What makes a good player better and how do they become great?
They balance books and basketball with their head on straight.
Do you want to move to the next level? How many know what it takes?
For your dream to come true, you must know the stakes!
You have to be special and separate yourself as the cream of the crop,
To be among the very small number of players who make it to the top.
Shoot to be a student athlete instead of an athlete student.
To shoot to graduate is a wise move and would be more prudent.
A student athlete attends all their classes,
And studies hard to ensure he/she passes.
An athlete student chooses to only participate
In only sports and rarely do they graduate.
Attack academics the same way you attack the basketball goal.
Attack with full concentration of your mind, body and soul.
Show good character both on and off the court.
Take charge and lead as an ambassador of the sport.
It doesn’t matter if you can dribble, slam dunk and shoot.
What really counts is if you can read, write, calculate and compute.
You have to do more than defend, rebound and throw no look passes.
Make sure you comprehend what’s being taught in all of your classes.
Keep this drive burning to never give up, or stop the flow,
Good character is the design and making of a true pro.
Try to be well rounded. Join the school drama, chess or debate teams.
It shows you have school spirit, no matter how nerdish it sometimes seems.
Learn to be patient and always humble.
Learn not to complain, hold a grudge or grumble.
Always take your time and think before you talk,
Always be aware of your surroundings before you walk.
Keep away from anything that looks, feels or sounds like trouble.
Move out with the quickness and break out on the double.
Strive not to lie, cheat, steal and use or sell drugs.
Watch the company you keep and stay away from thugs.
Don’t wear your pants or shorts sagging below your waist.
It’s just not cool or stylish and it doesn’t show good taste.
Give everyone you meet a firm handshake.
Don’t sweat it whenever you make a mistake.
Just shake it off and let it go,
Don’t give a bad seed the time to grow.
Keep your head up in spite of the score.
You are still a winner to the bone and the core.
Don’t use profanity and explode in a rage,
Just flip the script and turn the page.
Keep your head stay in the game
chill and keep your anger tame.
Never let your emotions show
Just relax, exhale and let it flow.
It doesn’t matter about your size or height.
What counts is if you are mentally ready and physically fit to fight.
Not with your fists but with your game.
That’s how your let them know your name.
This is what makes a superstar,
This frame of mind can take you very far.
Don’t get mad when the ref does or doesn’t call a foul,
never loose your cool and throw in the towel.
Stay calm and keep your cool.
Use your anger as your fuel.
Never let anyone see you pout, when you lose a game or when you foul out.
You never know when you’re being watched by a coach, a sportswriter or scout.
They are watching how you play the game; they watch how you react,
They also check your grades and character as a matter of fact.
It might not seem to make a lot of sense or you may think it doesn’t matter.
But some players find out the hard way as you climb up the basketball ladder.
Let's keep it real, the chances are slim, and the odds are very low.
It takes hard work, discipline and determination for a player to go pro.
The NBA is only looking for the best of the best from the fortunate few.
So you must always do absolute your best in everything that you do.
The draft is a numbers game, like basketball musical chairs.
With only a few players still standing after climbing up the stairs.
Over 10 million of players in AAU, and high schools share this same dream.
But from the 10 million about 5,000 of these players make it to a college team.
Now the NBA has 30 teams that draft 2 players every year.
That is a total of 60 job openings, now the picture is very clear.
Only seven of the 60 players started for their teams leaving a remainder of 53.
Those 53 are on the bench drawing a guaranteed two year salary.
Now what happens to the rest who don't make this final cut?
Are they ready to move on with life or do they fall into a rut?
What choice is left for the rest who were left behind?
Do they have another option or career in mind?
Overseas basketball is one choice but it's not always guaranteed.
That’s why a good college education is what you truly need.
When the ball stops bouncing and you leave the court,
Ensure you get your education while you’re playing the sport.
You have unlimited choices available when you graduate with a college degree.
There’s sports medicine or management, be a broadcaster, coach or referee.
You can use basketball as a enabling vehicle and an empowering tool.
When you strive to excel on the court and have the drive to do well in school.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Coaches Academy lets coaches learn from college and pro coaches
The Coaches over at Coaches Academy (http://coachesacademy.net/dap/a/?a=2000 ) are putting together an exciting learning opportunity for basketball coaches at every level. They have created a personalized online training that breaks down almost every aspect of coaching the game over the course of 12 months.
Two things make Coaches Academy stands out as a great coaching resource. The first is the coaching staff's coaching experience. Coaches Academy is taught by four coaches: Ed Schilling, April McDivitt-Foster, Brian Williams, and Josh Stinson.
Ed Schilling is a very well known and highly regarded coach with NBA experience as an assistant with the New Jersey Nets. He is a successful Division 1 NCAA men's coach as well, as the head coach at Wright State and as an assistant to John Calipari at UMass and Memphis.
April McDivitt Foster has a basketball pedigree. April was the 1999 H.S. Player of the Year in Indiana (Ms. Basketball), and had a very successful NCAA career, playing 3 years for Pat Summit at Tennessee before finishing at University Of California-Santa Barbara . April played in 4 Sweet 16's before going into coaching as an assistant at UCSB.
Brian Williams and Josh Stinson share a combined 40 years of high school varsity as well as youth basketball coaching experience. Brian publishes the Coaching Toolbox and Josh publishes Perfect Practice. Brian and Josh formed a partner ship to create create HoopClinics, another very popular coaching website.
The second reason Coaches Academy stands out is the amount of interaction provided. Each training module includes over an hour of video, an audio recording of a 'coaches roundtable' and an hour-long webinar where members interact directly with the staff in a question and answer segment. Each webinar also includes a 'hot-seat' where one member talks about his team at length and the coaching staff helps him or her find useful solutions.
The extensive training coupled with the staff's NBA and College experience creates a mentorship experience that isnt available any where else. And the pricing is right: anybody can enroll and get the first month's material for free.
Coaches Academy is definitely worth taking a serious look at.
http://coachesacademy.net/dap/a/?a=2000
http://coachesacademy.net/dap/a/?a=2000
Two things make Coaches Academy stands out as a great coaching resource. The first is the coaching staff's coaching experience. Coaches Academy is taught by four coaches: Ed Schilling, April McDivitt-Foster, Brian Williams, and Josh Stinson.
Ed Schilling is a very well known and highly regarded coach with NBA experience as an assistant with the New Jersey Nets. He is a successful Division 1 NCAA men's coach as well, as the head coach at Wright State and as an assistant to John Calipari at UMass and Memphis.
April McDivitt Foster has a basketball pedigree. April was the 1999 H.S. Player of the Year in Indiana (Ms. Basketball), and had a very successful NCAA career, playing 3 years for Pat Summit at Tennessee before finishing at University Of California-Santa Barbara . April played in 4 Sweet 16's before going into coaching as an assistant at UCSB.
Brian Williams and Josh Stinson share a combined 40 years of high school varsity as well as youth basketball coaching experience. Brian publishes the Coaching Toolbox and Josh publishes Perfect Practice. Brian and Josh formed a partner ship to create create HoopClinics, another very popular coaching website.
The second reason Coaches Academy stands out is the amount of interaction provided. Each training module includes over an hour of video, an audio recording of a 'coaches roundtable' and an hour-long webinar where members interact directly with the staff in a question and answer segment. Each webinar also includes a 'hot-seat' where one member talks about his team at length and the coaching staff helps him or her find useful solutions.
The extensive training coupled with the staff's NBA and College experience creates a mentorship experience that isnt available any where else. And the pricing is right: anybody can enroll and get the first month's material for free.
Coaches Academy is definitely worth taking a serious look at.
http://coachesacademy.net/dap/a/?a=2000
http://coachesacademy.net/dap/a/?a=2000
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Coach Ed's Basketball ABC's
A - Attitude is the most important tool, keep it positive and always be cool.
Academics before basketball, do your best on the court and as well in school.
B – Be a team player to be all you can be, believe in your team, not just I or me, but we.
The Backboard square is your best friend; a sure lay-up shot you can depend.
C – Check your ego, check your anger, if you forget this rule you play with danger.
D – Defense – maintain the grip, defense wins championships
E – Every game is chance to excel, even in practice and you will do well.
F – Free throws are free, keep the shot simple as one, two, three.
G – Go after every rebound and every loose ball, get big in the lane and stand up tall.
H – Hands up and moving in the defenders space, slap up for the ball or wave them in the shooters face
I – Individual is only one, but with five players united, the winning is fun.
J – Jump shot is pure; practice good form and you’ll be sure.
K – Keep your head, stay in the game, chill and keep your anger tame.
L – Look up the court and see the floor, try to help your teammates score
M – Make the good cut, make the good pass, and make your lay-ups off the glass.
N – Never give up and never stop trying, play defense by always denying.
O – One on One basketball is only for fun, teamwork is the way games are won.
P – Perfect practice improves your game, and mental preparation is just the same.
Q – Quickness is the key to get you open and away from the defense to set you free.
R – Run the floor and get your space, run every time like you’re in a race.
S – Stop the ball at the key on the fast break, defend the basket, never fall for the fake.
T – Team ball is the winning way to use what you’ve got. Pass and cut to the open spot.
U – Up and under or up and step away, and use a good fake for a three point play.
V- Vee cut to get open, take your man away, then break to the basket for the scoring play.
W – Whining to the ref won’t change the call, just shake it off and keep playing ball.
X - X factor is the unknown, it’s your secret weapon when you play in your zone.
Y – Your power is your weapon, if you know how to use it, channel it and don’t abuse it.
Z – Zone is where you take your game to higher heights, the place where you must set your sights.
It’s where you can’t be stopped and you’re on top of your game; where you hear the crowd calling your name.
Where you play your best, way above the rest, and you can handle any test.
Where you know you just can’t miss, it’s the level where everything is bliss.
Academics before basketball, do your best on the court and as well in school.
B – Be a team player to be all you can be, believe in your team, not just I or me, but we.
The Backboard square is your best friend; a sure lay-up shot you can depend.
C – Check your ego, check your anger, if you forget this rule you play with danger.
D – Defense – maintain the grip, defense wins championships
E – Every game is chance to excel, even in practice and you will do well.
F – Free throws are free, keep the shot simple as one, two, three.
G – Go after every rebound and every loose ball, get big in the lane and stand up tall.
H – Hands up and moving in the defenders space, slap up for the ball or wave them in the shooters face
I – Individual is only one, but with five players united, the winning is fun.
J – Jump shot is pure; practice good form and you’ll be sure.
K – Keep your head, stay in the game, chill and keep your anger tame.
L – Look up the court and see the floor, try to help your teammates score
M – Make the good cut, make the good pass, and make your lay-ups off the glass.
N – Never give up and never stop trying, play defense by always denying.
O – One on One basketball is only for fun, teamwork is the way games are won.
P – Perfect practice improves your game, and mental preparation is just the same.
Q – Quickness is the key to get you open and away from the defense to set you free.
R – Run the floor and get your space, run every time like you’re in a race.
S – Stop the ball at the key on the fast break, defend the basket, never fall for the fake.
T – Team ball is the winning way to use what you’ve got. Pass and cut to the open spot.
U – Up and under or up and step away, and use a good fake for a three point play.
V- Vee cut to get open, take your man away, then break to the basket for the scoring play.
W – Whining to the ref won’t change the call, just shake it off and keep playing ball.
X - X factor is the unknown, it’s your secret weapon when you play in your zone.
Y – Your power is your weapon, if you know how to use it, channel it and don’t abuse it.
Z – Zone is where you take your game to higher heights, the place where you must set your sights.
It’s where you can’t be stopped and you’re on top of your game; where you hear the crowd calling your name.
Where you play your best, way above the rest, and you can handle any test.
Where you know you just can’t miss, it’s the level where everything is bliss.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Anger Management for Athletes
When the going gets tough,
you must know what to do.
You can't give in to your anger,
and let it ruin the game for you.
Keep your head stay in the game.
Chill and keep your anger tame.
Inhale, relax and let it flow,
Exhale and let your gameface show.
Don’t explode or loose your cool
Don't make yourself look like a fool.
Stay focused and remain a triple threat.
Never let them see you sweat.
Every time you step on the court
Bring your “A” game to this sport.
Play hard through tough times, thick and thin,
You hate to lose more than you like to win.
Think of your team and see the big S.T.A.R.*
Stop Think Act Remember
Stop take 3 deep breaths, then count to ten
Say to yourself I am a STAR, I play to win.
Think and decide what do I chose,
If I fight I automatically lose,
Act - Walk away to a better day
and I still have a chance to play.
Remember – What it takes to be a STAR,
to be greater than you already are.
The capital letter D is when you flirt with danger.,
It can be a secret weapon,
when you learn how to control and transform your anger.
You can brush it off your shoulder and play even better and bolder.
Stay cool as ice and even colder.
Nothing can stop you in the zone.
No person can break you with a stick, words or stone.
Ignore the crowd when you play in enemy terrain.
Just inhale, exhale and relax your brain.
Coach Ed Atlas, Copyright 2009
you must know what to do.
You can't give in to your anger,
and let it ruin the game for you.
Keep your head stay in the game.
Chill and keep your anger tame.
Inhale, relax and let it flow,
Exhale and let your gameface show.
Don’t explode or loose your cool
Don't make yourself look like a fool.
Stay focused and remain a triple threat.
Never let them see you sweat.
Every time you step on the court
Bring your “A” game to this sport.
Play hard through tough times, thick and thin,
You hate to lose more than you like to win.
Think of your team and see the big S.T.A.R.*
Stop Think Act Remember
Stop take 3 deep breaths, then count to ten
Say to yourself I am a STAR, I play to win.
Think and decide what do I chose,
If I fight I automatically lose,
Act - Walk away to a better day
and I still have a chance to play.
Remember – What it takes to be a STAR,
to be greater than you already are.
The capital letter D is when you flirt with danger.,
It can be a secret weapon,
when you learn how to control and transform your anger.
You can brush it off your shoulder and play even better and bolder.
Stay cool as ice and even colder.
Nothing can stop you in the zone.
No person can break you with a stick, words or stone.
Ignore the crowd when you play in enemy terrain.
Just inhale, exhale and relax your brain.
Coach Ed Atlas, Copyright 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Gameface
"Gameface is a baller's state of mind.
Relaxed to let your game unwind.
Just stay in a state of chill.
Just play the game and use your will.
Use your mind to overpower matter.
Shut out any negative outside chatter."
Keep your head stay in the game.
Chill and keep your anger tame.
Inhale, relax and let it flow,
Exhale and let your gameface show.
Coach Ed Atlas Copyright 2009
Relaxed to let your game unwind.
Just stay in a state of chill.
Just play the game and use your will.
Use your mind to overpower matter.
Shut out any negative outside chatter."
Keep your head stay in the game.
Chill and keep your anger tame.
Inhale, relax and let it flow,
Exhale and let your gameface show.
Coach Ed Atlas Copyright 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
T.A.O.H.
Coming soon! T. A. O. H. The Art Of Hoops
Fundamental wisdom from The Basketball Griot - Coach Ed Atlas
www.atlas-hoops.com
Fundamental wisdom from The Basketball Griot - Coach Ed Atlas
www.atlas-hoops.com
Saturday, October 17, 2009
welcome to Hoopscoop
Hoopscoop for the ballers soul.
The give and go, the pick and roll.
The in and out, the out and in,
the backdoor uncut, the will to win.
The give and go, the pick and roll.
The in and out, the out and in,
the backdoor uncut, the will to win.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
