Archive for the ‘Basketball’ Category
When we hear the word camp, the first thing that comes into mind is assembling a tent and sleeping under the starry skies. For most, it is a form of adventure in the woods or anywhere conceivable. But for teachers and organizers, this is the act of teaming up to learn about something in particular. One good example for this is basketball camps. This kind of a camp is not something like a deed of a camping.
It is a season or like a course where a teacher which is usually a coach held in the hope of training basketball fanatics and enthusiasts to become somebody worth to join important teams in different associations. Some are just for the fun of it while others are formal trainings for highly potential players in the future.
Usually, basketball camps are paid trainings although there are some that are not. Paid trainings are usually held by clubs, coaches, and top players in the industry. While those free trainings are usually held by schools, government institutions, and for-a-cause organizations. These camps are usually attended by different types of people but there are camps that make a distinction, like for example women basketball, men basketball, and kid basketball camps.
In basketball camps, there are three people most important all through the camp duration:
1. The attendees. These are the people that enroll into the program. They are usually gauge by age and sex but will depend on the organizers. If it is a paid program, there are certain requirements asked before they can enroll like fees and certifications. They also provide for their food and clothing.
If it is a free program like in school, the organizers are free to choose and the attendees are required to pass some important sifting processes. The organizers may or may not provide food and camp clothing, depending on the budget provided by the sponsoring institution.
2. The lecturers or teachers, also coaches or instructors. They are the group of innovative, aggressive, and highly skilled individuals knowledgeable of the game and of the entire course in the camp. These people are the ones who will teach and motivate as well as share valuable core attitude to the attendees. They have the pressure of ensuring that their attendees learn and become professionals after the training. It is also expected that they are the authorities in the said camp and the discipline of the entire group will depend on them.
3. The organizers. These are a group of people or entities that spearheads the entire vision and mission of a specific camp, which in this case is a basketball camp. They may be government owned or private institutions that wishes to help nurture future talents through a series of trainings or basketball camps. These can also be a group of people who wants to earn and train through promoting skills and knowledge of the game.
These three are just the basic foundation of basketball camps as well as other types of sport and non-sport camps. There are still many people who belong to backroom staffs and personnel. These are the nurses, doctors, attendants, cleaners, caterers, and many others who can be in the camp depending on the budget of the camp organizers.
In the end, the camp is supposed to train and discipline every attendee to have a winning attitude not only in the camp but after the camp.
Defense is just as important as offense. Any basketball player that only thinks about scoring points, is only half a basketball player. Likewise, any basketball team that only emphasizes offensive plays without being equally committed to playing defense is only half a team. The reasoning behind this is simple: It does you no good to score 20 points in the first five minutes of a basketball game, if your opponent scores 35. In order to win a basketball game, you want to get ahead in score and stay ahead. You can only do this consistently by emphasizing defense as much as offense. The purpose of this article is to highlight some fundamental principles about playing defense in basketball that every basketball player, regardless of level, should know.
You need to have the “right attitude.”
When playing defense in basketball, you cannot layback and let the team with the ball do as it pleases. You must get very aggressive, outfight the offense. At every opportunity, take the initiative away from the offense, break up and disrupt their offensive attack. As you know, to score in basketball, you have got to have the ball. To get the ball, you have got to battle for it. A few ways that you can prevent the opposing team from executing their offense is by stealing the ball, by interception of passes, by controlling the backboards, by fighting through screens, by forcing held balls, by putting constant pressure on the offense. Without pressure, the offense will easily run one play after another. With pressure, it will make bad passes, commit walking violations, miss easy shots and lose confidence. This forcing of the offense is at the very heart of good defensive play. And that applies to any basketball team or to any individual basketball player.
Establishing the correct stance on defense.
When on defense, you should have your feet a little better than shoulder-width apart, toes pointing straight ahead, heels off the floor slightly. Your knees should be flexed, and your trunk inclined forward. To move sideward, you should never cross your legs. At the end of the movement, your feet should be at the original width.
If an opposing player fakes a shot, you should never, never leave your feet. If he fakes a drive, simply drop straight back a step until you are sure of what he is going to do. Should the offensive man-and we still assume he has the ball-be a faster player than you, play him looser than usual. If he is slower than you, close in a bit. An outside shooter wants to be played closer than a player whose best weapon is a driving layup.
Study your opponent
When you are assigned to guard an opposing player, study him carefully. Find out where he is strong, where he is weak. Take advantage of your opponent’s weaknesses. Force him off the strong part of his game. This is not as difficult as it sounds. For example, you will find that many players can only dribble or shoot with one hand (right-handed, or left-handed.)
If you are playing a man who does everything with his right hand, favor that side with your defensive position. In other words, if he dribbles with his right hand, force him to go to his left. When you constantly force this player to go to his weak side, you are hindering his play considerably; and,consequently, you will probably cause him to lose his composure.
When you are playing an offensive man who does not have the ball, try to be in a position to intercept passes, but do not be so close as to give him a chance to get behind you.
Guarding the Dribbler
As a defensive player you should try not to slap at the dribbler as he goes by. You should turn and go with the dribbler, get one step ahead and deflect or steal the ball by reaching underneath the dribbler’s hands with the inside hand. If this tactic fails, you should wait for the dribbler to either shoot or stop before you make another defensive move. If the offensive player attempts a jump shot, close with him as he puts both hands on the ball–stop the shot before it gets started.
On a layup, reach over with the outside hand and try to block the shot at the top of the offensive player’s jump. Do this without making contact. If you make contact, the shooter may get the field goal and a free throw. If you don’t make contact he will only have the opportunity for two points. The other alternative, of course, would be to block the shot.
Stopping the Give-and-Go
A pass and an immediate cut to the basket is the oldest maneuver in offensive basketball. Called the “give-and-go,” it sometimes causes a defensive player trouble.
The difficulty usually stems from two faults:
• The guard turns his head to watch the ball. When he does that the offensive man cuts behind him and easily takes a return pass.
• The guard remains flat-footed as the cutter goes by.
On the give-and-go, you as the defensive man should take a quick step backward and keep your eyes glued to the cutter’s midriff. The step back will give you a chance to find out which way the cutter is going to go–the ball side, or the far side. By watching the cutter’s midriff, the guard can’t be faked out of position. Despite tricky head, shoulder and hand movements, a cutter’s stomach will indicate his direction.
If the cutter goes to the ball side, you should turn and go with the cutter. If you can get one step ahead, you will have a chance of intercepting the pass, or getting a held ball.
If the cutter goes to the far side, you should turn that way, stay half a step ahead of the cutter and look for the pass. He is now on the inside and can easily be intercepted.
Blocking out after a shot
Defending after the shot is similar to defending against the give-and-go. If you are guarding the shooter, you should anticipate a drive for the rebound.
As with the give-and-go, you should take a step backward and watch the shooter’s midriff. As the shooter begins to break in for the rebound, you should turn directly in front of him. You do not hold the shooter off physically until about 10′ from the basket. Then you hold your ground and hope that the ball rebounds your way. Naturally, if all five defensive men “block out” on shots from long or medium range, they will have the best opportunity to catch rebounds because each will hold an inside position.
Blocking out should be attempted whether you are playing a man with, or without the ball. If your man does not drive to the basket, however, do not stay on the outside too long. Go in and help out. Since you will out number the opposing team, you will have a good chance to get the ball.
Defending after a foul shot
There is one positive rule about attempting to recover a foul shot from the defensive basket. Someone must always cover the shooter. If this rule is not followed, the ball may hit the outer rim, bounce right back into the shooter’s hands and present him with an easy field goal attempt. Instead of losing a point, he is apt to gain two.
So, as you line up with your teammates, be sure someone- usually the last man on the line-steps directly in front of the shooter as the ball hits. If the ball bounces straight back, your team will have it.
When lining up on the foul line at either basket, be certain the man next to you-especially if he is taller-does not hook his arms over yours. If he does, you will never have a chance at the ball.
And remember, when at the defensive basket, do not tap the ball on the rebound, catch it. And, do not pass across the lane to start the offense up court. Go directly forward, or to the sideline.
Switching on defense
Switching is one way to prevent cross-court screens. In the man-for-man defense, it is smart to point to the man you are guarding since switching is a possibility. When there is an easy and obvious opportunity to change assignments, the players should yell “switch” and point to the man being picked up. Remember, switching can only be effective against lateral movement. It will not work against direct cuts to the basket.
There is one obvious danger to the switching tactic: If one of the two defensive players involved fails to switch, two men are going to be guarding the same offensive player, while one offensive man will be running free. Do not yell “switch” unless you are sure your teammate can and will make the switch with you.
Take-Home Defensive Tips
• Never stop pressing the offense. In other words, don’t quit!
• Never tip the ball as it comes off the defensive basket. Always catch it.
• Never pass the ball across the back lane. Take it away from the lane. First, by a quick pass out to a breaking teammate. Second, by dribbling.
• When playing in the man-for-man defense, always stay between your opponent and the basket.
• If you think you are being screened, close up on your man and fight through. If you are being used to screen out a teammate, loosen up and let your teammate slide through and be alert to the possibility of a switch.
• If your man gets one shot and misses, do not let him get a second attempt.
• When playing two men, remember that the man closest to the basket is the most dangerous.
At all times, “help out” the rest of your teammates on defense.
If the man you are guarding has the ball, you should stretch one hand up (with fingers spread) to block a possible shot. The other hand should be stretched sideward. (Usually the sideward hand is the hand that is to the “inside” of the court. In other words, if you are located to the right of the court, your right hand is up, left hand sideward. )
The position of your head as a defensive player when guarding an opponent is extremely important. You want to see the ball and as much of the basketball court and offensive players as possible. To do this, you should make full use of your peripheral vision (sometimes called “split” vision).
How important it is for you to learn the fundamentals of playing defense as a basketball player cannot be emphasized enough. Remember, offense win games but defense win championships. Visit http://www.basketball-drills-and-tips.com to find more information on this topic, and to download a FREE copy of our Basketball E-Book ($29 Value) titled,”The Fundamentals of Basketball: A beginner’s guide for coaches and players.”
Every basketball team should have an organized basketball-offense attack, and a “system” of play with solid back court players. In this way, every player will know what is expected of him. He’ll know where to go. Moreover, a system play will often overcome individual weaknesses of one or more players.
Over the years, basketball coaches have devised many kinds of basketball offenses. In general, they fall into two groups; those designed to defend against the man-for-man defense and those put together to crack the zone.
These basketball offenses have many characteristics. Some are slow and deliberate, involving a series of “set” plays. Others are of the slam-bang variety, sometimes referred to as “race horse” basketball.
Regardless of how the basketball offense is paced, it must be “sound” to be successful. By that we mean that the offense must have certain features; it must give its players short, medium and long shots. It must give the team good rebound strength off the offensive board. It must be able to switch to defense quickly in the event the ball is lost.
Most of all, the basketball offense must include passing “options.” If player A wants to make a pass to player B to start a screen play and suddenly finds B covered, he should have the option of starting a play with another teammate. And without stopping the attack.
What Kind of Offense?
Ideally, any basketball coach would like to have players suited to every position; however, it doesn’t always turn out that way. The type of players you have as a coach will dictate how the offense is to be shaped.
This places the responsibility of selecting an offense on the coach. The coach must be imaginative and sensible when he sits down to plan his basketball offense. He has to carefully analyze his team of players and come up with an offense that will take fullest advantage of the type of players that make up the team.
If a team is small, for example, a “possession” type of offense would be best. The offense should be designed to keep the players moving constantly, to give them plenty of good screens; screens that will lead to medium and short range shots. This team wants to rely, too, on specialty and spot shooting. A possession game and a good shooting percentage will go a long way toward making up for lack of size.
If the team has one or two big players, the basketball offense can be built around a single or double post system (against man-for-man).
Since the principles of the man-for-man defense differ from those of the zone, the principles involved in the attack against each of these defenses differ too.
Attack Against Man-for-Man Defense
In any attack, the objective of the basketball offense is to make the defense move; to get it out of position so that an offensive player can have an opportunity to shoot.
In the man-for-man defense, the guards play the man. To move the guard, you must move the offensive man. In moving the offensive man, however, you must maneuver the defense out of position. The best way to do this is to set up a series of screens,a “pattern.”
What kind of pattern you establish for your offense depends on the kinds of players making up the team. Let’s assume you have three players of average height who are fair outside shooters and better than average drivers. Let’s also assume the remaining two making up the first five are big men that are poor from the outside.
The pattern might take this form. The two big men establish post positions on either side of the foul line. The other three bring up the ball. From this three-out, two-in pattern, you can devise all sorts of screens. It will give you a long, medium and short attack. It will give you rebound strength and defensive strength.
In building up the pattern, remember that the offensive players must keep moving in order to move the defense. To get continuity of movement, the passing pattern must include several options. In order for a basketball team and its players to be successful, it must have a basketball offense that can handle any and all kinds of defense that an opposing team throws at it.
Visit http://www.basketball-drills-and-tips.com to find more information on this topic, and todownload a FREE copy of our Basketball E-Book ($29 Value) titled, “The Fundamentals of Basketball: A beginner’s guide for coaches and players.”
Since, the basketball game requires you to move vigorously, it is always a good idea as a player to invest in a reliable pair of basketball shoes. Movements such as jumping, running, shooting, blocking, and other side-to-side actions are obviously employed in the basketball game. You canât sustain all the necessary moves when shoes easily tear away. The basketball players are nonetheless wise enough to choose a good and decent pair of basketball shoes. These pairs of basketball shoes:Need to be enduring; Enduring shoes will not overcome only wear and tear but also it will contain more of the capacity of hindering any occurrence of injuries on the playerâs lower body parts.Need to be Comfortable; A player must be comfortable in his/her shoes as he/she executes the routines of the game. This is significant, especially that the player needs to move swiftly. Therefore any hindrance in transferring his/her body weight from one foot to another should highly avoided.The Variety of Basketball Shoes
However, basketball players are different. They then opt for different kinds of basketball shoes. There are those power players who prefer basketball shoes with the high tops for the utmost ankle comfort and support. Meanwhile, the all-around basketball players often go for the mid-sole basketball shoes. The speedsters on the other hand most likely want the low-top and lightweight basketball shoes that provide no restriction on the ankles.
Note that basketball players who utilize plain tennis shoes when playing stand some of the dangers that come along with tennis shoes. Which include higher chances of skidding, getting injured, and being slowed down due to weakening grips.The Makeup of Basketball Shoes
The basketball shoes are either crafted through the use of canvas, synthetic leather, or leather alone. The most popularly utilized material for the basketball shoes is the synthetic leather due to its lightweight and durability. Natural leather material is prone to stretching therefore increasing the dangers for the player. Other branded basketball shoes utilize the combined materials of natural textile or leather and the synthetic leather.
Basketball shoes manufacturers oftentimes sponsor basketball teams. The common requirement is the reliable sock liner therein. As of now, there are several varieties of basketball shoes sold on the market. But of course, the standards for the choice of basketball shoes are always set for traction, durability, style, comfort, and support. Both male and female basketball players can very well satisfy themselves with the wide array of basketball shoes on the market.For your basketball success, you can download a very informative complete basketball handbook here for freehref
What is it about basketball that makes it soo popular? Why are there so many people who take interest in being part of the game? Wherever you go, you will spot people both young and old who get hooked on basketball. They say it is cool to be playing the game but aside from that there are several values and disciplines that one can derive from basketball. But how did basketball start out? Let us take a glimpse of the history of basketball. Dr. James Naismith is known to be the father of basketball who came up with the concept in the year 1892. The very first basketball game was held on April 8, 1893 in Beaver Falls Pennsylvania. The first two competing teams were the Geneva College and New Brighton YMCA. It then popularized so that by the year 1914, there were at least 360 basketball teams formed by different colleges. The very first NCAA Men’s College Basketball Championship was then held in 1939 and was bagged by the University of Oregon. Due to the conflict of interests, professional basketball teams were then molded. These teams started playing for money. It was in 1898 that the National Basketball League or NBL was produced and spearheaded by Barney Sedran and Ed Wachter. Within the course of basketball pro teams, the first teams to have a taste of success were the Celtics and the Buffalo Germans followed by the Harlem Globetrotters and New York Renaissance in the 1930s. It was also in these times when basketball for women started booming with the exemplary star players such as Alline Banks Sprouse and Babe Didrikson. In the 1940s, the very first basketball games in the colleges were broadcasted on national television. The first to be shown was the game that was contested by Fordham and Pittsburgh at the Madison Square Garden. This then heightened the popularity of the game. Its fame spread like madness and was obviously watched by the whole of the United States especially the tournament that was played by 350 American college basketball teams for the NCAA championship. On a yearly basis, there were new basketball teams that surfaced to be the most favorites of the crowd. And all through the years, the game enthusiasts continued to sharpen their skills and executed notable moves in the courts. To date, the history of basketball is revered and an inspiration to many.
Basketball is indeed one of the most popular sports in the world. Through the years, the sport has created superstars and icons out of basketball players. No wonder, many kids nowadays aspire to become professional or star basketball players. Basketball is a very physical game. There is so mush movement. To be able to make a good play, each basketball player is required to possess great physical stamina and agility to be able to perform and meet the requirements of the aggressive physical tactics in the game. This sport has its own lingo. There are plays and specific tactics that have their own terms. Looking at the mechanics of the game will also introduce you to many more special vocabulary terms, tactics and game technicalities. Rebounding is one of those terms. The word actually refers to the act of gaining hold of the basketball after a free throw or a field goal. When the basketball is shot to the basket, of course, it will fall back to the ground. That is when the two teams struggle to take possession of the basketball. Rebounding is a very significant part of the game of basketball. That is because this activity defines and rolls the game throughout the entire duration. A good player must be able to know the basics and some special techniques to be able to make good rebounding moves. Rebounds can either be offensive or defensive. Observers and experts say that most rebounding tends to be on the defensive because usually, the defense team is in a better position or is often closer to the basket. Thus, whenever there are missed shots, the defensive team can easily recover the basketball and try to shoot the ball again. If the ball goes to the offensive team, then the defense will struggle to block the opposing player or recover the ball. Characteristics of a good rebound player When playing basketball, it is advised that the player be physically fit. The agility, strength, speed and overall endurance of the body are required for a player to be able to meet the physical challenges of the game, particularly in rebounding. But did you know that most basketball aficionados would say that aside from those attributes, the player must have good natural gifts and characteristics to be able to play good rebounds? Yes, the above-mentioned characteristics can be acquired through enduring and patient training and workouts. But rebounding will require physical attributes like height. Though, many would argue against the notion that height would make a player more efficient in rebounding, observers would surely reach a consensus in agreement. If you are 6′11″ in height, you have a great advantage over opponents that stand mush less than your height. Aside from those physical attributes, there are also other factors that could help a player put up awesome rebounds. Cite a good rebound to the player’s determination, aggressiveness and positioning. If a player is determined to gain possession of the ball, he will do his best to reach that goal and focus while the game is at play. Aggressiveness is needed to be physically assertive and to be able to take movement in gaining the basketball before opponents. Lastly, positioning should be ideal. To be able to reach a good aim at rebounding, the player must move close to the basket. By doing so, the player will have greater chances of getting the basketball once it falls back to the ground after being thrown to the basket by another player. Other tips to good rebounding Here are some other guidelines that would steer you towards great rebounds. Acquire good jumping ability. When players are in commotion to struggle to gain possession of the ball, usually, the one who jumps higher than the rest will take hold of the coveted ball. Train to flex and strengthen further the muscles of the legs and thighs. Take a good and ideal position. Estimate the projectile of the ball. A strong position also entails good rebounding. Avoid abruptly dribbling the ball after you have successfully grabbed the basketball. Instead, go back and rebound and resume a position wherein you have a strong position relative to the basket. Play your game well. Rebound and make things happen. Good luck and win the game!
Basketball has made superstars out of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Shacquille O’Neal and many others. In almost every country, there are breeds of basketball icons. No wonder, basketball is continuously catching the interest of more and more people, especially the younger ones. Though, football still is considered the most popular sports event on earth, the ability of basketball games to catch and suspend breaths of sports fans around the world shouldn’t be underestimated. The game of basketball is all about competition between two opposing teams. Each team has to accumulate points by shooting the ball into the basket. The more successful shots, the higher the points. When looking at each game, it may seem that this sports activity could easily be handled. But experts and basketball players themselves would assert otherwise. Each player must strive harder to play the game better and help the team win the game. Because basketball is all about shooting the ball into the basket, shooting is one of the most basic skills each basketball player must possess. Surely, there are many other aspects of the game, but so far, shooting is considered the most important because it is the way to accumulate scores for the team. Shooting is that particular basketball act when the player is striving hard to successfully throw the basketball into the basket. There will be struggles to get hold of the ball, but in the end, each player’s goal is to shoot that ball into the basket to score. Types of shooting Because shooting is a complicated move within the game, there are many types of shooting. Take note that players can throw the ball from a stationary position, while walking, while running, while jumping and so on. The ultimate goal is to shoot that ball where it should be-to the basket. One type of shooting is the easiest-the set shot. The set shot is usually observed when a player is shooting a ‘free throw’. In this type of shot, the player is left standing on the floor and throwing the ball into the basket very comfortably from a specified range. The jump shot is more challenging than the set shot. In this shooting technique, the player jumps high into the air to be able to rise above the opponents and take a better vision and range of the basket. The opponent will try to block the shot and may end up being thrown up or being knocked down to the floor. However, during a jump shot, traveling violations may occur. That is when the player isn’t able to release the ball immediately before his feet get back to the ground. The layup is a shooting style when the basketball player moves along the court and throws up the ball to the basket. Layup is a shooting style wherein the player doesn’t need to take a stationary position to throw the ball. The opponents are aiming to snatch the ball from the one holding it, so there is a struggle. And lastly, the most admired and sought-after shooting technique in every game is the slam dunk. Many stars have become icons because of their ability to perform a slam dunk during important games. A slam dunk is a shooting technique wherein the player jumps toward the net, and directly throws the ball downward to shoot it in the hoop. When the player fails to shoot the ball into the basket during a slam dunk, it is an air ball, which isn’t a violation of game rules. How to attain good shooting skills Because shooting is very essential in every basketball game, players should strive harder to acquire several shooting techniques and skills. Here are some very simple tips that will help you attain optimal shooting skills. Attain proper body balance so you can aim to shoot the ball better and do your goal well. Calculate the force to apply by your arms to the basketball when throwing the ball into the net. By acquiring the ability to estimate the range between you and the hoop, you can adjust the force to apply to the ball. The fingertips should also be well coordinated. Basketball is a physical game, but you should also have the mental agility. Concentrate on the game and focus well on your targets. Good focus will help you to shoot that ball into the target hoop. Basketball wouldn’t be basketball without shooting. Train and criticize yourself so you will be able to be a better player. It may be just be a game, but it is important to the competitive side of you. Good luck!
There have been countless films on playing high school basketball and by doing this, the lead actor has landed a college scholarship. This isn’t just a Hollywood make-believe event. It can happen even to an unknown athlete in your school-or it could happen to you. When you believe that you were born to fulfill your destiny as a basketball star and that most of your time in high school was spent in trainings and basketball games, then you are on step one. As a high school basketball player, it is important for you to be noticed by, not only by the swooning girls but also, your basketball coach. He may be able to make the recommendations that you need to land a college basketball scholarship. Although this isn’t a guarantee, it pays to do well in every training or game and to stand out. Your high school basketball coach might not know coaches of different colleges so it is also highly advised that high school players make themselves known to them. Unless you play like Michael Jordan, then you have to be able to sell your skills to these coaches. Make them notice you. Don’t wait for any college basketball coach to recruit you. You must confidently submit a resume or profile of your personal basketball history and let your track record be tangible proof for them. The next rule is probably one of the most important things that any high school basketball player needs to know-and that is to achieve good grades. Although basketball may be unrelated to language proficiency or mathematics, the fact remains that most colleges that offer basketball scholarships will want their applicants to have outstanding grades. What do these grades prove? They only tend to prove that despite the rigors of trainings and games, the player remains disciplined to finish other tasks. The grades will also mirror how well you balance your time on different endeavors. So the next time you start thinking that your English grade means nothing to your college basketball scholarship, think again. Generally in the United States, athletic scholarship applications are best done right after high school graduation. The standing rule for age is 18-24 years old. The great news in the U.S. is that, there are a booming number of colleges and universities that offer scholarships. You have a lot of choices so take a pick and start sending your resume to some of the colleges that you like. Participate in ranking tournaments and give each one of these games your best shot. When you are ranked high, of course, the chances of getting a good scholarship will be greater compared with mediocrity in regional or national ranking. To be able to land an athletic scholarship, you should understand the sophisticated processes of recruitment. You just don’t go about telling every college basketball coach you meet that you can play the game. Know which colleges you want and be able to impress that you can play basketball on a non-neophyte level. Promote your skills and sell your talents. Behave yourself. Basketball coaches want to work with an individual who has a clean track record and who they can mold into the athlete that they envision. If you have a smeared record, chances are, coaches might shun away from meeting you. When you have finally decided which college will be able to offer you the best scholarship, begin processing not just your resume but also other important credentials such as transcript, your ACT and SAT scores, samples of completed work (in short, your portfolio). These are just some of the necessities so it’s important for you to ask your chosen college’s specific requirements. There are, of course, different requirements for different colleges. There are many hurdles to acheiving an athletic scholarship. The requirements include a lot of physical and mental preparation. If you believe you have what it takes to succeed, then you have already succeeded.
Modern day basketball can trace itâs origins to early December 1891 when Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian physical education teacher and a local instructor at Springfield, Massachusettsâ YMCA Training School was desperately seeking an indoor game active and fit during cold, snowy New England winters. After trying several different games and finding them too dangerous or not quite suitable for gymnasiums, Naismith wrote down the essential rules of basketball, incorporating some of the rules of a popular childrenâs game of the era, âDucks on a Pond,â and then nailed a peach basket on an upraised track, ten feet above the playing surface. Of course, since the peach baskets still had closed bottoms, retrieving a ball after a player scored a basket was terribly inefficient â unbelievably, the game had to be stopped for someone to retrieve the ball with a dowel. And although the first official game was played in January of 1892, at the YMCA gymnasium Naismithâs handwritten diaries at the time indicate that he was extremely nervous about the new game he invented, fearing that his basketball wouldnât take.
Oddly, in that first official game of basketball, there were nine players on a side and the winning team won a close fought 1-0 battle with a 25-foot shot â on a court barely half the size of the modern day court! By 1897 teams of five had become standard. Around the same time, womenâs basketball was developed at nearby Smith College when Sandra Berenson, a physical education teacher at the college modified many of the rules for women to play. As it turned out, Berenson was fascinated by the values of teamwork, fair play and vigorous exercise that basketball promoted and began organizing some of the first womenâs basketball games by 1893. By 1899 Berensonâs rules for womenâs basketball were published and by the turn of the century, she was the editor of A.G. Spauldingâs legendary Womenâs Basketball Guide which spread her version of basketball across the country to countless physical education instructors across the country. In fact, with the help of many YMCA instructors, basketball was promoted throughout the United States and Canada, paving the way for the game to be established as a varsity sport at many high schools. Sadly (and perhaps ironically), the YMCA began to discourage basketball by 1905, fearing that rowdy; belligerent crowds and rough play distracted from the organizationâs mission. But that didnât matter much as amateur clubs, colleges, high schools and even several short-lived professional basketball clubs and leagues not only filled in the void but also helped promote the game. Basketball was becoming so popular that the forebear to the NCAA, known as the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States and the Amateur Athletic Union fought for control of the gameâs rules and of its future.
A little known fact is that during those first decades, basketball was primarily played with soccer balls, which were difficult to dribble. Most games consisted of players passing the ball to each other in order to advance it up and down the court. It wasnât for some time until a ball was specifically designed and made for basketball and frequently basketballs were irregularly made, creating an odd scene for modern basketball fans. It wasnât until the late 1940s when college basketball was becoming insanely popular and viable enough to pave the way for the National Basketball Associationâs popularity that Tony Hinkle developed the orange basketball that fans are so familiar with. Of course, it should not be forgotten that Naismith was also influential in the promotion and creation of menâs college basketball when he became the University of Kansas â first basketball team. And believably, many of Naismithâs first students and disciples became important in the history of college basketball including Amos Alonzo Stagg, Forrest âPhogâ Allen, and Adolph Rupp.
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What do Pete “the Pistol” Maravich and Magic Johnson have in common? If you answered that they were both great play makers and masters at passing the basketball, then you would be correct. If you would like to become an elite basketball player, it is essential that you master the fundamentals of passing a basketball. Why? It is very difficult for any basketball player to compete and succeed at the highest level–especially if he would like to win championships–if he does not learn how to pass a basketball effectively to his teammates.
Basketball is a team sport. Unfortunately, a lot of basketball players, make the mistake of thinking that they can win games and championships by solely outscoring their opponent(s). Not a single basketball player, since the invention of basketball by James Naismith in 1891, has ever won a championship without involving his teammates–that is over 100 years and counting!
Even Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, did not win his first NBA championship ring until after he learned how to “share” the basketball with his teammates by creating scoring opportunities not only for himself but also for his teammates–in essence, he improved his basketball passing skills. In a nutshell, great basketball players know how to pass the ball.
With that said, there are different type of passes that you can make as a basketball player: Bounce Pass, Chest Pass, Overhead Pass, Underhand Pass, Baseball Pass, and the Hook Pass. Each type of pass is useful for different game situations. And, you as a basketball player should definitely try to master all the different type of basketball passes. However, only the chest pass will be covered in this article.
How To Make A Chest Pass.
The chest pass is one of the most important passes in basketball. To make the chest pass, do the following:
1) Place one hand on either side of the ball, fingers spread evenly and loosely; 2) Hold the ball in front of your chest; 3) Pull your hands together until your thumbs are about four inches apart; and, 4) Keep your elbows close to the body.
How To Make A Chest Pass To A Teammate:
1) Step directly toward him with either foot; 2) Thrust your arms toward him until they are fully extended; and, 3) At the end of the arm thrust, press your thumbs downward, snap your wrists up slightly and turn the backs of your hands toward each other.
Note:
The ball should be drilled at some point between your teammates shoulders and waist. As the ball travels, it should have good back spin.
The chest pass is effective for many reasons:
1) It enables a player to easily make a fake before an actual pass. 2) It can be fired quickly. 3) It is accurate. 4) It can be used with good power, cutting down the possibility of interception. 5) It can be used at close and medium range. 6) It can be converted into a bounce pass.
The correlation between the success of any basketball player and his ability to pass the ball effectively cannot be emphasized enough. To score in a game of basketball, you must first have an opportunity to shoot the ball. Since there are five opposing players, you cannot always create this opportunity alone. Most of the time, only an accurate pass will lead to a score. This is the epitome of teamwork.
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