Coaching Management 17.3

Coaching Management VOL. XVII NO. 3

BASKETBALL ■ ■

POSTSEASON

EDITION

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$7.00

2009

Pitt Strength Program Coaching Your Kid

Do the Right Thing

The keys to teaching ethics

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CONTENTS

Coaching Management Basketball Edition Postseason 2009 Vol. XVII, No. 3

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LOCKER ROOM

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Off-court changes for NCAA men’s teams … Mount Vernon (N.Y.) saves high school seasons … Bryant Univ. jumps to NCAA Division I … Alabama, Mississippi add online sportsmanship program … Using YouTube as a recruiting tool.

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Ruth Lovelace, Head Boys’ Coach at Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., talks about being a female working with a male team and coaching in a tough neighborhood.

COVER PHOTO: George Mason Athletics/rafael suanes

On the cover: George Mason University Head Men’s Coach Jim Larranaga looks on as Darryl Monroe makes a play during a game against Ohio University.

Larranaga teaches his players to model ethical behavior. Story begins on page 18.

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COVER STORY

Do The Right Thing

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Coaching the X’s and O’s may come easily to you, but how about teaching ethics? The keys come from within.

Strength & Conditioning

Panther Power

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Known for its toughness, the University of Pittsburgh men’s team benefits from a strength program built around “training blocks” with specific goals and a plan for how to achieve them.

Coaching Life

Father Knows Best

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Coaching your son or daughter can be a rewarding experience, as long as both of you are prepared for the unique challenges your relationship may face.

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Basketball Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Coaching Aids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Strength Training & Cardio . . . . . . . . . . 44

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Team Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 More Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Continued On: the Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Publisher Mark Goldberg Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel Associate Editors Dennis Read, Greg Scholand Assistant Editors R.J. Anderson, Kenny Berkowitz, Abigail Funk, Kyle Garratt, Mike Phelps

Marketing Director Sheryl Shaffer Marketing/Sales Assistant Danielle Catalano Business Manager Pennie Small Art Director Pamela Crawford Administrative Assistant Sharon Barbell Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter

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The Coaching Management Basketball edition is pub­ lished in July and March by MAG, Inc. and is distributed free to college and high school coaches in the United States and Canada. Copyright © 2009

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Changes Loom For College Game While the new three-point line distance for men’s college basketball attracted much fan and media attention throughout the 2008-09 season, upcoming changes to rules governing the college game off the court may have a much greater impact. From expanded recruiting rules to proposals that hold coaches more accountable for their players’ academic success, the NCAA has been busy trying to address some of the larger issues facing the sport.

enrolled. The Basketball Academic Enhancement Group has been studying reasons why Academic Progress Rates (APR) for Division I men’s basketball tend to lag behind other sports and is developing ideas to improve academic performance. The group has targeted the off-season as a key opportunity to help play-

lege players are academically prepared if they transfer to four-year schools, and ways to reduce the hit taken by schools when student-athletes transfer out while in good academic standing. Changes in the structure of college basketball are being examined as well, with a one-game reduction to the playing sea-

The Board of Directors is also putting together another database with more extensive information on head coaches, including more detailed academic, recruiting, and infractions information. That detailed data would be accessible only through a passwordprotected Web site that university administrators would then use to assist with hiring decisions.

The most eye-catching change was the approval of a proposal by the NCAA Division I Legislative Council that now applies the rules governing prospective student-athletes to seventh and eighth graders. The emergency legislation, which was passed at the NCAA Convention in January, limits the amount of contact these younger players can have with college coaches, be it at clinics and camps, or through e-mails, letters, and phone calls.

Before, athletes were only subject to recruiting restrictions once they entered ninth grade. But with the increased number of athletes making unofficial college commitments as early as eighth grade, some people felt the younger athletes needed the same protections offered to older players.

The NCAA is also looking for ways to help basketball players improve their academic performance once they’re

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Mount Vernon Saves Seasons

Villanova University recently received an NCAA public recognition award for its multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR).

Next year, coaches like Villanova’s Jay Wright could be part of an online database that records APRs for every team they’ve coached. ers academically and suggested increasing coaches’ ability to meet and work with athletes during the spring and summer as well as possibly requiring that athletes deemed to be academically at risk take classes during summer sessions.

The group is examining ways to make sure junior col-

son earning the group’s support. The group is expected to make its final report before the end of the academic year.

Any proposed legislation would likely be considered during the 2009-10 school year.

While most of the academic focus has been placed on the players, the Division I Board of

The Mount Vernon (N.Y.) High School boys’ basketball team has won eight New York State Public High School Athletic Association titles and raised 25 Section I banners in the past 41 years. The Knights’ girls’ team earned a state championship in 1981 and has experienced a rebirth of late, appearing in three of the past five sectional chamionship games. But this season, both teams were fortunate just to take the court.

After voters in this New York City suburb defeated two proposed school budgets last spring, the athletic program was cut in order to meet the mandated austerity budget.

The community responded with a massive fundraising campaign and outpouring of support that allowed all of Mount Vernon’s fall and winter season teams, including both varsity and j.v. basketball teams, as well as the boys’ freshman squad, to remain intact.

AP PHOTO/TOM MIHALEK

“For the good of the sport of men’s basketball, this was something that needed to be implemented,” says Joe D’Antonio, Associate Commissioner of the Big East Conference and Chair of the Division I Legislative Council. “It’s scary. The fact that we’ve gotten to this point is really just a sign of the times.”

Directors voted at the NCAA Convention in January to begin publishing APR scores specific to each Division I head coach. The NCAA will compile a database—available to the public—that will list the coach’s name and his or her team’s APR score for every year he or she has served as a head coach. The site may be up and running as early as summer 2010.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD used, including a dinnerdance, banquet, and concert.

Athletes also participated in a boot drive, during which they went into the community to solicit donations, collecting $19,000 in just one day. Various community organizations also helped out—the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon contributed $2,500 and the Hispanic Women Leaders gave $1,000.

Even Bob Huggins, Head Men’s Coach at West Virginia University, got in on the act, visiting Mount Vernon to host a free coaching clinic with the hope of attracting attention— and donations—to the school’s programs. Former Knights star Kevin Jones is a freshman at West Virginia this year.

Sherrod Wright of Mount Vernon (N.Y.) High School drives to the hoop in a game against White Plains (N.Y.) High School in February.

Thanks to creative fundraising efforts and generous donors, Mount Vernon was able to save its winter sports sesaons.

To get the job done, fundraisers reached out to some of the city’s well known former residents, including actor Denzel Washington and Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon.

Washington made a $100,000 donation, and Gordon contributed $15,000 plus proceeds from a celebrity bowling event

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But the fundraising project didn’t rely solely on wealthy donors. The mayor of Mount Vernon oversaw a drive to find 5,000 people willing to donate $100 each, and the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams each held preseason banquets to raise money.

The support extended well beyond Mount Vernon’s city limits. One of its rivals, New Rochelle (N.Y.) High School, donated money from its football concession sales, and nearby Mahopac (N.Y.) High School made a similar donation. A newlywed Mamaroneck, N.Y., couple requested that their wedding guests make donations to Mount Vernon’s cause in lieu of giving gifts, and Bronxville filmmaker Jeff Cooney donated $25,000 to the athletic department and helped create a 60-second public service announcement that was posted on YouTube and emailed to potential donors.

Other fundraisers that could be implemented quickly were

So far, over $750,000 has been raised in the campaign

he hosted. The school also received an anonymous donation of $200,000, and another $205,000 was collected at a cocktail party hosted by a Bronxville, N.Y., resident.

Beyond this school year, though, the athletic program remains in limbo as there is no guarantee the 2009-10 school budget will pass. “I don’t think we would have the ability to do this type of fundraising campaign again,” Moore says. “If we run into this difficulty next year and our school budget doesn’t pass, it will be quite detrimental to our programs.”

When the budget was originally voted down this year, a contingency plan that would have led to the district decreasing the number of sports offered was briefly discussed. Moore says that scenario could come into play again next year and it’s also possible that freshmen and j.v. teams could find themselves on the chopping block.

Still, she’s trying not to worry about those scenarios. Not yet, at least. “I try to take it one year at a time,” Moore says. “We’re really going to have to hold our board of trustees accountable to what we need to do from a financial standpoint. Hopefully they can look at the budget in 2009-10 and not make such a drastic decision.”

Bryant University Hits The Big Time When Tim O’Shea held a press conference last June to announce he was leaving Ohio University to become the Head Men’s Coach at Bryant University, a school mak-

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To view filmmaker Jeff Cooney’s 60-second PSA on Mount Vernon athletics, visit: YouTube.com and search “Save Our Sports.”

“We’re very thankful for the large benefactors, because without them we couldn’t have saved our sports,” says Head Girls’ Coach Patrice Moore, who was a senior on Mount Vernon’s 1981 state title team. “But we also don’t want to lose sight of the people who gave smaller donations that might have been big for them. There are a lot of people out there who really believe in what sports can do for a community.”

since last spring. “Mount Vernon has such a rich basketball history and tradition,” Moore says. “I knew when we put the word out there that we needed support for our sports programs, in particular the basketball programs, we would be able to raise the money to save our seasons. It says a lot about the neighboring communities that nobody wanted to see us lose sports.”

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD ing the transition from NCAA Division II to Division I, a Columbus Dispatch reporter told O’Shea he had never heard of Bryant. The school is located in the small town of Smithfield, R.I., and has just over 3,300 undergraduate students, so it is no wonder the reporter wasn’t familiar with it.

The comment, however, represented the reason why Bryant wanted to make the change.

“I told the reporter that its national anonymity is exactly why Bryant is making the transition to Division I,” says O’Shea, who spent the last seven years as Head Coach at Ohio, and 13 years before that as an assistant coach at the University of Rhode Island and Boston College. “It’s a way for Bryant to stand out, and differentiate itself from other schools.

“My number one objective this season was to establish a Division I identity for the program,” O’Shea adds. “Branding the school as a Division I program and building the infrastructure that they might not have had as a Division II school includes changing academic support, fundraising, traveling, scheduling, recruiting, and all the other little things that you might not even think about.”

After signing an eight-year contract, O’Shea went to work putting together his staff and roster. “Most coaches’ contracts are for four or five years,” he says. “But we agreed that eight years would be a more realistic time table—and I hope it goes beyond that. In that amount of time, I feel I can make better long-term decisions. For example, I can recruit a kid

next year who I feel should redshirt, and I’ll be comfortable doing that because I have enough time to allow him to grow and contribute to the program. A coach who feels pressed to win right away might only recruit from junior colleges and place less emphasis on player development. All the decisions I make are in the best interest for our program’s long-term future.”

During the early signing period, O’Shea inked four players and received a commitment from another who transferred from the University of Massachusetts who will be eligible next year. He secured these commitments even though the team will not be eligible for postseason play until the 2012-13 season.

Despite not being able to compete for a postseason

championship for the next few years, O’Shea says there is a lot of meat on the bone as far as what he can offer recruits. “We provide a full scholarship at a great academic school, the opportunity to play right away, and we play a very good schedule,” he says.

“We’re playing 29 Division I teams this year and we’ll do the same next year.”

Bryant’s returning players have helped smooth the transition.

“I inherited competitive kids who really embraced this challenge,” says O’Shea. “Every one of them would have jumped at the opportunity to play at a Division I school if that had been an option for them coming out of high school, and now they’re getting that chance. It’s been my responsibility to emphasize the historic nature of this move and define their role in that.”

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“There is strong institutional commitment here—we have a lot of stability from both the athletic director and the president,” says O’Shea. “The value we’re creating for the university and this program is incredibly important. This opportunity really has energized me. The pressure on me right now is not necessarily to win games, but to build a solid program with long-term potential, and that’s an exciting challenge.”

Taking A Stand On Bad Behavior After years of too many player and coach ejections and increasing displays of poor sportsmanship, the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) decided it had to do something to curb the negative trend. Starting this school year, it began requiring that every high school athlete in the state complete a sportsmanship program called STAR, which stands for Stop, Think, Act, and Replay.

AP PHOTO/ELISE AMENDOLA

Bryant University Head Men’s Coach Tim O’Shea talks with his players during a game against Boston College. O’Shea is guiding Bryant as the school makes the jump from NCAA Division II to Division I. When a team makes the jump to Division I, there is a huge step up in competition, and for Bryant that was certainly the case. In just their fourth Division I game, the Bulldogs took on the University of Connecticut, which was ranked second in the country at the time. The team also traveled to the University of Iowa, Rutgers University, the University of Maryland, and Boston College before beginning play against future Northeast Conference foes.

“I knew this first year would be difficult in terms of wins and losses,” says O’Shea.

“But a lot of things took place behind the scenes that helped create the foundation for our future success at the D-I level and have nothing to do with wins and losses. The hardest part was dealing with the losses, but we got our first D-I win early on, which was a big deal.”

O’Shea says his main on-court goal is to make the NCAA Tournament during his tenure.

By getting on the same page as his players and administration early on, O’Shea believes he has built the infrastructure that will result in an invitation to the Big Dance.

“We just had too many ejections,” says Steve Savarese, Executive Director of the AHSAA. “Looking at some of the language and the mannerisms our kids were using, we finally said enough is enough.

Winning is important, but how our players play the game is the most important factor, so we’re using the STAR program to put a statewide emphasis on good sportsmanship.”

The STAR program engages student-athletes using a Webbased interface with role-playing activities and a quiz game with questions that cover areas like teamwork, respect, and attitude, as well as a section on steroid education and prevention. The entire program can be completed by a studentathlete from any computer with Internet access in less than an hour.

STAR is not a pass/fail test—as long as an athlete completes

all the materials, they are eligible to play. The program’s developers recommend that athletes complete it over the course of two to four weeks instead of in one sitting. Pricing is customized, based on the size of the school and number of athletes participating.

The AHSAA is one of about a dozen states, along with a few college conferences, that have made the program materials available to coaches and athletes. This school year, the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) joined the AHSAA in requiring that all of its student-athletes complete the program in order to become eligible.

“The program is great, and it’s needed,” says Bruce Robinson, Head Boys’ Coach at Clinton (Miss.) High School. “As coaches, we teach our players how to play the game, but sometimes we leave out the sportsmanship part. This program gives coaches a tool to teach sportsmanship to our kids in a new and different way.”

There are 10 versions of the STAR program starting in elementary school and continuing through grades 11 and 12. For high schoolers, there is also a “remediation” version to be completed after an ejection from a game. Before ejected players are allowed to return to competition, the AHSAA and MHSAA require that they complete the remediation program, which asks athletes questions to determine their “Sportsmanship I.Q.” There are also versions for officials, parents, and coaches. In addition to mandating that its student-athletes complete the STAR program to participate, the MHSAA requires head coaches to take the coachspecific course. The AHSAA plans to do the same for the 2009-10 school year.

The coaches’ course consists of about 30 minutes of online

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD material, including how to spot a steroid user, how to interact with parents, and how to set a good example for players. It comes with printable materials coaches can hand out at player and parent meetings.

This year, Mississippi High School Activities Association student-athletes are required to complete an online sportsmanship program to become eligible. Players from Clinton (Miss.) High School (in white) have benefitted from the program.

So far, the STAR program has been a success. Though the numbers for basketball are not yet available, football saw drastic improvements. Compared to the fall of 2007, the MHSAA reported a 44-percent reduction in the number of football players ejected from games in the fall of 2008, and a 50-percent reduction in the number of football coaches ejected. And the AHSAA saw football ejections decrease by 55 percent over a three-year period.

Part of the reason for the STAR program’s success may

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be its convenience factor.

“With the program online, kids, parents, and officials can complete it at home, or the kids can do it in a school computer lab,” Savarese says.

“Athletic directors distribute one login code to coaches and players and that’s it.”

“In this day and age, sportsmanship is not something coaches should neglect to work on with their players and on our own,” Robinson says. “This program puts a different light on the topic, and provides a new perspective that has stuck with us.”

New Tools Open Up Recruiting Billy Carson’s online basketball experience began in 2006 when he posted a highlight reel on YouTube of his

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD daughter April sinking seven three-pointers in a game for Tequesta Trace Middle School in Weston, Fla. In his original plan, the reel was supposed to be a keepsake for family and friends, but as response grew, he and April uploaded more videos to YouTube, constructed a Web site, and started emailing letters and video links to college coaches.

Now 15 years old and a sophomore at Nova High School in Davie, Fla., it’s still too early for April Carson to start applying to college. But that hasn’t stopped the guard/forward and her father from creating a presence on Internet recruiting sites in hopes of improving her chances of getting noticed by college coaches.

In the last two years, Carson’s videos have been viewed more than 50,000 times. Starting as a virtual unknown, she’s

generated chatter about her skills on sites like BeRecruited. com, Hoopgurlz.com, InsideHoops.com, PrepChamps.com, Takkle.com, Technorati.com, and Weplay.com. Along the way, she’s caught the eye of

aggressive in going after the colleges they’re really interested in,” he says. “They can’t just market themselves to UConn and Tennessee. They need to give themselves a wide range of choices, and

II institutions. He isn’t paid for his marketing help, but designs a Web site for each prospect, updates statistics after each game, keeps track of their grades, and handles the initial contact with college

After the success of his daughter’s video postings, Carson put together recruiting packages for three other girls on the Lady Jaguars, all of whom received basketball scholarships to NCAA Division II institutions.

48 collegiate basketball programs, including Baylor University, Clemson University, Princeton University, and Yale University.

As the owner of the South Florida Lady Jaguars travel team and a volunteer assistant coach at Nova, Billy Carson is well-versed in the recruiting process. “Girls have to be

they need to go where they fit in. If they don’t, they won’t be able to fully enjoy the college experience.”

After the success of his daughter’s video postings, Carson put together recruiting packages for three other girls on the Lady Jaguars, all of whom received basketball scholarships to NCAA Division

coaches. The players’ parents are in charge of providing game videos to Carson, and the girls themselves are responsible for focusing on their academics, learning to manage their time, and maintaining a steady e-mail correspondence with each school.

Over the past two years, Carson’s initial conversations have

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD opened up a network of college coaches who look to him for input when scouting high school players in South Florida. “The process definitely works, and honesty is key,” he says. “Coaches need to be realistic with their players and not let them think they’re Division I players if they’re not.

Don’t let them think they can hype themselves by giving out false information, because if they’re making things up, recruiters will find out.

“And let players know that when college coaches call, you’re going to give an honest assessment of their skills,” he adds. “The Internet is a great tool if you use it the right way.”

April Carson of Nova High School in Davie, Fla., holds the trophy her team won at the Junior Orange Bowl Classic last December. Carson’s innovative Web site, as well as game footage she’s posted on YouTube, has helped put her on the collegiate radar.

To view April Carson’s Web site, go to: www.aprilcarson.com.

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Q&A

Ruth Lovelace

Boys and Girls High School, Brooklyn, N.Y.

In 1994, Ruth Lovelace was a 24-yearold physical education teacher at Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., when the school’s principal asked her to help sort through resumes for the head boys’ coaching vacancy. A standout player at Boys and Girls and Seton Hall University, Lovelace shared her opinions about the candidates and thought that was the end of it. But to her surprise, Lovelace, who had no previous coaching experience, was offered the job.

In her first season, Lovelace led the Kangaroos to an 18-5 record and a berth in the New York City Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) playoffs. She hasn’t missed the playoffs in 14 years since then, and over the last two seasons, her teams have been tantalizingly close to winning a PSAL title, both times losing the championship game to rival Abraham Lincoln High School.

Lovelace holds a master’s degree in sport management from Brooklyn College and another in administration and supervision from the College of New Rochelle. In 2007, she was named Brooklyn Sportsperson of the Year by the New York Daily News, and her 2007-08 team was featured in the ESPN documentary A Woman Among Boys, which premiered last December.

In this interview, Lovelace shares her thoughts on the dynamics of coaching a boys’ team and what it’s like being the subject of a documentary. She also discusses the rewards and challenges that come with coaching in one of Brooklyn’s toughest neighborhoods.

CM: What did you tell your players after the PSAL championship game losses?

Lovelace: I told them that maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. In basketball you need talent, chemistry, and a little bit of luck. Both years, for whatever reason, something was missing. The first time, we were close going into the second half, but we just didn’t execute down the stretch. The second time, we were shellshocked being in Madison Square Garden. I don’t want to make excuses, but we just didn’t do the things we needed to in order to win.

any level of coaching. Once you demand and get kids’ respect, you can get them to do anything. At the first practice in my first season, players weren’t going as hard as they could, so I made them run for the rest of practice. That got their attention, and from that day on, my players have known they have to do things my way.

What were your thoughts when you were offered the job at Boys and Girls?

I really didn’t know what to think, but having played big-time college basketball, I was confident I knew the game well enough to be successful. There aren’t many females who coach boys’ basketball, so I guess a lot of people questioned whether I could do the job. I was young and felt like I had something to prove back then. But we’ve won so many games since I started, I don’t face those questions anymore.

What are you most proud of?

That my players go on to college. We’ve never done the stats, but out of all the public schools in New York City, we probably send the most kids to play at the next level, and that’s what it’s all about.

If you don’t get it done academically,

Did you initially want the job?

Not at all. To be honest, if I had wanted to coach, I probably would have taken a girls’ basketball coaching job. But the principal had watched me play in high school and college, and I had been teaching here for a year, and I guess he liked how I interacted with kids when I was showing them little things on the court during physical education classes. Having me provide feedback on the resumes was his way of doing an interview without me knowing it.

How did you gain the respect of the boys on your team?

I demanded it. That’s the biggest thing you have to do at Samuel Lamount of Boys and Girls High School shoots over two opponents from John F. Kennedy High School during a game last season.

16

CoachingManagementOnline.com

Did you ever doubt whether you were cut out for this?

I never questioned myself. When you’re winning, those doubts usually go away.

I was doing everything I could for these kids so I never worried.

you don’t play. My players have to go to study hall every day before practice. They have mandatory SAT prep classes two nights a week from 6-9 p.m., so they have long days. To me, that stuff is even more important than winning.

Do you get annoyed by people repeatedly asking you about coaching boys?

I do. There are a bunch of men coaching female teams, so what’s the difference?

A jump shot is a jump shot whether it’s a boy or a girl who takes it. I understand why people ask, but at the same time, for people who understand basketball, there shouldn’t be a big perceived difference between coaching males and females.

What advice do you have for other females about coaching boys’ teams?

Believe in your coaching ability and don’t listen to people who say you can’t be an inspiration to young men just because you’re a woman. I’m proving that you can do that, especially at this level. If that’s what you want to do, then go for it.

What is your coaching philosophy?

I try to be prepared and always have my kids’ best interests in mind. I want them to get better each day in practice. I try to keep things as simple as possible and practice with a purpose. Every team is different, so I always re-evaluate to see if there is something I need to do differently based on the style of play that best suits the team.

Off the court, I know that it’s not always all about basketball. We get all this attention because we do well on the court, but I also want kids to do well academically.

RICHIE MALDONADO

What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned as a coach?

Not to let outside people get involved with players. When we’re winning, a lot of middlemen, like street agents, try to get in my kids’ ears. I try to safeguard my kids. Everything has to go through me because outsiders aren’t always thinking of the kids’ best interests. I have learned to deal with those unsavory elements in our game and keep those people away.

Why did you choose to pursue a second master’s degree?

Partly to better myself, but also to show my kids how important education is. It’s a very important tool and something that can never be taken away from you.

How do you balance teaching, coaching, and going to school?

I really don’t have a life and I tell my kids that all the time. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. For me, it’s about these

kids and making a difference in their lives.

Every time I’m tired, I think about the kids I’m working with and it motivates me to keep going.

What are the biggest challenges of coaching at a public school in Brooklyn?

Trying to mold these guys into productive young men. I want them to be good citizens and good fathers once they’re done with the game. We want them to have opportunities so that once they graduate, they never have to come back—or if they do come back, it’s by choice.

This is a tough area. Kids have to deal with a lot of issues in their homes and in

were times when it was difficult because they were there every time I turned around.

It was very time consuming, but if I had the choice to do it again, I would. There are great things going on at Boys and Girls and in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community, and people need to see that. I also hope every female who feels she can’t do something sees the documentary and becomes inspired by it. I want little girls to say, “Dad, I want to be like Coach Love.”

How did you prepare your players for the filmmaking experience?

I told them, “Remember, you’re not just doing it for yourself. You’re doing it for

“This is a tough area. Kids have to deal with a lot of issues in their homes and in their peer groups.

There are a lot of distractions, so getting them to focus, learn how to win, and do well academically are my biggest challenges.”

their peer groups. There are a lot of distractions, so getting them to focus, learn how to win, and do well academically are my biggest challenges.

But doing so is also my trophy and the thing that keeps me going. I love it when a former player comes back with a college degree and says, ‘Coach, let me get your address so I can send you an invitation to my wedding,’ or when they have good jobs and call to talk about what they do professionally. The reward is knowing that you made a difference in a young man’s life. That’s why I’m tough on them when they’re here—it helps mold them into that final product.

What’s the key to getting them on the right track?

Basketball. They love the game so much that they will do anything to play. Recently, a parent told me a story about how she was having a difficult time getting her son to do something around the house.

The parent said, “You’ll do it in a minute if Coach Lovelace tells you to do it. I’m calling Coach Lovelace right now and asking her to hold you out of basketball.”

The kid quickly told his mom, “Don’t call her, I’m doing it right now.”

What was it like having a film crew follow you?

As a whole, it was great for the program, the school, and the community, but there

the entire school and other kids like you.

I don’t want you to be phony. If you have a real life problem, there might be a kid in a similar situation who thinks they can’t get through it, and by seeing your story they’ll know there is hope.”

What are your professional goals?

I’m always asked if I’m going to leave for another job, but as a person of faith, I always say that decision is in God’s hands.

But I do have to entertain offers that come through and I know that one day I may have to seize one of them because I’m not sure how long these opportunities will come knocking. I try not to focus on it during the season, but at the end of each year I re-evaluate my situation.

For the last several years, something inside me has said, “No, don’t go. Don’t entertain other job offers yet.” Right now, the kids on this level need me more and appreciate me more. If it’s meant for me to move on some day, then I will. But until that day, I’m here to stay.

Free E-mail Newsletter To sign up for Tools of the Trade, our weekly e-newsletter offering news items relevant to coaches and athletic administrators nationwide, go to: lists.MomentumMedia.com.

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COVER STORY

George Mason University Head Men’s Coach Jim Larranaga looks on as Darryl Monroe makes a play during a game against Ohio University in November. Larranaga believes in modeling ethical behavior and teaches his players to do the same.

DTHEO

RIGHT THING

RAFAEL SUANES/GEORGE MASON ATHLETICS

Coaching the X’s and O’s may come easily to you, but how about teaching ethics?

The keys come from within.

Put yourself in Jim Larranaga’s shoes toward the end of the 2006 season. As Head Men’s Coach at George Mason University, you’re standing on the court at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., cutting down the nets after defeating the University of Connecticut in the NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament regional finals to become only the second 11-seed to ever reach the Final Four.

Now turn back the calendar a few weeks to the Colonial Athletic Association tournament semifinals where your team is locked in a tight battle with rival Hofstra University. Your point guard, Tony Skinn, also one of the team’s leading scorers, punches Hofstra guard Loren Stokes in the groin, knocking him to the floor. The referees don’t see it, no foul is called, and the incident isn’t caught by any television cameras. How would you have reacted?

Here’s what Larranaga did: He asked Skinn what happened, and his player admitted to punching Stokes. With no foul called, Larranaga was left with an ethical dilemma: sit one of his best players in a game that could decide if the team makes it to the NCAA Tournament, or let him play. No foul, no harm, right? Not quite.

BY MIKE PHELPS

Mike Phelps is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: mp@MomentumMedia.com.

CoachingManagementOnline.com

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COVER STORY

Skinn sat, George Mason lost, and Larranaga decided to suspend his star for the next game. “What Tony did was totally inappropriate and inconsistent with our philosophy of behaving in a first-class manner,” Larranaga says. “Players have to behave properly on and off the court, and Tony didn’t. I love to win, but it’s not nearly as important as my reputation. If I didn’t discipline Tony, I would have been condoning that type of behavior.”

Despite the loss, the Patriots did end up earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. After sitting out the team’s first-round upset of Michigan State University, Skinn returned to hit three free throws and tally a steal in the final 13 seconds to clinch the team’s secondround victory over the University of North Carolina. Skinn and his teammates also learned a huge lesson in the process.

“It’s important that coaches be consistent,” Larranaga says. “I didn’t want to send mixed messages to my team that if this was a regular season game I would have suspended Tony, but since it was a postseason game I wouldn’t because we might lose. For me, ethics is the single most important thing. You only have one reputation, and once it’s damaged, it’s hard to fix.”

Every coach will face numerous ethical challenges and difficult decisions over the course of his or her career.

Some choices have clear black and white options, but others contain gray areas.

Whether you’re dealing with specific rules, recruiting, game management, or anything in between, it’s important to develop a strong moral compass and stay committed to plotting an ethical course.

Guiding Lights A lot of coaches talk about ethics. But unless you develop and actively promote checks and balances for your messages, tough talk becomes nothing more than lip service.

Jan Boxill, Director of the Parr Center for Ethics at North Carolina and former Head Women’s Coach at the University of Tampa, feels that coaches must have the moral courage to move against the grain, even when their colleagues are looking for ways to bend rules and gain a competitive advantage. To make the right choices, Boxill says, sometimes it’s easier to enlist the help of others.

As a coach, she often used her family as a sounding board, and does so even now, as Academic Advisor to the Tar Heels’ women’s team. “My family is my anchor,” Boxill says. “Coaches are

A CULTUR E OF ETH ICS

20

Michael Josephson, Founder and President of the Josephson Institute of Ethics in Los Angeles, sees two types of coaches in today’s basketball landscape. The first type only thinks about winning games and will only act to get to that goal.

The second type, which Josephson dubs the teacher-coach, understands that the impact they have on the young men and women they coach will be lifelong, and encompass more than just basketball.

it’s how we’re judged in public, but if a coach at any level can put their head on the pillow and feel they helped somebody that day, then they’ve had a valuable day.”

Josephson would prefer to see more of the latter, and Mike Rhoades, Head Men’s Coach at RandolphMacon College, agrees. “Coaches should be showing kids what the right way is,” says Rhoades.

“You have to teach them everything from how to shake hands and speak to adults, to how to work with teammates and handle adversity and success.

Coaches lead by example. I hope my players see the way I conduct myself as a father, a husband, and a coach, and that some day it helps them when they’re the leader of a group.”

In reality, not every decision by every coach passes that test. Even if surrounding coaches engage in practices that bend or break the rules, it’s important for ethically aware coaches to stay on the straight and narrow path. “I sometimes feel like other people might be getting an edge, but no matter what, you have to do it by the book,” Rhoades says. “If I’m trying to teach kids the right way, I have to follow my own example. If you cheat once, you’ll probably end up doing it 100 more times and that becomes who you are.”

Phil Martelli, Head Men’s Coach at Saint Joseph’s University, feels the words “teacher” and “coach” are interchangeable. He is a teacher of the game, just as a college math professor could be termed a math coach. “I think wins and losses are such an overrated part of the job,” Martelli says. “I know

Most coaches agree, however, that if an infraction occurs or a rule is broken, the best approach is to just be up front and honest. “I tell our guys all the time, if you mess up, you fess up,” Rhoades says.

“You handle it like an adult and that’s how you fix the situation.”

CoachingManagementOnline.com

Martelli also believes this attitude should apply on a more global stage. “Yes, you’re responsible for pursuing excellence in your program, but you also have a responsibility for the greater good of the game,” he says. “Every decision has to pass a field test where the coach can look back at a choice and say, ‘Yeah, that served the greater good.’”

COVER STORY

“I ask myself, ‘How would this decision I’m about to make impact my family, or how would it affect others’ views of me?’ ... constantly tested, and need someone to bounce ideas off of. I always get objective viewpoints from my family because they’re good at giving them.”

But not every coach has the luxury of objective family members to turn to for advice. Michael Josephson, Founder and President of the Josephson Institute of Ethics in Los Angeles, has developed programs to help coaches build character and moral strength.

“Look for other people who are not caught up in the same cycle of pressure that coaches usually find themselves in,” Josephson says. “You need somebody who will step back and say, ‘Wait, what are you doing? Is it really worth it?’ If making

the right decision causes you to lose a game, remember that it’s better to lose a game than your reputation.”

Often, that person is a former coach or player who has moved on from the program.

It could also be a respected colleague or administrator.

“Look back at the people who know you, and who you trust, but who have some distance from your situation,” Josephson says.

Before taking the reins at Cornell University, Head Men’s Coach Steve Donahue worked as an assistant at the University of Pennsylvania under Fran Dunphy, now the Head Coach at Temple University.

He also coached under current Lafayette College Head Coach Fran O’Hanlon at Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, Pa. Despite his own coaching experience and suc-

If I sense I’m going in a direction that’s not mentally, emotionally, or psychologically healthy, I try to imagine what my friends and family would expect of me.”

Circle No. 115

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cesses, Donahue says he still reaches out to Dunphy and O’Hanlon for help. “I have frequent conversations with both of them,” Donahue says. “It’s not always X’s and O’s—I’ll ask them how they would handle specific ethical situations.

I’ll also ask for feedback on how I handled certain problems.”

Many coaches already carry a respected voice in their head. “Think of the most ethical person you know and ask, ‘What would that person do?’” Josephson says. “Sometimes we just need to step back and develop an outside perspective.

Most know how to develop that internal

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COVER STORY

“A self conscious coach, one who establishes character development as an end product, is going to look for positive spontaneous responses ...

dialogue and it helps to start by asking yourself how that person would react.”

Phil Martelli, Head Men’s Coach at Saint Joseph’s University, asks the little voice in his head to paint the big picture. “I ask myself, ‘How would this decision I’m about to make impact my family, or how would it affect others’ views of me?’” he says. “If I sense I’m going in a direction that’s not mentally, emotionally, or psychologically healthy, I try to imagine what my friends and family would expect of me.”

University of Notre Dame Head Men’s Coach Mike Brey keeps a specific quote in mind: “Be the kind of coach you’d want your own son or daughter to play for.” Brey heard those words from Hall of Fame coach Morgan Wootten, whom he played under and coached with at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md. Brey says he used to make fun of the quote before he had children. But now it’s a very important part of his coaching philosophy. “Having kids of my own, I know exactly what he was talking about,” Brey says. “It’s a simple, corny line, but it’s something I’ve always held on to. It’s helped me make the right decisions and stay away from cutting corners.”

Pass It On Once you establish your ethical guidelines, the next step is to project those values onto your players. You can have the strongest moral code in the world, but it means nothing if your program isn’t in lockstep with those standards.

Go beyond

At George Mason, Larranaga relies on a simple three-word mantra: attitude, commitment, and class. “Those are the three most important qualities I feel a person needs to be successful,” he says. “I tell my assistants and players that everyone associated with the program needs to have a positive attitude with a total commitment to being the best they can possibly be. We always behave in a firstclass manner and with integrity.”

Josephson says there are essentially two ways a coach can impart ethics to his players—planned or spontaneous opportunities—and great coaches use both. Planned opportunities are choreographed situations when coaches tell stories, give quotations, and have character-building discussions during practice. Spontaneous opportunities, on the other hand, come from those heat-of-themoment decisions a coach must make during a game or practice.

One example of teaching planned events took place when Josephson worked with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). He developed a program of weekly 10-minute discussions that he invited coaches to have with

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COVER STORY

their athletes. The discussions were built around a quotation, and the coaches discussed the meaning with their players.

The Josephson Institute has another program, Pursuing Victory With Honor, which has also been adopted by the LAUSD. One private school in the Los Angeles area, St. Genevieve High School,

Those coaches are able to respond to each situation by asking, ‘What’s the lesson I want to teach and how do I best teach it?’”

allow the team to wear two jersey colors.

But when the second official arrived five minutes into the action, he immediately called the game to a halt.

“By rule, a technical foul should be assessed for every jersey that’s not the right color,” Yocum says. “And that referee felt strongly about it, so every time an opposing player came into the game with the wrong color jersey, he called a technical foul.”

St. Genevieve was immediately award-

has taken those four words to heart, using the motto “Pursuing Victory With Honor” to adorn its athletic department Web site.

St. Genevieve Head Boys’ Coach Doug Yocum embraced this way of thinking in his first year on the job, beginning each practice with a planned discussion about hard work or another related topic. “It really gets the players locked in and focused on what we’re trying to do,” Yocum says. “It helps everyone when we put the goals out there, even in a shortterm setting like a practice, so they understand why we’re working so hard.”

Planned discussions are productive, but Josephson says spontaneous opportunities actually offer more effective teaching avenues. He offers the classic example of whether or not to bench a player for inappropriate conduct.

“If you focus purely on the results of the game, you tend to make excuses and justifications for why it’s not a good time to do it and you end up playing the athlete,” Josephson says. “If, on the other hand, you are truly concerned with the character development of the athlete, you might decide that it’s a critical lesson because it has team consequences.”

For Yocum, a spontaneous teachable moment came last summer when he and his team arrived at an informal summer league game where their opponent, apparently unsure of whether it was the home or away team, arrived with a mix of white, black, and teal jerseys. Not wanting to make a big deal out of the situation, Yocum, the opposing coach, and the one referee present before tip-off all agreed to

Untitled-11 1

ed four free throws, but Yocum took a stand. He told his players not to make the shots and throw the ball off the backboard if necessary.

“We sent the message that we weren’t going to take free points for something we had all come to an agreement on earlier,” Yocum explains. “I think the other coach really appreciated the gesture. I wanted my guys to see that display of character and recognize that there’s always a proper way to address a situation.”

Circle No. 118 CoachingManagementOnline.com 8/1/07 25 4:16:04 PM

COVER STORY

“Know what you’re doing and how your actions are perceived by others. Coaches bear a great responsibility ...

This, Josephson says, is exactly what he teaches. “A self conscious coach, one who establishes character development as an end product, is going to look for positive spontaneous responses,” he says. “Those coaches are able to respond to each situation by asking, ‘What’s the lesson I want to teach and how do I best teach it?’”

Legal vs. Honorable It’s easy to choose the ethically sound path when there’s an obvious right and wrong, but few decisions are marked that clearly. When faced with these situations, Josephson presents a simple criteria for guiding decision making.

“The test should be what is honorable, not what is legal,” he says. “For instance,

you can pump a quarter of an inch of water onto the visitors’ locker room floor, but that’s not honorable. Or, you can turn the locker room heat up high, or put the band right behind the visitors’ bench—both are legal, but neither is ethical.

“Step back and look at the spirit of the decision,” Josephson continues. “Ask, ‘Am I acting in a way I would be proud to show my children, or I would want my children to emulate?’

You can give your team advantages with these types of tricks, but they’re often petty advantages that demean and lessen your character.

A truly great coach does not need to operate like that.”

When coaching his team, Yocum doesn’t teach the game’s “dirty tricks,” such as interior hand checks or grabbing an opponent’s shorts when boxing out for a rebound—things referees tend to miss. “I don’t teach that in practice,” he says. “If I see a player doing it and he tells me it’s a technique he saw in an NBA

Recognize that. Write it down if you have to. Hold those things as truths and let them guide everything you do.”

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game, I’ll respond that just because it’s done in the NBA, that doesn’t make it right, and it’s not a technique we use.”

Martelli realizes he wouldn’t be where he is in his career without winning games, but for him, winning the right way is more important than simply winning.

“Coaching strategy is one thing, but civility needs to be part of all that we do,” Martelli says. “Trying to put an opposing team’s poorest foul shooters on the line at the end of a game is good gamesmanship, but taunting or insulting your

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opponent is not, and it doesn’t respect the game.”

When Larranaga looks at a rule, he sees two things: the intent and the spirit of it. They might not always be the same, but it is a coach’s job to embrace both aspects. “Too many people look at a rule and immediately try to figure out how to get around it,” he says. “Then, of course, you end up with a lot more rules. The more rules you make, the more rules are broken, and the less true spirit there is.”

Larranaga says recent misinterpretations of the NCAA’s rule regarding preseason Midnight Madness events and offseason individual workout time exemplify his point. The original intent was to give coaches the opportunity to work with their players throughout the school year, then have a separate start date for official team practices. But, of course, there was a loophole.

“Some coaches then circumvented the rule and decided to use our individual work time to hold Midnight Madness a week early, which, as a byproduct, helps with recruiting,” Larranaga says. “That wasn’t illegal, and I’m not criticizing those coaches who held those events early, but all it did was create a new rule.

“There are a lot of rules like that and there are a lot of new, creative ideas to help in recruiting,” he continues. “But when coaches spend a lot of money hiring influential AAU and high school

cover story

coaches to come in and speak, bringing prospects in for elite camps, and finding ways around the idea that a young man can’t take an official visit until September of his senior year, it may be legal, but it violates the spirit of the rules and eventually leads to more rules.”

Worth Repeating Every coach has changed and adapted their views of the game’s ethics over time. If you had a chance to travel back in time and give advice to your younger self, what would you say?

“Stay true to yourself,” Martelli says.

“Don’t give in. There might be peer pressure, or other coaches your age getting ahead, and you might wonder why. As an assistant, there may be head coaches who will put you in tough predicaments that test your values, but stay true to yourself.

At the end of the day, your ethics will shine through.”

Boxill advises coaches to know their purpose. “Know what you’re doing and how your actions are perceived by others,” she says. “Coaches bear a great responsibility. Recognize that. Write it down if you have to. Hold those things as truths and let them guide everything you do.”

Josephson once posed an interesting scenario at a coaches clinic. He told the audience of 2,000: At the end of your career, you’re given a tribute. The people arranging the ceremony have two ideas about how to present your career, and they want your opinion.

The first option highlights the tremendous number of games you won in your career. The whole tribute would be based on some of your greatest victories, strategic choices, and innovative contributions to the game.

The second option would involve several former athletes whose lives you impacted. They would come up to the front of the room and speak about the difference you made in their lives, how you put them on the right track, and prepared them for the real world. Which would you rather have?

“How you answer that question is a great test of why you’re a coach,” Josephson says. “We need more coaches who want the tribute that says, ‘At the end of the day, I want to know I affected lives in a positive way. Sure, I want to win, but I also have standards as to how I go about it.’” n

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Circle No. 121

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

A well-planned strength program has helped turn University of Pittsburgh center DaJuan Blair into one of the Big East Conference’s strongest players.

PANTHER POWER

W

Known for its toughness,

AP PHOTO/Keith Srakocic

the University of Pittsburgh men’s team benefits from a strength program built around “training blocks” with specific goals and a plan for how to achieve them.

hen I arrived at the University of Pittsburgh in 2000, our men’s basketball program was going through a rough patch. The team had finished with a winning record only once in the previous seven seasons and hadn’t won an NCAA Division I Tournament game since 1991.

During my first four years on the job, our team rattled off three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances, and we have reached the Big East Conference championship game seven times in the past eight seasons—a record-setting streak.

By Tim Beltz

There are several reasons our program has experienced such a successful turnaround, and strength and conditioning is definitely one of them. We’ve put together a program that combines a team-wide training approach and individualized planning, with a focus on consistent progress and ensuring that all weaknesses are quickly identified and addressed. I don’t pretend that we’ve achieved perfection, but I believe we have developed a system that works.

Tim Beltz is the Strength & Conditioning Coordinator for men’s basketball at the University of Pittsburgh. He can be reached at: tbeltz@athletics.pitt.edu.

CoachingManagementOnline.com

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

Block By Block In preparing the strength and conditioning program for our basketball team, my philosophy is based on “block periodization.” The philosophy relies on several different exercises to train a specific function and pursue well-defined goals.

Block training starts with identifying team qualities, or “training traits,” and designing a program that enhances them through cycles of highly concentrated, specialized workloads. The basic blocks involve accumulation (developing basic abilities), transformation (developing specific abilities), and realization (precompetition training, maximum speed, and recovery).

and then move on to more difficult tasks and more advanced training. If we tried to simultaneously address too many aspects of training, the players could easily lose focus and feel I was putting them through workouts with no particular direction.

Another advantage of our philosophy is that it relies on the concept of linear teaching. Once you’ve developed a particular training trait or addressed a shortcoming, you can shift your focus to the next priority and simply use maintenance cycles to prevent backsliding.

For instance, if we focus on improving aerobic fitness in one training block, we can move on to a sport-specific skill or strength development regimen and incorporate moderate aerobic work into our training sessions.

The players see themselves adding new strengths, skills, and exercises to their repertoire and building on old blocks with new ones, so it makes team progress a very tangible and accessible concept.

Block periodization provides the framework around which we build our training year. Here is an outline of our typical calendar: n Summer: Four three-week blocks focusing on general physical preparation work. n Early fall: Two three-week blocks focusing on speed of movement and strength development. n Preseason (mid-October to midNovember): One four-week block focusing on restorative work and core training. n Non-conference season (midNovember to late December): Two threeweek blocks with training two days a week, focusing on strength. n Conference season (January to late February/early March): Three blocks of varying length with the focus determined by team performance and observed needs. n Tournament (March): No scheduled blocks. I try to arrange the best possible opportunities for our players to train at hotels and local gyms, but I also understand the demands of the travel, team commitments, and NCAA obligations, so I’m careful not to overwork the team at this time. n After the season: We like to give the players a week of complete down time and rest to begin the off-season. Then

During the season, our training blocks normally last for three to six lifting workouts over a two-, three-, or occasionally four-week span, depending on the focus and our travel schedule.

For example, let’s say I want our players to perform the speed squat to improve explosiveness, but I feel their spinal stability is insufficient or their technique is not sound enough to make speed squatting completely effective, and more importantly, completely safe. In our next block, we might utilize single-leg exercises in combination with explosive medicine ball throws until we have improved our movement mechanics and stability to the point where speed squatting is possible.

During the season, our training blocks normally last for three to six lifting workouts over a two-, three-, or occasionally four-week span, depending on the focus and our travel schedule. In the off-season, we schedule roughly 10 workouts over the course of a block.

I like to use small training blocks that hone in on one specific concept, skill, or area of strength. By focusing on concrete short-term goals in each block, such as speed strength, relative strength, or explosive strength, the athletes can master a skill or correct a weakness, feel a sense of accomplishment, 30

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we’ll start working with individuals while conducting four weeks of strength training, usually broken into two blocks. We’ll typically have six to seven training days in each block, and focus primarily on corrective exercises and bodybuilding. There’s a more relaxed atmosphere during these sessions, which allows the players to recover mentally after an intense season.

Thorough Evaluation One of the most important aspects of our strength program is the way we evaluate incoming athletes—freshmen and transfers alike—when they first arrive on campus. As they are introduced to college-level training, there are several ways we make sure they are physically ready for the rigors of Pitt basketball.

Our evaluation includes tests of their body weight bench press (for max reps), vertical jump, and vertical jump with drop step. This is followed by movement analysis. Movement screens have become a popular training tool in recent years, and I have devised my own screen that isolates what I feel are the most important movement skills for basketball players and reflects my understanding of the Functional Movement Screen. The results give me the information I need to tailor our strength program for each individual.

My movement screen consists of an overhead squat with a stick, ankle range of motion (ROM) tests, and having the athlete step off an 18-inch box and land in a squat position, holding the landing for eight seconds. As the players complete each movement, I first look for the ability to perform the exercise without discomfort. If they tell me something hurts or show signs of difficulty, I’ll refer them to our athletic training or medical staff for evaluation.

Here is a deeper look at what we evaluate during each movement: Overhead squat with stick. I’m less interested in seeing a perfect squat, and more concerned with two specific abilities. First, I observe whether the athlete can keep the stick’s position consistent while squatting. This shows how effectively the trapezius and latissimus dorsi support the arms when they’re extended over the head, a common position in basketball. It also reveals how the thoracic spine reacts when put into extension.

The second thing I look for is pelvic stability. The movement is a traditional

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

Olympic-style full squat, so I want to see if the athlete can maintain good pelvic position without an anterior shift as they pass 90 degrees of ROM. Pelvic stability during hip flexion is very important during the frequent short sprints required in high-level college basketball.

I’ve noticed that most basketball players cannot get into a good deep squat position with their feet flat on the ground, so I’ll often adjust their foot position during the screen by allowing slight plantar flexion.

Ankle ROM. This exercise is performed on a balance board. At first, the athlete is allowed to wear a running shoe, but once they’re comfortable on the board, they go barefoot. As they perform plantar flexion (downward), dorsiflexion (upward), and inward and outward movements with their ankles and feet, I look for any lack of mobility.

Ankle ROM on circle board. This helps identify individuals who have experienced ankle problems in the past and may have lost ROM as a result. Once again, we progress from wearing a running shoe to using the board while barefoot,

32

and the movements focus on proprioception. Players displaying ROM deficits are referred to our medical staff for further evaluation, and depending on the advice I receive, I may prescribe more balance board work on an individual basis.

Landing off an 18-inch box. The key thing I look for as the athlete steps off the box is the landing position of the feet and knees. I want to see the gluteus muscles firing, and any instability around the femur is easily visible with this movement. It also reveals how well the entire kinetic chain absorbs the impact of a two-footed landing.

Our evaluation process also includes a test that features the hyperextension isometric hold, 1/2 sit-up isometric hold, and side hover (plank) on the right and left. I want to see at least a three-minute hold for each position, and will limit spine loading exercises until the athlete can demonstrate adequate spinal endurance. I believe most lower back injuries can be prevented by developing endurance in the spine—specifically the musculature of the lower back and abdomen—so this has become an important

prerequisite in our strength program.

Summer Into Fall I feel our greatest conditioning and skill gains come from the summer program. During this time, we place special focus on getting new players up to speed after their evaluations.

Early on, we look to build aerobic endurance, add muscular strength, and reinforce proper technique for all exercises. The specific drills and exercises we use vary from year to year. The table “Day By Day” below shows a sample of a typical summer block, designed to teach the Olympic movements, improve body weight squat technique, and promote upper-body hypertrophy.

Each workout in the table would be preceded by a warmup like the one shown below. This is our movement prep/dynamic warmup and focuses on ROM development while also engaging abdominal muscles: n Myofascial warmup n Ankle ROM movements n Isometric lunge hold, 3 x 8 seconds (glute contraction)

day by day

DAY #1

DAY #2

Clean pulls

heavy

RDLs

This is a sample block that we might use during our summer training period to teach the

Olympic movements, improve

body weight squat technique,

and promote upper-body

hypertrophy.

Body weight squats

light

Bench press

heavy

Bench press

light

Squats

heavy

RDLs

heavy

One-arm DB rows

light

One-arm DB rows

heavy

Clean pulls w/stick

light

Side bicycles

3 x 15

Bent knee HE

3 x 15

Alternate lunges

3 x 8

Triceps

4 x 10 sec.

Strap pulleys

3 x 15

DB shrugs

3 x 15 sec.

DAY #3

DAY #4

DAY #5

Myofascial

One-arm DB rows

light

Clean pulls

heavy

Conditioning w/Karvonen

Squats

heavy

Squats

light

heart rate formula

40 min.

Clean pulls

light

RDLs

light

Incline squats

2 x 20

Bench press

light

One-arm DB rows

light

Swiss crunches

3 x 25

RDLs

heavy

Bench press

heavy

light

Accessory work

Accessory work

Strap pull chest

3 x 15

Ground pull-ups

x 25

Biceps

4 x 10

Golf ball pick-ups

3x8

Alternate lunges

2 x 12

DB shrugs

4 x 15 sec.

DB laterals

3 x 15

Triceps

4 x 15 sec.

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

Thomas test hip flexor stretch Leg swing (abduction, flexion, and extension) n Clock lunge at 2, 4, 8, and 10 o’clock, 2 x 3 n Elevated lateral lunge, 2 x 8 n ISO hyperextension, 3 x 35 seconds n 1/2 ISO Sit-up, 3 x 30 seconds n Side hover, 3 x 25 seconds.

A day’s workout from the cycle shown in the table is then performed, and we’ll typically stick with that cycle for the full length of a block, with an emphasis on technique and work capacity. The lightand heavy-day reps are based on the wellknown Prilepin chart of percentages and repetitions. We limit volume early in the cycle until the players can perform the exercises reliably with proper technique, then we transition toward strength as the main goal. Building muscle is important for some athletes, but our main objective is to improve each individual’s relative strength—not add bulk as a team.

In the second summer block, we’ll typically implement a familiar “topdown” approach to teaching the Olympic n n

lifts—so if we’re teaching the snatch, for example, we’ll start with the overhead squat and work our way toward the ground. We’ll also increase the quantity of posterior-chain exercises. By the third block, we expect to see increases in the McGill Big Three tests, and we put the athletes’ added strength to use with more unilateral lower-body exercises.

Once fall arrives, I add an extra dimension to our block scheme by individualizing athletes’ workout plans to address any weaknesses or movement deficits I observed over the summer.

Everyone follows a template broken into lower- and upper-body segments, and I split the athletes into groups based on the exercises they perform. These groups allow athletes to push one another, and allow those with similar weight management goals, such as fat loss, to work out together and support each other.

letic administration. Athletic Director Steve Pederson and Head Coach Jamie Dixon have made an unwavering commitment to developing our strength program by giving my colleagues and I the resources we need to help our athletes reach the next level.

In describing the Pitt basketball team’s training strategies, I’ve sometimes used the word “I,” but in reality, the credit for our team’s success is shared among many people. From the guidance provided by our sports medicine staff, led by Athletic Training Coordinator Tony Salesi, to the nutrition counseling and personalized recommendations provided by our Sports Dietician, Leslie Bonci, there are many professionals working hard so that our players can be successful on the court. I’m proud to say that the strength program is just one important piece of the puzzle. n

Many Pieces Our strength program’s success is a direct reflection of the support we receive from our sport coaches and ath-

A version of this article appeared in our sister publication, Training & Conditioning.

To read more articles from T&C, go to: www.Training-Conditioning.com.

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HOW TO

Circle No. 125

COACHING LIFE

Dave Lubick, Head Boys’ Coach at St. Mark’s High School in Southborough, Mass., watches his son Nate Lubick defend during a game last season.

I

t is the start of preseason and

101 tasks to be comOne of those early season hurdles, the parents meeting, is usually a no-brainer. You have always felt comfortable walking into a room full of your studentathletes’ parents and discussing your rules and philosophy.

But this year, the thought of the meeting is accompanied by some anxiety. One of the members of the current team is your son, and it’s a situation you’ve never faced before. A friend tells you there is talk that you have already decided your child will be the starting point guard. Another rumor is that your son and his friends are receiving preferential treatment in practice.

Coaching is a tough job. Unlike most professions, you work with young people under public scrutiny. Furthermore, people tend to measure success and failure only by what is on the scoreboard, not the teaching you do in practice.

Do you really want to add to the pressure by coaching your own child? there are pleted.

Richard Orr SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Larry Lauer, PhD, is Director of Coaching Education and Development at the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University, where one of his research interests is parents’ involvement with their children’s athletic teams. He can be reached at: lauerl@msu.edu.

Father knows best Coaching your son or daughter can be a rewarding experience, as long as both of you are prepared for the unique challenges your relationship may face.

BY dr. larry lauer CoachingManagementOnline.com

35

COACHING LIFE

Sharing a team experience with a son or daughter can be a wonderful, positive opportunity, but it can also be a disaster.

Before you embark on the endeavor, there are some areas to think through and decisions to be made.

their own child is not receiving playing time. Players on the bench may also begin to question why the coach’s son or daughter is playing, and most importantly, question the coach’s fairness.

Several years ago in Indiana, a basketball coach’s son was sitting on the bench Pros & Cons after having just broken a county scorVeteran high school and collegiate ing record, when a player on the court coach Jerry Reeder is a proponent passed the ball to the seated teammate. of coaching one’s own child. He has The gesture was meant to show the team’s coached his two sons, and encourages frustration with the coach, whom many other coaches to do the same. felt was making his son the sole focus of “It is an opportunity to share in their the team’s offense. The student section successes and failures, and it strengthens erupted in laughter and it turned out your bond with your child,” Reeder says. that parents were also involved in initiat“You can laugh and cry with them and ing the prank. Although those involved that is what makes a relationship stron- were disciplined by the school and the ger. It is a fantastic opportunity most athlete went on to play NCAA Division I parents don’t get to have.” ball, I’m sure the embarrassment of the player and coach have stayed with them and soured the team experience.

“You are not going home with The second concern comes the other athletes on the team from a reaction to perceived and living with them 24/7. The favoritism: being too hard on your child. Parent-coaches can situation can put pressure on be tougher on their kid because the child and strain the parentthey expect more, putting more child relationship.” pressure on the child. The frustration of the child is, “Why do you expect more of me than There are other benefits, too. A child anyone else?” can learn to understand and respect Coach Bill Stone at Fruitport (Mich.) the profession of the parent. And the High School, who coached his daughter parent can have new insight into his last season, struggled with this dilemma. or her child’s interactions with team- Because of his desire to seem fair, he felt mates, authority figures, and opponents. he was sometimes too tough.

Parent-coaches can observe, in the Coach Reeder also found himself trenches, their child’s reactions to los- being hard on his sons. His boys would ing, winning, and many other situations be the first to sit if the game was out of that reveal their character. It can also hand. He cautions that this can be dethelp parents form a less biased view of rimental to family life, creating tension their child’s abilities. between parent and child, and even On the flip side, coaching your son between spouses. or daughter can put you, your child, and This leads to the third concern, which the team in a precarious position. The is the inability of the adolescent to sepamost obvious concern is the almost auto- rate the parent’s coaching role from the matic reaction from others that your parenting role. At practice you may give child will receive favoritism—a starting your child negative feedback, thinking position and playing time without hav- what’s on the court stays on the court. In ing to compete for them. reality, it does not.

Reeder felt this was his greatest threat.

“You are not going home with the “You have to do your best to negate any other athletes on the team and living perceived favoritism,” he says. “If you with them 24/7,” Reeder warns. “The sitdon’t, it can divide a program.” uation can put pressure on the child and Rumors and second-guessing a coach strain the parent-child relationship.” come quickly when the coach’s child is in the starting lineup. It is often Is It Right For You? fueled by parents who are frustrated So how do you know if the positives 36

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will outweigh the negatives for you and your child? To start, take some time to think about why you want to coach a team with your child on it.

If the reason is to make sure your son or daughter reaches their potential and goes on to the next level, you may be heading down the wrong road. If it’s because you want to mend a difficult relationship you have with your child, that’s another misguided reason. However, if you have been coaching the team for a while, your relationship with your child is on solid ground, and you like the idea of sharing the team experience with him or her, you are off to a good start.

The next step is to think about how the situation will affect your son or daughter.

Talk openly to your child about the realities of coaching them, as well as the payoffs and pitfalls. And then, listen. Some children handle being coached by a parent better than others. It is your job to find out if your child is willing and able.

Sometimes, a parent is eagerly anticipating coaching their child on a varsity team, not realizing that the child is actually dreading it. Teenage years are ones of learning to be independent of your parents, and having a parent involved in your extracurricular activity can cause resentment. On top of that, the child may worry that he or she will be treated differently by friends on the team if mom or dad is coach.

In addition, discuss the situation with your spouse. Talk honestly about whether your child will be able to deal with the prospect of you being tough on them in practice. Consider these questions: n Knowing my child, how will he or she respond to me as a coach? n Will my child be able to separate my parent and coach roles? n How well will I be able to separate my roles as coach and parent? n Will it create strain within our family?

In Coach Reeder’s case, he knew his boys were willing to accept the higher expectations and the bench time. Coach Stone had witnessed a situation where a coach’s child was unwilling to separate the coach and parent roles and it turned into a nightmare—so he took a lot of time to think about how his daughter would react to certain decisions and conflicts.

Finally, assess how the parent-coach role will work for you. Think about what type of coach you are and whether that will create strain between you and your

COACHING LIFE

child. For example, are you overbearing as a coach? If you are, you likely will be too hard on your child.

Consider how the members of the team, and their parents, would respond to you coaching your own child. For example, is your child a borderline starter? If he or she is a star player, questions of favoritism are usually moot. However, if he or she is battling for a starting position or playing time, then you may face criticisms of being unfair. Will these be surmountable?

Keep in mind that a longtime coach with a history at a school will be given more leeway and respect that he or she is coaching the team, not just their child.

If you choose to coach a team just as your son or daughter joins it, parents will assume you place your child’s interests first and you will have to prove otherwise.

Laying The Groundwork For those brave of heart and willing to coach their child in interscholastic sport, you still should not jump into it headfirst. Instead, you need to prepare a

gameplan so that the situation does not negatively affect your relationship with your child and your team, or your child’s performance.

Reeder feels that laying out ground rules is particularly important. First, you have to know how you are going to deal with any team-related disciplinary issues with your child. In Reeder’s case, he had his assistants handle it to help keep the parent-coach roles separate.

The second ground rule Reeder communicated to his sons was that they must treat him like any other coach and not expect preferential treatment.

At this time, a coach may even want to talk about why he or she might be a little harder on the child and how that shouldn’t be taken personally, but as an attempt to make the team realize there is no favoritism.

Another area to navigate is how to best separate the parent and coach roles. For Reeder, it worked well for his sons to call him “Coach” while around the team.

“When we stepped on the practice field, I was Coach Reeder, not Dad,” he says.

“That’s how they would address and treat me.”

Although Coach Stone did not ask his daughter to call him “Coach,” he did make sure to continually separate the dual roles. Sometimes, he would even spell it out for her. For example, in game situations when emotions were a little higher, he would say, “I’m telling you as your coach, not as your dad.”

It’s also important for the coach to be ready to shift into the specific roles. When coaching, take a coaching mindset and treat your child like any other member of the team, always being realistic about their playing abilities. Reeder mentioned that he makes it a point to not single out any player, and he did the same with his boys. He attempted to praise the team effort to avoid perceptions of favoritism.

And when you are a parent, be a parent. Provide unconditional love and support away from the gym. Try not to bring things home that happened in practices and games. Refrain from turning dinner table conversation into coaching critiques. And talk about things other

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COACHING LIFE

than sport with your child.

Finally, consider communicating openly about the situation with your team. Reeder felt it was critical to talk to his players about the situation in the first meeting. Let your athletes know your expectations in terms of having respect for you and each other.

When meeting with parents, be clear about how you will determine playing time and starting positions. Also, clarify that assistants have a role in making these decisions and will help to keep it fair. Finally, reinforce the fact that the athletic director will be monitoring the situation to make sure it is handled well.

In-Season Assessment Having ground rules in place will set you on the right course for this endeavor, but you will also need to assess the situation throughout the season.

While coaching, it is important that you become very observant of your behaviors and of your child’s reactions. Is your child feeling pressure? Do problems at

practices or games come home? Are your conversations dominated by sport?

Is the team becoming divided or isolating your child? Is your child not talking to you or always arguing with you?

It’s a great idea to ask a trusted assistant to observe you coaching to see if you are playing favorites, or are being too tough on your child. Sometimes when you are in the middle of coaching it is hard to be self-aware.

If any problems arise, it is time to have a heart-to-heart with your child. Revisit the discussions you had before you made the decision to coach your child so you can both think through your actions.

Talk about how you both might do a better job of separating the coach and parent roles.

If rumors surface that you are playing favorites, it is important to address this head on, even though it will be uncomfortable. Talk to trusted parents about what the concerns are and if they are related to any particular coaching decisions. Then, determine how best to squash the rumors. Depending on the

specific situation, you may choose to meet privately with those affected or set a team meeting to discuss concerns.

A proactive way to minimize rumors is to have an e-mail newsletter sent to all team members’ parents discussing your philosophy, training methods, and how the season is progressing. However, Be sure you are not divulging too much information or confidential discussions.

Moreover, it should be matter-of-fact in its tone and not a letter defending every move you make.

Coaching your child can be a wonderful experience, but it also can create problems, some of which are not completely within your control. Your child will experience your involvement differently than any other player you have coached. But if you think through the decision, lay the groundwork, and monitor the situation, it can be some of the best times of both of your lives. n A version of this article is appearing in other sport-specific editions of Coaching Management.

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Active Ankle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Airborne Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC Austin Plastics & Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Basketball Travelers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Bison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 California University of Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Cho-Pat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Cramer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 CyberSports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 girls got game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 HighSchoolSports.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Human Kinetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Institutional Basketball Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 JV Pro, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 K&K Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 M.A.S.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Mueller Sports Medicine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 NAIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Nebula/NK Sports Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 OPTP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Power Lift. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Powernetics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC Shoot-A-Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Spalding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Stromgren Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 TurfCordz/NZ Mfg.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 United States Sports Academy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Wiffletree World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 XUBI Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC-1

Circle No.

Company

545. . . . . .

538. . . . . .

510. . . . . .

517. . . . . .

504. . . . . .

546. . . . . .

502. . . . . .

508. . . . . .

539. . . . . .

540. . . . . .

547. . . . . .

541. . . . . .

518. . . . . .

521. . . . . .

533. . . . . .

535. . . . . .

519. . . . . .

522. . . . . .

503. . . . . .

542. . . . . .

501. . . . . .

511. . . . . .

512. . . . . .

543. . . . . .

509. . . . . .

505. . . . . .

524. . . . . .

528. . . . . .

529. . . . . .

525. . . . . .

526. . . . . .

530. . . . . .

527. . . . . .

531. . . . . .

513. . . . . .

514. . . . . .

520. . . . . .

515. . . . . .

500. . . . . .

507. . . . . .

506. . . . . .

523. . . . . .

544. . . . . .

516. . . . . .

536. . . . . .

534. . . . . .

Active Ankle (All-Sport Chameleon). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Active Ankle (Volt ankle brace) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Airborne Athletics (Dr. Dish). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Airborne Athletics (iMake) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Austin Plastics & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Basketball Travelers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Bison (BA48XL). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Bison (T-Rex 96) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 California University of Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Cramer (AS1 ankle brace). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Cramer (Power Lacer ankle brace) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 CyberSports (CyberVideoSuite) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 CyberSports (CyberWeb). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 girls got game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 girls got game (innovative styles). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 HighSchoolSports.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Human Kinetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 JV Pro, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 K&K Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 M.A.S.A. (basketball facilities) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 M.A.S.A. (Three Point Shooter Ring). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Mueller (Shooter Sleeve) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Mueller (TapeWrap) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 OakWood Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 OakWood Sports (custom wood lockers). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 OPTP (BOSU Balance Trainer). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 OPTP (Gymnic Swiss Balls). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Power Lift (Free Standing Squat Stand). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Power Lift (Pro Select Leg Extension). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Power Systems (Elite Power Med-Ball) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Power Systems (Pro Power Jumper). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Powernetics (High Stepper) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Powernetics (Shoulder Rotator). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 QB-Tee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Schedule Star . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Shoot-A-Way (6000 Series Gun) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Shoot-A-Way (The Dominator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Spalding (G5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Spalding (Replica Pro Ball Rack). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 The Stadium Chair Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 TurfCordz/NZ Mfg.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 United States Sports Academy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Wiffletree World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 XUBI Sports (mascot lineup) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 XUBI Sports (side-panel logo). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Products Directory

Page No.

Page No.

Home Court Advantage A Hoop Where You Need It Spalding basketball products are trusted at every level, from the NBA to backyard pick-up games. Spalding manufactures a complete line of portable basketball backstops. The Spalding G5 portable backstop is designed for collegiate or professional practices. With a boom length of five feet from the backboard to the front pad, this unit is height-adjustable from six to 10 feet and uses a spring-assisted lift mechanism for ease of operation. Spalding Equipment • 800-4353865 • www.spaldingequipment.com • Circle No. 500

Everything You Need M.A.S.A. offers a wide variety of topquality products for basketball facilities, including complete portable goal systems, backboards, adjustable systems, goal height adjusters, youth basketball goals, stationary and side-swing systems, wall-mount systems, padding, and much more. Go online or call today to learn more about these products, and to request your free copy of the M.A.S.A. catalog. M.A.S.A. • 800-264-4519 • www.masa.com • Circle No. 501

Built to Last Eliminate backboard breakage on older structures built for 48-inch backboards with Bison’s BA48XL Unbreakable Tall Glass Backboard. This board’s heavy-duty rear support system absorbs more than 98 percent of stress from player contact. The goal is mounted to the rear steel frame without touching the glass at any point, and the board is pre-drilled for DuraSkin backboard padding. Bison’s BA48XL has an unconditional lifetime warranty.

A $250 installation reimbursement is offered on any broken BA48XL backboard replaced under this warranty. Bison, Inc. • 800-247-7668 • www.bisoninc.com • Circle No. 502

Courtside Quality JV Pro offers custom-made, freestanding, and convertible bleacher-mounted scorer’s tables. Standard options include an LED possession arrow with bonus indicators, illuminated shatterproof 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

basketball facilities

complement your scorer’s table. These products create the perfect image for your sports program. JV Pro, Inc. • 800-9622440 • www.jvpro.com • Circle No. 503

An Excellent Motivator Athletic record boards are effective tools for motivating your athletes in track, football, volleyball, baseball, basketball, swimming, soccer, powerlifting, wrestling, golf, tennis, and softball. Visit Austin Plastics online to view examples of record boards for all these sports. The company’s boards are available with engraved record nameplates, or you can print your own using perforated card stock and a printing program supplied by the company. The boards are very durable and lightweight for easy installation. Custom boards are available.

Austin Plastics & Supply • 800-2901025 • www.athleticrecordboards.com • Circle No. 504

A Professional Look OakWood Sports is a premier custom wood locker builder, with experience in design, construction, delivery, and installation. For new builds or renovations, the company takes care of your locker needs from start to finish and beyond. With more than 200 locker rooms completed since 1998, OakWood’s experience and knowledge ensure that your locker system will be visually stunning and highly durable. OakWood understands the construction requirements of athletic lockers, and prides itself on applying that expertise to the specific needs of each customer.

Go online to view the company’s photo gallery. OakWood Sports, Inc. • 517321-6852 • www.oakwoodsports.com • Circle No. 505

Reliable Comfort The SidelineChair is one of the best seats on the market in its price range, with the durability and quality you’d expect from higher-priced products. It features two- or three-inch pads covered with quality vinyl that provide two large imprint areas. The extra-sturdy powder-coated frame comes with dual-reinforced steel support bars on the back legs and carries a 10-year limited warranty. The Stadium Chair Co. • 888417-9590 • www.stadiumchair.com • Circle No. 506

CoachingManagementOnline.com

41

basketball facilities

Home Court Advantage

Smarter Storage Spalding manufactures top-quality equipment for competitive, recreational, and physical education use, including goals, backboards, and accessories. The Replica Pro Ball Rack is constructed of durable chrome steel tubing with swivel casters and a non-topple base. This unit features angled rails for easy ball removal and a sturdy yet stylish design that is built to last. Spalding Equipment • 800-435-3865 • www.spaldingequipment.com • Circle No. 507

Stable and Easy to Use Bison’s T-Rex 96 is ready for competition.

This portable unit has a 180-degree breakaway goal on an official-size unbreakable glass backboard with a lifetime warranty.

There are 96 inches of safe play area. Bison has incorporated low maintenance, height adjustment, and extension spring technology for fast and easy one-person setup.

Front stabilizers lock in place for maximum stability. DuraSkin backboard padding

Coaching A ids

Dr. Dish operates under the basket or away from the basket. It’s a shooting machine for your perimeter players, a post entry passing machine for your big men, a rebounding machine that simulates missed shots, and a game simulator that makes game passes from game spots at game speeds. It’s remote controlled, battery operated, throws up to 21 positions, and throws up to 50 balls to each position before moving. Dr. Dish can even save 50 of your drills right on the machine. Airborne Athletics, Inc. • 888507-4668 • www.drdishbasketball.com • Circle No. 510

All the Essentials Better Basketball’s Seven Player Development videos cover the seven primary skills: shooting, passing, post play, defense, ball handling, one-on-one offense, and scoring without the ball.

There are bonus sections with NBA stars such as Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, and Mike Bibby. These videos are packed with clearly explained fundamentals for young players, and advanced techniques for high-level players and coaches. Each CoachingManagementOnline.com

Solid and Durable In almost a decade, OakWood Sports has helped more than 200 schools and sports organizations design and install wood lockers for their athletic facilities. Every locker is constructed from special cuts of high-quality veneer and solid wood to ensure a vibrant grain pattern and beautiful color. The lockers are assembled by hand as an individual unit prior to installation. OakWood’s specially formulated finish resists moisture, citric acid, and up to a 25-percent solution of sulfuric acid. Finally, all hardware (including hooks, hinges, and clothes rods) is either solid brass or stainless steel. OakWood Sports, Inc. • 517-321-6852 • www.oakwoodsports.com • Circle No. 509

The Winning Edge

All-Around Superstar

42

coordinates with the fully padded base and front, all available in 16 colors. Padding lettering and a logo are optional. Bison, Inc. • 800-247-7668 • www.bisoninc.com • Circle No. 508

video not only explains the “how” behind a technique, but the “why” as well. Better Basketball, Inc. • 800-BETTER-B • www.betterbasketball.com

All Types of Training M.A.S.A. wants to help make your basketball practices more productive, so the company offers a variety of effective training aids.

Among them are rebounders designed to help athletes improve balance, timing, and coordination under the rim, and the Three Point Shooter Ring, which reduces the size of a standard rim to help players improve their shooting accuracy. Several models of tossbacks are also available, so your athletes can work on their ball handling, passing, and rebounding skills. M.A.S.A. • 800-2644519 • www.masa.com • Circle No. 511

Protection Meets Performance Mueller Sports Medicine has announced the newest addition to its basketball lineup. The Mueller Shooter Sleeve helps players hit three-point shots with a unique compression fit that keeps muscles warm and less fatigued. The Shooter Sleeve can be used to cover

The Winning Edge cuts, scrapes, or other surface injuries and protect the arm from further harm.

Made of smooth black nylon and spandex fabric, the unique design prevents skin irritation. Snug bands at the top and bottom keep the sleeve in place and prevent slipping or bunching. Mueller Sports Medicine • 800-356-9522 • www.muellersportsmed.com • Circle No. 512

A Timing Teacher

cable, and usable software products that assist both coaches and players with the tools that will help them reach their full potential. Wiffletree has developed and sells a number of products for basketball: Video Hoops and Video Hoops LT for video editing, LiftThis for strength training, and Combo for player performance reporting. Wiffletree World, LLC • 817-460-3530 • www.wiffletree.com • Circle No. 516

The QB-Tee helps players stay focused and provides motivation and feedback.

It also helps improve timing and skills.

The coach can focus on the player and not the stopwatch. The player can perform more reps with greater intensity.

Athletes are able to work on their own objective goals. The player removes the ball from the cradle, triggering the timing mechanism. If the buzzer sounds before the ball is released, the play is dead. The timer can be programmed to tenths of seconds. The QB-Tee is made of helmetgrade plastic. QB-Tee • 330-750-0086 • www.qb-tee.com • Circle No. 513

Shooting Specialist

Schedule Once, Use Everywhere

Play to Your Strengths

Schedule Star is the leading athletic scheduling solution for athletic directors, leagues, and league assignors. It is fast, easy to use, and instantly saves you time. Schedule Star delivers information automatically to the public, cutting down on phone calls. It interfaces with the Arbiter officials assignment program and is the only “Schedule Once, Use Everywhere” solution. Schedule Star utilizes patented technology and is available for all computers. Get started today with a free 60-day trial. Schedule Star • 800-258-8550 • www.schedulestar.com • Circle No. 514

Power and Control The Dominator complete post station by Shoot-A-Way is a versatile rebounding/post footwork machine that focuses on teaching players to rebound with power and control and to use the correct footwork to finish with contact. It features optional block-out pads that have adjustable arms which act as shot blockers. The Dominator has an optional standard backboard and rim that can be attached to turn it into a portable adjustableheight goal. Shoot-A-Way • 800-294-4654 • www.shootaway.com • Circle No. 515

A Smarter Way to Learn Wiffletree World, based in Arlington, Texas, is a software solutions company focused on providing affordable, appli-

Coaching A ids

From Airborne Athletics, the maker of Dr. Dish, comes the iMake: a next-generation shooting machine that operates from under the basket. It has an electronic touch-pad control, saves up to 50 drills on the machine, and comes with a wireless remote control. The iMake can throw to one spot or up to 21 spots and features adjustable rotation range, ball speed, and ball tempo. It throws from one to 50 balls to any single spot before moving to the next. Airborne Athletics, Inc. • 888-5074668 • www.imakebasketball.com • Circle No. 517 Rick Torbett’s Read & React Offense consists of 17 teachable layers. Use it as your team’s offense, or develop your entire program in a building-block progression. It’s adjustable to any set (five-out, four-out, or three-out), to any defense (man, zone, trap, or press), or to the strengths of your personnel. It provides simple reads that lead to staggered screens, give-and-gos, dribble handoffs, dribble penetration, and more. This system is already being used by teams at all levels. Better Basketball, Inc. • 800-BETTER-B • www.betterbasketball.com

Streamlined Recruiting CyberVideoSuite is a state-of-the-art video collection and distribution system that makes burning, mailing, and searching for DVDs around the office a thing of the past. With an easy-to-use interface, cross-platform video formats, and live streaming over the Internet, the process is as easy for the prospect and high school coach as it is for the college recruiter.

Streamline your recruiting with the latest from CyberSports. CyberSports • 315737-7150 • www.cybersportsinc.com • Circle No. 518

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Coaching A ids

Helping You Succeed

Inform Them Instantly Simplify your life with HighSchoolSports.net. Anytime you have a cancellation, postponed game or practice, or change in facilities, you can notify parents instantly with HighSchoolSports.net. Compatible with any cell phone, parents and fans can be notified of any event change. Get started today by going online and clicking on “My Account.”

HighSchoolSports.net • 800-2588550 • www.highschoolsports.net • Circle No. 519

Fast-Paced Workouts Simplicity and dependability best describe the 6000 Series Gun. The Gun zips out passes from 15 to 35 feet and will throw to one spot or rotate to a series of spots around the perimeter. The optional computerized scoreboard displays “makes,” total shots, and shooting percentage. The fast-paced workout forc-

Strength & Cardio Equipment Required Reading Complete with a full-color interior, Running Well allows runners at all levels to easily assess and improve technique.

Runners can use the training tactics to enhance performance, increase conditioning with strength and plyometric workouts, avoid overtraining, and find tips on choosing the right footwear. Anatomical art supplements the thorough coverage of causes and symptoms of dozens of running injuries. It’s a must-have reference for running more effectively and injury free.

Human Kinetics • 800-747-4457 • www.humankinetics.com • Circle No. 522

Leaping Higher The TurfCordz Jump Belt is increasingly gaining interest and acceptance by highlevel athletic trainers as a training tool for obtaining advanced levels of vertical leap and agility in athletes. The unique design of the Jump Belt provides anchoring straps to mount to a stationary object, or the product

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es players to get game shots at game spots at game speed with the right amount of arch. This product is protected by a fiveyear warranty. Shoot-A-Way • 800-2944654 • www.shootaway.com • Circle No. 520

Customized Data Management With CyberWeb, gathering and organizing information for recruiting has never been easier. You get online access via your phone or computer, and CyberSports’ secure, customized online database and communication tools give you the creative power to engage your audience and hold their attention. Powerful technology, service, support, and expertise that are second to none combine to give you the advantage in today’s competitive market.

Let CyberSports help take your program to the next level. CyberSports • 315-7377150 • www.cybersportsinc.com • Circle No. 521

Powering Up can be used with an athletic trainer’s assistance. With five resistance levels of tubing to choose from, even the most advanced athlete will see benefit from this training tool. The adjustable waist belt can accommodate up to a 38-inch waist. Order item S130 and specify resistance level silver, yellow, green, red, or blue. NZ Mfg., Inc. • 800-886-6621 • www.nzmfg.com • Circle No. 523

Balance Matters OPTP proudly carries the BOSU Balance Trainer. The BOSU has two functional surfaces to integrate dynamic balance with functional or sport-specific training.

The burst-resistant dome can be used for balance, core stability, cardio, and proprioception training. It can also be used platform side up for push-ups or seated exercises. The BOSU is packaged with a pump and instructional guide. Call or go online to learn more and to request a free catalog. OPTP • 800-367-7393 • www.optp.com • Circle No. 524

Powering Up Constructed for Strength The Pro Select Leg Extension is one of the new selectorized pieces offered by Power Lift. All Pro Select pieces feature extra-large pads for user comfort, 4” x 3” and 3” x 2” seven-gauge steel construction, weight stack guards, and instructional placards. Unique features of the Pro Select Leg Extension include a 300-pound weight stack, a ratchet lock back pad adjustment, an adjustable tibia pad, an adjustable start pad, and a one-inch grip diameter. Power Lift • 800-872-1543 • www.power-lift.com • Circle No. 525

Adding Resistance Perfectly balanced and durably constructed, the Elite Power Med-Ball from Power Systems is guaranteed to maintain its shape. Bounce it against a wall or floor, or pass it to a partner. Its textured surface improves grip and handling when performing traditional medicine ball exercises.

Incorporate it into any sport-specific or rehabilitation movement for added resistance. Color-coded by weight, these balls are available in 11 sizes from two to 30 pounds. Power Systems • 800-321-6975 • www.power-systems.com • Circle No. 526

Reduce Groin Injuries The High Stepper from Powernetics develops explosive power in the hip flexors and legs in a running motion, substantially increasing athletes’ speed, quickness, and durability. Coaches notice fewer groin injuries with their athletes after training on the High Stepper. It can improve 40-yard dash times, decrease groin injuries, and train the legs to explode higher and more powerfully.

Powernetics • 800-829-2928 • www.powernetics.com • Circle No. 527

Avoid a Burst OPTP is your affordable source for Gymnic Swiss Balls. These heavy-duty inflatable balls can support up to 600 pounds of pressure. Also offered is the Gymnic Plus “burst resistant quality” ball.

It is made of a burst-resistant material that slowly deflates if punctured, making it ideal

Strength & Cardio Equipment for high-performance workouts. These sturdy, safe balls are also completely free of phthalates. OPTP • 800-367-7393 • www.optp.com • Circle No. 528

Power Meets Versatility Power Lift’s Free Standing Squat Stand can be used for all major lifts, including squats, push presses, bench presses, and the Olympic movements. It is ideal for facilities with minimal space or for those looking to combine a rack with an existing Olympic platform. The Free Standing Squat Stand features 10 different bar positions, and wheels for easy movement. When combined with a Collegiate Series bench and the optional chin-up handle, a spacesaving lifting station can be created.

The bases are constructed from 2” x 3” seven-gauge steel and the uprights are constructed from 2” x 3” 11-gauge steel. Power Lift • 800-872-1543 • www.power-lift.com • Circle No. 529

Jump Ahead Improve jump height and reaction time for better overall performance. The Pro Power Jumper from Power Systems lets athletes train with maximal jumps for power, repeated jumps for reaction and endurance, and lateral jumps for improved agility. In addition to a large 30” x 50” non-slip jumping platform, it includes a harness or waist belt (standard or extra large) and regular or long resistance tubing to fit athletes of different heights. Power Systems • 800-3216975 • www.power-systems.com • Circle No. 530

A Shoulder’s Best Friend The Shoulder Rotator, available from Powernetics, develops powerful strength in the shoulders, arms, and forearms for throwing, shooting, spiking, and more.

The motion of the Shoulder Rotator is also great for rehabilitating shoulders to rebuild strength and flexibility.

Powernetics • 800-829-2928 • www.powernetics.com • Circle No. 531

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Te am equipment

Look Your Best

Get What You Need, Fast

A Leading Choice

You believe in women, and so does girls got game. The company offers performancedriven products for women’s basketball players who take their game seriously.

These products include uniforms, footwear, practice gear, fundamentals, bags, and warmups. In-stock items ship the next business day, and customized items ship in two to four weeks. See the quality for yourself: Order a sample from girls got game today. girls got game • 800-554-2779 • www.girlsgotgame.com • Circle No. 533

girls got game offers innovative basketball styles, top-quality branded products, uncompromising performance, fit, function, and service that’s second to none. girls got game is a leading choice for competitive women’s basketball teams across the country. girls got game • 800554-2779 • www.girlsgotgame.com • Circle No. 535

Get Customized Guidance This year’s basketball uniform lineup from XUBI Sports revolves around your logo.

Check out a dazzling array of side-panel sublimated uniforms with performance twill lettering and a two-year warranty.

Uniforms start at just $109, with no upcharges, ever. Go online or call to request a free design consultation with your XUBI rep. XUBI: Rule your jungle.

XUBI Sports • 800-983-XUBI • www. xubisports.com • Circle No. 534

More products

The new Volt ankle brace is engineered to include the latest carbon fiber technology.

The polypropylene shell is reinforced with carbon fiber—the same high-performance material used in racing cars and bicycles.

It also features a molded bearing-design performance hinge for smoother range of motion, strengthening ribs for a thinner profile, and fabric-backed EVA foam pads for durability and comfort. Call today for more information. Active Ankle Systems, Inc. • 800-800-2896 • www.activeankle.com • Circle No. 538

Never Stop Learning California University of Pennsylvania has helped build the character and careers of its students for more than 150 years. Cal U’s dedication to providing high-quality, in-demand programs to its students continues through the University’s Global Online 100-percent online programs of study. Through an asynchronous format,

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New for 2009 is the mascot lineup from XUBI Sports. Your mascot takes center stage on a sublimated uniform guaranteed to steal the show on and off the court.

These uniforms start at just $109, including your logo, performance twill lettering, and a two-year warranty. Call or go online to learn more. XUBI Sports • 800-983-XUBI • www.xubisports.com • Circle No. 536

Great Ideas, Great Value

The Right Support

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Wear It With Pride

Global Online allows students the opportunity to complete coursework anytime, anywhere. All that’s required is a computer with Internet access. Go online for more information. California University of Pennsylvania • 866-595-6348 • www.cup.edu/go • Circle No. 539

Less Pain, Faster Healing Cho-Pat’s Calf Compression Sleeve combines warmth, compression, and reinforcement to help reduce pain and discomfort in the calf and enhance healing. The four-way stretch material contours anatomically for maximum fit, comfort, and effectiveness. In addition, the knit material is breathable and facilitates the movement of moisture away from the skin. This American-made sleeve does not contain neoprene or latex and is available in three sizes to provide more specific and effectual results. Cho-Pat • 800-221-1601 • www.cho-pat.com • Circle No. 540

Great Ideas, Great Value Unprecedented Control Active Ankle has introduced the Power Lacer ankle brace, with unique y-shaped vertical stabilization straps that provide unprecedented control over both the forefoot and the heel. This lace-up brace offers control and stabilization without the complication of multiple straps.

The Power Lacer is made of 840-denier nylon and is lined with neoprene for maximum comfort and fit. The four spring steel stays (two on each side of the ankle) provide extra support and aid in preventing heel release. Cramer Products, Inc. • 800-345-2231 • www.cramersportsmed.com • Circle No. 541

Are You Covered?

Insurance isn’t expensive—it’s priceless.

Protect your organization with coverage from K&K insurance, including programs designed for sports camps and clinics, youth and adult teams, leagues and associations, and coaches and instructors.

K&K’s emergency claim service is available 24/7, and credit card options make payment easy. One client says: “Just a note of thanks for your patience and incredible customer service.” Another writes: “Really impressed with your service and great attitude.” K&K Insurance Group • 800426-2889 • www.kandkinsurance.com • Circle No. 542

Wrap It Up Mueller TapeWrap is the cohesive, breathable, sweat-resistant alternative to prewrap. TapeWrap doesn’t trap moisture so it won’t slip. Your tape job stays tight, and that means more support. It can be applied directly to the skin, so you don’t need prewrap or adhesive spray. Thin, flexible, easy-to-tear TapeWrap will help you perform the most sophisticated taping techniques quickly and accurately.

With its flexibility, TapeWrap conforms to any body part and won’t inhibit the natural movements of the athlete. Mueller Sports Medicine • 800-356-9522 • www.muellersportsmed.com • Circle No. 543

Learn At Your Own Pace Founded in 1972, the United States Sports Academy, known worldwide as “America’s Sports University,” is the larg-

More products

est school of sports education in the world. It offers accredited sports-specific bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral (EdD), and continuing education programs in sports management and sports coaching. All academic programs are online and can be accelerated at your own pace. Apply today by phone or online. United States Sports Academy • 800-223-2668 • www.ussa.edu • Circle No. 544

Protection In Color Ankle protection isn’t black and white anymore. With the 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, and the molded, fabric-lined EVA padding provides lightweight comfort. Get great style and the same great protection that has made Active Ankle an industry leader. Go online for more information. Active Ankle Systems, Inc. • 800-800-2896 • www.getchameleon.com • Circle No. 545

Call for Traveling Basketball Travelers (BTI) is a leader in foreign tours and tournaments. More than 200 collegiate and high school teams participate annually in BTI events.

Established in 1985, its experienced staff is made up of former coaches and players who have developed an outstanding network of basketball contacts around the world. As basketball’s popularity continues to grow globally, BTI seeks to contribute and facilitate goodwill between people of all backgrounds. Basketball Travelers, Inc. • 425-776-2775 • www.basketballtravelers.com • Circle No. 546

Comfort and Feel Cramer’s AS1 ankle brace combines the support of a heel-lock strapping system with excellent value when compared to other ankle braces. The brace is constructed with an 840D nylon shell, with a soft neoprene liner for comfort and feel. Non-stretch straps lock the heel in place, and steel spring stays on each side of the brace provide additional support.

Cramer Products, Inc. • 800-345-2231 • www.cramersportsmed.com • Circle No. 547

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overtime

Continued on…

Coachesnetwork.com

Fancy Footwork Hall of Fame Coach Morgan Wootten offers tips on teaching defensive footwork.

Hamstring Bridges Want to strengthen your athletes’ hamstrings without using a leg curl machine? Try these hamstring bridges instead.

Weekly and archived articles designed to help you in your job.

Coaching Life

Injury Prevention Student-Athlete Welfare Strength & Conditioning

Setting clear roles is one of the keys to dealing with parents.

Just because the game or practice hasn’t started, doesn’t mean your players are safe from injury.

When athletes want to play two sports in one season.

“No pain, no gain” can easily be carried too far.

Brought to you by

V isit daily for link s t o stories of spe cial int e re st to coa ches from ne w spapers a cross th e count ry.

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.

Coaches call TODAY for your FREE instructional video!

Box 329 Riverside, TX 77367 1 (800) 829-2928 www.powernetics.com Circle No. 131

Compare before you buy!

Ball BoyTM Net System included

$4,995

Shooting specialist

iMake is a shooting machine. It operates under the basket and will improve your players’ shooting through accelerated repetition. Unlike other shooting machines, iMake is digital. It will deliver powerful, accurate passes and operates via remote control.

$6,995

All-around superstar

Dr. Dish is a game simulation machine. It operates anywhere on the court (as well as under the basket) and will improve your players in virtually any facet of the game: shooting, rebounding, pass receiving, tipping and defense. Dr. Dish is digital, battery operated, remote-controlled and delivers game passes from game spots at game speeds.

Both iMake and Dr. Dish feature – Multiple modes of operation operation, including remote control – Electronic touchpad for fast and easy set-up – Patented pneumatic ball delivery system for precise training and ultimate durability – Save up to 50 custom drills on your machine

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No No No

– Throw multiple balls (up to 50) to each position – Over 21 passing positions you choose!

imakebasketball.com

iMake

1-888-507-4668 Circle No. 132

Dr. Dish Digital design Wireless remote control Electronic touch pad operation Pre-loaded drills Count Smart Technology – throws where you want, when you want Battery operated Perimeter shooting Game location passes Post entry passes Tipping/rebounding Bounce/lob passes

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

drdishbasketball.com