With summer over and school off and going, you still have several weeks left before practices begin. If you haven’t been doing anything to prepare for this coming season, you better get started! While you are certainly behind the 8 ball, it is never too late to start working out and getting in great shape. You should be strength training, conditioning, and eating right.
It is crucial that you are doing everything possible to get in great basketball shape. Whether you are a question mark to make the JV team or a potential All American, being in anything less than outstanding condition is unacceptable. Your conditioning level is something you have complete control of, and thus if you are not in great shape, look no further than the mirror.
Basketball is a high intensity game played at a very fast pace… so going out and running 3 miles every day will NOT get you in basketball shape. It is also a game of reading and reacting, quick changes of direction, and several movement patterns (sprinting, jumping, defensive sliding, and back pedaling)…. so running 10 reps of 100 meters will NOT get you in basketball shape either. To get in, and stay in, top basketball shape you need to participate in a series of progressive game like drills!
To get into great basketball shape; your conditioning program must be:
Energy system specific (high intensity/short duration, drills should last :15 - :60)
Movement specific (sprint, back pedal, defensive slides, jumping)
Progressive (increase intensity, increase volume, decrease rest)
Competitive (compete against teammate or clock)
Fun (try to find drills you enjoy doing, you will work harder if you are having fun)
You still have several weeks left, get to work!
If you have any questions or need any resources on getting in great basketball shape, please contact me atAlan@StrongerTeam.com.
Train hard, train smart.
Alan Stein, CCS, CSCS