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Coaching ManagementB A S K E T B A L L P R E S E A S O N E D I T I O N 2 0 1 0

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DISCOMFORT ZOneDialing Up Your Defense With a 2-3 Zone■ Pre-Practice Routines■ Barefoot Training

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CONTENTS Coaching ManagementBasketball EditionPreseason 2010

Vol. XVIII, No. 6

COVER STORY

Discomfort Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14No longer considered a lazy defense, today’s 2-3 zone is an attacking strategy that confuses opposing offenses and takes away easy shots .

LEadERShip

Quality Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Teaching your team to put its pre-practice routine on autoplay empowers players and promotes crisp workouts .

STREngTh & COndiTiOning

Baring Their Soles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Barefoot training is a secret weapon for improving movement efficiency, balance, and kinetic chain integrity in players .

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40OVERTIME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

On the cover: Last season, the shot blocking of Ekpe Udoh (13) and Quincy acy (4) made the Baylor Bears’ 2-3 zone one of the stingiest defenses in the country and helped carry the team to the nCaa division i Men’s Basketball Elite Eight. Story begins on page 14.

29LOCKER ROOM Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3High school national championship debate … Big West coaches cook up publicity … Double duty on the sidelines … Young coach learning the ropes … Elmore on board with iHoops .

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Randy Bennett, Head Men’s Coach at Saint Mary’s College, discusses his approach to revitalizing a down program and replacing star players .

BaSkETBall FaCIlITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37PRoDuCT lauNCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38TEaM EquIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39STRENgTH TRaININg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42CoaCHINg aIDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

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The Coaching Management Basketball edition is pub l-ished in august and March by Mag, Inc . and is distrib-uted free to college and high school coaches in the united States and Canada .

Copyright © 2010 by Mag, Inc . all rights reserved . Text may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without the permission of the pub lisher . un solicited materials will not be returned unless

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Mailing lists for Coaching Management Basketball are provided by the Clell Wade Coaches Directory .

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Nationals Good For High Schools?In the first year of the ESPN RISE National High School Invitational, only private schools competed for the mythical national title. But this year, public schools joined the party after the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) decided to permit its members to compete in the tournament if invited. The FHSAA’s move, plus recent discussions by the NFHS, has many wondering if the tide is turning toward an official high school national championship.

While detractors say national tournaments featuring high school teams go against the spirit of scholastic sports, FHSAA Executive Director Roger Dearing views the Invi-tational as an opportunity. “Number one, it was a way to promote high school athlet-ics to a national audience,” he says. “All of the games were broadcast on ESPN channels. Number two, it was a way to promote what we’re doing with basketball here in Flori-da. And number three, with the Invitational being held in Washington, D.C., we felt it would be a wonderful educa-tional experience for our stu-dent-athletes.”

Two boys’ teams and two girls’ teams from Florida com-peted in the three-day tourna-ment in early April. Dearing says the FHSAA asked tourna-ment organizers to invite the same number of boys’ and girls’ squads so there would be no risk of a Title IX viola-tion. The FHSAA also reserved the right to block teams from attending if a squad faced dis-ciplinary action or officials felt the team would not represent the FHSAA in a positive way.

“All of our coaches who went said it was one of the best experiences they ever had,” Dearing says. “When we heard the testimony from the coaches, it was just unbeliev-

able feedback. We felt that all around, it was a good experi-ence for the teams involved.”

But not everyone agrees that promoting high school ath-letics on a national scale is a good thing. Jack Roberts, Executive Director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), is one who objects. He believes that holding a national champion-ship in any sport allows an emphasis that is inappropriate in education-centered inter-in education-centered inter-in education-centered interscholastic athletics.

“In fact, I think we already push the envelope by hold-ing state championships,” he

says. “They interfere with class-room instructional time and cost schools, communities, and fans money. We’d be smarter to scale back rather than place even more emphasis on sports in schools.

“If we want to add to exist-ing conflicts with academic programs, recruiting scandals, budget problems, and com-mercial influences, national championships are a way to do that,” Roberts continues. “But if we want to stop those problems from getting worse, we should keep national championships out of our pro-gramming altogether. That’s Michigan’s strong position, as

Top recruit Austin Rivers, of Winter Park (Fla.) High School, drives to the basket during the 2010 ESPN RISE National High School Invitational. There is growing debate whether national championships fit the high school athletics model.

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it is in many other states.”

Still, supporters say national tournaments are just the natu-ral evolution of high school athletics. “People would be amazed at the tremendous level of competition in high school athletics now,” Dear-school athletics now,” Dear-school athletics now,” Dearing says. “Some athletes and teams don’t find a challenge unless they seek out national competition.”

So far, the FHSAA plans to allow its invited teams to attend the ESPN RISE Invita-tional again next year. But no other state association has joined Florida in doing so—yet.

Meanwhile, the NFHS is con-sidering creating its own national championships. “There were extensive discussions among a number of state asso-ciation representatives at our winter meeting on the topic,” NFHS Executive Director Bob Kanaby says. “There are those who have expressed great interest and those who have said it’s not the direction to go in, but right now the decision rests with our Board of Direc-tors, who will continue to dis-cuss the matter.”

The ESPN RISE National High School Invitational also involved private schools from Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Vir-Carolina, Virginia, and West Vir-Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. The teams were chosen based on their end-of-season ranking in the ESPN RISE Fab 50 and input from a selection committee. The winner of the boys’ bracket for the second year in a row was Findlay Col-lege Prep at the Henderson (Nev.) International School, adding fuel to the fire for critics of putting high school teams on a national stage.

Findlay Prep is quite familiar with the spotlight and has been a hotbed of controversy in recent years. The school’s team is made up of players from all over the country, and while detractors say it is a glorified travel team, others say the ath-

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letes benefit from the school’s customized one-on-one educa-tion opportunities. However, in late February, Henderson International announced that it would be closing after the cur-rent school year due to financial difficulties, leaving the Findlay Prep program searching for a new home.

Big West Coaches Cook Up PublicityIt’s easy for preseason league media days to become bland affairs. So Mike Daniels, Assis-tant Commissioner of the Big West Conference, wanted to add some flavor to last sea-son’s event. He reached out to marketers at Anaheim’s ESPN Zone restaurant, and togeth-er they turned the standard press conference into a Top Chef competition among head coaches.

“We were looking for a fun, entertaining activity that coaches wouldn’t ordinarily get to do,” says Daniels. “The cooking contest gave them a chance to interact in a different way and provided an oppor-tunity for the media to get to know our coaches in a very social environment. We wanted to generate excitement for the upcoming season, and that’s exactly what happened.”

Members of the Internet, print, radio, and television news media ate it up, filing stories about coaches trading playbooks for spatulas, trash talk around the hotplates, and dishes rich enough to give judges a heart attack. Men’s and women’s coaches from the conference’s five southern Cal-ifornia schools—Cal State-Ful-lerton, Cal State-Northridge, Long Beach State, UC-Irvine, and UC-Riverside—competed in teams of two, and when the smoke cleared, Cal State-Ful-lerton found itself at the top of the culinary heap.

Victory was sweet for the Titans, whose Head Men’s


Coach Bob Burton and Head Women’s Coach Marcia Foster grabbed medals for Best Pre-sentation, Best Taste, and over-all honors as the Top Chefs. “It was a nice way to kick off the season and represent our program,” says Foster. “It was a gimmick, but it created camaraderie and brought out everyone’s sense of competi-tiveness.”

Based on the popular TV show Top Chef, the Big West version asked each team to prepare two pasta dishes in 20 minutes. For their first course, the Fuller-ton duo successfully replicated ESPN Zone’s sun-dried tomato and pesto penne dish—without knowing the ingredients ahead of time. For the second, Foster used a recipe of her own, Smokin’ Chokin’ Chicken, which featured sautéed chicken breasts, garlic, broccoli, and mushrooms topped with butter sauce and served over rigatoni.

The panel of judges, which included the head chef of

ESPN Zone and the execu-tive chef of Angel Stadium of Anaheim, praised Burton’s and Foster’s “blend of color,” “understated elegance,” and ability to “take a simple dish of ingredients and put them together in a pleasing way.” They were less enthusiastic about UC-Riverside, whose coaches took home the Kitch-en Nightmare award—an Any-one Can Cook book, a fire extinguisher, and an Easy Bake oven—while staying good-natured about coming in last.

Knowing that coaches prob-ably wouldn’t feel comfort-able cooking in front of a crowd was actually part of the conference’s plan. “There was some hesitation from the coaches, because they’d never participated in some-thing like this,” says Daniels. “But for the event to succeed, they needed to take that leap, even if they didn’t com-pletely understand what they were supposed to do. And the judges deliberately tried

to keep the chefs off balance, because that’s how you pro-duce the most fun.”

Daniels is confident the com-petition could succeed in other conferences too, as long as they choose the right partner—one that’s willing to open its kitchen, set up contest rules, prepare ingredients ahead of time, and host a major media event. For this October’s edition, he’d like to increase fan participation through ticket contests on Twit-ter and Facebook, with winners getting the chance to cheer on their favorites in person.

With conference bragging rights at stake, Cal State-Fullerton is ready to defend its title. “My real goal is to be Big West bas-ketball champion, not Big West cooking champion,” says Fos-ter, who’s beginning her second season as head coach. “But if winning Top Chef gets Cal State-Fullerton’s name out there, it’s a positive for the program. This season, we’ll come up with a dish that’s even better.”

Cal State-Fullerton Head Men’s Coach Bob Burton answers a question as he and the school’s Head Women’s Coach, Marcia Foster, cook up their award-winning pasta dish during the Big West Conference’s Top Chef competition. The event was part of the league’s 2009-10 preseason media day. Burton and Foster won the contest.

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Wise Beyond His YearsThey say coaching ages a per-They say coaching ages a per-They say coaching ages a person, but in the case of Josh-ua Washington, Head Men’s Coach at Polytechnic Institute of New York University, that may not be a bad thing. At 25, Washington was one of the youngest head coaches in the NCAA during the 2009-10 season.

Last season, two NYU-Poly players were the same age as Washington, but he downplays his youth. “It’s pretty similar to any coach who has become a head coach for the first time in his career,” he says. “I have the same obstacles, roadblocks, and learning curve.

“It doesn’t matter what my age is when it comes to relat-ing to the players,” he adds. “Someone could be 50 or 60


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Last season, as Head Men’s Coach at Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Joshua Washington was among the youngest coaches in the NCAA. At 25 years old, Washington was the same age as two NYU-Poly players. Cultivating relationships with his athletes is among Washington’s top priorities as a coach.

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years old and get the best out of each player by treating them like a friend and being truthful.”

Washington played at NYU-Poly, an NCAA Division III school, for four years and served as an assistant coach for the school’s women’s team for two more seasons. Before accepting the men’s position, he spoke to Head Women’s Coach Jimmy Barrett and solicited advice from his high school and AAU coaches about taking over a program. They told him to be honest with his ath-letes and to take an interest in them as players and people.

“I have been really involved in the Poly community,” says Washington. “While I was the assistant women’s coach, I was building a relationship with the men’s team. During the season, I would help the men with their individual skill devel-opment and I served as a mentor to them at the same time I was coach-ing the women. When I was named the head men’s coach, the guys were excited because they knew who I was and we had already built friendships.”

Washington made developing relation-ships a priority through what he calls “360 feedback meetings.” “Once a month I sit down with my players and evaluate them,” he says. “I talk about basketball and their career goals. At the end of the meeting, they do an evalua-tion of me and how I can become a bet-ter coach and better interact with and understand them.”

Last season, the team finished 4-21, but despite the disappointing record, Wash-ington isn’t panicking. He lost only one player and retains the Skyline Confer-ence’s second-leading scorer and its top shot blocker.

The only change he has decided on is conducting feedback meetings earlier and more frequently. Last year, he start-ed holding them on a monthly basis later in the season, and this year he will start in the preseason.

Washington’s ultimate goal is to become an NBA coach, and his short-term goal is to approach each day looking to make step-by-step improvements. “Young coaches need to be consistent and research the game everyday,” he says. “The only way your team is going to get better is if you become a better coach each day.”

6 CoaChing ManageMent


Len Elmore Takes the Lead with iHoopsIf you watched any college or profession-al games last season, odds are you also saw a banner or viewed a commercial or two for iHoops. But do you know what iHoops is? And did you know that former college basketball great Len Elmore is its new Chief Executive Officer?

A year ago, this NCAA and NBA initia-tive to improve the quality of youth bas-ketball—athletically, educationally, and socially—was still just an idea. Now, the group and its mission are beginning to take shape. Dubbed iHoops, the joint

As the new Chief Executive Officer of iHoops, Len Elmore is helping develop the program as a resource for coaches, players, parents, and officials.

effort unveiled its Web site, hosted its first nationwide skills challenge for youth play-ers this spring, and formed several key partnerships to help keep the ball rolling.

The addition of Elmore, who took over in May, has been a shot in the arm for iHoops. A longtime college basketball broadcaster who spent eight seasons in the NBA, Elmore is familiar to coaches, players, and fans of all ages. A former assistant district attorney in New York City, Elmore holds a degree from Harvard Law School and is a member of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. Before being named CEO, Elmore was on the iHoops Board of Directors.

“I realize this is a challenge, but the goals are worthy of the effort and the time,” he says. “For a long time, I’ve been lobbying

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After drills, his team chills. The workout’s fi nished, the body isn’t. That’s why the Screaming Eagles of Eugene Ashley High School drink chocolate milk after games, practices and workouts. They know that the two hours after exercise are crucial for taking in the right balance of carbohydrates and protein, plus fl uids and electrolytes to help replenish what’s lost in sweat. And that research suggests that lowfat chocolate milk may be just as effective as certain commercial sports drinks in helping athletes refuel muscles after a workout. Coach Jason Tindal checked out the data, and he’s a chocolate milk believer. See the science for yourself, or even tell us your success story, at milkdelivers.org. You could be our next winner, with a Milk Mustache ad of your own.

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After drills, his team chills. The workout’s fi nished, the body isn’t. That’s why the Screaming Eagles of Eugene Ashley High School drink chocolate milk after games, practices and workouts. They know that the two hours after exercise are crucial for taking in the right balance of carbohydrates and protein, plus fl uids and electrolytes to help replenish what’s lost in sweat. And that research suggests that lowfat chocolate milk may be just as effective as certain commercial sports drinks in helping athletes refuel muscles after a workout. Coach Jason Tindal checked out the data, and he’s a chocolate milk believer. See the science for yourself, or even tell us your success story, at milkdelivers.org. You could be our next winner, with a Milk Mustache ad of your own.

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for the same important points that iHoops stands for, and I thought, how could I not step up to the plate and accept the challenge to move us for-ward?”

There’s no doubt that Elmore’s presence lends credibil-ity to the initiative, and will go a long way toward the program’s development. As iHoops continues to cultivate its resources, Elmore says its goal is to get more athletes, coaches, parents, officials, and administrators on board.

“We’ve gotten a lot done, but now it’s a matter of being able to honor our mission,” Elmore says. “We’ve received great feedback from a range of folks who have been involved, and the Web site has been widely accepted in the basketball community. We’re just scratch-ing the surface and will contin-

were narrowed down to 18 par-ticipants—nine boys and nine girls—in each age group who convened in Orlando, Fla., in May for the final event.

“The Skills Challenge is all about increased youth partici-pation in basketball,” Elmore says. “It’s meant to emphasize the fun element of developing fundamental skills. We want kids to know from the get-go, and to always remember, that basketball is a fun sport.”

Elmore says creating the iHoops Web site was a big step. The site offers a variety of resources, including a section called Prac-tice Time where articles and videos provide athletes with tips for improving their game. Another section called the Lock-er Room has the latest youth basketball news from around the country and online quiz games.

“We launched iHoops.com in October, and have been steadily building traffic,” Elmore says. “We want not only youth participant visitors, but also their coaches, parents, officials, and administrators.”

Double Duty On the SidelinesIt’s not uncommon for a coach to have experience coach-ing both males and females. But both at the same time? This past winter, that was the reality for Rick Jackson, who served as Head Coach for both the boys’ and girls’ bas-ketball teams at St. Mary’s High School in Medford, Ore.

Jackson, who has coached the boys’ team for six years, was pressed into double duty after the girls’ coach retired follow-ing the 2008-09 season. The

ue to look for ways to provide more and better resources to our community.”

One way iHoops is aiming to connect with the coaching and youth audiences is through its partnerships with compa-nies and athletic associations. Nike, adidas, and Right Guard are iHoops’ founding part-ners, and more recent part-ners include USA Basketball, the Amateur Athletic Union, and the NFHS—which all have coaching education resources iHoops can tap into.

Approximately 100,000 youth players participated in iHoops’ inaugural Skills Challenge this spring. YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, and other youth leagues scattered around the country hosted Challenge events for boys and girls ages nine to 14, who were divided into six dif-ferent age groups. The winners

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school had difficulty finding a suitable replacement with varsity head coaching experi-ence, so Jackson volunteered his services.

He first spoke to his wife—who was receptive to the idea in part because their daugh-ter would be entering the program as a ninth grader—before approaching his athlet-ic director to make the pitch.

“The girls were coming off the best season in the history of St. Mary’s, which was founded in 1895,” Jackson says. “They finished third in the state and the entire team, except for one girl, was returning. So I felt like it would have been an injustice to such a talented team to bring in someone who didn’t have the relevant coaching experience.”

Jackson then met with his boys’ assistant coaches to make sure they were okay with picking up some additional responsibili-ties. He also talked with return-ing players from each team to discuss the unique situation.

“I asked the boys’ team if they felt like I was splitting my atten-tion too much, but they all gave it the thumbs up,” he says. “Then I went to the girls and told them I’d coach if they wanted me to, or we could try to find someone else. They all knew me and had seen me coach before, and unanimously said they wanted me to be their coach.”

The situation was logistically feasible because at the 2A lev-el in Oregon, all four teams—boys’ and girls’ j.v. and varsi-ty—travel together for games. Following the j.v. contests, the girls’ varsity team always played before the boys, so Jackson had a full pre-game talk with that team. One of his assistants handled most of the preparation for the boys’ team as the girls’ game was wrapping up in the fourth quarter. Once the girls’ game ended, Jackson would rush to

CoachesNetwork.com CoaChing ManageMent 9

the locker room to speak to his boys’ squad for a few min-utes, and then spend a few more minutes giving the girls’ a postgame evaluation.

As it turned out, game days were the easiest part of Jack-son’s week. Every day after school, he arrived at the gym at 3:30 p.m. to set up for boys’ practice from 4 to 6 p.m. He then grabbed a quick snack and went straight into girls’ practice, which lasted until 8 p.m.

Jackson is leaning toward assuming the dual roles again this season, and says he would like to give his assistant coaches even more autonomy, especially during practice. “I’ll probably allow them to do more of the coaching and demonstrating,” he says.

To help eliminate some stress of the practice schedule, the two teams sometimes worked out together, often on Fridays before weekends when there were no games. The joint prac-tices were structured to be more fun, but Jackson sched-uled them judiciously to avoid the perception that one or both squads were being short-changed.

“My biggest thing going into the year was to try to keep it as two separate teams as much as possible,” he says. “The practice routines were differ-ent, and although some of our offensive sets were similar, I thought the girls’ strengths were better served with a dif-ferent offense than I have been using with the boys.”

Jackson’s coaching style also differed slightly for each team. “I played under fiery, aggres-sive, in-your-face type coaches, and I’m a little like that,” he says. “But I don’t think that style works as well with high school girls. So with them, I was a bit more relaxed and didn’t get in their face and challenge them as much as I’ve done with boys’ teams.”

Although it took a lot of hard work, both teams ended up having extremely successful seasons. The girls’ team won the league title, finished with a record of 23-3—the most wins in school history—and was the state runner-up. The boys’ team, meanwhile, tied for the league championship and finished 16-7, losing in the first round of the state playoffs.

For Jackson, there were many lessons from the journey, and he believes the expe-rience made him a better coach. “This was my eighth year as a head coach, and after about five years, I had my practice schedule down,” he says. “With two teams, I was forced to be much more organized with my planning—which I think really helped me grow as a coach.”

Kylee Adderson from St. Mary’s High School in Medford, Ore., snares an offensive rebound against league rival Lost River High School. At St. Mary’s, Rick Jackson is head coach of both the school’s girls’ and boys’ teams.

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When Randy Bennett took over as Head Men’s Coach at Saint Mary’s College in 2001, he inherited a team that won

two games the previous season. Four years later, he tied the school’s single-season wins record with 25, then broke it in 2008-09 with 28 victories.

To cap it all off, last season, Saint Mary’s beat rival Gonzaga University in the West Coast Conference (WCC) championship, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men’s Tourna-

ment. As a 10-seed, the Gaels stunned second-seed Vil-lanova University in the second round to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

In his nine years on the job, Bennett has become the most successful coach in the program’s history. The 2008 and

2010 WCC Coach of the Year is Saint Mary’s all-time wins leader, and has led the Gaels to the NCAA Tournament three times.

Bennett has also seen 15 players earn all-WCC team hon-ors and this past season, standout center Omar Samhan was named an honorable mention all-American by the Associated Press. Two years ago, team leader Patrick Mills was the first NBA draft pick from Saint Mary’s in 25 years.

Prior to his arrival at Saint Mary’s, Bennett was an assis-tant coach at the University of Idaho (1986-88), University of San Diego (1988-96), Pepperdine University (1996-99), and Saint Louis University (1999-2001)—where he coached under current University of Washington Head Coach Lorenzo Romar. In this interview, Bennett talks about get-ting players to trust his philosophy, what he looks for in assistants, and replacing stars like Samhan and Mills.

Randy Bennett Saint Mary’s College of California


CM: What goals did you set for the program when you took over?Bennett: Number one, I wanted us to be a team. I wanted the players to under-stand and buy into the idea that there was something greater here than their own individual goals.

Number two, I wanted improved work ethic. I’m not saying the players weren’t workers before I got here, but if we were going to be good, we needed a work ethic as good as anyone else we played against.

The third thing was improving the play-ers’ attitudes. A good attitude is shown through succeeding in those first two tasks of becoming a team and working harder.

What I didn’t do was come in right off the bat and say that we needed to get better players—which is what a lot of coaches say when they take over a program. My thinking was that these were our guys and we were going to do the best we could with them. Then, as we gradually got better we would bring in even more talented players.

How did you get the players to buy into that idea of team?It started with our staff. I hired assistant coaches who believed in the idea and would personify it. If your staff isn’t mod-eling the team philosophy, it’s going to be very hard for your players to buy in. SA

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Next, we talked to the players about it in our very first team meeting. I still remem-ber that meeting today. They had gone 2-27 and were beaten down from losing, and I told them I wasn’t going to watch any film from the year before. I wanted everyone to know they were all getting a fresh start. each player would be judged on what they did from that day forward.

And we were consistent with that belief, whether evaluating an all-league player or the 12th man. The two best players from that team decided they wanted to leave, and instead of trying to talk them into staying, we just let them go. That estab-lished that I was serious about it truly being a team. I wasn’t going to chase a superstar who didn’t want to be here while everyone else was doing exactly what they were supposed to and were committed to the program. Because of that, the guys who stayed bought in and trusted us.

What was that first season like?We had inherited a program that was at the bottom of the league and some things needed to change for us to get better. We knew we weren’t going to get

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Saint Mary’s College guard Matthew Del-lavedova was a major contributor to the team’s Sweet Sixteen run in the 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tourna-ment. Dellavedova is one of 10 Australian players to have suited up for Gaels Head Coach Randy Bennett.

better talent or mold better players right away, so we worked on the culture of the program. We might not have won as many games as we wanted to, but we did

in this profession are in it for their own interests and they’re more concerned about getting that next job, receiving credit for a recruit, or worrying about who

has the first assistant or second assistant title than they are about the direc-tion of the team. Those are things that get you beat.

How did you react when former Assistant Coach Kyle Smith left for the head coaching job at Columbia University after last season?

I was 100-percent sup-portive of the move. He had been trying to get a head coaching job these last couple of years, and

he’s paid his dues. It was time. He had applied for other head coaching jobs in the past, and as our program became better, I think his name became a more viable option.

Kyle is a big reason for our team’s suc-cess. He arrived at Saint Mary’s two days

after I did, so he was with me all nine years and helped build this program to where it is now. A by-product of our suc-cess last year was that Columbia wanted a coach from our program. As a head coach, not much makes you feel better than being able to help a guy like that move up. We’re all going to miss him, but we’re pumped for him.

In 2009 you lost Patrick Mills to the NBA after his sophomore season. How do you deal with losing a star player?We try to identify the possibility a couple of years ahead of time. Saint Mary’s isn’t typically a place that has one-and-done or two-and-done players. North Carolina, yes, Kentucky, yes, but at Saint Mary’s, we usually have four- and five-year guys.

You hope your program can absorb the loss of a player or two. That year we lost six of our top eight players—five seniors and Mills. One of those seniors was Diamon Simpson, who left as our all-time leader in rebounds, blocked shots, and steals, and is third on our all-time scoring list—so he was a very, very good player. That really tested our program. It was nice to see we had built a solid enough


“[Our players] see each other and their non-athlete peers in class every day and hang out all the time. The bond between our student body and our team is strong ... which has translated to great home court support.”

all the things right that gave us the best chance to win.

What do you look for when hiring assistant coaches?The same things I look for when recruiting players: A good person who is reliable, trustworthy, and unselfish. Often, people

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ing to Australia to play professionally.

Before Adam’s second year with us, he brought over his friend Daniel Kickert—who ended up having a great career here and was our all-time leading scorer by the time he left. By then, we were winning games and had made it to the NCAA Tournament. When Adam and Daniel went back home, they told their friends, “Hey, it’s a good deal over there at Saint Mary’s.”

Then Pat Mills came, and after that, the floodgates opened. I even have an assis-tant who is from Australia. I wish I could tell you it was all a result of a great idea I had, but it wasn’t. We were smart enough to take advantage of it once we had a niche there.

What are the rewards of coaching at a smaller Division I school?Students, teachers, and administra-tors come here because they want a more personal touch and I think that’s what they get. Our team is tight, and our players are very much a part of the student body. They see each other and their non-athlete peers in class every day and hang out all the time. The bond

foundation that we could survive that, and be even better.

Has recruiting gotten easier with your recent success?Yes and no. It’s now easier to get the same quality player we were recruiting nine years ago. But as our program has improved, we’ve set our sights higher. Now we’re competing for the best players, so recruit-ing is still challenging in that respect.

Since you’ve been at Saint Mary’s, you’ve had 10 Australian players on your rosters. How did you establish that pipeline?My first year, we took Adam Caporn on a recommendation. An assistant coach from another school saw him play while on a recruiting tour in Australia, and told me that Adam wanted to come to the States and get a Division I scholarship, but didn’t have any offers. So we called him.

He had great grades, was a captain on his team at the Australian Institute of Sport, and really wanted to come here. We had two spots open, took a gamble on him, and it worked out. He started every game for two years before return-

between our student body and our team is strong because of those relationships, which has translated to great home court support.

Personally, I don’t have to deal with some of the pressures and the issues that come with the job at a big school. Everything I do or say isn’t posted on a message board or in the media, and I don’t have a reporter following me around every second.

That’s not something I would look forward to if I were at one of those bigger schools. Sure, they pay you more money, but the pressure to win is much greater. There’s pressure to win here, too, but that pressure comes from me.

How would you describe your work-life balance at Saint Mary’s?It’s something I make a conscious effort to have. My wife and I have two boys, who are six and seven years old, so that takes a lot of time. I don’t want to miss out on their childhood. If you want to do a good job as a parent and you want to be a good dad, you have to put the time in. But really, it’s not hard for me to sort out what my priorities are.

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reg KamansKy used to consider Ky used to consider Khimself a strict man-to-man coach. as as a head men’s coach at cal Poly Pomona university, he used the defense his first four years on the job—until he finally got fed up. Kamansky grew tired of watching his teams get

bounced from the national tournament, and was sick of opposing offenses having their way with his defense.

the tipping point came in 2004, when cal Poly Pomona was eliminated from the ncaa division ii tour- tour- tournament in the first round, as humboldt state university buried 15 of 20 shots from beyond the arc. Kamansky decided he needed a new approach. “adecided he needed a new approach. “adecided he needed a new approach. “ t that point, teams were driving and kicking on us at will, so something had to change,” he says. “i talked to some of my coaching friends and they suggested playing zone. i figured we might as well give it a try.”

for most purists, zone defenses aren’t a logical solu-tion for limiting three-point shots. But this way, Kamansky thought, at least he’d know they were coming and where they’d be coming from, and his players could react accord-they’d be coming from, and his players could react accord-they’d be coming from, and his players could react accord

Mike Phelps is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: [email protected].

BY MIKE PHELPS

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No longer considered a lazy defense, today’s 2-3 zone is an attacking strategy that confuses opposing offenses and takes away easy shots.

considered a lazy

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reg Kamanshimself a strict man-to-man coach. auyears on the job—until he finally got fed up. Kamansky grew tired of watching his teams get

Last season, the shot blocking of Ekpe Udoh (13) and Quincy Acy (4) made Baylor’s 2-3 zone one of the

stingiest defenses in the country and took the team to the NCAA Division I

Men’s Basketball Elite Eight.

COVER STORY

BY MIKE PHELPS


COVER STORY

Pennsylvania to just 30 percent shooting from the field.

“Our defense was in sync and our play-ers were all over the place,” says Kaman-sky. “If your zone is working together, it’s almost like you have six defenders on the court.”

But that doesn’t mean switching to a zone as your primary defense is easy, or that it’ll immediately bring a national or state title to your school. As Kamansky and other coaches have found, you can’t just position two players at the top of the key, three along the baseline, and expect them to stop the other team.

A successful zone requires five defend-ers who communicate and move as a

single unit while closing out on shooters and rotating to help on drivers. For most 2-3 zone coaches, man-to-man principles guide their approach, including blocking out rebounders and putting pressure on the ball. Good coaches know that zone defense requires the right players, a lot of practice, and a little patience.

A Zone That’s Man-MadeWhen Herb Sendek arrived at Ari-

zona State University in 2006, he faced a tough decision. Though his coaching philosophy included an emphasis on in-your-face man defense, the personnel he inherited wasn’t suited for that style. So Sendek and his coaching staff built

ingly. So he began developing his new defense, eventually fully implementing it in the sixth game of the 2005 season. In that contest, Cal Poly Pomona held Grand Canyon University to 37 points through the game’s first 38 minutes. Kamansky was hooked.

Since that game, the Broncos have been consistently ranked in the top 10 in the country. In 2009, they advanced to the NCAA Division II title game and held undefeated Findlay University to 12 points in the second half before falling in overtime on a buzzer beater. And last season, Cal Poly Pomona finally broke through, winning the national champi-onship by holding Indiana University of

or are thinking about switching to one is

that a lack of clear man-to-man assignments will leave their teams vulnerable to offensive rebounds. Of all the questions Greg Kamansky, Head Men’s Coach at Cal Poly Pomona University, fields each year about his team’s zone, the most common are about controlling the glass.

“There’s no secret recipe to being a great rebounding team,” Kamansky says. “We’ve done really well rebound-ing out of the zone. It’s more effort and communication and commitment to blocking out. If you’re going to run the zone, you have to work on rebounding almost as much as you work on defense.”

Securing a rebound starts when the ball leaves the shoot-er’s hand, not when it hits the rim. “The first thing we tell our players is when you see a shot go up, you have to turn and identify,” says Rocky Peterson, Head Boys’ Coach at Winona (Minn.) High School. “That means you have to find the offensive guy who’s planning on going to the offensive glass and get a body on him. If you’re in man, you usually have a hand close to the guy and you know exactly where he’s going to be. But in a zone you have to turn and find that opponent before you can block him out.”

Doug Hepler, Head Girls’ Coach at Mount Vernon (Mo.) High School, teaches turn and identify by having his play-ers play a game of tag. “We yell ‘tag’ when the shot goes up and each player has to turn and touch somebody,” he says. “Then if the player they touch goes to the hole, they have to turn and block her out. If the player doesn’t go to the glass, they find someone else to block out.”

Players at Mount Vernon are required to wear kneepads, which Hepler feels makes them more aggressive on the floor and more willing to battle for loose balls. He also has his players run a drill that has a very low success rate.

“We do a drill where there are eight people on offense and five on defense, and the five on defense have to block out the eight,” Hepler says. “It’s impossible to do, but it forces the defender to get better at reading the ball off the rim and figuring out who they need to block out. I tell them it’s better to have two people blocking out the same person than to have one player not boxing out anybody at all.”

Cal Poly Pomona works on rebounding by using three-on-three drills, with three defensive players in the key and three offensive players on the perimeter, which allows players to practice blocking out someone crashing from outside. The Broncos also use drills that help them move from the rebound to the transition game.

“We’ll play five-on-five, where the offensive team gets a point for an offensive rebound and the defensive team gets a point for a stop,” Kamansky says. “If a basket is made, neither side gets a point. We set up a team in the half court, they run through their offensive stuff, they shoot it, and if the defense gets the rebound, we transi-tion to the other end of the court and play live for one possession down there. That allows one team to work on transitioning to offense out of the zone, and allows the other to get into the zone defense after their offensive possession.”

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a 2-3 zone defense designed to contain penetration, guard the three-point line, and control the boards.

“Those three things are man concepts, so that’s where we start—simply closing out, containing penetration, and keeping the ball outside the paint” says Arizona State Associate Head Coach Dedrique Taylor. “Then we talk about coverage areas, slides, and the different things that go along with making the zone move as one.”

When Sendek and Taylor teach defense, they talk in terms of pack and push. Push refers to the defense trying

to push the ball away from the middle of the floor and toward certain areas. Pack, meanwhile, means the defense allows the opposing team to reverse the ball, but refuses to let them penetrate into the paint. The Sun Devils are more along the lines of a pack defense.

“When one of the guys is out of the pack area, he’s guarding the ball,” Taylor says. “That means the other four guys are in the pack area and they have the basic man principles of ‘ball, man, me.’ Under-standing that concept is the foundation of the defense.

“For example, let’s say I’m guarding the ball and my teammate on the left wing is in the pack position,” Taylor con-tinues. “As the ball is reversed to the left wing, that teammate comes out of the pack area and closes out, and I drop back in the pack to build a wall in front of the ball handler and cut off his driving lanes. If the ball is then skipped to the right side, the guy matched up with him closes out, I remain in the pack, and the team-mate on my left returns to the pack.”

When instructing his team at Mount Vernon (Mo.) High School, Head Girls’ Coach Doug Hepler tells players to form a triangle around the ball. The player in the middle of the zone stays between

the ball and the basket to protect against the drive, while the other two trap from either side.

“Our zone is a little different, because we very rarely guard the ball,” Hepler says. “We work on being close enough to influence a shot but far enough away that the player is unsure if she’s open or not. We force opposing players into being indecisive.”

At Cal Poly Pomona, Kamansky wants to limit the damage from the outside and avoid reliving the nightmarish games when opposing teams shot 75 percent on long balls against his squad.

“I want our guards to close out hard and know they have help behind them from our zone. We want our opponent to feel so uncomfortable with the ball that they either shoot quickly and out of rhythm, or they don’t even look at the rim because we’re closing out so hard.”

When pressuring shooters, Kaman-sky wants his defenders to push the ball toward the corners and not let teams penetrate the middle of the floor. “If they go to the corner, our defenders are there waiting,” he says.

At Baylor University, where Head Men’s Coach Scott Drew used a 2-3 zone to help revitalize the Bears program and lead them to the 2010 NCAA Division I Elite Eight, the coaching staff emphasizes an active, energetic defense. “You should never just stand around in man-to-man, which holds true for a 2-3 zone,” Drew says. “Players should always be in a help mode, meaning if an opponent is driv-ing, they’re not just letting them drive. They’re rotating over and helping keep the ball out of the paint.”

Five Defenders, All InWhen implementing a zone, one of

the most important things to consider is that it is a true team defense. If a basket is

scored, all five players on the floor have failed to defend the hoop, not just one. So it’s difficult to structure individual drills to work on zone defense, which is why many coaches believe the best way to teach a zone is to spend most of practice playing five-on-five in the half-court.

“For the intricacies of the zone, you have to work five-on-five,” Kamansky says. “There are a million different scenarios that could play out, so you almost have to treat it like a walk through.

“In the beginning of the season, we do the basic scenarios, then after a few weeks, we get into the more complex stuff,” he adds. “For example, if a guy sets a high ball screen, what do we do? If they overload four guys on one side, what do we do? We spend a lot of time in half court, walking through things over and over again.”

To teach those concepts, the Sun Devils employ a lot of drills similar to those used to teach man-to-man defense. They place extra emphasis on closing out quickly on shooters, especially those beyond the three-point line.

“We do close-out drills to different areas on the floor, based on coverage parts,” Taylor says. “For instance, our 4s and 5s are responsible for a lot of the corner areas, so we spend time closing out to the corners and trying to limit penetration with our post guys.”

During practices, coaches shouldn’t feel bad about abruptly stopping play if they see something they don’t like. “I will sometimes stop our players two or three times during one offensive possession to talk about how the rotation needed to be this way or that way, or what to do when the offense passes to this particular spot,” says Rocky Peterson, Head Boys’ Coach at Winona (Minn.) High School. “It’s a lot of repetition and teaching.”

The film room can also be vital. “We teach a great deal through watching film to help players see things better,” Taylor says. “Putting them out there on the floor and letting them make mistakes, then showing them where they went wrong is very beneficial. We take time to point out things, ask them to adjust, and make sure they see why we’re doing this.”

At Baylor, coaches frequently use shell drills to teach players the zone’s intricate movements. Drew positions eight offen-sive players at different locations on the court—one at the free throw line, one on each block, one on each corner, one

COVER STORY

“I want our guards to close out hard and know they have help behind them from our zone. We want our opponent to feel so uncomfort-able with the ball that they either shoot quick-ly and out of rhythm, or they don’t even look at the rim because we’re closing out so hard.”

COVER STORY

on each wing, and one up top with the ball—and has them pass the ball around while the defense attempts to cover.

“The eight offensive players aren’t moving, it’s just a shell,” Drew explains. “As the ball is moving, the five men on defense have to recover and rotate to those positions. It’s a good way for play-those positions. It’s a good way for play-those positions. It’s a good way for players to learn how to defend the ball in different locations and how to react to different kinds of passes.”

When doing drills in his zone, Hepler focuses on different skills with different players. He’ll place four or five offensive players around the perimeter, and the defense’s goal is to force the person with the ball to throw a lob pass. “We get the girls in the passing lanes and have them try to force the ball to be thrown over the top, as opposed to a straight line pass,” he says.

To teach the defender in the middle of the floor how to react, Hepler positions several offensive players in different areas inside the paint. “When the ball is going around the perimeter, the defender has to get to her position between two post

players or fronting the post, whatever the case may be,” Hepler says. “She works on moving on the pass, really sprinting in that direction. To help, we’ll put some perimeter defenders out there to force lobs and makes it more game like. But sometimes, I’ll take those people away to make her anticipate the passes.”

Talking PointsCommunication is vital in any defense,

but it takes on greater importance in a zone. Every on-ball defensive movement needs to be verbalized, as does every movement off the ball.

“I think all coaches struggle with get-“I think all coaches struggle with get-“I think all coaches struggle with getting players to communicate more,” Drew says. “We never have a problem getting them to talk more when they’re not sup-posed to, but when we want them to talk on the court, it’s tougher.

“Communication is so hard because when you get tired, one thing you stop doing is talking,” he continues. “It’s some-thing we accent, but there’s no drill for it. If someone’s getting an open look and no one’s calling out the shot, then we’ll

hold them accountable for that.” At Mount Vernon, Hepler emphasizes

talking about positioning on the floor. “You have to let your teammates know what’s going on,” he says. “Whatever posi-tion we’re in, we’re telling our teammates what we’re doing and they’re telling us where they’re at. If we know where every-where they’re at. If we know where every-where they’re at. If we know where everyone is, it gives us more confidence and a better understanding of where we’re supposed to be.

“And it makes me feel more comfort-“And it makes me feel more comfort-“And it makes me feel more comfortable as a coach,” he adds. “If they’re talk-able as a coach,” he adds. “If they’re talk-able as a coach,” he adds. “If they’re talking, that means I know they know what they’re doing. If not, it tells me they’re not quite sure of the situation.”

Hepler has found a way to encour-age his players to keep talking. “Run-ning is a pretty good teacher,” he says. “If they’re not talking in practice, then we’ll get on the end line and run. I tell them I’d rather have them say the wrong thing in practice than not say anything at all. If they’re not saying anything, we’ve got a problem. They’re either being lazy or don’t understand—and neither of those is acceptable.”



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Communication also helps team-mates build trust in each other. “If a player gets beat, he needs to trust that his defensive partners are going to be there to help,” Peterson says. “The

player won’t know his help is going to be there unless everyone is talking and telling him they’ve got his back.”

In addition to letting teammates know where you are, communication lets the opposing team know they have to get past multiple waves of defend-ers to get to the basket. “If you open your mouth and let a guy know, ‘I’m your mouth and let a guy know, ‘I’m here, I’ve got your back,’ that provides

the guy on the ball a different level of confidence,” Taylor says. “It also lets the offense know they have to go against not only the guy in front of them, but also another player waiting behind that

defender. That could discourage the offensive player from putting the ball on the floor and attacking his defender.”

Patience Pays OffIt took Kamansky until the sixth game

of the 2005 season to fully implement his zone because for the first five games, he wasn’t sure it would work. Having used a man-to-man defense his entire career, he

wasn’t confident he could fully commit to a new style. But once he tried the zone, it a new style. But once he tried the zone, it became a key to his success.

There may be some growing pains at There may be some growing pains at first, but coaches need to stay dedicated to the cause. “It takes patience, which to the cause. “It takes patience, which most coaches don’t have a lot of,” Kaman--sky says. “But sometimes you have to go through tough times before you reap rewards. We had some rough patches, but rewards. We had some rough patches, but I stuck with it and it has paid off.”

During Taylor and Sendek’s first sea-During Taylor and Sendek’s first sea-During Taylor and Sendek’s first season at Arizona State—their first relying on a match-up zone as their primary on a match-up zone as their primary defense—the Sun Devils won just eight defense—the Sun Devils won just eight games. Despite some initial wavering, the games. Despite some initial wavering, the staff stayed the course.

“At the beginning, we would some-times switch to man to change up the times switch to man to change up the pace of the game, but eventually Coach Sendek decided that in order for us to Sendek decided that in order for us to be good, we needed to sell out to the concept,” Taylor says. “We were just try-concept,” Taylor says. “We were just try-concept,” Taylor says. “We were just trying to survive that first year and find a ing to survive that first year and find a way to put our guys in a position to be successful, but now it’s become the talk of the town.” n

COVER STORY

“If a player gets beat, he needs to trust that his defensive partners are going to be there to help. The player won’t know his help is going to be there unless everyone is talking and telling him they’ve got his back.”

Circle No. 113

Circle No. 114

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“ We have an EverWhite board with full and half court diagrams mounted in our locker room. It serves us well in actively presenting a scouting report and is a

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Coach Larry HessingVarsity Boys Basketball CoachPella Christian High School

Circle No. 115

hat do the 10 minutes prior to your team’s practice look

like? Are players warming up properly, stretching, and work-properly, stretching, and work-properly, stretching, and work

ing on fundamentals? Or is it playground-like chaos with balls

bouncing off the walls, ill-advised long-range shots, and young play-long-range shots, and young play-long-range shots, and young play

ers hanging on the rims attempt-ers hanging on the rims attempt-ers hanging on the rims attempting to dunk?

Experienced teachers know that to have an effective learning session, it’s

imperative to have procedures and rou-tines in place that immediately focus stu-dents, facilitate administrative tasks, and maximize instructional time. Likewise, great coaches use similar processes to transition athletes from the locker room to the court.

Some call this period “pre-practice” because it’s typically at a time when sneakers haven’t really started squeak-sneakers haven’t really started squeak-sneakers haven’t really started squeaking and jerseys aren’t yet drenched with sweat. Despite a lack of physical intensity,

LEADERSHIP


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Teaching your team to put its pre-practice routine on autoplay empowers players and promotes crisp workouts.

Matthew Neighbors is the Assistant Boys’ Coach at Ball High School in Galveston, Texas. The team has won three straight district championships in the state’s highest classification.

QUALITY TIME BY MATTHEW NEIGHBORS

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“ We have an EverWhite board with full and half court diagrams mounted in our locker room. It serves us well in actively presenting a scouting report and is a

good visual learning tool for our players.At halftimes of games, it is large enough to diagram half court and full court situations and allows us a quick review before we head back to the court for the second half.”

Coach Larry HessingVarsity Boys Basketball CoachPella Christian High School

when approached correctly, this short period of time can become a valuable part of your practice.

Getting QuickstartedAt Ball High School in Galveston,

Texas, we label the first 15 minutes of each practice as our “Quickstart” regimen. Once players are dressed, taped, and on the court, they begin pro-grammed routines that do not require much instruction or feedback from our coaches. While the players are on “auto-play” for these pre-practice routines, one coach monitors the locker room and handles any paperwork as another greets players entering the gym area and readies the facility.

In Texas, we typically play two games per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. Therefore, it is convenient for us to build three distinct Quickstarts—a dif-ferent set of exercises and drills for each of our three practice days. Our set sta-tions remain the same. Spontaneity and variety within structure are important elements.

The stations you choose should be specific to your team and what you want to emphasize at various points in the sea-son. Quickstart regimens may vary from the beginning of the season to the end based on team needs.

For example, if your goal is to improve free throw shooting, reduce turnovers, or improve at rebounding fundamen-tals, you can spend more time on those aspects using Quickstart drills.

How long do you want your Quickstart period to last? In the beginning of the program, each station may last up to

five minutes as players learn the skills and get comfortable with the circuits. However, as the season progresses, the time tapers and eventually players will be spending only a couple minutes at each station, making the entire Quickstart around 10 minutes.

For partner pairings, you can manip-ulate groups according to your situation and needs—by position, class, or skill level. We often rotate the hardest work-ing players into different pairings to help motivate their less-inspired team-mates and have found that good habits are contagious.

It’s important to remember that dif-ferent sets of players will reach the court at varied times with some arriving simul-taneously. There are situations when more than one group will be at the same station so be sure to prep your players in advance on how you want them to handle this.

Don’t forget that this is quality prac-tice time. It also provides coaches with time to deal with unexpected issues, walk around and build relationships with the players, and give managers and assistants instruction on preparing for the remainder of practice. The players are on autopilot, and you will enjoy see-ing them initiate drills and take respon-sibility for others on the team.

Sample StationsWhen building Quickstart programs,

it is important to include a variety of activities to address your players’ physical warmup and skill-building needs. You can vary the drills and still work on the same basics each day. With so many dif-

ferent static and dynamic stretches, and endless drills to address fundamentals, this is not difficult to accomplish.

Conditioning: Here are three sample conditioning routines:

Day a:n Jog three laps around gym. n Jump rope—100 with feet

together, 100 on the right leg, 100 on the left leg.

n Zig-zag defensive slides down and back.

n One shuttle run.Day B:

n Form running drills—High knee, butt kicks.

n A & B skips, reverse skips, and bounds.

n 25 backboard touches.n Figure 8 slides.n One sprint-slide-sprint using

cones at varying distances.Day C:

n Speed ladder drills.n Ten bleachers.n UCLA slide drill.n Two five-second sprints (corner

to corner).

Stretching: We always follow a condi-tioning station with a stretching station because once the muscles are warmed up, they’re also more flexible and fewer injuries are apt to occur. You should designate how long to hold each stretch and have partners count. This is also a great place to incorporate core strength and/or dynamic flexibility drills. Here are some sample stretch routines:

Day a: n Standing stretches: Quads, knee

to chest, toe touches. n Core Stretches: We incorporate

Pilates and other static core stretches including “wide stance” stretches that elongate the muscles while play-ers are in a defensive stance. These include reaching for each foot with both hands, reaching back with both hands, and twisting side-to-side with both feet set.

n Runner’s stretch: Do a walking lunge and hold the lunge position.

n Ankle and hip rolls. n Shoulder and neck shrugs.

Day B: n Sitting stretches: Touch toes

with feet together, touch toes with feet apart, butterfly stretches

LEADERSHIP


Coaches often ask, “What do you do about players who finish a Quickstart program early?” Once again, the answer should be specific to your team and what point you are at in your season.

Let them get a drink of water and then have a designated place for them to shoot on their own or practice individual skills. Another option is to have early finishers assist their teammates in finishing the drills.

This downtime is also a good opportunity for the head coach to visit with his or her athletes. Many will want to finish early just to have some face time with the head coach.

EARLY BIRDS

LEADERSHIP

n Lower back, knees to chest. n Bicycle. n Bridges.n Arms.

Day C:n Partner stretches: Arms, back,

hamstrings. n Dynamic duo routine.n Medicine ball routine.

Free Throws: The next station in our example is free throws. Having them work in partners with one acting as a rebounder maximizes the efficiency of most free throw shooting drills. You

can also have them record each other’s makes and misses with a nearby clip-board or poster. Players must take these shots seriously, so you may want to incorporate a form shooting or shooting warmup station before players come to this one.

Day a: n Ten game-situation free throws—

two at a time. Each player goes through his or her game free throw ritual before each shot. No hurry.

Day B: n Twenty catch-and-shoot free

throws, five at a time. Partner rebounds and passes. No shooting off of your own rebound—shooter must receive a pass first.

Day C: n One-and-one free throw drill.

If the first shot is missed, jog full court down and back. If the second is missed, jog to half-court and back. Each player shoots five one-and-ones.

Ball Handling: This is an easy station to organize, but it’s important to choose

drills that will continue to challenge the players as the season progresses. You can have each player time his or her partner or keep track of how many reps of each drill each completes without a mistake, trying to better their score each practice. The accountability of a teammate can be a powerful motivator.

Day a: n Stationary drills—Right and left

leg circles, figure 8s, spider drill, behind-the-back, and skips.Day B:

n Full Court drills—Crossovers, in-and-out, behind-the-back, between the legs, and left and right spins.Day C:

n Two-ball dribbling drills—Practice handling two balls at once, both while stationary and dribbling the length of the court.

Rebounding: Our team typically fin-ishes with a few rebounding drills each day.

Day a: n Rebound machine—Ten snatch-


[Ball handling] is an easy station to organize, but it’s important to choose drills that will continue to challenge the players as the season progresses.

Circle No. 116

nations and improved punctuality, our nations and improved punctuality, our coaches also post assigned tandems in coaches also post assigned tandems in the locker room. For us, it reinforces a the locker room. For us, it reinforces a key program concept—we do nothing alone. Our players do not visit the con-cession stand alone and they always get cession stand alone and they always get off the bus as a group.

Coaches often state the desire to mold leaders and for players to take more ownership in the team-building process. But hav-building process. But hav-building process. But having strict, scripted workouts doesn’t allow athletes many opportunities to cultivate those qualities during prac-tice.

What freedom and indi-vidual responsibility do you vidual responsibility do you entrust each player with during practice? Do you give them opportunities to hold one another accountable, or is it hold one another accountable, or is it always the head coach implementing any discipline? A benefit of having a any discipline? A benefit of having a player-initiated Quickstart system is it player-initiated Quickstart system is it shifts some responsibility to players and


LEADERSHIP

es at 24 inches above the player’s reach height.Day B:

n Backboard form rebounding—one partner tosses ball off backboard one partner tosses ball off backboard and the rebounder brings it to their chin and throws an outlet pass.Day C:

n One-on-one block-out with part- One-on-one block-out with part- One-on-one block-out with partner: A coach or manager shoots, and the two players take turns blocking out and going after rebounds.

Pre-Practice With PurposeAs you design your own Quickstart As you design your own Quickstart

routines, do not lose sight of the pur--routines, do not lose sight of the pur-routines, do not lose sight of the purpose behind the drills you choose. Each pose behind the drills you choose. Each team has specific issues that need more attention than others. Subtly addressing attention than others. Subtly addressing those weaknesses is a more positive way those weaknesses is a more positive way to build good habits than bringing nega--to build good habits than bringing nega-to build good habits than bringing negative attention to a skill deficit.

In our program, no one begins a In our program, no one begins a Quickstart routine alone. Each player must have a partner before stepping on the floor or initiating a single drill. on the floor or initiating a single drill. To encourage a variety of player combi-

imbues them with a sense of trust neces-sary for effective team chemistry.

With the completion of each Quickstart routine, players’ bodies should be warmed up and their minds tuned to the task at hand. They have addressed weaknesses and are ready to

begin full-team workouts. You will be surprised how much better the quality of your practice time is once players start arriving ready to compete and improve individually and as a team. n

Each team has specific issues that need more attention than others. Subtly addressing those weaknesses is a more positive way to build good habits than bringing negative attention to a skill deficit.


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Explore how the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association keeps coaches informed, connected and on top of their game!

AwardsRecognize the top players and coaches in our sport through the WBCA’s Awards Program.

WBCA National ConventionLearn from the best coaches in the sport during the WBCA National Convention. Held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women’s Final Four this meeting has the perfect mixture of educational, social and net-working opportunities.

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Circle No. 119

Circle No. 120

t the 1960 Summer OlympicSin rome, ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila earned worldwide fame by winning the marathon with a world-record time of 2:15:16. the attention focused not just on his

remarkable feat, but on his remarkable

Strength & conditioning

coachesnetwork.com CoaChing ManageMent ent ent 29

Art Horne is Strength & Conditioning Coach and Coordinator of Care for men’s basketball at Northeastern University, and is currently serving as the Interim Director of Sport Performance. He can be reached at: [email protected]

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feet--Bikila completed the marathon without wearing shoes or socks.

Some would say that event catapulted the concept of barefoot training into mainstream consciousness. But in real-ity, athletes around the world trained barefoot in various ways long before

BY ART HORNE

Baring Their SOleS

The Northeastern University men’s team uses barefoot training to develop foot and ankle muscles that lie dormant during shoes-on exercise.

ABarefoot training is this author’s secret weapon for improving movement efficiency, balance, and kinetic chain integrity in his athletes.

Bikila’s accomplishment--in fact, you might argue that barefoot training is as old as athletics itself. Barefoot training advocates argue that “shod” (shoe-wear-advocates argue that “shod” (shoe-wear-advocates argue that “shod” (shoe-wearing) athletes miss out on many benefits, ranging from proprioception and motor development to recruitment of impor-development to recruitment of impor-development to recruitment of important muscles that remain underutilized and practically dormant inside rigid, restrictive modern footwear.

There is very little research provid-ing clear answers on how best to imple-ment barefoot work into today’s training strategies. But as an athletic trainer and strength coach who has employed bare-foot training with basketball players at

Northeastern University for several years, I firmly believe it’s well worth the time investment. In this article, I’ll explain the concepts behind barefoot training, outline how I use it with my athletes, and discuss the benefits I’ve seen from having athletes bare their soles during workouts.

Theory Before PracticeAnyone who has walked barefoot on

a beach or grassy field can grasp the theory behind barefoot training and its athletic benefits. By letting the foot return to its primitive state, in which it must grip the earth to produce efficient

movement, you can feel the engagement of intrinsic muscles of the toes, midfoot, heel, and ankle that receive little oppor-heel, and ankle that receive little oppor-heel, and ankle that receive little opportunity for strengthening in our shoes-required world.

The idea behind barefoot training is that developing these muscles improves foot and ankle function, while also pro-viding benefits up the entire kinetic chain. Barefoot proponents point to increased proprioception related to the movement of the feet and ankles in time and space, lower impact forces due to reduced heel strike, higher efficiency in running as measured by lower oxygen consumption, and an increase in bone density throughout the foot and ankle.

Humans’ relationship with shoes is a surprisingly complex one, involving both physical and psychological elements. For example, in a 1997 study, researchers had subjects repeatedly step onto and off of a box, each time landing on a pad made of material commonly found in shoe insoles. The material was the same each time, but the authors used different terms to describe the landing pad, and found that participants landed with greatest impact forces when step-ping down onto surfaces described with words like “advanced technology” and “used in the most expensive sneakers.”

The authors noted the natural human tendency “to be less cautious when using new devices of unknown benefit because of overly positive attitudes associated with new technology and novel devices.” If that’s true, it may mean today’s athletes, who wear more and more advanced foot-who wear more and more advanced foot-who wear more and more advanced footwear and often receive custom tape jobs before each practice and game, pay less attention than ever to the fundamentals of foot movement and function, possibly harming their performance and increas-ing their risk for injury. Barefoot train-ing can help reverse those practices.

Consider a more specific example: High-top sneakers with stiff soles are worn almost universally in basketball, and many athletes wear ankle braces or tape underneath them, even for workouts. This practically ensures a weak and dor-This practically ensures a weak and dor-This practically ensures a weak and dormant foot and ankle complex. Kinematic data suggests that the hallux (big toe) requires 20 degrees of extension and the ankle needs around 20 degrees of dorsiflexion to allow for normal forward motion. Both those movement dimen-sions are commonly limited by basketball shoes, tape, and braces.


30 CoaChing ManageMent coachesnetwork.com

Our base training phase is a cornerstone of our off-season conditioning program, and it typically lasts four to 12 weeks depending on team and individual needs.

STAYING SAFE

n Before every barefoot training session, inspect the surface for sharp objects, such as bro-ken glass, pieces of metal, or anything else that could cause cuts or puncture wounds.

n Athletes with a wound on their foot should not train bare-foot, especially if they cannot keep the wound covered with a secure bandage. Diabetic athletes should be espe-cially cautious, as they have an increased tendency to develop foot ulcers.

n In most cases, athletes should not go barefoot in the weight-room--the risk of dropping a plate, dumbbell, or other piece of equipment on an exposed foot is too great. There are just two exceptions in our facility: during prep work when no one in the weightroom is handling free

weights, and while I evaluate squatting technique, because it is beneficial to see the unshod foot as it moves dur-unshod foot as it moves dur-unshod foot as it moves during squats.

n As mentioned in this article, athletes with high arches and those with pre-existing foot or ankle conditions usually should not go barefoot, as they may need cushioning and/or orthotic support at all times to avoid injury. When in doubt, consult a podiatrist.

n As with any new form of train-ing, the body requires an adaptation period. When introducing barefoot training, start with just a few minutes of light stretching and movement prep at each workout, and gradually add greater chal-lenges as the athletes grow more comfortable.

While barefoot training is a safe way to enhance foot strength and functionality, like every training activity it carries some risk. Here are a few pointers on how to minimize the chance of injury:


In addition, modern sneakers are usu-ally built with some form of “air cells” or other shock absorbers or supports that raise the heel above its normal resting elevation during standing, planting, and running. For many athletes, this effect contributes to an adaptive shortening of the gastroc/soleus complex and Achilles tendon over time.

On the advice of our podiatrist, we have actually made lateral cuts to the bottom of many of our basketball players’ shoes. The cuts extend from one side of the forefoot to the other through the full-length fiberglass insert, basically running across the ball of the foot to alleviate manufactured stiffness and allow for normal big toe exten-sion. We started doing this after several com-plaints of Achilles tendon pain and ante-rior knee pain, both of which were alleviated after normal foot motion was restored. Increasing natural foot mobil-ity can also help athletes improve their movement mechanics.

Free The FootWhen athletes perform activities such

as dynamic warmup with bare feet, they recruit the muscles of their feet and ankles and experience feedback and pro-prioception in the plantar surface of the foot. At Northeastern, we strongly believe this leads to better positional sense and may contribute to injury prevention and performance enhancement. For those reasons, we have implemented year-round strategies for our men’s basketball players to promote the normal motion of the athletes’ feet, toes, and ankles.

During evaluations at the begin-ning of the year, each player undergoes goniometric testing of the ankle, knee, and hip, traditional movement screen-ing (including jumping and landing measures), and an examination of their feet for existing pathologies or mechani-cal challenges. This is essential, because certain foot-related conditions can make barefoot training counterproductive and even dangerous.

For example, athletes with excessively high arches are excluded from our bare-

foot work, because most physicians agree that high-arched feet require support to prevent excessive plantar stress and decrease injury risk. In addition, we exclude athletes who have experienced a stress fracture or other serious injury, or have had surgery on the foot or ankle. To let these players’ feet strike

the ground repetitively without support during barefoot training would produce injury risks that outweigh any potential benefits.

Some believe that excessive pronators must have firm support from custom orthotics during all activities, but it’s been my experience that these athletes do very well in a progressive barefoot program. In fact, I’ve found that symp-toms such as anterior knee pain typi-cally seen in pronators are often resolved when barefoot work is added to their overall training plan. Nonetheless, it’s always best to consult a physician, pref-always best to consult a physician, pref-always best to consult a physician, preferably a podiatrist, if there are doubts about the safety of barefoot training for a particular athlete.

Bare EssentialsBefore beginning our barefoot pro-

gram, we hold an educational session to introduce the athletes to this strategy and explain what they should expect. We tell them it’s normal to feel some residual foot soreness after training in bare feet, especially if they’ve never trained this way before.

However, we note that if the soreness lasts for more than a day, if it’s accompa-nied by sharp or shooting pain, or if it leads to sudden knee or back pain, they should see us for an evaluation, which might lead us to discontinue their bare-

coachesnetwork.com CoaChing ManageMent ent ent 31

When athletes perform activities such as a dynamic warmup with bare feet, they recruit the muscles of their feet and ankles and experience feedback and proprioception in the plan-tar surface of the foot.

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Circle No. 121


StreNgth & CoNditioNiNg

foot program. These symptoms may indicate an unresolved previous injury, such as a stress reaction or fracture.

For those with normal soreness, we recommend general soft tissue work, such as plantar fascia rolls on a tennis or field hockey ball and basic warmup activities such as ankle mobility drills, static gastroc/soleus stretching, and general dynamic movement patterns.

We tell them their foot muscles have been dormant for years in their shoes, so this new engagement and mobiliza-tion will be fatiguing--but it shouldn’t be seriously painful. If it is, we want to know right away so we can determine the cause.

One of the first priorities when implementing barefoot training is to find a workspace with the right type of surface. Synthetic turf is the best choice, and we are fortunate at Northeastern to have two indoor surfaces (a fieldhouse and a turf area located in our weight-room). Since much of the benefit of barefoot training comes from athletes’ ability to use their foot muscles to “grip” the ground and feel feedback from a soft ground-foot interface, syn-thetic turf is far superior to a gym floor or weightroom mat.

So what does the barefoot portion of a workout actually look like? For us, it begins with cold stretching, including plantar fascia rolls, foam rolling, and standard static pre-workout stretches. We’ll then put the athletes through a series of simple dynamic movements and agility ladder drills such as skips in all directions, butt kickers, spidermans, toe kicks, inchworms, and shuffles in all

directions. Next come mobility drills,

such as lunges in various planes, hurdle walks/duck-unders, single-leg reaches in multiple planes, and vari-ous balance activities such as one-quarter jump-and-lands on one or two legs, hops, bal-ancing on one leg with eyes closed, single-leg chopping patterns with core balls, and light bounding.

We also use our barefoot training time as an oppor-tunity to develop the core with a number of upright

standing exercises, such as partner anti-rotation, cable chops, and resisted lum-bar cable extensions. By placing the athletes in positions that imitate live basketball action but without the usual support of their shoes, we enhance the sport-specific foot and ankle sensory system. And by improving the foot’s tac-tile feedback and gripping strength, we provide benefits not only for the foot and ankle complex but all the way up the kinetic chain to the knee, hip, and lumbar spine.

At the end of a barefoot session, stretching and recovery includes strap stretches and foam rolling. We also use light jogging in the cooldown portion of some workouts, along with locomotion patterns such as walking with toes and feet pointed in, out, and up, walking on toes, shuffling in circular patterns, and backward jogging and running.

In addition to our traditional cooldown modalities, we also employ yoga during some sessions, particularly in the summer and the early preseason. This allows additional opportunities to stretch and maintain tissue quality while providing a refreshingly different type of ground-foot interaction.

The most striking thing about yoga work with our players is the extent to which they struggle to maintain the

balance necessary for even basic poses such as the warrior series, high lunges, extended triangles, and downward fac-ing dog. But improving balance is part of the reason we use barefoot training in the first place, so as they make progress in yoga, we know they are adding a new dimension of awareness and proficient mobility that will transfer to the entire kinetic chain.

As our athletes grow more comfort-able with barefoot training, we gradually get them out of their shoes more and more often. For example, after regular conditioning sessions, weightroom work-outs, and sled work, we might have them perform cooldown and stretching in bare feet on our indoor turf to keep the foot muscles engaged and maintain the strength gains they’ve made.

One question we have considered at length is how much barefoot training athletes should perform. We believe that once they’ve been evaluated and intro-duced to barefoot work, they should do as many training activities unshod as is prac-tical. In our conditioning program, the barefoot portion of a workout typically takes between five and 20 minutes—so while it’s certainly not the bulk of train-ing, it is a significant part of the broader program.

I’ve seen demonstrably positive results from incorporating this type of train-ing into athletes’ workouts on a regu-lar basis. Since we first implemented barefoot work in the summer of 2007, we have noticed a significant drop in episodes of anterior knee pain, ankle sprains, and low back pain among our basketball players. In fact, during the 2008-09 men’s season, no one missed a game due to an ankle sprain or any form of lower extremity pain. I’m confident that our barefoot protocols contributed to this success.

Is barefoot training the secret to solv-ing all foot, ankle, and gross movement problems? Certainly not. But with the outcomes we’ve witnessed, we won’t be dropping it from our training program any time soon. After all, why would humans have such an incredibly com-plex mechanism as the foot if it wasn’t intended to move freely? n

A version of this article appeared in our sis-ter publication, Training & Conditioning. To view more strength training articles from T&C, go to: www.Training-Conditioning.com.

We also use our barefoot training time as an oppor-tunity to develop the core with a number of upright standing exercises, such as partner anti-rotation, cable chops, and resisted lumbar cable extensions.

ON THE WEB

To learn more about barefoot train-ing, visit our sister Web site, www.Training-Conditioning.com and enter “Bare Essentials” into the search window.

National Federation of State High School Associations

NFHS Certification ProgramDesigned to deliver the highest-quality professional development online

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Level 1 – Accredited Interscholastic Coach

� The coach must complete the following courses:

� NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching

� NFHS First Aid for Coaches (American Red Cross) or its equivalent

� Fundamentals of Coaching (Sport-specific) or Teaching Sport Skills

Level 2 – Certified Interscholastic Coach

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PROVIDE athletes’ parents with educational resources

Circle No. 129

Bill Self: “Basic” and “Motion” 3-Out 2-In Zone Offenses

Bill Self focuses on seven prin-ciples for effective zone offense, and teaches you the Jayhawks’ “basic” and “motion” 3-Out 2-In Zone Offense. Coach Self walks through the necessary techniques of perimeter and post players, and also demon-strates drills that any coach at any level can use to enhance the continuity in the zone offense. 70 mins. 2005

Price: $39.99Item Number: BD-02422

All Access Practice with All Access Practice with Geno Auriemma

Take a courtside seat as Coach Auriemma takes you through his extensive UConn women’s basketball practices from begin-ning to end over four days. During the four-day stretch you can see how Auriemma organizes his practices, designs his drills, and how each drill fits perfectly into the big picture. 4 DVDs (465 mins.)2009


Tom Izzo: Dominating Tom Izzo: Dominating Rebounding & Man-to-Man Defensive Drills

Coach Izzo shares one of the most dominating man-to-man defensive and rebounding sys-tems in college basketball today. Izzo covers defensive drills in-cluding: 1) Defending backdoor cuts, 2) Help and recover, 3) Reaction drills, 4) Pick and roll, 5) Pin down picks, 6) Double screens and 7) Switching on screens. 62 mins. 2004


Jim Boeheim’s Complete Guide to the 2-3 Match-up Zone Defense

This DVD outlines the respon-sibilities, rotations, and reads for each player. Coach Boeheim details key concepts such as scouting, trapping, communica-tion, bump-down situations, controlling penetration, defend-ing baseline running, protecting the 3-point line, releasing cutters, protecting the high post area, re-bounding, and transition defense back in to the 2-3 match-up. 57 mins. 2003Price: $39.99Item Number: BD-02114

Bill Self: “Basic” and Jim Boeheim’s Complete

Mike Krzyzewski: Duke Basketball - Agility & Con-ditioning Drills for Defense

The drills on this DVD will instill the discipline and mental toughness needed to make that critical defensive stop when you need it the most! Coach Krzyzewski teaches over 20 drills and strategies designed to optimize your defensive tactics, which will help with transition defense, shutting down perim-eter and post players, increas-ing ball pressure and building weak-side defense awareness. 50 mins. 2005

Price: $44.99Item Number: BD-02478F

Pat Summitt’s Mastering Pat Summitt’s Mastering Special SituationsIn this DVD, Coach Sum-mitt will explore insights on handling special situations, such as pressure, press break, zone offense, attacking junk defenses and late game situations. Sum-mitt shows how to get the ball in bounds successfully when ahead, and demonstrates how to attack junk defenses late in the game with a 1-4 set. In ad-dition, Summitt shows several strategies to win games with a baseline out of bounds play and a set with 15 seconds left. 70 mins. 2008Price: $44.99Item Number: BD-02932

The Coach’s Guide to The Coach’s Guide to Developing Great Team Captains

Greg Dale discusses options for choosing or electing team leaders, effective strategies for communicating your expecta-tions to your leaders, how team captains can balance “earning respect” with “being liked”, how to effectively share decision-making to create ownership, and how to play to the strengths of your leaders. 33 mins. 2009

Price: $39.99Item Number: GD-03253B

Frank Martin: Ball Denial Pressure Defense

Coach Martin’s approach to the game starts and ends on the defensive end of the floor, and in this DVD he shares his 10-drill defensive progression. His system features aggressive on-ball play, pass denial and relentless help side defense, which will benefit your team by smothering the ball and making every pass, dribble and shot a difficult task! 2008


Mike Krzyzewski: Duke Frank Martin: Ball Denial

ORDER FORM

Learning from Peers Looking to gain a coaching edge in the off season? Order these books & DVDs by using the form below. Learning from Peers

MAG, Inc.31 Dutch Mill Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 Code C 18.6

PAY M E N T M E T H O D

I T E M S

S H I P P I N G P R I C E S

Speed, Agility, and Quickness: Comprehensive Drills and Conditioning for Athletes!

Over 130 innovative drills/variations! Warm-up drills, mobilities, speed develop-ment, sprint mechanic drills, non-resistive force production drills, resisted force production drills, complex drills, and ‘pure’ speed drills, athletic quickness drills, ball reaction drills, agility drills, program construction and more!70 mins. 2003Price: $39.99Item Number: GD-01990

Championship High Championship High School Basketball: 20 Favorite Practice Drills

With 699 coaching victories be-hind him, Coach Vetter shares his twenty favorite practice drills. Featured defensive drills include the ‘defensive stance’ and ‘Mustang slide,’ while his stationary ball handling drills build strength and command of the ball. Vetter teaches drills that range from the “dribble and roll” to the “11-Man Fast Break.”53 mins. 2006 Price: $39.99Item Number: BD-02651B

MVP Training: Advanced Point Guard Skills & DrillsJoined by Rod Strickland and Derrick Rose, Coach John Cali-pari offers these advanced drills designed to help point guards improve their play. From honing their dribbling to defending the pick-and-roll, the skills learned through this video can help your guards reach the next level regardless of what offensive or defensive system you use. 67 mins. 2010

Price: $39.99Item Number: BD-03503B

The Nutrition EdgeLearn how proper nutrition can help your players reach their true potential through the valuable information presented in this collection prepared by Susan Kundrat, Sports Dietitian for the University of Illinois. Topics include recovery nutrition, nutri-ent timing, pregame meals, losing weight, caffeine, and hydration. It also includes case studies and a look at special situations includ-ing celiac disease and vegetarian athletes.180 pages

Price: $16.95Item Number: 111002

Speed, Agility,

ORDER FORM

Learning from Peers Looking to gain a coaching edge in the off season? Order these books & DVDs by using the form below. Learning from Peers

MAG, Inc.31 Dutch Mill Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 Code C 18.6

Name: Address: City: City: State: Zip: State: Zip: State: Zip: Daytime Phone: (to be used if there’s a problem with your order.)Email address:

PAY M E N T M E T H O D

I T E M S

q U.S. check made payable to MAG, Inc. enclosed (sorry, only US orders)q VISA q MasterCard q Discover q AmerExCredit card #: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Expiration date: _ _ / _ _ 3 or 4 digit code: _ _ _ _Cardholder Name: Cardholder Signature: Cardholder Signature:

QUANTITY ITEM # TITLE PRICE

S H I P P I N G P R I C E S

0-$49.99 = $8.00 $50-$99.99 = $9.00 $100-$149.99 = $10.00 $150-and up = $12.00

Fax this order to 607-257-7328 or Mail this order to MAG, Inc., 31 Dutch Mill Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850

Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.

subtotal $ subtotal $ + shipping $ + shipping $

NY residents add sales tax $ $ = TOTAL $ = TOTAL $

The Nutrition Edge

Circle No. 123

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Basketball Court Equipment

All Types of TrAiningM.A.S.A. offers a variety of effective

training aids to help make your basketball practices more productive. 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 athletes can work on their ball handling, passing, and rebounding skills.

M.A.S.A. • 800-264-4519www.sportsadvantage.com Circle No. 500

fAsT & eAsyBison's T-Rex 96 portable incorporates low maintenance, extension spring technology for fast and easy one-person setup, and 7' to 10' height adjustment. Locking front stabilizers provide maximum stability. There's 96 inches of safe play area at 10-foot goal height. T-Rex 96 has a 180 degree breakaway goal, unbreakable glass backboard with

lifetime warranty, and DuraSkin backboard padding. Choose from 16 padding colors. Bison, Inc. • 800-247-7668www.bisoninc.com Circle No. 502

CleAner ThAn CleAnThe only way to keep sport surfaces in top-notch condition is with daily maintenance. For close to 20 years, Courtclean has provided the easiest, most effective way to pick up dirt, dust, sweat, and body oils.

In just minutes, you can clean an entire basketball court or wrestling mat and start play immediately. Courtclean offers the perfect way to reduce maintenance costs with a low-priced, proven effective product. Courtclean • 800-900-2481www.courtclean.com Circle No. 503

smArTer sTorAgeSpalding manufactures quality-driven basketball products for competitive, recreation, and physical education use including goals, backboards, and accessories. The Replica Pro Ball Rack is constructed of durable chrome steel tubing

with a non-topple base and swivel casters. The rack is designed with angled rails for easy

ball removal and holds up to 15 basketballs. This unit has a sturdy yet stylish design which is built to last. Spalding • 800-435-3865www.spaldingequipment.com Circle No. 504

nAme reCogniTionClarin’s logo stools are great courtside and in the locker room. For a limited time, get two free logo stools with each purchase of 24. Visit www.clarinseating.com/logochair to submit your logo and get a free quote and virtual sample of what your stool will look like. Offer valid July 15 to November 30, 2010. Clarin Corporation • 800-323-9062www.clarinseating.com Circle No. 505

everyThing you needM.A.S.A. offers a wide variety of top-quality 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. • 800-264-4519www.sportsadvantage.com Circle No. 506

hoops Where you need iTSpalding spring-assisted main court portable backstops are recommended for the highest level of competition. One person can easily operate the backstop without hydraulics or electric motors. The standard backstop is equipped with a SuperGlass Pro Backboard, Slam-Dunk Precision 180 Goal, and E-Z Bolt Backboard Padding. Spalding is the official backstop of the NBA, basketball equipment supplier to the NFHS, as well as the backstop and backboard supplier to the NCAA Final Four. Spalding • 800-435-3865www.spaldingequipment.com Circle No. 507

unBreAKABle BACKBoArds Unbreakable Glass Backboards, made by Bison and sold at Future Pro, have an unconditional lifetime warranty. Confident you will never need a replacement, a $250 installation reimbursement is offered on any BA42XL or BA48XL backboard replaced under this warranty. A heavy-duty rear support absorbs over 98 percent of stress from player contact. The goal mounts to frame without touching glass at any point. Boards are predrilled for DuraSkin backboard padding, now free with these backboards ordered though October 31. Future Pro • 800-328-4625www.futureproinc.com Circle No. 532


Basketball Court Equipment

Product Launch

A SmArt UpgrAde pAckAgeReplace old backboards and rims with a regulation 42” x 72” x 1/2” tempered glass backboard with bolt-on padding and a competition breakaway rim. Pre-installed mounting brackets in the board

easily affix to your existing fan-shaped or rectangular backboard mounting points. All stress from the rim is absorbed by the mounting bracket, and the backboard comes with a lifetime warranty. Consider adding the industry’s only height adjuster with a 10-year warranty to allow stable rim height adjustment from eight to 10 feet. Institutional Basketball Systems • 877-272-5430www.institutionalbasketballsystems.com Circle No. 501

portAble And AffordAbleThe affordable portable is at Future Pro. The T-Rex 54 SR has the basic features of larger competition portables that are popular on arena courts, but this T-Rex is a compact portable that fits into gyms where larger systems can’t.

The T-Rex 54 SR has a 72-inch glass backboard with a lifetime warranty, a breakaway goal, and DuraSkin backboard padding. The goal height adjusts from eight to 10 feet. Padding is available in 16 colors. This portable will meet your team’s needs and your budget. Future Pro is an authorized Bison dealer.Future Pro • 800-328-4625www.futureproinc.com Circle No. 533

premier SeAtingLook like the pros with Clarin logo chairs. Perfect for your team bench, locker room, VIP patron seating, and more. For a limited time, get two free logo chairs with each purchase of 24. Visit www.clarinseating.com/logochair for a free quote and virtual sample. Offer valid July 15 to November 30, 2010. Clarin Corporation • 800-323-9062www.clarinseating.com Circle No. 508

ExcelActive Ankle Systems, Inc.www.activeankle.com800-800-2896Circle No. 528

Unique features:• For athletes who want the best of both worlds: the comfort and mobility of a lace-up ankle brace with the support and security of a “tape job”• Circumferential strap helps stabilize the brace• Lacing system tightens all the way around for a better conforming and more comfortable fit

Benefits for the user:• Neoprene lined for maximum comfort and fit• Nylon eyelets reduce pressure points

ZAMST IW-2 Icing SetZAMSTwww.zamst.com877-ZAMST-USCircle No. 529

Unique features:• Easy wrapping and immobilization of up to three ice bags• Dual-strap design enables accurate placement of bags• Perfect for R.I.C.E. procedures

Benefits for the user:• Straps are machine-washable• Provides optimum hands-free application on shoulder, back, and joints• Allows adjustable compression of the affected body part

CoachesNetwork.com CoaChing ManageMent 39CoachesNetwork.com CoaChing ManageMent 39

Team Equipment

Circle No. 124

Stay Cool on the SidelineThe Eastbay Performance Polo is constructed with coaches in mind. When you are sweating over what play to call on fourth-and-one, our polo will keep you looking cool, confident, and composed. Antimicrobial and moisture-management properties are designed to keep you dry and odor-free. Available in awesome eight colors with sizes from

S-4XL. Only available at Eastbay.Eastbay Team Sales • 800-841-5748www eastbayteamsales.com Circle No. 560

deCal PaCkSFundraising with Pride Packs helps schools promote their logo, build their brand, and support their program. The company custom designs decal packs that teams can sell for 100 percent profit, and provides free artwork, free

shipping, and free sell sheets. There are no upfront costs and no money down until the decals are sold and the order is placed. Contact us today for free sample. Pride Packs • 888-700-5863www.pridepacks.com Circle No.550

look SharPLooking great has never felt so good with the Eastbay All Sport Moisture-Management Jacket & Pants. Features include inner media pockets, elastic cuffs, slash pockets, and moisture-management properties to maintain that cool, confident edge in any situation. Available in 15 colors with sizes from S-4XL, the Eastbay All Sport Moisture-Management Jacket & Pant is the perfect palette to display your team logo. Only available at Eastbay.Eastbay Team Sales • 800-841-5748www eastbayteamsales.com Circle No. 561

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Directory

Web News

Site SpecificActive Ankle has a newly designed Web site boasting a wealth of information, from a Community of Sport forum and photo gallery where athletes, coaches, parents, and athletic trainers can post and share information to an entire section on ankle health. The site includes printable injury treatment and injury prevention guidelines and step-by-step videos displaying the treatment and rehab of an ankle sprain, along with strengthening exercises to keep ankles strong and healthy while wearing Active Ankle braces for added protection. Check out www.activeankle.com for all the information and research needed on healthy ankles and ankle supports. www.activeankle.com

Do Your Whiteboards Promote Team Spirit?Personalized for any high school, college, or professional team’s needs, EverWhite custom printed whiteboards are used for strength and conditioning charts, field and court diagrams, team lineups, offensive and defensive play charts, and more. Provide your own design or have EverWhite design a graphic for you. Vibrant, photo-quality graphics will

display your team’s logos and mascots, and the graphics are embedded under the dry-erase surface so they won’t wear away over time. Visit the company online to learn more.www.everwhiteboards.com

Sites That Can Help You Knock Out PainPerformance Health/Hygenic Corp.’s Web sites align with their primary brands and research initiatives. Visitors will find product specifications, educational resources, FAQs, and testimonials. The sites also feature a “Where to Buy” locator tool that enables consumers to easily find healthcare professionals who sell Biofreeze and Thera-Band products. Market-leading Thera-Band and Biofreeze healthcare and fitness products provide preferred solutions that help clients manage pain, improve strength, and restore function. The Thera-Band Academy’s Web site, www.Thera-BandAcademy.com, is a free resource designed to provide a large, searchable library of research, evidenced-based protocols, and exercise instructions for healthcare professionals and consumers.www.biofreeze.comwww.thera-band.com

Advertising Directory105. .Athlete Assessments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8125. .Athletic Bid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43109. .Bison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13104. .California University of Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . 8102. .Clarin Seating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5129. .Coaches Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45123. .Coaches vs. Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36128. .Courtclean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13106. .Eastbay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10115. .EverWhite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

114. .Future Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21100. .Gatorade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC121. . Institutional Basketball Systems . . . . . . . . . . 31113. .M.A.S.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20103. .MilkPEP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7101. .Mueller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2122. .NFHS Coach Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33116. .OPTP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25126. .Powernetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC118. .Pride Packs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

108. .Save-A-Tooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12112. .Screen2Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19127. .Shoot-A-Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC124. .SnapSports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39120. .Spalding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28111. .The Sports People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19107. .TurfCordz/NZ Mfg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12119. .WBCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27117. .Wiffletree World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26110. .ZAMST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Product Directory

Circle # Company Page # Circle # Company Page # Circle # Company Page #

Circle # Company Page # Circle # Company Page # Circle # Company Page #

528. .Active Ankle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38522. .Athlete Assessments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44502. .Bison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37526. .California University of Pennsylvania . . . . . . . 46508. .Clarin Seating (logo chairs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38505. .Clarin Seating (logo stools) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37503. .Courtclean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37560. .Eastbay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39561. .Eastbay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39521. .EverWhite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44533. .Future Pro (T-Rex 54 SR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38532. .Future Pro (Unbreakable Glass Backboards) . 37527. .Gatorade (Prime 01) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

524. .Gatorade (Recover 03) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46501. . Institutional Basketball Systems . . . . . . . . . . 38506. .M.A.S.A. (products for basketball facilities) . . 37500. .M.A.S.A. (training aids) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37525. .MilkPEP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46516. .Mueller (ATF 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42509. .Mueller (Kinesiology Tape) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43519. .OPTP (RumbleRoller) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43513. .OPTP (Stretch Out Strap) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42520. .Power Systems (Adjustable Power-Plyo Box) . 43514. .Power Systems (Infinity vest) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42512. .Powernetics (High Stepper) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42518. .Powernetics (Shoulder Rotator) . . . . . . . . . . . 43

550. .Pride Packs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39515. .Save-A-Tooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42535. .Screen2Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44531. .Shoot-A-Way (6000 Series Gun) . . . . . . . . . . 44530. .Shoot-A-Way (8000 Series Gun) . . . . . . . . . . 44507. .Spalding (portable backstops) . . . . . . . . . . . . 37504. .Spalding (Replica Pro Ball Rack) . . . . . . . . . . 37534. .The Sports People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44511. .TurfCordz/NZ Mfg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42523. .Wiffletree World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44529. .ZAMST (IW-2 Icing Set) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38510. .ZAMST (JK Band) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42517. .ZAMST (ZK-7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42


Case Study

Since joining the Chicago Bulls 10 years ago

as Manager of Purchasing, Ben Adair has taken on the challenge of finding the most effective visual communications tools for the coaches, conditioning professionals, and players. The coaching staff relies heavily on the use of whiteboards printed with court diagrams and workout charts to communicate with players. These visual communications tools can be found in the team's locker rooms, meeting rooms, coaches' offices, workout rooms, and gymnasium.

The Bulls’ whiteboards needed to withstand frequent use, without having their graphics fade. Adair became frustrated with the quality of the team's printed whiteboards. "We were disappointed in the ghosting left behind. Even though we used the appropriate materials for cleaning—they still didn't clean up well," explains Adair. The stains interfered with basketball plays and notes written on the boards.

Adair had ordered from various well-known suppliers and manufacturers, but none of the whiteboards met his expectations. Determined to find a product that would work, Adair researched online and came across EverWhite, a manufacturer of visual communications solutions. EverWhite offers printed whiteboards with graphics that will not wear away and a lifetime guaranteed dry erase surface. Adair took advantage of EverWhite's offer and requested a free sample.

When the EverWhite whiteboard sample arrived, Adair tested it thoroughly. "The whiteness was outstanding and the erasing capability

was perfect,” he says. “The writing removed so easily and left the surface just as white as it was before."

Adair wasted no time ordering EverWhite's printed whiteboards for his team. When the products arrived, he compared them side by side with his previous whiteboards. He noted that the EverWhite whiteboards had brighter graphics and a smoother writing surface. With the additional assurance of a lifetime guarantee, Adair felt confident he had made the right choice by choosing EverWhite boards.

When Chicago Bulls' staff, coaches and players started using the new printed whiteboards, the response was very positive. The EverWhite boards provided the quality, stain-resistance, and customization they were looking for. According to Adair, "Everything from the customer service to the design of the graphics went smoothly. I wished I'd known about EverWhite years ago."

EverWhite • 800-824-1482W158 N9332 Nor-X-Way Ave., Menomonee Falls, WI [email protected]/ www.everwhiteboards.com

The Chicago Bulls’ Solution to Visual Communication


Strength Training & Injury Prevention

StreSS reductionThe ZAMST JK Band is designed to reduce stress on the patellar tendon. The three-

dimensional patellar pad applies pressure to the area below the kneecap while the thin-

band, featuring no-slip material and two points of adjustment, covers only a small area of the knee for optimum comfort. The ZAMST JK Band is washable and user-friendly.

ZAMST • 877-ZAMST-US (877-926-7887)www.zamst.com Circle No. 510

Jump-Start trainingThe high-impact TurfCordz jump belt, used by professional sports teams and Olympians, strengthens

leg muscles to enhance vertical leap. With five resistance levels, it's ideal for basketball, football, and track training. The easy-to-use jump belt features an adjustable cam buckle closure that fits up to a 36-inch (90 cm) waist and two 30-inch (75 cm) rubber tubes that connect to foot straps. NZ Manufacturing • 800-866-6621www.turfcordz.com Circle No. 511

reduce groin inJurieSThe High Stepper 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 • 800-829-2928www.powernetics.com Circle No. 512

Solo StretchingThe patented Stretch Out Strap delivers the benefits of PNF stretching without a partner. Alternating a stretch with a "relax phase" while using the Stretch Out Strap allows for maximum flexibility and decreases risk of injury. Each stretch out strap comes with a stretching guide with over 28 illustrations for the hamstrings, quads,

inner and outer thighs, back, sides, chest and arms.

OPTP • 800-367-7393 www.optp.com Circle No. 513

power playImprove your strength and overall fitness with the new comfortable form-fitting Infinity vest. The breathable design offers adjustable quick release buckles, reflective stripes, and a secure pocket for your phone or MP3 player. Add resistance to your bodyweight training, jogging, or jumping without adding inconvenience and discomfort. One size fits most. Available in 6 lb and 10 lb models. Power Systems, Inc. • 800-321-6975www.power-systems.com Circle No. 514

BecauSe time matterSWithout proper care, a knocked-out tooth begins to die in 15 minutes. The Save-A-Tooth emergency tooth preserving system utilizes Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) to not only preserve, but also reconstitute many of the degenerated cells. The patented basket and net container are designed to protect tooth root cells. This is the only system that keeps tooth cells alive for up to 24 hours. Save-A-Tooth® • 888-788-6684www.save-a-tooth.com Circle No. 515

all-around SupportThe Mueller ATF 2 features patented ankle straps designed to self-adjust to support the Anterior Talofibular Ligament and help protect against "rolling the ankle" without restricting jumping, speed or agility. ATF 2 straps also help weakened or sprained ankles. The ATF 2 is ideal for high-impact sports. The bi-directional back elastic gives supported, unrestricted motion while the single layer of fabric over the ankle bone offers increased comfort. Rigid plastic stays act like tendons to reinforce both sides of the ankle. Available XS through XXXL. Mueller Sports Medicine • 800-356-9522www.muellersportsmed.com Circle No. 516

compreSSion & StaBilityThe ZAMST ZK-7 is a sleeve-type knee support with a semi-open design that delivers a superior fit and helps prevent slipping. The ZAMST ZK-7 features criss-crossed and parallel straps to provide effective compression and intense anterior stability for the lower leg. Unique resin stays improve lateral and medial stability and enable smooth flexion and extension. The ZAMST ZK-7 is ideal for ACL/PCL support. ZAMST • 877-ZAMST-US (877-926-7887)www.zamst.com Circle No. 517


Strength Training & Injury Prevention

A Shoulder’S BeSt FriendThe 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 • 800-829-2928www.powernetics.com Circle No. 518

A Step upThe Adjustable Power-Plyo Box comes in two

sizes and provides the same function as a traditional plyo box. The smaller box adjusts from 18 to 30 inches and the larger box

adjusts from 30 to 42 inches. This box will allow your athletes to develop power and strength

with the ability for progression in one location. Steel construction with plywood with a non-slip surface. Black and gray in color. Power Systems, Inc. • 800-321-6975www.power-systems.com Circle No. 520

Feel the WAveDesigned to help increase the natural blood flow around your muscles, Mueller Kinesiology Tape features a revolutionary wave pattern adhesive that moves with skin and muscles to reduce muscle pain, increase mobility, and enhance recovery. Designed to aid in the treatment of ligament injuries, muscle conditioning, fascia repositioning, and even carpal tunnel syndrome, it is applied to the skin in patterns to mimic muscles. The 100 percent cotton tape is latex-free. Available in four colors with a retail-ready display. Mueller Sports Medicine • 800-356-9522 www.muellersportsmed.com Circle No. 509

reAdy to rumBleThe RumbleRoller surface contains 200 specially designed bumps that are like the thumbs of a massage therapist. The bumps are firmer than muscle tissue, but much softer than bone, so they deflect if they contact your spine or other bony protrusions. The RumbleRoller was molded with an antimicrobial additive and is 31” x 6”, waterproof, and latex free.OPTP • 800-367-7393 www.optp.com Circle No. 519

The Most Innovative On-Line Buyer's Guide

AthleticBid.com is a free service designed to help you research products and contact companies in an easy-to-use format. It used to take hours to contact dozens of companies to research products and plan purchases. By using AthleticBid.com,

it now only takes minutes. Take advantage of the wealth of information and see why more than 13,000 unique users each month rely on AthleticBid.com.

l View complete product lines, seeing all of the products offered by the company.

l View catalog pages or spec sheets with detailed product information. The information is stored as PDF files so you can view them on-line or print them out for easy reference.

l Read a profile or description of the company or a company repre-sentative.

l Request to be contacted by the company using an e-mail link direct to the company.

l Ask for a catalog and sales literature from the company —again Ask for a catalog and sales literature from the company —again Ask for a catalog and sales literature from the companyusing an e-mail link direct to the company.

Use links and tools on AthleticBid.com

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It HIts tHe spotSpot-to-spot programming, successful repetition,

and easy setup combine with consistency and dependability to produce the all-

new 8000 Series Gun. Shooting workouts can now be controlled anywhere in the

gym by remote, and coaches have the ability to specify shooting location and number of shots per spot. The “challenge” mode

requires players to make shots before moving, and player accountability is enhanced with the

optional ticket printer.Shoot-A-Way • 800-294-4654www.shootaway.com Circle No. 530

on BoardFully customizable, EverWhite athletic whiteboards can display any graphics, including team logos, mascots, or even photos. The graphics are embedded under the dry erase surface, creating a smooth

writing area with vibrant graphics that will never wear away. College, high school, and professional basketball coaches currently use them for strength and conditioning charts, training goals, court diagrams, and offensive and defensive play charts.EverWhite • 800-824-1482www.everwhiteboards.com Circle No. 521

CoaCHIng BreaktHrougHsFor coaches who are serious about improving

performance, Athlete Assessments provides the key tools to breakthrough performance. Identify your players’ individual strengths, limiting behaviors and uniquemotivation strategies. Know how to

push your players’ performance buttons, improve communication, and develop

stronger team bonds. Coaches can be confident about how their team “works” and turn around performance issues before they result in a loss. Get your free Coach’s Pack today. Athlete Assessments • 760-742-5157www.athleteassessments.com/cm Circle No. 522

a smart Way to LearnWiffletree World, based in Arlington, Texas, is a software solutions company focused on providing affordable, applicable, and usable software products that assist both coaches and players with the tools to help

them reach their full potential. Wiffletree has developed 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 • 817-460-3530www.wiffletree.com Circle No. 523

traInIng mannequInTake your practices to a higher level with the D-Man. Add a new obstacle and challenge to your everyday drills. Offer more complex and realistic shooting scenarios for your team. Develop players and team play, faster. Choreograph your offense and defense with clear understanding. Develop creative dribbling and penetrating skills. The patented D-Man is great for individual or team training and is lightweight, portable, and collapsible with a telescoping arm height to 9 feet. Cost is $79.95 each.The Sports People • 877-757-9255www.thesportspeople.com Circle No. 534

portaBLe projeCtIon sCreenOne of the challenges facing coaches on the road is finding a place to show PowerPoint presentations, slide shows, and video sessions. The solution is Screen2Go. It comes in an easy-carry pouch that collapses to just 18 inches for travel and weighs just six pounds. Screen2Go opens to 75 diagonal inches for presentations. There is even a Screen2Go briefcase that holds your Screen2Go, laptop, and small LCD projector. Take advantage of a limited time promotional offer that includes the briefcase for $119.Screen2Go • 630-237-4278www.screen2go.com Circle No. 535

ramp up your praCtICesSimplicity and dependability best describe the 6000 Series Gun. It zips out passes from 15 to 35 feet and will throw to one spot or rotate to different spots around the perimeter. The optional computerized scoreboard displays “makes,” total shots, and shooting percentage. The fast-paced workout forces players to use a proper arc while shooting game shots at game spots at game speed. This product is protected by a five-year warranty. Shoot-A-Way • 800-294-4654www.shootaway.com Circle No. 531

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National Federation of State High School Associations

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44 CoaChing ManageMent CoachesNetwork.com Circle No. 122


Testimonial More Products

A Winning Look

Clarin Seating offers some of the highest quality courtside team and patron logo seating in the industry, providing schools with the opportunity to look like the pros and show their competition whose house they’re in. For a limited time, get two free logo chairs with each purchase of 24. Go to www.clarinseating.com/logochair for more details. Here are just a few of the schools that have Clarin chairs:

Arizona State UniversityBall State UniversityBaylor UniversityBoston CollegeColorado State UniversityCornell CollegeDartmouth CollegeDuke UniversityEmory UniversityFlorida State UniversityGeorgetown UniversityHarvard UniversityMichigan State UniversityNorthwestern UniversityOhio State UniversityPenn State UniversityPrinceton UniversityPurdue UniversityTexas A&M UniversityUniversity of ColoradoUniversity of FloridaUniversity of IllinoisUniversity of IowaUniversity of MichiganUniversity of MontanaUniversity of NebraskaUniversity of NevadaUniversity of New MexicoUniversity of North CarolinaUniversity of North DakotaUniversity of Notre DameVirginia TechWest Point Academy

Clarin Seating927 North Shore DriveLake Bluff, IL 60044800-323-9062www.clarinseating.com/logochair

POST-ExErCISE rECOVEryGatorade Recover 03™, part of the G Series, is the first protein and carbohydrate beverage formulated with the consistency of a thirst quencher to provide hydration and muscle recovery benefits after exercise. In addition to the 16g of protein, Gatorade Recover 03™ has 14g of carbohydrates and electrolytes, including sodium and potassium, to help you replace nutrients after a tough practice or game. Gatorade • 800-884-2867www.gatorade.com Circle No. 524

NATUrE’S PrOTEIN DrINkResearch suggests that low-fat chocolate milk, with its unique mix of nutrients, is a naturally nutrient-rich protein drink that can help athletes refuel and rehydrate within the critical two-hour recovery window after exercise. Drinking low-fat chocolate milk after exercise not only provides the carbohydrates and protein to refuel and repair muscles, it also helps replenish fluids and electrolytes that are lost in sweat, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium that are also lost in sweat.Milk Processor Education [email protected] Circle No. 525

NEVEr STOP LEArNINGCalifornia University of Pennsylvania’s Global Online programs offer an exceptional 100-percent online learning experience with the convenience of an asynchronous format. Complete your coursework anywhere, at any time that’s convenient for you—all you need is a computer and Internet access. For more information on Cal U’s Global Online programs, call or go online today.California University of Pennsylvania • 866-595-6348www.cup.edu/go Circle No. 526

PrIME MOVErGatorade Prime 01, part of the G Series, is a pre-workout or pre-game fuel in a convenient and functional 4 oz. pouch. With 25g of carbohydrates, it is designed to be used within 15 minutes before a workout or competition to provide energy by maximizing the availability of carbohydrate energy to muscles. Gatorade Prime 01 also contains three B vitamins that help with energy metabolism as part of a daily diet. Gatorade • 800-884-2867www.gatorade.com Circle No. 527

46 CoaChing ManageMent CoachesNetwork.com CoachesNetwork.com CoaChing ManageMent 47

Case Study

Reducing The Rate Of Ankle Injury

Historically, ankle injuries have been exceedingly frequent among female collegiate volleyball players. Since 1998, they have accounted for the highest percentage of injuries sustained

by NCAA female volleyball players, ranging from 18 to 36 percent of the total number of injuries in practices and games recorded by the NCAA. To our knowledge, there are no studies evaluating the use of prophylactic ankle braces in these athletes and little, if any, evidence demonstrating their effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with this brace in preventing ankle injuries that result in a loss of playing time.

MaterialS & MethodS: Injury data, pre-participation medical histories, and total exposures were collected on all players at an NCAA Division I university from 1998 to 2005. Since 1998, all female volleyball players at this institution were required by the coaching staff to wear bilateral double upright padded ankle braces at all times. The braces in question were produced by Active Ankle.

Following the system used by the NCAA in its official Injury Surveillance System (ISS) database, preseason practices and games were included in our data acquisition, but postseason play was excluded from the evaluation. Injuries were identified based on criteria set forth by the NCAA. All injury data was recorded on a prospective basis. Injury rate data for female NCAA volleyball players obtained from the NCAA ISS between 1998 and 2004 was used for comparison as a control group. Statistical analysis was performed.

reSultS: In total, there were 13,500 exposures and one injury in our sample group, yielding an injury rate of 0.08 per 1,000 exposures. There were 744,932 exposures and 611 injuries in the NCAA ISS comparison group, for an injury rate of 0.82 per 1,000 exposures. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.002) according to the Pearson’s Chi Square and Fischer’s Exact tests (P<0.001).

ConCluSion: To summarize, in our cohort of athletes, prophylactic use of a double upright ankle brace significantly reduced the ankle injury rate compared to that reported by the NCAA Injury Surveillance System and those reported by other authors. Additionally, while nearly half of these athletes sustained ankle injuries prior to collegiate play, only one suffered an injury while wearing the brace. From our preliminary data, it appears that the use of

such a brace is an effective way to decrease the incidence of ankle injuries in this active but vulnerable group of athletes.

About the authors: Selene G. Parekh, MD, MBA, is affiliated with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of North Carolina. David I. Pedowitz, MD, MS, Sudheer Reddy, MD, Russell Huffman, MD, MPH, and Brian J. Sennett, MD, work in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Active Ankle Systems, Inc. • 800-800-2896P.O. Box 1001, Gardner, KS 66030www.activeankle.com

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John Calipari explains advanced dribbling skills

Jim Boeheim talks about his team’s zone defense

Box 329 Riverside, TX 773671 (800) 829-2928

www.powernetics.com

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 record-ing the highest vertical jump on athletes in weight training history.

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Explosive Exercises:Explosive Exercises: • Quarter squat jumping • Angle squat jumping • Angle squats

school colors available 7-year warranty

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