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Do Basketball Platform Shoes Really Incease Your Vertical?

Posted on March 25, 2010 at 3:23 PM

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You must have heard of platform training shoes...you know, the kinds

you wear and then walk around and do exercises in them.

The question is: Do these "special" shoes really increase your

vertical jump?

Well, to answer this question, lets see how these shoes actually

work...

Platform training shoes basically help you stay on your toes, so

your heels never touch the ground. This way, you're "supposed" to

get a better workout in your calves when you do jump exercises.

Also, the shoes add some additional weight, so you're working against

resistance which is also supposed to help you get stronger.

So, are these things safe?

MOST of the platform shoes on the market are NOT very safe. You're

at a high chance of injuring or straining your lower leg ligaments

and tendons...especially if they're not designed properly or used

correctly...

Another major safety concern is that most platform shoe makers

encourage you to go out and play basketball while wearing them, which

is a recipe for injury and disaster.

->> But, there are a *few* GOOD platform shoes on the market...

The few good ones are designed correctly, and if used properly, they

CAN and WILL help you increase your vertical jump.

The correct design keeps you on the balls of your feet, which helps

to strengthen your calves and achilles. Moreover, the correct design

also challenges you to balance yourself, which helps to strengthen

your shins, ankles, toes, and arches.

One of the most neglected areas in vertical jump and speed training

is strengthening of the lower leg muscles and tendons, such as the

shins, ankles, toes, arches, and achilles. You can really make a lot

of improvement by strengthening these small muscles & tendons.

A well-designed platform shoe can train you like a "cheetah", so you're

always on the balls of your feet and always well-balanced.

When you do jump exercises in these shoes, it enhances the overall

effect because of three reasons:

- It doesn't allow your heels to touch the floor, which works your

lower leg muscles better.

- The shoes themselves add additional weight, so it helps to make

you stronger.

- It forces you to balance, which makes your brain reaction time

faster and makes you more resistant to nasty injuries.

A key safety feature in a well-designed platform shoe is that it

slips right over your existing basketball shoes. Thats right, you can

just strap them right underneath the basketball shoes you wear daily.

This gives you an added layer of cushioning and protection.

->> Right now, the only platform shoes that we think work very well

are the JumpSoles V 5.0... We fully recommend the JumpSoles platform

shoe because they are safe, unique, and very effective.

We've been recommending the JumpSoles V 5.0 for years now, because

they've worked for youth, high-school, college, and Professional

basketball players. In fact, We have personally known athletes that

have improved their vertical jump by using this product.

Here's a small list of how the JumpSoles can help you:

1) Strenghten your toes for stronger lift off

2) Strengthen your ankles for better lateral quickness

3) Strengthen your shins and calves for more air time

4) Improve your balance and coordination for quick, smooth moves

An added benefit of the JumpSoles, which no other platform shoe offers,

is the "proprioceptors" upgrade. The "proprioceptor" upgrade is

basically an attachment at the bottom of the JumpSoles that helps

you improve your balance and coordination, while strengthening your

toes, arches, achilles, and ankles.

Overall, these shoes help you improve your game by boosting your

vertical jump, speed, quickness, balance, and coordination.

And, with the "proprioceptor" attachment, these shoes will actually

make you more injury resistant...thats right, you'll be far less

likely to injure your knees and ankles after training in these.

Many athletes have reported gains of 8 to 12 inches and decreased

their time in the 40-yd dash by a significant amount.

What's really nice is that the JumpSoles strap-on right underneath

your existing basketball shoes, which gives you an added layer of

cushioning and protection.

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Dribbling Philosophy and Tips

Posted on March 1, 2010 at 5:45 PM

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We don't really care what position you play - guard, forward, or

center...

If you wanna be a good basketball player, then you gotta be able

to dribble a basketball, period.

Dribbling doesn't mean awesome ankle-breaking moves, it simply means

the ability to handle the ball.

So, what are the secrets to handling a basketball?

There are 3 secrets, and once you understand these, you really can

become better at ball-handling, pratically overnight.

Ok, so here are the secrets:

1) You must dribble to protect the ball - This means avoiding turning

the ball over (getting stripped, stolen, etc.)

2) You must dribble to create space - This means creating room between

you and your defender, so you can get off a shot or pass.

3) You must dribble to get past your defender - This means getting

one-step ahead of your defender so you can be in front of him/her.

The above 3 points may not seem like secrets, but they really are...

Most players think that the purpose of dribbling is to "show off"

and "shake the defender".

This is wrong! Once you know the REASON you are dribbling the ball,

once you know WHY you're dribbling, only then can you become a good

ball-handler. And thats why the above secrets are important, because

they help you mentally identify the goals of ball-handling.

Think about the 3 points carefully, and you'll begin to realize that

handling the ball isn't complicated...its simply about meeting a goal.

So, now that you know the goals, how do you achieve them? How do

you improve your handles?

Well, here are some tips to work on your handles:

> Dribble with your fingers first. Keeping the ball on the fingers

helps maintain better overall control. To develop better finger control,

work on strengthening your grip, stengthening your forearms, and

stetching out your fingers one by one by pulling them back towards

your body.

> During a strong dribble move, slightly palm the ball. For example,

when you're crossing the ball over from one side the another, you have

to slightly palm the ball so you don't lose if off your fingers. Be

careful, because over-palming can result in carrying the ball. Same

with the behing-the-back dribble, you have to slightly palm the ball.

> Always keep the ball low. The ball is fastest when its low to the

ground, and its easier to control as well. Bend at the knees to get

low, as if you're crouching a little bit.

> Trick your defender. This means dribbling in a way that your

defender doesn't know what you're gonna do next. Using head, shoulder,

and leg fakes can help you trick your defender. Also, constantly

switching the ball between your left and right hands also keeps the

defender guessing.

> Ofcourse, learn to dribble with both hands. To follow the above tip,

you need to be good with your left and right hands.

Once you start improving your handles, you're ready to put down

some strong dribble moves. All one-on-one moves, such as "the drive",

require decent ball-handling skills...

This is why its important that before you try fancy one-on-one

offensive moves, you work on improving basic ball-handing

fundamentals.

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How To Dribble Drive in Basketball

Posted on February 2, 2010 at 6:24 PM

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Basically, when you drive, you get past your defender and move

towards the basket with speed & quickness. Being good at driving

has many advantages. You can get easy layups or find your teammates

in a good position to score. Half the time, you'll even get fouled.

To help you understand the drive, lets take a look at what Sidney

Moncrief, a true basketball legend, says about it:

"When I receive the ball I can set my man up for a drive by using

ball, shoulder, or head fakes. Depending on the position of my

defender, I can also fake a jump shot, get my man in the air, and

go around him."

"When my man does go for one of my fakes, I push off my pivot

foot, take a long quick first step toward the hoop, as I put the

ball down hard on the floor just past the hip of the defender. When

the ball is put down, I lift my pivot foot, push past the

defender's shoulder and go for the hoop."

Beautifully said Sidney... Now, you shouldn't OVERUSE the drive.

When you start driving too much, you become predictable. Your

defensive man can read you and he starts backing off, and the rest

of the defense can read you and start trapping...

You have to be DECEPTIVE, or in other words, the defense should

never know what you're gonna do next. Thats why you need to have a

decent outside shot. When you drive past your defender a couple of

times, he'll start backing off.

When he backs off, you take an

outside shot. After hitting a few shots, the defense will play you

tight again, and you can go back to the drive.

The key is to keep switching between the drive and layup, drive and

pass, and taking the outside shot... and the defense will always

stay confused.

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How To Protect The Basketball

Posted on February 2, 2010 at 6:22 PM

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Here's how to protect the ball:

- Turn your trunk, or your abs, away from the defender.

- Move the ball from the front of your body to the side of your

body, and repeat this cycle as long as you have the ball on the

floor.

- When you pick up your dribble, and you're ready to take your two

steps, flare your elbows out and hold the ball strongly with your

palms.

Okay, so to recap, here's the main points that you need to remember

about driving:

1) Square up with the basket (Your feet and shoulders should

point towards the basket)

2) Keep low with your knees flexed (This helps you stay quick)

3) With the ball in your hands, push hard off your back foot and

take a long, quick 1st step towards the basket.

4) Take your dribble before you leave your back foot and make it a

hard dribble that you can control.

5) Protect the ball by using your body and your elbows (without

swinging the elbows)

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How To Become A Complete Basketball Player

Posted on January 6, 2010 at 4:04 PM

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Taking your game to the next level is all about dedication and determination. Michael Jordan (arguably the best basketball player of all time) spent more time in the gym working on his game than anyone else on his team. Talent isn't enough to achieve greatness, you've gotto work on it.

That being said, here are some tips to help you

elevate your game:

- Improve Your Defense

Since it sounds like you pretty much have your offensive game down it's time to get your defense up to par (if it isn't already). In order to be a good defender you need to be good shape. The best defenders areable to keep their defensive intensity at a high level throughout the whole game.

Once you're in shape get working on the finer points of your defensive game. Perfecting the art of the defensive close out will help make you a great perimeter defender (get those hands up once you get close to the opponent). Another important part of defense that often gets overlooked is rebounding. There's always a spot on the court for a good rebounder, plus it's an easy way to get more scoring opportunities.

Make the Extra Pass:

-Passing is a big part of being a complete basketball player. Too often younger players neglect to make the extra pass when doing so would result in an easy scoring opportunity for their team. Remember, regardless of how fast a person is the ball is always faster. So passes(especially swing passes) make the defenses job that more difficult(which is good for you).

Hit the Weight Room:

-As you continue to progress in the game of basketball, the opponents you face will get bigger and stronger so its up to you to keep pace. Because you're young and still growing I wouldn't recommend a strength program that requires you to lift heavy weights. However, implementing "body weight" exercises (such as push-ups, lunges, squats, etc) is agreat way to increase your strength. Regardless of what kind of strength/conditioning program you choose to follow it's important to continue to play basketball during the program because added strength will alter your shot slightly.

Watch/Observe High Level Basketball:

-If you want to get to the next level it's helpful to watch and observe what those who play at the next level do. I would suggest watching an elite college basketball game instead of an NBA game because the NBA rules are very different from high school rules.

Play, Play, Play:

-While practicing your jump shot in an empty gym will help you become abetter shooter, it won't prepare you to shoot with a defender in your face. The best way to get better at game type of situations is to playin games. So join an AAU or traveling team if possible or go to the park and find a pick up game. Whatever you do, try to play as much as you can, and if possible play against people who are bigger, stronger,or better than you.

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How To Calm Your Pre-Game Jitters

Posted on January 6, 2010 at 9:52 AM

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10 Keys to Calming Your Pregame Jitters

Do your palms get sweaty before a game? Do you get butterflies in your stomach? Is it hard to focus? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you may have had pre-game jitters.

Here are 4 things you should do before a game:

1. Establish a routine.The game day routine starts when you wake up, and ends when the buzzer or whistle goes off. You should determine how many hours before the game you need to get up to accomplish all of the steps in your routine. A few of the components in the routine are calorie intake, fluids, travel time to game location, warm-up, stretching, equipment check, mental exercises, etc.... Some components will vary depending upon the type and length of the game, but the basic framework will remain constant. Every game is different, but developing a consistent routine will provide a familiar base from which to compete in your game. It will also give you confidence that you know you are ready to perform

2. Mental exercises. You will often see top athletes close their eyes and engage in seemingly strange behavior, appearing either catatonic or moving to some unseen rhythm. The latter is especially evident in downhill skiers who sway and gyrate. They are rehearsing all the elements required in the race. This mental imagery helps you focus and plan each stage of your race. This takes the over-energized concept of "PLAY HARD, WIN", and changes it into a series of steps, calmly planned and executed. Sometimes music (via headphones) is useful but it must not be distracting nor result in the wrong mood.

3. Breathing exercises and progressive muscular relaxationare other techniques that can alter your level of SNS activation and reduce unwanted muscular tension.

4. Monitor your body. Look for, and pay attention to, the signals your body provides. This will give you feedback as to the state of your SNS. Pulse rate, respiration rate, sweat rate, tremor and other clues give you a way to see where you are, and how effective your modulating techniques are.

6 things to avoid before a game:

Avoid fiber rich foods in the two days leading up to a game. The extra 'bulk'in the intestines means the cramping and diarrhea will be worse.
Avoid anti-inflammatory medications (e.g., ibuprofen) since these alter prostagladin synthesis and can result in intestinal cramps and diarrhea.
Also avoid diphenhydramine and other over-the-counter antihistamines because of their sedating effects..
Avoid protein/ fat rich foods for breakfast on game day. Becareful of caffeine. Some athletes use caffeine as a performance aid, but too much can definitely cause intestinal cramping and diarrhea, and contribute to nervousness and rapid pulse.
Stayaway from pseudoephedrine and other stimulants. Not only are these decongestants banned, but they may have considerable neurological(e.g., anxiety) and cardiovascular (e.g., rapid pulse) side effects.
Avoid nicotine.This should go without saying!