Coaching Management 14.6

Coaching Management VOL. XIV NO. 6

BASKETBALL ■

Gaining from Defeat

■

Bradley Circuit Workouts

PRESEASON

TEACHING TOUGHNESS

Strengthen your players mentally and physically

EDITION

■

$5.00

2006

To request a catalog go to g i r l s g o t g a m e . c o m or call 1 . 8 0 0 . 5 5 4 . 2 7 7 9

Circle No. 100

Coaching Management Basketball Edition Preseason 2006

CONTENTS

Vol. XIV, No. 6

2

29

23

LOCKER ROOM

COVER STORY

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Teaching Toughness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

NABC pushes for tournament expansion … No-nonsense high school crowd control … Two-in-four rule eliminated … Massachusetts coaches take a bite out of mouthguard rule … Re-defining technicals … Graduation gap narrows.

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Bob Sheldon, Head Coach at Tufts University, talks about coaching during a record-setting season, the pros and cons of NCAA Division III, and the importance of balancing work and family.

UNIFORMS & APPAREL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 BASKETBALL COURT EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . 38 ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 COACHING AIDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 STRENGTH & FITNESS EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . 45 MORE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Publisher Mark Goldberg

Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel Associate Editor Marketing Director Dennis Read Sheryl Shaffer Marketing/Sales Assistant Assistant Editors Danielle Catalano R.J. Anderson Kenny Berkowitz Art Director Pamela Crawford Abigail Funk Greg Scholand Photo Research Laura Smith Dina Stander, Signs of Life Studio

Creating an intense, disciplined, hustling team begins with a program of exercises for mind and body.

COACHING LIFE

Lessons From Losing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 When losses start piling up, self-doubt is sure to follow. Here, a Hall of Fame high school coach offers advice for getting the most out of a difficult season.

OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE

Changing Direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 At Bradley University, revamping strength and conditioning workouts helped take the men’s basketball team to the NCAA Division I Sweet Sixteen.

On the cover: After learning toughness from UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland, student-athletes walk away with their bodies stronger, their minds disciplined, and their game more controlled.

Story begins on page 14. Photo by Ryan McKee/NCAA Photos.

Business Manager Pennie Small

Production Manager Bridget Mundy

Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter

Production Assistant Jonni Campbell

Administrative Assistant Sharon Barbell

Prepress Manager Adam Berenstain

Circulation Director Dave Dubin

Asst. Prepress Manager Jim Harper

Circulation Manager John Callaghan

IT Manager Julian Cook

Advertising Sales Associates Diedra Harkenrider, (607) 257-6970, ext. 24 Rob Schoffel, (607) 257-6970, ext. 21 Ad Materials Coordinator Mike Townsend Business and Editorial Offices 31 Dutch Mill Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 257-6970, Fax (607) 257-7328 info@MomentumMedia.com Mailing lists for Coaching Management Basketball are provided by the Clell Wade Coaches Directory.

The Coaching Management Basketball edition is published in July and March by MAG, Inc. and is distributed free to college and high school coaches in the United States and Canada. Copyright © 2006 by MAG, Inc. All rights reserved. Text may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without the permission of the publisher. Unsolicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Coaching Management is printed by Banta Publications Group, Kansas City, MO. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Coaching Management, P.O. Box 4806, Ithaca, N.Y. 14852.

Printed in the U.S.A.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

1

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD NABC Pushes for Tournament Expansion Amazing April? Manic May? Discussion of expanding the NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament is gaining momentum within the coaching community, and even though the Men’s Basketball Committee recently voted to keep the field at 65 teams, coaches are openly pushing for change.

Syracuse University Head Men’s Coach Jim Boeheim has announced he’d like to see the tournament expanded by four to six teams. And

Oliver Purnell, Clemson University Head Men’s Coach and President of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), says he’d like to see the tournament double in size.

“Expanding the tournament is something I’ve thought about over the years,” Purnell says. “Since assuming the position of president at the NABC, I’ve spoken to a lot of coaches. There is a sentiment to expand it, and my job is to make the coaches’ voices heard.”

Purnell would like to see the tournament double in size,

but says he would be pleased with just a few more teams added to the mix. Noting that there is already a full day set aside for the current play-in game between the 64th and 65th teams, he says it would be easy to add several more play-in games on that same day.

“If you look at college football, teams that play in a bowl game are often defined as having had a successful season,” Purnell says. “Now look at basketball—there isn’t as high a percentage of teams that get to play in the tournament. And the teams that didn’t get in are often defined as having had an unsuccessful season. If we can expand the tournament to include some of the schools on the bubble, it would be healthy for the game of college basketball.”

For Boeheim, the problem comes in deciding exactly how the expansion would occur.

“Play-in games are certainly an option, but I’m kind of against them,” he says. “It’s almost like those teams aren’t really in the tournament. I think those games should be considered the first round and played the weekend before. But then ending the season a week early could become a problem. There are a lot of people who would be in favor of expansion if it were easier to accomplish.”

2

COACHING MANAGEMENT

No-Nonsense Crowd Control Since the well-publicized NBA fracas in Detroit in 2005, crowd control has received more attention than ever.

Looking to avoid high school versions of the incident, some administrators are sending a tough new message to their basketball fans: Act responsibly in the stands, or you’re not welcome at our games.

That was the story during a contest in Newport News, Va., between Heritage High School and archrival Warwick High School. When fans began streaming onto the court to join in a shoving match that had broken out between players, Heritage Principal Tim Sweeney got on the gym’s PA system and ordered all 1,200 spectators to leave the building.

“At first I was telling them to return to their seats, but when it was obvious they weren’t listening, I told everyone the game was over and they needed to clear out,” Sweeney recalls. “I told the coaches to take their teams to the locker rooms, and once the players and officials were gone, it took about 20 minutes for everybody else to leave.”

Getting the players off the floor was the key, Sweeney says, since most fans saw no reason to stay when it appeared the game would not continue.

With the gym emptied, athletes and officials returned to play the rest of the game—

AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

Oliver Purnell, Clemson University Head Men’s Coach and President of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, would like to double the number of teams in the NCAA’s Division I playoffs. “If we can expand the tournament,” he says, “it would be healthy for the game of college basketball.”

After listening to comments from the NABC and discussing the logistics of an expanded tournament, the Men’s Basketball Committee decided to maintain the current number of teams. “We looked at a number of issues and a number of variables and deliberated quite a bit,” says Dan Guerrero, UCLA Athletic Director and a member of the committee. “We took this very seriously. But we felt that it is a great event as it is now and we did not believe there was any merit for changing its format at this point in time.”

Purnell plans to spend his oneyear term pushing for expansion, and Boeheim ultimately expects the coaches’ association to get its wish. “I think it’s more likely we’ll see a small expansion before a big one,” says Boeheim. “But it is being talked about and we’ll get somewhere with it in the nottoo-distant future.”

gatorade.com Š2003 S-VC, Inc.

You gotta bring more than water if you wanna kick dehydration’s butt.

Circle No. 131

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD though not before Sweeney read both teams the riot act.

“I said this type of conduct is not tolerated by either school, and that my expectation was for them to play hard but to play with sportsmanship,” he says. “At that point, looking around the empty gym, they really seemed to get the mes-

where a new game-management policy was implemented after fights broke out in the stands at two games this winter. Superintendent William Andrekopolous set up several new guidelines, which include limiting ticket sales to 75 percent of gym capacity and allowing the purchase of only

says the new rules succeeded in defusing the charged atmosphere at games. “It really reduced the problems we had with crowd control,” he says.

“The whole game experience was different—we stopped playing music during pre-game warmups and at halftime, and with smaller crowds, there

discuss the ramifications of the new policy and consider ways to keep fan behavior in check without harming the bottom line. “For the safety of everyone who attends the games, these rules have been a positive,” he says. “Now it’s up to us to come together and work out the kinks. We’re making it clear that fighting has no place in our buildings and that being a spectator at our games is a privilege. That’s an important message to send.”

NCAA Eliminates Two-in-Four Rule The contentious “two-in-four” rule, which limited NCAA Division I basketball teams to playing in two exempt tournaments every four years, has been put to rest. Teams will now be allowed to play in an exempt tournament every season as part of a scheduling package that will take effect this fall.

In Milwaukee, district administrators addressed crowd control with new policies that eliminated ticket sales at the door and banned cell phones from game sites. Here, Milwaukee King’s Korie Lucious shoots against Madison Memorial’s Keaton Nankivil during a WIAA boys’ Division 1 semifinal. two tickets per person for each game. At-the-door ticket sales were eliminated completely, and electronic devices such as cell phones and iPods were banned from game sites.

Andrekopolous also warned Milwaukeeans that if fighting continued to be a problem, fans would be kept out of the games entirely.

Another no-nonsense approach to fan conduct comes from the Milwaukee Public Schools,

Gary DePerry, Head Boys’ Coach at Bradley Technical High School in Milwaukee,

4

COACHING MANAGEMENT

wasn’t as much noise in the building. But of course, there was a trade-off, because it also meant we had less fan support during play.”

DePerry says the rules—particularly the limit on ticket sales—have also decreased attendance, one of the main sources of income for Bradley Tech athletics. For this reason, he says, it will be important for administrators and coaches to meet in the off-season to

The NCAA also set the second Friday in November as the standard date for the first game of the season. Previously, the starting date was 136 days before the championship game and usually fell around Nov. 20, but several pre-approved events were allowed to be held before the starting date.

“I think it’s good that everybody will have the chance to play 29 to 31 games,” says Chris Wollard, Assistant Commissioner of Conference USA. “In the past, we were all over the place about when

AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

sage. Both teams put their hands together in the middle of the court, chanted ‘1-2-3TEAM,’ and then shook hands with one another. I could see on their faces they were embarrassed about the way they’d acted. The referees then ejected the players who had started the shoving and we finished the game.”

Under the new rules, teams can play either 29 regular season games or 27 regular season games plus no more than four games in one multiteam tournament for a maximum of 31 games. Conference and other postseason tournaments do not count against the limit. Before the change, teams were limited to 28 games, with exempt multiteam events counting as one of those 28 contests.

you could start playing and how many games teams were allowed to play. This brings some uniformity to the scheduling process.�

TIMES UNION/MICHAEL P. FARRELL

Enacted in 1999, the two-infour rule was challenged by tournament operators who claimed it violated anti-trust laws. The operators won an injunction against the rule, but that injunction was overturned on appeal and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear their subsequent attempt to have it reinstated.

Coaches have been lobbying to eliminate the two-in-four rule since it was introduced. “I’m very much in favor of the changes,� says Fran McCaffery, Head Men’s Coach at Siena College. “Depending on your team in any given year, it might make sense to play in a tournament or it might not.

So having the ability to play in one every year, if you want to, is great. And I like starting the season a week earlier so we can get more games in during November and December.

This will give us the opportunity to play more games while students are on campus, and we won’t have to play five times in nine days.�

The new rules do contain some restrictions. Qualified tournaments cannot have more than one team from any conference and schools can make only one appearance every fours years in the same event. The removal of the two-in-four restriction will make it easier for organizers to fill their tournaments, though the lateness of the change will provide a challenge for the upcoming season.

Some teams may decide to pass on the opportunity to

Eliminating the two-in-four rule will be a great boon, says Siena College Head Men’s Coach Fran McCaffery (center), shown coaching the Saints during a 2006 game against Iona College.

&!)2 0,!9 3#/2%"/!2$3 $%,!7!2% !6%.5% s $%3 -/).%3 )/7! s 0(/.% s &!8

.OTHING BUT &AIR 0LAY ON YOUR l ELD OR COURT

9OU WANT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST ON YOUR TEAM 'ET IT WITH ,%$ SCOREBOARDS MESSAGE CENTERS AND VIDEO DISPLAYS FROM &AIR 0LAY 3COREBOARDS #OACHES AND ATHLETIC DIRECTORS KNOW &AIR 0LAY BRINGS YOU LEGENDARY DESIGN EXCELLENCE IN ONE STYLISH PACKAGE #ATCH THE SPIRIT OF &AIR 0LAY AT WWW FAIR PLAY COM OR CALL FOR A FREE CATALOG

(OPE #OLLEGEˆ(OLLAND -ICHIGAN Circle No. 101 COACHING MANAGEMENT

5

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD play 31 games in order to schedule more home games.

“Programs that draw very well at home can add home games to their schedule, which can really generate a lot of revenue for a program,” Wollard says. “This will create a chance for mid-majors to step in and play those games and for high-majors to create appealing match-ups in the nonconference schedule, both of which could be very good for college basketball.”

According to coaches, they spread illness throughout a lineup, discourage communication between teammates, and inhibit good sportsmanship. Medical experts say they reduce the risk of concussions and protect against dental injuries. Who’d have thought a little piece of plastic could create so much controversy?

Massachusetts high school coaches are fighting to overturn a rule that requires all basketball players to wear mouthguards.

Here, Longmeadow High School’s Marissa Teed tries to take the ball upcourt in a 2005 victory against East Longmeadow High School.

Circle No. 102

6

COACHING MANAGEMENT

The battleground is Massachusetts, one of a handful of states that require mouthguards in high school basketball. Convinced that requiring mouthguards is a bad idea, the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) is trying to get the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) rule overturned.

RICHARD ORR SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

For a downloadable list of additional NCAA rules changes for 2006-07, go to: www.ncaa.org, click “Sports & Championships,” “Winter,” “Basketball,” “Rules & Officiating Web Page,” and “PROP Approved Rules Changes.”

Coaches Debate Mouthguard Rule

Version 5.0.

Get your

FREE

Save time. Know more!

trial download at www.digitalscout.com See why Statware® is the best.

A winning tool.

Get instant statistics analysis at the game and press-ready reports right after.

Team

Buy today and use today!

®

Statware

statistics software for Basketball Box Score

Team Statistics South Team Statistics

8, 2005 (07:05 PM) Tuesday, February at Blacktop Court Tournament game Game #4 North 65 South All Stars 67, 1 23 11

Score by quarter North South All Stars Team stats Points Field goals 3 point field goals Free throws Rebounds (Total-Off.) Assists Turnovers Steals Total fouls Points in the paint Bench points North * Pack, J Cross, A * Graves, R Johnson, A * Miller, R * Harrington, A Jones, F Smith, J * Taylor, J Anderson, K Foster, J Team totals

2 10 16

4 15 23

3 17 17

North 65 24-65 (36.9%) 6-19 (31.6%) 11-14 (78.6%) 47-7 16 8 7 20 12 24

Total Cumulative Statistics Player GP Matthews, C 10 Hamilton, S 10 Hill, R 10 Williams, T 10 Jones, B 10 Stevens, J 9 Hunter, L 10 Adams, L 7 King, M 7 Jackson, C 4 Totals: 10

Final 65 67 South 67 26-80 (32.5%) 4-9 (44.4%) 11-15 (73.3%) 55-22 17 7 7 18 26 8

BLK TO STL PF MIN PTS REB AST 1 0 3 3 1 10 21 41 2 0 0 0 0 7 12 26 3 2 1 0 4 10 10 44 1 1 0 0 7 3 9 38 1 2 0 0 2 3 6 27 5 1 0 0 0 4 4 29 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 14 2 0 0 3 0 1 1 10 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 20 8 6 16 47 65 48

South * Hamilton, S * Hill, R * Jones, B * Matthews, C * Williams, T Stevens, J Hunter, L Adams, L King, M

Team totals

BLK TO STL MIN PTS REB AST 1 1 0 5 5 21 48 2 2 1 2 10 11 42 1 1 1 0 16 10 44 0 2 0 4 4 10 39 1 0 2 2 6 7 26 1 1 0 2 4 6 20 1 0 0 2 0 2 10 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 9

48

67

55

17

4

7

2:48; Attendance: 2,765 PM; Game length: South All Stars 8-7 Game start time: 7:05 ffensive): North 6-1; Team rebounds (total-o on, S Technical fouls: Hamilt , Charles White Jones Terry Smith, . The final score Game officials: John team by two points ete the defeated the North and the South team fourth quarter to compl of the 2004 season strong second and South team used a Today is opening day the 1st quarter, the after 12 Down was 67-65. comeback.

7

Percentages and Averages Player GP Matthews, C 10 Hamilton, S 10 Hill, R 10 Williams, T 10 Jones, B 10 Stevens, J 9 PF Hunter, L 10 5 Adams, L 7 3 King, M 7 0Jackson, C 4 2Totals: 10 5 2 0 0 1

MIN 426 430 395 389 425 150 152 89 58 41 456

FGM-A 61-131 64-151 48-103 41-95 35-88 21-51 13-33 10-25 4-15 3-9 300-701

3PM-A 14-35 17-33 15-36 15-35 2-7 1-4 5-12 2-9 2-4 0-0 73-175

FTM-A 46-55 33-43 29-42 10-15 32-57 19-27 6-9 9-17 0-0 2-4 186-269

REB-O 40-14 56-19 85-24 69-25 105-33 28-10 12-2 13-7 4-0 8-1 439-151

AST 45 39 25 22 16 3 12 9 3 4 178

STL 16 18 10 20 11 4 10 7 2 2 100

BLK 7 5 19 7 30 7 3 3 0 0 81

TO 24 26 19 15 20 9 8 7 5 4 137

PF 24 25 32 31 30 14 11 15 6 5 193

PTS 182 178 140 107 104 62 37 31 10 8 859

North Team Shot Chart

Team Shot Chart

(vs. South, 02/08/05, L 67-65)

2 pt. FGs 0 to 10 ft.

7-15 46.7% 11 to 15 ft.

4-12 33.3% 16+ ft.

MPG 42.6 43.0 39.5 38.9 42.5 16.7 15.2 12.7 8.3 10.3 45.6

FG% 46.6 42.4 46.6 43.2 39.8 41.2 39.4 40.0 26.7 33.3 42.8

3P% 40.0 51.5 41.7 42.9 28.6 25.0 41.7 22.2 50.0 0.0 41.7

FT% 83.6 76.7 69.0 66.7 56.1 70.4 66.7 52.9 0.0 50.0 69.1

REB-O 4.0-1.4 5.6-1.9 8.5-2.4 6.9-2.5 10.5-3.3 3.1-1.1 1.2-0.2 1.9-1.0 0.6-0.0 2.0-0.3 43.9-15.1

18

Cumulative team...

AST 4.5 3.9 2.5 2.2 1.6 0.3 1.2 1.3 0.4 1.0 17.8

STL 1.6 1.8 1.0 2.0 1.1 0.4 1.0 1.0 0.3 0.5 10.0

BLK 0.7 0.5 1.9 0.7 3.0 0.8 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.0 8.1

TO 2.4 2.6 1.9 1.5 2.0 1.0 0.8 1.0 0.7 1.0 13.7

PF 2.4 2.5 3.2 3.1 3.0 1.6 1.1 2.1 0.9 1.3 19.3

PTS 18.2 17.8 14.0 10.7 10.4 6.9 3.7 4.4 1.4 2.0 85.9

7-19 36.8% 3 pt. FGs 6-19

Player Pack, J Cross, A Graves, R Johnson, A Miller, R Harrington, A Jones, F Smith, J Taylor, J Anderson, K Foster, J Totals:

GP 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

31.6%

MIN 41 26 44 38 27 29 14 10 4 5 2 48

Percentages and Per Game Averages Player GP MPG Pack, J 1 41.0 Cross, A 1 26.0 Graves, R 1 44.0 Johnson, A 1 38.0 Miller, R 1 27.0 Harrington, A 1 29.0 Jones, F 1 14.0 Smith, J 1 10.0 Taylor, J 1 4.0 Anderson, K 1 5.0 Foster, J 1 2.0 Totals: 1 48.0

FGM-A 8-19 4-6 4-13 3-9 2-7 2-6 1-1 0-2 0-1 0-1 0-0 24-65

FG% 42.1 66.7 30.8 33.3 28.6 33.3 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 36.9

3PM-A 0-0 1-2 2-7 1-2 2-6 0-0 0-0 0-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 6-19

3P% 0.0 50.0 28.6 50.0 33.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 31.6

FTM-A 5-5 3-4 0-0 2-2 0-1 0-0 0-0 1-2 0-0 0-0 0-0 11-14

FT% 100.0 75.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 78.6

REB-O 10-0 7-3 10-0 3-3 3-0 4-0 2-0 1-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 47-7

AST 1 0 4 7 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 16

REB-O AST 10.0-0.0 1.0 7.0-3.0 0.0 10.0-0.0 4.0 3.0-3.0 7.0 3.0-0.0 2.0 4.0-0.0 0.0 2.0-0.0 1.0 1.0-0.0 0.0 1.0-0.0 1.0 0.0-0.0 0.0 0.0-0.0 0.0 47.0-7.0 16.0

STL 0 0 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 7

STL 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 7.0

BLK 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 6

BLK 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.0

TO 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 8

PF 1 2 3 1 1 5 3 2 1 1 0 20

TO PF 3.0 1.0 0.0 2.0 1.0 3.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 5.0 0.0 3.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 8.0 20.0

PTS 21 12 10 9 6 4 2 1 0 0 0 65

PTS 21.0 12.0 10.0 9.0 6.0 4.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 65.0

Team shot chart. ..and more.

Box Score...

: Players of the Game rebounds and 1 steal. on with 21 points, 5 ds and 3 blocked shots.

(South) #4 R. Hamilt with 21 points, 10 reboun (North) #3 J. Pack ay Night 8:30 @ West Next Game: Tuesd

Date printed: 07-28-2004

Page: 1

Date printed: 09-21-2 www.digitalscout 005 Page: 1

www.digitalsc

www.digitalscout.com

Page: 1 Date printed: 07-29-

2004

See why over 60 percent of the nation’s high schools use at least one Digital Scout product!

t Track performance—boost productivity t The user-friendly choice for all levels of play t Use on Palm, Pocket PC, laptop, or desktop t Real-time stats and shot charts t Printed reports and shot charts t Team, individual, cumulative statistics t Includes Tournament/League Stat Manager

New with Version 5.0

t Enhanced player combination reports t Faster, more efficient event editor t Sort players by jersey number t Individual player career reports t Two New Bonus Features!

Important: Includes BOTH handheld and desktop software for full stat reporting on desktop.

Regularly $124.95 Save $10.00! Only $114.95 when you mention

Chris Hunt

Generate player trading cards with season or career stats and get The Athlete’s Guide to College Recruiting and Admissions (printable from a PDF within the software for distribution to your team).

promotion code BKCM0806.

Current Customers: Call for upgrade pricing.

®

Affordable, time-saving coaching tools since 1995.

Visit www.digitalscout.com to try a FREE demo, view reports, and register to win a FREE Palm® handheld computer.

Call toll-free 1-800-249-1189. Fax: 614-798-2199.

Circle No. 103

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD “Cleanliness is one of our biggest concerns,” says Dennis Dextradeur, Head Boys’ Coach at Quabbin Regional High School and former President of the MBCA. “Kids are putting them in and taking them out of their mouths during games, dropping them on the dirty floor and then putting them back in, and sharing them with teammates if someone forgot theirs.

“Mouthguards make it much more difficult for players to talk to one another during the game,” continues Dextradeur.

“And they’ve even affected the level of sportsmanship and respect on the court, because officials don’t want to shake hands with players after the game, and players don’t want to shake hands with each other—they’ve seen everyone handling their mouthguards all game.”

The MBCA doesn’t want mouthguards prohibited, but would like their use to be “strongly recommended” instead of required. The change has the support of the MIAA Basketball Committee, as well

Custom Basketball

“This rule was a proactive decision,” says Sports Medicine Committee member Dr. Alan Ashare. “A mouthguard provides protection to the teeth and gums, and also decreases concussion risk by attenuating some of the force of a blow to the lower jaw, such as from an elbow to the head in basketball.”

In response to the coaches’ complaints, Ashare points out that a well made and properly fitted mouthguard solves most problems. “It’s true that if you buy a cheap boil-and-bite mouthguard that isn’t the right size, it will fall out and you’ll have a difficult time talking,” he says.

“But the custom-fit models offered by dentists, and some of the higher-quality ones you can buy on your own, will stay in place and allow you to talk without a problem. Coaches need to advise their athletes to choose wisely.”

S RUGBBAYCK! ARE

The Sports Medicine Committee will hear the MBCA’s rationale for the proposed rule change at a meeting this summer, and depending on the outcome, a recommendation for a revised rule may be given to the MIAA Board of Directors some time next year. For coaches, change can’t come soon enough.

Uniforms • Warm-ups • Jackets • Bags • Sweats Stock uniforms start at $49 • Custom uniforms start at $79 Choice of Microweave Polyester, Dyna-Dry or Polyester Dazzle

Call for free color catalog 1-800-255-5299 ext. 6 For additional custom styles please visit our website at

www.moyersports.com

Circle No. 104

COACHING MANAGEMENT

The MIAA Sports Medicine Committee, which sponsored the rule when it was adopted three years ago, has no hard data showing that mouthguards reduce injuries in basketball, but members don’t want to wait for reports of orofacial injuries and concussions to prove their point.

“I haven’t talked to one coach who likes this rule,” says Ortiz. “If a kid wants to wear a mouthguard, that’s fine. But it shouldn’t be mandatory.”

ANY UNIFOR COMBCOLOR MS ME INATION N AVAIL’S & WOME N’S CU #’S ABLE TS DYED& TEAM N INTO DIRECT AME GU FABRIC LY NEVAERRANTEED 4-6 PEEL OR TO CR W RU EEK DELIV ACK S H AVAIL SERVICE ERY ABLE!

8

as many referees in the state and some school nurses.

25 Years Serving Teams

“I haven’t talked to one coach who likes this rule,” says Victor Ortiz, Head Boys’ Coach at Brockton High School, the largest high school in the state. “It’s ridiculous. I’ve been coaching for 30 years, and I’ve never seen injuries in basketball that a mouthguard would have prevented.

“If a kid wants to wear one, that’s fine,” he continues. “But it shouldn’t be mandatory.

And if given the choice, I guarantee that all my players would get rid of them.”

NFHS Expands Technical Rule To improve the flow of the high school game, the NFHS strengthened the rules covering delay of game penalties.

A fourth violation—leaving water on the court following a timeout—was added to the three existing scenarios: committing a plane violation during a throw-in, interfering with the ball after a field goal, and huddling between teammates just before a player takes a free throw.

In past years, a separate warning was issued for each violation, so coaches could conceivably receive three warnings before a technical foul was assessed. With the new rule, the first violation of any kind will lead to a warning, and the second to a technical.

“Delay of game isn’t a big problem for us, but this change cleaned up the rule,” says Mary Struckhoff, Assistant Director of the NFHS. “Previ-

“Delay of game isn’t a big problem for us,” says Struckhoff, “but this change cleaned up the rule.” ously, a team could purposely commit delays to their advantage without penalty. Coaches were getting lengthened timeouts and more opportunities to coach their kids while the floor was being cleaned up.

AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

“My advice for coaches would be to keep the water off the floor if possible,” she continues, “or designate a team manager to be responsible for wiping it up.”

For more information about NFHS rules changes and points of emphasis, go to www.nfhs.org and click on “Sports & Rules Information.”

Black Athletes Closing Graduation Gap

“This is good news to build on in the future,” continues Lapchick. “We need to stay on this to make it keep working.”

According to a new study by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, today’s NCAA Division I African-American basketball players are more likely to earn a degree than African-American non-athletes and more likely to graduate than their basketballplaying counterparts a generation ago. And though a graduation gap remains between blacks and whites, it has narrowed since 1984, when Proposition 48, the NCAA’s first major change in academic eligibility, took effect.

In the study’s most significant findings: ■

The graduation rate for all African-American studentathletes increased from 35

serious about school is an important part of the process.

But the key, says Head Men’s Coach Skip Prosser, is showing that academics are paramount and that even those who come with less-than-stellar high school backgrounds can succeed.

“Sometimes you have to force-feed success to them

“This data indicates that athletic departments may be doing a At Wake Forest University, Head Men’s Coach Skip Prosser credits his basketball better job in creprogram’s graduation rate to a department-wide emphasis on academics and a ating an environbelief that even those athletes with spotty high school backgrounds can be trained ment for success for African-Amerto succeed in college. ican student-athletes than institupercent in 1984 to 52 perwith mandatory study halls, tions of higher education are cent for the cohort that mandatory tutorial sessions, in general,” says Richard Lapentered college in 1998, as and the like,” Prosser says. chick, Director of the Institute compared with 59 percent “There are kids who go to and the author of the study. of white student-athletes class slump-shouldered, with in 1984 and 66 percent of the hood of their sweatLapchick credits the improvewhite athletes in 1998. shirt up, ducking and hiding ments to universities putting in corners academically. But more resources into studentonce they get a little taste athlete support services, atten- ■ Over that same period, the graduation rate for male of academic success, their tion from coaches and counAfrican-American studentself-esteem is raised to an selors, and athletes’ own hard athletes rose from 33 perextremely high level. They work and focus. “Our athletic cent to 48 percent, and the find it’s okay to succeed acadepartments bring together graduation rate for female demically and that they’re very a disproportionately larger African-American studentcapable of doing so.” percent of African-Ameriathletes improved from 45 cans than the general student percent to 63 percent. body, making them feel part For downloadable results of something bigger,” says of the study, see: www.

At Wake Forest University, Lapchick. “Also, they play on bus.ucf.edu/sport/public/ which graduated all of its male a team where race and other downloads/NSAD_2006_ basketball players from the differences cannot matter if Study_Grad_Rate_ entering class of 1998, weedthe team is going to meet its Improvements.pdf. ing out prospects who aren’t goals.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

9

0O EFTLUPQ PS MBQUPQ ZPV DBO USJN DMJQT XJUIJO B DVUVQ GPS TUVEZJOH TQFDJàD HBNF BDUJPO

$PBDIFT BOE QMBZFST DBO IBWF FBTZ BDDFTT UP WJEFP XJUI UIF -344QPSUT¡ 7JFXJOH 4UBUJPO

5IBU T XIBU UIF (BNFS EJHJUBM WJEFP FEJUJOH TZTUFN GSPN -344QPSUT XBT XPSUI UP POF PG PVS DPBDIFTmGPVS PS àWF XJOT FBDI ZFBS )PX (BNFS EFMJWFST B XFBMUI PG TDPVUJOH JOGPSNBUJPO PO ZPVS UFBN BOE ZPVS PQQPOFOUT RVJDLMZ BOE FBTJMZ

)PX XPVME ZPVS TFBTPO MPPL XJUI GPVS PS àWF NPSF XJOT $BMM VT PS WJTJU PVS XFCTJUF UPEBZ

-34 r XXX -344QPSUT DPN -344QPSUT JT B SFHJTUFSFE USBEFNBSL BOE (BNFS JT B USBEFNBSL PG -FWJ 3BZ 4IPVQ *OD

Circle No. 105

Bob Sheldon Tufts University

In an era of coaching merry-go-rounds, Bob Sheldon has stayed at one school for 18 years. Inspired in part by his father, a longtime coach and athletic director at St. Lawrence University, Sheldon has chosen to remain at NCAA Division III Tufts University, where he’s taken the Jumbos to three NCAA Tournaments, including a 2006 trip to the Sweet Sixteen.

With 273 career victories, making him the winningest coach in Tufts’ 102-year basketball history, Sheldon led

Q&A the 2005-06 team to a school record 23-win season and was named Northeast Coach of the Year by D3hoops.com. In this interview, Sheldon discusses the challenges of coaching at a highly selective private university, the pros and cons of working in Division III, and the importance of balancing family, basketball, and his other job as head coach of Tufts’ co-ed golf team.

CM: Why were you so successful in 2005-06?

Sheldon: We had great chemistry. Everybody accepted their role. We had guys who were starters, guys who knew they were practice players, and guys in the middle. Not everybody was overjoyed with their role, but they accepted it and played as a team. We had some talent, some experience, and some lucky breaks.

It just clicked.

ERIK ANDREWS/AMHERST COLLEGE

What do you say to athletes who don’t play much?

We try to meet with everyone three or four times a year and explain their role.

Last year, except for the top five guys, everybody was working hard to move up.

We didn’t change starters, but we had guys who played a lot more as the season went on. We had good captains who let the bench players know that everything they did in practice was making the team better. And to be honest, success and winning covers a lot of those problems.

How do you develop leaders?

When we recruit, we look at talent and make sure recruits have the grades to be in our academic pool. Then we try to look at character. I want guys who fit in. Everybody we recruit spends a night or two on campus, and we value the feedback we get from our players. No matter how good a recruit is, if the players come back and say, “Coach, that guy was a jerk,” we’ll stop recruiting him.

Junior Brian Kumf helped lead the Tufts Jumbos to the NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen, where they lost in overtime, 90-85, to Amherst College.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

11

Q&A We elect captains at the end of the season, and I meet with those players every week for lunch and talk about how things are going. I try to build relationships with them before the season starts so they can be my guys on and off the court. I tell them that if anybody says anything negative about our program, they have a responsibility to back us up.

They wanted to know that I really cared.

They wanted me to make sure they were working hard. I think they learned they’ve got to push each other, and in the final result, they’re accountable, too. A lot of young kids don’t really have that sense of accountability. They want to play and not work that hard. So it was a good life lesson for them and me.

If a player says, “Coach should have called a time-out in the last two minutes,” we’ve asked our captains to say, “No, he was right. He lets us play through it.”

Later, they can come into my office and ask, “Coach, why didn’t you call a timeout?” I’m okay with that. But if they’re at a party and the 14th guy on the squad says, “We should have done this, we should have done that,” it can spread. So the captains nip it in the bud. Then, they can come and talk to me about it. I’ve learned to listen.

What’s good and bad about coaching in Division III? My family is very important, so I’ve stayed at Division III to be with them and have a career at the same time. Most coaches who’ve been in Division III for a long time would agree. We like the studentathletes. I’m not saying all Division I or Division II schools are like this, but I don’t have to get guys out of jail. Every single person I’ve coached has graduated. And I’m not chasing them around to make sure they go to class. It costs $45,000 a

“After the season where we won eight games, I sat down with my captains and devised a plan to have more open communication … We had a couple of pretty intense team meetings where there was some yelling—me at them and them at me. As a coaching staff, we emphasized the fact that we were not going to win unless we played like a team.”

Shouldn’t a coach be talking, not listening?

In the old days, I think that was okay. But I think the nature of the beast has changed.

Coaches who communicate and know their athletes can get more out of them by listening to their concerns and not just saying, “My way or the highway.”

Has it always worked this well?

Three years ago, we won eight games.

It was the worst team chemistry and the worst season we’d had. I did a bad job.

The next year we won 16, and this past year we won 23. After the season where we won eight games, I sat down with my captains and devised a plan to have more open communication. We sat down with everybody and said we weren’t going to go 8-17 again. We had a couple of pretty intense team meetings where there was some yelling—me at them and them at me. As a coaching staff, we emphasized the fact that we were not going to win unless we played like a team.

What did you and the players learn from that experience?

I learned that even though guys are 18, 19, and 20 years old, they’re still kids.

12

COACHING MANAGEMENT

year to go to Tufts, so their parents are helping me make them go to class. I get to be a coach and a mentor, and I don’t have to worry about that other side of things.

Drawbacks? In our league, the New England Small College Athletic Conference, we can’t start practice until Nov. 1, and then we play only 24 games, including scrimmages. I cannot go off-campus to recruit. I can go off-campus to evaluate recruits, but I can’t do in-home visits. Fortunately, Tufts is such a good draw that things even out. In our conference we’ve had schools go to the Final Four the last couple of years, and Williams won the national championship in 2003. So it can be done.

How do you deal with the high cost of tuition?

We have more trouble with the financials than we do with finding students who are acceptable academically. We had a young man this year, he’s 6-foot-7 and is going to be a great player. He loved Tufts and applied early-decision, but when his parents got the financial aid package, they said, “We can’t do it.” He had to back

out. That’s the toughest part of the job: I call parents up and say, “I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is your son’s been accepted to Tufts. The bad news is you’ve got to remortgage your house.” We have players from families who can afford it, and we have players whose families qualify for a lot of financial aid, but people in the middle class get squeezed.

Is there a culture clash?

Yes and no. I like the diversity. The common denominator of basketball does away with the clash. After practice, some guys are getting in their BMWs, and the other guys are riding with them. But when we go on the road, everybody gets their $14 for expenses, so it equals out.

What does it mean to put academics first?

We practice three days a week at 4 o’clock and two days a week at 6:30.

That allows guys to take labs in the afternoon. I’ve had kids go take a test in their uniforms and then play a game that night because they couldn’t get out of a test. If they come to me and say, “Coach, I have a test to take” or “I have a paper to write,” I tell them academics come first every time. It’s funny, though: The really good players never seem to have that conflict. My leading scorers have never come to me and said, “Coach, I need to miss a game because of class.”

We have former players who give back to the program. We try to take a trip every year—we’ve been out to California, Colorado, Washington University in St. Louis, and down to Washington, D.C. The alums donate a little money so we can fly, because that’s not in our budget. I’ve had former players call me with job openings they want to fill with basketball players, because they know athletes can make the commitment and have the time management skills to succeed. We recently had a Tufts alumnus offer a summer internship at Morgan Stanley to one of our juniors who will probably have a job after graduation and be set for life.

How do you also manage to coach golf?

The golf does get in the way a little bit in the fall because it’s when we start recruiting. But I have good basketball assistants, and I’m in control of the golf schedule. Most golf programs play every single weekend in the fall, but I leave one or two free when we have big basketball recruiting weekends. Golf is a whole different type of student and sport. You’re not yelling at some guy to make a putt. I enjoy it.

when the game is on the line.

Your Quality Sports Equipment Manufacturer Since 1953

Gymnasium Athletic Equipment • Volleyball • Basketball • Soccer • Baseball • Football • Parks & Recreation

Physical Education • Tennis • Field & Floor Hockey • Lacrosse • Ball Carriers • Wall Padding • Field Maintenance

The Quality And Value You Expect From Jaypro!

With more than fifty years of experience in the sports equipment manufacturing business, Jaypro™ provides a full line of products for competition or recreational play. From aluminum bleachers and soccer goals, to ceiling suspended backstops and divider curtains, we adhere to the highest standards of quality and service in the sports equipment industry. For all your athletic equipment needs, when the game is on the line think ...Jaypro!

For more information see your local Jaypro dealer or to order a free catalog, contact Jaypro at 800-243-0533 or visit us at www.jaypro.com.

Circle No. 106

COVER STORY

UCLA’s Arron Afflalo toughs out a shot against two LSU defenders to lead the Bruins into the NCAA Division I finals.

TEACHING TOUGHNESS

BY R.J. ANDERSON

Creating an intense, discipined, hustling team begins with a program of exercises for mind and body.

When UCLA made its run to the 2006 NCAA Final Four, the word coaches, players, writers, and TV commentators used to describe the Bruins was “tough.” Using chest-to-chest pressure defense and a methodical ball-control offense, UCLA imposed its will game after game, forcing opponents out of their comfort zones and into a lower-scoring tempo. The effect of this inyour-face style was never more evident than when UCLA held the University of Memphis, a high-scoring number one seed chock full of NBA-caliber talent, to a season-low 45 points in the tournament semifinals.

UCLA’s transformation from a freewheeling, hard-driving, running team to a disciplined, cerebral, defensive-minded unit was no accident. Since arriving at UCLA in 2003, Head Coach Ben Howland has carved a place in Bruin lore with an approach that stresses taking care of the ball, maintaining great defensive and rebounding intensity, and toughness. After playing under Howland, student-athletes walk away with their bodies stronger, their minds more disciplined, and their game more controlled.

R.J. Anderson is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: rja@MomentumMedia.com.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

15

COVER STORY

For many coaches, toughness seems like the kind of intangible quality that can’t be taught. There’s no single way to measure it, no standard textbook, and no set of time-tested drills. Too often, it’s seen as the byproduct of good coaching and willing students. But coaches like Howland, Metropolitan State College of Denver’s Mike Dunlap, and Michigan State University’s Joanne McCallie include it as part of their daily workouts, coming up with new ways to build the

discipline that underlies both mental and physical toughness to create a culture shared by every member of the team.

Mind Exercises What does it mean to be mentally tough? For Dr. Alan Goldberg, a sports psychologist who worked with the University of Connecticut’s 1999 championship men’s basketball team, the defining traits are focus, calmness under pressure, and the ability to let go of mistakes.

SERIOUS COMPRESSION, SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE

BodyGuard offers a unique combination of both muscle support and performance enhancement in easy-to-use, lightweight, comfortable sportswear products for shoulder, groin/hamstring, knee, elbow, shin and ankle injuries. The BodyGuard’s compressive energy transfer assists muscles in generating torque, reduces muscle vibration, tissue damage, delays muscle fatigue, and keep muscles warm.

Antibody, Inc. BodyGuard -Taking Protection and Performance To The Highest Level Visit and shop on-line at www.antibodywear.com Phone 410-581-0900 • Fax 410-581-0991 Circle No. 107

16

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Goldberg begins his program with the most important factor in building mental toughness: an athlete’s ability to concentrate effectively. “I teach them that concentration is the ability to focus on what’s important and let go of everything else,” says Goldberg, author of Sports Slump Busting. “I tell them that everyone concentrates. For instance, somebody who chokes at a critical moment is doing a great job of concentrating—he’s just concentrating on the wrong thing. So we identify the most important thing to think about at any given time they’re on the court, whether it’s making foul shots or stopping the other team’s rush up the court.”

At the start of UConn’s 1999 championship run, Goldberg led the team through mental focus exercises, then conducted weekly or biweekly individual consultations with three or four key players throughout the season. They worked on letting go of mistakes, handling pressure, and staying focused.

The key to effective concentration is always being in the present moment.

“You can’t get caught up in the past or the future,” says Goldberg. “A lot of athletes ‘time-travel’—they think about something that happened earlier in the game or what will happen next if they miss their shot. You can’t play tough if your focus is somewhere else. If athletes are time-traveling, they need to recognize they’ve lost their focus and learn how to quickly bring it back.”

Goldberg demonstrates the importance of concentration with a simple challenge. He throws 10 colored markers into the air and asks an athlete to catch as many as he can. Usually, the athlete catches very few, if any. “Then I’ll throw them up in the air again and ask the volunteer to catch one particular colored marker, which most athletes can do pretty easily,” says Goldberg.

“That exercise shows it’s easy to do something when you focus on what really matters.”

From there, Goldberg trains athletes to bring their attention back to the present. To start, he has athletes close their eyes and focus on their breathing. “I ask them to feel their diaphragms contract as they inhale, and think of the number one as they exhale,” says Goldberg. “The rule is that every time you feel yourself drift, add another number. So if you get distracted, inhale, feel your diaphragm

COVER STORY

contract, exhale, and think of the number two, and so on.”

Goldberg puts athletes through the drill for two minutes while attempting to distract them, making noise as he jumps around the room. “I want to give them a hands-on understanding of what it feels like when they’re distracted and how they can learn to bring themselves back,” he says. “When you’re in the middle of a game, you don’t want to be thinking about what’s happening off the court. For instance, if you’re trying to impress college scouts, your mind is in the stands, not on the court. Toughness is all about mentally being in the right place at the right time.”

Even the mentally toughest players can have lapses in concentration, so the trick to staying tough is working through those distractions and quickly getting back on track. “Everybody loses focus at one time or another, but it doesn’t necessarily have to hurt their performance,” says Goldberg. “What hurts performance is when you lose your focus and don’t

bring it back right away. You hang on to the mistake you just made, and that gets you into trouble. Your ability to stay calm under pressure and rebound from setbacks is a direct result of your ability to concentrate.”

To avoid dwelling on past mistakes, Goldberg teaches student-athletes not to worry about things outside their control.

“One of the biggest mistakes players make is to focus on stuff they have no direct control over, like how good their opponent is, playing time, officiating, things people in the stands are saying, and so on,” he says. “When you focus on those uncontrollables, three things happen: Your stress level goes up, you get tight and nervous, and your confidence level drops. The consequence is that you play like crap.”

The best way for coaches to combat a team’s misplaced focus is to define those uncontrollables, collect them into a list,

F

or Joanne McCallie, Head Women’s Coach at Michigan State University, teaching mental and physical toughness means incorporating martial arts into her student-athletes’ training. During the offseason, the team attends weekly sessions with Pil Chung, an East Lansing Taekwondo and kickboxing instructor.

The players aren’t breaking boards with their heads or testing to earn colored belts. “They simply have 45-minute workouts with a black belt who is able to deliver a familiar message in a different style,” says McCallie. “The kids don’t always love it, but they appreciate what it does for them on the court.”

The workouts typically include hundreds of high kicks and punches, along with strength and balance drills that challenge athletes to hold difficult stances for long periods of time. To unify body, mind, and spirit, Chung pushes players to their physical limits and teaches them to listen to their minds, not their bodies.

The workouts are exhausting, but Chung’s message is a positive one, and he begins each drill by having his pupils shout, “I can do it!”

“It’s extremely challenging,” says McCallie. “Taekwondo and kickboxing are extraordinary disciplines that demand incredible focus. Exposing athletes to intangibles they might not otherwise encounter is another way to teach toughness, and our players are amazed at the mental discipline martial arts requires.”

BLACK BELT STUDIES

and post them in the locker room. “The things on that list are mental traps,” says Goldberg. “The only way to avoid a trap is to recognize it and walk around it. When athletes are focusing on the

“One of the biggest mistakes players make is to focus on stuff they have no direct control over,” says Goldberg. “When you focus on those uncontrollables, your stress level goes up, you get tight, and your confidence level drops. The consequence is you play like crap.” uncontrollables, as they inevitably will, they need to find a way to bring themselves back. The key is to keep uncontrollables from having a lot of air time in your head.”

One way for players to help one another re-focus is to develop cue words they can say to a teammate when they see him time-traveling, focusing on uncontrollables, or holding onto a mistake. “It can be as simple as ‘cancel,’ or ‘let go,’” says Goldberg. “It’s best if the team comes up with a set of cues on its own, because it gives athletes a feeling of ownership. And if players on the bench start to see teammates hanging their heads, they can use the cues to remind them to let go.”

Overcoming nerves is another key to responding positively in pressure situations. To teach athletes to calm themselves down, Goldberg starts by explaining the differences between good and bad nervousness. Good nervousness means anticipating the moment of truth and being focused on your response. Bad nervousness can lead to feelings of anxiety and cause athletes to become distracted.

“You have to recognize when you get too excited or too nervous,” says Goldberg. “Then you work on specific relaxation exercises, like progressive muscle relaxation drills where you go from your head to your feet tightening and relaxing the muscle groups in succession.” The technique can be used during timeouts or before an athlete steps to the free throw line for important foul shots.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

17

COVER STORY

“I also teach athletes to use positive imagery as a relaxation technique,” Goldberg explains. “I have them link their breathing with something relax-

Lifting Expectations Mentally and physically tough teams set themselves apart by consistently imposing their will on their opponent.

At UCLA, Howland creates a culture that emphasizes toughness in every aspect of the game, making a conscious effort to keep his squad stronger and more mentally prepared than the opposition. In practice, that means explaining and re-explaining the importance of things like applying man-on-man defensive pressure, having disciplined shot selection, taking care of the ball, and acknowledging those players who execute “little things” like bump cutters and box-outs, whether they’re in a game or a drill.

“When guys set good screens or fight through picks, I make a point to praise those players,” says Howland. “You get a lot more out of positive reinforce-

“When guys set good screens or fight through picks, I make a point to praise those players,” says Howland. “You get a lot more out of positive reinforcement when you’re urging players to play tougher.” ing like waves in the ocean—when you inhale, picture the wave coming in, and when you exhale, see it going out. Or I’ll have them create a resource room inside their head: an imaginary place where they feel safe and comfortable and can visit in stressful moments.”

ment when you’re urging players to play tougher.”

For Howland, who takes a hands-on approach to his players’ conditioning, physical and mental toughness begins in the weightroom. “Coach Howland thrives on seeing each player produce in the weightroom, and they get excited about proving themselves to him,” says UCLA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach E.J. “Doc” Kreis. “He loves to ask me, ‘How did so-and-so do on the bench today? On the squat? How many pull-ups did he get today?’ Coach keeps track of what everybody is doing and compliments each of the players when they make a gain. The kids really appreciate that Coach is keeping track of those things and that he’s genuinely impressed with what they’re doing. It truly does give them confidence.”

Kreis and Howland work closely together to design each student-athlete’s lifting program, based on what Howland sees as the player’s strengths and weaknesses. The key to making their partner-

The Best Basketball Coaching System Ever Created

“CREZ is a highly effective system that introduces a paradigm shift to basketball coaching. Coaches will use CREZ to facilitate statistics, video editing and playbook/game/practice documentation - it’s a great tool!”

Tom Kieswetter Head Coach University of Waterloo

Use CREZ for all basketball coaching needs: play diagramming, video analysis, scouting, strategizing, playbooks, and statistics.

No need to drag files around and no need to ever record again using paper & pencil.

Affordable for all levels of play.

www.crezbasketball.com info@crezbasketball.com Ph: 519-498-6972 Circle No. 109 Circle No. 108

18

COACHING MANAGEMENT

www.FundraisingForSports.com TIPS & ADVICE

SUCCESS STORIES

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

FAQ

Presenting the first Web site...

THE

specifically for sports booster clubs, a valuable resource to help you raise money for your athletic teams.

of your Fundraising Project • Receive TIPS & ADVICE from fundraising experts who have experience raising funds for sports teams

SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING projects

• Read about

online Products & Services Guide •

SHARE IDEAS with other fundraisers at schools through the Fundraising For Sports Message Board

undra F . w

$ om ww

CONTACT POTENTIAL VENDORS for your project through our

• Research &

isingFor

rt Spo s.c

implemented by teams at schools around the country

What Coaches Must Know About MRSA & Staph Prevention!

At CleenFreek速 SportsHygiene速, we understand your passion for the game, desire to help players perform at their best, and drive to win. That's why we developed new patented performance technology that is the #1 Defense in Prevention and Protection against Staph, MRSA, and Germs. Used by coaches, athletic trainers and athletes at all levels, CleenFreek SportsHygiene Performance Equipment kills and prevents Staph, MRSA and Germs for the life of the product. Keeping athletes protected, and in the game! With growing concern over outbreaks, and unfortunately athletic deaths associated with antibiotic resistant staph infections, all athletic programs must take action.

Make CleenFreek SportsHygiene a part of your game plan. Stay in the gameTM

For a free trial sample & to learn more call 800.591.3585

www.cleenfreek.com

Your #1 Choice for Prevention & Protection Against Staph, MRSA, and Germs Circle No. 111

COVER STORY

ship work, says Kreis, is that Howland doesn’t just tell his strength coach to make the players strong—he explains exactly what he wants from each athlete.

At UCLA, players lift individually, as their schedules allow, which provides Kreis the opportunity to give a lot of one-on-one instruction. He makes sure to vary routines from day to day and explain how each exercise translates into improved performance on the court. “Our message is, ‘How good do you want to be? Well, this is what it will take to bring your game to the next level,’” says Kreis.

Clarity & Objectivity At Metropolitan State College of Denver, Head Coach Mike Dunlap has cultivated a Division II powerhouse, winning two national championships in

offensive charges drawn. But he also suggests charting less obvious plays, such as defensive closeouts on shooters and bumping cutters.

“If you can keep an opposing player from getting by you, that’s a sign of mental and physical toughness,” he says.

“Assist-to-turnover ratio is also a huge mental stat, because when you don’t turn the ball over it shows a degree of discipline. You’re making the decision to deny yourself risky moves that can get you in trouble.”

No matter what you choose to emphasize on a hustle chart, says Dunlap, it’s important to place a lot of significance on what those statistics mean to the team’s culture and to consistently refer to the chart when talking about toughness. At Metro State, that means posting it in the locker room, clearly ranking every player on the team in each category. By presenting it as public information, players hold each other accountable and are extremely competitive about their place on the chart.

Dunlap compiles his hustle stats from film of every game and practice, which is not as timeintensive as it sounds. “We practice early in the morning for two hours and 15 minutes, and it takes me an hour or so to break the film down,” says Dunlap. “After practice I’ll sit down with a muffin and a cup of coffee and throw the tape in. We keep it simple and each coach charts specific things.

“Each position coach watches the video and takes care of the offensive emphasis for guards and forwards, and I take care of the defensive stuff,” continues Dunlap, who refers to his VCR as the Truth Machine. “Then we cut up the tape to consolidate each practice into a five minute clip. We use those clips to show the team what we really liked and what they need to improve.”

For high school coaches working with a small staff—or no staff at all— Dunlap prescribes even more simplicity: place your video camera on a tripod, focus it on either basket, and turn it on.

“I always hear coaches say, ‘We don’t have the resources to do that kind of stuff,’” says Dunlap. “Yes you do. I coach at a non-scholarship school, where we don’t have everything the Division I

“As a coach, you have to be very careful when you talk about toughness,” says Dunlap. “If you throw the term around arbitrarily, telling them to ‘play tough,’ they won’t know what you really want. You have to give players specific criteria by which they will be judged.” nine years by being crystal clear about what he wants out of his players both mentally and physically. “As a coach, you have to be very careful when you talk about toughness,” says Dunlap. “If you throw the term around arbitrarily, telling athletes to ‘play tough,’ they won’t know what you really want. You have to give players specific criteria by which they will be judged. If your criteria aren’t well-defined, your team will just tune you out.”

To spell out his expectations, Dunlap uses a hustle board that charts 10 indicators of mental and physical toughness. Like many coaches, he places a high value on steals, deflections, offensive rebounds, loose balls gathered, and

guys have, but we make it work. It really doesn’t take much extra time.”

To Dunlap, who lifts weights alongside his players during in- and offseason workouts, playing tough begins with physical toughness. He expects his student-athletes to play with heart—literally. Each member of the team begins practice outfitted with a monitor strapped across his chest. The monitor measures the number of heartbeats per minute (BPM), which is relayed to a device worn on the wrist. “A heart monitor allows me to be more specific about what I want in terms of effort,” says Dunlap. “It helps quantify when they’re playing out of their comfort zone—it’s very objective. They’re wearing those monitors to learn how to react and make good decisions when they’re out of their comfort zone.”

Before players wear their heart monitors for the first time, Dunlap and his staff establish cardiovascular thresholds and target zones for each athlete based on body fat percentage. As he does with video, Dunlap uses heart monitors as a tool for providing positive feedback and building confidence in his studentathletes. “If I see somebody who is really pushing it, I might go up to him and turn his wrist over and see that he’s hit 185 BPM,” says Dunlap. “I’ll give him a tap on the head and say, ‘That’s great, that’s outstanding.’ Praising guys who are working hard is really what I’m trying to do.

“However, if I see a guy who’s not working as hard as he should and his BPM is 140 or 150, and I know he’s not out of his comfort zone until he hits 175 or 185, I’ll say, ‘You’re dogging it!

Let’s get moving!’” he continues. “As a player, you know you can’t get away with not practicing at a high cardiovascular level. And that’s an important part of building toughness.”

But it’s not enough for coaches to keep emphasizing toughness. For the program to succeed, everyone on the team needs to demand as much from their teammates as they do from themselves. “Your culture is most productive when your players are demanding mental and physical toughness from themselves,” says Dunlap. “As a coach, do your best to establish that culture of toughness, and if your athletes feel invested in the cause, they’ll perform at their highest level.” ■

COACHING MANAGEMENT

21

www.spaldingequipment.com 1-800-435-DUNK Spalding trademarks owned by Russell Asset Management, Inc., or its affiliate. ŠRussell Corporation 2006. spalding.com

Circle No. 112

COACHING LIFE

LESSONS FROM LOSING AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

When losses start piling up, self-doubt is sure to follow.

Should you change your approach? How can you keep studentathletes from growing frustrated?

Here, a Hall of Fame high school coach offers advice for getting the most out of a losing season.

I don’t like to lose. I don’t even like to write about losing. But we’ve all been through it—having a losing season that doesn’t turn around no matter what you do.

In today’s world, with parents scrutinizing your every move, you can’t just grit your teeth through a bad year. In fact, a sub-par season needs to be handled with as much care—if not more— than a winning season.

Losses usually lead to questions and self-doubt: Should I alter my approach?

Set new rules? Change my expectations?

How do I keep athletes from getting frustrated? How do I keep them from losing confidence in me? Should I start

playing younger players and looking ahead to next year? How do I respond to the complaints of parents and fans? And how do I make sure I don’t lose my job?

Your answers and actions will make a huge difference in how things turn out.

Check In With Yourself It is important to realize that losing is not an indictment of your coaching ability. However, the way you respond to losing can be. When losses pile up, your

BY LEM ELWAY values and leadership will be exposed in a new way. How you respond to adversity will show those around you what you’re really about.

That’s why the first step to take when you start losing is to review your coaching philosophy. If you have a written philosophy, re-read it. It will help remind you why you coach, and for most of us, it’s not only about winning. Staying true to your coaching philosophy is paramount to keeping the situation positive.

A member of the Washington State Coaches Hall of Fame, Lem Elway is Head Baseball Coach at Black Hills High School in Tumwater, Wash. He has also coached basketball and football.

His first book, The Coach’s Administrative Handbook, has recently been published by Coaches Choice.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

23

COACHING LIFE

Here are three critical areas that will define who you are during a losing season: Consistent Expectations: During a losing season, it can be tempting to lower your standards for player behavior and work ethic. However, your players will gain nothing from you lowering your expectations. If you expect them to get to practice 10 minutes early every day when the team is winning, they should continue to do so when they’re losing. If you give out an award in practice every week to the player who works hardest, you should continue doing it, even if it feels like that hard work isn’t paying off.

Emotional Control: For both players and coaches, keeping emotions in check becomes more difficult when the losses keep coming. But this is the time when your leadership and maturity are most needed to set an example for your athletes. Take the time to go over your rules on behavior more frequently than usual, and don’t hesitate to quickly call players on any negative actions.

The worst part about a losing season is that it gives people license to question your decisions and objectives. I can think of several coaches who posted continuous winning seasons, had one losing season, and were suddenly faced with all sorts of questions that led to their firing.

The key to avoiding the one-badseason axe is to communicate with parents and administrators and educate them about what you’re trying to do. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that it is not only important to mold players, but also their parents, who will be very vocal if the team begins to lose.

For example, I hold a clinic just for parents, where our coaching staff presents the fundamentals we are trying to teach in our program and

Circle No. 113

24

COACHING MANAGEMENT

explains why we teach techniques the way we do. We periodically have pre- and post-event get-togethers and dinners for team members and families, and I regularly send group e-mails to update parents on schedule changes and team issues. When the team is losing, I intensify this communication, spending even more time talking to parents about what we are trying to do.

During a losing season, it can be tempting to hunker down, avoid contact, and communicate less than usual. Fighting this urge can earn you a new level of respect from parents and administrators. It can also help you keep your job.

JOB SECURITY

COACHING LIFE

Staying Positive: It’s extremely easy to feel negative about your players and yourself when the losses pile up, and you need to fight this every step of the way.

Every word out of your mouth and all of your body language needs to convey that you have not lost hope.

It’s up to you to continue hustling, being enthusiastic, and bringing energy to practices and contests. You must be as excited as ever when something good happens and present nothing but positive encouragement when things are not going right.

Examine your words and your tone of voice. Yelling is not an acceptable way to correct players, nor is foul language. Be a teacher and explain how to correct the mistake that was made. Every time you open your mouth, something constructive should come out.

It’s up to you to continue hustling, being enthusiastic, and bringing energy to practices and contests. You must be as excited as ever when something good happens and present nothing but positive encouragement when things aren’t going right.

Evaluate Why You’re Losing A key part of getting through a losing season is making sure athletes and parents do not lose confidence in you. The best way to ensure this is to continually evaluate why the team is losing and try to turn things around.

Let your athletes and their parents know that you are constantly analyzing everything the team does to make whatever changes are needed. Break down every game and figure out what went wrong and what went right. Know what your athletes are doing well and where they need to improve. Are there problems with concentration, technical skills, or communication? Have you neglected to teach them something? What will you do in practice to work on those problems?

I am a firm believer in the motto, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” and when we’re losing, I ask myself if there is a weak link on defense or

offense. I use statistics and performance analysis to find areas that need improvement. Then, I work with those athletes to improve their skills, or I increase the number of athletes working at the position so I can make a change if necessary.

Either the athlete gets better or I alter the lineup.

Throughout all these evaluations, I make sure I am communicating well.

After games, I talk to players about what caused the team to lose and what we

TURBOSTATS

need to do to improve. I post production sheets on the locker room bulletin board so my athletes can see the facts of their performance, and I let them know that I am evaluating them on their hustle, teamwork, and attitude.

I also ask them to evaluate themselves using one question: Did you give 100percent effort today? If they can answer yes, then I feel we are achieving our goals.

Each athlete needs to answer this question for himself, not for me or anyone else.

Version 7.0

TM

SCOREKEEPER

TM

The Fastest, Easiest, most Complete Way to Keep Stats

SOFTWARE SO ADVANCED, IT CAN PREDICT YOUR NEXT MOVE

Track both teams live on any Palm OS handheld PDA Incredibly easy to learn and use... Just point and tap View game or seasonal stats instantly on the PDA AutoComplete technology predicts your next move Put-backs include a shot and rebound in one quick step Fast substitutions for both teams on one easy screen Scout teams and view shot charts on the handheld Edit, undo, insert or delete events at any time TurboStats takes basketball stat tracking to a whole new level" TM

- Jay Gomes, NJ Hoops Recruiting Report Unlimited Games & Rosters on PDA

Full Undo, Edit, Insert and Delete Events

Make rapid substitutions on one quick form

View live shot charts and statistics on the PDA for individual games and season totals Bulls

Bulls

Bulls

TURBOSTATS FOR WINDOWS PC

Team

TM

Use with or without ScoreKeeper (above)

The original game by game stat tracking software for Windows Since 1992

Track unlimited teams and games Enter stats live or after the game Shot charts by: Player, Team, Game Automatically tracks Career totals Used by THOUSANDS of schools Import stats from ScoreKeeper Create interlinking Web pages Free Practice Planner Fully customized reports Player In Game Combination Reports Animated Playbook & League Scheduling NCAA Style Box Scores and Play by Play reports * TurboStats Beats the Competition with...

Free technical help line No costly annual fees Runs without master CD in Drive Automatically tracks Career stats Tracks Put-backs made/missed

Credit Card & Purchase Orders Accepted

Starting a t

$69.95

Breaks down individual turnover types Faster data entry and substitutions Store hundreds of games on your PDA till you delete them View game and seasonal stats/charts on the PDA or PC Outstanding PC software with Practice Planners/Playbooks

New Player Combination Reports & Customized Efficiency Formulas

See website for special offers, brochures & demos

Visit Call

www.turbostats.com 1-800-60 STATS

1-800-607-8287

The Leader in Statistic Tracking Software Since 1992

*Some reports require both TurboStats for PC and ScoreKeeper for the PDA. Handheld computers sold separately.

Circle No. 114 COACHING MANAGEMENT

25

COACHING LIFE

At the same time, I emphasize that we’re all in this together. I try to create the feeling that each of us must learn from others’ mistakes in a constructive, not destructive, manner. I also emphasize that comments on individual mistakes are not to be taken personally. I try to convey the idea that figuring out

decisions. Here are some big questions that can arise: Individual vs. Team: What if there’s one athlete who is trying to play at the next level but the team is hindering him? I still base everything we do on team goals—not on the individual. I let my best players know that for them

We’ve all heard the saying, “You can learn more from losing than winning,” but the operative word is can. This learning doesn’t happen automatically. As the coach, you need to seize the teachable moments of losing and use the key to the learning process: effective communication. what’s going wrong and how to change it is a fun, dynamic process.

Tough Decisions Once you’ve determined why your team is losing, you may be faced with some difficult choices. The most important thing is for you to be able to justify your actions in whatever you do, because sometimes, you’ll need to make tough

to get the recognition they’ve worked for, the team must be successful. If they continue to work hard on an individual basis, the team will succeed. The message from the coach must be that both goals are intertwined.

I also remind athletes that if they want to play at the next level, the college recruiters who come to watch them are watching everything they do. If they

see an athlete only trying to impress the recruiter and not being a team player, that will not make a good impression.

Sitting Seniors: What if you decide that a senior on the team is a weak link? I always convey to seniors that they should be the strongest members of the team, and if they aren’t the best at their position, they should expect no favors.

If an underclassman begins to play better than a senior, I will not hesitate to start the younger athlete. However, I always have factual information to support my decision and I often make it a gradual transition.

I’ve also learned that, during these changes, it is critical for a coach to protect the younger player from abuse by the older player. This can be an emotional time for a senior and his or her parents, who are faced with losing their role and stature on the team. This should never be underestimated, and the coach must communicate well and offer compassion and understanding.

When Players Quit: Some players are not able to deal with losing and

Show Your Colors!

Best Bestsideline sidelinechair chairmade. ade.

Guaranteed.

Guaranteed.

Chair Caddy

Visit us at www.stadiumchair.com to see our complete line of products.

Also great for fundraisers!

888-417-9590 • stadiumchair.com Circle No. 115

26

Circle No. 116

COACHING MANAGEMENT

stad chair 136.indd 1

7/26/05 1:45:32 PM

COACHING LIFE

may decide to quit the team during the season. As a coach, be ready to deal with that possibility. Be aware some will go quietly, while others will make a scene. Some might also direct their animosity toward you. In this situation, always take the high road in your reaction. It is imperative that your team is ready to regroup quickly and move on with the players who have decided to remain.

If possible, I try to talk to every kid who quits to find out why. I think about their reason and if I, as a coach, feel I did something to make them quit, I try to change that part of my coaching. If the reasons for quitting come down to simply not having the right attitude, I wish them the best and tell them I’m glad they were part of the program.

Make It A Learning Experience We’ve all heard the saying, “You can learn more from losing than winning,” but the operative word there is can— this learning doesn’t happen automatically. You need to seize the teachable moments of losing.

To start, I always ask my players how they want to be remembered when they leave high school. Do they want to be the athlete who fought through adversity, or the athlete who helped bring the team down? I explain that one’s true character comes out during tough times, and if they can hold their heads high while losing, they’ll know how to hold their heads high when they experience adversity in their adult lives. If they can hold onto a “never give up” attitude in sports, they will go far in anything else they choose to do.

We also talk about how losing can bring us together or tear us apart. One baseball season I started with seven seniors who had minimal varsity experience from the previous year. Over the season the players developed togetherness and support for each other, and the team won the league championship. The energy created by hard work fueled everything.

Communication is key to the learning process. I make sure there are times when athletes can voice their frustrations, either one-on-one with me or in a group. They need to be able to express themselves, and I let them know they can talk to me to let off steam. At the same time, they know that they will be held accountable for what they say by the whole team.

What do I do when an individual athlete or an entire team has endured a particularly dismal outing? I believe it is good for athletes to face the reality of “being down,” especially when their performance has created the situation. If young people can be held accountable and accept responsibility for their part in a loss, they are learning a wonderful life lesson. If they can say, “I wasn’t giving 100-percent effort today” or “I botched the play,” they can

figure out how to change their attitude or skills to help make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Through it all, I always try to teach the ultimate lesson—that sports are fun, no matter what the score is. I always want to accentuate the positive and show interest in the present. We laugh and joke every day. Win or lose, you need to stay true to your philosophy and your role as a mentor of young people. ■

©2006 OPTP

Stretches everything more effectively.

Including your budget.

While there are many machines and products that help stretch, none are as simple, effective and affordable as the Stretch Out® Strap from OPTP. The unique design fits anyone, and the included instruction booklet demonstrates 30 solo stretches to increase range of motion for major muscle groups. Exercise poster and video are also available. Want increased flexibility and performance without sore muscles? Go farther with the Stretch Out Strap.

www.optp.com/ad 1-800-367-7393 T O O L S F O R F I T N E S S • K N O W L E D G E F O R H E A LT H

Circle No. 117

COACHING MANAGEMENT

27

Athleticbid.com

4HE -OST )NNOVATIVE /N ,INE "UYER S 'UIDE FOR !THLETIC /RGANIZATIONS

6IEW THE COMPLETE PRODUCT LINES OF COMPANIES LISTED ● 6IEW CATALOG PAGES OR SPEC SHEETS FROM MANY OF THE TOP COMPANIES ● 2EAD A PROFILE OR DESCRIPTION OF SELECT COMPANIES ● 3END AN E MAIL DIRECTLY TO A SUPPLIER OR MAKE A REQUEST TO BE CONTACTED BY A COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE ● 2EQUEST CATALOG AND SALES LITERATURE FROM COMPANIES ●

!THLETIC"ID COM IS A FREE SERVICE TO HELP BUYERS AT SCHOOLS AND ATHLETIC ORGANIZATIONS CONTACT MANY COMPANIES IN THE MOST EFFICIENT FASHION TO REQUEST PRODUCT SPECS AND PRICING INFORMATION )T USED TO TAKE HOURS TO CONTACT DOZENS OF COMPANIES TO RESEARCH PRODUCTS AND PLAN PURCHASES "UT BY USING !THLETIC"ID COM IT NOW ONLY TAKES MINUTES

3EE FOR YOURSELF WHY MORE THAN

UNIQUE USERS EACH MONTH RELY ON

Athleticbid.com

OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE

CHANGING DIRECTION

At Bradley University, revamping strength and conditioning workouts helped take the men’s basketball team to the Sweet Sixteen.

BY RONNIE WRIGHT THIS PAST YEAR, OUR MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM AT BRADLEY UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCED ITS BEST SEASON IN A DECADE. Posting 22 wins and a top-25 ranking, the squad’s success continued into the NCAA Division I tournament, where we knocked off the University of Kansas and the University of Pittsburgh to reach the Sweet Sixteen. One of our seniors, Marcellus Sommerville, graced the cover of Sports Illustrated during the team’s run, as our program reached new heights in garnering publicity for the university.

But what was most gratifying for me as strength coach was that the team came on strong in the second half of the season. In 2004-05, we had struggled as the season wound down, losing 10 of our last 12 games. So before this most recent season, we changed the philosophy of our in-season strength-training program, and it definitely paid off.

While I don’t contend that the lifting program was the sole reason for our

Using a new strength workout that emphasized increased reps and supersetting, senior forward Marcellus Sommerville helped lead Bradley’s 2005-06 team to the NCAA Division I Sweet Sixteen.

Ronnie Wright is beginning his sixth year as Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Bradley University. He was previously Assistant Strength Coach at Wichita State University.

He can be reached at: rrw@bradley.edu.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

29

OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE

success in the postseason, I do feel the changes made a difference. Our players were bigger, stronger, and faster than they had been in previous years, and, most importantly, they had stamina and were fresh late in the season. And we did it all without the resources that larger NCAA Division I programs have.

Previous Strategy Like most programs, we struggle with how much time our athletes should spend in the weightroom. We know they are juggling games and practices with class work and studying. So, in years past, we limited the time our basketball players spent doing strength and conditioning in-season.

Our goal in past years was simply to maintain the strength and body weight that players gained during preseason lifting. From November to mid-March, we asked athletes to visit the weightroom two to three times a week. Lifting times were built around individual academic schedules, team practices, and individual skill training. They did not lift as a team, but came in when it best fit their schedules.

The program focused on total-body strength and basketball-specific movements, with all players doing the same workout with some minor deviations for those with injuries and redshirt players.

The set and rep scheme was built for strength maintenance. (See “2004-05 Workout” below.)

As the season progressed, we noticed our athletes were struggling. Even though we had given them a nutrition plan to follow over the holiday break, the demands of practices, games, travel, class, and academics eventually took a toll. Players lost an average of 12 pounds of lean bodyweight, with some losing more than 30 pounds. Those who had lost the most weight had the greatest difficulty with strength and stamina.

In the weightroom, several athletes were not maintaining the strength gains from their off-season workouts. They were performing the requisite exercises, but because they were often working out individually, there was a loss of intensity and motivation, and they were regressing.

On the court, they exhibited decreased performance and strength. They were

2004-05 WORKOUT This is the workout we followed during the 2004-05 basketball season.

30

MONDAY

WEDNESDAY

FRIDAY

Bench Press ■ 1 x 12, 1 x 10, 1 x 8 Military Press ■ 1 x 10, 1 x 8, 1 x 6 Lat Pull-down ■ 1 x 10, 1 x 8, 1 x 6 Straight Bar Curl ■ 3 x 10 Dumbbell Extensions ■ 3 x 10 Wrist Curls ■ 3 x 15 Leg Press ■ 3 x 10 Leg Curls ■ 3 x 10 Leg Raise ■ 3 x 20 Back Extensions ■ 3 x 12

Incline Bench ■ 3 x 10 Upright Row ■ 3 x 8 Cable Rows ■ 3 x 10 Dumbbell Curls ■ 3 x 8 Cable Press-down ■ 3 x 12 Reverse Wrist Curls ■ 3 x 15 Hack Squat ■ 3 x 10 Straight-Leg Deadlift ■ 3 x 12 Decline Abs ■ 3 x 25 Medicine Ball Twists ■ 3 x 15

Bench Press ■ 1 x 10, 1 x 8, 1 x 6 Dumbbell Military Press ■ 3 x 8 Front Pull-down ■ 3 x 10 Cable Curls ■ 3 x 10 Bench Dips ■ 3 x 12 Wrist Curls ■ 3 x 15 Leg Press ■ 3 x 8 Leg Curls ■ 3 x 8 Crunches ■ 3 x 30 Back Extensions ■ 3 x 12

COACHING MANAGEMENT

also lagging at the end of games. Our post players were getting pushed out of position and our guards were falling behind on fast breaks.

Time for Change Based on that season’s problems, Head Coach Jim Les and I decided to make changes to the strength program for the 2005-06 year. Coach Les is a strong advocate of strength training and gave me the autonomy to build a program that I felt was necessary—to not only maintain what we had worked to establish in the off-season, but also build upon during the season. The result was a more comprehensive and structured program that included higher demands and produced much better results.

The actual lifting program was similar to the previous year. The focus was on both total-body and basketball-specific gains but we changed the set and rep scheme to increase strength and bodyweight during the in-season period.

First, we restructured the weekly inseason schedule by upping the number of days in the weight room to three to four times per week. Three of the four days, athletes were required to show up at a designated team time. The fourth day of lifting was built around their individual schedules.

We also changed to a circuit style of lifting, with increased sets and reps and supersetting. Using a circuit (14 athletes, nine stations, no doubling up) better accommodated the team’s time.

Increased sets and reps allowed us to make gains, and supersetting allowed us to increase muscle endurance and maintain mass. (See “2005-06 Circuit Workout” on page 31.)

Another focus was to increase range of motion in specific lifts. We did this by using full, top, and bottom lifts, which isolate specific muscles to ensure each is strengthened. After tinkering for a year with various circuits in all of our sports, basketball in particular, I found that the order of exercises and the rep scheme is crucial to success.

We also made sure to get buy-in from the athletes on these changes. In the previous program, their bodyweight dropped along with their strength and after I showed them this on paper, it was obvious to the players that they needed to embrace this new program in order to meet their goals. As is the

OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE

2 0 0 5 - 0 6 CI RC UI T W O R K O U T This is the circuit-training workout we followed during the 2005-06 basketball season.

MONDAY

WEDNESDAY

FRIDAY

DAY 4

1.

Bench Press ■ 1 x 10, 1 x 5, 1 x 3, x 2 2.

Decline Bench ■ 3 x 6-8 Incline DB Bench ■ 3 x 8-10 3.

Military Press ■ 3 x 8-10 DB Military Press ■ 3 x “12” Military Press ■ 3 x 8-10 4.

Lat Pull-Downs ■ 3 x 10 Front Pull-Downs ■ 3 x 6 Lat Pull-Downs ■ 3 x 10 5.

Straight Bar Curls ■ 3 x 6-8 Close Grip Bench ■ 3 x 8-10 Straight Bar Curls ■ 3 x 6-8 6.

E.Z. Bar Extensions ■ 3 x 8-10 Preacher Curls (SB) ■ 3 x 6-8 E.Z. Bar Extensions ■ 3 x 8-10 7.

Hammer Curls ■ 3 x 10-12 Reverse Wrist Curls ■ 3 x 20 8.

Leg Press ■ 3 x 5F, 10 1/2, 5F, 10 1/2, 5F Leg Curls ■ 3 x 12-15 Seated Toe Raise ■ 3 x 40 9.

Decline Abs ■ 3 x 30\30\ Hold Mid 30 sec.

Hip Rotations ■ 3 x 25

1.

Incline Bench ■ 1 x 10, 1 x 6, 1 x 3, x 2 2.

DB Bench ■ 3 x 10-12 Cable Crossovers (Bent) ■ 3 x 12-15 3.

Upright Rows ■ 3 x 10 Three-Way DB Raises ■ 3 x 8 Upright Rows ■ 3 x 10 4.

Straight Bar Rows ■ 3 x 10-12 One-Arm DB Row ■ 3 x 8-10 Reverse Cable Rows ■ 3 x 5F, 10T1/2, 5F 5.

E.Z. Bar Curls ■ 3 x 6-8 Standing DB Curls ■ 3 x 6F, 10B1/2, 6F E.Z. Bar Curls ■ 3 x 6-8 6.

Incline Lying Ext. ■ 3 x 8-10 Press-downs ■ 3 x 10F, 10B1/2, 10F Incline Lying Ext. ■ 3 x 8-10 7.

Wrist Curls ■ 3 x 30 Reverse DB Curls ■ 3 x 12 8.

Power Squat ■ 3 x 8F, 10 1/2, 8F Leg Extensions ■ 3 x 30 Standing Toe Raise ■ 3 x 30\30\30 9.

Decline Abs T 1/2 Only ■ 4 x 50 Leg Raise ■ 3 x 25

1.

Bench Press ■ 1 x 10, 1 x 6, 1 x 4, x 2 ■ 2 x 1 2.

Decline Bench ■ 3 x 8-10 Push-Ups Feet Up ■ 3 x 12 3.

DB Military Press ■ 3 x 8-10 Seated Lateral Raise ■ 3 x 10 DB Military Press ■ 3 x 8-10 4.

Pull-Ups ■ 3 x 8 Cable Rows ■ 3 x 10-12 Chin-Ups ■ 3 x 8 5.

Preacher Curls ■ 3 x 7F, 10B1/2, 7F Lying Cable Extensions ■ 3 x 12-15 Preacher Curls ■ 3 x 7F, 10B1/2, 7F 6.

(added as schedule permits)

Close Grip Bench ■ 3 x 8-10 Seated DB Extensions ■ 3 x 10-12 Close Grip Bench ■ 3 x 8-10 7.

Incline Hammer Curls ■ 3 x 15 Rope Rolls ■ 3x4 8.

Hack Squat ■ 3 x 7F, 10 1/2, 7F Leg Curls (Single) ■ 3 x 6\6\6\6 Seated Toe Raise ■ 3 x 30\30 9.

Decline Abs ■ 3 x 40\40\30\30\20\20 Hanging Leg Raise ■ 3 x 15

1.

Upper Body Stretch 2.

Bridges ■ Side\Side\Front ■ Hold 40 sec x 3 sets 3.

Med Ball Back to Back ■ 4 x 30 4.

Med Ball Catch and Toss (single leg) ■ 3 x 12 5.

Total Hip Machine ■ 3 x 10 (4-Way) 6.

Push-Ups Push-Ups Feet Up Push-Ups Hands Up 7.

Box Jumps ■ 3 x 8, x 3 8.

Ball Pike ■ 3 x 15 9.

Abs As A Group

Key to Abbreviations: “12” = 4 reps @ top 1/2 of motion, 4 @ bottom 1/2 of motion, 4 @ Full ROM SB = Straight Bar F = Full ROM 1/2 = 1/2 ROM T1/2 = Top 1/2 ROM B1/2 = Bottom 1/2 ROM

COACHING MANAGEMENT

31

OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE

case with most athletes, once our team discovered the new training method improved their strength, gave them an edge on their opponents, and assisted them in winning games, they bought into the program completely.

With the team working out together, we could put greater emphasis on a competitive atmosphere. Circuit training

asked members of the starting team to push and assist the younger players.

To increase emphasis on nutrition, we gave the team pre-made, NCAAapproved shakes and had a nutritionist work with them individually. The nutritionist educated players on how to eat properly, inexpensively, and when in a hurry, and how to cook and shop for

With the team working out together, we could put greater emphasis on a competitive atmosphere. Circuit training works best if you make it competitive, so we grouped athletes who were competing for playing time together. We also asked members of the starting team to push and assist the younger players. works best if you make it competitive, so we grouped athletes who were competing for playing time together. We also

easy-to-prepare, effective meals. In addition, athletes met regularly during the academic year for team breakfasts. This

HD NEW RESOLUTIONS

was very important in making sure they were starting the day well.

Exceeding Our Goals What were the results? The average lean bodyweight loss at the conclusion of postseason (which was a full three weeks later than the previous year) was fewer than six pounds. Every player maintained or increased prescribed weights in their lifting program. Simply stated, we kept or exceeded the strength and weight we had worked to gain in the off-season.

Adding the three team workout sessions provided a much more competitive and motivating atmosphere. This definitely led to the successful administering of our program and in exceeding our outlined goals and objectives.

We believe this program helped our team tremendously, especially during our NCAA tournament run. Our goal in the spring preceding the 2005-06 season was 20 wins and an NCAA bid. The end result was 22 wins and a NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance. â–

INTRODUCING DLP DIGITAL LIGHT PROCESSING

SEE THE HIGH-DEFINTION DLP DIFFERENCE

866.848.6646 SIGNCO.COM Circle No. 118

32

COACHING MANAGEMENT

WWW.NBNSPORTS.COM

12

We have the quality, selection, and the price to meet your budget.

NBN SPORTS

Combined with our superior customer service, the one stop shop for your uniforms, warm-ups, coaches gear, and fan wear is...

NBN SPORTS, INC APPAREL C I T E L H T A C I THENT

AU

550 Parrott St. Suite 10 San Jose CA. 95112

O HIRTS W/ LOG FREE TEAM T-S ORMS ND AWAY UNIF A E M O H G IN R WHEN ORDE

TEAM SPECIAL:

10

Toll Free: 1-800-597-9897

SANTA TERESA T R A C K

&

F I E L D

Local: 408-275-9448 Fax: 408-275-9680 www.nbnsports.com

SANTA TERESA T R A C K

&

F I E L D

WHAT'S YOUR GAME? BASKETBALL · VOLLEYBALL · TRACK · SOFTBALL · SOCCER · FIELD HOCKEY · LACROSSE Circle No. 119

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

PERFORMANCE POINTS

brought to you by

HAMMER STRENGTH

Basketball Strength and Conditioning Program Miklos Horvath, CSCS It was not long ago that basketball coaches would not dream of "ruining their players’ shots" by lifting weights.

Fortunately, this and many other similar myths have been dispelled as coaches and players have become more educated about strength training's benefits. Strength training for basketball players is more important than ever before. As athletes become bigger, faster and stronger, physical training becomes less of an extra and more of a necessity. This evolution is evident when you look at the players and teams that dominate modern day basketball. Even though basketball is considered a "non-contact sport", players take as much abuse as some "contact sports". To stay competitive players must be able to sustain a high level of performance in an ever-increasing physical game. Athletes that participate in a supervised strength program primarily see changes like increased athletic performance and durability, but the benefits are not limited to physical. An improvement in self-confidence is also a common occurrence.

Coaches who wish to dominate in all aspects of the game of basketball must incorporate strength training to have a truly complete basketball program.

Not all programs are created equal. There are three components to a good strength program for basketball. The first is the appropriate exercise prescription. Like a physician's prescription, the strength program must be appropriate for its target audience. The second component of a sound program is inclusion of the appropriate types of exercises. Exercises should be chosen to train athletes for the specific demands placed upon their bodies during practice and games. Injuries are always a major concern for athletes and coaches, which is why injury prevention is the final component.

In strength and conditioning, the exercise prescription includes the number of sets, repetitions, and weights for each exercise, the recovery times between sets, and the frequency, intensity, and duration of the workouts. Because of the demands placed on the athlete by practice sessions and games, the strength program should be intense, short and infrequent.

On most strength exercises athletes should try to reach momentary muscle failure, in other words, the point at which they can no longer move the weight. This is the type of intensity that will bring about positive changes. Short workouts are one hour or less. Sessions that last longer than one hour will have little benefit and may even contribute to overtraining the athletes. Lastly the workouts should be infrequent. This is accomplished by using a total body program done two or at most three times per seven-day period. This will allow ample recovery between workouts so that a high level of intensity can be maintained from one workout to the next.

Basketball involves repeated bouts of high intensity jumps and sprints. Type IIB (fast twitch) muscle fibers are primarily responsible for these explosive movements. At the same time the anaerobic (short term) energy system provides most of the power supply. To prepare for this use a multiple set approach with a heavy resistance. A resistance that can only be lifted for three to eight repetitions will bring about the best results. For most exercises a weight of 70% RM or higher should be used.

Using a heavy resistance in this repetition range will stimulate the Type IIB, fast twitch, muscle fibers. There will always be some exceptions such as certain isolation exercises and injury

prevention exercises. Recovery times should allow adequate recovery of ATP to perform subsequent sets with the same intensity. Depending upon the exercise, recovery times can range anywhere from 90 seconds up to three minutes or longer.

A basketball strength program should include exercises that train all major muscle groups with special emphasis on those muscles used in specific basketball movements. Compound, closed-chain movements should be done to strengthen the lower body. This can include Leg Presses, Squats, Deadlifts and Split Squats or Lunges. The major focus of the strength program should be on the lower body, since it performs most of the body's movements. However, the upper body training cannot be left out of the program. The upper body should be trained using compound movements like Chest Presses, Shoulder Presses, Lat Rows, Pull Ups, and Pulldowns. Additional exercises including, hip flexion, calf raises and shoulder raises can compliment the compound movements. These more traditional types of exercises should make up the bulk of the program.

There are some additional exercises that should be included to train explosive type movements. Olympic lifts can be a great help in getting athletes to develop power movement patterns.

The two Olympic lifts, the Clean and Jerk and the Power Snatch, are relatively difficult and time consuming to learn. Therefore, variations of these movements, which are much easier to learn, can be incorporated. Exercises like power cleans, push presses, high pulls and push jerks will help to develop explosiveness as well as movement patterns that simulate explosive motions.

These exercises can be done using a standard Olympic bar or a piece of strength equipment that mimics the same actions.

These Olympic style exercises should not be done to the point of failure, as this would compromise the ability to perform the movements at a high rate of speed. Instead, the focus should be on a quick, explosive movement with a lighter weight.

Although it is difficult to determine how much you can prevent or lessen the severity of injuries, there is no doubt that a strength program has an important role in injury prevention.

When trying to reduce the occurrence of injuries, the first thing to check is the muscular balance of the players. Any imbalance can contribute directly or indirectly to an injury. There are many types of muscular imbalances to be aware of. A difference between opposing muscle groups (the quadriceps and hamstrings), between two sides of the body, or between the upper and lower halves of the body should all be addressed. Time should be spent assessing each athlete’s overall balance to determine what changes need to be done to their individual programs. To improve muscular balance between opposing muscle groups, make sure that the program contains exercises for both.

A program that has five pushing exercises for the upper body and only one pulling exercise does not make sense. For better muscle balance between the two halves of the body, free weights and/or machines that allow independent movements between limbs can help. This will ensure that the non-dominate side is forced to move as much resistance as the other side.

Lastly, make athletes perform exercises for the upper and lower body. Resistance training for many young athletes immediately conjures up images of lifting weights for the upper body.

Placing emphasis on the lower body, while still training the upper body, will produce the best overall effect.

CHAMPIONS DEMAND THE BEST

Give them Hammer Strength Champions share an unwavering commitment to performing at their best. They trust Hammer Strength — the #1 brand of plate-loaded equipment in the world — to help them achieve their goals. From the comprehensive selection of Hammer Strength Olympic Heavy-Duty Rack Systems, to a full line of plate-loaded and selectorized machines, to benches and racks, only Hammer Strength has a lineup that meets all of your facility’s training needs.

Step up to the championship level, call 800.634.8637 or visit hammerstrength.com.

BUILDING CHAMPIONS Discover all the ways you can build champions with Hammer Strength.

800.634.8637 (+1) 847.288.3300

hammerstrength.com

©2006 Life Fitness, a division of Brunswick Corporation. All rights reserved. Life Fitness and Hammer Strength are registered trademarks of Brunswick Corporation. USV-030-06 (06.06)

Circle No. 120

Permalite™

FlexPad Protective Padded Compression

™

Basketball Shorts for Men and Women

Stromgren Supports® introduces the new Permalite™ FlexPad™ basketball shorts designed to help reduce injuries from hard and aggressive play during both games and practice. The compression pant has permanently attached, perforated, closed cell EVA, protective foam pads. These lightweight pads, with the moisture-wicking fabric, give the athlete excellent muscle stability and added protection in key anatomical areas.

Moisture-wicking Sports Top 1230

E L K N E !

P

A K 4 C

O T , (EEL TION 7ITHOU C 0ROTE

Permanently attached heel-lock straps help control severe eversion and inversion of the ankle complex.

Perforated Design Allows Moisture to Wick Away from the Body for Cooler Play

Emulates a professionally taped ankle and gives excellent support.

Easy to put on, not bulky—fits comfortably in the shoe.

Model 329 Patent Pending

Affordable—use the same support every day for an entire season for the price of 12 rolls of tape.

Men’s 1552HTP

Women’s Low Rider™ 1356HTP All Models Patent Pending

Available now

Spandex sock applies comfortable and even compression to the entire foot complex.

from your local team sporting goods dealer.

Cooler and dryer to wear because of moisture-wicking capabilities.

Fits either left or right ankle.

The Model 329 may just be the best all-around injury prevention ankle support ever developed.

Circle No. 132

Women’s 1352HTP

800-527-1988 • www.stromgren.com

Need uniforms before the season starts?

The following companies can meet your needs!

Fergo Athletics 888-653-3746 WWW.OKFERGO.COM Turnaround Time: Practice Uniforms .............3 Stock Uniforms .................3 Custom Uniforms ..............3 Shooting Shirts ................3 Semi-Custom Uniforms......3 Warm-Ups ........................3

Custom Uniforms ........... 4-6 weeks Shooting Shirts ................3 weeks Warm-Ups ........................3 weeks All products available for rush service. weeks weeks weeks weeks weeks weeks

Fergo Athletics offers high schools, colleges, recreational programs, and club teams some of the industry’s lowest prices on custom-made athletic apparel. Services include imprinting, sublimation, and embroidery work on any type of apparel. Teams can choose from a wide selection of customdesigned T-shirts, practice wear, warm-ups, caps, bags, team jackets, fleeces, and even banners. Call today for more details and find out how Fergo can meet your team’s needs.

Primary Advantages: Since Fergo manufactures its own products, the company can save you big money on all types of athletic apparel and team accessories. The company will meet any quote or bid in price, quality, and style, and then write your team, school, or club a 10-percent royalty check on the total order.

Circle No. 500 Girls Got Game 800-554-2779 WWW.GIRLSGOTGAME.COM Turnaround Time: Practice Uniforms .......... 1-2 Stock Uniforms .............. 1-2 Shooting Shirts ............. 1-2 Warm-Ups ..................... 1-2 Footwear ....................... 1-2

weeks weeks weeks weeks weeks

Girls Got Game specializes in women’s basketball footwear, uniforms, and warmups from companies like Nike, adidas, Reebok, Alleson, and more. With years of experience in the women’s team apparel business, the company knows what it takes to meet and exceed the needs of your program. Call today to get your copy of the Girls Got Game catalog.

Primary Advantages: Girls Got Game offers competitive prices and great service on name-brand uniforms, footwear, and warm-ups.

Circle No. 501 Moyer Sports 800-255-5299 WWW.MOYERSPORTS.COM Turnaround Time: Practice Uniforms .......... 2-3 weeks Stock Uniforms .................3 weeks

Moyer Sports offers a complete line of stock and custom uniforms, warm-ups, shooting shirts, and tear-away pants in men’s and women’s cuts. The company also carries travel suits, jackets, and bags from top names such as adidas, Under Armour, Wilson, and Dynamic.

Numbers and lettering are dyed directly into the fabric. Moyer Sports guarantees its products will never peel or crack.

Primary Advantages: Moyer Sports’ in-house lettering facility enables fast and accurate customization of your products.

Circle No. 502 NBN Sports 800-597-9897 WWW.NBNSPORTS.COM Turnaround Time: Practice Uniforms .......... 2-3 Stock Uniforms .............. 1-2 Custom Uniforms ........... 4-5 Shooting Shirts ............. 2-3 Semi-Custom Uniforms... 4-5 Warm-Ups ..................... 2-3

weeks weeks weeks weeks weeks weeks

NBN Sports’ uniforms are made of the best materials available, like 100-denier, 100percent nylon pro mesh. The company works to meet your schedule. Its objective is to make you look good, so NBN looks good.

Primary Advantages: NBN uniforms last a long time and keep looking great, so the company will gladly do fill-ins. Years later, you can get the same exact uniforms with no hassle.

Circle No. 503 Pacific Athletic Wear 714-751-8006 WWW.PAWWEAR.COM Pacific Athletic Wear’s product line includes scoop neck and V-neck tank top jerseys with details such as knitted ribbing, piping, side panels, and your choice of body tape or bias. Several of the company’s jersey models are reversible.

Primary Advantages: Pacific Athletic Wear manufactures your jerseys at its own facility, so custom orders can be fulfilled quickly and accurately. The company offers everything your team needs, from jerseys and shooting shirts to team bags and accessories, all at competitive prices.

Circle No. 504

COACHING MANAGEMENT

37

Basketball Court Spalding 800-435-DUNK WWW.SPALDINGEQUIPMENT.COM Spalding has a long history of providing quality products to athletes around the world, from high school to the pros. The company’s extensive product line includes portable and ceiling-suspended basketball backstops, backboards, rims, basketballs, pads, training equipment, balls, and accessories. For a free product catalog, please call toll-free.

Circle No. 505 The Spalding Slam-Dunk Pro Goal is ideal for collegiate and high school play. This performance breakaway goal is factorycalibrated to meet rebound elasticity requirements, and it includes a continuous rim for easy net installation. The Slam-Dunk Pro Goal meets all NCAA and NFHS specifications and comes with a five-year warranty. For a free product catalog, please call today or visit the company’s Web site.

Circle No. 506 Bison Inc. 800-247-7668 WWW.BISONINC.COM Bison’s new Sport Pride graphic scorer’s table blends safety, function, and school pride all in one package.

Dynamic full-color graphics are printed on the padded front panel, and the school mascot name is printed on each side of the pad. The vinyl padding is over two inches thick and is made of urethane foam. Built-in, floor-friendly casters make for easy transport. This

38

COACHING MANAGEMENT

floor and bleacher table has seating for four, and includes 110-volt receptacles for a computer, possession arrow, and more. Bison includes a free possession arrow with each table ordered.

Circle No. 507

ers per side, showing the crowd which players are on the court, their total

The first breakaway goal with true 180degree deflection is now available from Bison Recreational Products. Whether the action is coming from the left, right, or down the lane, the Bison Baseline has smooth flexibility because its ring assembly floats on 13 hardened-chromium bearings. As the only 180-degree breakaway goal with the popular positive lock release mechanism, its field-adjustable pressure release design ensures a preferred feel throughout the life of the goal. The Bison Baseline meets all NFHS, FIBA, and NCAA requirements—including the new NCAA Division I rule for rebound elasticity testing—and it comes with a seven-year limited warranty.

Circle No. 508

points, and fouls. The system stores stats for up to 16 players per team.

Fair-Play’s versatile basketball scoreboards are designed for multi-sport use with a simple change of captions. Catch the spirit of Fair-Play—call today for a free catalog.

Circle No. 510

Courtclean 800-900-2481 WWW.COURTCLEAN.COM Are slippery gym floors and wrestling mats a problem? Courtclean is the answer. It’s fast, easy, safe, and affordable.

With the Courtclean system, one person can easily damp mop your floors or disinfect your mats in less than five minutes, and play can start immediately.

Satisfaction is 100-percent guaranteed.

Circle No. 509 Fair-Play Scoreboards 800-247-0265 WWW.FAIR-PLAY.COM Give your basketball fans all the game information they need with player statistics panels and timeouts left. Fair-Play’s basketball scoreboard model BB-16664 provides statistics for up to six play-

Fair-Play’s BB-1855A-4 four-sided scoreboard offers maximum game excitement from any angle. Game infor-

mation and ceiling height are key elements when considering a center-hung scoreboard. Add message displays and backlit signs to create a centerpiece for your gym and athletic program. Catch the spirit of Fair-Play—call today for a free catalog.

Circle No. 511 Front Row Scoring Tables 800-950-6040 WWW.FRONTROWSCORING.COM Front Row Scoring Tables manufactures a high-quality scorer’s table with the following features: aluminum solid-weld-

ed construction (freestanding or bleacher-mounted); heavy, durable perimeter padding; a drop-down table top with recessed drink holders; a six-outlet receptacle; lockable casters for ease of movement; and illuminated face panels to present your school name, mascot, and sponsors’ advertisements. Optional features include detachable doublesided possession indicators, bonus indicators, and protective covers. This table is easy to use and engineered for safety. It comes with a five-year warranty on workmanship.

Circle No. 512

Basketball Court Jaypro Sports, LLC 800-243-0533 WWW.JAYPRO.COM

graphite backboards with aluminum backframes and official size 5/8-inch goals with nylon nets.

Circle No. 513

Jaypro’s Little Champ™ adjustable backboard adapter adjusts to five different heights with just one unit. It converts regulation-height courts to accommodate youth league requirements. The backboard and frame pro-

vide youth goal heights from seven to nine feet and bring the goal two feet closer to the foul line. A unique “ladder like” five-point positioning bar is designed specifically for easy height change. Installation requires only one person and doesn’t require modifying the existing goal structure, since the Little Champ fits on any existing goal.

It includes new, full size (35” x 48”)

Jaypro’s Slope Fold Curtain makes the most effective use of space in a sloped-ceiling application. The curtain

is engineered to fit against the roof frame and to provide maximum clearance for all sporting activities. The heavy-duty 19-ounce curtain is made of reinforced fire-retardant vinyl with vinylcoated polyester mesh. Jaypro Sports is a leading provider of high-quality custom and non-custom equipment for all indoor and outdoor sports facilities.

Circle No. 514

JV Pro, Inc. 800-962-2440 WWW.JVPRO.COM JV Pro offers custom-made, freestanding, and convertible bleacher-mounted scorer’s tables. Standard options include an LED possession arrow with bonus indicators, illuminated shatter-proof lexan panels, heavy-duty soft

rubber casters for easy movement, and collapsibility down to 16 inches for easy storage. JV Pro also offers heavy-duty courtside chairs in school colors featuring your logo or mascot to complement your scoring table. These products create the perfect image for your sports program.

Circle No. 515

JV PRO Scoring Tables

Resources for Winning Coaches

Playbooks

The Basketball Sense Desk Calendar

• The Spread Attack • The Double-Post Offense • and many many more!

Online Magazine

NEW! LED

• Exclusive articles • Plays, drills & diagrams • Strategies & techniques • Interviews and more!

Possession Arrows & Bonus Lights Brighter, Bigger, Safer

Crammed full of practical and innovative ideas!

• Two styles to choose from, Free-Standing or Bleacher.

• Heavy duty padding in your choice of school colors.

• High quality laminated table top with safe, rounded corners.

• Bleacher will also convert to Free-Standing style in seconds without tools.

• Folds to 16 inches for storage, extends only 14 inches on to the court.

• All models include locking casters for easy placement.

• Enclosed UL light fixtures.

Heavy duty chairs in your school colors with logo or mascot are available to match your scoring table.

2600 Harrison Ave. • Rockford IL 61108 Phone: 815-229-1600 • 800-962-2440 • Fax: 815-229-3308 Webpage: @http://www.jvpro.com E-mail: info@jvpro.com

Circle No. 121

Coaching Guides

Go to: www.basketballsense.com or call 800.545.9065

www.basketballsense.com Circle No. 122 COACHING MANAGEMENT

39

Great Ideas For Athletes...

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY CIRCLE NO.

COMPANY

PAGE NO.

CIRCLE NO.

COMPANY

PAGE NO

. . . . . . . . . 16

106 . . Jaypro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

128. . . BallQube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

121 . . . JV Pro, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

122. . . Basketball Sense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

105 . . LRSSports Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

123. . . Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

104 . . Moyer Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

113 . . . Clarin Seating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

119 . . . NBN Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

111 . . . CleenFreek SportsHygiene . . . . . . . 20

130. . . Nevco Scoreboard Co. . . . . . . . . . . BC

102. . . College Team Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

117 . . . OPTP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

116 . . . Courtclean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

129. . . Powernetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC

109 . . CREZ Basketball Systems . . . . . . . . 18

125. . . Precision Time System . . . . . . . . . . . 42

103. . . Digital Scout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

118 . . . SignCo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

127. . . eFundraising.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

112 . . . Spalding Basketball Equipment . . . 22

101. . . Fair-Play Scoreboards . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

124 . . . Specialized Seating . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

126 . . . Fergo Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

115 . . . Stadium Chair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

108 . . Front Row Sports Technologies . . . 18

132 . . . Stromgren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

131 . . . Gatorade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

114 . . . TurboStats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

107. . . Antibody

(The BodyGuard)

100 . . Girls Got Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC

Knee Strap

120. . . Hammer Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Cho-Pat’s Original Knee Strap is designed to alleviate certain knee discomforts due to overuse syndromes, arthritis, and other forms of degeneration. Nearly two million sold!

Sizes: XS - XXL • Colors: Black and Tan

Dual Action Knee Strap Patented device offers an extra level of pain relief and protection from knee degeneration and overuse syndromes.

Stabilizes and strengthens the joint while allowing full mobility.

Sizes: Sm - XL

Achilles Tendon Strap This patented device will reduce stress upon the Achilles Tendon and provide effective relief from pain and discomfort associated with Achilles Tendonitis. Sizes: Sm - Med - Lrg

www.cho-pat.com 1-800-221-1601 Circle No. 123

40

COACHING MANAGEMENT

PRODUCTS DIRECTORY CIRCLE NO.

COMPANY

PAGE NO.

CIRCLE NO.

COMPANY

PAGE NO

539 . . Active Ankle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

514 . . . Jaypro

540 . . Antibody

(Ankle Brace)

515 . . . JV Pro, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

541. . . Antibody

(Compression Shorts)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 46

(Slope Fold Curtain)

. . . . . . . . . 39

. . . . . . 46

532 . . Life Fitness

(9500XXL Lifecycle)

542 . . BallQube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

531. . . Life Fitness

(LCD Entertainment)

524. . . Basketball Sense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

528 . . LRSSports

(Gamer) .

529 . . LRSSports

(GamerEZ) .

508 . . Bison

(Baseline) .

507 . . Bison

(scorer’s table)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

. . . . . . 45 . . . . . 45

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

502 . . Moyer Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

543 . . Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

503 . . NBN Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

518 . . . Clarin Seating

(3000 Series)

517 . . . Nevco

519 . . . Clarin Seating

(locker room stools) .

. . . . . . . . 41

(Message Centers) .

. . . . . . . . . . 41

. . . 41

516 . . . Nevco

(Model 2650)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

544 . . CleenFreek SportsHygiene . . . . . . . 48

533 . . OPTP

(BOLA Trainer)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

545 . . College Team Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

534 . . OPTP

(DSL Trainer)

509 . . Courtclean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

504 . . Pacific Athletic Wear . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

525 . . CREZ Basketball Systems . . . . . . . . 42

535 . . Power Systems

(Lateral Stepper) .

527 . . Digital Scout

(eight sports) .

. . . . . . . . 43

536 . . Power Systems

(Vertec)

526 . . Digital Scout

(Statware 5.0).

. . . . 45

. . . . . . . . . . . 45

. . . . . . . . 43

537 . . Powernetics

(Power Trainer)

546 . . eFundraising.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

538 . . Powernetics

(The Dominator) .

510 . . . Fair-Play Scoreboards

(BB-1666-4) .

549 . . Precision Time System . . . . . . . . . . . 48

511 . . . Fair-Play Scoreboards

(BB-1855A-4) .

. . 38

. . . . . . . . 45 . . . . . . . 45

. 38

520 . . SignCo

(Rotating Fascia Signs)

500 . . Fergo Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

521. . . SignCo

(Rotating Scoring Table)

512 . . . Front Row Sports Technologies . . . 38

505 . . Spalding

(quality products)

506 . . Spalding

(Slam-Dunk Pro Goal) .

548 . . Gatorade

(Endurance Formula) .

547 . . Gatorade

(Nutrition Shake)

. . . . . . 48

. . . . . . . 41 . . . . . . 41

. . . . . . . . . 38 . . . . . . 38

. . . . . . . . . 48

522 . . Specialized Seating . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

501 . . Girls Got Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

523 . . Stadium Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

513 . . . Jaypro

530 . . TurboStats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

(Little Champ)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Basketball Court Nevco Scoreboard Co. 800-851-5050 WWW.NEVCO.COM Nevco scoreboards and accessories provide customers with complete scoring and display systems. Nevco sales

reps can assist you in designing a customized solution for your facility.

Message centers and video displays provide customers with additional ways to inform their fans, excite the crowd, and generate sponsorship revenue.

Customers can now even design their own system online at the company’s Web site. The Model 2650 is shown with a Monochrome Message Center and team/sponsor signs.

Circle No. 516 Whether your goal is to increase advertising revenue, excite the crowd during the big game, or promote upcoming events, expand your possibilities with Nevco Message Centers. Superior resolution and full matrix design provide enhanced text and graphics capabilities.

Display text, logos, multiple fonts, moving messages, and corporate advertising. This product is available in monochrome (red or amber) or full color, and in indoor and outdoor models.

Circle No. 517 Clarin Corp.

800-323-9062 WWW.CLARINSEATING.COM Comfort and durability are the standard features that make Clarin seats a winning choice. For the ultimate in sideline and locker room accommodations, choose the 3402, featur-

ing two arms, a thick, luxurious vinyl or fabric cushion, and an optional logo application. In arenas, schools, and stadiums around the country, Clarin’s 3000 Series is a popular choice for portable seating.

Circle No. 518

advertisers as close to the action as possible. Call SignCo toll-free, and start earning money for your program today.

Circle No. 521 Specialized Seating 877-SEATING WWW.SIT123.COM

Clarin’s locker room stools are the best way to promote team spirit while providing athletes with a quality product that’s guaranteed to last. Clarin customizes its seating with your team colors and logo, and offers a variety of other options. The company’s locker room stools are available in three different models with varying heights and seat styles.

Circle No. 519

Sit back and relax with the seating professionals at Specialized Seating.

The company has seating for team benches, sidelines, locker rooms, meeting rooms, fundraising, and even for time-outs. Call the company to design your own custom sideline package, and sit with the pros.

Circle No. 522

SignCo 866-848-6646 WWW.SIGNCO.COM

The Stadium Chair Co. 888-417-9590 WWW.STADIUMCHAIR.COM

SignCo’s Rotating Fascia Signs offer every school and organization a tremendous opportunity to generate amazing revenue for their program.

With each sign capable of holding up to 20 ad/ logo panels, you will be able to offer all your advertisers the one prime location in your arena.

Call SignCo toll-free, and start earning money for your program today.

Circle No. 520

The SidelineChair is among the best seats on the market in its price range, with the durability and quality you’d expect from higherpriced products.

It features two- or three-inch pads covered with quality vinyl that provide two large imprint areas. The extrasturdy powder-coated frame comes with dual-reinforced steel support bars on the back legs, and carries a 10-year limited warranty.

Circle No. 523

One of the easiest and most effective ways to generate revenue for your fundraising program is through corporate sponsorship and advertising. With SignCo’s Rotating Scoring Table, you are able to create 20 spots of inventory for your

Check out

www.AthleticBid.com to contact these companies.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

41

Coaching Aids Basketball Sense 800-545-9065 WWW.BASKETBALLSENSE.COM

Better Basketball 800-238-8372 WWW.BETTERBASKETBALL.COM

The Basketball Sense Desk Calendar is a flip calendar that sits on your desk and shows you a new dia-

Better Basketball has released its seventh DVD, Scoring Without the Ball. The technical and advanced chapters cover topics such as using screens; reading dribble penetration; playing on the weak side; getting open onepass away; and slasher moves.

The techniques are illustrated with footage from men’s and women’s international pro basketball.

The DVD also features one-hour bonus sections from Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman and NBA All-Star Jason Kidd. Learn more and order at the company’s Web site.

grammed play, clinic note, or motivational saying each day. It’s ver y unique and not available at other outlets. It makes a great gift for friends or staff members. Day of the week is omitted, so the calendar can be used year after year. It is 5 1/2” x 4 1/4”, so it fits easily on any desk. A discount is available on orders of five or more.

Circle No. 524

Coach Rick Torbett, the lead instructor for Better Basketball, has released one of the most advanced videos ever geared toward player development: Scoring Without the Ball. This DVD is not just about getting open—it’s about getting open to score. You can learn more about the Better Basketball DVDs and order them by visiting the company’s Web site. If you’re looking to improve your players’ skills, Better Basketball’s detailed techniques will be your answer.

CREZ Basketball Systems, Inc. 519-498-6972 WWW.CREZBASKETBALL.COM CREZ is one of the most innovative basketball coaching systems ever created. It includes state-of-the-art techniques and methods, and its versatility is virtually unlimited. Use

End Game Clock Errors In Your Basketball Games with the

PRECISION TIME SYSTEM

Timing systems of the Olympics 2004 & 2008, NBA, WNBA, FIBA America, EuroLeague, ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big South, MEAC, Mountain West, PAC 10, SEC and several high school athletic associations.

With the Precision Time System, the official’s whistle stops the clock instantly, eliminating “lag time” and end-of-game errors.

East to set-up, designed to “plug and play” with your existing scoreboard.

Complete four belt-pack system (PTS 400) starting at $2,845. www.precisiontime.com 877-416-6660 Circle No. 124

42

Circle No. 125

COACHING MANAGEMENT precision time.indd 1

7/14/06 1:42:22 PM

Coaching Aids CREZ for all your basketball coaching needs, from play diagramming, video analysis, scouting, and strategizing to

playbook management, statistics, and more. There’s no need to ever drag files around or record stats with a pencil and paper again. “CREZ is a highly effective system that introduces a paradigm shift to basketball coaching,” says Tom Kieswetter, Head Basketball Coach at the University of Waterloo. “Coaches can use CREZ to facilitate stat keeping, video editing, and playbook/game/practice documentation. It’s a great tool.”

Circle No. 525

analysis at the game, along with detailed box scores, reports, and shot charts immediately following the game. The latest version includes player career reports, trading cards, and much more. Get your free trial download at Digital Scout’s Web site today.

Circle No. 526 Digital Scout, a leading provider of statistics and scouting software, now offers software for eight sports: baseball, basketball, football, hockey, ®

Digital Scout, Inc. 800-249-1189 WWW.DIGITALSCOUT.COM Digital Scout’s Basketball Statware 5.0 delivers expanded features to one of the nation’s leading statistics software programs. Statware provides real-time

soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball. Track action live at the game and print reports immediately after ward. Visit Digital Scout’s Web

site to view reports and to get a free trial download in any sport.

Circle No. 527 LRSSports 888-LRS-0001 WWW.LRSSPORTS.COM LRSSports’ Gamer® video-editing systems for basketball can be used on a single laptop or in a network with coaching and viewing stations.

They can also be used over the Internet or an intranet that uses a View2Win™ product. Gamer offers filtering, so coaches and staff can quickly find clips of their next opponent. Other features include text overlay, drawing capabilities, and zoom options. Visit LRSSports online and find out why its customers call Gamer a slam dunk.

Circle No. 528

Circle No. 126 COACHING MANAGEMENT

43

Coaching Aids LRSSports 888-LRS-0001 WWW.LRSSPORTS.COM Gamer®EZ from LRSSports is a digital video-editing system that every team can easily afford, and now you can see its benefits for yourself with free trial software.

GamerEZ is flexible enough to meet the diverse needs of both team and individual sports. Check out the GamerEZ online demo, and then contact LRSSports to find out how easy it is to get your free 30-day trial software.

Circle No. 529 TurboStats Software Co. 800-607-8287 WWW.TURBOSTATS.COM TurboStats has introduced Version 7.0 for the PC and ScoreKeeper 2.2 for basketball for the Palm OS handheld computer. ScoreKeeper 2.2 now tracks playing time and put-backs made/missed.

Either product can be used alone, but when used together they create one of the most advanced and versatile products in their class. Track unlimited games for unlimited teams with shot charts and statistics right on your PDA screen; print game summaries, play-by-play reports, and in-game player combination reports on your PC; set “efficiency” to track overall player performance; and update Web sites automatically. A ProSeries version of TurboStats, with an animated playbook, is also available.

Circle No. 530

Your source for fundraising tips, support, and suppliers:

www.fundraisingforsports.com

44

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Testimonial

More Profits with Less Effort

“The magazine sale is the easiest fundraising project I have ever been involved with. There is no money to collect, no product to deliver, and it is an easy sell. The magazines offered cover a wide range of interests and age groups. I watched our profits grow almost daily!”

Laurie Williams Director Cortland Youth Hockey Mites “We have been raising funds for our school teams for 20 years, and the online magazine fundraiser has proven to be one of the most effective programs we have found. It’s easy to administer and it really fits today’s hightech world. It should be an integral part of any group’s fundraising arsenal.”

John Butterworth Coach Penfield High School Boys’ Soccer “Each year we are taxed with a very large budget for national competition and other various squad expenses. This year we incorporated eFundraising’s online magazine and scratchcard campaigns. By combining these two campaigns, we were able to reach friends and relatives locally and all over the United States. They were an efficient use of our time.”

Pam Wilson President CPHS Cheer Booster Club

eFundraising.com 205 W. SERVICE RD. CHAMPLAIN, NY 12919 866-235-9660 INFO@EFUNDRAISING.COM WWW.EFUNDRAISING.COM

Testimonial

Illinois Scores with LRSSports Software There are many reasons why the University of Illinois has one of the premiere basketball programs in the country, and a strong commitment to preparation is among them. One edge the Illini has over the competition is its scouting system, thanks to its relationship with LRSSports Software.

“They listen to us and ask for input on what they can do from a basketball coach’s standpoint to help make a digital-editing system operate better,” says Gary Nottingham, Assistant to the Head Basketball Coach at Illinois.

“The LRS system has all of the videoediting options on one screen,” continues Nottingham. “You can make clips and all of the editing changes through one screen. All of the groupings, such as offense, defense, in-bounds plays, plays off of traps, etc., are listed on the same screen, so you can jump from one area to another.

“All of the games in the system are listed on the main search page, so you can easily move from one game to the next. You sort through clips at more defined levels than with other systems.

For example, after pulling together the clips of an opponent’s specific play, you can quickly get a percentage showing how often they run that play under defined settings and a percentage of how many times they scored on it.

“The LRS system saves me hours in getting opponent scouting clips ready for the coaching staff and players.”

LRSSports Software 888-577-0001 2401 W. MONROE ST. SPRINGFIELD, IL 62704 LRSSPORTS@LRS.COM WWW.LRSSPORTS.COM

Strength & Fitness Equipment Life Fitness 800-634-8637 WWW.LIFEFITNESS.COM The Life Fitness LCD Entertainment family of products includes enhanced and new offerings. Among them are an integrated LCD screen, which comes standard on Life Fitness’s e-model cardio products; two attachable LCD screen solutions for select new Life Fitness equipment; and a new stand-based system compatible with previous-generation Life Fitness and nonLife Fitness cardio machines. Each offers TV-quality video, a 12.1-inch screen, and customizable features.

Circle No. 531 The 9500XXL Lifecycle exercise bike from Life Fitness is ideal for amateur athletes and athletic fitness facilities.

As the first Lifecycle exercise bike designed for taller individuals, it accommodates athletes ranging in height from 5’ 6” to 7’, a full seven inches more than other Lifecycle upright exercise bike models. It is equipped with 25 levels of resistance and a wide variety of programming options to challenge even the fittest athlete.

Circle No. 532 OPTP 800-367-7393 WWW.OPTP.COM/AD OPTP’s new Quick Hands BOLA™ Trainer is one of the most effective tools on the market for developing lightning fast reaction and quick, accurate hands. This incredibly simple and effective training tool helps integrate your primary balance components while increasing hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, ambidexterity, reaction

time, and balance. Coaches and athletic trainers can improve their athletes’ reaction time and quickness with an arsenal of progressive spin, bounce, and snap techniques. For more information or a free OPTP catalog, visit the company’s Web site or call toll-free.

Circle No. 533 OPTP offers the new DSL Trainer (Dynamic Stabilizing Load) from BOSU®, opening the door to new and more dynamic exercises for users of all skill levels. The ball contains an internal weight load of five pounds, plus a six-sided design for enhanced function, resistance, and technique control. A pump and a workout DVD are included with the DSL Trainer (video clips available at OPTP’s Web site). For more information or a free OPTP catalog, visit the company online or call toll-free.

Circle No. 534 Power Systems 800-321-6975 WWW.POWER-SYSTEMS.COM Get there a step quicker than the competition with Power Systems.

Incorporate the Lateral Stepper into any sport-specific drill focused on improving speed and reaction time.

Agility training develops balance and awareness while resistance targets the hardto-isolate hip muscles. The Lateral Stepper is available in two resistance levels—intermediate and advanced—to facilitate progression. Start with intermediate resistance to teach and per fect skills, then graduate to the advanced tubing for even more dramatic gains. The Lateral Stepper consists of two padded cuffs with Velcro™ closures and one 10-inch piece of latex tubing.

Circle No. 535 Power Systems offers the Vertec™, a quick and easy way to train and

measure your athletes’ vertical jump.

This freestanding, open-design unit allows for single- or double-foot jumps and dynamic approaches, measuring vertical jump to the nearest half-inch. The vane height can be quickly adjusted from six to 12 feet, and the reset pole allows the vane to be reset easily without lowering the unit. The Vertec can be used indoors or out and comes with two 10-pound weight plates to stabilize the base and the reset pole. A wallmounted version is also available.

Circle No. 536 Powernetics 800-829-2928 WWW.POWERNETICS.COM Powernetics offers the Power Trainer, which for more than 10 years has made the power clean a safe exercise for athletes from junior high to the collegiate level. The Power Trainer enables an athlete to not only do cleans safely, but also to reverse the clean.

The unit can be used to perform seven different exercises: the clean, reverse clean, dead lift, lift jump, high row, bench press, and shoulder press. The Power Trainer has proven over the years to be among the safest and most effective tools used to perform the power clean.

Circle No. 537 Powernetics also offers a line of strength-training machines that develop power by providing a consistent ratio of speed, resistance, and intensity.

The Dominator builds strength in one unbroken line from the feet to the hands. The machine’s groundbased torquing motion works both sides of the body, while also providing an explosive chest punch. The unit will more than double strength in the 90-degree torso rotation.

Circle No. 538

COACHING MANAGEMENT

45

More Products Active Ankle 800-800-2896 WWW.GETCHAMELEON.COM

Antibody 410-581-0900 WWW.ANTIBODYWEAR.COM

Ankle protection isn’t black and white anymore. With the new All-Sport Chameleon™ from Active Ankle®, athletes can choose from eight bright interchangeable strap covers that come with each brace. The solid U-shaped frame ensures maximum strength, while the molded, fabriclined EVA padding provides lightweight comfort.

The All-Sport Chameleon offers great style with the same great protection that has made Active Ankle one of the top brace manufacturers in the industr y. For more information, visit the company online.

Circle No. 539

The BodyGuard Compression Ankle Brace is designed to add comfort, stability, and per formance enhancement to the sprained ankle. In the uninjured ankle it reduces the incidence of sprains, strains, and impact trauma, while adding stability and per formance enhancement.

As with all BodyGuards, it provides compression, support, heat circulation to the muscles and tendons, strain distribution, and impact absorption.

Circle No. 540 The BodyGuard Compression Shorts

by Antibody prevent and accommodate lower-body injuries to the groin, ham-

string, quadriceps, hip flexors, and hip pointers. Because of their inner sur face and custom design, they attach to the wearer and transfer their stored elastic energy to the muscles, creating torque and assisting with muscle flexion and extension.

The shor ts also provide constant compression, strain distribution, impact absorption, heat circulation, and absorption of fatigueinducing muscle vibrations caused by repetitive use.

Circle No. 541

Check out

www.AthleticBid.com to contact these companies.

Factory Direct Wholesale Pricing!

Baseball Holders start at 79 cents!

Football Holders start at $8.95 Basketball Holders start at $9.95 Preserve those cherished memories BallQube display cases for game memorabilia give you more for your money. The solid wood base has a mirror bottom and a rich mahogany finish with room for a plaque. Maximum UV protection standard in most sizes. Inset top and rubber feet helps prevent display from sliding. The GS Football, Basketball and Baseball cases feature a clear Ball Cradle.

raise money A great way to c department: for your athleti balls in BallQubes! d Sell team-signe (800)543-1470 Made in the USA www.ballqube.com www.sportsqube.com

Celebrating 20 years as the Leader in the manufacturing of Display Cases World Wide!

Circle No. 127

46

MEMORABILIA NOT INCLUDED

Circle No. 128

COACHING MANAGEMENT ballqube-quarter4C-v3.indd 1

7/20/06 10:10:58 AM

More Products BallQube, Inc. 800-543-1470 WWW.BALLQUBE.COM When you have a collectible sports item, you want to preserve its appearance, keep any autographs intact, and display it for all to see.

BallQube has an entire line of sports display cases just for you. Whether you want to put your item on a shelf or hang it on a wall, you’ll find the right UV-protected sports memorabilia case for the job. BallQube cases look great in your home, office, or athletic department display area. Visit the company’s Web site today to learn more.

Circle No. 542 Cho-Pat 800-221-1601 WWW.CHO-PAT.COM Cho-Pat’s patented Dual Action Knee Strap® provides an extra level of relief for painful and weakened knees. It applies pressure to the tendon below the knee to reduce patellar subluxation and improve tracking and elevation. It also puts pressure on the tendon above the knee to provide added support and stability. The Dual Action Knee Strap allows full mobility.

Circle No. 543 CleenFreek SportsHygiene 800-591-3585 WWW.SPORTSHYGIENE.COM CleenFreek SportsHygiene understands your passion for the game, desire to help players perform at their best, and drive to win. That’s why the company has developed new and patented performance technology that offers strong, reliable prevention and protection against staph, MRSA, and germs.

Used by coaches, athletic trainers, and athletes at all levels, CleenFreek SportsHygiene performance equipment

48

COACHING MANAGEMENT

kills and prevents staph, MRSA, and germs throughout the entire life of the product, keeping athletes protected and in the game.

Circle No. 544 College Team Travel 888-880-0601 WWW.COLLEGETEAMTRAVEL.ORG College Team Travel, a division of Consortia Management Purchasing Organization, offers an innovative service to help athletic teams and departments save significantly in all areas of travel—air travel, hotel lodging, and rental cars. College Team Travel can save your program money on travel because it pools the travel needs of hundreds of teams to receive significant “quantity” discounts from airlines, hotel chains, and car rental agencies.

By making your travel arrangements through College Team Travel, your program not only saves money, but you also receive several special services with Internet-based administrative tools.

Consortia Management Group includes College Team Gear, a division that can provide you with logo sports gear, ad specialties, substantial savings on items for summer camp programs/kits, and in some cases free equipment or corporate sponsorships to offset costs.

Circle No. 545 eFundraising.com 866-235-9660 WWW.EFUNDRAISING.COM eFundraising’s Scratchcards are one of the most profitable fundraising products in America, offering a rare profit opportunity of up to 100-percent. Check out the company’s special offers and fundraising tips online, and find out how this fundraiser can be personalized for your group.

Here is just one of the many success stories: “You have helped our organization reach our goals. After attempting various forms of fundraising in the past, we decided to try the Scratchcard fundraiser. This has been by far the most successful fundraising event we have participated in. Thanks.” —Dwan Lee, Capitol Athletic Basketball.

Circle No. 546

The Gatorade Co. 800-88-GATOR WWW.GATORADE.COM Gatorade Nutrition Shake is a balanced nutritional supplement that’s ideal for use as a high-energy meal replacement, or a pre-event or betweenmeal snack. Gatorade Nutrition Shake contains vitamin C, calcium, and iron, so it’s great for athletes who want to perform at their best and need to supplement their diet with a convenient, balanced, and nutritious product.

Gatorade Nutrition Shake is available in two flavors: chocolate and vanilla.

Circle No. 547 After years of extensive research, scientists at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute have developed Gatorade Endurance Formula for athletes’ longer, more intense workouts and competitions. Gatorade Endurance Formula is a specialized sports drink with a five-electrolyte blend containing nearly twice the sodium (200mg) and three times the potassium (90mg) of Gatorade Thirst Quencher to more fully replace what athletes lose in sweat when fluid and electrolyte losses become substantial.

Circle No. 548 Precision Time System 877-416-6660 WWW.PRECISIONTIME.COM The Precision Time System stops the clock instantly on the referee’s whistle, saving valuable seconds and eliminating controversy, especially in tense late-game situations.

The system also allows the officials to restart the clock for an improved level of accuracy. The system is easy to add to your existing scoreboard and can be used for basketball, wrestling, and men’s lacrosse. It is approved by the Olympics, FIBA, NBA, WNBA, NCAA, and NFHS. Circle No. 549

THE ORIGINAL In existence since 1981

The SUPER CAT is in basketball and athletic programs all across America. The Super Cat has been proven to be the most effective machine in developing the “Power Potential” of athletes.

Other machines don’t come close to the Super Cats durability and safe operation to outlast any strenuous workout regiment. . We are recording the highest vertical jump on athletes in weight training history.

Explosive Exercises: • Quarter squat jumping • Angle squat jumping • Angle squats School colors available 7-year warranty

The SUPER CAT will give your program the edge in vertical jump and quickness to take you to the next level.

Develops the “POWER POTENTIAL” of every athlete.

The Super Cat will dramatically increase the speed, quickness and vertical jump of your athletes.

Coachs call TODAY for your FREE instructional video!

Coaches Box 329 Riverside, TX 77367 1 (800) 829-2928 www.powernetics.com Circle No. 129

NEVCO NEVCO Message Message Centers Centers

No Strings Attached Wireless control option available at no extra cost

Add a NEVCO high resolution message center to your facility Compatible with any scoring system 路 Enhance the game experience 路 Increase sponsorship opportunities

Circle No. 130