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Mark Adams – Basketball Trainer Interview

March 1, 2015 By basketballtrainer

Basketball Trainer Mark Adams

Who Is Mark Adams?

If you have not already heard…Mark Adams is an Elite Basketball Trainer who helps several NBA clients, college teams and the training and camp community.  His portfolio of experience allows him to share a very unique perspective.  He has served as a collegiate assistant at Syracuse, a highly successful high school coach, and was a 1000 point scorer as a player in high school and college.  We were introduced to Mark by BasketballHQ.com partner and South Alabama Basketball Assistant Coach Russ Willemsen who spoke very highly of him.  Mark is committed and passionate about player development and has the growth mindset that the BasketballTrainer.com team looks up to.

BasketballTrainer.com (BT): What is the biggest problem in basketball training today?

Mark Adams (MA): The disconnect between the basketball trainer and the player’s coach.  Ideally the basketball trainer should communicate with the players coach and build a relationship. Together they can devise a plan for purposeful training so that the player can maximize time and energy.  The basketball trainer should get as much input and data from the coach as possible and use it to devise specific workouts.

BT:  What is your training approach with a younger player?

MA:  My approach with younger players is simple… I focus on the fundamentals. When working with young players more teaching and explaining often takes place.  Make sure that all the skills and drill work translates to actual game like situations. Young players should learn the importance of competition, but most importantly have fun training.

 BT: Why do you still make time for youth basketball?

MA: I love the game and I enjoy working with young players. It’s the truest form of teaching that exists. You can have a huge impact on kids and help them get better.

BT:  If you  could go back in time as a young player, what would you tell yourself?

MA: I would work on all skills and total development of my game. I made the mistake of focusing too much on my position (shooting guard) and didn’t develop other skills such as ball handling, passing, etc. Today’s players need to be more versatile and multi-skilled.

BT:  Who were your key influences?

MA:  I have been very fortunate to have some of the best in the game as mentors and friends. – My first job was working for Jim Boeheim at Syracuse University.  – Coach K – have been fortunate to have him for advice and counseling over the years.

– Alan Stein and Dee Brown were extremely influential in my decision to become a player development coach full-time.

– Currently, NBA Skills trainer Aubrey McCreary, is my main mentor and like a big brother to me.

BT:  Mark, you have a reputation of being one of America’s best camp demonstrators and teachers.  What can campers expect across the nation?

MA: To learn the fundamentals, to be taught and develop skills that translate.  Train extremely hard.  They can expect energy, enthusiasm and passion I want all of my players to

1) Get Better

2) Have Fun

3) Develop Meaningful Relationships

BT:  Where can they find out more information about you and your programs?

MA: 

– www.markadamsbasketball.com

– twitter – @MarkAdamsBball

– facebook – facebook.com/MarkAdamsBasketball

– email – [email protected]

BT: Finally Mark can you share the qualities you most admire in two NBA Players you have worked with and what younger players could learn from them?

MA:  Ryan Kelly – Los Angeles Lakers – Resilient — Despite numerous injuries, Ryan keeps a positive attitude and continues to work on his game.

– Paul Millsap – Atlanta Hawks – Work Ethic — Paul is a true professional. He has a willingness to go outside his comfort zone to expand his game.  Tremendous off season commitment and takes care of his body.

BT:  Mark – thanks so much for joining us here, you are welcome back anytime and we look forward to catching up on your visit to Austin this summer!!  Also, congratulations on making the list of best basketball websites!

Filed Under: blog Tagged With: basketball trainer, Basketball trainer mark adams, Mark adams basketball camp, Mark Adams Basketball Trainer

What Should I Look For In A Basketball Trainer?

November 16, 2014 By basketballtrainer

What Should I Look For In A Basketball Trainer

What Should I Look For In A Basketball Trainer?

We often get asked the question: “What should I look for in a basketball trainer?” Basketball trainers of all forms exist in the world of youth basketball today.   There are some truly great ones that use phenomenal methods to help their students become better players.  On the other hand, there are also those that claim to be worthy trainers, but fail to use any sort of effective methods to teach the game.  As a young player, you should be looking for these following simple  characteristics in your trainer to make certain that you are getting the most out of your time spent in the gym:

Basketball Expertise:

If you are paying for lessons from a basketball trainer, you want to ensure that they themselves have been through the ropes.  By this, I mean that the trainer should have experience in playing or coaching at least at the college level as a minimum.  The reason for this is because you want to know that they are knowledgeable on the fundamentals and have experienced the hard work it takes to play basketball at a high level before you take advice from them.  They must present an expertise and a knowhow of the game that shows that they have accurate information about basketball that they can teach.  Furthermore, you want to know that they can give you the tips you need to play basketball at a high level just as they have done.

Ability to Teach/ Instruct Basketball Skills:

Coach K of Duke University basketball once said, “I don’t look at myself as a basketball coach.  I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.”  This is the type of attitude you hope to see in a basketball trainer.

A key characteristic you should look for before deciding on a basketball trainer is seeing if they have the ability to teach the game effectively.  In order for you to benefit from their basketball expertise, they need to be able to instruct successfully.  A good basketball trainer should easily be able to put into words what basketball skills they want their trainees to work on, why they should be working on them, and how their extra work will benefit them in becoming a better player.  In addition to this, it also helps if your trainer is in shape enough that they can show you physically and specifically how they would like each drill performed.  Having someone that can model for you the correct way to perform a jab step or crossover dribble will help you in easily being able to copy these actions for your own game.

Enjoys their Basketball Job And Is Happy:

Nobody likes to be around someone that is unhappy.  It causes a loss in motivation and sucks the enjoyment out of that moment in time.  This pertains to your basketball trainer as well.  You should be looking for a basketball trainer that is genuinely excited every time he comes into the gym to teach his craft.  They should truly enjoy the time that they spend teaching the game of basketball and have an excitement about it that is contagious to the young individuals that they are training.  A trainer with a positive attitude is much more effective at teaching the game because he will instill a love for the game in his students that they will want to also exemplify.  When a basketball trainer can keep the game fun they promote a sort of willingness from the people they are training to exert as much effort as they can to improve their game.

To Sum Up, Your Basketball Trainer Should:

  1. Have high level basketball playing or coaching experience
  2. Show an ability to teach their craft
  3. Love teaching the game of basketball 

 Don’t hesitate to email us at BasketballTrainer.com with any questions you have or if we can help you find a basketball trainer in your area.

Filed Under: Basketball Trainer Blog Tagged With: basketball trainer, basketball training, questions about basketball trainer, what should I look for in a basketball trainer

Basketball Nutrition And Dairy Products: An Alternative Take

October 26, 2014 By basketballtrainer

Basketball Nutrition and Dairy Products An Alternative Take

The Surprising Effects of Dairy on Your Daily Basketball Nutrition 

I am a former college basketball player and during my freshmen season I had been struggling with severe digestive issues.  It was so bad that any time our team went out to the track or had a longer workout or practice; I began to dread it instantly, knowing that my IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) was going to flare up forcing me to have to embarrassingly ask to excuse myself once again.  It also made it difficult for me to perform with the level of intensity I needed to in order to keep up with the rest of the team, which was very disheartening.

I knew that I had a serious health problem, but I didn’t know what the underlying cause was at the time.  Athletic trainers and team physicians kept telling me that it was all due to mental and physiological stress, but I wasn’t convinced.  My life wasn’t very stressful and I just intuitively knew that there was no way that stress was the root cause.

It wasn’t until I heard a theory about dairy products causing digestive upset in some people that I began to wonder if I fell into this group of people. I began to do tons of personal research and based upon what I found which I will lay out in the following sections of this article, I made the decision to completely cut out dairy products from my daily nutrition plan.

The results I quickly achieved were outstanding – my digestive system began to heal and I was no longer plagued with seasonal allergies!

I’ve never had any digestive issues like that since and the fact that my seasonal allergies were eliminated as well was enough for me to continue focusing on limiting my dairy intake.

I would like it to be known that the opinions and beliefs expressed within this article are based upon my personal experience with the consumption of dairy products, specifically cow’s milk and are intended to provide a new viewpoint to the table based upon my opinion, experience and research.

Milk in our Basketball Culture

Milk has long been thought of as the healthiest non-water beverage that you can consume.  Daily consumption of milk has long been promoted by the USDA and FDA as being the ideal source of non-meat protein and calcium to enhance growth development in young children and athletes as well as strong bones in the elderly.

We’ve all seen the “Got Milk!” advertisements and other commercial products heavily promoting the dairy industry as they’ve flooded us with over $300 million in advertisements each year.  Many of these marketing campaigns have featured sports stars and movie celebrities reminding us to drink milk every day for all of its nutritional benefits.

For decades the American culture has widely believed and followed this popular general health recommendation – however, today there are many people that have begun to question the validity of these supposed healthy living claims as seen on the government regulated ‘Food Guide Pyramid’.

The potentially misleading information given about the nutritional benefits of dairy products is not the only thing that poses a potential health threat to those that consume it on a regular basis; an even bigger and nastier issue is the manufacturing process of the dairy products.

Artificial hormones and antibiotics are being pumped into the sick livestock which has contaminated the overall milk supply and the only way to make the milk from these sick animals saleable is to pasteurize it which kills off any pathogens.  However,  issue still remains since pasteurization doesn’t address the toxic overload issue in the supply that directly impacts the American public’s health and safety.

This article is not intended to bash the dairy industry, but rather to inform and educate basketball players to help them make the wisest nutritional choices possible to support their athletic bodies through building a wise nutrition plan.

Knowledge is power, and understanding the harmful effects that today’s dairy products can have on the human body is game changing information.  Fortunately, in today’s health foods market there are several milk alternatives to choose from providing safer and more wholesome health benefits for basketball players and non-athletes alike.

Does Dairy Have a Rightful Place in a Healing Diet for Basketball Players?

Basketball players and athletes have high demands put on their bodies, so it’s important that they are only fueling up with foods sources that are going to keep it functioning effectively and efficiently while avoiding any sources that could potentially cause health issues.

While milk has long been touted as a very nutritious food source, the fact is that dairy foods are mucous producing agents that promote the growth of bad bacteria in the body.  This auto-immune reaction interferes with the cleansing-healing process, making it practically impossible to allow your body’s own natural healing mechanisms to work optimally.

Dairy foods are very dense and high in saturated fats that challenge digestion, immunity and metabolism.   Basketball players need to consider this alarming physiological truth because anything that is going to hinder those three basic bodily functions is certainly not something that you want to include in your healthy basketball nutrition plan on a regular basis because it could slow you down on the court so to speak.

In fact, over one-quarter of Americans are intolerant to dairy foods (lactose intolerant), meaning they will experience allergic reactions, very poor elimination and digestion (weight gain and constipation) and severe mucous build-up (inflammation). Sounds nasty right? That’s because it is.

Another startling fact is that dairy foods become harder to digest as we age because our bodies don’t naturally produce high levels of milk-digesting enzymes (lactase) and after we’re done nursing from our own mothers the need for this enzyme is no longer needed theoretically – unless you choose to drink cow’s milk consistently of course.

Despite whether your body is completely intolerant to dairy products or not, the strain put on the eliminative organs like the colon and urinary system is caused from the clogging that occurs over time due to the overproduction of mucous. Dairy literally acts like toxic sludge in the body slowing everything down for the worse.

Many people claim to gain higher, more consistent energy levels after greatly reducing or eliminating their daily dairy intake – this is directly related to the reduction in mucous and the improved functioning of vital eliminative organs. It’s safe to assume that all basketball players are aiming to keep their health in tip top shape and dairy doesn’t seem to fit the equation for a wholesome, clean daily diet.

What about all of the Nutritional Content in Cow’s Milk Building up Strong Bodies for Basketball Players?

Since the early 1990’s, the dairy industry has done a great job of marketing their products as an essential part of any health eating program by posting pictures of basketball legends like Michael Jordan and Shaquile O’ Neal all over media sources to influence young players to drink their daily intake of dairy to build up a strong body to help make them a better player – the raw truth is that this is all very misleading information.

Michael Jordan did not become the basketball great that he was because he drank milk every day.  This is not to say that he didn’t drink milk, but he certainly didn’t get most of his daily recommended calcium from it considering that the human body doesn’t absorb dairy calcium well because of the pasteurizing and homogenizing processes it takes to make the milk safe for human consumption.

“A 12 year study, formally known as the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study finds that high intake of milk and other dairy foods does not reduce bone breaks or osteoporosis.  The study found that instead that hip fracture risk was 1.45 times higher in women who drank 2 or more glasses of milk per day compared to women who only had one glass or less per week.”[1]

This study proves that homogenized milk is a poor source of absorbable calcium and has very low levels of magnesium to make matters less nutritious.  Any good source of calcium will have a 1:1 ration of magnesium along with it to increase absorbability of the essential mineral. Instead, the protein found in cow’s milk may actually cause the loss of calcium via the urinary tract ultimately leading to poor skeletal health overall.

Another factor to consider is that conventional milk is not extracted from grass-fed cattle; instead the dairy cows are being fed artificial grains that are loaded with even more toxic substances making their way into your body with each sip.

The fundamental question in this instance is how can the milk from artificial grain fed cattle have significant amounts of calcium, minerals, and vitamin D when these minerals can only be present in the cow’s body if the cow is eating grass which is the original source of the minerals?  It simply can’t.

On the contrary, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables positively affects bone health.

In fact, studies have been conducted comparing the absorption of the calcium content in cow’s milk to that of vegetable sources.  It was discovered that the absorption of the calcium from brussels sprouts was 63.8%, broccoli was 52.6%, kale was 50%, compared to only 32% from milk.

Leafy greens, other vegetables, nuts, seeds, fish and non-GMO soy foods have much higher amounts of absorbable calcium as well as other important minerals like magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium and selenium.

Basketball players need the benefits from calcium and other minerals to help prevent sidelining injuries and illnesses, so you are much better off focusing on getting in your 3-5 servings of vegetables each day than you are by serving up a cold glass of cow’s milk.

The protein content in cow’s milk is equally as ineffective for the human body as its calcium content.  Cow’s milk contains a specific protein known as bovine serum albumin and actually triggers an auto-immune reaction in the body causing antibodies to attack and destroy insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas.  This is why children who are given cow’s milk during infancy have a higher risk of developing diabetes later on in life as mentioned in the New England Journal of Medicine.[2]

Finally, the saturated fat (unhealthy fat) content in dairy is very dense, high and unhealthy.  Even if you do choose 2% or 1% milk, you are still consuming 35% and 25% saturated fat per glass respectively.

The bottom line is that dairy products are not contributing to your muscle building and athletic efforts on or off the court in the weight room.

How do Today’s Dairy Manufacturing Processes Affect my Health?

“On November 5, 1993, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved genetically engineered Artificial Bovine Growth Hormone (rBST, rBGH, BGH) for commercial use in the United States.”[3]

These artificial hormones are used to increase the milk production of cattle in order to meet the high supply and demand of American dairy products.

Due to America’s surplus milk demand and dairy subsidies, it’s easy to understand why farmers would use these unnatural and health hazardous hormones to promote more milk production from their cattle.

Although the research is slimmer, the International Journal of Health Services does show that genetically engineered rBGH may promote breast and colon cancer in humans.

Europe and Canada already ban the use of artificial hormones in dairy cows, and has taken it a step further by banning the importation of U.S. dairy goods to their countries for this reason.

Despite the lack of scientific evidence, it’s safe to assume that common sense prevails over this matter – if only the United States had more of it considering that other countries clearly value the people more by putting the public health and safety of its citizens and livestock over the almighty dollar.

It is known, however, that cows treated with these artificial hormones have increased incidences of mastitis infections (inflammation, infection, cancer).

These infections start a vicious cycle by forcing farmers to treat the sick cattle with more antibiotics to keep them healthy enough to continue producing milk.  If the farmers lose their cattle, they lose money and they are willing to do anything to keep that from happening.

“The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that an astounding 24.6 million pounds of antibiotics are fed to animals every year to help fight illnesses that break out in overcrowded, unsanitary feed lots.”[4]

The over worked cattle’s swollen utters dragging on the manure-laden floors not only increase the risk of bacterial infections, but also contaminates the milk; in combination with the antibiotics given to the cattle to treat the infections which are also found in the milk, this creates more of a creamy toxic substance rather than fresh, raw, organic milk like nature intended.

The dairy industry’s solution to this problem is to pasteurize the milk, however pasteurization only knocks out the bacterial pathogens – it doesn’t address the matter of there also being significant amounts of hormones and pesticides still being present after the pasteurization process served straight to the American public.

The reality is that the diary industry’s current practices are not in you or your family’s best interests, it’s all to increase supply and demand for a  profit by whatever means they have to do that – healthy and safe or not!

Is Raw Milk and Fermented Dairy Products Equally Unhealthy?

Raw milk is a much healthier choice to make if you are going to continue using dairy products in your basketball nutrition plan.  Raw milk can only be found at your local farmer’s market or through a private farmer, but is definitely the way to go.

Fermented dairy products like kefir and yogurt are also healthier dairy products.  They are cultured foods that present health benefits by providing the body with significant amounts of healthy bacteria (probiotics) and absorbable calcium for the body.  These fermented foods are actually considered living because they contain intestinal flora that aide the digestive process, and since the lactase enzyme is not needed to breakdown these forms of dairy products they are much easier to assimilate and absorb than milk, cheese or butter.

There are no health issues with continuing or adding these forms of dairy into your nutrition plan unless you are completely intolerant to lactose.

What Healthy Milk Alternatives Should Basketball Players look for?

Just because the dairy industry has fallen to the wayside, it doesn’t mean that you can’t still enjoy your favorite cereal, smoothies, shakes, ice cream and baked goods.  The creamy consistency of milk is what makes it so enjoyable and while it’s obviously not the best idea to continue rushing out to the grocery store to buy another gallon when you’ve run out, it is a good idea to start looking to healthier milk alternatives that actually do provide nutritional benefits for your basketball body and nutrition plan.

Listed below are the most nutritious milk alternatives found on the market.  All of them can be substituted for milk in all recipes and are excellent served in many of your traditionally milk-based treats like smoothies and ice cream.  These milk alternatives are made using highly nutritious nuts and seeds and offer the benefits of healthy fats, protein, minerals, vitamins as well as being free from artificial sugars.

There are so many options available that you are destined to find one that suits your consistency, texture, and taste needs. Many of these alternatives are also found in vanilla and chocolate flavors and are sweetened using natural cane sugar, which still amounts to much less than that found in conventional cow’s milk.

If you are interested in making your own nut or seed milk, there are easy recipes online for making them at home as well.

Flax Milk – rich in healthy omega-3 fats, flax milk is made using flax seeds and is a great option for those looking for a creamy consistency with a slightly nutty taste. Flax milk is lactose, cholesterol and saturated fat free making it an ideal choice for replacing your cow’s milk with. The only pitfall to flax milk is that it doesn’t contain any protein, however you can find it with fortified protein if you desire.

Hemp Milk – this milk alternative is made using hemp seeds and is very rich in omega-3 and omega-6 healthy fats.  It is also a great source of amino acids, providing about 4 grams of protein per serving. Hemp milk contains 46% of your RDA of absorbable calcium and is also rich in other vitamins and nutrients like Vitamin A, E, B12, folic acid, iron and magnesium.

Coconut Milk – great for adding to smoothies and ice cream recipes, coconut milk offers a delicious milk alternative.  Coconut milk is made from the meat of mature coconuts and is easy to digest. You will benefit from drinking coconut milk because of the healthy fat content, antioxidants, Vitamins C, E and B, as well as minerals like magnesium, potassium and phosphorous.

Almond Milk – one of the most popular milk alternatives, almond milk, is known for being a low-calorie, saturated fat and cholesterol free beverage that can also help maintain healthy blood sugar levels.  Offering the nutritional benefits of calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin E and fiber are a few other perks to including this in your daily basketball nutrition plan.

A few honorable mention milk alternative products include soy milk, rice milk, quinoa milk and cashew milk that all are great options.

Although cow’s milk and other dairy products have long been a staple in the traditional American diet, many people are now turning to healthier, less toxic alternatives in order to prevent the risks associated with consuming today’s conventional dairy.

Basketball players need the best nutrition possible to maintain a healthy body and immune system during the season and the current facts and studies point out some valid reasons to reconsider your choices for dairy as part of your daily nutrition plan.  By focusing on getting your daily servings of fruits, veggies, and other wholesome foods as well as trying out some of the milk alternatives mentioned, you are on your way to getting enough calcium, protein and other minerals necessary to support your basketball health goals on and off the court!

 

[1] Healthy Healing, 14th ed. Page, Linda. Pg. 156

[2] Healthy Healing, 14th ed. Page, Linda. Pg. 155

[3] http://milk.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000018

[4] Healthy Healing. 14th ed. Page, Linda. Pg. 158

Basketball Trainer Writer Danielle McDonald

Note from Basketball Trainer Publisher Chris Corbett: 

When Danielle first sent me this article, I was taken aback a bit as it challenged several of my own beliefs.  After reading it a second and third time I thought it was important to share this article with our audience for a few reasons: 

  1. Many people have digestive issues and struggle with it during training. This might shed some light on their struggle. 
  2. We all need to take a better look at the sugars we consume as they are hidden in many products we view as “healthy.”  
  3. This article provides a starting point conversation that should continue with your doctor and parents (if you are a minor.)  Everyone has a different digestive system but after consulting a doctor, education and monitoring thru the use of a basketball nutrition food journal you should be able to make strides to improve your overall health and your game.  Looking at dairy intake can be one factor.  
  4. The world needs to be aware of the power that mighty lobbying groups have on our daily basketball nutrition.  Danielle brings a fresh voice to challenge our assumptions and make us think at the supermarket.  
  5. We welcome a response from the dairy industry or trainers with a different viewpoint if it can expand the breadth of this dialogue.  We will be contacting the dairy industry to hear their response and hopefully get to share that.

 

Filed Under: Basketball Trainer Blog Tagged With: basketball dairy, basketball nutrition, basketball nutrition and dairy, basketball trainer, basketball training

New Haven Basketball Trainer Rich Walton Interview

July 24, 2014 By basketballtrainer

New Haven Basketball Trainer Rich Walton

Basketball Trainer Rich Walton At Work

We had a chance to connect with  New Haven Basketball Trainer and Creator of Skill Development Coach, Rich Walton.  New Jersey basketball trainer Rich Stoner had shared what a  thought leader Rich Walton was and we were not disappointed after our conversations and follow up emails.

Basketball Trainer:  Rich, thanks for joining us.  Can you tell me a little about your philosophy regarding player development and basketball trainers? 

Rich Walton: I love basketball.  And I love seeing players improve.

Basketball is the ONLY Team sport where you can significantly improve day to day with just a ball and a hoop.  I think that we have gotten so far away from the game being about a boy or a girl and a basketball and a dream.  Everything is so overhyped, over coached, and SO UNDERTAUGHT!

This game is about 1 thing! MUSCLE MEMORY! Either you have ingrained habits with your skill set and you have a level of confidence with the ball and can read and react with the correct decision making – or you don’t!

BT: What has been your proudest moment as a basketball trainer and what is the reward that drives you daily? 

RW: I think what I am most proud of is my willingness to believe in the players that I have worked with. I have trained National Player’s of the Year.  NCAA National Champions. I have trained numerous All-State Players.  Almost every player that is All-Conference in my location has trained with me.   A very low division 3 prospect that could barely handle the ball later went on to become a student manager and practice player at Louisville.  I’ve worked with under-recruited high school players that kept working throughout college and have had professional opportunities now.  But I never take credit for any player’s success.  I take pride in their accomplishments, of course.  But I feel that it is my job to tell them what to do.  To explain why they should do it.  And then demonstrate the application of why we are training the way that we are training.  But it is always on the player to take themselves as far as they want to go.   Players come to me because they love basketball, just as I did when I was a kid.  But if I can get them to love to practice it the right way, no matter what their current level of natural ability is – I think that I give them a belief in themselves that they can be great at basketball – as long as they do everything that I tell them to do. The Players that train the way that I tell them to go on to become great players.

BT: What are your thoughts on the state of skill development in American basketball? 

RW:  It’s a joke!  AAU is glorified recreational basketball now.  The business side of basketball took over what was really good for the game of basketball.  Which actually works in my favor with regard to training because I am developing better, more skilled players than what any AAU Program can.  I hold a big symposium every spring to outline the affects of AAU on Player Development.  How a weekend of traveling all over the state for 48 hours and having a kid get 10 shots throughout 4 meaningless AAU Games as opposed to 500 Shots each day, or whatever skill they need to work on over the weekend – is the reason why we don’t have the level of skilled players, shooters and scorers that we could have across the board at the younger levels of developmental basketball. Unfortunately, words like fundamentals and developmental are overlooked.  I see players all the time at a young age that have their potential squandered away because they are recruited to play for some AAU program at age 12, when they don’t have the necessary skill sets to really progress to a far more developed player over the long haul.  So I have a SKILLS vs AAU Mentality.

BT: Once you share a skill with a young player, how do you help them integrate it into their game? Where are players failing in taking drills into actual game skills?

RW: People can say players don’t implement skills into games because they are not always doing the skill with a defender, or in a contextually interfered game environment.  I honestly think that has very little merit.  There are really 2 missing components when it comes to players not integrating a skill into a game:

1).  The 1st Reason is Creativity:  Players that practice the right way DON’T Just “Do Skills.”  They imagine things. Like trailing defenders, perimeter defenders, rotating defenders.  They practice to beat the Greatest Defenders!  (Practice that way… and you’ll beat any defender!)

2).  The other reason that a player doesn’t incorporate a skills into a game is simply because they haven’t practiced it enough for muscle memory.  When the ball goes up – players are going to fall back on their habits.  If they have not ingrained a muscle memory skill with confidence at game speeds in their own practice habits, why would they be able to incorporate it into a game?  That’s why you need repetition after repetition.  That’s why basketball training matters!

The tricky thing about Muscle Memory is that it comes very fast – in the matter of minutes or days… But it leaves fast, too.  So a player that thinks “I got that” when it comes to a skill doesn’t necessarily have it until they can do it again and again at a very high rate of speed without thinking.  And even then, the best players in the world make mistakes, blow layups, and turn the ball over.  But choosing the skill path as a player and practicing the correct techniques for muscle memory is the only way to be a great player.

BT: Here at BasketballTrainer.com, we always tell players we want them to work harder and smarter.  You developed a product that seems to help youngsters work smarter in the driveway and the gym while on their own.  Can you share a little?

RW: I have dedicated a great deal of my life to basketball instruction.  I know a lot of players that work hard.  I know a lot of players that do practice. But most have no clue WHAT EXACTLY TO DO and HOW TO DO IT!

Realizing that many of our kids wanted to do extra work outside of our training sessions mad me want to give them more guidance and inspriation when I was not available to them.  That is what SKILL DEVELOPMENT COACH is:

It tells you EXACTLY what to do, shows you EXACTLY HOW to DO IT, and WHY EXACTLY You NEED to DO IT!

We put it in a video format and very easy to understand guide that helps give players the guidance they crave to become stronger players.

BT:  It looks like a great product, congrats on your work with that and thanks so much for spending some time with us here at BasketballTrainer.com

 

Filed Under: Basketball Trainer Blog, blog Tagged With: basketball trainer

Keys To Hydration For Basketball Champions

June 26, 2014 By basketballtrainer

Keys To Basketball HydrationWater is the most important source of life on Earth.  You can survive more than three weeks without food, but water is a completely different story.  It would only take about three days for you to perish without this precious life source.

It’s not surprising that we must have to water to sustain life considering that the average adult is made up of about 57% water.  As expected, the need to maintain adequate hydration becomes much greater in conditions of extreme heat and intense physical exercise like basketball.

When your body starts to heat up during basketball practice or a game, the body’s cooling system kicks into gear and you begin to sweat.  Some people sweat more than others, but not to worry if you happen to be a “sweat hog” because you typically only need to be concerned about your overall health if you aren’t sweating at all.

While sweating is the most natural response to the body overheating, a lot of water and vital fluids known as ‘electrolytes’ are lost during this process. If these fluids are not consistently replaced each day, then the body becomes dehydrated leading to more serious health concerns with symptoms like cramping, dizziness, nausea, extreme thirst, migraines, constipation and skin problems. Doesn’t sound too pleasant, right?

It’s said that by the time that you are experiencing thirst on any level you are already in a slightly dehydrated state.  Rather than waiting until getting to this point or worse, it’s always smart to stay ahead in the game of hydration and ward off dehydration by taking action.

Keys to maintaining proper hydration as a basketball player include keeping a daily water log, understanding your water needs, being prepared with fresh water at all times, replenishing electrolytes and seeking out the highest quality of water sources available to you.

By following these guidelines for staying hydrated like a basketball champion, you are sure to increase your opportunities for peak performances and avoid the side-lining symptoms of dehydration.

 

5 Keys To Hydration For

Basketball Champions

 

1.  Keep a Water Log During Basketball Training

Basketball Training HydrationAs you are first starting out, it’s important to keep track of how much water you are or aren’t drinking each day.  Keeping a daily water log might give you surprising answers since it’s impossible to keep up with fluid intakes by memory. You will learn exactly how much you need to increase your water intake or maybe you will find that you are doing just fine.

You can mark off every 8-12 ounces that you drink on paper if you find that easy, or there are water bottles out there that you can buy that keep track of your water intake by recording how many times you’ve filled it up.

Whichever method you choose for keeping track, just be sure that you stay consistent with it.

2.  Understand Your Basketball Water Needs

The amount of water you need will change from day to day depending on your activity level.  Everyone has different baseline water needs defendant upon varying factors like metabolism speed, body weight, climate, elevation and sweat output.

A general marker is to drink at least half of your body weight in water each day.  However, athletes need more than this considering the high activity level and sweat output.  Assuming that you are already hydrated before you start a workout, practice or game, it’s recommended that you try and keep up with about 7-10 ounces of water every 20-25 minutes of basketball activity.  Keep in mind that this amount increases the more heavily you sweat.

Realistically, you know your body better than anyone and half of the battle of determining your water needs is simply to listen to your body and take notice of how much you are drinking compared to your exertion levels and sweat output. In time, understanding you daily water needs will become second nature to you.

3.  Be Prepared at all Times

Since water is the one thing as a basketball player that you are going to need at practically any given time of the day, it’s smart to be prepared at all times.

This means that you must consider how much access you have to water each day and what you need to do to ensure that you will always have it available to you no matter where you are. A few ideas include carrying a larger water bottle with you so that you won’t need to refill as often, or just being sure that you refill your bottle before each class.

Assuming you will need more water for your basketball activities, be sure to plan ahead and always bring more water bottle.  It’s much easier to have a large personal bottle with you so that you can keep track of how much you’re drinking rather than running to the fountain and sipping an uncertain amount before resuming activity.

4. Replenish your Electrolytes

When you sweat, you lose electrolytes which are important salts in the body that carry an ionic or electrical charge. They support basic muscle function important for basketball and sports performance, which is why the idea of flavored sports performance drinks became so popular.

However, most popular sports performance drinks today are loaded with entirely too much sugar and sodium and are lacking in other important electrolytes like potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride and bicarbonate.  I recommend going for a specialty electrolyte replacement product not found in major grocery stores or gas stations to replace these vital fluids. Most quality sources of electrolytes come as a powder that you mix with water.

Another way to get electrolytes is to include more dark green, leafy vegetables into your diet as well as potassium-rich foods like bananas and almonds.

5.  Choose High-Quality Water Sources

All water is not created equal.  In fact, it’s not really a secret anymore that much of our tap water found in public water fountains and from the sinks of our homes are contaminated with toxins like fluoride.  Although it is said that these chemicals are safe for human consumption in very small amounts, the real issue is that no one really knows how much is actually being used in treating our public water.

I’m not trying to scare you off from ever drinking from the water fountain again, but I do believe that considering higher-quality water sources is ideal.

There are really great brands of bottled water at stores like Whole Foods and Sprouts where more organic options are available. Essentia and Voss are my favorite bottled brands since they are more alkalinized with a pH of 9.0.

Another alternative to tap water is investing in a Kangen water filtration system. These systems are unique in that they completely remove all of the chemicals from the water and bring the water to a healthy pH level of 7.0 and higher.

Alkalinized water means that the water is less acidic and is more readily absorbed by the body promoting efficient hydration.  Acidic water is not as healthy and unfortunately tap water has an acidic pH and unless you buy bottled brands with a higher pH or invest in a filtration system, it’s impossible to find this quality of water through public sources.

It certainly is more expensive to invest in better water, but considering that your body is made up of over half water than it’s a smart, healthy move if you are able to do so.  If you don’t have access to these better water sources, not to worry – do the best you can by sticking to what is available to you since the bottom line is that any safe water is better than no water.

Proper hydration is key to performing like a basketball champion during each workout, practice and game. Now that you have some guidelines to follow, you shouldn’t have to worry about the lagging effects of dehydration.  So hop to it and grab what you need to stay on top of replenishing your body’s most precious substance – water!

 

Basketball Trainer Writer Danielle McDonald

 

Filed Under: Basketball Trainer Blog Tagged With: basketball nutrition, basketball trainer

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