The question of why the gap has been closed in international basketball is a pressing one. The United States once dominated international and Olympic play. Those days are gone as our coaching structure leaves a lot to be desired. The quality of our coaching has deteriorated, therefore other countries have made great progress due to a motivated coaching movement. Coaching certification for basketball coaches was once just a topic for discussion. It has become an urgent topic and must be seriously be considered by the United States coaching community.

This article addresses the benefits of a coaching certification. Following the lead of countries such as Canada and the UK, the following list represents a good reason for us to follow.

12 Benefits of a Basketball Coach Certification program

1. By becoming certified you will increase your knowledge of the game of basketball.
2. You will immediately be part of a small group of certified trainers to facilitate your learning and application of the game. Your knowledge will be sought by other coaches.
3. Certification will prepare you to run your own training program or youth basketball camps.
4. A comprehensive learning approach with a classroom setting and on floor setting will enhance your learning curve.
5. 12 hours of learning will equal the amount of learning gained in several coaching clinics.
6. Can be completed in a 2 or 3 day period to fit your schedule and other responsibilities.
7. You can add references to your resume to grow your coaching network.
8. Your will gain access to hundreds of coaching contacts in high school, college and NBA basketball.
9. You will begin to compile your coaching philosophy in your own “Black Book” of coaching.
10. You will demonstrate initiative and enhance job prospects.
11. For the cost on ONE Nike clinic you will exposed to every part of the game from a teaching and philosophical standpoint.
12. You will develop your own coaching philosophy, techniques and methods of teaching the game.

The main step to take in this process has to come from those in leadership roles. The National Association of Basketball Coaches, the NBA, the NCAA, and the thousands of coaching associations around the country must all embrace this effort toward improving basketball coaching. Until we do our game will continue to struggle for identify and quality.

I’ve written about the skill of rebounding and how determination and desire can overcome some lack of athletic skills. Former NBA players like Paul Silas, Nate Thurmond and Dennis Rodman had stellar careers mainly from rebounding. Can the everyday youth player become an NBA player as just a rebounder? Probably not but here are five rebounding drills for coaches and parents that may help their players and kids improve their individual and team rebounding.

1) Two-Hand Basic. This is one of the simplest, basic rebounding drills that some of the top coaches in the country use at each and every practice. Line up players on one side of the backboard about six feet away from it. Toss the ball against the backboard, run to get the rebound, secure it with two hands and come down with it. When the player lands, he should have a nice wide base with his feet. The feet in fact should be farther apart then the player’s shoulders. Once the player goes, he turns and pivots to the outside for the outlet pass and passes the ball to the next player. This is done continuously. Coaches can use both sides of the backboard with two lines. For younger players who may have trouble tossing the ball against the backboard, coaches can use a wall. This is one of those simple drills that give coaches a great opportunity to point out fundamental mistakes and correct them.

2) Bull In The Ring. This drill can get very physical. Anywhere from two to five players will pair up with someone. This drill is done around the circle at the free throw line. So say we have three pair of players participating. The three defensive players will be spread around the circle. The three pair of offensive players will be spread outside the circle. Each pair will be facing each other. The coach will put the ball in the center of the circle and get out. When the coach blows the whistle, the offensive players will try to get inside the circle to get the basketball. The defensive players will pivot at the sound of the whistle with their back to their partner. The defensive players will try to keep the offensive players outside of the circle and away from the basketball using out their boxing out skills. The coach can use 3, 4 or 5 seconds as the goal to keep the offensive players outside the circle. Coaches can adjust this drill according to the age and skill of the players that are being coached. And there is a safety factor here so coaches should pay strict attention and get ready to quickly blow the whistle. This drill can also be done around the mid-court circle. Because of the size of the circle, here you can only have one pair of players. An idea for coaches is to use all the circles in the gym.

3) Ball Bangs. This is a great drill for older kids who have some height and jumping ability and can hit the backboard. With that said, coaches and parents of younger kids should never be turned off by any advanced basketball drills they see or hear about. I would bet that 90% of most advanced drills can be adjusted for the youngest youth basketball players. In the “Ball Bangs” drills, starts on the right side. The player holds the basketball with two hands over his head. The player will jump up and bang the ball against the backboard. He does this as hard as he can three times. On the fourth jump, he puts the ball in the basket. You can work up to ten or fifteen or even twenty jumps and coaches can “encourage” players by yelling to hit the ball harder against the backboard. Players can then switch sides. For younger players a wall is just as good as the backboard. Coaches and parents should make sure players keep the ball over their head. Hitting the ball hard against the backboard or wall will condition the player to use his strength to hold the basketball. There is no rest or winding up between jumps.

4) Over The Top. This rebounding drills starts at the block (square color) on one side of the key. Each player has his own basketball and is in one line. The player will toss the ball to the box target above the rim. When he does this, as ball goes to the other side and the player should himself move to where the ball will be coming down. The goal for the player when getting the rebound is to make the effort to attack the ball at the highest point he can possibly reach it. When the player lands, coaches want to emphasize that the player should create a large base with his feet and his shoulders are square to the baseline with the ball around chin height, with the elbows out. With the shoulders square to the baseline and elbows out, this helps shield off any defensive player from the ball. After securing the basketball, the player will try to put the ball into the basket either with no dribble or with one power dribble. Then the next person in line goes. This is an excellent drill to utilize numerous baskets in one gymnasium. Or one player can do this continuously going from side to side. This can be a dual purpose drill for conditioning as well.

5) Carousel. In this rebounding drill, we have two regular five man teams in different color t-shirts. They are at the circle at the foul line. The coach is in the middle and the players will begin to walk around the circle. The coach will then toss the ball up to the backboard. The players will scramble for the rebound. They will play a one-point game and then start over at the circle. Coaches should have players go one way and then go the other way. It is important that while the players are going around the circle, they are able to see the coach at all times so they all know when he shoots the basketball.

These are only five of many basketball rebounding drills that teams of all ages can utilize. Coaches have to emphasize to their players that rebounding is one of the most important parts of the game of basketball though there is no guarantee that the best rebounding team will win the game. It is not a guarantee but it will help keep teams competitive and will put them in a position to win games

Lifetime Portable Basketball Goals Models 71522, 71523, and 71524

These portable basketball hoop models can provide shoppers headaches if the product listing is not very thorough. On the surface, they all appear the same: 54-inch backboard, portable base, 3.5-inch round pole. But, there are several factors that make these products quite different from each other. This article will elaborate on some of these differences.

54-inch Backboard

All of these products feature the largest backboard size available on Lifetime portable basketball hoops. The 54-inch mark makes these backboards just 18 inches short of a regulation width. So any difference between these systems is going to be important in making your purchasing decision. For the 71523 and the 71524, the backboard is made of polycarbonate. On the 71522, the backboard is made of acrylic. For most players, the difference in playability between acrylic and polycarbonate is fairly minimal. What is reported by customers and manufacturers of basketball systems is that acrylic provides a superior rebound when the ball hits the backboard. For most beginning to intermediate level players, this difference will be almost unnoticeable. For advanced players, they will likely begin to notice that a polycarbonate backboard material throws off their bank shots a bit. On the other hand, polycarbonate is used because it is considered to be about 30 times stronger than acrylic, thus increasing the life of your system. It would not be expected that your backboard will break over night with an acrylic material, but that polycarbonate will last longer given 2 comparably aged and used systems.

Backboard Frame

On these 3 portable basketball hoops, the thickness of the frame is a major difference. For the 71522 and the 71523, the steel frame on the backboard measures 1.5 inches wide. On the 71524, the frame measures only 1 inch wide. On portable basketball hoops, such as these, the rebound is improved greatly with a thicker frame. So in terms of rebound, the 71522 (with its acrylic backboard and 1.5 inch frame) will have the best rebound and the 71524 (with its polycarbonate backboard and 1 inch frame) will have the worst rebound. Comparing these two factors, the backboard material and the thickness of the frame, the thickness of the frame plays a bigger role in improving rebound.

Pricing

With all these differences explained, you might expect the 71522 to be the most expensive; however, this is not the case. On most shopping sites, the 71523 is more expensive than the 71522 and the 71524 is the cheapest. The main reason for this difference is the differences in cost of production. Polycarbonate often has more expensive production materials and procedures than acrylic. As mentioned above, there are several differences in quality, some of which are a pick-your-own poison. This means that while the 71522 is cheaper than the 71523, the acrylic backboard of the 71522 will likely not last as long as the polycarbonate backboard on the 71523. On the 71523, we would expect to not see as good of a rebound as the 71522, but you will be spending more for the 71523.

Hopefully this description of the differences in these 3 systems has not tripped you up. Have fun shopping.

The love story between the Cleveland Cavaliers and its star player is amazing, yet full of ups and downs.

Over these three years, there were a lot of situations that could have caused them to give up and go onto something else, but they pressed on to become the 2016 NBA champions.

If you want to win in your relationships, you can learn a lot from the Cleveland Cavs.

Their journey is very similar to how relationships can be in many cases, and here’s how:

1) The Big Break Up. Many years ago, the star player chose to leave Cleveland to try something new. At times in our relationships, we fall out with the one we love. We tend to walk away in hopes of finding something better. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

2) Humility. In order for the team to work, the star player had to humble himself and make the decision to come back to a team he had left many years before. When you’re in a relationship, humility is a must. You must be willing to admit when you’re wrong and at times say sorry even when you feel you were right.

3) There was chemistry. For a relationship to work, everyone must regroup and be able to play their part on a consistent basis, or the relationship will not work out.

4) Hurt and pain. During this journey to the championship, there were hurtful and painful situations that rendered many of its players useless at times due to injuries. Relationships can come with the pain of betrayal, hurtful words, misunderstandings, and many other things that can knock you down and cause you not to play or perform at your fullest potential.

5) Required Time and Patience. In order for them to win this championship, the Cavs needed time. The first year was a time of getting together and getting to know one another. The second year, they made it to the finals, but no championship. After the third try they made it. Relationships are the same way. It takes time to get to know a person. Everything doesn’t come together all at once, so patience is required.

6) Passion. The question is “How bad do you want it to work?” The Cleveland Cavs had a passion to win. Despite all of their setbacks and their 3-1 deficit during the finals, they were passionate about the game of basketball and winning the championship. In a relationship, you must be passionate enough about the person and the relationship for it to work. You can’t become selfish and self-centered or you will miss out on the opportunity to become a champion.

7) Hard work. Nothing worth value comes without hard work. The Cavs worked hard for this championship, and they won! If you want your relationships to succeed, you must be willing to put in the work. It won’t come by saying you want it to work. Nor will it come from passion alone. You must do your part to make the relationship work.

Like basketball, relationships are complicated and require a lot of time, effort, and energy. The Cavs wanted to win the championship and they put forth the effort they needed over time for it to work. Each person played their part and they earned the right to become champions.

The question is will you see your relationship like a basketball champion and do what you need for it to work? Or will you give up and make excuses because you didn’t win?

Basketball is one of the most complex sports there is. To master this sport it takes a combination of hand eye coordination, speed, power, agility, and most importantly the power of will. For the amateur this sport can be very difficult to play, especially against mildly difficult competition. I have played basketball since age four, and have also played at the collegiate level. I have a few tips on the basic skills of the game that the amateur can use to enhance their game.

1. Dribbling

Most amateurs want to be able to handle the ball like Allen Iverson and “shake and bake” their opponent at will, but this skill can be overrated. Basic dribbling skills are all that is required to be a sufficient player. Being able to handle the ball with both hands without it bouncing out of your control is the minimum you need for this category of the game. Some of the greatest players in the history of basketball, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, were not the best ball handlers.

2. Shooting

The object of the game of basketball is to put the ball in the hoop. In my eyes this is the most important physical skill on the court. The greatest players in the history of this game have had the ability to shoot the basketball, and at a very high level. While Ray Allen was not a great ball handler he made up for that in his ability to shoot the ball better than anybody ever has; he holds the three point shooting record in the NBA. This skill can be taught and perfected due to it being somewhat mechanical in nature. While someone may not be a good shooter the skill can be acquired overtime with repetition.

3. Defense

Maybe the easiest skill to perform in a game of basketball. No matter your skill level in the other categories, this particular category can make up for your other inefficiencies. This skill requires good footwork and mobility to stay in front of your opponent as well as jumping ability to block and alter shots. Mastery of this skill will almost guarantee you a spot on somebody’s team during a pickup game, everybody loves the person that loves to play defense.

4. Passing

Possibly the most underrated skill in the game today. Passing requires knowledge of where your teammates are on the court and intuition of where they will be once you make your pass. This is a tough skill to master, many basketball experts say either you were born a great passer or you were not. Magic Johnson, regarded as the greatest passer of the basketball, had a ken sense of where ever person was on the court and knew the exact spot to give them the basketball in order for that person to achieve optimal success.

5. Mental Toughness

By far the most important skill you absolutely need to have before stepping onto any basketball court. Basketball can be a game of trash talking, dirty plays from opponents, and tightly played games. A strong minded mentality is needed to endure these intangibles. The trash talking in basketball games is quite intense and sometimes many opponents can cross the line while doing so, the reason the do this is to get you to react and lose you composure. I’m guilty of trash talking my opponents on numerous occasions, it is the easiest way to make your opponent give up and retreat from competition. By having this mental toughness there is nothing on the court that you can not overcome.

By achieving a greater level of skill than you currently have in each of these categories, you can become a better player and enjoy this great game even more.

When one equates the strategies used in football with those used in basketball one can conjure up a better approach to the game. In football, every player has a function and when carried out properly, you have positive results. Lineman block protecting the passer or open holes for the running back. Receivers and tight ends block down field or run pass patterns seeking space and separation. All these assignments are diligently synchronized for optimum results. And if the timing is perfect, a trap-block becomes a big gain or a well-timed break by a receiver becomes a first down reception.

In basketball, such diligence is sadly lacking. It’s a mish-mash of ideas, each player skimming alone, not knowing the intentions of his teammates. What would happen if each player knew what the other four players were going to do, where they were going to be at any moment in the play? What would be the result? What’s more, how could this be done.

To understand my apotheosis, let’s look at the various aspects of the game. In basketball, the objective is to score more points than your opponent. To do this requires having a higher shooting percentage, and/or much better rebounding stats, and/or lesser numbers in the turnover department. A major factor in these numbers is how well a team creates space. Space is how a team establishes passing, shooting and driving lanes. When there’s space, passing is on target and shooting rhythms result in higher percentages. Space also allows for a more controlled shooting stance which also ups percentages. When faulty, turnovers result and shooting percentages go down. Creating space should be the objective of every player on the team whether they are directly involved in the play or not.

To create space, several factors need to be put into play, namely movement, balanced offensive threats and dictating defensive alignment. When there is movement, the defense is more focused on guarding their man rather than helping teammates. This movement stretches the defense enough to where space is created. Even fake movement or the threat of movement keeps the defense preoccupied negating a sagging defense and rebounding opportunities.

If only a few players are offensive threats, the defense hones in on these players stifling their effectiveness. Thus, it is imperative to have a balanced offensive strategy that involves all five players. When all five players act as integral participants in passing, rebounding, screens, shooting and drives to the basket, then the defense must guard against multiple threats, not just a few. Likewise, such a strategy allows less skilled shooting players to perform specific functions at which they can excel. They feel they have purpose.

Any offensive strategy has a counter defensive strategy. It could be man-to-man, switching man-to-man, or various zone alignments. By implementing various offensive strategies, especially when successful, one can dictate how the defense counters it. Such manipulation can offer advantages in things such as match ups, better shooting and rebounding opportunities as well as reducing turnovers.

Creating space can also be done by inhibiting or impeding the opponent’s movements. Screens are a common method of restricting coverage by a defender. Space can also be accomplished by creating confusion in the opponent’s defensive alinements. When they switch on defense, there are minute opportunities to gain an advantage. For instance, in a pick-and-roll situation, the screener can peel off toward the basket creating not only a scoring opportunity, but also mismatches. These might be tall over short, fast over slow, competent over insecure.

Impeding or inhibiting an opponent can also be accomplished by creating traffic congestion. When opponents have to avoid their own teammates to get into the proper defensive positions, it generates momentary shooting, passing, and driving opportunities. This can be accomplished by congregating offensive players in a small area then suddenly dispersing. And if the dispersion is done in a way that creates confusion or switching, then congestion can result and opportunistic space generated

Another way of creating traffic congestion is to incorporate two or three-man screens. If the screeners disburse in multiple directions, the defenders have little time to react and communicate thus not only creating confusion but also court congestion. This allows offensive players to momentarily separate from defenders and with a separation of four to six feet, this is more than enough to safely catch a pass, shoot a basket or drive for a layup. In zone defensives, such screens can negate coverage and likewise open up space.

Another offensive ploy is to stretch the defensive by making them guard more closely. In this way the defensive is not able to sag and help out other defenders. Being a scoring threat is one way. But there are also passing threats, driving threats, and rebounding threats. Keeping your defender preoccupied with these threats either by illusions (fakes) or realistic movements helps the team effort. For instance, jumping, reaching up for a fake pass creates a momentary defensive commitment, one that creates an offensive advantage. Likewise, moving your defender to an uncomfortable area where you have an advantage, let’s say for driving or rebounding is another strategy.

Rebounding, especially on offensive, is not given its due importance. Rebounds not only give the offense another chance to score, they also mess with the opponent’s alignment. Defenders are out of position and not on their man. This can also result in mismatches all of which allow easy scoring opportunities.

While shooting percentages sit at the top of the stats, one statistic often overlooked is the points scored per possession. A team shooting in the med forties can beat a team shooting over fifty percent if they have an advantage in points scored per possession. Elite teams average around 1.2 points per possession because they are more efficient with the ball, they take good shots, avoid turnovers and get a goodly share of rebounds-thus more possessions. Such a strategy promotes a winning season.

So, in drawing up a scheme, rebounding should be an integral component. By having players positioned for rebounds, either moving through the lane or in it, ups the possibility of getting the rebound. In addition, when shooting opportunities are in sync with rebounding advantage, the point per possession will go up. When such a scheme becomes successful, opponents will counter by placing more emphasis on rebounding thus leaving holes in their defense.

Another factor in rebounding depends on the shooter’s touch and the analytics where the ball might fall. With most shooters, missed shots fall in a certain pattern, either close to the rim or further out, either beyond or in front of basket. This analytic is important on 3-point attempts where misses occur 60-70% of the time. Knowing where the ball is likely to land for a given shooter provides the team a decided advantage. Including this factor into rebounding schemes ups the points per possession.

Another component of any offensive scheme is how well the team transitions to defense. A certain number of players should be responsible for down court defense. However, this responsibility can shift depending on the play’s parameters. While normally this is the duty of the two guards, certain schemes may have them under the basket. Thus, all five players should be schooled in this transition process and know exactly when and where their responsibility begins. There will always be the gamble whether to crash the boards or play it safe and retreat.

The offense is most vulnerable when there’s a defensive rebound or a sudden turnover. Usually a rapid retreat is in order, however, when the opponent’s advance is momentarily delayed by blocking passing lanes or forcing a backward dribble, the rest of the team can get back and set the defense. So periodically teams should implement this delaying strategy.

Being aware of the aspects of time and timing is another factor that determines the success of a team. A college team is allotted a 30-second shot clock while the pros get only 24-second. In college, a team is given 10-second to avoid a back-court violation while the pros are given 8-seconds. Both are given 5-seconds to make a out of bounds throw-in. Both have a 3-second lane violation rule. Working within these time restrictions become part of offensive strategies. Taking too long hurries the setup while shooting too early may overlook weaknesses in the defense.

Timing is an aspect reflecting how well players and their strategies mesh together. In football, it the dominate factor in the success of a play. A defensive lineman need only be delayed a fraction of a second to help the running back break free. The same goes for passing plays where the timing between the quarterback and the receiver must be precise. Such timing is set by the structure of the play. In football, there are also option reads that restructure the play based on opponent’s coverage.

In basketball, such precision is rare. Timing is induced only after teammates become uses to each other’s tendencies. This could take a good part of the season, especially if it is not induced through well-timed structured plays. As I mentioned earlier, if every team member knew where his teammates would be at any given moment and where they were headed, positive results would occur. Likewise, when each player knows what his function or responsibility is then there’s a collective effort that supports the objectives of the team.

These functions or responsibilities include the following.

1. Establishing passing, shooting and dribbling lanes
2. Inhibiting defensive movement
3. Stretching the defensive
4. Creating rebounding opportunities
5. Maintaining defensive transitions
6. Optimizing use of time and timing

How does one establish this precision where all five players are moving in concert? In football, the play and snap count are called in the huddle. The snap count sets up the timing as to when the play is to commence. Football plays have numerous options and are flexible to counter defensive schemes. For instance, the blocking back has the option to block the first defender breaking through or he can run out in the flat and act as a safety valve receiver. Another example, on passing plays, if the defender is on the inside, the pass is thrown to the outside. If the defender plays way back, its set up for a buttonhook short pass with the receiver coming back for the ball. The quarterback reads the opposition and selects the best option.

In basketball, similar play calling strategies can be applied. Each player serves a function, which can and does change as the play unfolds. A shooter can become the one that lures a defender out of position. Later he can become a screener, then switches to becoming a rebounder. Still later he might take on defensive responsibilities. In this strategy, each of the five players has an ever-changing function, one which promotes optimum basketball analytics. Mainly a higher point average per possession.

So how does one get the players synchronized putting the play in motion. In football, the quarterback communicates the snap count. In could be on hut, or hut-hut, or some other pre-determined signal. In basketball, some other means must be established to signal the start of the play. Vocal calls are impractical because of the court distance and crowd noise. Likewise, hand signals are not viable as they can be picked up by the opposition.

There is a snap count device on the court that could be used. It’s visual, highly precise and can be observed from any place on the floor. This device is the shot clock. It college ball it’s expires at 30-seconds and in professional ball, at 24-seconds. The snap count could be predetermined by a signal from the bench or by some other means, such as hand signals or code names. Whatever the means, all five players would know the play and at what time it should start.

If all five players commence play simultaneously, the defense will know it’s a set play and seek indicators on how to defend it. To disguise such an examination, players should vamp prior to the start with movement. Such movement helps in setting up the defense and probing for weaknesses. Such movement can also move defenders into a complacent state where they think the have the offence covered. Then boom, the offence does something different, in a faster and synchronize fashion, surprising the opponent. It’s then that you have the defense thinking, “What happened!”

As in football plays, there are numerous options to the play, however, in this basketball strategy, these options are predicated not on what the defense does, but on how your “read” teammate reacts to the defense. Each player is assigned “read teammate” whose actions dictate what option will be initiated. Let’s say on a given play the small forward “read” is the power forward. If the power forward moves baseline, the small forward’s assignment is to screen the shooting guard’s defender opposite the ball for a backdoor run. However, if the power forward holds for a pass from the point guard, then the small forward fakes a run toward the basket, then screens the defender of the shooting guard who then drives down the middle looking for a pass from the power forward. Other players would be given assignments based their “read’s” action.

This is a simplistic example, however, when all five players are involved in such a scheme, it promotes open shooting lanes, stretches the defense, positions rebounders, inhibites defensive movement and maintains defensive transitions. More importantly, it creates a synergy that promotes higher average points per possession. That’s because the team is more efficient with the ball, they setup good open shots, teamwork avoids turnovers, plus they get a higher share of rebounds-thus more possessions.

This game strategy promotes winning ideals where a mediocre team can compete with a strong opponent and win.

Such a strategy has several caveats. For one, basketball is a game of strong egos. From sandlot to hardwood, it has always been a game of one-on-one. For many players, out foxing, out shooting, out dribbling their defender overrides the team concept. This ego driven philosophy severally weakens the a 5-player strategy. It also weakens the spirit of players who become observers rather than involved participates. In this respect, if the game plan isn’t ego driven by all 5-players having a purpose, it’s doom to fail.

An additional problem, most players prefer the free-flowing serendipity type game where instincts overrule metrics and analytics. This is how they learned the game. This is how they were coached growing up, with little regard for team strategies. Coaches and training camps concentrate more on individual techniques rather than on team play

One must also consider the length of the play. In both college and pro ball, a possession will last 10 to 15-seconds max after crossing the half-court line and prior to a shot or the shot clock running out. This length requires constructing plays that bypass weak shooting opportunities to set up better ones. Plays this long might necessitate changing function from shooter to inhibitor, to enticer, to rebounder, to transitioning defender.

There is also the problem of interchangeability. When players get injured, have foul problems, or have a bad shooting night, this necessitate changes. This means players must learn multiple offensive positions.

Another problem is remembering an array of plays, assignments and options. This problem is exacerbated by the play’s ever-changing dynamics and how opponents defend. How does one memorize all of these moves, their options and implement them?

The answer to the above question is quite simple. You only memorize the moves dictated by your “read” teammate. Let’s say the power forward. the “read” for the small forward, fakes a screen on the point guard’s defender then peels off to the base line. This movement leaves the small forward with two options, either move down the lane awaiting a pass or move to screen the shooting guard’s defender. Other players would implement similar moves based on their “read” teammate.

The play’s objective is to create a strategically balanced offense, one that incorporates all five functions, with some players assigned to inhibiting defensive movement, others to enticing defenders out of position, and still others responsible for rebounding and transitioning to defensive. Such a strategy creates space for remaining players to pass, drive and shoot.

When implementing such plays, it’s a good idea to practice them in short segments, then add moves as earlier segments are perfected. Using consistent and memorable terminologies is also an important factor in teaching players this strategy. Shorthand terms work best. Likewise, ways of signaling the play and snap count should be addressed where both fake and real signals are incorporated. Having multiple people on the bench giving signals is one way to confuse opponents trying to pick up signs. You will find that each new play is a variation of an earlier play and that the primary changes will be the “read” teammate and option moves. While one play may prove highly successful, overuse may encourage viable defenses. Therefore, it’s good to change up plays to keep the opponent off guard or free style it for a possession or two.

Mapping out such plays can be done with software that incorporates video so that the various options can be seen, learned and implemented. Video makes teaching this complex strategy easier as players see the play evolve with regard to space and time. One such program, which is in 3-D is http://www.tactic3d.com/basket/basket-software-playbook.html. Other programs can be found online by searching for: Animated basketball video playbook software.

In conclusion, when all five players are involved in the offense, each performing a vital function, shooting percentages go up, rebounds increase, and turnovers diminish. More importantly, players become more proactive playing as a team, becoming facilitators rather than observers. In addition, the key analytic, points per possession, becomes a competitive metrics that wins more games, even over more talented opponents. This is a strategy that promotes winning ideals.

Ages 5 to 10:

Youth basketball is the spirit of the game. Seeing new kids play the game you love and noticing that that used to be you is an unreal feeling. Kids at this age play because their parents most likely signed them up for it. It is full of travels and fouls and ball hogging but that is all the fun. The referee’s joke around with the kids while you have the occasional aggressive parent that takes youth basketball just a little too seriously. The players are more than likely all assigned numbers so that each individual player plays the same amount of time no matter their skill or talent. Some may say this is a problem to teach at the younger stage but youth isn’t about winning games because it is about seeing if the kids fall in love with the game. As the years of youth go on, kids either quit or the feeder into travel programs to where they can further gain their basketball expertise.

Ages 11 to 15:

Between middle school and the beginning of high school, these are the players that truly love the game. They have played long enough to where they can decide if they want to step foot onto the court or not. At this age range, basketball officially becomes a sport for them. The kids gain interest in the competitiveness of the game and really learn the building blocks in becoming a great player. AAU starts around this age which can be very positive to a player, or could be very detrimental depending on which specific team the players chooses to be on.

Ages: 16 to 18:

Before this age group, kids all receive arguably the same amount of playing time but this is the time where basketball is not only a sport, but starts to become a job. Between having school work, private training lessons, high school practices, and AAU practice, the kids learn skills that don’t involve the actual game itself. They learn commitment. They learn what hard work is. They learn you cannot just roll a basketball on to the court and expect to win. They learn time management and balancing priorities. What they also learn is if they are serious about the game of basketball and the level of which they want to play at. This is the age group that separates those who receive scholarships and those who are just playing to play. Players will either stay after school and work on their own game or they go home and hang on the couch and do not try to improve because maybe they just do not care to advance to a higher level of play.

Ages: 19-22

College basketball is no longer a sport and no longer a game. It is a business and with that business the players each have a job by being on the team. They are required to do certain obstacles and drills that are not meant for the typical player… which is why they were offered to play in the first place. Basketball becomes life at this moment. You either work hard enough to make basketball your potential career path or you can use it to build strong mental and physical stability that will enhance your life post-graduation.

When someone mentions the word camp, we usually associate this with putting up a tent, then sleeping underneath the sky filled with stars. To some people, this is the kind of adventure you experience in the woods or wherever you can imagine. To teachers and organizers, however, this is forming a team to discover more about a particular subject matter, an example of which is basketball camps. This type of camp is different from the term that most of us know.

It is just like a season or course led by a teacher, which in this case is a coach. This is held for training basketball enthusiasts and fanatics that aspire to join popular teams in various associations. While some courses are meant to have fun, others are to formally train those that have the potential to become players in the future.

Most basketball camps come with a fee, but there are some that are free. Usually, paid trainings are organized by coaches, well-known basketball players and clubs. On the other hand, free trainings are planned by schools, organizations for a cause, and government institutions. Generally, these camps are attended by a wide range of people. There are some camps, though, that are meant for a particular group like men basketball, women basketball and kids basketball camps.

The three most important people in basketball camps throughout the duration of the camp are as follows:

The participants

These are the individuals who enroll in the program. Usually, they are grouped by sex and age, depending on the organizers. If this is paid training, they have to meet certain requirements, such as certifications and fees before they can be allowed to enroll. Also, they need to supply their own clothing and food.

If the program is free, like one offered by a school, organizers can choose. In order to qualify, participants need to undergo important sifting processes. The decision of the organizers whether to provide food and clothing will be based on the budget given by the sponsor.

The Teachers or Lecturers, Instructors or Coaches

These are the individuals who are equipped with the skill, information and experience in playing basketball. They know the entire course by heart. They will be in charge of teaching the right attitude to the participants, as well as motivating them. They face the pressure of making sure that these participants learn and develop into becoming professionals after the program. They are considered as authorities in the whole camp and the discipline of all participants rely on them.

Organizers

These groups or entities spearhead the mission and vision of a particular camp, which is a basketball camp, in this situation. They may either be private or government institutions that aim to develop potential talents with the help of basketball camps or a sequence of trainings. They may also be a group of people that would like to earn an income and train by means of promoting skills and information about the game.

These three groups of people are the fundamentals behind any basketball camps and other kinds of camps, whether sport or non-sport. There are also personnel and staff that belong to the backroom. These include doctors, nurses, caretakers, caterers and other individuals in the camp that are included in the budget of its organizers.

Daily Fantasy Basketball is one of the most action packed daily fantasy sports out there since players have possessions every minute leading to up and down scoring. Additionally, players touch the ball more often, and get points for a wide variety of stats.

Here are several top points that will help you succeed in daily fantasy basketball:

Matchup – Like any other fantasy sport, you are going to look at a player’s matchup on a given night. There are stats the measure a players defensive ability in the NBA such as their isolation defense, their pick and roll defense, and even their post-up defense (basically DVP). Obviously, you are going to want to pick offensive players going against a poor defender. For example, you may be hesitant to pick a PG going against Chris Paul because he is a good defender, but if you have a center going against Nikola Vucevic, then you can give him a bump in production. Honestly this is probably the most important thing because that is going to be guarding that player for a majority of the game and directly impacts how well that person will do.

Blowout Factor – This is a huge part of daily fantasy basketball that a lot of people don’t realize. In basketball there are a lot of blowouts. This causes a lot of starters to sit in the 4th quarter, limiting the amount of minutes that they will play throughout the game. You want guys who are going to play the most minutes because it maximizes their value. If you have say Russell Westbrook against the 76ers you really have to think twice. Sure, he is going to put up good stats in his minutes, but if he only plays 28 minutes instead of 38 you are basically cutting his production by 25%. Looking at Vegas lines for the game is very helpful for this because you get an idea of how the experts think the game will go. Other than injuries, there is nothing worse than losing players to games that are blowouts.

Points/Pace Expected – Another huge part of basketball is the pace of play and the expected points within a game. Naturally some teams are more defensive and like to play in the half court, while some are very offensive and love to play in the fast break. You want to be targeting guys in games that are moving as fast as possible. There will be more shots leading to more points, more misses leading to more rebounds, more made baskets leading to more assists, and less structure leading to more steals and blocks. One thing to look at is the Vegas lines again for their over under for points on the game. For example say the Rockets vs. Warriors is at 212 points on the over under whereas the Pacers and Hornets have a 180 point line. You are going to want to target guys in that first game due to the reasons listed above. They also keep track of stats such as how long teams usually take to shoot, and how many possessions they have per game.

Injuries – Again, just like any sport, you need to look at injuries and see how they will impact a game. A lot of times, you can get bench guys at a cheap price, who will play starters minutes. Guys who are cheap and play a lot of minutes are hard to find, so if you can find injury replacements, they are usually a good bet. The problem with the NBA, is that the injury notices usually come out like within 10-15 of game time whereas in the NFL it’s 1.5 hours before kickoff, and in baseball it’s several hours before the game. It is critical to always check the last 10-15 minutes to double check for injuries and making sure everybody is playing. Also this can be pivotal for guys who are second and third options on their teams. If a really good player gets hurt, then their production will get a good bump and in turn will become more valuable.

Cash game vs. GPP (tournament) players – This is a major difference in making teams for basketball. Usually in tournaments you are looking for guys to get roughly 5x their value for any site. For cash games, you usually need somewhere between 4-4.5x a players value. This basically means if a guy costs $10,000 then they need to hit 50 points for a tournament, and 40-45 for a cash game. A big part of reaching said value is going to be minutes and usage rates during those minutes. Guys who have a high usage rate don’t need as much time because they have the ball in their hand more often. Players with a lower usage rate are likely going to need more minutes to reach their value unless they can assist or rebound a very high rate. The guys with the higher usage rate I like for tournaments because they have a much higher chance of scoring a ton of points, where guys with lower usage rates and play more are safer picks and more likely to hit their value night in and night out. Also for tournaments, you are going to want guys who aren’t very highly owned most of the time. Sure there might be a stud that you have to have and is owned by 30% of the people, but it’s about getting those under 5% owned players to do well. If they can, then you are much more likely to succeed in the tournament.

Streaks – This is also a huge part of basketball because it often times determines how many people will pick a player. If a player goes on a 2-3 game hot streak, his % owned is going to skyrocket whereas if he a player struggles for 2-3 games then his % owned is going to plummet. Going to my previous point about tournament players, those cold streak guys are the ones to target sometimes, where fading the popular player is sometimes the best option. For cash games, you usually want to role with a guy on a hot streak because you’re only competing to beat half of the field so taking a chance at fading a popular play is far too risky.

Miscellaneous – This is more if you want to put in a lot of time and effort into your research. One thing I know people look into is the referees. Like in any sport, they have a huge impact on the game and can put people in foul trouble or put people at the line. If you are picking star players, it might be better to look for referees who call more fouls per game, compared to if you have a player guarding a star player in that game you may want to avoid him. This goes into the matchup, but some guys have favorable matchups, but just struggle against certain teams. James Harden comes to mind against the Clippers during the regular reason. He had Reddick/Barnes guarding him which isn’t that great yet he rarely reached value against them. Back to backs are also important to look at because a guy may play, but won’t play nearly as much. Looking at little things like that is really important, and a key to being successful

There are certain important factors you have to take into consideration when designing and buying custom basketball uniforms. Remember while you may not be wearing them, you may not even play the sport, you want to ensure that they highlight the team, are comfortable and come in within your budget.

The first and probably one of the most important considerations you have to pay attention to when designing your basketball uniforms is the emblem. Many teams make use of their emblem rather than their team name. The reason for this is that it’s quickly and easily recognizable and doesn’t take up much space. Ensure the emblem works well with the color jersey you have chosen, it should stand out and make a statement.

Secondly you want to pay close attention to your artwork. When it comes to size of player numbers and fonts, ensure you choose ones that not only blend in with your school font, but is also easy to read, especially for spectators sitting on the stands. Spectators want to recognize and identify players as they make their way back and forth across the court, make it an enjoyable experience for them.

Next take the fabric you choose into consideration. Most custom basketball uniforms are made from synthetic fabric, so you want to find out what fabric is being used, does it include a mesh to reduce moisture. Most important, you want to ensure that your players will be comfortable during play. Many synthetic materials can become too warm, leaving players sweating, the material soaking up that sweat, leaving them exceptionally uncomfortable during game play.

Your color scheme you choose for your custom basketball uniforms should be the same as your school or team colors. Remember to compromise and be creative when you are left with dull colors that don’t compliment your design. Ensure the company you purchase from has the correct colors to meet your requirements. There is nothing worse than requiring a bright blue only to receive a pale and washed out color that doesn’t resemble your team colors in any way.

Durability is an exceptionally important consideration. Any material you choose should be strong and durable. It should also be easily washable with all team members throwing their custom basketball uniforms into a washing machine and then coming out clean and ready for the next game. See if they can be tumble dried, saving you even more time and energy.

When it comes to price, you may want to spend some time shopping around and finding all the companies that can provide you with custom basketball uniforms, you can then request written quotes and compare the quotes to find the best deals. Don’t rely on price alone, you want to take everything else into consideration before deciding on a final supplier. The good news is that you don’t have to choose a supplier in your local area, you can buy from anywhere, as long as they tick all the boxes and provide you with high quality uniforms that your team can wear with pride.

Remember there are a number of ways to find the top custom basketball uniform suppliers. You can speak to other schools and universities and see who supplies their sporting items or you can go online.

It’s always advisable to choose at least three suppliers and then ensure they tick all the boxes, this will help you narrow your search down to that one company you can rely on.

Ensure you read and then re-read their terms and conditions and their returns policy. If the uniform arrives and it doesn’t meet your high expectations, you should be able to return it without any fuss.