Everyone has worked so hard this week. I am so proud to be coaching such great campers!!!
Meredith A. has improved tremendously since the last camp. She understands her role and is a great teammate.
Joeli E. is one of the leaders of our Western Division. You can always count on her to help set the example for our younger campers.
Madeline F. always has a smile on her face. She also can play on the post against the boys with no fear.
Grace G. is fearless and one of the best players her age. She always plays hard and is a strong finisher.
Brett G. continues to be a great sport. He has improved all of his skills and is a winner on and off the court.
David K. is hitting his jumper, and he is playing aggressively. His ball handling skills are improving as well.
Matt D. is a true point guard who has the heart of a lion. He always makes his teammates better.
Julian G. is the fastest camper. He hustles more than anyone and is a great addition to any team.
Rachel G. is learning the game. She is head strong and her great attitude assures her a nice future in whatever she puts her mind to.
Matthew H. has played up for the second straight week and is now a difficult cover for the upcoming Beth Am season. He fears no one!
Rylee H. is competing against strong competition, and she is gaining confidence for the rest of her middle school season.
Samantha J. has learned the triple threat position and has improved her pivoting and shooting stance.
Julia K. is a great teammate, and her battles against some of the boys is helping her develop her confidence.
Evan K. always makes others smile, and he is now focusing on improving his post game.
Taryn L. played her hardest today, and showed no fear playing against the boys. She always has a great attitude.
Tamara L. is learning about many aspects of the game. She has no fear of failure and I am impressed with her attitude.
Alex M. is a great talent who has a great future if he can continue to develop his right hand.
Max M. is battling with the older boys, and he is an excellent shooter.
Bailey N. has continued to improve, and even playing against the boys, she has managed to make some great rebounds and passes.
Scott P. is the Tim Duncan of the crew. He simply dominated the post today.
Bailey P. is a very intelligent player who is following her brother's footsteps. She has been a leader in your Western Division.
Lauren P. is a star, both in her personality, smile, and ability.
Alex P. alwyas keeps her Yankee hat on to remind us where she is from. She has improved in all aspects of her game, especially ball-handling.
Caroline Q. is a great teammate who makes others smile. She now has a good triple threat position.
Baylor R. can name every camper in camp, always makes everyone smile, and her skills are improving everyday.
Jake R. has a great future in the game. He made 2 half-court shots today.
Scott R. has his best game today. He made other players better, recognized when to pass, and when to shoot, and I am proud of him.
Danielle R. is now a much better player than when she began camp two weeks ago. She can handle the ball with more confidence and is a great camper.
Zachary R. has learned how to deal with adversity playing against older competition. he is beginning to love the challenge of our drills.
Samantha R. is improving her ball-handling and did a great job in our relays today.
Blake R. is one of our captains, and is always smiling. He is also a great teammate.
Mia S. is our future star who has no fear. She also has great skills for such a young player.
Trevor S. is a confident player who wants the ball in the clutch. He is learning to challenge himself in drills and that is helping his overall game.
Heather S. has a great attitude. She is always smiling, and did a great job learning our triple threat.
Ally S. is very talented. She is a great teammate, and excelled in our ball-handling relays.
Lauren S. has great leadership qualities. Her triple threat looked great today and she always listens.
A.J. is steady. He can shoot, dribble, pass, play D, and he has an amazing attitude.
Ananda W. is learning to be a dominant post player. I can see her being an all-county player in Miami in the near future.
Federico Z. is our other captain. He has a perfect attitude, and for the second straight week he has improved in all aspects of the game.
Leo R. is as fast as his uncle, Jake the Snake, and I have no doubts that he is a future star.
Scott H. is battling in the morning with the older campers and he had a great attitude today.
Okay Rookies...You have been awesome!!!
Aliya H. has been great in our relays, and she is following her sister's footsteps as a future star.
Makenzie L. has impressed us with her great ball handling at such a young age.
Isabella P. has been a leader among the rookies, and has made many shots in our games.
Jamie S. has managed to learn triple threat, shooting layups, and she is very unselfish.
Rachel S. has improved her shooting, and she is never tired when playing the game.
Milena v. has learned the triple threat position, and her ball handling has improved.
Abigale also has a great attitue. She has learned many new skills at camp. Great job everyone!!!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Courts 1 on 1 Winter Camp Highlights
What a day!!! Everyone worked very hard and really impressed our coaches. More importantly, every camper had a great attitude!
Meredith showed improvement in her triple threat and ball-handling and played well in the afternoon games.
Ethan played great defense and has a perfect attitude. He exemplifies what we are trying to teach at Courts 1 on 1 Sports.
Kelsey also has a perfect attitude. She scored a nice lay-up on a fast break, and she is improving every second.
Annie is playing against older competition and is not afraid. Despite being one of the youngest, she has played very well.
Katie also is playing up against older comp. showing her fearless attitude. She is very strong with the ball in her hands.
Remy has improved tremendously since the last camp. She recently helped lead her Beth-Am team to the finals.
Julien is a very skilled young player. His shooting is lights out and he has great quickness.
Grace is one of the fastest girls with the ball, and along with her great ball-handling skills will continue to be a force.
Brett has become a strong all around player. He is solid on D, rebounds very well, and has a nice corner jump shot.
Lexi is playing against the boys and battling. She has no fear playing with great intensity.
Matthew H. is very consistent. He can shoot, pass, and dribble with the best, and has perfect sportsmanship.
Carly is a fierce competitor. She gives her all, and she has a strong jump shot.
Jarrett has competed against some of the older boys and girls, and he is playing great. He also is becoming a very good shooter.
Steven is an excellent shooter, and he is improving on both defense and ball-handling.
Jordan is a lights-out shooter who is very unselfish. Despite being able to score often, he always makes his teammates better players.
Bailey is an excellent athlete. She plays against the boys with no fear, and she is becoming one of the best rebounders in the camp.
Josh P. is a special player for his age. He combines great shooting, ball-handling, and passing with an unselfish attitude.
Daniel has become a force with the ball. He is very intense and his will to win is tops in the camp.
Logan can score at will, and he is learning how important it is to be a better passer. He also has an amazing collection of uniforms.
David P. is a fighter on the court in the sense that he wants to win as much as anyone. He is now making all his lay-ups and is a great teammate.
Jake R. has shown how great he can be when he makes his teammates better. He can score at will, but has chosen to pass up shots in order to get his teammates the ball.
Scott R. has a Dwayne Wade-like attitude. He always brings his A-game, yet plays with class. He never talks trash despite his great ability.
Danielle R. is improving on her lay-ups. She made some nice outside shots yesterday on our shooting games and is an excellent teammate.
Zachary is learning how to compete against the older kids. He is an unselfish player and he shot the ball very well yesterday.
Mack is a tough competitor playing at the highest level despite an injury to his left hand.
Carter has become much quicker on the court adding a strength to his already powerful post game. His shooting is also improving.
Jacob S. made some great passes yesterday. He is improving his shooting touch and he has a perfect attitude.
Joshua S. is also improving on both passing and shooting, and he is an excellent teammate.
Marlee is battling against the boys. She is fearless and has an uncanny ability to make tough shots no matter who is covering her.
Mia is as skilled as any young player I have seen. She can shoot, pass, and dribble with each hand, a rarity for anyone her age.
Cole is one of the best ball-handlers his age, has great touch with his shooting and is fearless.
Rylee shoots the ball very well, handles the rock with both hands, and also is fearless.
Madeline is on her way to stardom combining her perfect attitude with amazing skill. She also constantly makes other campers smile with her great personality.
Amanda played great in our league games, and she was recognized by other campers for her excellent attitude.
Rudy is constantly battling for his team, and he also was recognized for his unslefishness by other campers.
Cara is on her way to playing varsity basketball in high school. She is improving all of her skills and is another perfect teammate.
Ananda has an opportunity to be one of the best players in Miami combining her great height with great skill and attitude.
Federico made 4 game winning shots in our shooting drills, and is a favorite of everyone at camp.
B. Ratzen hit a game-winning shot yesterday and now understands the importance of having no fear when taking an important shot.
Joeli is a great teammate and in one day improved in all areas of the game.
Spencer caught a pass in traffic yesterday and drained a huge lay-up to seal the victory for his team.
A.J. is steadily improving his quickness, and therefore becoming a difficult guard to defend. He also continues to shoot the lights out!
Nico is one of the best players his age, a great teammate, and deadly shooter.
Rookies of the Year!
Kobe made some magical moves and is a great ball-handler.
Leo has a great attitude and is a future star.
Andy is improving his ball-handling and lay-ups and and made some great passes yesterday.
Scott H. is a powerful player who is on his way to becoming a star.
Andres is a great teammate and despite his young age can shoot the ball very well.
Zachary is has a great attitude and is improving his ball-handling and shooting.
Michael is another future star who loves the game and is very unselfish.
Ben is improving in all areas, and he hit some far shots yesterday despite his young age.
Meredith showed improvement in her triple threat and ball-handling and played well in the afternoon games.
Ethan played great defense and has a perfect attitude. He exemplifies what we are trying to teach at Courts 1 on 1 Sports.
Kelsey also has a perfect attitude. She scored a nice lay-up on a fast break, and she is improving every second.
Annie is playing against older competition and is not afraid. Despite being one of the youngest, she has played very well.
Katie also is playing up against older comp. showing her fearless attitude. She is very strong with the ball in her hands.
Remy has improved tremendously since the last camp. She recently helped lead her Beth-Am team to the finals.
Julien is a very skilled young player. His shooting is lights out and he has great quickness.
Grace is one of the fastest girls with the ball, and along with her great ball-handling skills will continue to be a force.
Brett has become a strong all around player. He is solid on D, rebounds very well, and has a nice corner jump shot.
Lexi is playing against the boys and battling. She has no fear playing with great intensity.
Matthew H. is very consistent. He can shoot, pass, and dribble with the best, and has perfect sportsmanship.
Carly is a fierce competitor. She gives her all, and she has a strong jump shot.
Jarrett has competed against some of the older boys and girls, and he is playing great. He also is becoming a very good shooter.
Steven is an excellent shooter, and he is improving on both defense and ball-handling.
Jordan is a lights-out shooter who is very unselfish. Despite being able to score often, he always makes his teammates better players.
Bailey is an excellent athlete. She plays against the boys with no fear, and she is becoming one of the best rebounders in the camp.
Josh P. is a special player for his age. He combines great shooting, ball-handling, and passing with an unselfish attitude.
Daniel has become a force with the ball. He is very intense and his will to win is tops in the camp.
Logan can score at will, and he is learning how important it is to be a better passer. He also has an amazing collection of uniforms.
David P. is a fighter on the court in the sense that he wants to win as much as anyone. He is now making all his lay-ups and is a great teammate.
Jake R. has shown how great he can be when he makes his teammates better. He can score at will, but has chosen to pass up shots in order to get his teammates the ball.
Scott R. has a Dwayne Wade-like attitude. He always brings his A-game, yet plays with class. He never talks trash despite his great ability.
Danielle R. is improving on her lay-ups. She made some nice outside shots yesterday on our shooting games and is an excellent teammate.
Zachary is learning how to compete against the older kids. He is an unselfish player and he shot the ball very well yesterday.
Mack is a tough competitor playing at the highest level despite an injury to his left hand.
Carter has become much quicker on the court adding a strength to his already powerful post game. His shooting is also improving.
Jacob S. made some great passes yesterday. He is improving his shooting touch and he has a perfect attitude.
Joshua S. is also improving on both passing and shooting, and he is an excellent teammate.
Marlee is battling against the boys. She is fearless and has an uncanny ability to make tough shots no matter who is covering her.
Mia is as skilled as any young player I have seen. She can shoot, pass, and dribble with each hand, a rarity for anyone her age.
Cole is one of the best ball-handlers his age, has great touch with his shooting and is fearless.
Rylee shoots the ball very well, handles the rock with both hands, and also is fearless.
Madeline is on her way to stardom combining her perfect attitude with amazing skill. She also constantly makes other campers smile with her great personality.
Amanda played great in our league games, and she was recognized by other campers for her excellent attitude.
Rudy is constantly battling for his team, and he also was recognized for his unslefishness by other campers.
Cara is on her way to playing varsity basketball in high school. She is improving all of her skills and is another perfect teammate.
Ananda has an opportunity to be one of the best players in Miami combining her great height with great skill and attitude.
Federico made 4 game winning shots in our shooting drills, and is a favorite of everyone at camp.
B. Ratzen hit a game-winning shot yesterday and now understands the importance of having no fear when taking an important shot.
Joeli is a great teammate and in one day improved in all areas of the game.
Spencer caught a pass in traffic yesterday and drained a huge lay-up to seal the victory for his team.
A.J. is steadily improving his quickness, and therefore becoming a difficult guard to defend. He also continues to shoot the lights out!
Nico is one of the best players his age, a great teammate, and deadly shooter.
Rookies of the Year!
Kobe made some magical moves and is a great ball-handler.
Leo has a great attitude and is a future star.
Andy is improving his ball-handling and lay-ups and and made some great passes yesterday.
Scott H. is a powerful player who is on his way to becoming a star.
Andres is a great teammate and despite his young age can shoot the ball very well.
Zachary is has a great attitude and is improving his ball-handling and shooting.
Michael is another future star who loves the game and is very unselfish.
Ben is improving in all areas, and he hit some far shots yesterday despite his young age.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Another Great Story!!!
Buckeyes' benchwarmer one in a trillion
By Jason King, Yahoo! Sports
2 hours, 2 minutes agoBuzz up!PrintMore From Jason King
Budinger keeps it togetherDec 18, 2008
KU's new big man on campusDec 12, 2008
An odd thing happened to Mark Titus during an Ohio State home game earlier this season. The Buckeyes guard grabbed a rebound - and people booed.
The reaction might have been puzzling to a few folks in the stands, but for the religious readers of Titus' popular blog, the good-natured jeers made perfect sense. By snaring the rebound, Titus, a seldom-used reserve, had ruined his chance of achieving a "trillion."
"A trillion," Titus explains, "is when you play one minute but don't record any other stats. So when you look at the box score you see a '1' to the far left followed by a bunch of zeros - just like the number 1,000,000,000,000."ADVERTISEMENT
The scenario provided the inspiration for Titus' website. After two months, Titus' hilarious writings about life at the end of Ohio State's bench have made him one of the most popular players on the Buckeyes' squad - and one of the most well-known walk-ons in the country.
On Wednesday more than 40,000 people clicked on clubtrillion.com, where they could read about Titus' favorite pastime during games (gawking at cheerleaders), his nickname for the trendy, long basketball shorts that hang below the knees (shants) and his crush on ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews (or, as he calls her, "Erin Andrews-Titus").
"Everyone hears about the guy that scores 20 points each night," Titus says, "but no one talks about the guy at the end of the bench. I can tell people about the game from a perspective they haven't heard before. Still, I never thought it would get this kind of attention."
The buzz is only increasing.
When he looked into the stands during Wednesday's game against Jacksonville, Titus saw four people wearing his No. 34 jersey. A reader has offered to make Club Trillion T-shirts and strangers are sending him emails telling him he needs to become a professional blogger after graduation.
"Just the other day," Titus says, "I was standing in line at the cafeteria and someone walked by and said, 'Love the blog. Keep it up,' and then kept going. I was like, 'Uh, what just happened? I didn't even know that person.'"
Most of Titus' blogs are about things that happen away from the court. On Nov. 28 he told an amusing tale about Thanksgiving dinner at coach Thad Matta's house.
"Coach Matta and his wonderful wife ended up cooking for us," he wrote. "And by cooking, I mean getting food catered. And by Coach Matta and his wife, I mean his wife."
Other funny stories involve the per diem money players receive each week for food and the shenanigans that occurred as he was trying to take a pregame nap at a hotel that was under construction. Last week Titus wrote about Ohio State's game against Butler and his former high school teammate, Gordon Hayward.
"Brownsburg [Ind.] High School," he wrote, "was easily the best represented high school in the game, as Gordon and I combined for 25 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Because I didn't even get in the game, Gordon shouldered most of the productivity, but I looked really good with the towel around my neck on the bench. Seriously, I looked REALLY good."
Titus' teammates aren't surprised that readers are drawn to Titus' wit and sarcasm. Since joining the team two years ago, Titus has been the player to use a one-liner to lighten the mood of a tense locker room. Sometimes he'll break out into a funky dance.
Earlier in his career Titus even held a news conference to announce that he'd be returning to school the following season instead of entering the NBA draft.
"I'm just having fun," says Titus, who blogs about three times per week. "If you can't have fun playing basketball then you probably shouldn't be playing.
"At the same time, I take basketball and the development of our team very seriously. I hope that doesn't get lost in the comedy of the blog. It's not like I'm out there screwing around."
Matta certainly doesn't question Titus' commitment. He called Titus "the best shooter on the team."
Titus received interest from a handful of smaller schools after scoring more than 1,000 career points and earning second-team all-state honors - twice - at Brownsburg High. But his goal had always been to attend a bigger school.
After enrolling at Ohio State, Titus joined the basketball team as a student manager - "just to get my basketball fix," he said - but after two weeks, he quit when he grew tired of filling water bottles. Then, just before the start of the 2006-07 season, Matta called Titus and asked him to return.
Not as a manager - but as a player.
Titus had been an AAU teammate of Buckeyes freshmen Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook, so Matta knew he was battled-tested and that having him on the squad would be good for team chemistry. Plus, his shooting ability would force Ohio State's guards to pick up the defensive intensity in practice.
Six of Titus' eight career points have come on 3-point shots. In a recent blog, he even developed a nickname for making a heavily-contested 3-pointer over the outstretched arms of a defender.
"We call it 'dotting' someone," Titus says. "When you shoot, your body is in the shape of an 'i', so the ball - if you get the shot off - is like the dot of the 'i.'"
Titus' blog includes a list of teammates he's dotted in practice. Much to the delight of his fans, he's yet to make a 3-pointer on a real opponent this season, thereby increasing the chances of achieving a trillion.
"If you get a foul or commit a turnover or take a shot, the trillion is ruined," Titus says. "People send me emails saying, 'If you're wide open and the shot clock is running down, what are you going to do? ' "
The answer?
"I guess I'm not totally opposed to shooting the ball," Titus says with a chuckle, "I have eight career points right now. Eventually I'd like to get into double digits, so I'm going to need another basket somewhere down the line."
By Jason King, Yahoo! Sports
2 hours, 2 minutes agoBuzz up!PrintMore From Jason King
Budinger keeps it togetherDec 18, 2008
KU's new big man on campusDec 12, 2008
An odd thing happened to Mark Titus during an Ohio State home game earlier this season. The Buckeyes guard grabbed a rebound - and people booed.
The reaction might have been puzzling to a few folks in the stands, but for the religious readers of Titus' popular blog, the good-natured jeers made perfect sense. By snaring the rebound, Titus, a seldom-used reserve, had ruined his chance of achieving a "trillion."
"A trillion," Titus explains, "is when you play one minute but don't record any other stats. So when you look at the box score you see a '1' to the far left followed by a bunch of zeros - just like the number 1,000,000,000,000."ADVERTISEMENT
The scenario provided the inspiration for Titus' website. After two months, Titus' hilarious writings about life at the end of Ohio State's bench have made him one of the most popular players on the Buckeyes' squad - and one of the most well-known walk-ons in the country.
On Wednesday more than 40,000 people clicked on clubtrillion.com, where they could read about Titus' favorite pastime during games (gawking at cheerleaders), his nickname for the trendy, long basketball shorts that hang below the knees (shants) and his crush on ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews (or, as he calls her, "Erin Andrews-Titus").
"Everyone hears about the guy that scores 20 points each night," Titus says, "but no one talks about the guy at the end of the bench. I can tell people about the game from a perspective they haven't heard before. Still, I never thought it would get this kind of attention."
The buzz is only increasing.
When he looked into the stands during Wednesday's game against Jacksonville, Titus saw four people wearing his No. 34 jersey. A reader has offered to make Club Trillion T-shirts and strangers are sending him emails telling him he needs to become a professional blogger after graduation.
"Just the other day," Titus says, "I was standing in line at the cafeteria and someone walked by and said, 'Love the blog. Keep it up,' and then kept going. I was like, 'Uh, what just happened? I didn't even know that person.'"
Most of Titus' blogs are about things that happen away from the court. On Nov. 28 he told an amusing tale about Thanksgiving dinner at coach Thad Matta's house.
"Coach Matta and his wonderful wife ended up cooking for us," he wrote. "And by cooking, I mean getting food catered. And by Coach Matta and his wife, I mean his wife."
Other funny stories involve the per diem money players receive each week for food and the shenanigans that occurred as he was trying to take a pregame nap at a hotel that was under construction. Last week Titus wrote about Ohio State's game against Butler and his former high school teammate, Gordon Hayward.
"Brownsburg [Ind.] High School," he wrote, "was easily the best represented high school in the game, as Gordon and I combined for 25 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Because I didn't even get in the game, Gordon shouldered most of the productivity, but I looked really good with the towel around my neck on the bench. Seriously, I looked REALLY good."
Titus' teammates aren't surprised that readers are drawn to Titus' wit and sarcasm. Since joining the team two years ago, Titus has been the player to use a one-liner to lighten the mood of a tense locker room. Sometimes he'll break out into a funky dance.
Earlier in his career Titus even held a news conference to announce that he'd be returning to school the following season instead of entering the NBA draft.
"I'm just having fun," says Titus, who blogs about three times per week. "If you can't have fun playing basketball then you probably shouldn't be playing.
"At the same time, I take basketball and the development of our team very seriously. I hope that doesn't get lost in the comedy of the blog. It's not like I'm out there screwing around."
Matta certainly doesn't question Titus' commitment. He called Titus "the best shooter on the team."
Titus received interest from a handful of smaller schools after scoring more than 1,000 career points and earning second-team all-state honors - twice - at Brownsburg High. But his goal had always been to attend a bigger school.
After enrolling at Ohio State, Titus joined the basketball team as a student manager - "just to get my basketball fix," he said - but after two weeks, he quit when he grew tired of filling water bottles. Then, just before the start of the 2006-07 season, Matta called Titus and asked him to return.
Not as a manager - but as a player.
Titus had been an AAU teammate of Buckeyes freshmen Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook, so Matta knew he was battled-tested and that having him on the squad would be good for team chemistry. Plus, his shooting ability would force Ohio State's guards to pick up the defensive intensity in practice.
Six of Titus' eight career points have come on 3-point shots. In a recent blog, he even developed a nickname for making a heavily-contested 3-pointer over the outstretched arms of a defender.
"We call it 'dotting' someone," Titus says. "When you shoot, your body is in the shape of an 'i', so the ball - if you get the shot off - is like the dot of the 'i.'"
Titus' blog includes a list of teammates he's dotted in practice. Much to the delight of his fans, he's yet to make a 3-pointer on a real opponent this season, thereby increasing the chances of achieving a trillion.
"If you get a foul or commit a turnover or take a shot, the trillion is ruined," Titus says. "People send me emails saying, 'If you're wide open and the shot clock is running down, what are you going to do? ' "
The answer?
"I guess I'm not totally opposed to shooting the ball," Titus says with a chuckle, "I have eight career points right now. Eventually I'd like to get into double digits, so I'm going to need another basket somewhere down the line."
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Quote of the Day...Best one ever!
"I do not think that it comes down to X's and O's. What wins games in basketball is YOUR WILL first, then X's and O's!"
BELCO BAMBA
BELCO BAMBA
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
J and Z
Props to J an Z, my 2 wonderful cousins who are playing on the same team and dominating their opponents with great team basketball and more importantly showing great sportsmanship. I love you both and am so proud of you. Keep up the good work!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
What does this quote of the day mean?
THE GAME OF BASKETBALL
“Basketball can serve as a metaphor for ultimate cooperation. It is a sport where success ... requires that the dictates of community prevail over selfish impulses.”
-- Bill Bradley
“Basketball can serve as a metaphor for ultimate cooperation. It is a sport where success ... requires that the dictates of community prevail over selfish impulses.”
-- Bill Bradley
Camps
Once again,
Please attend our camps at Beth Am on December 22-24th and December 29-31st. They will be filled with exciting games and drills. They will start at 9pm and end at 4pm.
We will have exciting guests and many awards!
See you there!
Please attend our camps at Beth Am on December 22-24th and December 29-31st. They will be filled with exciting games and drills. They will start at 9pm and end at 4pm.
We will have exciting guests and many awards!
See you there!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Quick Pointers!
NOT SOME KIND OF BASKETBALL PLAY...
In life, you must always think before you do things and especially before you say things. I have made mistakes in my time by speaking before thinking. When you make that mistake, you do not have a chance to take back your words!
DO you ever think about what your most unslefish acts are during the week? This week, write down your top 5 most unselfish acts!
In life, you must always think before you do things and especially before you say things. I have made mistakes in my time by speaking before thinking. When you make that mistake, you do not have a chance to take back your words!
DO you ever think about what your most unslefish acts are during the week? This week, write down your top 5 most unselfish acts!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
BEEF
BEEF is an acronym designed to help any aspiring basketball player to learn the skills necessary to shoot correctly. By working on the points of BEEF you put yourself in a better position to be selected for a competitive team, since coaches will notice that they don't need to teach you the basic mechanics of shooting.
'B' - Balance
Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, with your shooting foot slightly ahead of your non-shooting foot. If you're right-handed, your shooting foot is your right foot. If you're left-handed, then your shooting foot is your left foot. Make sure your entire body is aligned at a square to the basket.
First 'E'- Eyes
Choose a target - it could be the front of the rim, the centre of the hoop, or the basket as a whole, and focus only on that. Don't watch the flight of the basketball, or your hand as you release the ball.
Second 'E' - Elbow
Cock your elbow back to a 90° angle and look at the back of your wrist. If you can see wrinkles, then you have your arm in the correct position. Rest the ball on the pads of your fingers with the centre of the ball on your index finger1, then place your guide hand on the side of the ball and make sure that it doesn't slip underneath the it. You will not be using that hand to help shoot the ball - it is there to make sure that the ball doesn't fall off of your hand before you shoot it and nothing more.
'F' - Flick or Follow-through
Straighten your elbow and release the ball by flicking your wrist, which gives the ball some backspin2. You should look like you're reaching into a cookie jar that is on a shelf above your head.
Make sure your guide hand stays straight and doesn't help to push the ball.
To add distance to your shot, simply add a jump. Do not try to push the ball harder with your arms. All of your power should come from your legs.
In Practice
All of these skills are useless if you don't practise them, but only a certain kind of practice will actually help you become a better shooter in game situations.
•Warm up by shooting close shots before moving out and launching up the three-pointers.
•Whenever you go out to shoot some hoops, use game speed; run after your rebounds and shoot quickly as if the defence were closing in on you.
•If you are just playing around, feel free to shoot trick shots, behind the back shots, half-court shots etc, but if you are working on your game, then only take shots that you would take during a game.
•Most importantly, work with intensity and heart and you will now be on your way to having a great shot.
'B' - Balance
Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, with your shooting foot slightly ahead of your non-shooting foot. If you're right-handed, your shooting foot is your right foot. If you're left-handed, then your shooting foot is your left foot. Make sure your entire body is aligned at a square to the basket.
First 'E'- Eyes
Choose a target - it could be the front of the rim, the centre of the hoop, or the basket as a whole, and focus only on that. Don't watch the flight of the basketball, or your hand as you release the ball.
Second 'E' - Elbow
Cock your elbow back to a 90° angle and look at the back of your wrist. If you can see wrinkles, then you have your arm in the correct position. Rest the ball on the pads of your fingers with the centre of the ball on your index finger1, then place your guide hand on the side of the ball and make sure that it doesn't slip underneath the it. You will not be using that hand to help shoot the ball - it is there to make sure that the ball doesn't fall off of your hand before you shoot it and nothing more.
'F' - Flick or Follow-through
Straighten your elbow and release the ball by flicking your wrist, which gives the ball some backspin2. You should look like you're reaching into a cookie jar that is on a shelf above your head.
Make sure your guide hand stays straight and doesn't help to push the ball.
To add distance to your shot, simply add a jump. Do not try to push the ball harder with your arms. All of your power should come from your legs.
In Practice
All of these skills are useless if you don't practise them, but only a certain kind of practice will actually help you become a better shooter in game situations.
•Warm up by shooting close shots before moving out and launching up the three-pointers.
•Whenever you go out to shoot some hoops, use game speed; run after your rebounds and shoot quickly as if the defence were closing in on you.
•If you are just playing around, feel free to shoot trick shots, behind the back shots, half-court shots etc, but if you are working on your game, then only take shots that you would take during a game.
•Most importantly, work with intensity and heart and you will now be on your way to having a great shot.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Making The Team
As we continue to go through the so-called try-outs this month, many of our players our making their school teams. If you have, congratulations as it is a credit to your hard work and dedictation.
If you did not make your school team, then you must work hard in the offseason to improve and make it the following year. Once you get past the initial let down, you must rise above it and focus on how to develop your skills.
Here is a little article about getting cut:
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1963. He was the youngest of four boys born to James and Deloris Jordan. James Jordan was the son of a share cropper from rural North Carolina, and he was in Brooklyn to attend a school that trained employees of General Electric. Jordan's mother, Deloris, was a homemaker until her children were old enough to attend school, and then she became a bank clerk.
When Jordan was about seven years old, in 1970, his family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, the town he would later consider to be his hometown. He began playing basketball at an early age, often with his older brother Larry. "When I was younger," Jordan said on his Web site, "my motivation came from wanting to beat my brother. This inspired my extremely competitive nature."
As a freshman in high school, Jordan joined his school basketball team. It was on his high school team that Jordan chose the jersey number he was later to make famous as a pro, number 23. When later asked why he chose that number, he replied to the Associated Press, "I wanted to wear No. 45 in high school, but my older brother (Larry) wore that number. So I decided to go with half of 45, which is actually 22½." Jordan at first had trouble standing out on the school team. In fact, only a year after joining the team, as a tenth grader, he was cut from the varsity team. But this only pushed him to work harder at perfecting his game. As he later said on his Web site, "I think that not making the Varsity team drove me to really work at my game, and also taught me that if you set goals, and work hard to achieve them—the hard work can pay off."
If you did not make your school team, then you must work hard in the offseason to improve and make it the following year. Once you get past the initial let down, you must rise above it and focus on how to develop your skills.
Here is a little article about getting cut:
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1963. He was the youngest of four boys born to James and Deloris Jordan. James Jordan was the son of a share cropper from rural North Carolina, and he was in Brooklyn to attend a school that trained employees of General Electric. Jordan's mother, Deloris, was a homemaker until her children were old enough to attend school, and then she became a bank clerk.
When Jordan was about seven years old, in 1970, his family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, the town he would later consider to be his hometown. He began playing basketball at an early age, often with his older brother Larry. "When I was younger," Jordan said on his Web site, "my motivation came from wanting to beat my brother. This inspired my extremely competitive nature."
As a freshman in high school, Jordan joined his school basketball team. It was on his high school team that Jordan chose the jersey number he was later to make famous as a pro, number 23. When later asked why he chose that number, he replied to the Associated Press, "I wanted to wear No. 45 in high school, but my older brother (Larry) wore that number. So I decided to go with half of 45, which is actually 22½." Jordan at first had trouble standing out on the school team. In fact, only a year after joining the team, as a tenth grader, he was cut from the varsity team. But this only pushed him to work harder at perfecting his game. As he later said on his Web site, "I think that not making the Varsity team drove me to really work at my game, and also taught me that if you set goals, and work hard to achieve them—the hard work can pay off."
Friday, November 7, 2008
Arroyo Update from Jerusalem Poat
Nov 7, 2008 0:15 | Updated Nov 7, 2008 0:40
Arroyo sends Maccabi to thrilling overtime victory
By ALLON SINAI
A Carlos Arroyo jumper with 1.1 seconds to play in overtime gave Maccabi Tel Aviv an 82-80 victory against Le Mans at the Nokia Arena on Thursday night.
Despite a poor game Maccabi somehow managed to escape with its second straight Euroleague victory to the relief of the capacity crowd.
With just 10 seconds to play in regulation Maccabi trailed 73-70, but Marcus Brown saved the team with a clutch three and Arroyo clinched the victory in the most dramatic of fashions.
Arroyo scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and passed five assists for Maccabi, with D'or Fischer adding 20 points and seven rebounds.
David Bluthenthal, who spent three seasons and won the 2004 Euroleague title with Maccabi, led Le Mans with 23 points and seven rebounds.
Bluthenthal scored the first points of the night and three more points by the former Maccabi forward gave the visitors a 7-3 lead.
Arroyo finally found his scoring touch in the closing minutes of the first period and the Puerto Rican led Maccabi to within two points (20-18).
In the final minute of the quarter, Le Mans managed to extend its advantage once more and Tel Aviv trailed 24-18 after Brian Chase sprinted down the court and laid the ball in the basket to beat the buzzer.
In the first five minutes of the second period Maccabi only managed to score three points and Alain Koffi's turnaround jumper gave the visitors a seven-point cushion (28-21).
A Jason Williams three with half of the quarter remaining sparked a Maccabi fight back and D'or Fischer's basket with three-and-a-half minutes to go to the interval brought the hosts within a single point (29-28).
The offensive blitz, however, lasted for no more than 90 seconds and despite Le Mans's ineffectiveness Maccabi still trailed at the break (31-30).
The hosts entered the final 10 minutes of the encounter still ahead by a point (54-53), but the lead was back in Le Mans hand early in the fourth quarter, setting up a thrilling final few minutes.
Arroyo twice gave Maccabi a three point gap midway through the quarter, but each time the hosts were quickly pegged back and Chase's acrobatic basket with 2:19 to play opened a 69-66 Le Mans lead.
Tel Aviv closed to within one point several time in the final two minutes, but was down by three points with 15 seconds to play after Chase's free throws.
The hosts weren't down and out just yet, however, with Marcus Brown tying the score with a triple just nine seconds before the end of regulation to send the contest to an extra session.
Both teams continued with their disorganized play in overtime and the lead exchanged hands several times in the extra period.
An Arroyo basket gave Maccabi a 79-77 lead with a minute to play, but Dewarick Spencer hit a triple at the other end and the visitors were in front once more.
The final 10 seconds would belong to Arroyo, however, and Maccabi somehow managed to claim the win.
Also Thursday, Cibona Zagreb maintained its perfect record, defeating the previously unbeaten Olympiacos 85-76 in Croatia.
Arroyo sends Maccabi to thrilling overtime victory
By ALLON SINAI
A Carlos Arroyo jumper with 1.1 seconds to play in overtime gave Maccabi Tel Aviv an 82-80 victory against Le Mans at the Nokia Arena on Thursday night.
Despite a poor game Maccabi somehow managed to escape with its second straight Euroleague victory to the relief of the capacity crowd.
With just 10 seconds to play in regulation Maccabi trailed 73-70, but Marcus Brown saved the team with a clutch three and Arroyo clinched the victory in the most dramatic of fashions.
Arroyo scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and passed five assists for Maccabi, with D'or Fischer adding 20 points and seven rebounds.
David Bluthenthal, who spent three seasons and won the 2004 Euroleague title with Maccabi, led Le Mans with 23 points and seven rebounds.
Bluthenthal scored the first points of the night and three more points by the former Maccabi forward gave the visitors a 7-3 lead.
Arroyo finally found his scoring touch in the closing minutes of the first period and the Puerto Rican led Maccabi to within two points (20-18).
In the final minute of the quarter, Le Mans managed to extend its advantage once more and Tel Aviv trailed 24-18 after Brian Chase sprinted down the court and laid the ball in the basket to beat the buzzer.
In the first five minutes of the second period Maccabi only managed to score three points and Alain Koffi's turnaround jumper gave the visitors a seven-point cushion (28-21).
A Jason Williams three with half of the quarter remaining sparked a Maccabi fight back and D'or Fischer's basket with three-and-a-half minutes to go to the interval brought the hosts within a single point (29-28).
The offensive blitz, however, lasted for no more than 90 seconds and despite Le Mans's ineffectiveness Maccabi still trailed at the break (31-30).
The hosts entered the final 10 minutes of the encounter still ahead by a point (54-53), but the lead was back in Le Mans hand early in the fourth quarter, setting up a thrilling final few minutes.
Arroyo twice gave Maccabi a three point gap midway through the quarter, but each time the hosts were quickly pegged back and Chase's acrobatic basket with 2:19 to play opened a 69-66 Le Mans lead.
Tel Aviv closed to within one point several time in the final two minutes, but was down by three points with 15 seconds to play after Chase's free throws.
The hosts weren't down and out just yet, however, with Marcus Brown tying the score with a triple just nine seconds before the end of regulation to send the contest to an extra session.
Both teams continued with their disorganized play in overtime and the lead exchanged hands several times in the extra period.
An Arroyo basket gave Maccabi a 79-77 lead with a minute to play, but Dewarick Spencer hit a triple at the other end and the visitors were in front once more.
The final 10 seconds would belong to Arroyo, however, and Maccabi somehow managed to claim the win.
Also Thursday, Cibona Zagreb maintained its perfect record, defeating the previously unbeaten Olympiacos 85-76 in Croatia.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Fun, but Why?
I have a small challenge for our ballers out there. We know we play sports because they are fun. But....What exact details make the game fun for you? Have you ever actually thought about what your reasons for playing really are? Write down some of the fun aspects of the game. Then before you play, you can review these key components of your ideal time in a sport. I can tell you that when it comes to basketball, I love watching the ball go throug the net. I am not sure why, but I do... I try to remember this when someone scores on me when I play, and it allows me to respect the game more and forgive myself and teammates for mistakes. Just appreciating the beauty of the game is very helpful for me...SO, email me why you love playing the game at court@courts1on1.com!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Holiday Camp
I will be running a camp from December 22th - 24th and December 29th-31st from 9 am to 4PM. If you are interested, email me at court@courts1on1.com.
Random Usher Video Clip "Singing in the Rain"
This has nothing to do with basketball or sports, but I felt it was worth everyone seeing!!! Watch Usher with the Umbrella!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Great Time for Sports!!!
Now that school is well under way, we have football season, basketball season on the horizon, and baseball playoffs are about to start. This is the time that you can really watch some great games, but more importantly, this is the time to pick certain players you love in and watch their mannerisms, focus, and desire to win. Instead of watching their exciting moves, see if you can find the non-statistical aspects of their game. How are they helping their team outside the lines. Are they being a great teammate? Are they interested in their own stats or team stats. How hard are they hustling? How do they react after they make a mistake? How do they react after a teammate makes a mistake? Do they talk trash? See if you can learn more about these areas and enjoy this part of the game. In order to be a great player in a sport, you must study the game along with practice.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Arroyo to Israel!
Carlos going to Israel to be their most famous player ever is an unbelievable chapter in his life and in my friendship with him.
Here is the article from Israel!
Arroyo touches down, says he's ready to take lead at Maccabi
By Oren Kessler
Maccabi Tel Aviv's newly signed point guard Carlos Arroyo, the highest-paid player in club history, arrived in Israel last night to a warm welcome from hundreds of fans at Ben-Gurion International Airport.
The Puerto Rico native said he is aware of the high expectations placed on him by the team's management and fans, and is ready to lead the Israeli powerhouse to a championship this year. Advertisement
Maccabi signed the 6'2", 200-pound point-man to a record $2.5 million a year contract a month ago.
The 29-year-old will take part in the team's first practice of the 2008-09 season, having last week led Puerto Rico to the gold medal at the CentroBasket tournament, the biennial championship tournament for Central American countries.
"This is a very big step in my career," he said on arriving at the airport. "It'll be a great experience."
"I always have high expectations," he added. "The crowd here is amazing, and I can hardly wait to start playing."
Arroyo starred during four seasons at Florida International University.
Though not drafted out of college, he accumulated seven years of NBA experience with five different teams.
Arroyo played at Denver and Toronto in addition to three-year stints with both Utah and Orlando, averaging 6.9 points and 3.5 assists with the Magic last season.
When his contract ran out with at Orlando, Arroyo considered signing with New York and Miami, but eventually decided to join the growing exodus of NBA players seeking to make their mark in the European leagues.
"I played a lot in the NBA, and I felt there was a need to make a change. I wanted to be a more effective player for my team, and with Maccabi I'll be able to be that," he said.
Arroyo is taking the expectations in his stride, saying, "I'm ready for the challenge."
He added that he is already familiar with Maccabi forwards Rodney White and Marcus Fizer, and center Esteban Batista.
"We want to win a championship and I'm excited to be here. I don't have any problem leading the team, I'm prepared for it."
Arroyo is known as a deft passer and capable scorer, and for the mental toughness characteristic of players from the island. He is the fifth Puerto Rican to have won a slot in the NBA.
Puerto Rico is a Central American powerhouse, having taken a medal in each of the CentroBasket tournaments in which it played since 1965.
In the 2004 Olympics, Arroyo scored 25 points in the team's shocking 19-point rout of the United States.
Maccabi, the most prestigious team in Israeli basketball, disappointed last season, falling to Hapoel Holon in the title game and losing the State Cup to Hapoel Jerusalem.
Here is the article from Israel!
Arroyo touches down, says he's ready to take lead at Maccabi
By Oren Kessler
Maccabi Tel Aviv's newly signed point guard Carlos Arroyo, the highest-paid player in club history, arrived in Israel last night to a warm welcome from hundreds of fans at Ben-Gurion International Airport.
The Puerto Rico native said he is aware of the high expectations placed on him by the team's management and fans, and is ready to lead the Israeli powerhouse to a championship this year. Advertisement
Maccabi signed the 6'2", 200-pound point-man to a record $2.5 million a year contract a month ago.
The 29-year-old will take part in the team's first practice of the 2008-09 season, having last week led Puerto Rico to the gold medal at the CentroBasket tournament, the biennial championship tournament for Central American countries.
"This is a very big step in my career," he said on arriving at the airport. "It'll be a great experience."
"I always have high expectations," he added. "The crowd here is amazing, and I can hardly wait to start playing."
Arroyo starred during four seasons at Florida International University.
Though not drafted out of college, he accumulated seven years of NBA experience with five different teams.
Arroyo played at Denver and Toronto in addition to three-year stints with both Utah and Orlando, averaging 6.9 points and 3.5 assists with the Magic last season.
When his contract ran out with at Orlando, Arroyo considered signing with New York and Miami, but eventually decided to join the growing exodus of NBA players seeking to make their mark in the European leagues.
"I played a lot in the NBA, and I felt there was a need to make a change. I wanted to be a more effective player for my team, and with Maccabi I'll be able to be that," he said.
Arroyo is taking the expectations in his stride, saying, "I'm ready for the challenge."
He added that he is already familiar with Maccabi forwards Rodney White and Marcus Fizer, and center Esteban Batista.
"We want to win a championship and I'm excited to be here. I don't have any problem leading the team, I'm prepared for it."
Arroyo is known as a deft passer and capable scorer, and for the mental toughness characteristic of players from the island. He is the fifth Puerto Rican to have won a slot in the NBA.
Puerto Rico is a Central American powerhouse, having taken a medal in each of the CentroBasket tournaments in which it played since 1965.
In the 2004 Olympics, Arroyo scored 25 points in the team's shocking 19-point rout of the United States.
Maccabi, the most prestigious team in Israeli basketball, disappointed last season, falling to Hapoel Holon in the title game and losing the State Cup to Hapoel Jerusalem.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Back to School
It has been a while since I have posted anything, so I am sorry for anyone who I have kept waiting. We are back in school, and the afternoons have been filled with great workouts by all of my students. Everyone is pushing themselves to get to the next level. As we get ready for the school, travel, and recreational basketball seasons, here are some tips:
1. Ball Handling: This is the most important area in getting yourself ready. If you can handle the ball well come gametime, your offense will be in good shape, even if you have an off shooting night.
2. Balance: You must continue to keep a low and balanced position in all areas of the game. As long as you are low and balanced, you can change speeds quickly, and you will have good strength on your shooting.
3. Inside Shooting: Master your inside shots. Get in the habit of shooting high percentage shots and then back up to where you feel comfortable once you are making all of the close ones.
4. Free Throws: You need to feel money from the foul line. Take 100 free throws every day with the same routine so you can show your coach that you shoot a high percentage from the line so he knows he can keep you in the game towards the end.
These are a few important keys to your preparation for your upcoming seasons!!!
1. Ball Handling: This is the most important area in getting yourself ready. If you can handle the ball well come gametime, your offense will be in good shape, even if you have an off shooting night.
2. Balance: You must continue to keep a low and balanced position in all areas of the game. As long as you are low and balanced, you can change speeds quickly, and you will have good strength on your shooting.
3. Inside Shooting: Master your inside shots. Get in the habit of shooting high percentage shots and then back up to where you feel comfortable once you are making all of the close ones.
4. Free Throws: You need to feel money from the foul line. Take 100 free throws every day with the same routine so you can show your coach that you shoot a high percentage from the line so he knows he can keep you in the game towards the end.
These are a few important keys to your preparation for your upcoming seasons!!!
Friday, August 15, 2008
The Finals
The game began with the Dallas team taking control, playing aggressive...It was as if they believed they were better. I was impressed. Now, right before the game, I was speaking with one of my players' parents, and I mentioned that I used to look too much into pregame warmups. For example, "I feel they are ready", or "They look flat." The truth is, you never really know how your team is going to play. So at least, when we started the game slow, I wasn't surprised. Everyone was a little nervous. After all, it was the Finals!!!
What made this game even more interesting was that everyone seemed to be rooting against us. The JCC was loud, and it felt like a road game. Also, not having Allie in the lineup was a huge loss. She is an excellent basketball player who gives 100% every second.
Despite the slow start in the first quarter, I could tell the girls were not going to back down. During an early timeout, I explained that the other team believed they were better than us, and they were bullying us on the court. All of the girls glanced at each other's eyes, and it was clear that they didn't agree with Dallas' opinion of us, nor the Baltimore girls', who were jeering us from the stands.
About midway through the second quarter, we found ourselves down 10. The all of a sudden, Lindsey B. began drawing fouls, getting us to the line, and making free throws. She then stepped back about five feet behind the 3-point line and nailed an unbelievable shot! For the first time, the momentum was on our side. Lindsey had brought us back. Despite being down at the half, the girls appeared to have gained control of the game. I really felt at this point, we had a strong chance of winning. I firmly believed that despite the Dallas team practicing since April, we had better players.
During halftime, Mark had worked worked with Danielle on the post for a few minutes, and that helped us in the second half. When the third qurater began, Sam F. kept taking the ball to the wing, and entering it down to Danielle, who would proceed to score. When she didn't, Emily E. was always in the perfect spot for the offensive rebound. Emily grabbed as many rebounds as any other girl in the tournament. She was all over the glass ever single game, and defensively, she covers shooters like a hawk.
As Danielle continued to dominate the game, Lindsey, Jen D, and Sam F. controlled the tempo, keeping it fast and exciting dribbling through double teams, unslefishly sharing the ball, and playing flawless defense. When Erica came into the game, she played great, giving us help both at the guard spot and the post. Erica does whatever she is asked with great effort, and she learned to play multiples positions in only one week.
Jen D. played the entire game, never showing signs of fatigue. She reminded me of a high school phenom just coming into college, but playing like an experienced senior. She simply won't let up, and alonside Sam F. and Lindsey, we were stronger than the Dallas backcourt.
After Danielle scored a late basket, we went up 6, and we felt we could pull away. Unfortunately, depsite our constant ability to keep Dallas from getting into the paint, they kept knocking down 3 pointer after 3 pointer. I was looking over at our bench at Sam A. thinking that I needed to get her into the game more. Sam A. had played well in the first half in her usual role, backing up her older sister, but I had not yet put her in during the second half. I let her know that we would need her at some point as we were in major foul trouble. She nodded that she would be ready. When she did come into the game, she played pivotal minutes knocking down a free throw, and of course grabbing rebounds. She had a great tournament.
The game came down to the wire with us down by 2. After a timeout, Danielle scored a basket to tie the game to send it into overtime. The only people making any noise now were our boys' team as the rest of the fans were silent in their dismay.
Before the overtime, the girls looked at each other once more, this time knowing they had come too far against difficult odds to not accomplish their goal. Danielle came out and scored the first basket of overtime, just seconds after telling the team in the huddle that we had to score first and take cotrol. I realized there that her 2 previous gold medals had given her the confidence to carry the team home. After a defensive stop, the girls broke pressure with Jen throwing a great lead pass to Sam F. who flew, and I mean flew down the sideline. As she was laying the ball in for 2, she let out a "wooooooooo" with excitment.
We maintained a lead throughout overtime, but after a few lucky bounces and accidental bankshots, we found ourselves down again. Jen then weaved through the defense like a veteran, this time without Lindsey and Sam F. who had fouled out. She sliced the lane to make a beautiful layup, giving us the lead for good. Even though Dallas once again knocked a 3 pointer to give them a cahnce to win, we confidently finished them off with free throws, knocking down one after the other like a championship team. Emily, Erica, and Sam A. hit huge ones, and Danielle hit almost every one, finishing with 33 points, her jersey number by the way. After Jen broke full court pressure for the fifth consecutive time, she was fouled with 2 seconds left, and we were only up by 1. During the final timeout, Jen asked if she should intentionally miss the second free throw starting the clock immediately, but I told her to try to make them. After missing the first she looked over at me, and I changed my mind asking her to miss the second shot, as she had suggested, feeling her strategy would work. She nodded and then came through with a bang off the rim. By the time Dallas got the ball and called time, there was not enough time for them to score, 0.2 seconds to be exact.
Now, I would rather lose every game than have a player on my team hurt their head, but that is not how the game works. After the game, we huddled up as a team for the last time. We recognized that we won the game without Allie. We had won the game for Allie!!! It was beautiful! The girls each received their gold medals. They earned it!!!
What made this game even more interesting was that everyone seemed to be rooting against us. The JCC was loud, and it felt like a road game. Also, not having Allie in the lineup was a huge loss. She is an excellent basketball player who gives 100% every second.
Despite the slow start in the first quarter, I could tell the girls were not going to back down. During an early timeout, I explained that the other team believed they were better than us, and they were bullying us on the court. All of the girls glanced at each other's eyes, and it was clear that they didn't agree with Dallas' opinion of us, nor the Baltimore girls', who were jeering us from the stands.
About midway through the second quarter, we found ourselves down 10. The all of a sudden, Lindsey B. began drawing fouls, getting us to the line, and making free throws. She then stepped back about five feet behind the 3-point line and nailed an unbelievable shot! For the first time, the momentum was on our side. Lindsey had brought us back. Despite being down at the half, the girls appeared to have gained control of the game. I really felt at this point, we had a strong chance of winning. I firmly believed that despite the Dallas team practicing since April, we had better players.
During halftime, Mark had worked worked with Danielle on the post for a few minutes, and that helped us in the second half. When the third qurater began, Sam F. kept taking the ball to the wing, and entering it down to Danielle, who would proceed to score. When she didn't, Emily E. was always in the perfect spot for the offensive rebound. Emily grabbed as many rebounds as any other girl in the tournament. She was all over the glass ever single game, and defensively, she covers shooters like a hawk.
As Danielle continued to dominate the game, Lindsey, Jen D, and Sam F. controlled the tempo, keeping it fast and exciting dribbling through double teams, unslefishly sharing the ball, and playing flawless defense. When Erica came into the game, she played great, giving us help both at the guard spot and the post. Erica does whatever she is asked with great effort, and she learned to play multiples positions in only one week.
Jen D. played the entire game, never showing signs of fatigue. She reminded me of a high school phenom just coming into college, but playing like an experienced senior. She simply won't let up, and alonside Sam F. and Lindsey, we were stronger than the Dallas backcourt.
After Danielle scored a late basket, we went up 6, and we felt we could pull away. Unfortunately, depsite our constant ability to keep Dallas from getting into the paint, they kept knocking down 3 pointer after 3 pointer. I was looking over at our bench at Sam A. thinking that I needed to get her into the game more. Sam A. had played well in the first half in her usual role, backing up her older sister, but I had not yet put her in during the second half. I let her know that we would need her at some point as we were in major foul trouble. She nodded that she would be ready. When she did come into the game, she played pivotal minutes knocking down a free throw, and of course grabbing rebounds. She had a great tournament.
The game came down to the wire with us down by 2. After a timeout, Danielle scored a basket to tie the game to send it into overtime. The only people making any noise now were our boys' team as the rest of the fans were silent in their dismay.
Before the overtime, the girls looked at each other once more, this time knowing they had come too far against difficult odds to not accomplish their goal. Danielle came out and scored the first basket of overtime, just seconds after telling the team in the huddle that we had to score first and take cotrol. I realized there that her 2 previous gold medals had given her the confidence to carry the team home. After a defensive stop, the girls broke pressure with Jen throwing a great lead pass to Sam F. who flew, and I mean flew down the sideline. As she was laying the ball in for 2, she let out a "wooooooooo" with excitment.
We maintained a lead throughout overtime, but after a few lucky bounces and accidental bankshots, we found ourselves down again. Jen then weaved through the defense like a veteran, this time without Lindsey and Sam F. who had fouled out. She sliced the lane to make a beautiful layup, giving us the lead for good. Even though Dallas once again knocked a 3 pointer to give them a cahnce to win, we confidently finished them off with free throws, knocking down one after the other like a championship team. Emily, Erica, and Sam A. hit huge ones, and Danielle hit almost every one, finishing with 33 points, her jersey number by the way. After Jen broke full court pressure for the fifth consecutive time, she was fouled with 2 seconds left, and we were only up by 1. During the final timeout, Jen asked if she should intentionally miss the second free throw starting the clock immediately, but I told her to try to make them. After missing the first she looked over at me, and I changed my mind asking her to miss the second shot, as she had suggested, feeling her strategy would work. She nodded and then came through with a bang off the rim. By the time Dallas got the ball and called time, there was not enough time for them to score, 0.2 seconds to be exact.
Now, I would rather lose every game than have a player on my team hurt their head, but that is not how the game works. After the game, we huddled up as a team for the last time. We recognized that we won the game without Allie. We had won the game for Allie!!! It was beautiful! The girls each received their gold medals. They earned it!!!
A Golden Victory!
As you probably know already, the girls won the gold! I will post all of the highligts later tonight! Great job Team Miami!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
These Girls are Amazing!!!
It is one thing to win...It is another thing to shut a team out for an entire half. I had never seen it happen...Well, that is what the girls did today. But, let's backtrack a little to yesterday. In our game vs. Baltimore yesterday, we were up twelve with 5 minutes to go in the first half when the head coach of Baltimore began to taunt Lindsey by sarcastically yelling at her to shoot. I immediately walked over to the opposing coach and said to him with a shocked look, "Did you just talk trash to one of my girls?" I said this repeatedly until the referee stopped the game and reprimanded this disgusting man. I do not mind losing games, but I do mind an intimidating unprofessional bully who calls himself a coach, and this was not acceptable. And how did Lindsey respond to this? She hit a half court shot at the buzzer of halftime. (By far the best shot in both the boys and girls' tournament) Okay...Back to today. We now are coincidentally playing the same team today in the semi-finals of the playoffs, and our girls did not forget what had happened. They came out in a full court press and dominated the game scoring baskets off of steals, and passing the ball like a professional team...AGAIN!
By halftime, we were winning 24-0. 24-0? Unreal. I am so proud of them. The second half went smoothly, and I do not even remember the score, but every possesion the girls passed to each other until they made a layup. They were weaving the ball around like a 1950's team...
Now I have some good experience teaching the game, but I have learned it is always the players who make it work. The girls are awesome basketball players. I was so amazed at each of their abilities, and more importantly, I was so happy for them to feel great about their team effort and individual plays as well.
We are at the point where I ask the girls what they want to do giving them guidance, but trusting them in how they feel about what plays we are running. It is as much fun as I have had coaching games since college, and that was in 2004. Here are some highlights:
Jen has played flawless defense creating turnovers, and her ball handling and passing are beyond her years. Her intensity is like a pro, and she is shooting the ball well.
Lindsey is similar to Jen, hitting 3's, leading the team in assists, and of course hit the shot of the week.
Emily has more rebounds than any girl in the Maccabi games, and she is the catalyst in our fast break. She also is as unselfish as any player around.
Erica is our most versatile player playing guard and forward, and always makes the extra pass. She is so dependable for a coach and has given up some of her scoring for the other girls, even though she is a strong shooter.
Danielle has dominated the game on defense not only blocking shots 10 feet out of bounds, but she is a constant presence in the paint scoring and rebounding.
Samantha A. has played great copying her older sister with scoring, rebounding, and blocking shots. She is a great teammate and has been a pleasant surpise as she has little experience playing ball.
Sam F. had her best game stealing the ball every few possesions, setting up her teammates at the point, and she scored at least four straight baskets in the second half today.
Allie has been our 6-man, coming off the bench with energy on defense and offense. She is one of the most intense players on the court, and she stepped in for a charge today and took a hard hit to the head. Despite missing the second half from the fall, she was a pivotal part of our halftime shutout, and I am so proud of her. Tomorrow she will miss the game as she has a mild concussion, but if it was up to her, she would play.
Once again, I am so proud of the girls and cannot wait until tomorrow for the finals at 10:30 at the Akron JCC. I will forever remember today thanks to them and win or lose tomorrow, I know that they are learning the game and getting better.
By halftime, we were winning 24-0. 24-0? Unreal. I am so proud of them. The second half went smoothly, and I do not even remember the score, but every possesion the girls passed to each other until they made a layup. They were weaving the ball around like a 1950's team...
Now I have some good experience teaching the game, but I have learned it is always the players who make it work. The girls are awesome basketball players. I was so amazed at each of their abilities, and more importantly, I was so happy for them to feel great about their team effort and individual plays as well.
We are at the point where I ask the girls what they want to do giving them guidance, but trusting them in how they feel about what plays we are running. It is as much fun as I have had coaching games since college, and that was in 2004. Here are some highlights:
Jen has played flawless defense creating turnovers, and her ball handling and passing are beyond her years. Her intensity is like a pro, and she is shooting the ball well.
Lindsey is similar to Jen, hitting 3's, leading the team in assists, and of course hit the shot of the week.
Emily has more rebounds than any girl in the Maccabi games, and she is the catalyst in our fast break. She also is as unselfish as any player around.
Erica is our most versatile player playing guard and forward, and always makes the extra pass. She is so dependable for a coach and has given up some of her scoring for the other girls, even though she is a strong shooter.
Danielle has dominated the game on defense not only blocking shots 10 feet out of bounds, but she is a constant presence in the paint scoring and rebounding.
Samantha A. has played great copying her older sister with scoring, rebounding, and blocking shots. She is a great teammate and has been a pleasant surpise as she has little experience playing ball.
Sam F. had her best game stealing the ball every few possesions, setting up her teammates at the point, and she scored at least four straight baskets in the second half today.
Allie has been our 6-man, coming off the bench with energy on defense and offense. She is one of the most intense players on the court, and she stepped in for a charge today and took a hard hit to the head. Despite missing the second half from the fall, she was a pivotal part of our halftime shutout, and I am so proud of her. Tomorrow she will miss the game as she has a mild concussion, but if it was up to her, she would play.
Once again, I am so proud of the girls and cannot wait until tomorrow for the finals at 10:30 at the Akron JCC. I will forever remember today thanks to them and win or lose tomorrow, I know that they are learning the game and getting better.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Quick Update
The girls played as well as any team I have coached today. They looked like a pro team passing the ball around and scoring off of inside and outside shots. We had two games. The first against a mediocre Cleveland team, and the second against a strong team from Baltimore. In the first game we went up 19-0 before finally letting up a basket. It was a great team defensive effort. The second game was just as good as the girls played a near perfect game highlighted by a true half court shot at the halftime buzzer by Lindsey.
It has been a very long day so I am off to bed, but I will write a full recap either tomorrow or Thursday detailing all of the girls' best moments. We have a playoff game tomorrow at 10:30 am. Looking forward to some rest!!!
It has been a very long day so I am off to bed, but I will write a full recap either tomorrow or Thursday detailing all of the girls' best moments. We have a playoff game tomorrow at 10:30 am. Looking forward to some rest!!!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Maccabi Games Day 1
Game 1: Dallas 42, Miami 41
After an early morning wakeup, the girls patiently waited for their 10:30 am game against a strong Dallas team. Dallas came out hitting their outside shots to take a 6 point lead led by a small point guard who was making it difficult for our guards to bring the ball up the court. Once we made some adjustments, Jen, Lindsey, Allie, and Sam began to pressure Dallas full court creating some turnovers and easy baskets. Emily and Erica were getting their hands on many loose balls allowing our team to come back and take the lead. Both Sam Amaya and Danielle were dominating the paint grabbing rebounds, blocking many shots and finishing layups. By halftime, we were winning 19 - 18.
In the second half, we continued to play better passing the ball around unselfishly, and avoiding mistakes despite the constant pressure defense by Dallas' small, but quick point guard. Emily was grabbing many rebounds as was Samantha A. and Danielle. Erica made some great defensive plays, while Sam Friedman, Lindsey, Jen, and Allie were moving the ball around creating easy baskets for each other as well as Danielle and Sam. As we came down the stretch of the game, it was back and forth with both teams trading baskets. It was clear to me that this game was going to be decided by whoever ran out of time first, meaning both teams were playing well, and it was up to who scored the last basket. With about ten seconds to go down by 1, Jen Deutch had a great look at a baseline runner only to see it go in and out. She made a great play to get the shot off, and as I told her, sometimes they fall and sometimes they do not. It is mostly luck of the roll or bounce that decides a close game. So...despite defeat, it is clear that our girls are as good as any team here in Akron. Fortunately, we are most likely going to play the Dallas team again in the finals giving us another chance to beat them, and that game is when it counts.
Not only did we give a great effort, but the other team's coach told me they had been practicing since April... That is 5 months vs. 6 days! Great Job Girls!!!
Our next game is at 8am tomorrow! More updates soon.
After an early morning wakeup, the girls patiently waited for their 10:30 am game against a strong Dallas team. Dallas came out hitting their outside shots to take a 6 point lead led by a small point guard who was making it difficult for our guards to bring the ball up the court. Once we made some adjustments, Jen, Lindsey, Allie, and Sam began to pressure Dallas full court creating some turnovers and easy baskets. Emily and Erica were getting their hands on many loose balls allowing our team to come back and take the lead. Both Sam Amaya and Danielle were dominating the paint grabbing rebounds, blocking many shots and finishing layups. By halftime, we were winning 19 - 18.
In the second half, we continued to play better passing the ball around unselfishly, and avoiding mistakes despite the constant pressure defense by Dallas' small, but quick point guard. Emily was grabbing many rebounds as was Samantha A. and Danielle. Erica made some great defensive plays, while Sam Friedman, Lindsey, Jen, and Allie were moving the ball around creating easy baskets for each other as well as Danielle and Sam. As we came down the stretch of the game, it was back and forth with both teams trading baskets. It was clear to me that this game was going to be decided by whoever ran out of time first, meaning both teams were playing well, and it was up to who scored the last basket. With about ten seconds to go down by 1, Jen Deutch had a great look at a baseline runner only to see it go in and out. She made a great play to get the shot off, and as I told her, sometimes they fall and sometimes they do not. It is mostly luck of the roll or bounce that decides a close game. So...despite defeat, it is clear that our girls are as good as any team here in Akron. Fortunately, we are most likely going to play the Dallas team again in the finals giving us another chance to beat them, and that game is when it counts.
Not only did we give a great effort, but the other team's coach told me they had been practicing since April... That is 5 months vs. 6 days! Great Job Girls!!!
Our next game is at 8am tomorrow! More updates soon.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Off to Ohio
Today I leave to Akron for the Maccabi games with the 16 and under Boys and Girls Teams from the JCC in Miami. I will be posting updates in the evenings following the progress of the girls. I am confident that we will have an incredibly fun week!!!
I feel there are two main goals for the team. We would like to win the Gold medal as that is why you play the games. If we do not, I want the girls to learn how to understand the difference between losing doing your best and losing by being afraid. If we can manage to play without being afraid of making mistakes, then we will have accomplished our goal as well. Time to depart!!!
I feel there are two main goals for the team. We would like to win the Gold medal as that is why you play the games. If we do not, I want the girls to learn how to understand the difference between losing doing your best and losing by being afraid. If we can manage to play without being afraid of making mistakes, then we will have accomplished our goal as well. Time to depart!!!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Camp Day 3
Great job by everyone today. I am so impressed with all of my campers.
Here we go!!!
Brian has showed great improvement in his shooting and always has a good attitude.
Andreu had a strong afternoon playing games and he has made some nice new friends.
Grace is so smart she already knows everyone's names and her shooting was awesome.
Jessica did great on her ball handling and has as good an attitude as anyone.
Noah is becoming a leader on the floor and always encourages his teammates.
Aditi makes more shots everyday and it the famous gitchie goomie today.
Matt continues to be an MVP on the floor and off, and he sustains this greatness for 8 hours.
Brett has become a solid ball player making shots, rebounding, and playing great defense.
Marcus K. is on is way to the NBA, as he is one of the more talented young players around!
Spencer manages to hit three pointers while guarded and also sustains his greatness for 8 hours.
Trevor has great suggestions for the coaches, always plays his hardest, and is a great teammate.
Tyler has improved on his defense, and also is shooting the ball very well.
Jessica L. is one of the best players I have seen her age, and she also has a great collection of autographs that she earned through her play in many prior camps.
Sean is a leader, and he has a strong athletic approach to the game always giving his best.
Madeline is always making everyone smile with her great sense of humor, but she also is an amazing athlete.
Jacob is on his way to being a star, and no matter what types of injuries he might face with his hustle, he always shakes it off and continues to play.
Marissa continues to improve her skills, always has a smile, and has a great knack of walking on her hands...Pretty Cool Marissa!
Baillieu is a coach or teacher's perfect kid. He is nice, an athlete, and everyone loves him.
Stephanie is everyone's all american. She is one of the best players in the camp, and everyone knows she is amazing at softball and volleyball as well.
Leo continues to surprise us with his great rebounding, and there is word that he is almost a blackbelt in Karate. Great job today Leo!
Josh hit a game winning shot yesterday, and he continued to play at a high level today. He also toughed out a couple of jammed fingers and kept playing!
Joshua S. played like an all star today, as he has improved in his ball handling and scoring.
Jacob S. has become one of the best ball handlers in the camp and always has a positive attitude.
Christian and his long arms is now starting to become more than a great defender. He has been scoring, and handling the ball very well.
Armando has the best attitude of any kid I have coached, always helping out and he is a very good player as well.
See you tomorrow fellas!
Here we go!!!
Brian has showed great improvement in his shooting and always has a good attitude.
Andreu had a strong afternoon playing games and he has made some nice new friends.
Grace is so smart she already knows everyone's names and her shooting was awesome.
Jessica did great on her ball handling and has as good an attitude as anyone.
Noah is becoming a leader on the floor and always encourages his teammates.
Aditi makes more shots everyday and it the famous gitchie goomie today.
Matt continues to be an MVP on the floor and off, and he sustains this greatness for 8 hours.
Brett has become a solid ball player making shots, rebounding, and playing great defense.
Marcus K. is on is way to the NBA, as he is one of the more talented young players around!
Spencer manages to hit three pointers while guarded and also sustains his greatness for 8 hours.
Trevor has great suggestions for the coaches, always plays his hardest, and is a great teammate.
Tyler has improved on his defense, and also is shooting the ball very well.
Jessica L. is one of the best players I have seen her age, and she also has a great collection of autographs that she earned through her play in many prior camps.
Sean is a leader, and he has a strong athletic approach to the game always giving his best.
Madeline is always making everyone smile with her great sense of humor, but she also is an amazing athlete.
Jacob is on his way to being a star, and no matter what types of injuries he might face with his hustle, he always shakes it off and continues to play.
Marissa continues to improve her skills, always has a smile, and has a great knack of walking on her hands...Pretty Cool Marissa!
Baillieu is a coach or teacher's perfect kid. He is nice, an athlete, and everyone loves him.
Stephanie is everyone's all american. She is one of the best players in the camp, and everyone knows she is amazing at softball and volleyball as well.
Leo continues to surprise us with his great rebounding, and there is word that he is almost a blackbelt in Karate. Great job today Leo!
Josh hit a game winning shot yesterday, and he continued to play at a high level today. He also toughed out a couple of jammed fingers and kept playing!
Joshua S. played like an all star today, as he has improved in his ball handling and scoring.
Jacob S. has become one of the best ball handlers in the camp and always has a positive attitude.
Christian and his long arms is now starting to become more than a great defender. He has been scoring, and handling the ball very well.
Armando has the best attitude of any kid I have coached, always helping out and he is a very good player as well.
See you tomorrow fellas!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Courts 1on1 Camp Day 1
Okay, so today was a great first day...Everyone played hard and learned something new about basketball. Most importantly, everyone was unselfish and encouraging towards each other! If your name is not here, please tell me tomorrow and we will get you in the next entry!
Sean was an animal on the glass, and he was very unselfish with the ball.
Madeline scored many baskets and was a leader on the court.
Spencer played hard all day and was always positive with his teammates.
Michael H. led his team in assists despite being such a great scorer.
Marcus K. was also a great passer, even though he has great scoring skills.
Jessica dominated the boys all day!!!
Noah was a great teammate, and he really showed mad ball handling skills.
Baillieu played the game with passion, and he was constantly encouraging his teammates.
Aditi shot the ball very well, and she was another great teammate.
Tyler had some great baskets in our shooting game, and he played great defense.
Jessica proved to be a great presence with her hustle and she always had a smile while playing. Great job Jessica.
Stephanie proved to be a greta all around player, scoring, rebounding, and playing great defense.
Trevor constantly showed that he is a gentle giant. A strong boy with a big heart. You did everything well Trevor.
Andreu played hard, hustled the entire game, and he learned about teamwork.
Matt S. is an all around star. Plays great D, shoots with the best of them, and is a leader.
Leonardo suprised us all with great rebounding, scoring and is a leader by example.
Josh S. shot the ball great and was encouraging towards his teammates.
Jacob S. also showed his great shooting touch, and was unselfish.
Jacob. T. had a great morning showing that he deserves an award for his hustle and great attitude.
Thanks for a great first day!!!
Sean was an animal on the glass, and he was very unselfish with the ball.
Madeline scored many baskets and was a leader on the court.
Spencer played hard all day and was always positive with his teammates.
Michael H. led his team in assists despite being such a great scorer.
Marcus K. was also a great passer, even though he has great scoring skills.
Jessica dominated the boys all day!!!
Noah was a great teammate, and he really showed mad ball handling skills.
Baillieu played the game with passion, and he was constantly encouraging his teammates.
Aditi shot the ball very well, and she was another great teammate.
Tyler had some great baskets in our shooting game, and he played great defense.
Jessica proved to be a great presence with her hustle and she always had a smile while playing. Great job Jessica.
Stephanie proved to be a greta all around player, scoring, rebounding, and playing great defense.
Trevor constantly showed that he is a gentle giant. A strong boy with a big heart. You did everything well Trevor.
Andreu played hard, hustled the entire game, and he learned about teamwork.
Matt S. is an all around star. Plays great D, shoots with the best of them, and is a leader.
Leonardo suprised us all with great rebounding, scoring and is a leader by example.
Josh S. shot the ball great and was encouraging towards his teammates.
Jacob S. also showed his great shooting touch, and was unselfish.
Jacob. T. had a great morning showing that he deserves an award for his hustle and great attitude.
Thanks for a great first day!!!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Balance, Balance, Balance
When watching the US team play recently, I noticed how every move a player made, they had full control of their body and were balanced at all times. This needs to become the focus of how to teach basketball to our youth. Any player can be effective if they continuously have balance and control of their body.
There are some great drills to practice making strong change of speed moved while keeping your balance. Feel free to email me if you would like to work on them.
In the meantime, STAY BALANCED!!!
There are some great drills to practice making strong change of speed moved while keeping your balance. Feel free to email me if you would like to work on them.
In the meantime, STAY BALANCED!!!
Monday, July 21, 2008
One of the best stories I have ever heard of in Competitive Sports
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24392612/
'Unbelievable' sportsmanship in softball game!
CWU players carry WOU player around bases after knee injury following HR
Members of opposing college softball team carry injured hitter around bases to ensure her first-ever home run.
PORTLAND, Ore. - With two runners on base and a strike against her, Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University uncorked her best swing and did something she had never done, in high school or college. Her first home run cleared the center-field fence.
But it appeared to be the shortest of dreams come true when she missed first base, started back to tag it and collapsed with a knee injury.
She crawled back to first but could do no more. The first-base coach said she would be called out if her teammates tried to help her. Or, the umpire said, a pinch runner could be called in, and the homer would count as a single.
Then, members of the Central Washington University softball team stunned spectators by carrying Tucholsky around the bases Saturday so the three-run homer would count — an act that contributed to their own elimination from the playoffs.
Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman, the career home run leader in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help Tucholsky.
The umpire said there was no rule against it.
So Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace put their arms under Tucholsky’s legs, and she put her arms over their shoulders. The three headed around the base paths, stopping to let Tucholsky touch each base with her good leg.
“The only thing I remember is that Mallory asked me which leg was the one that hurt,” Tucholsky said. “I told her it was my right leg and she said, ‘OK, we’re going to drop you down gently and you need to touch it with your left leg,’ and I said ‘OK, thank you very much.”’
“She said, ‘You deserve it, you hit it over the fence,’ and we all kind of just laughed.”
“We started laughing when we touched second base,” Holtman said. “I said, ’I wonder what this must look like to other people.”’
“We didn’t know that she was a senior or that this was her first home run,” Wallace said Wednesday. “That makes the story more touching than it was. We just wanted to help her.”
Holtman said she and Wallace weren’t thinking about the playoff spot, and didn’t consider the gesture something others wouldn’t do.
As for Tucholsky, the 5-foot-2 right fielder was focused on her pain.
“I really didn’t say too much. I was trying to breathe,” she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday.
“I didn’t realize what was going on until I had time to sit down and let the pain relax a little bit,” she said. “Then I realized the extent of what I actually did.”
“I hope I would do the same for her in the same situation,” Tucholsky added.
As the trio reached home plate, Tucholsky said, the entire Western Oregon team was in tears.
Central Washington coach Gary Frederick, a 14-year coaching veteran, called the act of sportsmanship “unbelievable.”
For Western Oregon coach Pam Knox, the gesture resolved the dilemma Tucholsky’s injury presented.
“She was going to kill me if we sub and take (the home run) away. But at the same time I was concerned for her. I didn’t know what to do,” Knox said.
Tucholsky’s injury is a possible torn ligament that will sideline her for the rest of the season, and she plans to graduate in the spring with a degree in business. Her home run sent Western Oregon to a 4-2 victory, ending Central Washington’s chances of winning the conference and advancing to the playoffs.
“In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much,” Holtman said. “It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run.”
© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
'Unbelievable' sportsmanship in softball game!
CWU players carry WOU player around bases after knee injury following HR
Members of opposing college softball team carry injured hitter around bases to ensure her first-ever home run.
PORTLAND, Ore. - With two runners on base and a strike against her, Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University uncorked her best swing and did something she had never done, in high school or college. Her first home run cleared the center-field fence.
But it appeared to be the shortest of dreams come true when she missed first base, started back to tag it and collapsed with a knee injury.
She crawled back to first but could do no more. The first-base coach said she would be called out if her teammates tried to help her. Or, the umpire said, a pinch runner could be called in, and the homer would count as a single.
Then, members of the Central Washington University softball team stunned spectators by carrying Tucholsky around the bases Saturday so the three-run homer would count — an act that contributed to their own elimination from the playoffs.
Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman, the career home run leader in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help Tucholsky.
The umpire said there was no rule against it.
So Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace put their arms under Tucholsky’s legs, and she put her arms over their shoulders. The three headed around the base paths, stopping to let Tucholsky touch each base with her good leg.
“The only thing I remember is that Mallory asked me which leg was the one that hurt,” Tucholsky said. “I told her it was my right leg and she said, ‘OK, we’re going to drop you down gently and you need to touch it with your left leg,’ and I said ‘OK, thank you very much.”’
“She said, ‘You deserve it, you hit it over the fence,’ and we all kind of just laughed.”
“We started laughing when we touched second base,” Holtman said. “I said, ’I wonder what this must look like to other people.”’
“We didn’t know that she was a senior or that this was her first home run,” Wallace said Wednesday. “That makes the story more touching than it was. We just wanted to help her.”
Holtman said she and Wallace weren’t thinking about the playoff spot, and didn’t consider the gesture something others wouldn’t do.
As for Tucholsky, the 5-foot-2 right fielder was focused on her pain.
“I really didn’t say too much. I was trying to breathe,” she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday.
“I didn’t realize what was going on until I had time to sit down and let the pain relax a little bit,” she said. “Then I realized the extent of what I actually did.”
“I hope I would do the same for her in the same situation,” Tucholsky added.
As the trio reached home plate, Tucholsky said, the entire Western Oregon team was in tears.
Central Washington coach Gary Frederick, a 14-year coaching veteran, called the act of sportsmanship “unbelievable.”
For Western Oregon coach Pam Knox, the gesture resolved the dilemma Tucholsky’s injury presented.
“She was going to kill me if we sub and take (the home run) away. But at the same time I was concerned for her. I didn’t know what to do,” Knox said.
Tucholsky’s injury is a possible torn ligament that will sideline her for the rest of the season, and she plans to graduate in the spring with a degree in business. Her home run sent Western Oregon to a 4-2 victory, ending Central Washington’s chances of winning the conference and advancing to the playoffs.
“In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much,” Holtman said. “It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run.”
© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Quote of the Day
It isn't hard to be good from time to time in sports. What is tough, is being good every day.
-- Willie Mays
-- Willie Mays
Monday, July 7, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Basketball Camp and Draft Preview
I will be running two basketball camps in August, and that will be at the Beth Am Basketball gym. They will be held August 4th - 8th and August 16th and 17th. This will be an exciting time for any kids involved. We will be learning the Courts 1on1 way and 21st Century Coaching style. In other words, it will be as fun as any camp there is...
Ayways, here is what should happen. Rose Goes first...That is obvious....
The real question is about the Heat. Do they pass up on Beasley and trade for a lower pick and veteran. Riley as everyone knows, has a history of passing on young players, and he was lucky with Wade. I believe he will go for a playoff push and trade the pick.... Then you will see OJ Mayo on the Heat with another veteran scorer up front. If he pulls the right deal, it will be genious. I am not confident he will acquire a good enough player for the pick.....After these three players, the rest of the draft is even game......
HERE IS A LITTLE DRAFT HISTORY! WATCH!!!
Ayways, here is what should happen. Rose Goes first...That is obvious....
The real question is about the Heat. Do they pass up on Beasley and trade for a lower pick and veteran. Riley as everyone knows, has a history of passing on young players, and he was lucky with Wade. I believe he will go for a playoff push and trade the pick.... Then you will see OJ Mayo on the Heat with another veteran scorer up front. If he pulls the right deal, it will be genious. I am not confident he will acquire a good enough player for the pick.....After these three players, the rest of the draft is even game......
HERE IS A LITTLE DRAFT HISTORY! WATCH!!!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Back from the honeymoon...and How bout the Celts
So I just got back from Italy, so my apologies for not posting...
Anyways, The Celts did it. They were by far the best team in the sense of that word.
No one cared about themselves over the family they have...Just look at this picture!
Here is a great quote you should all follow by the Great Celtic Larry Bird!
"When I was young, I never wanted to leave the court until I got things exactly correct. My dream was to become a pro." -- Larry Bird
That is the key....It is about learning the skill correctly more than anything else.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Here we go...Celts/Lakers
Kobe, Gasol, Odom......Garnett, Pierce, R. Allen.....Which team has the better 3?
Fisher, Walton etc...Rondo, Perkins etc... Which team has better role players?
I believe the Lakers will win it all because Kobe Bryant is too good. If they don't it will prove him to be overrated. That might seem unfair, but MJ never lost in the finals, and that is who he unjustly gets compared to. He will never be like Mike!
Watch why below
Fisher, Walton etc...Rondo, Perkins etc... Which team has better role players?
I believe the Lakers will win it all because Kobe Bryant is too good. If they don't it will prove him to be overrated. That might seem unfair, but MJ never lost in the finals, and that is who he unjustly gets compared to. He will never be like Mike!
Watch why below
Monday, May 26, 2008
Something that should never happen in Youth Sports
Girl, 12, told she can't play ball with boysby FOXSports.com
Updated: May 26, 2008, 12:56 PM EST 346 comments add this RSS blog email print You play ball like a girl.
That used to be an insult. In Beaverton, Oregon, it's becoming more like a fantasy.
Jaime Nared, a 12-year-old girl who stands 6-foot-1, has been told she can no longer play on the boys team of which she has been a member since the second grade, according to a report on the Web site of The Oregonian. Curiously, the timing of her ban came in the wake of a 30-point effort against an all-boys team.
"She scored 30 points," Jaime's mom, Reiko Williams, told The Oregonian. "I remember one play. She stole the ball, dribbled up court and made a behind-the-back pass to a teammate. He missed the lay-in, and she grabbed the rebound and put it in. I think it was just too much for some of those parents.
"The next day, she came home and said they wouldn't let her play with the boys anymore."
Last month, a group of parents from an opposing team told management at The Hoop, a private Beaverton basketball facility that runs the league in which Nared's team competes, that they didn't like Nared playing against their sons. Hoop officials then told Nared's coach, Michael Abraham, that she could no longer play, citing a league rule that prohibits mixed-gender teams, the newspaper reported.
"I never saw the rule," said Abraham, who has coached basketball for 32 years.
"If I'd known about it, I wouldn't have put any of my teams in the league. Besides, she's been playing on this team since second grade, and she plays on our team when we travel around the region. There's never been any problem in any event, not one word of complaint."
Neal Franzer, The Hoop's director of operations, told the paper that parents were "adamant" their complaints had nothing to do with Jaime's skills.
"They said the problem was the boys were playing differently against her because she was a girl," Franzer said, according to the paper. "They'd been taught to not push a girl, so they weren't fouling her hard, and the focus had shifted from playing basketball to noticing a girl was on the floor with them.
"The rule may not have been enforced in past years," Franzer said. "We have new management this year. It's policy, and we enforce policy."
Nared, however, had a different take.
"I think the boys on a specific team don't like me," she said. "It doesn't seem fair."
Abraham was also skeptical about the ruling.
"I can't think of one boy that we've played against that's had a problem with her," he said. "Maybe their dads do. Teach the boys how to handle her. Front her, deny her the ball. You sure as hell don't complain. Listen, she's a girl's girl, but she plays tough. She's no cupcake. She gets knocked down and takes a charge."
Updated: May 26, 2008, 12:56 PM EST 346 comments add this RSS blog email print You play ball like a girl.
That used to be an insult. In Beaverton, Oregon, it's becoming more like a fantasy.
Jaime Nared, a 12-year-old girl who stands 6-foot-1, has been told she can no longer play on the boys team of which she has been a member since the second grade, according to a report on the Web site of The Oregonian. Curiously, the timing of her ban came in the wake of a 30-point effort against an all-boys team.
"She scored 30 points," Jaime's mom, Reiko Williams, told The Oregonian. "I remember one play. She stole the ball, dribbled up court and made a behind-the-back pass to a teammate. He missed the lay-in, and she grabbed the rebound and put it in. I think it was just too much for some of those parents.
"The next day, she came home and said they wouldn't let her play with the boys anymore."
Last month, a group of parents from an opposing team told management at The Hoop, a private Beaverton basketball facility that runs the league in which Nared's team competes, that they didn't like Nared playing against their sons. Hoop officials then told Nared's coach, Michael Abraham, that she could no longer play, citing a league rule that prohibits mixed-gender teams, the newspaper reported.
"I never saw the rule," said Abraham, who has coached basketball for 32 years.
"If I'd known about it, I wouldn't have put any of my teams in the league. Besides, she's been playing on this team since second grade, and she plays on our team when we travel around the region. There's never been any problem in any event, not one word of complaint."
Neal Franzer, The Hoop's director of operations, told the paper that parents were "adamant" their complaints had nothing to do with Jaime's skills.
"They said the problem was the boys were playing differently against her because she was a girl," Franzer said, according to the paper. "They'd been taught to not push a girl, so they weren't fouling her hard, and the focus had shifted from playing basketball to noticing a girl was on the floor with them.
"The rule may not have been enforced in past years," Franzer said. "We have new management this year. It's policy, and we enforce policy."
Nared, however, had a different take.
"I think the boys on a specific team don't like me," she said. "It doesn't seem fair."
Abraham was also skeptical about the ruling.
"I can't think of one boy that we've played against that's had a problem with her," he said. "Maybe their dads do. Teach the boys how to handle her. Front her, deny her the ball. You sure as hell don't complain. Listen, she's a girl's girl, but she plays tough. She's no cupcake. She gets knocked down and takes a charge."
Friday, May 9, 2008
The Natural
One of my favorite movies of all time is "The Natural." There is a former pitcher named Rick Ankiel who is now an outfielder. He lost his confidence as a pitcher, went down to the minors, and became an incredible hitter. Here is a clip of two throws he made the other night from centerfield. These are the best I have ever seen!!!
NBA Playoffs Update
So the Celts survived their scare from the Hawks, and they have taken a 2-0 lead over the CAVS. I doubt the Cavs can come back. There are too few weapons outside LeBron. I think the Magic have a shot at beating the Pistons, but I still like Detroit.
In the West, The Spurs should still come back and win the series against the Hornets, and The Lakers should win the whole West.
Still think their will be a Celts/Lakers finals.
I will say that Kobe Bryant has been playing flawless basketball and if you have a chance to watch him play, do it. He is the best player since a man they call MJ!
In the West, The Spurs should still come back and win the series against the Hornets, and The Lakers should win the whole West.
Still think their will be a Celts/Lakers finals.
I will say that Kobe Bryant has been playing flawless basketball and if you have a chance to watch him play, do it. He is the best player since a man they call MJ!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
NBA Playoffs...Kobe
How about Shaq and Phoenix. They lost their third straight game last night. It is a good thing the Heat traded him when they did. It will be the difference in the Heat turning their franchise around.
I watched some of the Lakers game the other night, and I felt like Kobe Bryant was the best player since Michael Jordan. Then I watched Duncan last night and remembered he is one of the best of all time as well. Then...Garnett too...There are too many to name, but I realized the NBA is much better than I thought it was...Who do you think the best player in the league is???
I watched some of the Lakers game the other night, and I felt like Kobe Bryant was the best player since Michael Jordan. Then I watched Duncan last night and remembered he is one of the best of all time as well. Then...Garnett too...There are too many to name, but I realized the NBA is much better than I thought it was...Who do you think the best player in the league is???
Friday, April 18, 2008
More Shooting Tips
Earlier I went over three important aspects of shooting.
Here is a breakdown of 5 tips.
1. Same old...Bend your knees
2. Wrist Back
3. Ball must get past the front of the rim or it will never go in.
4. Do not come up or begin to unbend your knees until you begin to shoot
5. The follow through is as important to the finish of your shot as a period is at the end of a sentence. Therfore, the shot is not complete unless you hold your follow through!!!
More tips to come later.
Here is a breakdown of 5 tips.
1. Same old...Bend your knees
2. Wrist Back
3. Ball must get past the front of the rim or it will never go in.
4. Do not come up or begin to unbend your knees until you begin to shoot
5. The follow through is as important to the finish of your shot as a period is at the end of a sentence. Therfore, the shot is not complete unless you hold your follow through!!!
More tips to come later.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Quote of the Day
"A lot of late nights in the gym, a lot of early mornings, especially when your friends are going out, you're going to the gym, those are the sacrifices that you have to make if you want to be an NBA basketball player.” -- Jason Kidd
NBA Playoff Outlook
Here are my picks!
WEST
San Antonio vs. LA in West finals.
SA will actually lose their title as this could be Kobe's year.
EAST
Boston vs. Detroit
Boston will pull it out in 6.
FINALS
Boston over LA in a 7 Game series.
THE NBA IS BACK this year!!!
WEST
San Antonio vs. LA in West finals.
SA will actually lose their title as this could be Kobe's year.
EAST
Boston vs. Detroit
Boston will pull it out in 6.
FINALS
Boston over LA in a 7 Game series.
THE NBA IS BACK this year!!!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Kansas
So they proved that you never give up no matter who much you are losing and no matter how much time is left. I thought Memphis had won, but Kansas had no intentions of losing. I just ordered the gift for our pool winner.
Also, here is a new quote:
It is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the Dog....
Get it!
Also, here is a new quote:
It is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the Dog....
Get it!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
MLB Opening Day and Final Four
Baseball season began with a bang yesterday. The High Paid Tigers got upset by the low paid Royals, the Marlins looked as bad as they could, and the Yankees were rained out. Look out for the Mariners this year as they seem to have a nice all around squad. Anyone think the Mets are the best in the NL? I do! The team to beat though is still the Red Sox. I think they will win the World Series again!
Okay, so the Final Four are all 1 seeds. First time ever! Pretty amazing that it never happened before. I still think Memphis will win it all. Calipari is due.
More importantly, it Stephen Curry is returning to Davidson next year. I wonder how they will be looked at before the season. I bet they will be back to the Elite Eight! Anyways, enjoy the week. Lots of baseball, Final Four, and soon, the NBA playoffs!
Okay, so the Final Four are all 1 seeds. First time ever! Pretty amazing that it never happened before. I still think Memphis will win it all. Calipari is due.
More importantly, it Stephen Curry is returning to Davidson next year. I wonder how they will be looked at before the season. I bet they will be back to the Elite Eight! Anyways, enjoy the week. Lots of baseball, Final Four, and soon, the NBA playoffs!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Jay Bilas' classy player of the tourney!
I took this from Jay Bilas' ESPN article.
"Dominic James, Marquette. After Crawford fouled out of the first-round contest with Marquette, James followed him to the Kentucky bench and congratulated him on his career and his effort. It was a classy move by one great competitor to another and a show of respect for the game. That is what this tournament is really all about."
"Dominic James, Marquette. After Crawford fouled out of the first-round contest with Marquette, James followed him to the Kentucky bench and congratulated him on his career and his effort. It was a classy move by one great competitor to another and a show of respect for the game. That is what this tournament is really all about."
Getting Low
I always say the lower person wins. Well, for those who work out with me, take a look at this picture!
This is the best player in the NCAA tournament, Stephen Curry of Davidson!
Friday, March 21, 2008
First day of games...and Beasley
So there was only one upset. It was not Duke, although it almost was. Kansas State pulled off a great win after a slow end to the regular season. Beasley is by far the best player in the country. If the Miami Heat are able to get him, they will be back in the playoffs next year!
Today should be exciting. Anyone notice the Big East rarely loses first round games. It is by far the best conference in the NCAA!
Who will pull off the upset today? Look out for St. Joe's!
Today should be exciting. Anyone notice the Big East rarely loses first round games. It is by far the best conference in the NCAA!
Who will pull off the upset today? Look out for St. Joe's!
Great quote!
This quote is very important in the ability to withstand adversity.
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
Eleanor Roosevelt
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
Eleanor Roosevelt
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Simple Rules for shooting and driving!
Shooting
1. Bend your knees
2. Wrist back
3. Follow Through
Driving
1. Bend your knees
2. Wrist back
3. Drive to the basket
Now these seem obvious but there are two ways to do it,
First of all, which of the two can you do without the ball.
The best players do 1 and 2 without the ball. Then when they get it, they are ready for number three which is what makes a great player as opposed to a decent player!
If you have more questions as to the meaning behind this, email me.
1. Bend your knees
2. Wrist back
3. Follow Through
Driving
1. Bend your knees
2. Wrist back
3. Drive to the basket
Now these seem obvious but there are two ways to do it,
First of all, which of the two can you do without the ball.
The best players do 1 and 2 without the ball. Then when they get it, they are ready for number three which is what makes a great player as opposed to a decent player!
If you have more questions as to the meaning behind this, email me.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Here we go!!!
Everyone get your college game going because it is tourney time! I am doing a pool for free of course, and we have a professional autographed item for the winner. If you want to join, send me your email. The link is at cbssportline.com and the name of the group is courts1on1.
Magic vs. Heat
Well, I had a blast going to the Heat Magic game on Friday. After the game I hung out with my friend Carlos Arroyo, and he was excited to hear about the blog site. He wanted me to tell all of the children I work with to dream about playing at whatever level you want to. People used to tell him he should not think about playing in the NBA because he wasn't good enough. Well, they were wrong!!!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Why we do not shoot short!
Well, If you take 10 shots, and 6 go in, but 4 go short, how many had a chance to go in? Answer....only 6.
But, if you took 10 shots, and 6 go in, but 4 go long, how many have a chance to go in? Answer.... all 10.
At a lesson this past weekend, I had a 9 year old boy get the answers correct right away. This boy is one of the smartest student's I have ever worked with, and he is a very good player as well.
SO the next time you shoot the ball, do not go short!
But, if you took 10 shots, and 6 go in, but 4 go long, how many have a chance to go in? Answer.... all 10.
At a lesson this past weekend, I had a 9 year old boy get the answers correct right away. This boy is one of the smartest student's I have ever worked with, and he is a very good player as well.
SO the next time you shoot the ball, do not go short!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
March Madness
Okay,
So March is here. That means baseball season, and the NCAA tournament.
I am going to have a courts 1on1 bracket pool for all my students.
I will be setting it up this week, so everyone should join. There will be some autograph prizes for the winner.
So March is here. That means baseball season, and the NCAA tournament.
I am going to have a courts 1on1 bracket pool for all my students.
I will be setting it up this week, so everyone should join. There will be some autograph prizes for the winner.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Caring About Teammates
Today I met a girl who is one of the better players in her league. She actually wanted a teammate who had not scored a basket all year to score so badly that she got a technical foul for running on the court cheering when the teammate finally scored. I loved hearing that story because while technical fouls are usually bad, that one was not!!!
Youth League team Rules...Not what you think
TEAM RULES
1. Have fun, but we must follow these rules in order to have fun.
2. When the coach is talking, no one else is talking and eyes are on coach.
3. If 1 person makes a mistake, everyone made a mistake.
4. Mistakes are not important. The best players make many mistakes.
5. You must give your best effort all of the time.
6. You must also show good sportsmanship.
The team that follows these rules is a winning team no matter what their record is. Wins and losses are not as important as having fun. If we were to win every game, and only one person touched the ball, we would not have fun.
“A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success.” Anonymous
1. Have fun, but we must follow these rules in order to have fun.
2. When the coach is talking, no one else is talking and eyes are on coach.
3. If 1 person makes a mistake, everyone made a mistake.
4. Mistakes are not important. The best players make many mistakes.
5. You must give your best effort all of the time.
6. You must also show good sportsmanship.
The team that follows these rules is a winning team no matter what their record is. Wins and losses are not as important as having fun. If we were to win every game, and only one person touched the ball, we would not have fun.
“A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success.” Anonymous
Friday, February 29, 2008
Quote of the Day
This is a catchy quote by the best player in the NBA.... Tim Duncan
"Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best."
"Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best."
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Coach has 4 main responsibilties!
1. To create a family enviornment. Everyone must be a family and trust each other on the floor. That will allow each player to feel comfortable which will lead to everyone having fun.
2. To teach the game in a positive manner so the players in turn will be positive. Once a family stays positive, good things will happen.
3. To focus on improvement and not winning. The more a coach teaches his or her players to improve as individuals, then there will be an overall improvement of the team. Winning will happen when the focus is not on winning, but on individual plays and teamwork.
4. To allow his or her players to make mistakes and not be afraid of the consequence. The best players in the world usually make the most mistakes!!!
2. To teach the game in a positive manner so the players in turn will be positive. Once a family stays positive, good things will happen.
3. To focus on improvement and not winning. The more a coach teaches his or her players to improve as individuals, then there will be an overall improvement of the team. Winning will happen when the focus is not on winning, but on individual plays and teamwork.
4. To allow his or her players to make mistakes and not be afraid of the consequence. The best players in the world usually make the most mistakes!!!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Kapono
Well, he was on the Miami Heat...Not sure why we let him go, but watch his consistent form in practice. Perfect Practice makes Perfect!
Quote of the Day.... Complaining Lately?
If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it. --Anthony J. D'Angelo
Monday, February 18, 2008
Playing Games....Practicing at Game Speed!
No matter how many times a player or a team practices, there is no way to truly simulate a game. The speed of a game is always faster. That is why the only way to practice is full speed. You need to go so hard that you make mistakes when you are practicing. What most young players do is practice at a comfortable speed, and therefore they miss the opportunity to improve. If a player can push themselves to mess up while practing at their fastest speed, they will eventually not feel the games are so fast paced. This might be more important than any individual drill one does to get better. SO START GOING FULL SPEED!!!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
All Star Game Weekend
Okay, this is a fun weekend! Email me who you think will win the Slam Dunk Contest, the 3-Point contest, and the Skill competition. Also, name me the past winners dating back to 1984 if you can!
Remember, my email is court@courts1on1.com
Remember, my email is court@courts1on1.com
Quote of the Day...
This quote is my own, and it takes pressure off of winning!
"In competition, it is more important to lose doing things the right way than win doing things the wrong way."
"In competition, it is more important to lose doing things the right way than win doing things the wrong way."
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
This is unbelievable!
She is 6 foot 8 inches and in high school. Also, see if you can find the Iverson Dunks after you watch this!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Toughest student
So yesterday, when a player on my team gets a tooth chipped off, his reaction was as tough as they come. I was very impressed by his ability to withstand the pain and the fear of the incident....So what does he do? He pitches in his little league game the following night. That is admirable!!!
SAFTEY NOTE: Mouth Guards
I think when boys and girls play basketball, they need to wear mouth guards. I have had a tooth knocked out and it is very scary. Do not wait until someone knocks your teeth out with their head or an elbow to get one. It is worth the aggravation to wear one and save your teeth from permanent damage.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Bank Shot
The same six year old boy who can hit three point rainbows uses the backboard as well as anyone. That is the key to being a great shooter. If you have a great bank shot, then you are a great player.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Quote of the Day
I believe that John Wooden is the greatest basketball coach of all time. He might have won the most championships, but his biggest contributions were off the court.
Here is one of his many inspirational quotes. It is very simple.
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
Here is one of his many inspirational quotes. It is very simple.
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
Thursday, February 7, 2008
41 in a row!
Congrats to one of my students who made 41 consecutive shots today at game speed......That was impressive! What is the most shots you have made in a row? Email me if you want me to post your records!
Basketball Bible
Not really a bible, but after my practice last night, I wanted to put 4 main points down that lead to success on the basketball court.
1. Sprint to the block as soon as the other team gets the ball. This will stop layups, and create less fast breaks.
2. On offense, catch and look at the basket before dribbling, especially in half court sets.
3. When on defense and a shot goes up, find your man and use your butt as a weapon...meaning box him out.
4. The team that makes the most layups wins 99% of the time.
Follow these four aspects of the game, and everything will work out the way you like.
1. Sprint to the block as soon as the other team gets the ball. This will stop layups, and create less fast breaks.
2. On offense, catch and look at the basket before dribbling, especially in half court sets.
3. When on defense and a shot goes up, find your man and use your butt as a weapon...meaning box him out.
4. The team that makes the most layups wins 99% of the time.
Follow these four aspects of the game, and everything will work out the way you like.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
DREAMS for Generation "WHY"
Here is a quote by Robert Kennedy!
"There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not."
"There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not."
Monday, February 4, 2008
Why you should always believe!
"And David picked up the rock and slung it at Goliath's head, and the big giant fell to the ground."
That is from David and Goliath. Google it if you do not know that famous story.
I am amazed at the Giants beating the Pats in the superbowl. That was the most incredible game to watch. Do you think that was the greatest upset of all time? In Fact, email me the top 5 upsets of all-time. courtney@courts1on1.com
Also, Eli Manning was incredible to watch as well. The Manning brothers have some serious skills. Back to back superbowl....Are you serious? Wow, their father must be mighty proud. The main point here is that you always must believe in yourself. There is always a chance to win, or else you wouldn't play the game!!!
That is from David and Goliath. Google it if you do not know that famous story.
I am amazed at the Giants beating the Pats in the superbowl. That was the most incredible game to watch. Do you think that was the greatest upset of all time? In Fact, email me the top 5 upsets of all-time. courtney@courts1on1.com
Also, Eli Manning was incredible to watch as well. The Manning brothers have some serious skills. Back to back superbowl....Are you serious? Wow, their father must be mighty proud. The main point here is that you always must believe in yourself. There is always a chance to win, or else you wouldn't play the game!!!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Practicing Ball Handling
Well, if you have never seen this, enjoy. Mike Conley has developed some of the best ball handling skills I have ever seen!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
RESPECT!!!
I was watching a practice recently and a coach, who I like, told his boy's team that they played like a bunch of girls! Well, I wanted to discuss this since I have a female cousin who is very young, but better than every boy she has played against. They even have had her play up in age against the boys, and she is better than them too. SO...The point is that it doesn't matter what you gender you are because any person can achieve success, and the next time someone coaching you refers to boys as girls, be sure to correct the coach and demand RESPECT to our women. Both boys and girls can play well sometimes, and poorly too. I spoke with this coach and let him know that it would be better to teach his team to practice harder instead of using an insult. My cousin is the perfect example. If a boy were to play like her, they would be an all star!
Celts/Heat, Superbowl, and quote of the day!
Well, it is silly to say, but for anyone who has any hope that the Heat will improve, it will have to be with a win tonight. This is, in some ways, the Heat's championship. A win tonight can change the season, but a loss almost ends it.
Okay, so does anyone think the Giants can beat the Pats? My heart tells me they can, but my brain thinks differently. What do you think? Email me your opinion on both the Heat game tonight, and the superbowl at courtney@courts1on1.com
"Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else's can shorten it." - Cullen Hightower
Okay, so does anyone think the Giants can beat the Pats? My heart tells me they can, but my brain thinks differently. What do you think? Email me your opinion on both the Heat game tonight, and the superbowl at courtney@courts1on1.com
"Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else's can shorten it." - Cullen Hightower
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Great Quote about practice!
"The harder I practice, the luckier I get."
- Gary Player
Now,once again, if you do not know who Gary Player is, you should google him!
- Gary Player
Now,once again, if you do not know who Gary Player is, you should google him!
The Rainbow
This morning I worked with a boy who shoots the best rainbow three pointer I have seen for any child under seven years old. I mean, who shoots threes when you are that young. Well, this boy did!...... Later today will be another great quote. See you then!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
My Philosophy
Well, It's not mine, but I use it when teaching. It is from Aristotle. If you do not know who he was, then you should google his name.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act, but a habit."
Anyone have any good quotes like this one, then email me at courtney@courts1on1.com
Look forward to a big day tomorrow of games and fun.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act, but a habit."
Anyone have any good quotes like this one, then email me at courtney@courts1on1.com
Look forward to a big day tomorrow of games and fun.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
BEING POSITIVE
My name is Courtney Young, and I have a company called Court's 1 on 1 Sports where I train children of all ages in basketball, general sports, and even study skills. In my company, we define winning by having fun while trying our best. If one tries their best, shows respect to others and themselves, and has good sportsmanship, they are a winner..... To be continued!
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