Depending on where you live, and whether you are in Jr High, High School, or College, 2008-2009 basketball season will be here in only a matter of weeks! Here is a checklist to see if you are really ready to start practice (or try-outs):
1) Are you on top of your school work? If not, you aren’t going to be able to play so you might want to take care of this ASAP. Once the season starts, time management will be crucial in making sure you don’t fall behind academically.
2) Are you getting 8-10 hours of sleep every night? Sleep is when your body grows! You will NEVER be able to perform up to your potential if you aren’t well rested. Did you know studies show that getting a great night’s sleep TWO days before a big game or try out is actually more important than the night before?
3) Are you eating breakfast every day? Are you starting your day off by refueling your machine (you body!)? There is NO way you can give 100% for an entire practice or try-out if you are running on fumes. Pancakes, waffles, bagels, cereal, oatmeal, and fruit are some high energy foods.
4) Are you drinking enough water? Your performance can decrease severely with the slightest bit of dehydration. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to start drinking water… sip all day long.
5) Are you tending to any nagging injuries or soreness? If you are having issues with your knees or back… are you doing anything about it? In most cases, ice is your best friend… if something is sore, ice it down! If pain persists, make sure you go see a doctor or physical therapist for a professional diagnosis. Do NOT wait until the season to do this… it needs to be addressed NOW!
6) Are you getting up 300-500 shots a day? And I don’t mean going through the motions either, I mean “game shots, from game spots, at game speed.” How about your ball handling? Repetition is not punishment; it is the only way to get better!
7) Are you sticking to your workout program? Are you lifting, running, etc.? Can you get in, and stay in, a sound defensive stance for 3-5 minutes?
If you can’t answer “YES” to all of these questions, they you aren’t doing everything you can to prepare for the season. It doesn’t matter if you are going to be on the end of the bench on the JV team or a pre-season All American… you need to do the little things every day to reach your potential.
“The reason most people fail is because they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment.”
If you would like to contact me about this blog, my MVP Vertical Jump Training DVD, my training and/or camps and clinics, please email me atAlan@StrongerTeam.com. I will respond as quickly as possible!
Train hard. Train smart.
Alan Stein, CCS, CSCS