It's Spring Again.....

Well, it's Spring again
The grass is turning green again
The warm air feels so good
Summer's not too far away.....

So what does that mean for you?....If you're a serious ball player this is the time of year that is most important to your development and career path. What will you do with your time? Many of you will fill your time with activity, but it will it lead to achievement? Only you can answer that question, but here are a few suggestions for you as you proceed on your journey.

• Energy rightly applied can accomplish anything
• There is NO EASY WAY
• The 5 S words are Strength, Speed, Skills, Stamina and Spirit
• You can't test courage cautiously
• Pain is inevitable, Suffering is optional
• Motivation doesn't last, neither does a shower do both daily
• You always know the right thing to do, the hard part is doing it
• Years of hard work for a moment of glory
• The most effective training is brutally hard to do
• A Professional Athlete can perform their best when they don't feel like it
• Everything unpleasant is developmental

Shooting the Breeze

You shouldn't have time to shoot the breeze since you are working so hard on improving your game. If you find yourself with time on your hands find a gym, a partner and a ball and try these shooting drills:

5  Spot Shooting Inside Three

• how many shots can you make in 30 seconds from each spot...record your results
• how many shots can you make in 45 seconds from each spot....record your results
• stay at each spot until you can make 7 out of 10 from each spot
• stay at each spot until you can make 8 out of 10 from each spot

5 Spot Shooting 3pt Shots

• how many shots can you make in 30 seconds from each spot...record your results
  
• how many shots can you make in 45 seconds from each spot....record your results
  
• stay at each spot until you can make 7 out of 10 from each spot
  

stay at each spot until you can make 8 out of 10 from each spot

Choose your spot and your range

• make 3 in a row
• make 5 in a row

Food For Thought

Are you or is one of your players struggling with their weight? Need to gain weight, need to lose weight? Here are a few pointers on how you can improve your body regardless of if you are trying to lose or gain weight.

Need to gain weight..if you're training hard and can't seem to put on pounds of muscle?

• increase your caloric intake, take your weight and multiply by 15, consume that amount of calories per day
• quality and quantity of food are equally important
• check your training routine, your body responds to one specificity at a time. If you are looking to increase weight and develop strength, lighten up on the heavy conditioning and long distance running, the catabolic process breaks down muscle which is what you don't want

Need to lose weight...

• change your diet to consume less carbs and more proteins
• don't starve yourself...body senses starvation and will store fat for energy
• increase your level of energy expenditure by doing an additional 30-45 minutes of intense exercise per day
• fads don't work, adopt healthy eating habits along with a sound training plan. Track your progress on a regular basis

Trouble Shooting

• if you're losing weight unintentionally increase carb and protein intake
• if you are losing strength consume more protein
• if you are losing energy consume more carbohydrates
• training and nutrition go hand and hand, poor training and poor diet equal no progress

Words to Live By

• Treat your body like an expensive sports car
• Find a way to be disciplined
• Read, become informed on the subject
• Consider the source when getting nutritional information. Does the person who told you follow their own advice?