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Watching College Basketball - 10 Keys to Expert Viewing
College basketballâ??s popularity is at an all time high. The game offers many strategy and plots undetected by the average fan. Through the eyes of a successful college coach, learn how to intelligently watch college basketball this season.
1. Do Your Homework- Print a page of information from ESPNâ??s web site on each team and review it. Study each teamâ??s record from last season, current record, schedule, leading scorer, rebounder, and play maker. Note the respective coaching backgrounds and records. Extensive information is available in many magazines prior to the season.
2. Study the Coaches- Personalities come out in coaches and their players during games. How long have they been head coaches? How successful have they been? Check for clothing styles. Do they wear traditional suits or do they dress down with a sweater or turtleneck. Do they sit or stand during the game? Are they calm or crazy on the sidelines? Do the players emulate the personality of their coach on the floor? Notice how they deal with officials, especially early in the game. Coaches will fight for turf early and throughout the game. What are the contract terms of the coaches? Notice the difference between a new, energetic coach and an established coach. How does a coach in the last year of his contract react under the bright lights? If the Athletic Director is sitting directly behind the bench, itâ??s usually not a good sign for the coach!
3. Watch the Players- Players wear emotion on their sleeves during games. Watch for facial expressions, frustration, exhilaration, body language, and determination. Notice the length of their shorts, headbands, and hair styles. This will tell you a lot about who they are. Tattoos are commonplace these days and the variety is incredible. Determine who is the captain and shows leadership on the floor. Who are the freshman and which players are experienced? How do they come in and out of the game? Players covet playing time. Do they show emotion as they hit the bench or during time outs?
4. Donâ??t Watch the Ball- This skill separates the novice fan from the knowledgeable fan. If youâ??ve never done this, try it. You will find that it is much more difficult than you think. Most of the real action occurs away from the ball. Train yourself to not watch the ball, but focus on the other eight players. Where is the ball going next? A knowledgeable fan can anticipate the next move on the floor by watching away from the ball. Who are they setting picks for? What play are they running and why? Do they want to get the ball inside to the big men and are they successful?
5. Be the Coach- Being a student of the game will make you the coach. You can coach from your Lazy Boy chair! Make strategy part of your viewing enjoyment. Know the time and score at all times. Decide when you would call timeout, what you would scream at the officials, when you would substitute players, and how you would utilize your coaching staff and bench. Is your best player getting enough shots? Why or why not? If the opponentâ??s best player is killing you, what adjustments will you make to slow him down or stop him? Will you play man to man defense or a zone? How about a box and one junk defense? At the end of the half or the game, what play will you run to get a sure basket. At the end of the game, choose your best defense or best offensive strategy to win the game. Good luck, youâ??ll need it! CHALLENGE-Pretend for one night that you are the head coach. Take ownership of the game and the outcome. Become the coach before, during and after the game. Imagine the emotions and excitement that are a real part of coaching. Experience the pregame nervousness and anxiety, the game time sweat and roller coaster of emotions, and the post game highs or lows. Remember, you will take credit for the loss and give your players the credit for the win. In losing, you must answer to the media, your administration, alumni, fans, and your wife. A daunting task, donâ??t you think? Give it a try and you will have a tremendous appreciation for all coaches and players who play competitive athletics at this level.
6. Analyze Timeouts and the Bench- These are emotionally charged situations. During timeouts notice the playerâ??s attentiveness or lack of interest. Is the head coach or an assistant coach doing the talking? Is he coaching or venting frustration? When players come out of the game, does the head or assistant coach assist them, or do the coaches even acknowledge them? Do they sit by the coaches or down the bench? Are they content with returning to the bench? Notice how teammates react to them.
7. Feel the Passion- Put yourself on the floor, on the bench, and in the locker room at halftime. There is a lifetime of emotion poured out in one single game. Television can never do justice to what actually goes on during a game. Feel the passion!
8. Be a Free Throw Coach- Analyze the various styles of free throws. Which styles are most efficient? Most players have a routine before shooting. For fun, go run a few miles at a fast pace, then try to shoot a free throw in front of a hostile arena filled with 15,000 fans screaming for you to miss. Itâ??s not as easy as you thought, huh?
9. Style of Play- There are a hundred ways to play the game of basketball. Each coach is comfortable with a specific style. These could be conservative, run and gun, or any combination. Playing styles often times reflect the coachâ??s personality and background. Defensively, some coaches drop players back to protect their goal, while others send five players to the offensive boards. Some employ zones while a majority of coaches play man to man. Some coaches press full or half court and some donâ??t press at all. Some play only 7 players, while other coaches use all 12. Some shoot the ball quickly in the shot clock (35 seconds), while others milk the clock for a good shot. As you watch games, determine which style leads to consistent success. What are the common threads among teams who consistently come out on top? You may be surprised!
10. Most Importantly, Donâ??t Forget the Treats!- Remember, you donâ??t own the outcome of the game. Putting food on the table and keeping your retirement home will not be determined by whether your team wins or loses. Watch games for their high entertainment value and soak in the enthusiasm the games create. Enjoy and come back tomorrow night for more action.
Article Summary- Millions of people are attracted to college basketball on television. A small percentage of people truly know how to watch the game with all of its passion, drama, and strategy. This article will give you the opportunity to become a knowledgeable fan and office expert. These guidelines will help you add enjoyment and expertise to the art of watching your next game.
Randy Brown
http://www.articlesbase.com/basketball-articles/watching-college-basketball-10-keys-to-expert-viewing-94733.html
Basketball Bags - Portable basketball hoops and goals
Whether you are a basketball player or just a fan, having a team bag is the coolest thing these days. During a time when physical fitness has become a big deal, it is very convenient to lug a team bag around where you could store everything you need either for playing an actual basketball game or for just working out in the gym at the end of a working day.
There are a lot of team bags available nowadays, most of which you could even have personalized with your own name or customized with your favorite basketball team’s colors and logo.
These team bags are durable because most are manufactured using PVC backed woven fabric making it water resistant. It also has high capacity because of its multiple pockets and compartments. Team bags could usually have ventilated shoe pockets to store your basketball shoes before the game and your work shoes while at the game. It has wide-zippered front pockets and expanded mesh pockets just about for anything and everything that you would want to put in your bags. A floor board with a large center compartment ensures that your things inside don’t get jumbled around.
To make sure that your thirst is quenched after a game, team bags usually come with a water bottle pocket. Inside pockets are even in place to store your keys or CD player. Wrap-around straps and adjustable shoulder straps give you a choice on how to carry your bag around. But, if you are not the one to lug the bigger team bag around, there are also other basketball bags that you could carry around. There are backpacks, canvass tote bags and even mesh sling bags that could hold your things as well as not stopping you from being trendy.
The backpacks are usually made of polyester with PVC coating and have compartments for just about anything that you might want to put inside although these are usually favored by those who don’t bring a lot of stuff around. The canvass tote bags and the mesh sling bags are more of storing just a change of clothing for after a game. It should not be said that these items could not be customized with your favorite team’s colors and logo though because they can also be seen as your statement of being a fan. There are a number of these different kinds of bags around that features team logos and even that special NBA season that you would want to have a memento of.
To make these bags even more your own especially if you belong to a basketball team, you could hang a personalized bag tag or buy for each of your teammates. These bag tags could be personalized with your team name, information and team colors. These special keepsakes will help remind you and your team of your bond or that unforgettable season where you won it big-time. The tags will not only promote team spirit, it is also a fun way for you to identify your backpack or team bag.
Daniel Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/basketball-articles/basketball-bags-126881.html
Basketball Drills Secrets Of The Zone
Writer Glen C. Brown author of `Secrets Of The Zone Press` writes from this extraordinary coaching and basketball skilled book.
`In the writing of a text on a coaching system for a major competitive sport, the author is immediately under suspicion that he has withheld his own `secret formula` for success.
So a coach, player or basketball fan who takes a serious interest in the game that was originated and has been perfected in the United States may greet this volume with some trepidation.
Such was my first reaction when asked by Glenn Brown to write an introduction to this volume on the art of basketball coaching.
This man has been a prep and college player, head coach of an outstanding U. S. Army team, coach at an Illinois high school of more than 2,000, coach at an Indiana high school with the largest high school field house in the world that seats 10,000. He is now a successful college coach and is far from leaving his chosen profession any time soon.
Likewise, he hasn`t changed his system or dropped it so he is willing to reveal the system he has been using all this time.
Here, the man who has compiled a 229-115 all-time basketball record as a coach of every age and type of player, has `bared` his basketball soul.
Most books of this type are highly technical, but Brown has, through careful diagrams and simple explanations, treated each phase of the game with simplicity.`
And what a book it is! Whether you are a coach, player or simply interested in basketball, this book is an absolute must have! There is not another more detailed script of game in any book on the planet! It is foundational, it is creative and genius! Yes, basketball players must be creative and genius in using feet, hands and brains! Please, don`t even question it! This is the manual you won`t want to share because it is so good that you want to keep it secret! Coaches, teachers, students, players and basketball lovers must get this book in their hands or downloaded onto their computers. Bar none, this book is diagramed, detailed and contains the works, study and experience that will `land you in the basketball zone`. You will feel like that 3-pointer ball that has just been `swished` and made by your favorite team in the last minute of the game.
If that isn`t exciting enough, then think of your `child` or `grandchild` receiving the book and excelling in an all time favorite sport! I love basketball, both playing and watching, but I especially enjoy learning about it and this book is a golden treasure for anyone to own! This book contains actual drills, in written words and diagrams and is easy to understand. I would not even hesitate, I would Jump up and grab this `basketball drill secret zone book`. You will be exceedingly ecstatic and on the court! I would recommend this book to my children, my children`s children and their children beyond! It`s a timelessly classic book that is universally effective!
Hoops anyone? `Got Game?`
You will now! Just get your hands on this incredible `Basketball Zone Book` and `Look out courts!`
The ball is about to hit the backstop! … Dunk!
Jimmy Cox
http://www.articlesbase.com/basketball-articles/basketball-drills-secrets-of-the-zone-54062.html
Coaching Basketball Is Not Always Fun And Games
I wound up volunteering to coach basketball, a game I new nearly nothing about. Shortly after I wound up with the job, a parent approached me and asked what sort of coaching style I was going to use. After I managed to clear up the blank look on my face and stammer out some lame answer, I drove quickly to the privacy of my own home to avoid any more questions, and thus, not let my inexperience be known, for I knew after that question that I was in way over my head.
At the time I was probably more suited to coach football, but basketball was what I was dealt. A buddy of mine who had played basketball in high school told me that his coach had used a hands-on coaching style. The coach played with the athletes, showing them the different techniques to use, and what situation to use them in, etc…However, he also pointed out that coaching basketball is more than just playing basketball with the kids like his coach did, but coaching is also about teaching fundamental skills that the players will use for life, as well as team work.
Feeling even more hopeless and confused after this conversation I set out to do heavy research on the topic of coaching basketball. I immediately realized that a large list of references existed to help me, which gave me a great feeling of relief. I had never thought of such concepts as team play, sportsmanship and sharing in regards to coaching sports before, but from my reading I began to get familiar with the topics and ideas. I quickly learned that basketball was about more than just putting a ball through a hoop.
As part of my research I began reading articles that focused on building skills and confidence level in young athletes while coaching. I did my best to absorb everything, but still felt that I might be a little out of my element coaching a basketball team. I had to constantly reassure myself that I could do it. The whole experience ultimately taught me that before you can coach other people you must be able to coach yourself, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
I’ve been coaching for six weeks now. I feel I’ve done a fair job of helping my players build skills and confidence levels they can use on the court and in the real world. This experience has taught me much about myself and about coaching. In regards to coaching, I have learned that it is not all fun and games, but a huge responsibility; however, I think I’ve prepared myself for the challenge. After all, my team is 5 and 1.
While coaching a team might seem a very attractive job to many a sports fan, it is not easy. I only coach at the Junior High level and it’s exhausting and stressful. I can’t imagine what it is like at the professional level, and I don’t want to. If you are interested in being a coach, make sure and give it some serious thought.
Joe Goertz
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/coaching-basketball-is-not-always-fun-and-games-74113.html
College Basketball Merchandise
College Basketball is big business. There is a lot of money to be made, and it’s not just going into the pockets of overpaid pro athletes.
The demand for college basketball apparel, memorabilia and footwear continues to grow. Fans of all ages purchase autographed caps to promote their favorite players, and they’re taking a nostalgic turn and buying basketball jerseys of their own college teams. This demand is met by the modern generation of kids that live on the fashions launched by their favorite basketball stars.
When the NCAA tournament begins in March, the demand for college basketball merchandise goes through the roof. Suddenly, everyone is in the market for college caps, jerseys, shorts, logos, headbands, wristbands and team logo merchandise.
Basketball shoes are in particular demand, as all fans want to sport the shoes endorsed by their favorite athletes. Nike, Reebok and Adidas have all fueled this fire by marketing shoes named for popular basketball starts. Ever since Chuck Taylor endorsed his first pair of Converse sneakers back in 1923, children have been tireless pleading with parents to buy shoes carrying the name of their favorite athletes. The high voltage advertising that accompanies basketball game telecasts only fuels the “gotta-have” basketball fever.
The arrival of the Internet has made college basketball merchandise even more accessible. Buyers can now purchase anything and everything online, from college flags, banners, hats, helmets and jackets, to shoes, shorts, watches, jewelry and more. Autographed photographs of favorite players, and photos from historic matches can be easily purchased online. You can even buy a watch that was worn by a coach or a star player.
The Internet has made it extremely easy for fans to find basketball merchandise particularly associated with their choice of college. Some sites offer custom-made basketball uniforms, so a fan merely enters his or her size requirements to get a “regulation” jersey, jacket or shorts. There are folding chairs available in college colours, stainless steel and pewter travel mugs, thermoses, snack helmets — virtually anything you want is emblazoned with college basketball logos and ready to be picked up by hungry fans. Even desktops are getting into the college basketball merchandise groove, and the tech-savvy fan can now purchase an optical mouse in his or her choice of college colours.
Online auction sites are great sources for college basketball merchandise. Hundreds of retailers put up basketball memorabilia on the auction sites, and wait for the fans’ best bids. If you’re in the market for memorabilia you’ll need to bid with caution, as there is an influx of fake memorabilia on the market. Check the seller’s return policy and feedback rating before agreeing to make your purchase.
From the day the big tourney kicks off in March, and right through Christmas, college basketball merchandise means big money for marketers. If you have a college basketball fan in your life, you’ll never be short of great gift ideas.
Durable outdoor or indoor basketball hoops can be a great gift idea as well!
Michael Davis
http://www.articlesbase.com/basketball-articles/college-basketball-merchandise-102792.html
NBA Dunks Vol.2 - Indoor Basketball Goals
Best NBA video on YouTube…vol.2 NBA Slam Dunk Contests 2003-2006 Jason Richardson Fred Jones Josh Smith Nate Robinson …
Sweet indoor basketball hoop dunks.
Duration : 0:4:10
2008 NBA Recap of best Dunks …