5 more ways to be finish the season well

1. Make your short shots, even under defensive pressure. A lot of players miss the inside shots under the basket because they shoot short. (Inexperienced players actually shoot over the basket). Watch the Division 1 teams, when they miss inside it is often short. The ball needs to be coming down into the hoop. Gather the strength not to let down when in traffic and focus your eyes on the target. Get it up so that it has a chance to come down through the net. Practice finishing with someone fouling you.

2. Point guards control the game. Selfish point guard = a bad team. If you play point, you need to serve the team, not yourself. Study the great point guards of the past, especially John Stockton. He makes everyone on the court better because of his servant style. He was always dictating the tempo, working the hardest, setting up others to be in a great position to score, and he rarely turned the ball over.

3. Move. Standing is bad on offense. Go set a pick, the best kinds are away from the ball. Don’t get in the way of the one-on-one attack. Rebound. Force yourself to do something productive.

4. Don’t dribble in traffic. It rarely succeeds. Secure the ball, fake, pivot. You have many options other than dribbling through multiple defenders.

5. Hit your free throws. Twenty-five percent of games are won at the line. Most great shooters who miss do so because they have lost mental concentration. Maintain your rhythm, exhale, and focus.

Shout Out: Winning as a team

Shout Out
from Tracy Ellis-Ward, NBC Camps Director of Women’s Basketball

It's not all about You
With hoop season well underway, there is a focus on winning permeating amongst your team. Even if the team losses outnumber the victories at this point, on some level, most players still hold onto the hope that winning another game is within their grasp if they can just play together. My former colleague, Angela Taylor has graciously shared some personal wisdom that clearly underscores what being a teammate is all about. Angela played at Stanford University and has been a professional executive at the WNBA headquarters in New York City and served as Vice President with the Minnesota Lynx. She has proven to be just as industrious and intelligent long after her playing career ended earning her MBA while working full-time! Angela has traveled the globe which has resulted in her gaining a distinct ability to recognize talent which is vital in her current position as WNBA General Manager for the Washington Mystics.

WINNING as a TEAM by Angela Taylor
Someone asked me the other day, "What was your favorite memory of playing college hoops at Stanford." When I responded, "My freshman year," they were shocked to then hear that I only played a total of 41 minutes in 33 games that year. While we did go on to win the first of two NCAA Championships that year, it was our journey as a team that has had a greater impact on my life than actually winning the title.

What was so special about that team in 1990? Well we were a collection of individuals from different backgrounds (small towns from around the country) who were bonded by a common goal which was to win a championship. To a certain extent, we were the only ones who believed that we could accomplish such a feat, which made it all the more enjoyable. In fact, that "us against the world" attitude fueled us along the journey. If you want to be part of a winning team, you must put your team FIRST in everything you do. Individual accolades must take a backseat to team success. If each member of the team buys into that mentality and the leaders follow that rule, then the opportunities for individuals to be rewarded will be plentiful and the potential for success will be enormous. There’s no wonder that the last two teams to win the NBA and WNBA Championships (Boston Celtics and Detroit Shock, respectively) had great players who bought into the formula that TEAM > individual. Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce previously were the stars on their teams, but they came together during the 2007‐08 season to be a dominating force.
What does it take to be a good teammate? Here are three things that I know will help to make you a "championship" teammate:

1. Always Work Hard
During my freshman year, one of my least favorite drills in practice was the Zig-Zag drill where one player is working on defense & the other is working on ball-handling. The coaches always paired me up against Sonja Henning who was one of the best point guards in the country. There were times when I was trying to dribble the ball up the court against her that I couldn’t even get the ball to half court without her stealing the ball. In the back of my mind, I was thinking how nice it would be if she would "take it easy on me." She never did, and I am so grateful that she didn’t because by the end of the year, my ball-handling had improved tremendously.
Sometimes great players take it easy on younger players so that they don't get frustrated (or because they are afraid they will be mad at them), but it is important for you to challenge your teammates at all times. They will make you better and you can help make them better. For those younger players, don't think they are being mean to you by challenging you. Know that they care enough about you to help you get better.

2. Understand Your Role
If you are supposed to be the leader of the team, then lead positively by example. If you are a reserve or role player, be ready to step up when your name is called. If you keep working hard, your role may change over time. No matter what your role is, everybody plays an important part in the team's success.

3. BELIEVE - Success Takes a Positive Attitude
Winning is contagious and winning is an attitude. We all want to be around people who are positive, who enjoy what they are doing, and who want to have fun. If you want to be part of a team and contribute to your team’s success, you must believe in the same goals and buy into the team philosophy. If you fouled out of the game and end up on the bench, cheer your teammates on. If a teammate is struggling, give them a pat on the back. If your coach yells at you, listen to "what" they are telling you…not "how" loud they are telling you. If you are the star player, make sure you teammates know that you care more about the final score than your final statistics. We have all heard the motto TEAM - Together Everyone Achieves More!!! It’s true. The beauty of basketball is that it is a team sport, so make the most of your opportunity by being a great teammate!

Winning is so much more enjoyable when you have someone to share it with.
Best of luck to you on your journey!


###
Remember there is no "I" in TEAM and you will go far in life - on and off the court.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 and Matthew 18:19-21 are great Biblical reminders of the importance of
working together.

Remember to email your questions or drop a personal shout out to me
anytime at tellisward@nbccamps.com.

Heart, Soul & Sport,
Coach T
Director of Women's Basketball
& Whitworth Site Director
February 2009

THE SPEED MENTALITY

By Mike Nilson

Everyone spends their off season in the gym working on their game. You can count on your competition improving their skills on the court. So, what can you do extra to get the edge? Skill training is just a piece of the puzzle. You need a speed explosion program that will enhance your game and lift you above the competition.

Speed explosion training teaches the body to jump higher and change direction quicker. It can turn a weak lay-up into a thunderous jam. It can convert a rebound into a coast-to-coast basket. It can transform a walk-on to a starter. It takes all your athletic skills and enhances them. But, more important than speed training is the mentality it requires.

There have been many books and articles written about the importance of mental preparation before games. Athletes are taught to visualize themselves being successful and to see plays before they happen. This same approach needs to be taken for your speed explosion workouts.
The only way to be explosive is to think explosive. The speed mentality is a commitment to thinking quicker and believing that every repetition is improving you. Without the speed mentality, your workouts will probably make you sweat, make you breathe hard and tire you out, but they will never help you reach your potential.

Take the first couple minutes of your workout to revisit your goals. See yourself playing above the rim. Feel yourself a step quicker. Although it sounds silly, visualization will increase the results of your workout. Believe in yourself and remember that athletes are made!

Mike Nilson
Master TeacherMike Nilson is a strength and speed training coach for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. the founder of the U-District Institute of Sports Performance, and the strength and speed training coach of Gonzaga University's athletic teams. Mike played on Gonzaga's Elite 8 and Sweet 16 teams. He received Defensive Player of the Year in the WCC and played professionally in Germany for 2 years.

Check out the Speed Camps
Dates and Locations
Newberg, OR (George Fox University)Boys Ages: 12-18Girls Ages: 12-18July 17th – July 19th Cost: $270 overnight

Redding, CABoys Ages: 12-18Girls Ages: 12-18July 17th – July 19th Cost: $270 overnight
Edmonton, AB Canada (King's University College)Boys Ages: 12-18Girls Ages: 12-18August 15th – August 17th Cost: $270 USD overnight

Speed Explosion Combination Camps
Non-Contact Football and Speed ExplosionAuburn, WA (Auburn Adventist Academy)Boys Grades 6,7, & 8 (2009-2010 School Year)June 29-August 2, 2009 Cost: $345

Volleyball Power Camp including Speed ExplosionSpokane, WA (Whitworth University)Girls Ages: 12-18August 7th – August 9th Cost: $270 overnight

Visit speed camps page