Tips to Selecting a Home Basketball Goal
Ten Things to consider in selecting a home basketball goal followed by our picks for Goals!
1. Where will you be playing?
- Outside or Inside? What is your climate and space available?
- Specially built court, slab, driveway, parking area, home gym?
- On Concrete, Asphalt, Wood Flooring, Brick or Stone?
2. When you miss a shot where will it go?
- Putting a basketball goal next to a neighbors fence is asking for trouble since missed shots will always be going into someone else’s yard.
- Same is true if you put it next to a lake or pool or flower gardens, etc. Location is important.
3. How will you expect to install it? Will you need a pole, in ground or portable, or mount a basketball goal backboard on an existing structure like a garage, house or tree?
4. Who will be playing? What size players will be playing, for example, you might want to adjust the basketball goal height lower for smaller children and be able to raise it as they grow or adjust it higher for adult play.
5. Is it a public or private area? Will you want it to be “exposed,” “enclosed” or “hidden”.
6. Will others be sharing the basketball goal space for other uses or will it be a dedicated basketball play area? How will you resolve conflicting claims to space?
TIP: Putting the basketball goal on the North side of the court or play area outside ensures that no one will be trying to shoot directly into the sun anytime. Putting it on the west side means players in the middle or later in the day will also share this advantage.
7. If a player runs in for a layup what will be encounter past the basketball goal? A pole, fence, garage door, wrought iron furniture, rocky cliff with a drop-off? Ensuring there is a clear area past the goal or minimal dangers for the player to become injured is important as well as helpful for ball retrieval.
8. How much are you willing to spend? $250-$2500?
9. Where will you buy it? What will you look for in construction for durability, ease of use, attractiveness, functionality and maybe portability?
10. What size? NBA rules are for a basketball goal backboard rectangle measuring 6′ (60 inches) horizontally and 31/2′ (42 inches) vertically. The front surface shall be flat and transparent. Many of the basketball goals sold in stores and online are not regulation size but some are. http://www.basketball.com/nba/rules/rule1.shtml
INGROUND, PORTABLE OR MINIMALIST BASKETBALL GOALS?
We have found some of the best In-Ground Basketball Goal and Portable Systems below as well as an inexpensive backboard and mounting hardware which together are probably similar to the style many of us grew up playing on. There are many more in a variety of materials and sizes. Local major sporting goods stores in the DFW area include Sports Authority, Dicks Sporting Goods and Academy Sporting Goods and there are other major department stores like Sears and ToysRUs who provide additional alternatives. Shopping around can save you money and get you the best warranty on new products.
IN-GROUND HOME BASKETBALL GOAL SYSTEMS
We like these two dream systems.
1. The GOALSETTER 60-INCH GLASS CAPTAIN INTERNAL IN-GROUND BASKETBALL SYSTEM.
- Goalsetter 60Inch InGround Basketball Goal
Base Price $1899.99
Distinctive design and astonishing performance make the Goalsetter Systems Captain Adjustable In-Ground Basketball Hoop ideal for people of all ages with a real passion for the game of basketball! The Goalsetter Captain Basketball System features a 60” glass backboard, heavy duty breakaway basketball rim and 6” square one piece pole system. The internal compression height adjuster with removable handle, height indicator and locking mechanism ensure easy, safe and accurate height adjustment from regulation 10′ down to 6′. Other great features include Goalsetter’s patented ground anchor hinge system that allows you to complete assembly of the goal before it’s raised upright! All Goalsetter systems are made in the USA.
Key Specs:
• Backboard Height:38 inches
• Backboard Width:60 inches
• Backboard Size:60 inches
• Thickness of Backboard :0.375 inches
• Rim Size:5/8 Inch
• All Weather Basketball Net: Yes
• Pole Size Square:6 inches
• Overhang from Pole:4 ft Overhang
• Adjustable Height Minimum:6 ft
• Adjustable Height Maximum:10 ft
• Handle Crank :Yes
Sears Goalsetter Captain Glass_____$1867.00
Dick’s
Sporting Goods__Goalsetter Captain__$1899.99
Sports
Authority_____Goalsetter Captain ___$1899.99
2.
- GOALRILLA INGROUND BASKETBALL GOAL SYSTEM
Goalrilla GS-I Basketball System with Anchor Kit
Item Number: 11454095
Price: $1799.99
Play like a champion with the Goalrilla® GS-I Basketball System. This basketball system features a 72″ long x 42″ high tempered glass backboard and heavy-weight pro-style flex rim. Set your hoop to the perfect height with the all-steel, precise height adjustment. 4′ overhang welded extension arms provide extra support.
FEATURES:
72″ long x 42″ high tempered glass backboard
Heavy-weight pro-style flex rim
6″x 6″ one-piece steel pole
All-steel, precise height adjustment
4′ overhang welded extension arms
Anchor kit included
Limited lifetime manufacturer’s warranty
AVAILABLE AT:
PORTABLE BASKETBALL GOAL SYSTEMS
1. Spalding 68562 NBA 60 Inch Acrylic Screw Jack Portable Basketball System - SPORTS AUTHORITY
Item Number: 3732003
$749.99 List Price: $799.99*
You Save $50.00 (6%) Work on your game right in your own driveway with this Spalding® NBA 60″ acrylic Screw Jack™ portable basketball system. The system features a steel pole and board frame for long-lasting durability. Perfect for any size player, the easy-to-use Screw Jack™ lift system allows for easy height adjustment. An Arena Slam™ rim is also included.
Key Specs:
• Model Number:68562
• Backboard Size:60 inches
• Pole Diameter:3.5 inches
• Handle Crank :Yes
Benefits
• • Backboard Shape: Rectangular / Square
• • Basketball Backboard Material: Acrylic Transparent backboard that offers an exceptional rebound.
• • Rim: Arena Slam® Rim A heavy-duty solid steel rim with ultra-smooth spring action that is designed to flex when pressure is applied, helping to relieve stress from the backboard during game play. The Arena Slam rim features institutional-style wrap steel support braces and steel rams that maximize durability and rim support. A steel box cover encloses all of breakaway rim components, optimizing aesthetics and safety.
2. 
Lifetime 90088 54 Inch Steel Framed Shatter Guard Acrylic Portable with Frame Pad – Sports Authority Exclusive!
Item Number: 4428664The Lifetime® 90088 54″ steel-framed Shatter Guard acrylic portable basketball system can be placed anywhere you want to play hoops — no cement needed. Lifetime®’s portable basketball hoop relies on a heavy-duty polyethylene roller base filled with sand or water; this makes the basketball system easy to install and transport. It also features a Slam-It® Pro rim with spring-back action and welded steel net hooks.
Price $849.99
Key Specs:
• Model Number:90088
• Backboard Height:33 inches
• Backboard Width:54 inches
• Backboard Size:54 inches
• Thickness of Backboard :1.5 inches
• Rim Size:5/8 Inch
• All Weather Basketball Net: Yes
• Portable Base Fill: Sand or Water
• Pole Pieces :3 Poles
• Pole Diameter:3.5 inches
• Overhang from Pole:27″ Overhang
• Adjustable Height Minimum:7.5 ft
• Adjustable Height Maximum:10 ft
• Assembly: Assembly Required
THE MINIMALIST APPROACH - BASKETBALL BACKBOARD AND GOAL WITH ADAPTABLE MOUNTING HARDWARE
$130.00 The Lifetime 73650 Acrylic Fusion™ 44-in basketball and rim combo matches a durable, acrylic backboard with a Slam-It® rim. The rim utilizes double-compression springs to offer spring-back action and the backboard includes a strong, high-impact polyethylene frame and fade-resistant graphics.
Features Benefits
• Backboard Shape: Rectangular / Square
• Basketball Backboard Material: EM5™ Break-Resistant Acrylic with High-Impact Polyethylene Frame Offers a pro-style look to your backboard with additional strength and durability.
• Rim: Slam-it® Featuring double compression springs that provide spring-back action, the Slam-it® is constructed of solid steel with 1/2-inch braces and welded steel hooks.
Key Specs:
• Backboard Size: 44 inches
• Rim Size: 5/8 Inch
• All Weather Basketball Net: Yes
• Mounting Hardware: Not Included
Warranty:
Warranty on Parts: 5 Year
Backboard Warranty: 5 Year
Rim Warranty: 5 Year
For details about a manufacturer warranty or to learn how to obtain a copy of a warranty, contact us.
Features and Benefits
• Backboard Material: Acrylic–Transparent backboard that offers an exceptional rebound.
• Break Away Rim: Slam-it®–Featuring double compression springs that provide spring-back action, the Slam-it? is constructed of solid steel with 1/2-inch braces and welded steel hooks.
Spalding 79351 NBA Acrylic 44 Inch Basketball Backboard & Rim Combo
Item Number: 2649989
Price: $129.99
If you are looking for a forgiving rim and a soft backboard receptive to all
bank shots, the Spalding® NBA® Acrylic 44-in Basketball Backboard and Rim Combo
satisfies all hoop needs! The 44-in polycarbonate backboard holds the solid
steel Slam Jam breakaway rim complete with an all-weather net. The combo fits on
round or square poles.
Features
- 44-in polycarbonate backboard
- 0.625-in solid steel Slam Jam breakaway rim
- 2.875-in x 2.5-in hole pattern
- White all-weather net
- Fits on round or square poles
BASKETBALL GOAL MOUNTING HARDWARE
Price: $99.99
You can practice your jump shot right after you park your car or bike thanks to the Spalding® 8839R Universal Adjustable Basketball Backboard Mounting Bracket. The bracket adopts backboards to 3.5-in diameter round poles, the roof or wall. It fits all Huffy® Sports and most Spalding® residential backboards up to 48-in and offers a 3-ft height adjustment in 6-in increments.
Features
• Adopts backboards to 3.5-in diameter round poles, roof or wall
• Fits all Huffy® Sports and most Spalding® residential backboards up to 48-in
• Offers a 3-ft height adjustment range in 6-in increments
• Provides approximately 3-ft of offset from pole/wall
• Backboard not included
INDEX of ALL BASKETBALL GOALS AT
DICKS SPORTING GOODS: http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/gridFamily/index.jsp?subtypeId=1160062
Do You Play Better in Air Jordan 11 Retro Concords?
Do You Play Better in Air Jordan 11 Retro Concords? You might if you are Michael Jordan.
In case you missed all the recent excitement at shopping malls where hundreds of people tried to buy a pair of the 180 available Air Jordan 11 Retro Concords shoes, here is a video clip: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8478648.
It is not the basketball shoes, it is the basketball feet.
Just like the old adage “the clothes do not make the man,” we could add a new one, “basketball shoes do not make a great basketball player.” While proper athletic wear is important for stability, protection and traction; a great player is still a great player no matter what kind of athletic shoes he is wearing. A basketball player who does not learn the basic skills and practice them will still not play any better in a pair of Air Jordan 11 Retro Concords. It is not the shoes, but the feet that are in the shoes that makes the difference.
There is value in presenting a positive Player image.
There is value in looking good, which is why teams wear uniforms and are encouraged to present a positive, clean, well-groomed image of the team both on and off the court. When you are a member of a team, it is your responsibility to present a high ideal of what the team represents no matter where you are or who you are with. In this way, players take pride in their team no matter where they are and their behavior reflects positively on all the members of the team. During anyone’s life they will be part of many teams, groups and organizations and it is their responsibility to appropriately represent those groups both in and outside of them. Similarly, when you look good to yourself, you often feel better about the image you are presenting to others and are more comfortable with yourself.
Care of your Basketball Feet 
Care of your feet is important for everyone since they are the foundation of movement and must last all your life if you expect to continue walking, running, jumping, playing, etc. Here’s a few tips to keep them in good shape.
- Wash your feet as you clean your body and clean under the toe nails the same way you clean under your finger nails.
- Keep your toenails clipped straight across. Rinse off the clippers after each use as well as your hands.
- Always dry your feet well, including between the toes to help avoid fungal infections like athlete’s foot (associated with damp feet and damp socks).
- Change socks after athletic events and after washing and drying your feet.
- Wear shower shoes (flip flops that do not retain water or others water shoes) to avoid catching or sharing a fungal infection.
- If you catch a fungal infection, get some Tinactin or Lotrimin or other fungal killing product and use it as directed (usually twice a day for two weeks).
- Change your towels often and after each use if you have contracted a fungal infection because you can spread it through the towel to other areas of your body.
- Stretching, massaging and exercising your feet and ankles are also helpful to strengthening your overall foundation and stability.
- Certain sock materials, usually a combination of cotton, acrylic and nylon do a better job of absorbing moisture and moving it away from the skin. This helps keep feet dry and reduces the chance for blisters.
- Love your feet. Never wear shoes that are too small or too large for your feet as this can undermine the arch and weaken the bones in the feet. Wear socks and wear shoes that are appropriate for the activity. Flip Flops are great for the beach and as shower shoes but provide little stability and are often a source of foot problems.
How to Get Strong Basketball Legs
It’s not the right shoes, it’s the right legs – Basketball Legs
We spend a lot of time looking at shoes for the various sports we enjoy, often sacrificing stability, support and endurance for color, popularity and style. While the best shoes are built for protection, support, stability and endurance, it is how we strengthen and train our legs that makes the difference. Strong legs help us move quickly down the court, dodge and fake opponents, jump impossibly high and sometimes seem to fly. Here are a few strengthening exercises which should be used in moderation at first, gradually building up repetitions and sets over months and always remembering to stretch-out after a workout and warm-up before the next. Stretching after the work-out is one of the best ways to help your muscles relax and rebound after a good work-out and avoid the pains of improvement as well as injury when they are put back into heavy use later.
All exercises below are designed for young people and those in good health and approved by a physician to begin a work-out program.
Lunges: This exercise works almost all the muscles in your legs with one simple move as well as strengthening the knees and avoiding any impact to the joints. Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart comfortably and then take a large step forward with your left foot. Keep your hands on your hips or out to each side to help you maintain balance. Then, lower your body straight down until your back legs is at a right angle at the knee. Raise yourself up slowly using your leg muscles and repeat the movement with your right foot. You can start with as little as 3 sets of ten repetitions each and build up by adding 5 more repetitions each week until you reach 40 repetitions. Try to walk around the block doing lunges. When you can do that, you have truly grown stronger.
If you have knee pain, take smaller steps forward and drop down as far as comfortable. If you are still having pain then you may have some knee issues and there are other exercises which can strengthen the leg without putting as much stress on your knees. When finished, sit on the floor and stretch out each leg by keeping it flat on the floor as you touch your ankles and toes, if possible. If you can reach your shoes then gently pull back on the top of your shoe at the same time to stretch your ankles and calf muscles.
Heel raises: Heel raises are a great exercise which strengthen the calf muscles and ankles. Sprained ankles are one of the most common injuries in basketball, so this is a defensive exercise to strengthen this part of your leg. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, hands on hips and raise yourself on your toes and hold for a count of five (101, 102, 103, 104, 105). Do 30 repetitions with your toes points inward comfortably, then 30 repetitions with your toes pointed out to the side of your body. Learn to gently stretch our your calf muscles and strengthen them by standing on a stair with your toes and lowering your heels to stretch the calf muscles, then stand on your toes for a count of five, lower, then raise, etc. Don’t overdo either exercise but gradually build up your repetitions as your strength increases.
Stairs, Trails and Cross Country: Going up and down stairs is a great exercise for your legs and gets your heart going as well. Running stairs on an athletic field or in an auditorium is a great way to strengthen your legs as well as improve your aerobic conditioning for cardiovascular health. Jogging up and down hills or trails is great exercise and lets you enjoy being outdoors. When you run on slightly uneven ground instead of cement sidewalks you reduce the impact on joints and so strengthen your ankles and legs which have to respond to the uneven surfaces. Running “Cross Country” is a great way to build up aerobic conditioning, endurance and strength in your legs. However, try to avoid running on hard pavement unless you have on great shock-absorbing shoes, as it produces excessive vibrations and over time may lead to a variety of joint complaints.
Winning Is An Outcome, Not a Strategy
Winning is for Losers?
Too much emphasis on winning almost always results in its opposite…losing. While winning is an outcome, the strategy for winning must be based on the factors that support a team’s success: teamwork, having fun, good sportsmanship, fair play, integrity and more teamwork. When Coaches and Teams focus only on winning, they may often make decisions that ignore the structural strengths of winning teams. Coaches may select a couple of good dribblers to get the ball down the court, a variety of great shooters to score points and a few net hogs to keep the other team from scoring or collecting rebounds. While this may seem like a good strategy, it may ignore more important factors like: How well do these guys work as a team? Can they use other skills when necessary to cover their team mates mistakes or in support of others initiatives on the court? Are they playing fairly and assertively without becoming aggressive and racking up fouls? Do they display the kind of good sportsmanship and integrity that will make them “Winners” off the court no matter the outcome of the game? Are they committed to each other as team mates to work together for the success of the whole team or are they just looking out for themselves? Fortunately, when Coaches and Teams focus on more than just their win-loss record, their losses serve as grist for the mill of creating Winners in the future. If you never lose, you never appreciate winning. The desire to win is more important than winning and this desire will lead to winning in the right ways.
We Have Always Been Winning!
Throughout mankind’s existence we have been competing. We competed with nature for food against predatory animals and against natural droughts, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes and so on for our very survival. We competed against other tribes for food, territory and dominance. So, the idea of winners and losers is fairly ingrained in our social order because the winners were the survivors. Winning or losing is a natural outcome of any conflict and sometimes, like in a war, even the winners have a bitter victory because of the loss of their countrymen.
Athletes Play Winners to Become Better Winners
Winning = Teamwork
- Perfect Teamwork Helps Create Winners for Life
An Athletic contest is different. Teams compete to be able to win so they can compete against still better teams and eventually the two best teams (the winners) get to compete against each other. Losing in this environment is for winners. While it may be nice to make it through all the contests as the final winning team, all of those contests (wins or losses) along the way turn good players into winners if they have the right mindset. That mindset is being a “winner” before you even get on the court for that contest. It comes from knowing you have done everything you can to help the whole team succeed, not just what you needed to do for yourself. It comes from realizing you have the support of all of your teammates and that together, you can achieve more than any one could accomplish individually. This is the concept of synergy and it is what takes great teams to the next level. It is knowing you have given it your personal best and done what is best for your team. Although every team has its leaders and followers, in great teams, even those natural leaders focus on making the team successful. When this happens, the team will succeed and, even if they do not win every contest, they will know they are still winners. They will be proud of having competed fairly, walk off the court with integrity, forever changed by the power of being part of a great team. At the same time they will have lots of fun.
There’s always the motivation of wanting to win. Everybody has that. But a champion needs, in his attitude, a motivation above and beyond winning.
Pat Riley
The thrill isn’t in the winning, it’s in the doing.
Chuck Noll
Winning is only half of it. Having fun is the other half.
Bum Phillips
Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Winning is not everything, but wanting to win is.
Vince Lombardi
Basketball Training Should Be More Fun Than Work
Basketball Training = Fun and Enjoyment
You can look around the Internet and find a volume of information about how to train young players and develop them into great athletes. For example,
“Long Term Athlete Development, LTAD, is a model created by Dr. Istvan Balyi to guide the athletic development process from pre-puberty through retirement. An LTAD approach emphasizes age-appropriate skill acquisition to maximize the athlete’s potential and builds progressively throughout a player’s career moving to more detailed instruction as he reaches the next level. Children progress through different developmental stages; the LTAD model reconciles athletic development with natural development. ” http://thecrossovermovement.wordpress.com/the-manifesto/long-term-athlete-development/
Value of the Developmental Approach to Basketball Training
• Athletic peak performance may take many years of play and practice.
• Each player develops according to his or her own timetable.
• A peak player at any point in time might simply be demonstrating a momentary peak versus other players and is not indicative of future success.
• All players should be encouraged to enjoy learning and developing skills so they may enjoy the sport throughout their lives, not just through the current tournament.
• A structured approach helps avoid the “peak by Friday” approach used by inexperienced, novice and ineffective coaches.
Basketball is a game.
Many parents may become very serious in developing athletic potential or other talents in their children, and may forget that basketball is a game or that activities that sustain interest must also be enjoyable. Basketball training is meant to be fun…not work. It should be an enjoyable and fun learning experience. When positioned this way, children see that learning is fun and that developing new knowledge, skills and abilities is enjoyable. These are valuable life lessons that will help them become lifelong learners and happy, interesting adults who are comfortable in their own skin. Games are competitive contests which help the players understand their own level of skill in relation to others. However, playing and competing should always be fun. It is the fun and enjoyment that keeps players returning to the game until they become great players.
The Art of Coaching Basketball and Training
The real art of coaching basketball becomes one of training and developing athletic skills among all the players, according to their abilities. The end goal is to help players have fun, improve self-confidence, coordination, master socialization/life skills and exude good sportsmanship. Learning to grow and compete in a structured environment is in itself an important developmental component to success in life. That is what we are all about at ATTACK! Basketball Academy.
Name Our Mascot – Win Cool Stuff
To enter the Contest just submit a comment to this post with your suggested name. The following names will not be considered: Fido, RinTinTin, Lassie, Bowser, Spot, Pokey, SuperDog, Pluto, Wonder Dog, Snoopy, Scooby Doo, Shaggy Dog, White Fang, Lady or Tramp.
Good Luck!
Only one entry allowed per each email.
“Mom and Dad, I want to learn how to play basketball.”
What do parents think when their 41 inch tall first grader comes into the house and proclaims “I wanna play basketball?” Are the parents intuitive enough to hear “I want to learn how to play basketball?” Do they simply smile and say “That’s nice dear…go ahead but come in later for dinner?” Do they smirk and think, “You’ve got to be kidding me, you can’t even throw a basketball that high yet?” Do they say, “Great, let’s run out and buy you a basketball and a $300 portable, adjustable goal” and then turn them loose in the driveway?
At least some parents say, “That’s a great idea; let’s sign you up for youth basketball so you can learn how to play basketball correctly with other kids.” I like this last approach the best since it gives the youngster encouragement plus the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of the game of basketball in a basketball camp or a youth basketball program where they will learn everything the game involves. If you need the portable, adjustable goal later, you can probably get one in good condition at a garage sale from a parent who didn’t hear the hidden or implied “learn” in the initial question.
Three Middle-Aged Men Recall When They Learned How to Play Basketball
My friends and I were discussing this very subject the other evening. John reported that he was actually discouraged from playing by a High School Coach in part due to his height. He went on to say, “We had a hoop on our garage at home and dribbling and shooting was all I ever did.
When I expressed an interest to the Coach in Junior High School, he recommended I go out for an intramural sports team, which I took initially as a positive comment. Then I realized how bad I was at running, dribbling and stopping and I wondered if my brief experience wasn’t a blessing. The only thing I seemed to do well was pass the ball.”
Bill volunteered that like most everyone else, he only enjoyed shooting the basketball. Of course, now we are old enough to realize there is a great deal more to the game than just shooting a basketball and agreed that we wished we had an earlier childhood opportunity to learn how to play the game. If so, we might have been able to have an active sport to enjoy for life. Instead, the three of us now look like runners up in the Mr. Couch Potato contest, and yes, we were having this discussion over dinner and drinks.
Give Your Child a Chance to Learn How to Play Basketball
Having become aware of ATTACK! Basketball Academy recently, I am impressed with the structure, the variety of coaching talent, and the deeply-rooted philosophy that one can transfer the skills they master on the basketball court into a successful life strategy. More importantly, the program is simply a great way to give kids an opportunity to learn the correct way of how to play basketball, a great game that is generally a little less punishing then football or soccer and certainly more easily understood than rugby. ATTACK! gives kids a chance to get professional coaching, have a great time playing basketball and learn something they can enjoy all of their lives. And it will definitely keep them out of the Mr. Couch Potato contests!
Coaching Basketball Tournaments
Coaching Basketball Tournaments Is Different Than Practice
While one receives great satisfaction while coaching basketball drills, camps, skills sessions, etc., nothing is quite as fun as coaching basketball teams in a tournament.
Basketball Coaching Starts With Conditioning
Good coaches know that the best players are usually the ones in the best condition, who have taken the time and made the efforts to practice the drills, increase their strength, endurance, and skills and are mentally prepared to give their best during the game. If players have not invested their energy in preparing themselves individually and as a team, they will have little chance of succeeding when the tournament games occur.
That’s why so much basketball coaching focuses on fundamentals and repetitive movements. A player’s body learns from repetition and builds strengths in the areas necessary to support repetitive movements. Take the legs for example. Much of the basketball player’s strength in his legs is gained from running. However, most movement in a game is actually from side-to-side faking and dodging an opponent and jumping in order to shoot, block or rebound a ball. Jumping rope and practicing defensive slides strengthens the correct muscles in the legs and ankles to withstand these moves, support jumping, and aid in landing safely. Most sprains and ankle injuries do not happen on the spring up, but on the landing. Jogging on uneven surfaces can also help strengthen ankles.
Coaching Basketball for a Tournament Provides Learning Opportunities
While a good coach can control and plan a practice session, decide which drills will be used and what skills will be learned, tournament games are always full of surprises. During the tournament, coaching focuses on offensive and defensive strategies and tactics. Each game provides a new opportunity for the coach and the players to learn, adapt, and react. The coach can watch how each player handles himself in the game in order to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement. A good coach will be making notes, capturing information during the game or reviewing videos of the game to identify these improvement opportunities with the players later. Watching a good game video can be a powerful learning technique along with the coaching provided during the game.
Basketball Coaching at Tournaments Teaches Players
Helping players see the same strengths and weaknesses of themselves and their opposition that the coach sees is a necessity. Effective tournament coaching requires the coach to be able to make decisions on the spot and adjust his players, lineup, positions and strategies based on what he is seeing from the opposing team as well as the capabilities that day demonstrated by his own players. Being alert to when players are having an off day, are not focused on the game or playing too aggressively or passively are skills an effective coach can only learn from experience playing, watching and coaching basketball tournaments and spending time with his players. Likewise, a good coach knows how to communicate with his players to set expectations so they can roll with changes during the game without personalizing the decision as a positive or negative reflection on their skills or abilities. Changes during a basketball tournament as a result of a coaching decision are always to improve the team’s chances of success. Therefore, since every player is part of the team, everyone benefits.
Basketball Coaching Programs – Five Tips For Selection
Five Tips for Parents When Choosing Basketball Coaching
Choosing basketball coaching for your children can be challenging and difficult but Coach Charlie Miller gives 5 tips for choosing a basketball coaching program; goals, experience, plans, costs and likeability.
1. Basketball Coaching Goals & Expectations
Identify what you and your child are expecting from basketball coaching? Whatever your reasons, you should understand what your goal is as a parent and what is the goal of your child. Then, find a program that meets most of your expectations to avoid disappointments later. Ask the Coach, What will your child learn from basketball coaching? How will this help them develop? What benefits does the Coach see from his program? How well does the Basketball Coaching program align with your expectations?
2. Experience in Coaching Basketball -
What level of experience do the Coaches provide in dealing with youth, playing and coaching the game? It is important to get a Coach that has the right attitudes towards your children, towards coaching and has sufficient experience to know how to coach basketball effectively. Many parents get involved as coaches and though they may love the game and love their children, they may or may not be good coaches. A good coach knows that it is really not important whether you win or lose each game, although winning is preferable, but doing your personal best and learning the discipline to practice and consistently improve.
3. Planning, Practice and Patience of Basketball Coaches -
What are the coach’s plans, how well do they plan basketball practice sessions and games? How much patience do they reflect in their coaching style? Does the coach work with every player or just favorites? Is the basketball coaching environment one that encourages growth and improvement or is it too focused on winning the next game? Many children come away from some sports activities with negative view of sports, coaches and competition in general. Basketball is first a game and not a war, it should be fun. Nobody wants to be a loser but young children need to learn positive attitudes about competition and whether they lose or win, they should take in putting forth their personal best. Your child should be excited about going to practice and playing games should be a fun experience even when they lose. Ask some other parents what their experience has been? What do their kids think of the coach?
4. Costs, Accessibility & Convenience of the Basketball Coaching Program –
Many people want the “best” basketball coaching they can afford but how you define “best” can vary widely. Spending more money does not guarantee better coaching, just more expensive coaching. Some “Select” teams require try-outs, are often highly competitive internally and externally and sometimes get caught up in the politics of the parents. There is no guarantee that the coaching will be better and there is a lot of pressure on the Coach and the children to “win.” Is your child right for this environment? Taking a game children love to play and turning it into a stressful, pressure-filled activity can sometimes be the fastest way to teach them to hate the game. If you as a parent are always stressed-out driving your child 25 miles each way to take them to practices and games, perhaps out-of-town road trips to play other teams and so on, it may not have been the best selection for you or your child. Be sure the program matches your lifestyle and budget.
5. Likeability of the Basketball Coaching Program-
No matter how well organized, experienced, patient and affordable the basketball coaching might be, if you or your child do not like the coach or the program or the other players, it is probably not the best program for you. Nobody wants a child on the team that doesn’t like being there, and as a parent, if you don’t like something about the program, you may keep finding faults and have other issues with the program until your child doesn’t like it either. If you simply don’t like it, trust your intuition and look at other programs or other sports.
ATTACK! Basketball Academy provides basketball coaching
Led by former High School, Collegiate and Professional Basketball Player Coach Charlie Miller, ATTACK! Basketball Academy provides basketball coaching for boys and girls from ages 5-18, and relates coaching to important life skills. The Academy focuses on continuous improvement and inclusiveness of all youth who want to learn how to play, build their skills and enjoy playing the game. All coaches pass background, experience and interview tests to ensure the best coaching possible. Visit our YouTube/AttackBBball channel to see our Coaches demonstrating some of our basketball drills.
Youth Basketball Camps Teach Kids How to Play Basketball
Rural America – Youth Basketball Camps – Where are you?
Many youth, growing up in rural communities and small towns do not have access to youth basketball camps and may not have an opportunity to learn how to play basketball until they are in Middle School. Compared to youth in metropolitan areas like Dallas, where kids can start learning at kindergarten age, they are at a disadvantage. The 6-8 year delay in building important basketball skills directly effects their abilities to compete for college scholarships or hopes of ever entering the professional arena. ATTACK! Basketball Academy provides a variety of basketball camps, youth basketball programs and leagues to not only teach kids as young as kindergarten how to play basketball, but gives them many options to continue to develop and hone their basketball skills through High School.
Our mission is to “Coach players to succeed in the game of basketball and life” because we believe many of the same skills in learning how to play basketball and to become a good basketball player are transferrable skills for living a successful life. Many of our skills are also now available on our internet channel on YouTube discussed further down this page.
Basketball Play Enhances Brain Growth
There is another key benefit of learning how to play basketball at an early age that impacts youth and is proven by scientific research. According to an article in Nature in 2004, when you learn any new skill the amount of gray matter in certain regions of the brain grows to provide literally “more brain power” to accommodate those skills. When you stop practicing or using those skills, that gray matter gradually diminishes and goes away which has led to the “use it or lose it” concept that is the basis of brain health today. Doctors now encourage people to keep their brains active throughout life to prevent the onset of many brain issues leading to decreased thinking abilities; learning and developing new skills is one of the best ways to do this.
Therefore, players in ATTACK! basketball camps, skills sessions and year-round basketball leagues are actually helping to grow their brains and stay healthy thinkers which in turn may help them do better in other school subjects. Of course, the value of exercise, teamwork and coordination pays off anyway in youth physical development and good health.
Youth Basketball Camps & Skills Over the Internet
With the capabilities of the internet, even kids in rural communities or small towns without youth basketball camps can now tap into a variety of learning methods available over their computer and phone lines or through wireless hotspots. We are always adding more basketball skills videos to our YouTube Channel website to teach people how to play and the fundamental skills involved. Of course, folks within driving distance of Dallas can always sign up for a single skills session or a youth basketball mini-camp and tie it in with a visit to Dallas for shopping or other cultural enjoyments. Check out our Calendar for Skill Sessions or just give us a call.
Meredith Mayak Miller 214-223-7865 or Coach Charlie Miller: 512-588-2139
