What is a Team?

A TEAM IS A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH COMPLEMENTARY SKILLS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING TOGETHER WITH A COMMON PURPOSE, PERFORMANCE GOALS AND APPROACH, FOR WHICH THEY HOLD THEMSELVES MUTUALLY ACCOUNTABLE.

~The Wisdom of Teams

7 keys to achieving your goals

These are the crucial elements from start, to implementation, to achievement of your goals, that everyone must do in order to make them a reality. Again I want to emphasize how important it is to put into action the information that I am giving you here, it is vital to your success. Please don’t take it lightly.

1.) Desire – It all starts with a dream, a desire to have or accomplish something. If you don’t want it, then why bother going after it?

2.) Belief – In order to accomplish/acquire something, you must possess the beliefs that it is achievable and worth pursuing. That reaching this goal does not conflict with your values. That no one will be harmed or adversely affected by it. And lastly, you must possess the belief that you are capable of achieving it, and that you can learn whatever is necessary to accomplish it.

3.) Knowledge – You need to acquire the knowledge and information that you will need to know in order to do, accomplish, or achieve whatever it is you are attempting. This means learning the "how-to" of what you are wanting to do. You will also need to read about, listen to, and/or model someone who has already done what you wish to accomplish in order to learn the mental strategies that are necessary to accomplish this goal.

4.) Opportunity – The opportunity must exist for you to take action. Is this something that you can do now? If not, when? Are there external (or internal) factors that are getting in the way?

5.) Vision – In order to accomplish the goal, you must have a clear idea of what it is that you want, and create a compelling internal representation in your mind that you can "see" vividly. You can also use external pictures of your goal that you review daily. The better you can visualize your goal and its achievement/accomplishment, the better your chances of getting it.

6.) Planning – Devise a concise plan for the achievement of your goal setting long-term, short-term, as well as daily goals. Also implement the use of a dayplanner type system to help you plan your time and to "track" your progress towards its achievement.

7.) Commitment – Stick to it, no matter what. You must be prepared to do "whatever it takes" (without hurting anyone) to accomplish your goal. Use vision and planning to create such a great picture of your goal that you fall in love with the thought of its accomplishment. Post the following statement up on your bathroom mirror and recite it to yourself every morning.

"I will not give up, no matter how many obstacles I encounter, or how much pain I endure. Because these things are nothing compared to my desire to succeed."

Vertical Leap Exercises

How to Jump Higher

Don't do jumping exercises 7 days a week. Four or five days per week is enough. If you do it every day, you may give up after a week or two. Also, if necessary, you would want to allow for healing time. The idea is to keep exercising for months, or years, consistently.

WARMING UP:

Before starting the exercises, warm up your muscles. Stretch properly, and jog around for a few minutes.

Push-ups --- Properly done push-ups will help increase your upper body strength; which will, ultimately, increase your leaping abilities. Do them often - perhaps for 50 reps twice a day.

You should jump rope for about 2 minutes during your warm-up. You will do more rope jumping later on during your main routine. Jumping rope definitely helps your conditioning. You can either use this as a quick warm-up or a full exercise.

Running up and down stairs for a while is very useful as a warm-up, or a full exercise. Don't do too much or else you may wear your legs. You can either use this as a quick warm-up or a full exercise.

JUMPING EXERCISES:

Deep Knee Bends --- Be standing. Slowly bend at the knees while keeping your back straight. Slowly crouch down as low as possible (it shouldn't hurt) and slowly rise back up. Do this 15 times. Over time, increase to 20, 30, etc.

Deep Knee Bend Jumps --- Be standing. Crouch down as described above but fairly quickly, almost touching your bottom to the ground, then explode upwards as high as you can. The moment you land, immediately crouch and launch back up again. Do this 15 times, and when you can, increase to 20, 30, etc.

Calf/Toe Raises --- Stand regularly, then raise up onto the tips of your toes; lower back down. Don't just rock up and down, do it slowly (not too slowly) but steadily. Repeat 30-50 times.

Calf/Toe Raises with Weights --- If you have any sort of weights, holding/wearing them while doing these toe raises will help. Use small weights (5 or 10 pounds are fine) and work your way up.

Jumping Rope --- Jumping rope definitely helps your vertical leap. This is the most important exercise you can do to improve your leaping ability. Make it a habit. It’s important that you pace yourself. You will jump rope during warm-up and during your main exercise routine. Also keep in mind that jumping rope, when done correctly, increases your upper body strength, which ultimately, aids in your leaping ability. Begin by jumping for 10 minutes then increase to 15, 20, etc.

In conclusion, just as anything you want to accomplish, increasing your leaping ability requires commitment. The question you will need to ask yourself is, “How committed am I ?”. Also, I’ve seen people who call themselves having a workout yet I never see them sweat. You will get out of this, whatever you put into it. Don’t short yourself.

Things that make an offense work

by Coach Tilden

1.) Have it in your mind that you’re going to MAKE the offense work. BE PATIENT.

2.) Don’t make it easy to figure out. Be able to improvise.

a. Read the defense (Overplaying, Sagging, etc).

b. Don’t be predictable (Don’t telegraph passes or movements). Use deceptive movements like V-cuts. Be deceptive in everything you do. Always misdirect.)

3.) Execute quick and think quicker.

a. Always stay 1 or 2 steps ahead of your opponent.

b. Begin the offense or play immediately

4.) Communicate

a. Call out or signal what the defense is doing. (The type of defense, half or full court pressure, etc. )

b. Verbal and Non-verbal signals like: backdoor, setting a pick, calling for a pick, come through, head nods

5.) Be Aggressive

a. Don’t do what your opponent wants you to do, but rather do what you want to do. (This applies to Posting up, Flashing, Cutting, Passing (Without forcing), etc

b. Fight for position

c. Attack opponents weaknesses

6.) Focus, Execute, and be Creative

a. Know the offense to perfection and utilize all its various options. (See Options Below)

b. Ask questions.

c. While keeping with the basis of the offense, be creative.

d. Discuss with the coach any ideas you may have that will improve the offense.

e. Relax, Focus, and Execute.

f. Don’t be hesitant in your movements or passes; as he who hesitates is LOST!

7.) Relax and Have Fun

a. If you’re having fun then you’re more relaxed and will execute better.

b. Bring chewing gum to games and practices. It’s proven that chewing gum relaxes a person.

c. Talk or sing to yourself (In your head if you are not vocally gifted)

d. Talk to your teammates

e. Get yourself pumped beginning at warm-up time

f. Clap when a person makes a bucket or plays great defense

g. PG should call out the Extreme Pound when everyone’s set in their defense.