The Bracket Busters » Basketball Training

9 Ways to Decide if a Gym is Right for You

admin — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 23:52:18 +0000

Going to a gym can be a great way to get fit. But, a gym membership can be a big waste of money if you don’t actually get to the gym on a regular basis. So, choosing a gym for the right reasons, and choosing the right gym for you is really important. Here are nine questions to ask yourself before you join a gym.
1. Do you feel comfortable? Many people report feeling intimidated at the gym. In most cases, it’s the particular gym that makes you feel that way, rather than all gyms having that effect. If the spirit seems competitive, or everyone looks “dressed to impress” rather than dressed for working out, you might want to look elsewhere. A really good gym makes you feel good about being there.
2. Are the facilities what you need for working out? Don’t choose a gym thinking you’ll learn to enjoy their equipment or classes. Of course, you want to have new and interesting things available to you, but you also want to know that there are some tried and true workout methods available.
3. Are the locker rooms acceptable? Sometimes fitting in a workout means showering and getting ready for work or evening activities at the gym. If the locker room facilities aren’t up to par, it’s pretty certain that you will work out less. Choose a gym that makes it easy for you to bring clothes, shower and get ready for any activity.
4. Is there child care? This question, of course, doesn’t apply to everyone. But, for stay at home moms, child care may be one of the most important amenities at the gym.
5. Can you afford it? Gym memberships can be a budget buster. Going to the gym shouldn’t be stressful, so don’t bite off more than you can chew financially.
6. Is the location convenient? Your gym should, ideally, be convenient to both home and work, so that you can get in as many workouts as you need.
7. Can you get help? Many of us need a helping hand periodically when it comes to working out. Make sure the gym you choose has personal trainers or educated staff members who can help you when you have an issue. A dietician on staff is helpful, too.
8. What are their hours? Your gym should be open when you need it. A gym that is, for example, closed on Sunday could be a real problem for the person who is used to working out twice every weekend.
9. Will you go? This is the question that takes some soul searching. A gym can be the greatest possible facility, with wonderful people, a fun atmosphere and 24/7 hours. But, if you’re not going to go, then it’s a waste of money.
Joining a gym can be a great way to get in shape, make new friends and enjoy your new healthy lifestyle. If you decide to join, just be sure you pick the perfect gym for your needs.

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Keeping The Old Ball In Motion

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:19:53 +0000

You can draw all kinds of analogies from sports into real life that you want. I do it all the time. Sports teaches leadership, team building, pride, motivation, and a sense of how to fit into a community. But another thing sports teaches us, is how important it is for us to keep moving. Our bodies are a machine that needs to be put into motion. I’m sure you’ve all heard the old expression, “use it or lose it”. Well that’s true about our bodies, but allow me to take that one step further. Our bodies are incredibly unique machines have a feature no other man made machine has. All man made machines generally fall apart faster the more we use them. Sure we can extend their use with good maintenance, but generally the more they get used the faster they fall apart. Our human machine is entirely different. The more we use it, the better it gets. The more weights we lift, the stronger we get. The more running we do, the faster we get. The more aerobics classes we do, the longer our endurance becomes. While every machine (man made or not) eventually dies or ends up in the scrap yard, out human bodies will actually last (live) longer the more we do with them. Kinda cool huh?

One of my favorite movies this past year was “Up In The Air” with George Clooney. There’s a line Georges character says in the move, which goes something like this “moving is life, the minute we stop moving were dead”. I’m paraphrasing somewhat here, but I think you get the gist of it. So, if you haven’t already today, it’s time to get the old machine in motion. Even if it’s only walking for half an hour after dinner. Even that can be made a little more fun with a gadget. Go shopping for some pedometers online today, and strap one on before your walk. See how far you can go, and start setting some goals. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

Basketball Related Injurines

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:12:53 +0000

Yep, even the great ones can get hurt. One of the keys to being successful at any sport, is to take care of your body. It doesn’t matter if your a professional athlete, or just an amateur passionate one. Playing your favorite sport with pain is no fun. Basketball players are especially susceptible to back and knee injuries it seems. All that jumping and shooting is hard on the body. A few online massage schools would be a good place for anyone to look to for some advice on this subject. The top massage schools online are bound to help with both back and knee problems. Not only for potential students, but for patients as well.

Vertical Jump Drills to Increase Vertical Jump

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:23:41 +0000

There are many simple ways that can be used by athletes through which they can increase their vertical jump height. They need to carry out some simple vertical jump workouts exercises. Below are given some simple, but highly effective vertical jump drills. If one takes pain to follow these vertical jumping drills consistently then they can be very beneficial. They can be really very helpful in increasing jumping ability.

Before performing any vertical drill it should begin with some warm ups and leg stretching routine exercises. It is very important to prepare leg muscles properly for all the explosive exercises that you are planning to perform. Jumping rope is considered as another major and good cardiovascular exercise that can further contribute a lot to the vertical jumping results.

According to jump manual it can be seen that mostly Sprinting exercises are really very helpful in building up the leg muscles because they really help in increasing the vertical jump.

Next you can take help of the Running exercises where one needs to run up and down on the stairs. You can follow this sequence to get the best results. Walk down the stairs and run back up but now two at a time. Try to repeat this process more and more. Furthermore, try to make use of some Elevated jumps by making use of the bench. Then you can also take help of a jumping box or a platform.

Remember that it is important to perform Explosive jumps in a manner that is given below: a person needs to start by facing some secure platform to the right foot on it. Next you need to explode off right leg and then jump as high as possible. Now, Scissor your leg in the air, and then land your left foot first on the platform and then right foot on the floor. Upon landing, you need to regroup them then jump off your left foot to repeat the process. It’s better to perform at least 3 sets.