Girl's Basketball Academic Importance I

Academic importance is not necessarily about making A's and B's. It's not always about being eligible to play basketball. It really is about the person you become.

It is very common basketball girl's basketball to have a player basketball believes making good grades is not as important as playing basketball. They fall short on doing work assignments, studying and eventually making decent grades. Academics will not become important to the player until it is too late. And believe it or not, at that point academics still may not be important.

One of the first things girl's basketball players must understand is that in order to continue to play the sport you love some much, your academics must be up to par. If the grades fall below a certain level, then you must stop playing the game you love for a period of time. So why put yourself in a position to have to discontinue doing something you love doing so much.

Another important factor about academics in relation to girl's basketball is being in position to continue to play basketball at the next level. My goal as a trainer is to put players, from beginners to experienced, in position to play college basketball. Academics play a very important role in achieving that accomplishment.

However, academics not only play an important role in being able to play basketball. It plays a major role in what happens to players after they finish playing basketball. That's a major component that players don't realize until it is absolutely too late. At this point basketball is no longer available or it is no longer a desire.

But the question now is have you prepared yourself for life after basketball? Or did you use academics to help prepare you for life after basketball?

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

Free Throw Shooting -"Handy" Versus "Army"

Some things happen by accident and great ideas crop up every day while inventions make life easier and basketball convenient. Thank God for the inquisitive mind dedication to a cause and the determination to see dreams become reality.

One such accident happened to me at a basketball shooting clinic while working with 2 separate individuals namely a varsity girl and a junior boy. Both happened to be working on the same free throw shooting principle which was 'flawed' and that happened to be a display of lateral movement of the wrist joint on the moment of ball release. A definite no-no.

As I have said over and over again, when shooting free throws any 'lateral movement' of any body part (especially the arm or wrist) or body in general is not recommended since it just adds more calculations to the mind at the moment of release. I understand that all players jump, hang, move sideways (laterally) during a shot to avoid possible offensive fouls and there is nothing wrong with a display of athleticism. I am just saying that the chances of desired accuracy are reduced.

Millions of players suffer from at least one or more technical shooting or mechanical dysfunctions relating to shooting free throws. Not only is it bad to have your wrist or arm move laterally during the release but it is also bad to raise or drop the wrist or arm once the ball has been released. Wrist movement is a very subtle move and hard to detect by the shooter, especially if they are not cognizant of the value of the wrist joint.

Common sense says that the forearm needs to be 90 degrees to the floor, and on the extension the wrist joint can drop down to the floor, up and back to towards the head, to the right and to the left with varying degrees. It only takes 1" of movement of the wrist in any direction to cause distance and direction irregularities, especially the further you are from the basket. Another analogy is to imagine shooting a rifle and after you line the barrel with the target, try sneezing as you pull the trigger. Impossible to keep the barrel perfectly still. Same principle. Liken the peep sight or end of the gun barrel with the shooting wrist. In both instances a projectile is fired and it is imperative to shoot the ball straight, even though in basketball we do have a small margin of error to deal with.

While working on anybody's free throw shooting, I always stress how important it is to have the forearm (from wrist to elbow) at ninety degrees to the floor and lock in at between 45 and 50 degrees to the floor after the release. Remember Newton's law "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Or in other words, "the angle of release equals the angle of entry". A flat shot is usually distinguished by the rattle of the ball within the rim. Any rattle means the shot arc was too flat. An acceptable entry is the ball only hitting the inside of the rim once.

This is a mental, spatial recognition and a physical awareness of where the wrist should be. Another point of reference is the inside of the wrist below the thumb, which should line up with the center of the rim, if your shooting pocket has the ball about 2 inches above the forehead and between the eyes. This way the front center of the rim, the inside of the shooting wrist and the eyes form a 'straight line'. If your shooting pocket is near the chin, nose, shoulder etc or even on top or behind the head like Kevin Garnett then obviously you lose the 'straight line' sight of your gun barrel.

If your shot pocket is not on the 'straight line' concept (Rim,wrist, eye-line) then your shot tendency will be too "army" (verb) in other words, (too much or unnecessary arm movement). Also, an incorrect 'shot pocket' creates a longer shot as measured from the elbow joint from the beginning of the shot to the end of the shot. For example a junior high hoopster will inevitably shoot from the chest. While if you have ever watched Rasheed Wallace's shot from the Detroit Pistons, you will notice that his shot pocket is about a foot or so above his head which makes his shot length very small as measured by the elbow 'lock' from beginning to end. My personal shot length is 6", Rasheed's is probably about 3" and usually a younger, physically weaker player will have a much longer shot, which means more chance of error. (More on basketball topic in another article.)

Remember the portion of the shooting mechanism from the shoulder to the wrist is responsible for most of the power, lift, thrust, trajectory etc. The accuracy is generated from the wrist to the fingers, mostly fingers which control the flight direction by making each finger accountable. (More on this in another article.)

So, if your shot is too 'army' then you have to recognize this and become more "handy". Just remember the value of a 'handyman'. He is good with his hands on a lot of things. We want you to limit your blame for missing right down to the fingers and hand which is easier to correct. "Your world is in your hands" literally. My Smartball Shooting System teaches this. Basically, one simple method of improving free throw shooting and field goal shooting is by really concentrating on keeping the wrist joint 'locked' at the moment of release with no more than a quarter inch movement in any direction. It is almost impossible to avoid '100%' movement, but you must force the issue for best results. If you lock and leave your arm up in the 'follow through' with fingers spread with no bent knuckles in a firm dictatorial fashion then you will have a solid well conditioned shot.

Another crazy thing I have learned is that if any part of your shot is 'soft' or 'loose' or too 'army' during or after the finish then the rebounds are fairly 'bouncy'. If you learn to shoot with a firm or 'handy' but not stiff release your shots will be softer and truer and the rebounds, if any, will be gentler on the misses. This is a strange concept but so true.

Being more 'army' definitely provides the power for your required distance, but being more 'handy' will result in better direction and elevated accuracy especially in free throw shooting. Since about 80% of shots are "off-center" or crooked. This which is a result of poor directionality due to lack of accountability to the respective fingers responsible for shot mastery. Understanding this concept goes a long way in shooting efficiency and we all need this. How about for the Xmas season asking for this gift. All I want for Xmas is a 'better looking free throw'.

By Ed Palubinskas
Shooting Surgeon

Author- Ed Palubinskas is President of the National Basketball Shooters Association http://www.nbsahoops.com.
He was a Junior College All American, Olympic world record scoring champion in 1972 and 1976 Olympics.
He has set Guinness world free throw records, and still shoots at 99% from the line anytime, anywhere. His principles of perfect shooting are timeless and priceless when understood and mastered and anyone can duplicate these principles if they really want to. For more details on accomplishments and career go to http://www.freethrowmaster.com where you can also order some of the shooting products. Best swishes and Good luck.
Ed Palubinskas
Shooting surgeon.

Basketball Tips and Training: 14 Ways to Become a Big-Time Player

I get asked the following question all the time: how can I become a dominant player?

I've put together a list of 14 things basketball need to do to become a big-time basketball player. Read this list, and start doing these things, and you'll be a better player. Guaranteed. And if you already do most of the things on the list...you're ahead of the game. So what are the things you need to do to dominate a basketball game? Read on...

• 1.) Be aggressiveYou can't be a good basketball player if you are tentative and uncertain of what you will do on the next play. Great basketball play with decisiveness. Great players are aggressive.
• 2.) Make a 2nd and 3rd effort on every playIt's one thing to make a good effort. But great players keep trying until they succeed. If you aren't immediately successful on a play, keep working and trying until you make it happen.
• 3.) Think positiveBelieve you'll be successful, and it's more likely to come true. If you take the court doubting yourself, doubting your abilities, and scared that you'll fail, well guess what: you probably will. Think positively, act like you'll get the job done, and then go out and make it happen.
• 4.) Be confident in yourselfNot only do you have to think positive (see #3 above), but you have to believe in yourself. Great players know they are good. They know they'll win most battles. They play with confidence and it shows in their performance level.
• 5.) Take good shotsIt may sound silly, but taking good shots is a big part of shooting a high percentage, and getting lots of playing time. If your range is 16-feet, don't take 23-foot off-balance jumpers. Sometimes players shoot the ball because they don't know when they'll get another chance to score. Make sure you're the type of player that takes good, high-percentage shots.
• 6.) Be a good teammateDon't ever forget that basketball is a team game. Your success (or failure) is based on how you play, and how your team plays. Help make the players around you better, and you'll be surprised at how good that will make you.
• 7.) Get up and down the floor quicklyWhether it's running up the court on a fast break, or sprinting back on defense, good players run the floor well. Getting up and down the floor quickly puts pressue on your opponent and puts you in a position to make good things happen.
• 8.) Listen to your coachYour coach determines whether you get in the game or not, and how much playing time you get. Work hard in practice, and listen to your coach during games (about which offense to run and which defense to play). If a coach doesn't think you're listening, your playing time will suffer.
• 9.) Play great defenseCoaches love players that play good, tough defense. Even if you're having a tough night on the offensive end, you can still contribute to the success of the team by playing great defense. There are lots of big-time college and NBA players who aren't all that great offensively, but who are big-time defensive players. Defense can get you lots of playing time.
• 10.) Stay out of foul troublePlaying good, smart basketball means staying out of foul trouble. You'll commit plenty of fouls by playing good, aggressive basketball, so avoid fouls for reaching with your hands on defense, or for over-the-back calls while going for rebounds. No matter how good a player you might be, you'll spend plenty of time on the bench if you get yourself into foul trouble.
• 11.) Practice hardPractice is how you prepare for games. Whether it's shooting around on your own, or scrimmaging at your team practice, you've got to work hard. If you get lazy, and decide to take it easy during practice, your game will suffer. Push yourself, work hard, and you'll improve as a player.
• 12.) Go up strong insideAnytime you play in the paint, you've got to be tough and play strong. There are lots of bodies, elbows, arms, and hands in the lane. If you make a post move, or rebound the ball on the offensive end of the floor, go back up strong. It's no place to be tentative, weak, or afraid.
• 13.) Become a great free throw shooterEveryone should work to become a great free throw shooter. You can improve your scoring average, get more playing time, and help your team win games, simply by becoming a clutch free throw shooter. A big part of free throw shooting is mental. So work on having a good free throw shooting routine, and being confident that you'll knock the shots down.
• 14.) Be the player you'd hate to play againstAs a player, I hated playing defense against guys that were aggressive, smart, constantly moving without the ball, who took high percentage shots, went up strong inside, and crashed the offensive boards. And I hated playing offense against aggressive, strong, smart, fundamentally sound players who played great D and never made anything easy for me. Be that type of player. Be the player you'd hate to play against.Do these 14 things, and you'll be well on your way to becoming a great player.

Patrick Chylinski is a former college and professional basketball player who now does private coaching in the Los Angeles area. His website, http://www.basketballsuccess.com, is packed with professional-level playing tips, drills, and training advice.

He also offers a free email newsletter. Go to http://www.basketballsuccess.com to sign-up.

The Characteristics of a Great Rebounder

Rebounding can be an overlooked skill at times. People never realize how tough it can be to be an amazing rebounder. Those people need to step in rebounders' shoes and discover how amazingly wrong they are.

One thing that I hate is when people say, "Come on. You're at least 4 inches taller than that guy. You should have grabbed that missed shot easily." Sure, height is a great help when you're a rebounder, but it's definitely one of the bottom things basketball the list of most important things to be a rebounder. Rebounding takes physical strength, determination, positioning and aggressiveness.

Physical strength isn't extremely necessary to be a rebounder, but if you're fighting for a board against a guy with twice the muscles you have, it's going to be tough. Upper body strength is the key here. If you're reaching up to grab a board at the same time your defender is, your upper body strength helps you to rip the ball away from him. Vertical can definitely help in rebounding too. Jumping 5 inches higher than your opponent is definitely going to help you out-rebound your opponent.

If you think that you can't grab a rebound, then obviously you're not going to grab it. Be determined in yourself that you're a better rebounder than your opponent, and that small boost of self-confidence will definitely help you out. If you're a smaller guy, don't tell yourself that you have no chance of grabbing a board. Just jump as high as you can and fight for it. I personally love the feeling when I've got a guy that's almost twice as big as me and at least a 6 inches taller than me who's trying to box me out, and then I fight around him and grab the rebound. I've seen many smaller players give it all they've got to fight for position against a taller player and rebound the ball.

A great rebounder knows where to position himself to get the best chance of rebounding the ball. Obviously the best position you can have is in front of your defender. If you are already in front of your defender and boxing him out, the best thing you can do is push him backwards and keep your arms out to make sure he doesn't get past you. Keep on feeling him to know where he is, and if he gets in front of you, the only option you have is to fight back for position. If you're fighting for position, the person who is boxing you out usually fall for a fake. Take one step one way, and the quick burst to the other way and fight for that position. Don't be afraid to get rough. Just make sure you don't jump over him, because that will definitely be a foul. Another great way to get position is predicting where the ball will bounce off the rim, and moving to that position.

If you watch the NBA you will notice that some the best rebounders are the aggressive ones. Take Kenyon Martin for example. In my personal opinion, he's one of the most aggressive NBA players. He will play as rough as he can to grab a rebound. If that ball isn't in anybody's hands, then he will try his absolute hardest to grab that ball. Here's my take on aggressive rebounding. Imagine you haven't eaten in weeks, and your opponents have full stomachs that are greedy and want all the food. Pretend the ball is a nice juicy steak with honey basketball sauce smothered all over it. When that ball hits the rim, you don't want the well-fed opponents to eat your food, right? So do whatever you can to get your hands on the juicy steak and stop your opponents from getting it. If you're creative enough of thinking this while playing a game, then this analogy can help you out.

Being a rebounder definitely takes some toughness. But if you have these four characteristics, rebounding will be seem to be easier to you. Stay aggressive and you'll be out-rebounding opponents like it's nothing.

For more great basketball tips and NBA news, check out JM NBA Source