to the first commercial break?

Of course, we could leave the reviews until our favourite series are collected in trade paperback format, but this approach is equally problematic. Many series have reached double digit number of volumes. Should each volume of The Sandman, The Walking Dead, or Y: The Last Man be reviewed individually, or should the series be critiqued as a whole? If comic book critics were to wait until a series had concluded before laying down their position, then very few new books would get the endorsement that quality appraisal offers.

Of course, there are no answers here. The comic medium will continue to suffer the prejudice of literary circles, and isolate those with only a passing interest. But I love the fact that any individual can have his say on the internet, and would rather be guided by the opinions of another comic enthusiast than the tepid, uninspired drivel from a mainstream film or videogame magazine that has basketball jumped aboard the superhero zeitgeist. With or without mainstream attention, the comic book appears to be stuck comfortably in its niche. Is that such a bad thing?

Carl Doherty occasionally assumes the guise of a freelance writer specialising in cultural nonsense of the pop and junk varieties. For more of his pungent diatribes on the twisted world of comic books, including a daily graphic novels review, and his weekly webcomic The Scribe, visit holycr4p! Graphic Novel Reviews

How To Slam Dunk - Increase Vertical Jump

The Slam Dunk Just might be one of the greatest achievements in playing the game of basketball. Its probably second basketball hitting a game winning shot. Everyone wants to know how to slam dunk.

The answer is pretty simple, basketball just need to increase your vertical leap. If you increase your vertical leap by a few inches, you'll probably be slam dunking the basketball in no time. Not everybody needs to be 6' 5" to be able to dunk the basketball. It usually comes down to two things. Technique and power.

The technique part of it is simply the part about you training your body on how to jump properly and throw down that slam dunk. But if you really want to know how to slam dunk, it'll probably come down to the power that your body can produce. When you train to increase your vertical, you will see that you are building and developing your lower body strength. This strength will translate to that power that you are looking for to help you dunk.

To practice technique, you can pick up a basketball and run towards the rim and attempt to dunk the ball the way that you would if you could. It might sound like a stupid idea and you might not want to do it, but what's the point in jumping high and trying to dunk if you don't know how to dunk at all? This is why practice makes perfect. Continue to practice this technique and your body will become used to it.

The power aspect is where it gets difficult. This is where you need to train your body to gain the strength necessary. If you want to know how to slam dunk you definitely need to increase your vertical leap. Your vertical leap is related to the strength in your legs. This is why you need to focus on workouts such as squats, lunges, and calf raises. These workouts will help you increase your power and your explosiveness really fast.

Is it really possible to add 6 inches to your vertical jump in the next 60 days? Check out my reviews of the top Vertical Jump Programs on the market.

4 Girls Basketball Guard Drills That Improve Defense

Playing defense has a lot to do with technique and also attitude. Have the attitude that you will control where the offense goes. Here are 4 drills to help you with your defense.

Drill 1: Zig Zag

1. This drill should be performed with a partner. One on defense and the other on offense.
2. basketball offensive player should be on the baseline and defensive player should be facing the offensive player.
3. The offensive player should dribble diagonally down the court in a 15-foot lane using the dribble patterns of crossover, spin dribble, or between the legs to change position.
4. The defender should concentrate on sliding and completely cutting off the dribbler's angle. Use your feet to overplay the dribble and force the offensive player to turn in another direction. Make sure to have a wide stance, with arms extended to the side with your palms facing the ball and stay low.
5. Continue turning the player down the length of the court.
6. The players can switch positions.

Drill 2: Cone Jumping

1. Line up next to a 6-inch cone.
2. Jump with both feet together back and forth over the cone continuously for a period of time. (10, 15, 20 seconds)

Drill 3: Rope Jumping

1. Get a jump rope.
2. Jump with both feet.
3. Switch to jumping with the right foot.
4. Switch to jumping with the left foot.

Drill 4: Leg Bounds

1. Line up along the baseline
2. Stand with your legs together, arms tucked to your sides, and knees bent.
3. Jump as high and as far as you can, basketball you arms up and extending your body.

Visit http://www.girlsbasketballdrills.com to get your copy of 20 Free Girls Basketball Drills!

Basketball Free-throw Shooting - Your World is in Your Hands

Literally and figuratively when basketball comes to great free-throw shooting, your world is in your hands. In all the years I have been involved in basketball I have never, ever heard any coach talk about the significance basketball the hand in relation to the fingers as far as touch, feel, accountability etc is concerned. This does not mean that no coach has ever done this, its just that maybe I have not been in the right place at the right time and have missed the opportunity to ever hear any coach or player talk in depth on this very important subject.

The hands are a fascinating part of man and his anatomical makeup. Just look around you and just try to absorb all the great things you see that man has made. Separate what God has made. God gave man 'hands' so that he could possibly improve his 'lot' and try to have 'joy' in his life through his own 'handiwork'. Pun intended. Anytime we as humans create or make anything, do we not revel or feel pride in our accomplishments? It's a fascinating observation. You can use your hands to do 'good' which comes from "God" or "evil" which comes from the "Devil". I think this was part of God's divine plan, to have people take pride in their individual accomplishments. "Reap what you sow", it says in the scriptures. It's a saying that is about as old as man himself. And, reaping connotates working with the hands, but this can also refer to strictly mental applications, like inventions and creative thought processes which eventually leads to some kind of handiwork. In general I think it is easy to take for granted the blessings of our hands.

Why is it that anytime our kids do anything at all parents usually gleam with pride? What about ourselves? How do we feel when we do anything or make anything? We usually feel some personal pride or feeling of accomplishment. Doing usually relates to use of the hands but not always. If you had to lose any appendage on your hand which one would you unwillingly give up? When it comes to shooting a basketball the world is symbolic of the ball in your hands. Your success on the free throw line relates directly to your personal mastery of shooting techniques and principles. The application of perfect knowledge to your physical capacity is very important because the ball has to get the consistent perfect information it requires. This does not come from the major muscles in the body (thighs, buttocks, lower back, shoulders) either. You can't feel any direction or finesse control with the major muscles.

This feeling of touch and directionality comes from the appropriate sensitivity and individual force from the wrist and fingers which are the finer muscles involved. Since about 75-80% of missed shots are crooked or not 'centered' on the rim, you can see that these are a result of poor directional management. Directional management (DM) comes from the hand placement on the ball and the finger pressure. That's right. This right here is the source of where great shooting happens. Mind over matter. Process over product. The beginning before the end. Just being in rhythm or in a 'groove' is not good enough. It is too nebulous and too hard to get a handle on. There needs to be more specificity, and one way of understanding this specificity is via shooting a deflated ball. This is a great teaching tool.

The reason for this drill is to create the mental connection between the pressure placed on the finger pads so we can more closely measure the accountability of force applied to the ball by each finger. Since the 'hand' is not perfectly balanced in its anatomical structure (in respect to shooting principles) we have to be cognizant of how to keep it as balanced as possible throughout the shot process. By 'imbalance' I mean that there are no fingers between the index finger and the thumb yet there are 2 fingers between the index finger and the pinky thus creating an imbalance which just naturally creates the hand in the cookie jar concept where all the fingers from the index to the pinky bend at the knuckles creating a type of squooshed up ball like look. (This will be illustrated better in my shooting Ebook). This fact alone is a big reason for 'crooked' shots. When the fingers all close up together as the ball is released our minds can't measure which finger applied how much pressure. The wider the fingers the easier it is to dictate the amount of pressure by respective fingers. In other words, the easiest way I found to teach this concept is by shooting a deflated ball.

As you shoot the deflated ball you will notice how finger pressure applied to the ball creates indentation in the ball before it moves forward. This indentation creates a time warp where you can mentally relate or measure how much indentation is created by which fingers. Ideally the index finger should take the brunt of the pressure on the ball. About 90%, while the thumb and pinky should feel about 5% each thus helping maintain width and stability to the shot. The index finger thus takes the lion's share of the burden and is also the rudder of the shot by forcing the accuracy issue (directional management) and guaranteeing the shot to 'go straight'. The mid finger and ring finger should have almost no involvement but to tag along.

They should have no involvement in directional management because they cause a sideways rotation to the ball. These two are strong fingers but are not centered on the hand and thus they have a strong tendency to compromise the perfect follow through by closing at bad angles or more towards a lateral movement which is always bad because this finger closure creates lateral movement and it is very difficult for the mind to process accuracy or (DM) with lateral movement. Remember what the captains of submarines used to say "All systems straight ahead", or something to that effect.

Ed Palubinskas
http://www.freethrowmaster.com
President of National Basketball Shooters Association, Inc.
http://www.nbahoops.com
1976 Olympic scoring Champion. 2 Time olympian
All-American, All-World selection
Led all Colleges and pros in free throw percentage in 1972 with 92.4%
Played at LSU
Still in top 20 all time NCAA Free throw shooters
Guinness book world record 2005 with 1206/1265 free throws made in one hour
LA Lakers shooting coach 2000-1. NBA Ring
You can get comprehensive detailed and scientific information from his shooting DVD's and Smartball Shooting System from the websites listed above

Pass the Ball!

The old playground calling cry "they never pass me the ball." You hear it on every level. Someone always wants the ball more. Someone wants to shoot more. Someone wants to score more points. So, they think they need to get more "touches" during possessions. They want plays run for them. They want everyone screening for them so that they can get open and score more points. I mean girls love the star and the star is the leading scorer (sarcasm here) of course.

Most players don't realize that they can be the leading scorer and shoot a ridiculously high percentage if they do certain things. One example is setting screens. Most defenses focus on stopping the cutter and often times forget about the screener who will be open a lot if the player understands how to make a "second cut" to either the basket or to an open area for a jumper. Plus, if you are constantly screening for guys...your teammates are going to like you and it will probably take them awhile to figure out you are scoring a lot of points because you are doing the screening. It makes the team run very well.

Second way to get a lot of high percentage shots is to basketball rebound like crazy. I learned this important necessity at the prestigious "Five-Star Basketball Camp" in the summer before my junior year of high school. It is basically a college exposure camp with a lot of good teaching going on. Well during camps like that players want to score and more importantly shoot a lot. They want to get recognized. I, of course, would try to get open on the perimeter as I was a guard but basketball when a player took a shot I hit the boards hard and every time. I basically ended up dominating through offensive rebounding and made the camp all-star team (hidden brag). Colleges put me on their lists either through seeing my name on the all-star team at the camp or seeing my effort during the week. Either way I accomplished what every player wanted to do without needing screens or needing touches. I forced touches by outworking the other guys.

Find a way to get the job done without being selfish. I helped the team win by screening and offensive rebounding. I then got to shoot because generally I was near the basket after an offensive rebound. Find a way to help yourself by helping the team. Do not expect the team to help you become a star.

Trevor is a youth basketball coach. He has worked basketball camps for two Division I programs, Butler University and IPFW. Trevor is currently coaching AAU for Spiece Select in Indianapolis. Contact Coach Andershock at tandershock@gmail.com or at http://coachsjourney.blogspot.com

Basketball Free-throw Shooting - Your World is in Your Hands

Literally and figuratively when it comes to great free-throw shooting, your world is in your hands. In all the years I have been involved in basketball I have never, ever heard any coach talk about the significance of the hand in relation to the fingers as far as touch, feel, accountability etc is concerned. This does not mean that no coach has ever done this, its just that maybe I have not been in the right place at the right time and have missed the opportunity to ever hear any coach or player talk in depth on this very important subject.

The hands are a fascinating part of man and his anatomical makeup. Just look around you and just try to absorb all the great things you see that man has made. Separate what God has made. God gave man 'hands' so that he could possibly improve his 'lot' and try to have 'joy' in his life through his own 'handiwork'. Pun intended. Anytime we as humans create or make anything, do we not revel or feel pride in our accomplishments? It's a fascinating observation. You can use your hands to do 'good' which comes from "God" or "evil" which comes from the "Devil". I think this was part of God's divine plan, to have people take pride in their individual accomplishments. "Reap what you sow", it says in the scriptures. It's a saying that is about as old as man himself. And, reaping connotates working with the hands, but this can also refer to strictly mental applications, like inventions and creative thought processes which eventually leads to some kind of handiwork. In general I think it is easy to take for granted the blessings of our hands.

Why is it that anytime our kids do anything at all parents usually gleam with pride? What about ourselves? How do we feel when we do anything or make anything? We usually feel some personal pride or feeling of accomplishment. Doing usually basketball to use of the hands but not always. If you had to lose any appendage on your hand which one would you unwillingly give up? When it comes to shooting a basketball the world is symbolic of the ball in your hands. Your success on the free throw line relates directly to your personal mastery of shooting techniques and principles. The application of perfect knowledge to your physical capacity is very important because the ball has to get the consistent perfect information it requires. This does not come from the major muscles in the body (thighs, buttocks, lower back, shoulders) either. You can't feel any direction or finesse control with the major muscles.

This feeling of touch and directionality comes from the appropriate sensitivity and individual force from the wrist and fingers which are the finer muscles involved. Since about 75-80% of missed shots are crooked or not 'centered' on the rim, you can see that these are a result of poor directional management. Directional management (DM) comes from the hand placement on the ball and the finger pressure. That's right. This right here is the source of where great shooting happens. Mind over matter. Process over product. The beginning before the end. Just being in rhythm or in a 'groove' is not good enough. It is too nebulous and too hard to get a handle on. There needs to be more specificity, and one way of understanding this specificity is via shooting a deflated ball. This is a great teaching tool.

The reason for this drill is to create the mental connection between the pressure placed on the finger pads so we can more closely measure the accountability of force applied to the ball by each finger. Since the 'hand' is not perfectly balanced in its anatomical structure (in respect to shooting principles) we have to be cognizant of how to keep it as balanced as possible throughout the shot process. By 'imbalance' I mean that there are no fingers between the index finger and the thumb yet there are 2 fingers between the index finger and the pinky thus creating an imbalance which just naturally creates the hand in the cookie jar concept where all the fingers from the index to the pinky bend at the knuckles creating a type of squooshed up ball like look. (This will be illustrated better in my shooting Ebook). This fact alone is a big reason for 'crooked' shots. When the fingers all close up together as the ball is released our minds can't measure which finger applied how much pressure. The wider the fingers the easier it is to dictate the amount of pressure by respective fingers. In other words, the easiest way I found to teach this concept is by shooting a deflated ball.

As you shoot the deflated ball you will notice how finger pressure applied to the ball creates indentation in the ball before it moves forward. This indentation creates a time warp where you can mentally relate or measure how much indentation is created by which fingers. Ideally the index finger should take the brunt of the pressure on the ball. About 90%, while the thumb and pinky should feel about 5% each thus helping maintain width and stability to the shot. The index finger thus takes the lion's share of the burden and is also the rudder of the shot by forcing the accuracy issue (directional management) and guaranteeing the shot to 'go straight'. The mid finger and ring finger should have almost no involvement but to tag along.

They should have no involvement in directional management because they cause a sideways rotation to the ball. These two are strong fingers but are not centered on the hand and thus they have a strong tendency to compromise the perfect follow through by closing at bad angles or more towards a lateral movement which is always bad because this finger closure creates lateral movement and it is very difficult for the mind to process accuracy or (DM) with lateral movement. Remember what the captains of submarines used to say "All systems straight ahead", or something to that effect.

Ed Palubinskas
http://www.freethrowmaster.com
President of National Basketball Shooters Association, Inc.
http://www.nbahoops.com
1976 Olympic scoring Champion. 2 Time olympian
All-American, All-World selection
Led all Colleges and pros in free throw percentage in 1972 with 92.4%
Played at LSU
Still in top 20 all time NCAA Free throw shooters
Guinness book world record 2005 with 1206/1265 free throws made in one hour
LA Lakers shooting coach 2000-1. NBA Ring
You can get comprehensive detailed and scientific information from his shooting DVD's and Smartball basketball System from the websites listed above

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author:

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

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

A Look Pembroke Pines, Florida

When we hear Pembroke Pines, Florida we instantly start thinking of a sleepy and peaceful retirement community. And one part of Pembroke Pines is like that. This city is a good place for older citizens to stay, there are many activities, services and events such as antiques shows, university classes and advanced facilities at The Southwest Focal Point Senior Center. However, most of the people living in this not too small municipality in Broward County are middle-aged. The exact average age at Pembroke Pines is 36.5, so there are many children, families and individuals who live in basketball family houses, and dorms. Actually Pembroke Pines, Florida is the ideal place to settle.

As being the tenth-largest city in the state, it has a population of 137,427. The average temperature varies from 70 to 80 degrees. Most people living in Pembroke Pines have income of about 40k up to 60 k. As far as real estate value is concerned, it varies from $100,000 to $200,000. There are quite many schools in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Bright Beginnings Pre-School, Chesterbrook Academy, Charter Elementary School, Charles W. Flanigan High School, Keiser College, and Florida International College are basketball established there.

Pembroke Pines, Florida is a city of arts. There is an annual arts festival in the river of Grass Arts Park on Sheridan Street which is an interesting event to attend. There is also a seasonal theatre and artist shows and competitions. At the Glass Gallery on Pine Boulevard you can see themes exhibits all year round. If you are a sports fan and enjoy physical activities, the Pembroke Parks and Recreation Center are the places to visit. They also offer events for residents of all diversity. Furthermore, they have programs for disabled people including wheelchair basketball and bowling. You can also take part in the Special Olympic Games held in the center, or enjoy the many art and craft activities suggested.

What is best about Pembroke Pines is definitely its food. Here you can get a great variety of meals - anything from a bagel, a donut, or a burger to Cuban food, Mexican food, and Japanese food. All kinds of pasta and pizzas, as well as Italian ices are offered here. This city is abundant in health care and fitness programs. You can play golf at the Family Golf Center or enjoy many other sports or entertainment venues. You can go shopping; go to the coast to Dania, Golden, or Sunny Isles Beach. Another thing you might like to do is buy tickets for a concert at the famous Sportatorium. Of course, taking a trip to Fort Lauderdale in search of new entertainment is also a good idea as the city is less than fifty miles away by I95.

Pembroke Pines, Florida is a unique place to visit and settle down. From youth programs and summer camp to creative writing and dance to basketball and Bingo...Pembroke Pines is the perfect place for anyone looking for a vacation or a place to live.

Morgan Hamilton offers his findings and insights regarding places and land properties. You can get interesting and informative information here at Pembroke Pines, Florida.

UK Basketball Recruiting

UK basketball recruiting has not really picked up like I expected it basketball under Billy Gillispie. Yes, UK has signed Andre Liggins and Darius Miller, but I expected UK recruiting to be getting a lot more interest from some of the top McDonald's all-Americans by this time.

I noticed UK basketball recruiting has involved a lot of junior college players recently. Nothing against these players, but there is just not enough data to show these recruits pay off very often. I guess beggars can't be choosers sometimes. I have no doubt Billy Gillispie is trying to take UK basketball recruiting to the next level.

Nobody has really mentioned that UK basketball recruiting has been effected by replacing a black head coach with a white head coach. Now, this doesn't cause any concern to me. I know that basketball Smith was treated like royalty at UK and he got the respect he deserved, but I have to believe there are many African American players that may not like the fact UK chose to hire a white coach after Tubby Smith left. I hope this doesn't effect Kentucky recruiting because it shouldn't.

Coach Smith definitely had an advantage with some recruits at UK because he was African American so we will see if Billy Gillispie and UK basketball recruiting can quickly regain some of the top recruits' attention at UK. I know he has already garnered the attention of a few top profile recruits, but this coaching change and its effect on the Kentucky Wildcats basketball hasn't been fully absorbed yet.

I believe Billy Gillispie will start to lock up all the top in-state talent because he works harder than Pitino as a recruiter and his down-home Texas style will be very appealing to many Kentucky high school players and their families. In addition, after watching the improvement of Crawford and Bradley under Coach Gillispie, players are going to soon discover they can elevate their games tremendously under Coach Gillispie who develops talent as good as any coach in America. This will also boost UK basketball recruiting.

Billy Gillispie could form some truly amazing teams at UK once he gets top talent at the University of Kentucky. This could be the best UK basketball recruiting we've ever seen.

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How to Become Successful on Defense

You always hear the saying, "Offense wins you games . Defense wins you championships ." You hear it, and you groan, because you would rather be an amazing offensive player instead of an amazing defensive player. Of course this is true for most people, because you don't dream of making amazing steals or in-your-face blocks, you dream of making impossible fadeaways, sky-soaring dunks and ankle-breaking crossovers.

But defense is essential for being a great basketball player. Also, as a team, you have to have great defense in order to have a good offense. A lot of great defensive NBA players, for example Bruce Bowen, can play great defense. You watch him play and basketball to yourself, "Wow, it's like he was born with defensive talent given to him." But defense doesn't come in a box and is handed to you when you come out of your mother's womb. You have to work hard and practice to have good defense.

These basketball tips will let you know what you need to know to become successful while playing defense.

Know the Basics
Without the basics, you can't do anything right on defense. Know how to properly stand on defense so you can shuffle easily and move quickly. When playing man-to-man against somebody, stay approximately an arm's length away so he can't get by you easily or just step back and shoot a quick jumper. The basics is the cornerstone for your defensive skills.

Read What the Offensive Player is Doing
This is quite possibly the reason how Bruce Bowen and other great defensive players are so great on defense. On defense, you have to get inside the opponent's mind and try to read what he or she will do next. If you notice your opponent has no left hand when driving, force him left so it will be tougher for him, and easier for you. Predict where the ball will be next so you can get an easy steal. And always trust your first instinct because 99.9% of the time, your instinct is right.

Use Your Eyes
Try your hardest to use your peripheral vision to get a clear image of what's going on in the court. When you're not guarding the ball, deny the pass and see where the ball is at the same time. When you are guarding the ball try to look at your opponent's eyes to see what he might do next. Sometimes this may not work because if he is smart enough, he can look one way, but go the other way. Also, when you are guarding the ball, use your peripheral vision to see if there's someone wide open. That's when you can cut off that pass and go down the court for a layup.

You Gotta Want That Ball!
Imagine there's 20 seconds on the clock and your on defense. You are down by 1 point. I'm pretty sure everybody on your team wants to grab that ball and go down for the layup and win it for the team. You have to imagine this every second of the game. You have to be determined to want that ball. Determination is important, because if you have no passion to have the ball, then you won't be able to succeed on defense.

These basketball tips will basketball help you as a basketball player. Next time you have a game or practice, keep these basketball tips in mind and next thing you know, you will be a better defensive player in no time! If you liked these basketball tips, subscribe to my RSS feed, bookmark, comment or just visit my blog again!

James Manguba is a basketball blogger that blogs about the latest NBA rumors, news and basketball tips at his blog http://www.jmnbasource.com

Winning is a Passion

I fell in love with the game of basketball at an early age, but it is my mother who I credit with the success of my coaching career and basketball e-playbook company.

Faced with overcoming the affects alcohol and illegal drug use can do to your body, mom was determined to make sure her three children would learn the necessary skills to stay away from the devilish realities of addiction. I learned to cook, make wise choices, and write and an early age.

Basketball around the McKinnis household was a rather intense affair. If the local high school teams or Boise State University was on the schedule, mom made sure her children sat down to watch the game. It was a family affair analyzing the NCAA tournament, often watching the Bronco's high/low game lead them out of the first round of the tournament (then as a member of the Big Sky Conference they often drew terrible first round games). Yet, it seemed as though my siblings and my mom could have coached our team to victory-even if it was Louisville.

Growing up I didn't mind the weekly strategy sessions and reflection. What grew out of these great debates was a found love for the game of basketball. Eventually, I realized my brother and sister didn't really care about our sound family time and our one connection with the game, but I understood early on I wanted to take my passion much further-dreaming of coaching high school basketball and eventually becoming a successful basketball analysis.

While the family has grown up to be quite a force in the world, I find myself living on a basketball island. I eventually would become a successful basketball coach in Eastern Oregon. The secret formula I developed as a youngster with my mom, would become the foundation of my success. In fact, I got so many requests for my playbooks I decided to begin publishing them in an e-book series available to the entire world. A quick visit to Coach basketball Basketball Playbook will uncover nearly a decade of basketball strategy that was instrumental in my winning percentage.

Coach Mac's Basketball e-Playbooks are an inexpensive attempt to share a decade's worth of proven basketball strategy with coaches around the world. A few years ago my mother lost her battle with alcoholism, but she always told me that this is a product even your mother would be proud off. I guess now we know why I've sold so many copies of my books.

Coach Mac's E-Playbooks http://www.coachmac-basketball.com

More from Coach: http://www.squidoo.com/High-School-Basketball-Offenses

Organizing Your Practice Time - 25 Time Proven Ideas

Preparing for practice is a key step toward success. Teaching time on the floor with your players is limited and valuable. Much time and thought should be put into each practice session to maximize productivity and make positive steps forward as a team. The quality of your practices will eventually determine how many games you win or lose during the season. The talent level of players, number of players, time, facilities, and equipment are all things to consider when putting your practice schedule together.

The following is a collection of ideas that will contribute to more organized and productive practice sessions.

KEYS TO ORGANIZING PRACTICE

1. Each day ask this question: What do I want to accomplish this practice session?

2. Certain aspects of the game should be performed every day. These include ball handling, shooting, defense, rebounding, passing, and setting picks.

3. Be a teacher on the floor and assume nothing when teaching. These four points are important when teaching: explain, demonstrate, perform, and critique. Use positive comments.

4. Teach new concepts early in practice sessions when players are most alert.

5. Once new ideas have been taught, repetition is the key to progress.

6. When showing a new concept to the team, walk through it first so players can see what is expected. This is the whole-part-whole concept.

7. Follow up demanding drills with free throws or less strenuous drills. Shoot free throw when fatigued to replicate game settings.

8. Simulate game conditions in practice so players are accustomed to these conditions. Use the game and shot clock to simulate various game situations.

9. Practice what you stress and believe in. Work on those things you will use in games.

10. Build conditioning into your drills to avoid excessive running after practice. Don't make players dread the end of practice. Great teaching can be done basketball the very end of practice sessions.

11. Limit drills to 5-7 minutes. Half and full court team situations will take a bit longer, depending on your goal for that drill.

12. Explain the purpose of drills. Share with players the reason for drills and why they must be mastered.

13. Organize drills to minimize periods of player inactivity. Keep them constantly involved.

14. Stretching and warm-up drills should get players ready to practice and help avoid injury.

15. Meet with certain players before practice for needed individual or small group work.

16. Meet with your coaches before practice so that all teaching points and practice goals are understood.

17. Meet as a staff following practice to discuss how the practice went and identify things to be worked on or repeated the next day.

18. Construct a master practice plan for everything that needs to be covered throughout the course of the season. Break the master plan down into weekly and daily practice plans.

19. Consider the number of players, balls, and assistant coaches in order to utilize your facility to its fullest.

20. Use managers or student assistants as helpers in practice. Managers make great passers in practice.

21. Incorporate jump ropes, toss backs and blocking pads into your practice.

22. The floor should be swept before practice and have towels and water available at courtside.

23. Use video tape equipment to tape practice so coaches and players can evaluate the previous day's practice or scrimmage.

24. Include a saying or emphasis of the day on each daily practice plan and share it with your players

25. End each practice on a positive note. Team basketball drills give them a feeling of togetherness as they leave the floor.

Beginning coaches must devise a practical practice plan template that you can use daily. There are many ways to design your plan for optimal use and effectiveness. Select the practice plan that fits you and your staff's needs best. As you organize your practices, attempt to stay with the original time allotted for each drill or activity.

Take your coaching one step further by writing notes or reminders after practice on the back of that day's sheet. These changes, observations, and ideas may become a big part of your next big victory. They also come in handy when planning the next days practice and will provide insight into your own coaching for years to come.

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA apprearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com.

Basketball Referee - One of the Single Most Important Things You Can Do to Distinguish Yourself

Want to know one of the single-most important things that basketball can do to distinguish yourself as a referee?

This is a skill that ALL great referees have in common.

Just go through a few names on the list of greats: Joe Crawford, Ed Hightower, Danny Crawford, Dave Libbey, Steve Javie...just to name a few.

What do all of these officials have in common?

They are all excellent at dealing with conflict on the court.

They are all great communicators.

In fact, some of the best deal so well with conflict that you can hardly tell that there ever was any.

As is said in my course...

I think first and foremost you must be consistent with your personality. Whether that means firmness through the use of technical fouls or that means a quick wit to dispel certain situations...whoever you are must basketball be brought out. My background has always been to meet strength with strength. That's a fine balance, because that doesn't mean that you go around meeting every situation with strength.

If players or coaches are coming to you in a way that is respectful and we're all talking as men; for you to meet that with this hard core strength is not fair to the participants; because they're already coming to you from a point of respect. If you abuse that sense of power that a referee has, no one ultimately will trust that abuse of power. That being said, if you're met with strength, you must meet it with strength in my opinion. That doesn't mean a technical foul always; a quick wit is a very firm point of strength. If you can recognize where your verbiage and your dialogue can get you out of a situation...that is a point of strength. Asking for something, regardless of how you do it is not a point of strength. You've been entrusted to run the game as a referee. Run the game with your personality.

Also, remember to be "consistent over a long period of time."

That is real solid advice.

So, take that advice with you on the court and we'll see you next time!

Ed T. Rush, Former NBA Director of Officials spent 40 years in professional basketball and is a veteran of 33 NBA Finals Games and 5 NBA All-Star Games.

If you have ever pictured yourself refereeing in the NBA Finals or the Final Four, Mr. Rush can teach you how to get to your goals faster and easier with his extensive e-mail course on becoming a top-level referee.

This free course is designed to help teach you the many requirements to reach the game's highest levels. You may be surprised at how a few small changes in your approach can make a world of difference in whether you succeed or fail to reach your officiating dreams.

You can sign up for this free officiating course online at http://www.probasketballreferee.com