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Coaches’ Corner: Putting the Basketball Back in Basketball Conditioning
By Robert Taylor
Correspondent
When asked to write an article about appropriate conditioning for basketball, I thought back to all of the repetitive articles that stress aerobic conditioning and then the same number of articles or more stressing anaerobic conditioning. These articles suggest numerous textbook explanations of why one aspect is more important than another, but never gave practical drills that could help translate science into something that could be used at practice. If there were examples given, they generally never involved a ball, yet continued to reinforce how this drill or that drill was “sport-specific”.
A basketball conditioning program is not about a magic workout that instantly produces All-Stars. It is about a progressive approach that stresses the appropriate energy systems of the body. Since seeing a metabolic crash cart (a set of precision equipment used to measure oxygen consumption and other cardiopulmonary parameters, including breath-by-breath gas exchange) at a basketball practice is highly unlikely, most arguments about whether a workout is aerobic or anaerobic are pointless. A basketball-appropriate workout should have both aerobic and anaerobic characteristics.
Programs that stress exercise physiology will even touch on the importance of monitoring rest periods to allow the glycolytic system adequate recovery time for “optimal training.” What does that even mean? Is “optimal training” practical? Feasible? Applicable? Should a player tell an official to hold on because they need more rest so they are able to “optimally perform”? But this tangent is for another article.
When developing your conditioning program, take time to ask yourself the following questions: Is it a year-round, progressive program? Is there a plan for athletes that play the entire game and for those who do not? Does it allow for flexibility when conflicts, injuries, weather, and other speed bumps occur? What about when the team is on the road? Can it be accomplished by my athletes? Does it encourage a positive competitive nature? Is it safe? Is it time-efficient? Does it involve an actual basketball? Shooting? Passing? Defensive position? Injury prevention? How will we evaluate and or provide feedback to our athletes? Where are we now, where have we come from, and where are we headed? Does our conditioning help our style of play? Does it reinforce what we are emphasizing as keys to success?
Here are some suggestions and practical drills that can help you achieve all of those goals for your conditioning program.
Coaches’ Corner: Proper Strength and Conditioning Can “Prehabilitate” ACL Injuries
By Sue Favor
Correspondent
Strength and conditioning has been an important element of a basketball player’s training program for many years. Now, with the rise in skill level and physical play in the girls’ and women’s game, off-court preparation plays an even more critical role in an athlete’s success.
Full Court Press writer and strength and conditioning coach Sue Favor will canvas strength and conditioning coaches from colleges all over the country, and bring their best tips for success to readers in a bi-weekly column. Today’s column features Washington State University’s David Lang, a designated Master Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Coaches’ Corner: Rest and Recovery—Making the Most of Your “Get Away” (Part 2)
By Robert Taylor
Correspondent
Editor’s Note: Yesterday, Full Court Press/Full Court Prep’ “Coaches’ Corner” brought you Part I of Coach Robert Taylor’s article on the importance of proper rest and recovery to the strength and conditioning process. (See “Coaches’ Corner: Rest and Recovery—Making the Most of Your ;Get Away’ (Part I)”). In that article, Coach Taylor, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Loyola College - Maryland, presented a series of illustrated stretching exercises performed with the aid of a rope or belt, designed to help the athlete become a faster, more explosive, and more powerful player, as well as to prevent injury.
Today, Coach Taylor continues his column, bringing Full Court readers an additional set of routines that can help in eliminating pain and restoring motion as part of the process of recovery from minor injuries. The illustrated exercises can be performed with a simple foam pillow. Even better—these routines can be performed solo just about anywhere—even while “vegging out” in front of the TV!
Finally, Coach Taylor shares some stretches best performed with a partner, as well as nutrition tips for athletes who want to get the most out of their time off.
So now there’s no excuse for returning to training camp tired or out of shape. If you want to get the most out of your summer—for yourself or for athletes you coach—click on the “Read Story” link below for “Rest and Recovery: Getting the Most Out of Your ‘Get Away’—Part 2.”
