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To become more athletic and improve their game, a non-athletic basketball player can focus on several key areas. First, developing a solid foundation is a must. Strength training builds this foundation by focusing on compound exercises that work multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Key exercises include squats, lunges, bench presses, pull-ups, and deadlifts. Additionally, cardiovascular conditioning is essential for improving endurance and stamina. This can be achieved through activities like running, swimming, biking, HiiT on an Airdyne Fan bike, and jumping rope. Next, enhancing…

"Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad." ~ Anne Geddes "It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was." ~ Anne Sexton "My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." ~ Clarence Budington Kelland "My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, 'You're tearing up the grass'; 'We're not raising grass,' Dad would reply. 'We're raising boys.'" ~ Harmon Killebrew As a young university adult, I always dreamt of training and mentoring my future kids. Many years later,…

Why Countries Implode Simmering rage builds tension by highlighting the underlying anger and frustration that fuel these eruptions. Political oppression tells us what causes the simmering rage and puts potential violence in context. Spontaneous, emphasizes how unpredictable these uprisings are, making them hard to stop. Power and fragility are contradictions that make these events dangerous. They can be highly destructive but also surprisingly brief. When a population experiences prolonged oppression, it can lead to the buildup of intense rage that eventually erupts in sudden, violent…

"Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere." ~ Jon Ronson "Bias and prejudice make me angry...more than anything." ~ Rod Serling "There's a tremendous bias against taking risks. Everyone is trying to optimize their ass-covering." ~ Elon Musk It's important to be mindful of the impact of confirmation bias and implicit bias on student-athletes and employees. These biases can create significant challenges, as they may lead educators and coaches to unfairly hold onto negative stereotypes about student-athletes, which can overshadow their talents and…

Feeling lost after high school graduation? The Red Car Theory can be your roadmap to success. Just like noticing red cars everywhere once you want one, focusing on your goals (your "red car") will help you spot hidden opportunities. Feeling overwhelmed by college choices? Take control of your future by focusing on your desired career path. You'll be surprised at how relevant programs, scholarships, or workshops will jump out at you, empowering you to make informed decisions. Are you trying to expand your network? Attending career fairs or alumni events is like finding a "red car," as…

"What is wonderful about great literature is that it transforms the man who reads it towards the condition of the man who wrote." ~ E. M. Forster "He would write it for the reason he felt that all great literature, fiction and nonfiction, was written: truth comes out, in the end it always comes out. He would write it because he felt he had to." ~ Stephen King "Great literature rattles the mind and makes the body sing. It's an unmistakable, electric feeling, and too rare. That is what I want." ~ C.E. Morgan "Great literature, if we read it well, opens us up to the world and makes us more…

My sons are very fortunate. Since the age of eight, they have had the opportunity to train in all the school gyms where I have worked. This consistent access to quality facilities and coaching has provided them with an invaluable foundation in basketball. Over the past eight years, their skills have improved remarkably thanks to regular training sessions with experienced coaches. They have sharpened their shooting, dribbling, passing, and footwork, and developed a comprehensive understanding of overall game techniques. Their strength, stamina, agility, and coordination have all increased,…

Asking players which student athlete should be cut is not good practice for any coach, as it is both unprofessional and unethical. Some coaches have a limited perspective and can be influenced by their own jealousy, biases, and negative stereotypes. For instance, if a coach tries to dig up dirt on a player by asking teammates about a student athlete who led the team in points and assists, inquiring about the student’s behavior in school, it creates an uncomfortable situation for the athletes being questioned. Questions like, "How is he in school? Is he a bad kid? Does he get into…

"I don't have an alarm clock. If someone needs to wake me up, then I have my BlackBerry next to me." ~ Mark Zuckerberg "In terms of the technology I use the most, it's probably a tie between my Blackberry and my MacBook Pro laptop. That's how I communicate with the rest of the world and how I handle all the business I have to handle." ~ John Legend "What is so seductive about texting, about keeping that phone on, about that little red light on the BlackBerry, is you want to know who wants you." ~ Sherry Turkle Here are some essential factors to learn from, especially regarding smartphone…

A New Horizon As the sun sets on years of toil and care, A horizon of adventure calls you to dare. Boating on tranquil waters, so vast and so clear, discovering coastlines where serenity is near. With fishing rod in hand, at dawn’s early light, You’ll dance with the ripples, in nature’s delight. Each catch a story, a memory to hold, In the sport of patience, both calm and bold. Hunting in the woods, where the wild things roam, You’ll tread with respect, in their natural home. The chase, a challenge; the harvest, a feast, A cycle of life, from the greatest to least. And when the sails…

"The best way to ensure success is to start growing today. No matter where you may be starting from, don't be discouraged; everyone who got where he is started where he was." ~ John C. Maxwell "People get discouraged. They should remember, from me, it takes courage not to be discouraged." ~ Benjamin B. Ferencz "I've taken my bumps and bruises, but you've got to be willing to get knocked down and pick yourself up. You can't get discouraged. You can't lose sight of what your goals are." ~ Jermaine O'Neal "We are called upon to help the discouraged beggars in life's marketplace. But one day…

"No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting." ~ Mary Wortley Montagu "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them." ~ Mark Twain "It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it." ~ Oscar Wilde "If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson "When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes." ~ Desiderius Erasmus I was just looking through my cell phone, browsing my different…

"I am good at walking away. Rejection teaches you how to reject." ~ Jeanette Winterson "I have learned to not let a bad race or failure bring me down, and always walking away with something positive and learning from mistakes so I can be better or stronger next time." ~ Erin Hamlin "Pause and remember - You deserve peace! So, don't feel bad for one moment about walking away from people, jobs, and situations that keep you from having peace of mind." ~ Jennifer Young Sometimes, walking away from a situation is the most beneficial course of action, for personal well-being and…

"The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change." ~ Carl Rogers "Online education, then, can serve two goals. For students lucky enough to have access to great teachers, blended learning can mean even better outcomes at the same or lower cost. And for the millions here and abroad who lack access to good, in-person education, online learning can open doors that would otherwise remain closed." ~ Daphne Koller "Online learning can be a lifeline to those who have obstacles, such as geographical distances or physical disabilities." ~ Paul Levinson A hybrid…

A strong defense is a major advantage. It makes it harder for the other team to score and creates opportunities for your team to steal the ball and score themselves. Great defense also requires teamwork and communication, which builds a strong team defensive mindset. At the high school D1, and college, and professional level, every athlete knows how to score and produce points for their team but not every athlete is able to defend or willing to defend. As a coach, defensive minded athletes are scrappers with a mentality of never giving up, natural scrapping, resilient, relentless,…