Introduction to Basketball Layup

A layup in basketball is a two-point shot attempt made by leaping from below, laying the ball up near the basket, and using one hand to bounce it off the backboard and into the basket. The motion and one-handed reach distinguish it from a jump shot. The layup is considered the most basic shot in basketball. When doing a layup, the player lifts the outside foot, or the foot away from the basket. It is a foul if, during your layup, you hold the other person's hand or push it away to avoid him or her from defending. On the other hand, it is considered a foul if the defender jumps in front of you in the middle of nowhere and you both crash, in this case the defender causes a foul. A layup is very handy and to defend it, you just basically need to stand in front of the opponent with your arms stretched out.

An undefended layup is usually a high percentage shot. The main obstacle is getting near the rim and avoiding blocks by taller defenders who usually stand near the basket. Common layup strategies are to create spaces, release the ball from a different spot, or use alternate hands. A player able to reach over the rim might choose to perform a more spectacular and higher percentage slam dunk (dropping or throwing the ball from above the rim) instead.

Preparation for the Layup
In PREPARATION for a right handed layup get a good angle to the backboard. You can do this by making sure that you pass between the "block" and the first free throw lane hash mark. I call this the "driveway". Your steps should be: right foot - left foot & up. For a left handed layup your steps are: left foot right foot & up. You can practice these while simply walking without a ball. Then try with a ball and no dribble. Work up to shooting them off of one dribble then finally, a full dribble from 1/2 court.

Shooting a Layup
During the ACTION phase for a right handed layup you want your right knee up, and for a left handed layup you want your left knee up. You should explode upward trying to put your knee through the bottom of the basket. It is important to protect the ball with 2 hands on the same side as your shooting hand. Your elbow should be under the ball with wrist cocked and your eyes focused on a spot in the square on the backboard.

Layup follow thru
When first learning to shoot, the FOLLOW THRU should be the same as a regular shot. Your palm is facing the basket, with the ball coming off of the 1st two fingers. Flop over the wrist to get backspin on the ball for a nice soft shot. Later, when a player can jump higher, the palm can face skyward and lay the ball up softly off of the backboard with very little spin. Try not to spin the ball and be too "fancy". This should be a sure TWO POINTS-make sure that you make it.

Shared from basketball4all.net

How to Build Finger Strength for Basketball

Strong fingers and hands are crucial to a basketball player's performance. The majority of the movements (dribbling, passing, intercepting, blocking, shooting) is performed with your fingers and hands. Weak fingers will negatively impact your ball handling and shooting. To strengthen your fingers and improve grip strength, you can perform a variety of exercises, ranging from lifting weights to dribbling drills. In addition, conditioning your digits can help to prevent common injuries (jammed or sprained fingers) which can land you on the bench.

Raise a Weight Plate
Step 1 : Perform a finger raise with a weight plate, which strengthens your fingers as well as the muscles in your forearms powering your grip. Begin by picking up a 10-lb. Olympic weight plate in each hand.

Step 2 : Hold the plates by your sides with palms facing your body and your thumbs pressing against the plate's flat side. Extend your fingers to lower the plates.

Step 3 : Lift the plate by curling and closing your fingers. Perform 10 to 15 reps. Increase the load to 25 lbs. and then 45 lbs. as grip grows stronger.

Dribble with One Finger
Step 1 : Execute a dribbling exercise with two balls in which you strengthen each finger. Begin by crouching low to the ground and dribbling a ball 10 times with each hand.

Step 2 : Dribble the balls 10 times with only your thumbs. Try dribbling as hard as you can with one finger on one ball. Dribble next with only your forefingers 10 times. Continue this pattern for your middle fingers, ring fingers and pinkies.

Step 3 : Repeat the exercise but speed up the dribbling. Stay low to the ground, keeping your dribble at ankle height.

Squeeze for Strength
Step 1 : Perform squeezing exercises with your fingers to improve grip strength. Begin by holding a basketball above your shoulder with your right hand.

Step 2 : Draw your fingers together slowly, squeezing the ball until it pops out of your hand. Perform 15 reps and then repeat the exercise with your left hand.

Step 3 : Squeeze an old tennis ball with your right hand, pressing your fingers into the ball with as much force as possible. Perform 15 reps for each hand.

Volley for the Fingertips
Step 1 : Volley the basketball between your fingertips to develop strength and control of the ball at the ends of your fingers. Begin by positioning your hands in front of you at chest height and holding them 3 to 4 inches apart.

Step 2 : Pass the ball back and forth between your hands for five to 10 minutes, using the tips of your fingers but not your thumbs. Raise the volley to face height and continue for another three minutes.

Step 3 : Place your hands behind your head and volley the ball for three minutes. Finish the exercise by bending your knees and volleying the ball as low to the ground as possible for three minutes.

Stretch with a Band
Step 1 : Stretch the antagonist muscles of your fingers, wrists and forearms after doing grip-strengthening exercises to maintain muscular balance. Begin by forming your hand into a crescent or C shape.

Step 2 : Loop a rubber band around your fingertips and thumbs of your right hand. Wrap the band around your fingers twice to remove any slack if necessary. Spread your fingers and thumb slowly as if they're flower petals blooming.

Step 3 : Reverse the motion to return to starting position. Perform 10 reps. Repeat the stretch for your left hand.

Shared from livehealthy.chron.com

Water or Sports Drinks: What to Drink When?

With temperatures skyrocketing as we dive deeper into the summer months, hydration is more important than ever. Intense training sessions combined with sweltering heat can be a recipe for dehydration, and knowing the right way to hydrate can help you stay on top of your game.

One basic hydration question that's often asked is: What should you drink when you work out—plain water or a sports drink,or perhaps a combo of both? To understand the answer, you need to understand some of the science behind dehydration and fatigue.

Hydrate with Water
Your hydration strategy should begin and end with water. Period. Our bodies are roughly 60 percent water, and it plays a critical role in nearly every one of our body’s natural processes.

The importance of water for athletes cannot be overstated. Water transports oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, aids in muscle contraction, fights fatigue and regulates body temperature—in addition to delivering countless other benefits.

For many types of exercise, drinking water alone should adequately hydrate you—as long as you get the proper amount.

"For most people performing short-duration, moderately intense exercise, water will get the job done,” says Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for Sports Medicine.

Typically, if you’re exercising for less than an hour with low to moderate intensity, hydrating with water should be enough to keep you performing at a high level. Of course, factors like extreme heat can muddle things up. But in general, if you aren’t busting your butt and your session lasts less than an hour, sticking to water before and during your session is a smart move.

So, how much water do you need? You should drink 12 fluid ounces within 30 minutes of the start of your workout. Then, drink water every 20 minutes for the first hour you work out at light to moderate intensity. You’ll know you aren’t drinking enough water if your urine is a shade of dark brownish-yellow instead of clear or slightly yellow.

Be Smart with your Sports Drink
Under no conditions should you ever completely forgo water and drink only sports drinks. Your main source of fluid should always be water. But under certain conditions, it makes sense to supplement water consumption with a sports drink. Sports drinks do have a place in hydration. The problem is, many people drink them far too often. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, sports drinks’ high sugar content places them in a category of beverages that should be consumed "sparingly and infrequently.” Other beverages in this category include soda and fruit juice.

Yet many people don't drink sports drinks sparingly and infrequently. Some folks reach for one anytime they break a sweat, and others drink them even if they aren’t exercising—simply because they enjoy the taste. In a time when 71.4% of all adult Americans are consuming too much added sugar, that is not a good habit.

Consuming too much sugar can lead to a large number of undesirable health outcomes, including obesity, diabetes, liver failure, heart disease, tooth decay and cancer. In fact, many experts believe the added sugar in our diets is the number 1 cause of the rising rate of obesity and the higher incidence of many major diseases.

However, there is a scientific reason why sports drinks contain high amounts of sugar. When you exercise intensely, you drain your glycogen reserves. Glycogen is carbohydrate stored in the muscles and liver, and its our most efficient source of energy. During sustained intense exercise, glycogen stores get drained. This can lead to low blood glucose levels, which hurt performance by causing things like fatigue and nausea. The sugar in sports drinks provides your body with efficient and fast-acting carbohydrate, which prevents your glycogen stores from falling too low and keeps your blood glucose levels at the ideal level.

The electrolytes included in sports drinks—such as sodium and potassium—help the body retain fluid and enhance fluid and nutrient absorption. Obviously, the electrolytes provided by sports drinks serve a distinct performance-enhancing purpose—but only if you work out intensely enough for your body to need them. Bonci outlines a few different scenarios where consuming a sports drink makes sense:

• Exercise that lasts longer than one hour
• Grueling exercise like a particularly difficult workout or an intense sport like tennis
• Tournaments or meets where you have back-to-back games or events
• If you're a salty sweater, the electrolytes found in sports drinks will likely benefit you more often. Salty sweaters frequently find that their sweat stings their eyes, burns in an open cut, tastes salty or causes white streaks on their face, skin or clothes.

Remember, these are basic guidelines that can change depending on circumstances like extreme weather or level of equipment. For example, a football player wearing full pads sweats more than he would in no pads.

Ultimately, the more you sweat, the more likely you are to benefit from a sports drink.

“The fluids you need ultimately depends upon your sweat rate,” Bonci says.

So if you're performing moderately intense exercise for under an hour but in especially hot conditions, a sports drink can increase your performance—even though you could probably just drink water if the weather were mild.

One thing to keep in mind when you include sports drinks in your hydration routine is their serving size. Bonci recommends that for every additional hour after the initial hour of exercise, you need to consume at least 30 grams of carbs, which translates to about 16 ounces of a sports drink every additional hour. Many sports drinks come in 32-ounce bottles, so always be sure to check out the serving size before you start chugging!

Shared from stack.com

First Draft Scheduled of ECBL is Out!

Check out first draft schedule of ECBL Div 1 from the draw pick!

So far 7 teams registered for division 1, and 2 teams registered for division 2. The format of the league will be round-robin, from 27th August 2015 to 17th September 2015. Match scheduled at night 8:00pm to 12:00am.

Refer to the table below;

Can you feel the excitement? *grit teeth*

KOMUNITI LIGA KEBANGSAAN BOLA KERANJANG 2015

National Community Basketball League 2015
Oleh: Azmil Zakri

Pada 28 Mac 2015, Komuniti Liga Perdana Kebangsaan Bola Keranjang ke-10 (sebelum ini dikenali sebagai ‘Non-Chinese Basketball League’) telah mengadakan pertandingan mereka di gelanggang bola keranjang Taman Connaught, yang terletak di Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, yang menampilkan 62 pasukan dalam 3 divisyen berasingan, jumlah ini melebihi rekod pasukan yang terlibat pada tahun 2006, sebanyak tiga kali ganda.

Liga ini turut memaparkan beberapa penaja termasuk Peak, Xballer dan Gatorade di samping penaja-penaja yang lain. Pada tahun ini, NCBL juga memperkenalkan pasukan terapi sukan UITM Shah Alam yang menyediakan perkhidmatan urut dan 'taping' di gelanggang.

Pasukan dalam setiap divisyen terdiri daripada beberapa pemain berpengalaman yang telah wujud sejak permulaan liga pada tahun 2006, dan terdapat juga beberapa pemain yang telah aktif sejak awal tahun 2000 dan lewat 90-an. Selain itu, banyak pasukan baru yang kebanyakannya bermula di divisyen yang lebih rendah dan mempunyai peluang untuk menaikkan 'ranking' mereka pada tahun depan berdasarkan keputusan mereka pada akhir musim ini.

Di dalam pertandingan ini, divisyen pertama mempunyai 8 pasukan, manakala divisyen kedua mempunyai 16 pasukan yang  dibahagikan kepada 2 kumpulan, dan terdapat 36 pasukan dalam divisyen ketiga yang dibahagikan kepada 4 kumpulan. Semua divisyen ini mengikuti sistem 'round robin' di mana setiap pasukan akan bertemu setiap pasukan dengan mengumpul mata di mana pasukan yang mendahului dengan pungutan mata akan mara ke pusingan kalah mati. Pasukan di kedudukan yang tertinggi akan dinobatkan sebagai juara keseluruhan atau dinaikkan 'ranking' ke divisyen lebih tinggi.

Bilangan pasukan yang tinggi ini merupakan satu bukti kepada usaha Encik Khairul Anuar Jailani, bekas pemain kebangsaan, juga Encik Wong Wing Wai, individu yang prihatin dengan perkembangan bola keranjang di Malaysia, serta semua pemain berpengalaman dan juga pemain baru dalam komuniti NC sendiri. Tanpa mengenal penat lelah mereka bersungguh-sungguh menyokong liga ini dengan memberi maklum balas dan kritikan membina untuk sampai ke tahap hari ini.

Langkah seterusnya adalah untuk menambah bilangan kursus kejurulatihan, kursus pengadilan dan jurulatih berpangkat, dan mungkin mengadakan kem asas kemahiran bagi mereka yang baru atau yang berminat dalam sukan ini. Selain itu, komuniti ini berhasrat untuk mencurah lebih banyak tenaga dan usaha hingga ke akar umbi.

Pada masa ini, sukan bola keranjang di Malaysia dianggap sebagai sukan 'orang cina' oleh masyarakat umum. Ini merupakan stigma yang mengecewakan untuk sukan yang tidak boleh dikelaskan mengikut kaum, umur atau mana-mana aspek fizikal yang lain. Matlamat utama liga ini adalah untuk menggalak dan membantu membangunkan sukan untuk semua, dan mudah-mudahan suatu hari nanti menjadi platform bagi peserta untuk mempamerkan kemahiran dan bakat mereka dalam persekitaran yang kompetitif, sementara masih mampu untuk berseronok dan bersosial.

Basketball Know-How: Basketball Passing Drills

Your team’s ability to pass the ball accurately, using the correct technique will have a major impact on the flow and effectiveness of your offense.

Spend time at every practice working on basketball passing drills. Teach your players each of the key passing techniques, and help them understand when and where to use each one.

Two Hand Chest Pass

The most common pass in your half court offense will be the two hand chest pass -typically 70% to 80% of your passes will be thrown this way. It’s the surest pass, and it directs the ball well, off screens, or with ball reversal. The important thing to remember when throwing two handed chest passes is step to the pass and meet the pass.

The advantage to putting both hands on the ball instead of just pushing it with one is that it allows more effective fakes. The passer can begin a pass, and if there’s overplay, and bring the ball back without releasing it. Since we’ve got full control with both hands this makes it much easier to fake the chest pass and hit a player on a backdoor cut right after.

Over the Head Pass

Another useful passing technique is the over the head pass, or lob pass, which is also useful as a post entry.

If the post defender is playing on the high side, and the passer has the ball on the wing, we can lead and direct our post player to the basket. We’ll try to throw to the inside of the backboard on set plays, which allows the big man to catch the ball high, keep it up over his head, and finish strong without getting stripped.

Bounce Pass

The bounce pass will be your most common technique for post entry, especially if the post player has his defender sealed behind him. It allows your player to hold off his defender while receiving the pass low, with much less risk of the ball being tipped or intercepted.

On the perimeter, the bounce pass can also be used if your wing player is outside being over played on the wing. He can come out to the ball, and if denied, make a quick backdoor cut, receive the bounce pass in stride and score the layup.

Skip Pass

The skip pass -while prone to interception -is a great way to reverse the ball from one side of the court to the other.

If the ball is on one side of the court, and the weak side defender is way over in the key in help defense, you can direct a quick skip pass over his head. It will work almost like a screen, forcing the defender to come on a hard close out, giving you the opportunity for the shot or to take it to the hoop.

We can also throw the skip pass with a screen (called a fade screen). Instead of curling hard to the hoop, the offensive player will step off, fading away along the three point line – this is a perfect opportunity to use the skip pass.

Shared from online-basketball-drills.com

Basketball Know-How: How to Overcome Shooting Slumps

No matter how much you practice or how good of a shooter you usually are, there will be times when you find that you are having trouble making your shots. Left untreated or reacted to wrongly, these slumps can turn into major confidence busters and can distract you so much that you are not effective in other aspects of the game either. What can you do about slumps during games?

During games, you need to depend on your coach to guide you through a tough shooting night. If the coach directs you to keep taking the open shot, then that's what you should do. Realize that you can contribute to your team's success in more ways than making baskets, and keep trying your best. That attitude is all that your coach and team can expect from you.

There are many stories about players who have had terrible results for a whole half, only to make almost every shot during the second half, ending up at 50% or higher for the night! Other players can go into the tank after only two or three misses, passing up open shots or tensing up so much that their shot gets uglier and uglier along with their attitude. If you can learn to depend on your coach, you stand a much better chance of ending up in the first group.

How do you work your way out of slumps?

99% of the time, shooting slumps are completely MENTAL.

On rare occasions, the slump can be caused by a mechanical flaw in your shooting motion. If that's the case, then having someone videotape you will help you to pinpoint your issue. In conjunction with working with a knowledgeable coach, this should put you back on the right track pretty quickly.

Here are 4 ways to break you out of MENTAL shooting slumps:

1. DON'T HESITATE! 

When you catch the ball, immediately go into your shot motion without hesitating. Sometimes a fast-break jump-shot or a quick shot are the ones that you make. If you get in your shot motion quick enough, you won't have time to think. Don't rush; just catch and shoot immediately.

2. PRACTICE

The best place to deal with a slump is in a practice setting. Without the pressure of a competition, you can focus your energy and attention on getting out of your slump. The best way to deal with a slump during a practice session is to groove your shot with form shooting close to the basket. This will rebuild your confidence and establish a positive momentum in your attitude and confidence. Move back a little at a time as you meet with consistent success at each increasing distance. Of course, you can also use form shooting during half-time of a game to try to get yourself out of a slump. Your time, however, is pretty limited.

3. TRY THIS UNIQUE TRICK THAT CLEARS YOUR MIND

If you have a really bad slump that you just can't bust out of, try this technique. This unique process erases the "negative shooting memories" in your mind and replaces them with good ones. This can break you out of even the WORST shooting slumps!

Step 1 - Shoot 5 shots about 8 feet from the basket. 

Step 2 - Now shoot with your left hand (or weak hand), 5 shots. 

Step 3 - Go to the free throw line. Again, shoot with your left hand (or weak hand), 5 shots. 

Step 4 - Step back behind the 3-point line. Shoot 5 shots with your weak hand. 

Step 5 - Go to half-court. Shoot 5 shots with your strong hand. 

Step 6 - Stand on one leg. Shoot 5 shots with your strong hand. Concentrate! Try to make the shots. 

Step 7 - Close one eye, while standing on one leg. Shoot 5 shots with your strong hand. You probably won't touch the rim, but that's ok, keep trying to make it. 

Step 8 - Now switch to your weak hand. Close one eye, while standing on one leg. Shoot 5 shots. Seriously try to make it. Do your absolute BEST to make the shot. Concentrate! 

Step 9 - Now, go into your shooting range and shoot some mid-range jump shots with your right hand. Don't worry if you make any shots. That's not important. Just shoot, don't think. The shot should feel really easy for you now.

Stroke some nice easy shots for a while. If you have more range, step back a little bit and stroke a few more shots. Every time you shoot, say under your breath, "Nice shot. I can do better." Don't worry about making the shot. Tell yourself that it doesn't matter. You have probably already snapped yourself out of your slump. Those "negative memories" have now faded. Have fun with your shot and just shoot, don't think.

If you start slipping back into your slump, try this routine again. Usually, one routine will fix the problem. If not, two or three times will most certainly do the trick. People watching might think you're crazy, but this silly mental compression trick can break you out of even the worst shooting slump.

4. ATTITUDE

Keep a watch on your attitude as you work your way through slumps. If you find yourself muttering negative comments after misses, counter that with some positive phrases and make it a point to say them after every shot, make or miss. Remember that you will be a more accurate shooter if you are relaxed. If you are down on yourself, you are certainly not relaxed and not even heading in that direction.

Watch your attitude toward teammates, too. If you encourage your teammates through their shooting struggles, you will be building a team camaraderie that will help you if you run into a rough night.

Shared from breakthroughbasketball.com

MABA Tagih Penyertaan Pemain Bukan Cina

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Julai (Bernama) -- Persatuan Bola Keranjang Malaysia (MABA) sedang meningkatkan usaha menarik lebih banyak pemain bukan Cina untuk melibatkan diri dalam sukan itu secara lebih serius.

Setiausaha Agung MABA, Chey That Woon berkata terdapat 550,000 pemain bukan Cina terlibat dalam sukan itu di peringkat amatur di seluruh negara.

Beliau berkata banyak pemain bukan Cina terlibat dalam kejohanan seperti '3 on 3' tetapi jumlah mereka merosot dalam kejohanan terbuka, baik di peringkat negeri mahupun daerah.

Katanya setiap tahun pihaknya menganjurkan Piala MABA iaitu kejohanan kebangsaan khusus untuk pemain bukan Cina dan selepas kejohanan itu tidak ada kejohanan lain untuk mereka sepanjang tahun.

Punca utama ketandusan pemain bukan Cina ialah kekurangan pendedahan terhadap sukan itu di peringkat sekolah rendah, katanya kepada Bernama.

Di samping itu, Chey juga berkata salah satu punca utama ialah kekurangan infrastruktur seperti gelanggang dan dewan di kawasan luar bandar khusus di kawasan penempatan orang Melayu dan India.

"Anda jarang sekali melihat gelanggang bola keranjang di kawasan majoriti penduduk bukan Cina...jadi kanak-kanak memilih untuk menceburi sukan lain seperti bola sepak di kampung-kampung," katanya.

Bagi mengatasi masalah ini, katanya, MABA telah merangka program jangka panjang untuk membangunkan bakat pemain bukan Cina di negara ini.

Sejumlah 16 pemain dipilih daripada Kejohanan Piala MABA tahun ini untuk mengikuti program pembangunan untuk menggilap bakat menerusi latihan dua kali seminggu di bawah bimbingan jurulatih kebangsaan.

Menurut Chey, pemain-pemain ini akan berlatih bersama pemain remaja kebangsaan dan MABA mempunyai rancangan untuk menghantar pemain bukan Cina ini untuk menyertai kejohanan di Vietnam, Brunei dan Kemboja.

"Diharap kumpulan ini akan kembali semula ke kampung halaman mereka dan mengembangkan sukan ini di kawasan masing-masing," katanya.

Sementara itu, ketua jurulatih negara, Paul Advincula berkata program pembangunan untuk pemain bukan Cina lelaki bermula pada April lepas dengan siri latihan diadakan di Stadium MABA di Jalan Hang Jebat di sini.

Beliau berkata adalah sukar untuk mencari pemain berbakat dalam kalangan pemain bukan Cina untuk menyertai program pembangunan tersebut.

"Semua pemain muda yang berbakat dan komited dipelawa menyertai sesi pemilihan untuk program pembangunan ini," kata jurulatih dari Filipina itu.

Buat masa ini, hanya dua pemain bukan Cina -- Nur Izzati Yaakob dan R. Kalaimathi menyertai skuad wanita negara yang merangkul pingat emas pada Sukan SEA ke-28 di Singapura, bulan lepas.

Oleh Vikneswaran Raman

-- BERNAMA

Training Drills: Effective Basketball Rebounding Drills

While not always glamorous, rebounding is truly one of the most important foundations to basketball success. Although height and jumping ability help, there is no substitute for proper technique, grit and determination under the boards.

With all those bodies in the paint, it can’t tell a push from a pull. The best way to ensure that you end up with that rebound, is to rebound strongly. And how to train your body and reaction to be fast enough to get the rebound? This drill is simple yet effective, which is the jumping jacks.

Jumping Jacks

The best is to do train with your teammates. Not saying that you can’t do it alone but you will get tired after a few jump. To start, have you and your teammates need to form two lines facing the baseline, each a couple of feet away from the basket.

Then, and you can have the lines go two at a time, tell them to throw the ball up high off the backboard, take a step and gather themselves, and jump as high as they can to secure the ball safely with two hands. They should then pass the ball to the next player and go to the back of the line.

Once you and your teammates are comfortable with the drill, back the line up a little bit. Your teammate at the front of the line will do the same thing, throw it off the backboard and go get it, but now, you act as the 2nd player in the line is going to go over his back and attempt to steal the rebound from him. While some light contact is okay, to prevent injury make sure to keep it safe.

After Rebound, Next?

After get a rebound, another important things is to ensure the ball not getting steal from your graps. You need to squeeze the ball underneath your chin as soon as you grab it, and to come down with a solid, wide base. You already had your rebound strong, then finish the jump with the stronger landing and ball graps!

Another secret to dominate your opponent in paint is to box-out them. I will share the topic with you in the future article.

Basketball Tips: 6 Tips to Improve Passing and Reduce Turnovers in Games

Basketball is a team game. By definition, that means all players are involved with the process of playing the game and should function as one. One of the primary skills created to accomplish this is passing. Yet, passing remains one of the most under-taught, under-emphasized, and under drilled skill in the game. So how to improve your passing skill?

1. Drills to build speed and strength. Using 2-ball passing drills such as Machine Gun Passing, Middle Man Passing, Pass & Switch, and Partner Passing with 2 balls where each partner passes simultaneously will build speed and accuracy. Using drills that force players to use one hand to pass, (such as Pound Passing) especially with their weak hand, will build strength and confidence.
2. Spacing. This is the most overlooked and possibly the most important aspect of offensive play. Player must know their optimum distance they can effectively pass.
3. Shorten the pass. As an aspect of spacing, taking a dribble toward a receiver will, in certain instances, improve spacing.
4. Make the easy pass. There is no need for great passes when ordinary passes will do. Pass to an open teammate, in an area he can catch it, away from the defense. If you cannot do that, don't throw the pass.
5. Emphasize the catch. While we would all like every pass to be perfect, we all know that will not be the case. The receiver must go where he needs to go to catch the ball. By emphasizing the catch, passers will become more confident and receivers more aggressive.
6. Scrimmage without dribbles. Nothing will teach players more about spacing, passing angles, getting open, and making effective passes than not allowing them to dribble. Be prepared for some initial frustration.

Shared from breakthroughbasketball.com

Health: Recommended Daily Water Intake

The recommended amount of water you should drink daily is a topic at the center of many heated debates. Many people claim there is an one-size-fits-all prescription to how much water you should drink every day. The most common water prescription says that you should drink 8 glasses per day. However, this statement is entirely false.

The optimal daily water intake is highly individualized and is different for each person. Why? Because various internal and external factors play a role in determining the amount of water you should drink.

7 Factors That Determine Your Daily Water Intake

• Climate
• Altitude
• If you are a woman and are nursing
• If you are sick, have the flu, or healing from any other illness
• How active you are during the day
• Your body-fat percentage
• Your weight

A Better Daily Water Intake Prescription

“Half your body weight in ounces of water” is a good baseline prescription for the amount of water you should drink daily. For example, for a person who weighs 200 pounds, he or she would divide by two. This equals 100. Therefore, for a 200-pound person, the starting point or baseline prescription for water is 100 ounces per day. 

However, please keep in mind this is just a starting point, as you must add in other factors. For example, if you are a bicyclist or avid runner, then you should drink more water. So, start with the baseline prescription. Then listen to your body and increase your daily intake based on what you are feeling. This is the most solid prescription that you can get without going to see a hydration specialist.

Important Health Reasons for Proper Hydration

It is important to maintain an exceptional hydration status for many reasons, including, but certainly not limited to:

• Toxin Removal
• Increased Energy Levels
• Mood Improvement

Other liquids such as tea, coffee, juices and the like do not factor into your hydration status. Only water by itself factors into your hydration status.

Achieving Good Hydration

Do not beat yourself up if you fail to drink 100 ounces of water every day. Just try your hardest. And do your best while remaining aware that what one person may need to stay healthy may be entirely different than what you need. Start at the baseline prescription of drinking half your body weight in ounces. And then listen to your body from there. It will always tell you what you need. 

Article shared from morellifit.com

NBA: Transfer market got busy. Lakers near deal to sign Brandon Bass, may trade Nick Young

The Lakers are not going in the tank again, not in what could well be Kobe Bryant‘s final season.

They struck out on big-name free agents but are now settling in on a smart strategy (maybe one they should have done from the start) of getting quality players to build the kind of roster base that elite free agents look at and think they could win with. They drafted D’Angelo Russell to go with Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson, then they have gotten Lou Williams and Roy Hibbert.

The latest Laker addition recent Celtics big man Brandon Bass, reports Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports. The financial terms of Bass’ deal are not yet finalized. He could get the room exception or they may clear some cap space for him. Bass is the definition of solid NBA big man. He averaged 10.6 points and almost five rebounds a game, shooting 50.5 percent He had a PER of 16.3. He will play hard for them.

For the Lakers to sign Williams and Hibbert is going to take clearing out some cap space, which could mean Nick Young will be on the move. The Lakers have tested the trade market for Young for a while, and it’s a smart move now — with Kobe and Williams and Young, all the Lakers jumpers would be contested.

Shared from probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com

The NBA Summer League 2015 Spot Platform for Teams' Draft Picks and Young Players

The NBA Summer League is a series of off-season competitions during which National Basketball Association come together to try out different summer rosters instead of their regular season line-ups. The summer leagues will feature teams' draft picks and other young players, as well as undrafted players trying to land a spot with a team, typically consisting of a mix of rookies, younger bench players, and unsigned free agents. The NBA has announced the schedules for the 2015 summer leagues in Las Vegas, Orlando and Utah.

When the 2015 NBA Summer Leagues start, it is everyone’s first glimpse into what is to come for a lot of these players as they embark on their NBA journeys. The NBA Summer League schedule starts on July 4th in Orlando with nine NBA teams participating.

The Las Vegas Summer League is the largest of the three competitions, featuring 24 teams, including one made up of select players from the D-League.

Nine teams will play in the Orlando league, with the Magic splitting into two squads to make an even 10 teams. The host team Orlando Magic will have a split squad (Orlando Blue and Orlando White) with the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, and Los Angeles Clippers, all sending squads to the Magic Kingdom. The Orlando Summer league will last from July 4th thru July 10th and will be televised on NBA TV. These are the match-ups that will be the most intriguing in the upcoming week for the Orlando Summer League that will feature top picks from the 2015 NBA Draft.

The Utah summer league, previously known as the Rocky Mountain Revue, will be played this year for the first time since 2009. Only four teams will play in the four-day Utah event.

Just weeks after facing in the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers will play on the first day of the Las Vegas Summer League. The first day of action will also likely feature the top two picks in this year's draft, as the Minnesota Timberwolves play the Los Angeles Lakers.


2015 NBA Summer League Participant

Las Vegas Summer League
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
NBA D-League Ambassadors
New Orleans Pelicans
New York Knicks
Philadelphia 76ers
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards

Orlando Summer League
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic white
Orlando Magic blue

Utah Jazz Summer League
Utah Jazz
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers

San Antonio Spurs

Events: East Coast Basketball League (ECBL) 2015 Chapter 1 Terengganu Happening Soon!!

The association Persatuan Akar Umbi Terengganu (PAUT) invites the under your supervision to participate in the 1st East Coast Basketball League this coming August. The tournament will be held at Batas Baru Court Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu. 

Over 200 players participating from all over Terengganu and the east coast such as, Kota Bharu, Kelantan and Kuantan, Pahang will join this year’s event. All teams are guaranteed at least 4 games in around robin competition format, which begins at 8:00pm Thursday, August 27th and will conclude late in the day on Saturday, September 12th 2015. 

This year’s tournament will feature two divisions, which is advision for Under 18 teams and advision for Select/Premier teams. The number of divisions in each age group and their respective levels of play will depend upon the number and types of teams applying and accepted into the tournament. 

The 2015 team entry fee is RM500.00 and another RM200.00 for the attendance/ disciplinary deposit, which will be refunded after the closing ceremony. Payment of the entry fee must be received by July1, 2015 and be tendered by cash or a cash check. 

All teams must register for the tournament and send the completed application print out in with their proof of payment. Please visit our Facebook www.facebook.ecbl.com for additional information.

Detail Of the competition as follows;

Competition Name: EAST COAST BASKETBALL LEAGUE (ECBL) 2015 Chapter 1 TRG
Title Sponsor: GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE & ALUMNI
Organizer: P.A.U.T & RICO LOCO SDN BHD
Location: Batas Baru Court, Kuala Terengganu.
Date: 27th August 2015 @ To be confirmed
Group: Mens Open, 10 - 24 teams
Qualification: 

1. Development Plan - Only open for all Non-Chinese Malaysian (Player that has Malaysia Identity Card), except special invited teams from organizer, which consist of Chinese and Foreign players.
2. Player qualification: A) Player must be Malaysian. B) Team can only have 1 state player (MABA and Agong Cup player).
3. One team can only consist of two (2) Chinese players and only one (1) can be on court at a time. The presence of these imports will spice up the game and elevate the game to greater heights.

Rules: Competition will adopt FIBA 2013 rules.
Schedule: Depend on team participation.

First round - grouping, 5 - 6 teams in 1 group. (Round robin)
Each group Top 4 teams advance to second round.

Team Players: Each team only 12 Players, 1 Coach and 1 Team Manager. Players and coach are not allowed to join 2 team at the same time.

Entries Due Date: Before 1st July 2015.
Entry Fees: RM500.00
Deposit: RM300 (*Rules and regulation terms apply)
Contact Mohd Hanif Halim: 016-916 6116
Wan Muhammad Hanafi: 011 1783 5570

Prize: 
Champion: RM900, Trophy and medal
1st Runner Up: RM700 Trophy and medal
2nd Runner Up: RM500 Trophy and medal
4th Place: Trophy and medal
MVP: Throphy
Correspondence email: mohdhanif265@gmail.com

Rules and Regulation

1. Team that unable to comply and follow the rules, resulted in lag of information, unreasonable walk over game, fighting, stop and leave during game running, challenging organizer final decision, may result in deposit forfeit and the team will not be allowed to continue the rest of the game in this championship.
2. Any false information regarding player qualification may result in full deposit forfeit: Example: More than One qualify state player in team, if were found out by the organizer, will forfeit the team qualification)
3. Substitution of team players should notify organizer before first match start, after first match, changing of any players will not be attended.
4. All players must submit photo. (Digital form acceptable.)
5. Entry fees and deposit shall be submitted before due date. Any submitting after due date will not be attend.
6. Any accident or injury that happen throughout the competition, organizer will not take any responsibility and attend any claims.
7. Organizer does not provide any third party insurance for this championship.
8. In the event of not enough team taking part to form a group in competition, all fee that already collected will be return.
9. Organizer remains the right to revise or make any future changers throughout the championship.

Basketball Outfit: Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2012 Volt/Gorge Green

Having a great fit is one of the single most important things for me in a hoops shoe. If I feel secure, I have the confidence to push myself that much harder. That doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll play better, but it does mean that I won’t be worrying about my foot sliding around while I should be worrying about who I’m guarding. But the story of the Hyperfuse isn’t about fit. It’s about the new construction technique, the weight reduction and the breathability. Those elements work in conjunction to produce a shoe that fits so well though, that fit steals the show.

Hyperfuse is a shoe with about as generally shaped of an upper as you can get. If you’ve ever laced a pair up tight though, you’ve probably noticed that the thin canvas upper actually forms to the foot very well, regardless of the unique shape of your foot. It doesn’t have the strength and support necessary to perform to the standards of modern basketball footwear, but the fit is dead on.

Rather than sewing and gluing layers of leathers and synthetic leathers, the fuse process bonds three much lighter and thinner layers together to create a single unit that makes up the entire upper. First, a synthetic base layer provides support in strategic areas to contain the foot – not unlike the thought behind Huarache-based shoes. Next, a mesh layer holds all of the pieces together, and provides large windows of breathability. And finally, a skin layer provides abrasion protection in key locations on the outside of the shoe. Along with some carefully placed foam in the collar (which provides solid heel lockdown), the layers are then bonded together to create a unibody upper, which also results in zero harsh seams along the underside, a common result of stitched sneakers.

One major area of note is the shoe’s width. My feet are slightly on the wide side (not enough to be a frequent issue), and the Hyperfuse felt very narrow. If you can’t try these on before buying, sizing up may be a good option.

The exceptional fit alone would have made the Hyperfuse a standout. That it’s been achieved as a result of a new construction method (which also makes great progress in the weight and breathability departments) makes future iterations even more exciting.

Grade Justification:

Comfort & fit: The fused upper fits like a glove, and the lack of traditional seems makes the interior smooth and soft.

Cushioning: Forefoot Zoom Air is a positive thing every time. The Phylon-based heel is a notch behind, but still provided a perfectly adequate level of impact protection on landings.
Ankle support: The collar padding is well-shaped, and combined with the overall fit, make for a secure shoe.
Breathability: It’s not on the level of the most breathable running shoes, but it’s about as good as I’ve felt on a hoops shoe. Tough to find breathability in a hoops shoe with this much support.
Heel-to-toe transition: The entire shoe is flexible and smooth, though midfoot support may be too flexible.
Traction: Excellent on a clean court as well as dusty courts.
Weight: They feel light on the foot. Pretty straightforward.


Specification shared from blog.eastbay.com

Health: Nutrition for Height Growth

Height is not mandatory requirement in the game of basketball, but with good body high will give you advantages against your opponent. And its certainly not involve hanging in pull bar for hours. In addition to a balanced diet for health, there are specific nutritional requirements for height growth. Height is largely determined by genetics, but to achieve maximum height growth, you have to have healthy bone structure. An essential mix of protein, vitamins and minerals can help you achieve maximum growth.

Protein

A study led by Catherine Berkey at Harvard University showed that dairy protein is especially beneficial for height growth. The research followed the growth of more than 5,000 girls and showed that their eventual adult height was linked to the amount of dairy products they ate during adolescence, with those who ate more milk and dairy protein becoming taller adults.

Vitamin C

One of the key vitamins for height growth is vitamin C, which is an important component for bone growth, according to the National Space Biomedical Research Institute. It is critical for growth and repair of not only bone but also connective tissue, such as tendons and ligaments that support the skeleton. To get plenty of vitamin C, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, such as citrus fruits, and avoid smoking, which depletes vitamin C levels.

Beta Carotene

Found in foods such as green plants, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, apricots and green peppers, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, beta carotene is an essential vitamin for bone growth because it is converted to vitamin A, which helps maintain normal growth and bone development. Vegetables such as carrots, squash and spinach are especially rich in vitamin A, and most milk is supplemented with it.

Vitamin D

According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin D is needed for bone growth and bone remodeling. Vitamin D deficiencies cause bones to become thin, brittle or misshapen. The best way to get vitamin D for height growth is from short, regular sun exposure -- being careful not to burn. However, supplements such as cod liver oil can boost your vitamin D if you live in a cloudy climate and during the winter.

Calcium

A South Dakota State University study on the relationship between bone growth and exercise in children showed that children with higher calcium intake had more bone growth than those who had lower calcium levels. Your body needs calcium throughout your life to build and maintain bone levels, so make calcium-rich foods such as dairy, sardines and leafy greens like spinach, a part of your diet for height growth.

Shared from livestrong.com

Basketball Tips: The Must-Have Requirements of Every Point Guard

The point guard position is the most important position on a basketball court. They are required to do many things in the game of basketball that are very different to the other four positions on the court. While the other 4 positions are mainly focused on putting the ball in the hoop, the point guard must have a different, more team focused mentality.

They must lead the team

The point guard is the extension of the coach on the court. They’re the ones that direct the team and decide which plays the team is going to run. The point guard position is the equivalent of the quarterback in football. This includes providing encouragement to team-mates and pumping them up before the game. There’s nothing better than team-mates slapping high-fives and shouting words of encouragement at each other. The point guard must be the one that initiates this.

They must have a team-first attitude

As soon as your point guard cares more about his own stats than the teams win/loss record, you’re in trouble. It would be easy for a point guard to dribble down the floor and call the play that will create a scoring opportunity for themselves, but a point guard shouldn’t care about who scores. The point guards only goal on each possession should be to provide the team with the best opportunity to score. Irrelevant of who is the one shooting the basketball or getting credited with the assist on the play.

They must be able to control the ball

The point guard has a lot of things on his mind during the first 8 seconds of an offensive possession. He needs to get the ball down the court with his head up, read the defense, decide on the best play to run depending on the opposing defense, and get his team-mates in the correct positions. This leaves little time to worry about if you’re going to lose the ball or how you’re going to get by your defender. Which is why dribbling and ball-control skills are extremely important to have if you’re a point guard.

They must have a high basketball IQ

The point guard dictates everything that happens on the offensive end of the floor. This requires the point guard to have a high basketball IQ in order to control the tempo and also to read the opposing defense and know which play will give you the best opportunity to score.

They must know where everyone should be during set plays

If your point guard knows where everyone should be on every play it will give them the ability to decide and run the best plays that will exploit the mismatches, or give the person with the hot hand a scoring opportunity.

They must have great passing skills

This one’s obvious. The main requirement of the point guard is to distribute the ball to his team-mates in positions that give them the opportunity to score. This often means tough passes off of a pick-and-roll or being able to get the ball to the post-players on the block. Great passing skills are essential for all point guards.

They must know their team-mates strengths and weaknesses

Again, this comes back to being able to exploit the defense depending on mismatches. The point guard must be able to utilize the strengths and weaknesses of his or her team-mates. They need to be able to notice if a certain player has an advantage in the post or off the dribble to call the right play accordingly.

Shared from basketballforcoaches.com