Check out the new NBA ball and NBA Stacked Hoody...

Read what mark cuban said about these nba ball Mark Cuban has gotten so fired up about the whole things he has even decided to put a part two to the new nba ball! check it out here!




NBA Stacked Hoody...

Top ten things to be practicing and improve on each day!

It's that time again with hard work, hard wood floors, and the spell of basketball is in the air and it's everywhere! We have some of the top ten ideas that you as a player needs to be taking into this upcoming season. You need to be improving each and every day at all of these!

1. BE IN SHAPE!!!

2. Be on time, be ready to go, and be attentive

3. Be respectful to all...to your players, your coach, the refs, parents, and etc

4. Make as many hustle plays as possible, dive on the floor, finish every sprint hard.

5. Work on the "opposite" fundamentals...bigs should be doing ball handling, "smalls" should be doing post moves...helps with a better all round game and let's you in on the other side's secrets/perspectives

6. Work on being a leader...huddle people up, encourage

7. TALK! the whole time...picking out who is open, calling out mismatches, chatting it up on defensive, compliments...um, leave the "your mother's a _____" out, they may not like that!

8. Choose to have the right attitude going into every practice, drills, and game.

9. Work on even in practice going game speed all the time! Game like cuts, game like screens, game like shots. Even in practice drills, individual drills, and etc

10. Have fun, keep learning, and again have fun!

Bank Shot Basics or Backboard Basics

Bank Shot Basics or Backboard Basics

Here are some keys to be thinking of when teaching or practicing the backboard shot or also some call it a bank shot.

1. Remember to shoot the ball making contac jus inside the white box above the rim.

2. This is very key and basic, and a lot of players get this wrong. The shot needs to be hitting the white box on the downward flight of the ball. More and more younger players are trying shoot the ball just aim for the box, but it's imporant to arc the shot so that it's on the downward flight. A good rule for this is if a lot of your shots are coming hard off the backboard and hitting the far side of the rim, or missing completely and going to the weak side. Then you really need to practicing the downward arc hitting the inside part of the white box.

3. Make your follow-through point (which we suggest would be your index finger) is aiming not on the rim, but on the target that your shooting at which is the just inside the white box. This helps your shot with a high follow through procducing a high arc shott of the backboard.

4. Remember that every lay to 10 feet out should ALWAYS be a bank shot! This will help you not getting yelled at by your coach. This also, should be instilled into a player so they will not be in the air shooting and deciding which shot this is going to be a bank shot or regular straight shot. While the backboard does absorb some energy transferred to the ball off a hard drive to the basket, the shot still should be "kissed softly off the glass" as much as possible.

5. Remember it's still all about shooters touch, so don't be trying to shoot it very hard off the backboard, but a simple, soft kiss of the glass will due wonders!

6. Post players should use a bank shot when they know they will be recieving a hard foul or just about any foul down low. The bank shot has better percentage of going in even when you get pushed, fouled, or the ball gets tipped.

bank shot advantages, advantages of using a bank shot

Some advantages of using a bank shot or shooting off the glass

- The bank shot is know to be a higher percentage shot! Stats shows us, and the numbers don't lie.

- The bank shot is a good choice of shot while in traffic, driving hard to the hole, and a beautiful soft kiss of the glass over the big man. That's just flat out tough!

- The bank shot gives players the option to drive harder to the hole, while still havinga high percentage to finish with a score. What do we mean by this? Well, a given player that is driving extremely hard to hole it's a hard move to drive hard and with all that energy to explode up and shoot a soft shot. With a bank shot you are given more of the chance to drive hard and then still shoot a better and higher percentage bank shoot.

- Once the shot hits the backboard a player is not allowed to touch it again, unless your playing under FIBA rules.

- The bank shot gives the offensive player a different target and helps players sometimes get shoots off that they normally could not because the defends hand are straight up in a player face or just straight up.

- When doing a reverse or using the opposite side of the basket but still shooting a bank shoot. Though, this helps the player get more shots off while using basket as a partial shield and less block shots!

- Bank shots are a must for post players. Especially it can be difficult when completing making a quick pivot in the post. So when a big man is making his strong move it's a much higher percentage shot to kiss it off the glass.

- Bank shot also allows guards to drive hard and shoot a high arcing bank shot over a big man with his arms fulling extended or a big shot blocker. Notice how many of the NBA's great guards use the glass on penetration into the shot blocking zone near the basket.

Value of Time - this will help you value life, time, friends, family and etc! What's it really worth to you?

With basketball right around the corner! We know a lot of coaches, players, fans, husbands, parents, and the list goes on. We just wanted to share a little story to help put in perspective of what it's all really about! A lot of hours spent in the gym, practicing, lifting weights, or just watching game fil, or maybe it's just watching your favorite NBA team on tv! Here is some thought for you!

Value of Time - this will help you value life, time, friends, family and etc! What's it really worth to you?

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400.
It carries over no balance from day to day.
Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use
during the day.
What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!
Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME.
Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.
Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed
to invest to good purpose.
It carries over no balance.
It allows no overdraft.
Each day it opens a new account for you.
Each night it burns the remains of the day.
If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow".
You must live in the present on today's deposits.
Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success!
The clock is running. Make the most of today.
To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a
pre-mature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE DAY, ask a daily wage laborer with kids to feed.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.
To realize the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND, ask the person who won a
silver medal in the Olympics.
Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you
shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time.
And remember that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!

Backboard Basics or Bank Shot Basics

Backboard Basics or Bank Shot Basics

Here are some keys to be thinking of when teaching or practicing the backboard shot or also some call it a bank shot.

1. Remember to shoot the ball making contac jus inside the white box above the rim.

2. This is very key and basic, and a lot of players get this wrong. The shot needs to be hitting the white box on the downward flight of the ball. More and more younger players are trying shoot the ball just aim for the box, but it's imporant to arc the shot so that it's on the downward flight. A good rule for this is if a lot of your shots are coming hard off the backboard and hitting the far side of the rim, or missing completely and going to the weak side. Then you really need to practicing the downward arc hitting the inside part of the white box.

3. Make your follow-through point (which we suggest would be your index finger) is aiming not on the rim, but on the target that your shooting at which is the just inside the white box. This helps your shot with a high follow through procducing a high arc shott of the backboard.

4. Remember that every lay to 10 feet out should ALWAYS be a bank shot! This will help you not getting yelled at by your coach. This also, should be instilled into a player so they will not be in the air shooting and deciding which shot this is going to be a bank shot or regular straight shot. While the backboard does absorb some energy transferred to the ball off a hard drive to the basket, the shot still should be "kissed softly off the glass" as much as possible.

5. Remember it's still all about shooters touch, so don't be trying to shoot it very hard off the backboard, but a simple, soft kiss of the glass will due wonders!

6. Post players should use a bank shot when they know they will be recieving a hard foul or just about any foul down low. The bank shot has better percentage of going in even when you get pushed, fouled, or the ball gets tipped.

How to jump rope

How to jump rope
Jump Rope 101
by Lisa Shaffer, No Fear Fitness

There actually is a technique to use for ease and effectiveness during the jumping. Hold the jump rope by the handles with the rope behind your feet. Keep your elbows with a 90 degree bend and close to your sides. Keep your shoulders relaxed and turn the rope with your wrists. Jump on the balls of your feet. Only jump high enough to let the rope pass under your feet. A couple of inches will do, for the standard double foot jump.

This is a very intense form of exercise so you need to build up slowly. There is no shame in starting with only 3-5 minutes at a time with breaks and jumping slowly. If you don’t have the coordination to jump with both feet at first, then start with at slow skip (just like when you were a kid). As your coordination and speed increases with the skip variation you will be able to go to a slower double foot jump. When you can consistently work out with a double foot jump; start working on increasing the speed.

Follow this simple plan to increase your conditioning and endurance
Jump rope at least 3-4 days a week.

Shoot for 5 minutes of jumping. Taking short breaks is ok. Just get in up to 5 minutes a day. Watch the clock and take note of how many minutes you can jump with out a break. When you are jumping for 5 minutes with no breaks then start adding one minute to your workout per week. You will be up to 10 minutes or more in no time.

Be sure to keep your breaks short; like 15-20 seconds. If you break too long and fully recover on a break you will not improve your conditioning. You need to train your body to be able continue to work even under stress. Your body will adapt and you will be able to jump for longer periods of time.

After just a few weeks of adding rope jumping to your routine you should start to see your shoulders and arms becoming more defined and your legs and calves will take on a long, sleek look.

What I have come to learn about myself over the years is this, I love to exercise but I don’t like to spend a lot of time doing it. Jumping rope and kettlebell work is perfect for me. Both provide a great, intense workout in a short period of time and yield fast results. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

What kind of jump rope?

What kind of jump rope?
Jump Rope 101
by Lisa Shaffer, No Fear Fitness


There are many different ropes made from many different things, from leather to plastic beads. There are weighted ropes, speed ropes, beaded ropes and long handle ropes. I have used a beaded rope, weighted rope and speed rope. Personally, I like the speed rope. It has ball bearings in the handles for a very smooth and fast rotation. To start, an inexpensive beaded rope will be just fine.
Surface for jumping

A wooden deck is great because it has some “give” to help absorb shock. The next best thing is to jump on gym mats. The gym mats provide a hard even surface but it still has some give to it.

Jump Rope 101 - What size of jump rope

Jump Rope 101 - What size of jump rope
by Lisa Shaffer, No Fear Fitness

Are you ready to give it at try? Here’s how to get started.
What size jumpr rope do you need?

The jump ropes are sold in 1 foot increments starting at 8 feet going up to 11. The best way to gage whether a jump rope is the right size for you is to stand in the middle of a rope and pull the handles up. If the handles reach your armpits it is a good fit. If you are ordering a jump rope and don’t have access to it then a good rule of thumb is the following based on your height.

8 Ft. rope for up to 5’3” - 5’4”
9 Ft. rope for 5’4” - 5’10”
10 Ft. rope for 5’11 - 6’6”
11 Ft. rope for over 6’6”

Jump Rope 101

Jump Rope 101
by Lisa Shaffer, No Fear Fitness

Let’s start with the good stuff about jumping rope. You can burn more calories per minute than most cardio exercises combined. For example 10 minutes of jumping rope equals 30 minutes of jogging and it burns 135 calories. Jumping rope increases agility, balance, coordination and endurance all at the same time. It is a great activity to fight heart disease, obesity, type II diabetes and osteoporosis. It is very inexpensive, very portable and you can do it pretty much anywhere.

I’ve had many people tell me they would rather run miles than jump rope. Why? Because jumping rope is intense. Anything that actually works usually is intense. Jumping rope gets your heart rate up fast and keeps it there. It is constant upper and lower body movement. It works your legs, calves, abs, chest, shoulders, back and arms.

huddle up and lets talk about reputation or character

huddle up and lets talk about reputation or character
Reputation or Character

So offend sports and everyday life can bring the true character out in you. We are just wanting to encourage you to see which is more imporant this world. Is the most imporant to you being your reputation, or is your true character shining through today! Something to think about not only as netball player, but as a person!

Reputation is what you are supposed to be.
Character ist what you are.
Reputation is a photograph.
Character is your face.
Reputation is what you have when you come to a new place.
Character is what you have when you go away.
Reputation is learned in an hour.
Character does not come to light for years.
Reputation is made in a moment.
Character is built in a lifetime.
Reputation grows like a mushroom.
Character grows like an oak.
Reputation is made from a single newspaper report.
Character is built life of toil.
Reputation makes you rich or poor.
Character makes you happy or miserable.
Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone.
Character ist what the angels say about you around the throne of God.

Pistol Pete's Homework Basketball -behind the back passing

Pistol Pete's Homework Basketball - behind the back passing

This is a great video of showing how the Pistol Pete started off working and learning the behind the back pass. This great vidoe of Pistol Pete shows simple easy baseketball passing drills, behind the back passing drills, how to learn and start practicing for the behind the back pass today! Pistol Pete was one the all time great passers of all time, so who else better to learn passing drills then from Pistol Pete himself!

rebounding drills

Rebounding Drills - Basketball season is just around the corner, and how many times I have hear coaches complain about this one. That's right not blocking out in games, yet look at your practice schedule and see what percent of your practice goes toward rebounding and blocking out. Do you stay with these drills everyday, all year long? How many times, as a coach, have you said we would have won, but we got killed on the boards? Be creative, and find as many different drills as possible to keep reinforcing blocking out and rebounding (especially free throw situations).

Just some basketball thought while your planning your basketball practice schedule this basketball season!

Basketball game of inches!

Basketball is a game where one inch could make the difference in the outcome of the game. An inch here or there, a shot an inch off is missed, a pass an inch off is stolen. This is why the smallest things such as a inch could be the difference of a win or lose for your team.

Your team really needs to focus on doing all the little things taking it inch at a time to success. You've got to make sure you're doing all the little things that can add up and give you a big advantage and help you succeed.

I would like to make this illustration to help paint the picture better for. The carpenter is making a table. Well, if he starts by making just one of the legs of this table a inch shorter or longer. Then that table wabble for the rest of the time! No really likes a wabbling table to eat on! But, because the carpenter was just one cm or inch off from the start now the complete table is defected!

As an offensive player, having the chance to gain a inch with quick moves and quick decisions is a great way to gain yourself a clear advantage over the defense.

power workout, vertical jumps, increasing vertical jumps

power workout, vertical jumps, increasing vertical jumps

Across Court - length of basketball court. Keep hands above ears

a. Repeat standing broad jumps - jump off 2 feet, land, jump as quickly as possible, down the court
b. Lateral jumps - shoulder points to end of court, jump sideways, land on both feet, repeat
c. Lateral jumps - point other shoulder to end of court, jump sideways, land on both feet, repeat
d. Double leg zig-zag - both feet together, jump in zig-zag the length of the court
e. Single leg zig-zag - same as d, but jump on right leg only
f. Single leg zig-zag - other foot
g. Repeated double leg split jump down court
h. Repeated single leg tuck jump down court
i. Repeated single leg tuck jump down court, other leg
j. Power skips - skip with maximum height, jump the length of the court

This would be a great way to get your legs geared up for the season!
power workout, vertical jumps, increasing vertical jumps! Start working and be geared up to be in top shape for this upcoming season. Rather it's High school, college or even professional!

Seeds of Peace spread by basketball

The news from the Middle East, and much of the recent history for that region, has been rather bleak. But the news from an international summer youth camp is bright.

I participated in a basketball clinic at the "Seeds of Peace" camp, an organization that brings together teens from areas of conflict in the hopes that the best and brightest from the next generation can figure out a way to help their people into an era increasingly free of conflict. Almost 200 teenagers attended the camp, most from the war-torn Middle East.

Here's one line spoken from among the Palestinian, Israeli and other Middle Eastern teens:

"I can be the president here, you can be the president there, and we'll get this resolved."

All I could think was, "Wow." They're thinking big, even though history seems stacked against them. Many here cope daily with living through war but are still seeking peaceful solutions.

Let's hope sports, basketball in this case, can back this effort.

I first came here four years ago, thanks to the effort of my agent Arn Tellem, and was happy to come back for a second time this summer.

We spent a day this week running the campers through basketball drills. NBA players Brian Scalabrine, LaMarcus Aldridge, Jordan Farmar and Etan Thomas, plus Andrea Stinson of the WNBA, were also on hand to help lead the way.

For some, we were introducing them to the sport. But many seemed to know the game quite well.

On one level, it was good to see the globalization of basketball. Many were aware of the rules and had played quite a bit -- this really broke the ice for me. And many knew the championship Chicago Bulls teams I played for, and of course this one guy named Michael Jordan, my former teammate.

As an athlete, it also reminded me of the effect we have on people. These kids are watching our every move. We have their attention, so our hope is the lessons of teamwork and sportsmanship we share can rub off in bigger ways.

Still, despite the fact that they looked up to us, they were the most impressive ones here. This was demonstrated after the balls were put away.

It showed in the "conflict session" in which we had frank discussions about life as a "radical, subjective experience."

It impressed me to see them entertain an idea but not believe in it -- just allowing everyone to get what he or she had to say out there without being shouted down. These kids already have seen some things about the state of the world. And these discussions ultimately came down to the big question of "Who am I?" -- a vital conversation to have with young people who know war as a way of life.

They all face the challenge of backing their beliefs when they leave Maine and go back to places of deep-seated conflict.

Here, they examine the sources of information -- family, government, culture and media -- and how that shapes a current belief system.

One camper from Palestine talked about his preconceived notion of all kids from Israel, but had come all the way to the neutral ground of the Maine woods to discover that "they're just like me."

They also seem to understand that they don't have the capacity to change the world in a day, but they're taking baby steps in the right direction. They know a different way is needed to change the current situation and remain open to committing to this picture of peace, even in these tough times.

They want to be world leaders; they want to be presidents; they want to be in the U.N. They have a world vision.

We had dinner together, and we were talking world politics -- how we have to do it together and how it's going to take a whole community to get us out of conflict. The kids are committed to nonviolence, and they are so positive on so many levels.

Still, they are very much kids. You'll see them gathering together, dancing and chanting, just having fun. Kids, with innocence, ambition and a love of life.

Being among them this week, I really got a sense that this world has a chance.

ESPN analyst B.J. Armstrong played in the NBA from 1990 to 2000. For more on the camp, see seedsofpeace.org

Kobe is not all that bad...check this out!

All-Star guard Kobe Bryant announced Thursday he has offered eight college students a chance to go to Italy and discover the country where he spent part of his childhood.

"It's really exciting for us, to have the opportunity to do something like this," said Bryant, referring to the Vivo Foundation that he started. The foundation's first program, called Vivo Del Mondo, will organize a nine-day, all-expense paid trip to Italy for eight black and Hispanic college students.

The students, who were selected by two scholarship funds, will visit Rome, Florence and Venice beginning next week.

"With me growing up overseas -- being exposed to another world, another culture, another way of life -- to able to open those doors for somebody else is special," Bryant said.

Bryant, 27, spent eight years of his childhood in Italy while his father, Joe, was establishing himself as a basketball star there. He speaks Italian fluently and has returned to Italy many times since he and his family left in 1992.

720 Dunk

720 Dunk

Wow you have to check this one out! It's a mad crazy 720 dunk, 720 Dunk by Air Up There From AND1, the air up there 720 dunk! Let the video do the talking!

John Wooden Quotes, John Wooden inspiring quotes, John Wooden basketball quotes

John Wooden Quotes, John Wooden inspiring quotes, John Wooden basketball quotes

Ability is a poor man's wealth.
John Wooden

Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.
John Wooden

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
John Wooden

Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.
John Wooden

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
John Wooden

Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
John Wooden

Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.
John Wooden

It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.
John Wooden

The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.
John Wooden

Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.
John Wooden

You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
John Wooden

More basketball principles

John Wooden is a genuine monument under the American basketball Coaches. There it was Headcoach with UCLA of 1948-75 and won in its last 12 years 10 NCAA championships, under it 7 in consequence. From 1971-74 it went 88 times into consequence as a winner out of resounds. In its book "Practical decaying basketball" (1966) it describes the principles for basketball Coaches, most important from its view, which have at that time like today their validity.

Check out John Wooden's page here


Further important principles:

1. Basketball is play of the habits, and it needs time and patience, in order to develop correct habits and turn bad off. One of the largest errors of most inexperienced coaches is probably the lack of patience. The players try to convince of the fact that her in training to become careless never to be allowed, because they will exactly the same play, as they train. Constant concentration on the goal is must.

2. The coach and the players may never will content, but constantly to work to become better. Set for you perfection to the goal, although it can be never achieved.

3. It remembers that it is is so important, as much you do, but like well you make many more it. It is better to train some things correctly well when too many different, by which nothing is then controlled correctly. Zumute to your players not too much.

4. Do not take the players so much to the short line that you lose their selfinitiative. They must have but must also to the action of a fellow player to react correctly be able a certain freedom of choice, in order to keep the room layout.

5. Attempts to sketch a balanced Offense which supplies a same number of throw possibilities for each player position, but confuse the players not by the fact that you make it too complicated in the tendency to bring in your whole knowledge.

6. Do not ignore the small details, because there is the small things, which can make the difference. Perfection in some slight details is often the only difference between winners and losers.

7. You must prepare win in order to be a winner, and you cannot prepare others, without being prepared. Self-assurance gets off to be prepared and in good condition.

8. Convince your players of the fact that condition is often the crucial factor at two similarly strong and well prepared teams. However they, if they want to use their better condition, must have pressure already early in the play for the opponent, so that them make themselves paid at the end. Bases, patience and self-assurance leave you in the measure, how the fatigue increases, then ensure for the fact that your opponents become tired, before you become it.

9. Use a positive beginning around pride on your own play to develop, both defensively and offensively. Prepare you for your opponents, but never make for you concerns because of them. Leave it deinetwegen themselves to ensure.

10. Attach great importance on the play without ball in the attack and to the defense against an aggressor without ball.

11. Do not forget to emphasize your Playmaker and defense specialists with each opportunity publicly too. Basket contactors get anyway enough applause around their Ego to strengthen, but the others may not be forgotten thereby.

12. The coach should take over a criticizing, and it should be always constructional. Do not permit a player to criticize a fellow player somehow to draw up or to scoffed.

13. It insists on the fact that the basket contactors itself always with the fellow player, whose passport led to its basket, thanked you and all this to its fellow player applause donate, which implemented a straight good action.

14. Constantly analyze you and your players and let you from the result of this analysis lead.