Posts Tagged ‘Alan Stein’s Thoughts’

Active Rest

Sunday, August 1st, 2010

This will be my last blog of the summer.

Why?

I am exhausted.

I am mentally and physically worn-out. I have been going non-stop since late March and I need some time to rest, recover, and re-energize.  In the past 4 months I have worked a clinic or camp in 21 different cities, 16 different states, and hosted events for coaches & players from Canada, Brazil, Senegal, Egypt, Russia, and Mozambique. I have been on more planes, trains, and automobiles than John Candy and Steve Martin.

Not only that, but my wife and I welcomed our twin sons, Luke and Jack, into the world in late March as well.  For those of you with children, I don’t need to elaborate on how grueling (yet unbelievably rewarding) the first few months of parenting are. And we have twins!

Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining. These past 4 months have been the most rewarding of my career. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I am eternally grateful to have had so many amazing opportunities and experiences.  But nonetheless, I am dog-tired.

With pre-season right around the corner, I need to start preparing. I owe it to myself, and to everyone I work with, to be able to give my best effort in everything I do. And I owe it to my wonderful wife and sons, to spend some time at home.

In order to be at my best this pre-season, I need to rest the month of August.  My blog will be back, better than ever, after Labor Day.

With that said, I am not the only one who needs to rest. Most players have been going just as hard as I have with individual workouts, AAU tournaments, summer league games, and elite camps. I know of several players who haven’t slept in their bed at home for more than a dozen times the entire summer!

With such a rigorous schedule, your body is banged up, fatigued, and broken down. You need to get in some quality active rest between now and when school starts.  Honestly, scheduling an adequate period of active rest may be the most important thing you do all summer.

You need to get away from the game, mentally and physically, to re-charge your battery and be refreshed and ready to start the school year and your team’s pre-season workouts.

I recommend you take anywhere from a few days, to two full weeks, and do nothing physically active except for the 5 recovery exercises listed below.  You need to evaluate your current state.  If your summer wasn’t too exhausting, then take a few days off.  If your summer was packed tighter than an airplane bathroom… then you should probably take an entire week or two off.

And when I say “off”… I mean off. That means no lifting, no conditioning, no shooting, no ball handling and no pick-up games.  Trust me, it will do you good.

Perform the following exercises every day during your active rest period:

Lacrosse Ball Foot Massage

Why it’s important: Basketball players’ feet are constantly confined to rigid, stiff basketball shoes and ankle braces 20-25 hours a week. If your feet are constantly in basketball shoes, your ankles and feet get weaker and less mobile. Performing a “self massage” on a lacrosse ball helps loosen up the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of your feet.

How it’s done: In just your socks, balance on one foot and roll your other foot on top of the lacrosse ball. The more weight you put on the ball, the more pressure and the deeper the massage.

How many reps: Do two sets of 30 seconds for each foot.

Foam Roller

Why it’s important: It has a similar premise to the lacrosse ball. It’s a self-massage that helps elongate your muscles and rid your body of lactic acid and “knots.”

How it’s done: Start with your lower calf. Roll back and forth on top of the foam roller as if you were kneading dough. Follow the same protocol for your hamstrings, butt, outside of your hip, lower back, upper back, and your shoulder.

How many reps: Roll over each body part for 30 seconds.

Variation: You can substitute the foam roller with an over-inflated basketball.

Lunge and Reach Stretch

Why it’s important: Great stretch for the entire body!

How it’s done: Step out as far as you can into a forward lunge. Keep your ankles, knees, hips and shoulders facing forward. Put your palms on the floor in front of you (inside of your front leg). Straighten you back leg. If your left leg is forward, keep your right palm on the ground and raise your left palm toward the ceiling (by rotating your core).  Look up as you reach up. Then perform the same movement with your other hand (left leg forward, raise your right hand). Then switch legs and repeat.

How many reps: Perform 5 reps for each hand on each leg.

Assisted Hamstring Stretch

Why it’s important: Tight hamstrings can cause numerous problems.

How it’s done: Lay on your back with both legs flat.  Wrap a towel or elastic band or jump rope around the middle part of one foot.  Keeping both legs straight (one stays on the ground), slowly pull your foot towards your nose.  Make sure your ankle stays dorsi-flexed (“toes to your nose”).  Hold for 15 seconds. Then, keeping your torso and hips flat on the ground, drop your leg laterally (if you are stretching your left leg, drop your leg down to the left).  For a more intense stretch, continue to pull your foot towards the top of your head.  This is a great groin stretch. Hold for 15 seconds.  Lastly, cross over and drop your leg to the opposite side. For a more intense stretch, continue to pull your foot towards the top of your head.  This will give a stretch to your low back and IT band. Hold for 15 seconds.

How many reps: Perform 3 rounds of all 3 phases (straight, lateral, crossover… each round takes 45 seconds).

Bodyweight Hangs

Why it’s important: Helps decompress your spine.

How it’s done: Find a sturdy pull-up bar that is high enough that you can hang from it without your feet touching the ground. Then simply grab the bar and hang. Let every muscle relax and let gravity decompress your spine.

How many reps: Hang for 3 sets of 15 seconds.

If you need additional info, or a visual on how to perform these exercises, please check out the initial episodes of the Can He Dunk? Project at www.CanHeDunk.com.  We performed these movements with the participants before every workout.

We will post a new episode each week for the next 3 weeks… so make sure you stay tuned to see who ends up dunking!

In addition to the Can He Dunk? videos, I just posted the remaining two videos from the Nike Basketball Skills Academies. These will be my last two YouTube videos of the summer (videos will return after Labor Day, along with the blog).

Kevin Durant Nike Basketball Skills Academy: http://TinyUrl.com/DurantAcademy

Amar’e Stoudemire Nike Basketball Skills Academy: http://TinyUrl.com/AmareAcademy

Please enjoy your last few weeks of August and get the rest you deserve.

But then get back to work.  Your pre-season workouts will lay the foundation for your season.

We will be offering a very comprehensive 8 Week Pre-Season Strength & Conditioning Program download at http://Shop.StrongerTeam.com in early September.  It will include everything you need to get stronger, more explosive, and in great basketball shape.

Remember… the best players and the best teams are in the best shape!

In the meantime, please let me know if I can be a resource to you for your program. You can email me at Alan@StrongerTeam.com.

Until September,

Alan Stein

www.StrongerTeam.com

www.Twitter.com/AlanStein

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Seven players. Two trainers. Ten weeks. One goal. Can He Dunk?

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

That is the question. Do you think we can get 7 high school basketball players to dunk after 10 weeks of training? Please visit www.CanHeDunk.com to find out!

In early April we selected 7 high school basketball players who could not dunk a basketball to participate in a rigorous 10 week training program. We documented their progress by filming their weekly dunk attempts. We were looking for the answer to one question… Can He Dunk?

The purpose of this project is to show the world the realistic results you can attain from proper training.  We aim to discredit the folks that claim they can help you get a 50” vertical or add 12 inches to your vertical jump in 6 weeks.  Those programs are bogus.

Our goal is to show real players attain real results.

We partnered with www.ESPNRise.com to document the 10 week program. We will feature 5 webisodes that will include footage from the workouts, the weekly dunk attempts, and player interviews. This is reality TV at its finest!

The first webisode will air next week (the week of July 12, 2010).  We will air one webisode a week for 5 straight weeks.  So you need to check back each week to see… Can He Dunk?

After the final webisode airs, and you see how many of the 7 players actually dunked, we will post detailed notes on each player’s journey.  We will share their increase and improvement in bodyweight, strength, and (estimated) vertical jump.

Check out www.CanHeDunk.com!

Train hard.  Train smart.

Alan Stein

www.StrongerTeam.com

www.Twitter.com/AlanStein

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Can He Dunk?

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Alan Stein and Stronger Team present the Can He Dunk Project!

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NBA Footprints…Are you Following? by Alan Stein

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

“Success leaves footprints… are you following them?”

If you want to be successful, you need to learn from the path successful people have taken.

I had the opportunity to be around several of the NBA’s best and hear some invaluable insight on what it takes to be great.  Kevin Eastman, Tim Grover, Amar’e Stoudemire, Andre Iguodala, and Deron Williams left some footprints.

I am most certainly going to follow them…

Kevin Eastman is an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics and the Director of the Nike Basketball Skills Academies.  He has coached at every level and is one of the most respected basketball minds in the world.

Question: What makes Kevin Garnett a future Hall of Famer?

Coach Eastman: His drive, focus, and discipline.  He does all of the little things necessary to be great and he does them daily.  He is always looking to learn.

Question: What did Rajon Rondo do differently this past off-season to propel him to the upper tier of NBA point guards?

Coach Eastman: He didn’t do anything drastically different.  He has just continued to grow and mature at a steady pace and this past year reflected many years of hard work (not just one off-season). Rajon has always been very dedicated to his craft and has always worked hard.  One example of his dedication is the fact he worked with a shooting coach (Mark Price) and concentrated on improving his accuracy from two specific spots, the short corners and elbows. This is where he gets 90% of his shots in our offense.

Question: Ray Allen is one of the best shooters in the history of the NBA.  What is his shooting regiment?

Coach Eastman: Ray is the only player I know who arrives at every game 3 hours before tip-off.  He follows an intense shooting routine and works himself into a full sweat.  He pays close attention to detail, especially with his feet.  He makes sure he uses the exact same form every single time. Ray Allen is not one of the best shooters in the league by accident!

Question: How would you describe Paul Pierce’s game?

Coach Eastman: Paul is a professional scorer.  He knows how to score.  He is not the quickest or most athletic player, but he understands how to play the game, how to use ball fakes, and how to play at different speeds. He lets the game come to him. He gets shots from where he wants, when he wants.  He is really hard to stop.

Question: What are the biggest skill deficiencies you see in high school players?

Coach Eastman: They play too fast, they over dribble, and they care too much about “me” and not enough about “we.”  Getting players to understand tempo is extremely challenging, but it is a quality that all of the top players have.

Question: What advice would you give young coaches?

Coach Eastman: Never say no to a basketball opportunity.  You never know what doors they will open. Gather as much knowledge as you can, from as many different sources as you can.  Sift through that knowledge and formulate your own system and philosophy.  You can learn everywhere, so always carry a pen and paper.  Network and build quality relationships. Try to be in the company of successful coaches and soak up their knowledge.  Ask questions. Coach to your personality and be authentic (don’t try to be someone else).

Question: What aspects of the game do coaches need to emphasize more with their players?

Coach Eastman: Most coaches are great with drills.  They know millions of them.  But they need to teach their players to transfer those drills into playing the actual game.  That transfer is the ultimate goal. Most high school (and many college) players don’t really know how to play.  Coaches need to emphasize time and score, proper spacing, ball movement, help defense, post feeds, tempo, etc.

Question: What are the 3 most important qualities of being a successful coach?

Coach Eastman: (1) You must be a lifelong learner.  (2) You must be honest with yourself, with your staff, with your players. (3) You must understand the importance of relationships.  Coaching is all about inspiring and motivating to improve performance. What you “bring” to each workout (energy, enthusiasm, effort, patience, etc.) is more important than what you “know.”

I highly recommend you visit www.KevinEastmanBasketball.com to learn more about the upcoming Coaching U Live.  It will be the most intense, detailed, no-nonsense look at all aspects of teaching and coaching the game.  Coaching U promises to deliver well over 700 teaching/coaching points!

Tim Grover is an internationally renowned basketball trainer who has worked with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade (among numerous others).

Question: What makes Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade so remarkable?

Tim Grover: They are never satisfied.  They look at ways to improve every workout, every practice, and every game.   When they look at game stats, they look at turnovers, fouls, and how many points the guy they were guarding scored. They work diligently on improving their weaknesses.  They pay attention to the smallest details… especially footwork. They constantly study the game.  They study their opponent (to expose weaknesses).  They study their teammates (to highlight their strengths). They study the history of the game and respect previous generations.

No matter how successful they are, they do these 3 things every day: show up on time, listen, and work hard. The great ones are always the hardest workers.  They set the tone. They set the standard.  They are confident but they do not feel entitled.  They feel they need to prove their greatness day in and day out.  They know basketball can be taken away immediately… so they don’t take it for granted.  They play every day like it could be their last. Great players also believe the harder you workout the easier the game becomes.

Question: Who was better, Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant?

Tim Grover: Michael Jordan is hands down the best player of all-time. Even Kobe would agree. MJ had a feel for the game that is unparalleled.  His instincts offensively and defensively were amazing.

Amar’e Stoudemire, Andre Iguodala, and Deron Williams are NBA All-Stars and three of the top players in the league.  Each is committed to working extremely hard in the off-season.

Question: What does a typical day in your off-season consist of?

Amar’e Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns:

  • I wake up at 8:00am.
  • I eat breakfast, usually Granola and fruit.
  • I warm-up, stretch, foam roll, do corrective exercises, core work, and lift heavy.
  • I go right to the court.
  • I start with inside work; jump hooks, baby hooks, short jumpers, and Mikan drill.
  • Then I move to perimeter stuff: ball handling series, face-up moves, game shooting.
  • I finish around 12pm (3+ hours of intense work).
  • I don’t play 5 on 5 in the off-season but rather focus on my individual development.
  • I follow this schedule 5-6 days per week.

Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers:

  • I wake up at 8:30am.
  • I eat a light breakfast.
  • I start my workout at 10:00am.
  • I start with a ball handling series, working hard on my off-hand.
  • I then go through a comprehensive stretching series.
  • Then I do 1.5 hours of intense game-like shooting (500+ makes).
  • Then I head to the weight room.
  • I lift legs/core twice a week and upper twice a week.  I lift heavy.
  • I don’t play much 5 on 5 in the off-season.
  • I workout out 4-5 days per week.

Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz:

  • I wake up at 8:00am.
  • I eat breakfast.
  • I start with my strength training.
  • Most of my focus is on core strength and stability.  I do a lot of bodyweight stuff.
  • I also focus on quickness and agility and proper movement.
  • For cardio I do a lot of biking and swimming to give my joints a break.
  • Then I go to shooting.  I intentionally shoot from spots I don’t shoot well from in games.
  • I record shots/makes and compare to last year’s numbers.  I must improve!
  • Then I do a finishing series; working on floaters, runners, power lay-ups, Euro-steps.
  • Then I do ball handling drills.
  • I try to play 5 on 5 three times per week.
  • I workout out 5-6 times per week.

I think it is very important to highlight that all three of these NBA All-Stars wake up early, eat breakfast, and are dedicated to their strength & conditioning and on-court basketball development.

Everyone one of these brilliant men constantly stressed the importance of working hard. But what does it mean to “work hard”?

By my own personal definition, hard work is the conscious choice to leave your comfort zone.  To push past what you are capable of doing.  It is giving as much as you have at that moment.  When things get uncomfortable, do you back down or do you push ahead?  The great ones work hard consistently.  Anyone can work hard occasionally.  Working hard is a learned characteristic and a trait each of us has 100% control over.  Working hard is a choice.

If you want to see the drills from the Deron Williams Nike Basketball Point Guard Skills Academy please check out http://TinyUrl.com/DeronWilliamsSkillsAcademy

Please let me know if I can ever be a resource to you for your program. You can email me at Alan@StrongerTeam.com.

Train hard.  Train smart.

Alan Stein

www.StrongerTeam.com

www.Twitter.com/AlanStein

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NBA Stories

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

I have been involved with annual NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp since 2005.  I worked the camp in 2005 and 2006, then took two years off because of a scheduling conflict, and have resumed in 2009 and 2010.

I am honored, fortunate, and overwhelmingly thankful to be a part of the NBPA family.  For an overview of what this unique camp is about, I recommend you read my recap from last year: http://TinyUrl.com/2009NBPACampBlog

You should also check out a motivational talk I gave last year: http://TinyUrl.com/2009NBPACampTalk

Even though the campers, the NBA players, and the guest speakers were different this year, the overall mission was the same. And the four day experience was as remarkable as ever. This camp is about so much more than basketball. It is about character, about avoiding “career killers,” and about truly deserving success.

Here are a few inspirational stories of success I heard at camp:

1)    Do you know what Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo had his team do at their first practice of the 1999-2000 season?  No shooting drills.  No ball handling drills. No defense, no rebounding, no passing, and no sprints. At the first practice he had his players practice cutting down the nets.  That’s right, they practiced cutting down the nets! It must have worked because less than 6 months later Coach Izzo and the Spartans did cut down the nets at the RCA Dome after they beat Florida for the National Championship. Success can be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

2)    During the end of the 1996-1997 regular season, Tim McCormick of the NBPA had an opportunity to go watch a Chicago Bulls practice.  The Bulls were pursuing their 2nd straight (and 5th overall) NBA Championship and had set an NBA record with 72 wins the previous season.  As excited as he was to be there, he was a little disappointed because he assumed he wouldn’t get to see Michael Jordan practice.  After all, the Bulls just played 4 games in 5 nights and he assumed MJ would take a well deserved day off.  Especially since they won all 4 of those games and his Airness had scored something like 38, 42, 46, and 34 points (and played over 40 minutes each game).  Much to his surprise, MJ showed up 45 minutes before practice.  He began with some form shooting and then quickly moved to a variety of up-tempo shooting drills (using an assistant coach as a rebounder).  He got up around 200 shots. He was focused and intense and was in a full lather of sweat by the time the rest of the team arrived.  Sensing his team needed a light day; Phil Jackson told the team that practice was only going to consist of a scrimmage to 20 baskets.  MJ proceeded to score 12 of his team’s baskets and assisted on 3 others. He dove for loose balls and even took a charge! Needless to say, his team won easily.  On a day when Michael Jordan deserved to take a day off and rest… he still outworked everyone and gave 100%. His commitment to excellence and his competitive fire never stopped.  Michael Jordan wasn’t great by accident.

3)    Sam Presti, the Executive Vice President & General Manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder, shared these reasons as to why Kevin Durant is an NBA superstar:

  • KD is a notable teammate.  He has relationships with everyone in the organization. From the guy who sweeps the floor to the team owner.
  • KD is an impressive practice player.  As hard as he plays in games, he practices even harder.  He knows that improvement comes from practice.
  • KD is focused on the process and on the long term.  He isn’t in search of a magic bullet.  He embraces slow, incremental gains. He knows greatness takes time.
  • KD takes care of his body.  He lifts weights year round, ices after games, eats well, and isn’t a party animal.  His commitment shows in his daily workouts.
  • KD is the team’s unofficial off-season leader. He organizes group workouts and pick-up games.  Wherever he is, he is always setting up places to play and inviting (and encouraging) his teammates to join him.
  • KD absolutely loves to play basketball.  His passion is pure.  He respects the game.

4)    Steve Kostorowski, Chris Paul’s long time personal trainer, sent an email with the subject line: “Things CP does in the off-season before most guys are even out of bed!”

  • Wakes up at 5:00am.
  • Drives to the gym.
  • Does a thorough warm-up.
  • Does 30 minutes of injury prevention and corrective exercises.
  • Does between 500-750 abdominal crunches.
  • Lifts between 4,000-5,000 lbs with every major muscle group (legs, chest, back, etc.).
  • Does a variety of balance and coordination drills.
  • Performs 1,000 reps of jump rope.
  • Does 40 minutes of on-court ball handling and conditioning.
  • Eats a nutritious breakfast (post workout meal).

5)    There is no excuse for not being a good shooter.  Shooting is a matter of practice.  There has never been a great shooter who didn’t shoot every day.  But you can’t just be a casual shooter.  You need to pay close attention to correct mechanics, proper footwork, and progressing to the point where you are taking game shots, from game spots, at game speed.  Take a look at how some “extra” shooting adds up:

  • 100 extra shots x 5 days a week x 50 weeks a year = 25,000 extra shots a year
  • 200 extra shots x 5 days a week x 50 weeks a year = 50,000 extra shots a year
  • 400 extra shots x 5 days a week x 50 weeks a year = 100,000 extra shots a year

How could you not be a great shooter if you took an extra 100,000 shots a year?! Why aren’t you doing it?

If you want to see some innovative ball handling and shooting drills from the “Breakfast Club” workouts at the 2010 NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp, please check out http://TinyUrl.com/2010NBPACamp

I can’t make any promises, but I will do my best to get similar footage from all of the Nike Skills Academies (Deron Williams, Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce, Amar’e Stoudemire, and LeBron James).
Please let me know if I can ever be a resource to you for your program. You can email me at Alan@StrongerTeam.com.

Train hard.  Train smart.

Alan Stein

www.StrongerTeam.com

www.Twitter.com/AlanStein

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3 Keys to Success, by Alan Stein

Monday, June 21st, 2010

This blog was 100% inspired by a concept I read on www.CopyBlogger.com (an invaluable resource for anyone who writes their own blog).

You need talent, luck, and persistence. Pick any two if you want to be successful.

Whether you are a basketball coach or player, you can reach your (realistic) goals and achieve a high level of success with just two of those three.

Don’t believe me? Let’s take a look…

Talent

To some degree, what most people refer to as talent, is nothing more than passion.  If you love to do something… you will do it every chance you can.  And the more you do it, the better you get.  Now obviously there are several uncontrollable factors that determine someone’s ultimate talent and success on the basketball court (height, athleticism, etc.), but in many instances, talent comes from non-stop, obsessive practice. I have never met a lethal shooter who didn’t practice all of the time… who didn’t shoot thousands and thousands of shots every single week.  Being a talented shooter is 100% controllable.

There is no debate that Kevin Durant was born with numerous physical gifts. But so are a lot of people.  So how come KD is an NBA All-Star and the league’s youngest leading scorer of all time and other 6’9” guys don’t play passed high school or college? Because KD has an unparalleled passion for basketball and he works on his craft every single day.  The same can be said for Greivis Vasquez.  I met Greivis the day he got to the United States (from Venezuela) in 2005.  He spoke very little English and weighed 150 lbs.  Now he is about to be picked in this year’s NBA Draft.  How is that possible? He made himself talented by working on his game every single day.

Same goes for coaching.  Who are some of the most talented coaches in college basketball? Coach K? Tom Izzo? Jay Wright? Do you have any idea how much time and effort those guys have put into their coaching skill sets? They love the game of basketball and work relentlessly at becoming the best they can be.

And talent doesn’t have to be all encompassing.  You don’t have to be good at everything.  You just need to have a specialty… a specific talent that makes you stand out.  It might be defense (Bruce Bowen), it might be rebounding (David Lee), or it might be shooting (Ray Allen).  Working on your weaknesses is important, but so is making your strengths even stronger!

Talent is the ability to make the most of what you have with where you are.

Luck

Honestly, I don’t believe in luck.  I think unsuccessful people use luck as an excuse. I believe luck is when preparation meets opportunity. I love the quote, “the harder you work, the luckier you get.” There is so much truth to that statement. So that means, in order to be lucky, you need to be well prepared when opportunity knocks.

Do you even know how to prepare?  Players, what do your daily workouts consist of?  Do you just jack up 300 shots or do you take game shots, from game spots, at game speeds?  Do you practice ball handling drills looking down at the ball or do you force yourself to look up (even though you may lose the ball initially)? Do you visualize a defender in front of you when making moves to the basket or do you just do the drill? Do you have a solid strength & conditioning foundation or do you just play pick-up? Equally important, are you a great teammate? Are you the type of player other players like to play with and coaches like to coach? Trust me… you’ll be a lot luckier if you are!

Coaches, do you just study the X’s and O’s or do you work on communication and leadership?  Do you put all of your focus on your out-of-bounds plays or do you spend time learning how to most effectively communicate with every member of your program? Do you reinforce great work habits with your players 365 days a year? Do you read, watch film, and network with other coaches?

I realize many resources cost money… camps, clinics, DVDs, and trainers, which can be a limiting factor for some.  However there are numerous resources that don’t (like this blog or my YouTube channel). Find them. Use them.

If you want to be lucky, you need “to be in the right place at the right time.” Instead of waiting for that to happen, you need to make an effort to create real value in every place you go and every person you come in contact with.

When opportunity knocks, will you be prepared to answer?

Persistence

This one is pretty obvious.  Don’t give up on anything you can’t go a day without thinking about it.  Never quit. Keep practicing.  Keep working.  Most people think they are persistent, but in reality, they give up after a couple of “no’s” or a few minor failures.  Be too stubborn to quit.  Don’t be so pig-headed you won’t try to new approaches or make adjustments along the way… just don’t quit. Ever.

My twin sons, Luke and Jack, will be 3 months old next week.  They have an unyielding persistence. They don’t stop until they get what they want! They are relentless and they don’t take no for answer. While that has certainly caused me a handful of sleepless nights, I hope it is a quality they never out grow.  If they apply the same persistence to the game of basketball as they do to wanting to be fed… they will indeed be McDonalds All-Americans in 2028!

Bottom line is this. If you want to be successful, on the court, or in anything in life:

Make your own talent.

Make your own luck.

Never quit.

If you want to see some impressive drills from three action packed days at the 2010 Chris Paul Elite Guard Camp, please check out http://TinyUrl.com/CP3Camp2010.

My intense summer camp circuit is in full swing.  Stay tuned for blogs, videos, and Tweets with behind the scenes insight from the NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp and all of the Nike Skills Academies (Deron Williams, Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce, Amar’e Stoudemire, and LeBron James). It’s going to be an epic summer.

Speaking of which, we have officially wrapped up our 10 week long Can He Dunk? Project.  I will post the highly anticipated promo video, along with a ton of content, at www.CanHeDunk.com in early July.  ESPN/Rise is editing the final webisodes which are scheduled to air a week or two after the site launches.
Please let me know if I can ever be a resource to you for your program. You can email me at Alan@StrongerTeam.com.

Train hard.  Train smart.

Alan Stein

www.StrongerTeam.com

www.Twitter.com/AlanStein

PS: I sincerely apologize, but I have had to discontinue the 100 Exercises in 100 Days promotion because of technical issues.  However, I will be posting some valuable content in its place as well as adding a weekly Coaching Nugget downloadable PDF (free!).  You can find these resources in the Media Gallery at www.StrongerTeam.com.

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Steve Nash, by Alan Stein

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

I am not sure if you saw it, but Steve Nash cried after his Phoenix Suns lost to the LA Lakers in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals this past Saturday.  After showing sincere sportsmanship in congratulating Kobe and crew, the cameras briefly caught him shedding a few tears in the locker room as he hugged coach Alvin Gentry.

Seeing him cry made me respect him even more.

Steve Nash has a genuine passion you rarely see in professional sports.  In the past couple of weeks, he has had his eye split open and his nose broken… and not a tear in sight.  And yet he cares so much about winning, about his teammates, about the organization he plays for, and about the game of basketball… he was brought to tears when the season was officially over.  I love that.  I admire any player with that type of passion.

A colleague of mine, Brian McCormick, has been saying for years that even though Nash isn’t a highlight reel dunker, he is absolutely one of the best athletes in the NBA.  I adamantly agree.  Most people judge athletic prowess solely on one’s ability to jump.  But Nash demonstrates his elite athletic ability in a myriad of other ways – hand/eye coordination, body control, balance, and the power to decelerate on a dime.  And let’s not forget his stamina.  He is always one of the best conditioned players in the league.  I watched him do a halftime interview this past season and he wasn’t even remotely out of breath. And he had just played the entire first half!

Steve Nash is the epitome of everything you want in a basketball player. He is fundamentally sound and understands the game.  He is savvy, unselfish, and physically and mentally tough. He is committed to being the best player he can be, is a remarkable teammate, and a resilient leader.  And to top it off, he is a two-time league MVP, consistent All-Star, and a future Hall of Famer.

I have been very fortunate to work the Nike Basketball Skills Academies since their inception four years ago. In 2008, I had the pleasure to work the Steve Nash Point Guard Academy. True to form, and the reason the camp is named after him, Steve Nash was spectacular.  I am so thankful for having had the opportunity to meet him and to learn from him.

Despite his commanding presence on the court, he was very soft spoken and humble.  Instead of just showing up because he had to, he spent quality time with the players.

He explained how the key to life is being able to find solutions (on and off the court).  Plenty of people have (and/or cause) problems, but the people that consistently find solutions are the ones who are successful.  He also focused on the importance of being a good teammate; someone people want to coach, want to play with, and want to be around.  Lots of guys have talent in the NBA, but the ones who have long careers are the ones who do the little things to get better every day.  He said this quality is paramount for point guards.

Steve credited his work ethic and desire to get better as the pillars to his success.  He said he wakes up every day and asks, “How can I make myself better today?”  He has a master list of every shot in his offensive arsenal – jump shots, runners, floaters, Euro-steps, quick lay-ups, and “wrong” foot lay-ups.  During his off-season workouts, he makes 50 of each shot every day at game speed.  So when you see Steve Nash make an amazing shot in a game, it isn’t luck. He has practiced it thousands and thousands of times.

He also told the players that point guards need to be able to change direction, change speed, and understand the game better than every other player on the floor. He told them that basketball is all about percentages (“always make the highest percentage pass available and take the highest percentage shot”) and angles (“your angles dictate your percentages”).  He acknowledged that

most people don’t think of him as a great athlete because he doesn’t jump very high and dunk over people.  But he adamantly disagrees.  He knows there is much more to being a good athlete than jumping. Steve also placed a high priority on being in impressive basketball shape, since that is a trait every player has complete control over.

His off-season workouts consist of training with his strength coach three times per week. They put a focus on core strength and stability.  Many of his strength exercises add a balance component because he performs them on an unstable surface: BOSU ball, wobble board, etc.  He doesn’t play 5 on 5 during the summer but instead plays in two soccer leagues, jumps rope, and runs stairs for conditioning.  He gets in daily shooting workouts to keep his handle and shot sharp.  He stressed the importance of having a solid daily routine and creating sound work habits.

Just watching him in action with the campers was astounding. Even though he didn’t go 100%, you could see how quick he is, how high his basketball IQ is, and how precise he is with everything he does.  He is part sniper, part magician, and part conductor.

On the court, nothing he does is haphazard and he never appears flustered.  He is always in complete control, regardless of the situation.  Steve Nash represents everything that is right with the game of basketball and I sure enjoyed watching him work.

Another thing that makes Steve Nash so impressive is his longevity.  He has maintained a consistently high level for a long time (just finished his 13th year in the NBA).

“Anyone can be great for a day or a week or even a year. It is consistent, long term excellence that is most impressive.”

While I would have loved to have seen Nash make it to the finals, I am happy to see a Celtics vs. Lakers rematch.  No, I am not a Celtics or a Lakers fan (nor do I pretend to be).  But I am a fan of any person, team or organization who can sustain success for long periods of time. And both of those organizations have achieved greatness for decades. That is impressive.

Speaking of which, when I was in the 7th grade (1988), I got my hands on a very controversial cassette tape (kids, ask your parents what a cassette tape is) – N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton.  This album ignited the gangsta rap genre and put hip hop in the public eye.

Two of the founding members of N.W.A., Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, are not only still around, but are two of the most influential businessmen in pop culture today.  They have managed to stay on top of the ultra competitive entertainment industry for the past 20 years. Ice Cube is the producer of a new TV show on TBS (which for the record, I don’t plan on watching) and Dre has created the hottest headphones to ever hit the streets (of which I own a pair and love them).  Do you think anyone will even know who Lady Gaga is in 20 years? Or the Jonas Brothers?

Coaching is about making people better. It’s not just about making players better, but also about making one another better.  I am a voracious reader and spend an inordinate amount of time working on my own professional development.  While I learn from a wide variety of sources, there are two coaches in particular I follow regularly and suggest you do too:

Kevin Eastman (Assistant Coach with the Boston Celtics)

www.KevinEastmanBasketball.com

Twitter: @KevinEastman

Brian McCormick (Author of the brilliant Hard 2 Guard Player Development Newsletter)

www.180Shooter.com

Twitter: @BrianMcCormick

If you would like to subscribe to Brian’s FREE newsletter, simply email hard2guardinc@yahoo.com and put “Subscribe” as subject.

In addition to these two, I subscribe to numerous newsletters and blogs. I file them in an email folder in Outlook called “Professional Development” and then print (and read them) at the end of every week.

Lastly, I will leave you with this concept. The key to improving agility and conditioning is intensity.  One of the best techniques for elevating intensity is through competition.  Here are members of the DeMatha Basketball team competing in a series of agility races during an off-season workout:  http://tinyurl.com/CompetitiveDrills

My intense summer camp circuit is about to begin.  Stay tuned for blogs, videos, and Tweets with behind the scenes insight from the Chris Paul CP3 Elite Backcourt Camp, the NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp, and all of the Nike Skills Academies (Deron Williams, Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce, Amar’e Stoudemire, and LeBron James). It’s going to be an epic summer.
Please let me know if I can ever be a resource to you for your program. You can email me at Alan@StrongerTeam.com.

Train hard.  Train smart.

Alan Stein

www.StrongerTeam.com

www.Twitter.com/AlanStein

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Train Your Ankles and Feet, by Alan Stein

Monday, May 17th, 2010

A basketball player’s feet are important.  Let me rephrase that.  A basketball player’s feet are extremely important. There are approximately 26 bones and 20 muscles in the feet. That fact alone should shed some light on their significance.

Basketball is (supposed to be) played standing upright on two feet.  Therefore, every movement a player makes on the court is initiated through their feet.  Everything starts with the feet. Similarly, can you guess what the most common injury is for basketball players at every level?

The ankle.

Strong and mobile ankles and feet will lessen the occurrence of injury, decrease the time lost if an injury does occur, and will improve performance on the court.

As obvious as these statements sound, most players and coaches put very littler priority on training the feet properly.  The goal of this blog is to change that. So please, share this with every coach and player you know!

Before I go further, let me make it crystal clear that this is not a research project or case study. This is my blog.  My stance on training the feet and my opposition to ankle braces (and tape) is purely my opinion.  I am in no way trying to refute the advice of a qualified athletic trainer or podiatrist or any legit study that has been conducted.  However, my opinion is based on 10+ years of experience in the field, thousands of hours of observations, a firm understanding of the human body and efficient movement, and numerous conversations with colleagues.

Basketball shoes are designed to be rigid (with stiff soles) to create as much stability as possible. To further increase stability, many players also wear ankle braces or get their ankles taped. Here lies the problem. By creating so much stability, you drastically limit mobility. Severely limiting mobility will weaken the muscles of the ankles and feet. What happens to a person’s forearm muscle when their arm has been immobilized in a cast from a broken wrist? It atrophies (weakens).  So do the muscles of the feet when they are confined to rigid shoes and ankle braces for long periods of time. I know players who wear basketball shoes and ankle braces 20+ hours per week!

I am not opposed to wearing basketball shoes when you are playing.  The stability and support is a necessity.  But you don’t need to wear them when you are training.  And ankle braces?  Tape? With the exception of a player who suffered a previous ankle injury, or someone taking a direct recommendation from a qualified professional… ankle braces (and tape) are absolutely unnecessary when playing and when training.

Still not convinced? The other day I flipped on ESPN Classic and saw the 1973 NBA Finals (Game 4) between the Knicks and the Celtics, featuring Hall of Famers Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, and Dave Cowens. In addition to wearing shorts that looked like boxer briefs, every single player was wearing low top Adidas sneakers. No braces. No tape. And guess what? No injuries!

What did players wear before Adidas? Chuck Taylors! Thin canvas and a flat rubber sole. Talk about no ankle support! Despite the archaic footwear, I doubt there was a higher rate of ankle injuries in the 60’s and 70’s than there is today.  You know why? Because players back then had strong, mobile ankles and feet.

Ankle braces weaken ankles and limit mobility (not to mention natural movement). Given how important the feet and ankles are, why would you do something that makes them weaker and less mobile?

Every time you run or jump, you do what is called triple extension. That is extension at the ankles, knees, and hips.  If any one of those joints is not working properly (weak or tight), it limits the function of the other two.  So weak, tight ankles limit a player’s ability to run and jump to their potential.  Having weak, tight ankles will also cause the body to compensate in a variety of ways during movement… which can lead to knee and back issues. Remember, everything starts with the feet.

So how do you strengthen your ankles and feet?  By setting them free and taking off your shoes!

When you work out in your bare feet (or with socks) you can feel all of the intrinsic muscles of your toes, feet, and ankles.  At first, this will feel liberating (and probably awkward) because you rarely get to feel these muscles when wearing basketball shoes and ankle braces.

NOTE: I am only suggesting barefoot training for players with healthy feet and no pre-existing conditions (unless cleared by a doctor). Players with excessively high arches, previous stress fractures, or ankle sprains should avoid barefoot training (or at least make severe modifications) to reduce the chance of injury.

How much is the right amount of barefoot training?  Once a player has has been acclimated to some rudimentary barefoot exercises, they should do as many things barefoot as they can in the confines of a safe, controlled training environment.  For most players, 5-15 minutes per workout is a good rule of thumb.

If you have been wearing ankle braces regularly for an extended period of time, you need to gradually wean yourself off of them.  Don’t go from wearing them all the time to not at all. Your ankles and feet aren’t ready for that. You are begging for an injury.  You need to begin a progressive, structured ankle and foot strengthening program, while at the same time slowly decreasing your dependence on the braces.

What should you do in your bare feet?  Many of the same things you do with shoes on! Squats, lunges, dynamic flexibility movements, and low level hops are all great to do shoeless.

If you want to see several dozen exercises we use to strengthen our player’s feet and ankles, check out: http://tinyurl.com/StrongFeet

We don’t do all of these exercises every workout.  We pick a few and rotate them. Some are geared towards strengthening the feet, while others are more focused on the ankle. We begin with the most basic exercises and have the player progress as they become acclimated and their feet become stronger.  We perform our barefoot exercises on an appropriate surface (cautious of impact, slipping, etc.).  Our goal is to improve foot and ankle strength, mobility, and proprioception (the body’s perception of movement and special awareness).

In addition to adding some barefoot training to your regimen, our 12-Week Basketball Off-Season Agility & Conditioning Program will available very soon. It was designed to be done in conjunction with the strength & power portion (currently for sale). You will be able to purchase it at http://Shop.StrongerTeam.com.  These two programs are exactly what a player needs to get stronger, quicker, more explosive and in great basketball shape.  Remember, the best players are in the best shape!

ATTENTION! ATTENTION!

I have added two new FREE sections to the Media Gallery at www.StrongerTeam.com (please use Internet Explorer to view):

Coaching Nuggets: http://www.strongerteam.com/Global/Gallery/Default.aspx?aid=20

A collection of tidbits and handouts I have compiled over the years from some brilliant coaching minds. I am not the original author of any of these nor have I edited them in any fashion. I will add one new coaching nugget per week!

Exercise Library: http://www.strongerteam.com/Global/Gallery/Default.aspx?aid=23
A vast library of exercises for basketball coaches and players. Clips fall under one of ten categories: pre-hab, warm-up, dynamic flexibility, plyos, agility, core, lower body, upper body, finisher, and cool down. Included is the intro (explanation) for each section. I will add one clip per day for 100 straight days. I began on May 1, 2010).

If you like motivational quotes, please follow me at www.Twitter.com/AlanStein.
Please let me know if I can ever be a resource to you for your program. I would be honored to help. You can email me at Alan@StrongerTeam.com.

Train hard.  Train smart.

Alan Stein

www.StrongerTeam.com

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Comfort Zone, by Alan Stein

Friday, May 7th, 2010

I wanted to share something I just read as a follow up on last week’s blog, Brand You 2.0. Hip hop superstar 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) is having a majority of his tattoos removed in an attempt to help land more movie roles and give off a more professional appearance.

He is making a distinct change to his brand’s image to achieve an even higher level of success.  He is reinventing himself, which in my opinion, is a brilliant move on his part. He has conquered the music industry (sold millions of albums). He has conquered the business world (sold his stock in Vitamin Water for $400+ million).  Now he is going to conquer Hollywood!

One of the most significant ingredients to success is your ability to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

Your comfort zone is your enemy. It makes you soft. It leads to complacency.

You have to constantly and consistently step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself.  There is no reward for always playing it safe. The player who can push themselves further once the situation gets uncomfortable is the one who will win.  That is what makes Kobe so lethal.  He thrives in adversity.

In addition to helping players get stronger, quicker, and in great shape, it is my job to push players out of their comfort zone on a regular basis.  It is my job to help them increase their tolerance for discomfort (mental and physical). I want them to train hard so the game becomes easy.

I tell my players of the time during our workouts, “Temporary discomfort leads to permanent improvement.”

I also tell them, “You can have the pain of discipline or the pain of regret… take your choice.”

Both of those quotes exemplify the same point – if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone now… you will reap the benefits ten times over in the future.  But you have to have the courage to sacrifice your immediate personal contentment.

When you are lifting weights, do you stop as soon as there is a slight “burn”… or do you push through and do a few more reps?

When you are running sprints, do you stop as soon as you are a little “winded”… or do you suck it up and run a few more?

When you are working on your ball handling, do you spend extra time on your off hand even though you make more mistakes?  Or do you just keep doing the drills you are already good at?

When you are getting up shots, are you a “casual shooter” or do you run through every rep at game speed? Do you come off of imaginary screens and make hard cuts… or do you simply do spot shooting?

The answers to these questions will determine how successful you will be next season.

Remember, you have to deserve success. And to do that you have to leave your comfort zone now.

If you want to see some of the exercises (and equipment) we use to make our players step out of their comfort zone, check out: http://tinyurl.com/MetabolicWorkout.

I want to clarify two things about this video.  One, these exercises and “toys” are not the foundation of our training program, but rather a way for us to add variety and make things mentally and physically challenging.  Two, I don’t sell equipment nor do I get paid to endorse any equipment.  I merely share the stuff I like!  I realize most players and coaches are on a very limited budget, so any time I can offer insight into which products I like the best… I feel compelled to do so.

A colleague of mine turned me on to www.HyperWear.com a few months ago and I immediately gravitated towards their HyperVests and Sandbells. And I love using them! Why wouldn’t I want to share that? If people like my stuff, I hope they share it with others!

Our 12-Week Basketball Off-Season Agility & Conditioning Program will available soon. It was designed to be done in conjunction with the strength & power portion (currently for sale). You will be able to purchase it at http://Shop.StrongerTeam.com.

As always, if I can ever be a resource to you for your program, please let me know. I would be honored to help. You can email me at Alan@StrongerTeam.com.

Train hard.  Train smart.

Alan Stein

www.StrongerTeam.com

www.Twitter.com/AlanStein

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Brand 2.0, by Alan Stein

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

I have been writing my weekly blog for well over two years now. I created my blog as a means to consistently provide my experience and expertise on proper basketball strength & conditioning. That quickly morphed into sharing insights and perspectives on issues and topics that would have a positive impact on the lives of players and coaches off the court as well.  Very rarely have I “recycled” older posts. I like my material to be new and fresh. But this week is an exception.  I dusted off a blog I wrote exactly one year ago.  I didn’t do this out of laziness. I did it because of how strongly I believe in the message. Players, I hope you read this carefully.  Coaches, I hope you share it with your players. I made several updates to the original post.  So, without further adieu, here is Brand You 2.0!

What are your favorite brands?
Nike? Apple? Facebook? BMW? Vitamin Water?

What traits come to mind when you think about your favorite brands?
Elite? Durable? Stylish? Performance? Quality?

Do you consider people to be brands?  Well they are! The most obvious is Michael Jordan (heck, his company is called the Jordan Brand).  What about Donald Trump, Jay-Z, and LeBron James?  Do you consider them brands?  I certainly do.  Why? Because the characteristics that come to mind when you think of them as individuals are automatically associated with the product they endorse. Make sense? You won’t see Donald Trump endorsing Wrangler Jeans.

If you want to be successful, both on and off the court, you need to start viewing yourself as a brand as well. Think of it as “brand you.” Everything you do affects your brand in some way (either positively or negatively). The way you dress, the way you act, and even the way you play.  You need to take your brand very seriously if you want to make it to the top.  And just to clarify, I believe in being authentic.  I am not telling you to act like someone else or to try to please others just for the sake of it.  You need to be real. You need to be genuine. You need to believe in your own brand, and equally important, set the standards of your brand. You need to decide what characteristics you find most important and then live up to them every day of your life.

Is your goal to play college basketball? Then carry yourself as if you already do!  Hold yourself to the same standard of excellence as an elite college basketball player would… now… don’t wait.  Carry yourself with the same honor, character, humbleness and work ethic as college superstars Evan Turner (Ohio State) or Wesley Johnson (Syracuse). Those two represent everything that is right with college basketball.  Evan and Wesley know the importance of their brand. And now both are surefire lottery picks.

Are you in college trying to make it to the NBA? Do the same thing. It is going to take much more than a killer crossover and a money jump shot to make it in the league. Thousands and thousands of guys have that. You need to separate yourself from the pack.  You need to make your brand stand out. While the LeBron’s, Kobe’s, and CP3’s most certainly have extraordinary talent, they also have charisma, professionalism, the ability to be coached, and an unmatched passion for the game. Their brand is bigger than just their skills.
This past year I read two outstanding books which I highly recommend to any player or coach. One was Money Players by Marc Isenberg and the other was Me 2.0 by Dan Schawbel.  Both are invaluable resources and were the inspiration for this blog. Both books can be purchased at Amazon.com.

What do you want people to think about your brand? What would you want them to say when describing your brand? Hard working or lazy? Coachable or a hard-headed? Energy giver or energy taker?

What makes your brand unique on the court?  Are you a great passer? Or are you a ball hog? Are you a lock-up defender? Or do you only play one end of the floor? Are you a good teammate? Or are you only focused on getting yours?
What makes your brand special off the court?  Are you a good student? Or are you a class clown and a jackass? Do you do what is right when no one is watching? Or are you always looking for a short-cut or an easy way out? Nike cares about what people think of their brand.  So does Apple.  So does Vitamin Water.  So does every other big time brand. So should you.

If you don’t think these things matter, then honestly, you don’t have a clue.  They matter more than you know.  What people (coaches, teachers, scouts, parents, friends, etc.) think about your brand has a direct impact on the opportunities you will have in life.  You only buy brands you like and trust, right? Why would people be any different?  Would you buy an iPod if there was a good chance it would break? Would you drink Gatorade if it tasted like vinegar?  Absolutely not!  So why would a college coach want to give you a scholarship or an NBA general manager give you a contract if they didn’t have full confidence in your brand (both on and off the court)?  The answer is… they wouldn’t.

Still don’t think your actions affect your brand’s reputation? Ask Tiger Woods.  Tiger Woods appeared to be one of the classiest, most respected, and most honorable professional athletes in the history of sports. But through his own selfish actions, he has disgraced his brand, suffered irreversible damage to his image, and permanently tarnished his legacy. Not to mention lost millions of dollars and the respect of millions of fans.  His brand (obviously) isn’t what it used to be.

On the flip side, your actions can drastically improve your brand’s reputation.  As most of you know, I had the pleasure of working the Kevin Durant when he was in high school.  KD went from being a high school All-American to the College Player of the Year to the NBA Rookie of the Year to an NBA All-Star and NBA scoring leader in only 5 years.  The kid can flat out play. But do you think Nike signed him to a $70 million contract, fresh out of college, just because of his basketball talent?  Absolutely not.  They signed KD because they knew his brand would be an asset to the Nike brand.  KD’s brand, above and beyond his unbelievable basketball ability, is about passion, work ethic, respect, humbleness and professionalism.  And I can say, without hesitation, KD has exemplified those characteristics since the day I met him.  KD has always known the importance of his brand.

Everything you do reflects your brand – everything! The way you dress, your email etiquette, your Tweets, your table manners, your voicemail message, your eye contact… the list goes on and on.

I roll my eyes when a player sends me an incoherent email full of grammatical errors and spelling mistakes asking me what they need to do to be successful on the court. Especially when it is sent from ChocolateAdonis@aol.com (which actually happened!). How am I supposed to take them seriously?  If you don’t have the personal pride to use spell check or punctuation, why would I think you have the discipline to follow my recommendations? Please don’t waste my time. Same goes for someone who has a 5 minute rap song full of foul language on their outgoing voice message or a Facebook profile full of inappropriate pictures.  These folks just don’t get it.

Research has shown it takes less than 30 seconds for someone to form a lasting impression of you.  If you make a poor first impression, it can take up to 21 follow up impressions to change that person’s opinion.  First impressions are a big deal.  Remember, whether it is right or wrong, people will always judge you and judge your brand.  What do you want them to think?

One of my favorite stories of first impressions and building a strong brand is when Michael Redd met Jerry Colangelo.  Back in 2006, USA Basketball was in the initial stages of putting together the “Redeem Team” to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Jerry Colangelo (managing director of USA Basketball) arranged individual interviews with every potential player.  He wanted to meet with them prior to deciding who to put on the team.  He wanted to look them in the eye to get a sense of their character and commitment. Michael Redd drove straight from his practice with the Milwaukee Bucks to a hotel in Chicago for the interview.  When Mr. Colangelo answered the door, Michael was standing there in his team warm-ups with a garment bag on his shoulder.  After shaking hands, Michael asked if he could be excused to use the rest room.  When he emerged a few minutes later he was dressed in a full suit and tie. Now he was ready for the interview. Now he was ready to show Mr. Colangelo what his brand was about.

Michael Redd’s actions landed him on the team that eventually won the gold medal. Putting on his suit and tie for the interview showed respect and professionalism. You see, Michael Redd gets it.  He understands the importance of his brand. It is not an accident he plays in the NBA and has an Olympic gold medal.

I took a page out of that book last month when I went to discuss the available strength & conditioning coach position with the basketball program at DeMatha Catholic High School.  Even though it was an informal, preliminary meeting with a friend of mine (I have known Coach Mike Jones for years), I dressed in full suit and tie. I wanted to show how serious I was about the opportunity.  I wanted to show respect. I didn’t want to take anything for granted. I even bought a new tie in DeMatha’s school colors and provided a full color, bound Power Point presentation on what I could do for the program. I left no stone unturned.

It must have worked, because less than two weeks later I was taking the team through these workouts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8K-gDlPS28

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gHPE6SvO6k

Lastly, after months of anticipation, our 12-Week Basketball Off-Season Strength & Power Program is finally here! You can purchase it at http://Shop.StrongerTeam.com.

This program outlines exactly what you need to do to maximize your basketball specific strength training and power workouts – exercise by exercise, day by day, week after week. There are dozens of digital pictures and exercise descriptions, all of which use standard equipment (dumbbell, free weights, bodyweight, etc.) to make sure it is easily adaptable to your specific weight room.
Our 12-Week Basketball Off-Season Agility & Conditioning Program will available soon! It was designed to be done in conjunction with the strength & power portion.

As always, if I can ever be a resource to you for your program, please let me know, I would be honored to help. You can email me at Alan@StrongerTeam.com.

Train hard.  Train smart.

Alan Stein

www.StrongerTeam.com

www.Twitter.com/AlanStein

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