This
article will focus on some current trends and issues I see in basketball.
One
trend I see at all levels of basketball (pee-wee, playground, high school,
college and professional) is a lack of flexibility. By saying “lack of flexibility” is giving the
impression there actually is some. The
level of flexibility I have seen over the years (I have been doing this for
over fifteen years) is pathetic. Basically
it is non-existent.
Flexibility
isn’t given the priority it deserves at the early stages of basketball
development and is given even less attention as the level of play
increases. Flexibility is a physical
sub-quality that affects all other sub-qualities – strength, speed and
endurance. If by some miracle a coach
does in fact designate a certain amount of time for stretching, it is overwhelmingly
only a few minutes and the wrong type of stretching to be performed before a
practice or game. By performing the
wrong type of stretching will weaken a muscle and therefore increase the risk
of an injury.
The
credo for doctors is “physician do no harm”.
The same should apply to coaches.
I am often asked, “what is the most common injury” for each sport. Every single time regardless of the sport I
will answer – coaches.
To
get more specific as far as bodyparts / joints; the ankle, hip and lower back
need the most attention. When those
three areas are capable of achieving full ROM (range of motion), performance
will improve, there will be a decrease in the risk of injury and the athlete’s
playing career will be extended.
Another
issue I see with males but more so with females is the belief that lifting
weights will make someone “muscle bound” and affect their shot. Read the first three paragraphs. Prioritize flexibility and one will not get
“muscle bound”. As far as affecting
one’s shot, this is true. It will affect
it in a positive way. Weight training
will improve a player’s shot by helping accuracy and distance. Plus news flash, basketball is a contact
sport. You will be able to play more
physically.
Most
athletes don’t understand the fact that weight training is a stimulus and
improvements take place outside of the gym.
The improvements take place through proper recovery. One huge issue is poor nutrition. At the lower level with all the tournament
play, athletes are eating pure crap.
Yes, it is cheap and convenient but it is cheap and convenient
crap. At the higher levels the athletes
think every now and then a “cheat” or “junk” meal won’t hurt them. No matter what level of play an athlete
cannot out-train a poor diet. A sports
car needs the right octane fuel, fluid levels, tight belts and correct tire
pressure to perform at a high performance level. Why wouldn’t an athlete also want to perform
at a high level? It will not happen with
an inferior nutritional program.
The
second trend I will speak about it focusing on only one sport. First off, at the early ages of play, young
athletes are developing motor skills, movement patterns and energy systems. By focusing on only one sport the athlete’s
future athletic potential has been greatly compromised. Playing multiple sports at an early age will
expose an athlete to various motor skills, movement patterns and energy systems. This will greatly extend an athlete’s
athletic potential.
The
final trend I will speak about in regards to playing one sport (volleyball and
softball are two other examples) is the fact that it is played year round. When is the off-season? Does anyone understand the purpose of an
off-season? It is a break. Not a vacation or an excuse to sit on your
butt playing video games and eating crap.
This is the time to focus on correcting any imbalances the sport has
created (every sport creates some imbalances), work on improving your
weaknesses and re-establishing your fundamentals.
Every
once in a while there are exceptions to the rule. Two examples would be Kobe Bryant and LeBron
James. The likelihood your young athlete
is the next Kobe or LeBron is slim to none.
Pay attention to the details for it is the little things that separate
good athletes from great athletes.
Coach Stoll