Monday, November 30, 2009

Thanksgiving Skills Clinic a Huge Success!

Posted by Lee Miller | Monday, November 30, 2009 | Category: , | 0 comments

This weekend, Elite Hoops hosted a Thanksgiving Skills Clinic at the Kedron Fieldhouse in Peachtree City, GA. The sold out clinic was for experienced players in grades 4-9. Players worked for 90 minutes each day on ballhandling, perimeter moves, passing and shooting form. The quote for Saturday was "Hard work brings prosperity." Players were reminded that if you want to be a better player, a better student, or a better leader-you must work hard. We have never seen a player that works hard on the court and their game gets worse. We have never met a student-athlete that works hard in the classroom and their grades drop. We aren't saying that by working hard you will become LeBron James, or that you'll get a 4.0 gpa, but you will prosper.

Monday, November 23, 2009

For the Record...

Posted by Lee Miller | Monday, November 23, 2009 | Category: , | 0 comments

I have been a self diagnosed “quote nerd” for as long as I can remember. Back in high school in the early 90’s, I started with a spiral notebook and a pen and wrote down every quote I found inspiring. Quotes from movies, coaches, books, signs… you name it… if I saw it or heard it, I wrote it down. Years later, I converted the growing collection into a computer database and added to it as often as I could.

As a professional basketball strength & conditioning coach, a big part of my job is to motivate my players to work hard consistently; to get them to do the things they don’t’ want to do because I know it will help them get to where they want to go. So there have been countless occasions where the inspiration from a specific quote has come in handy. I use quotes as tools to motivate my players as well as motivate myself. While I am strength & conditioning coach by trade, my overall goal in life is simple; to inspire, to motivate, to influence and to help anyone who is passionate about basketball and training. I have found quotes are a valuable tool in doing just that. I am extremely thankful to have platforms like Twitter, Facebook and my blog to impact players and coaches of all ages and levels… all over the world!


If you have followed me on any of those social media platforms, you know I have been posting 5-6 quotes a day for the past year. I have received a ton of positive feedback in response to the quotes I have shared and have had dozens of folks ask me to compile them in a book. So that’s what I’ve done! I just recently compiled my favorite inspirational quotes in a new e-book:

534 Motivational Quotes to Inspire Success On and Off the Court

It is important to understand this e-book is merely a collection of my favorite quotes. I am not the original author of any of the quotes. I intentionally chose not to list the original author for any of the quotes for the simple fact I only know around 20% of them (and didn’t want to put “unknown” or “anonymous” for the remaining 80%)!


I am sure you have heard (or read) many of quotes I compiled, but I am confident there are several that you haven’t. I tried to pick quotes that transcend sports and are applicable to life as well. After all, life is the game we are all playing.


You can purchase a downloadable copy of 534 Motivational Quotes to Inspire Success On and Off the Court at http://Shop.StrongerTeam.com. In addition to the 534 motivational quotes, I added a bonus section: 27 Books Every Coach and Player Should Read. This e-book is an invaluable resource for coaches and players at every level.

Here are 5 of my favorite quotes from the e-book that are too long to post on Twitter:

1. Persistence and patience is exemplified by the stonecutter who hammers away at a piece of rock. He may hit the rock 100 times without so much as a crack showing. Then, on the 101st hit, the rock will split in two. It was not that hit that did it, but an accumulation of all that came before it.


2. Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. Moral? It doesn’t matter who you are, when the sun comes up, you better start running!


3. If you can’t risk, you can’t grow. If you can’t grow, you can’t become your best. If you can’t become your best, you can’t be happy. If you can’t be happy, what else matters?


4. Watch your thoughts, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.


5. Champions do not become champions on the court. They become recognized on the court. They become champions because of their daily routine and commitment to excellence. Players do not decide their future; they decide their habits and their habits decide their future!


I hope you enjoy these quotes as much as I do and use them to motivate yourself and those around you. I wish each of you the absolute best this season. Please keep me posted to how you are doing and drop me an email if I can be of service in any way (Alan@StrongerTeam.com).

Play hard. Have fun.

Alan Stein

www.StrongerTeam.com

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Abbey Still Moving Up

Posted by Lee Miller | Tuesday, November 17, 2009 | Category: , | 0 comments

BELMONT — In the first two years Stephen Miss has been head coach of Belmont Abbey College’s basketball team, the Crusaders have exceeded preseason expectations.

As his third season begins Tuesday night at home against Brevard, Miss and his team are hopeful of repeating the past.

“Our first year, we were picked 11th in the preseason poll and finished third. Last year, we were picked 4th and finished third again,” Miss said. “We’re picked 5th this season and, hopefully, that trend will continue.”
Losing three starters will make it more of a challenge, especially since two of them were guards Deonte Murphy and Jonathan Jackson.

But Miss says he and his team welcome the opportunity to defy what they consider low preseason projections.

To read the rest of the article from the Gaston Gazette, click HERE.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Start of the Season with Alan Stein

Posted by Lee Miller | Monday, November 16, 2009 | Category: , | 0 comments

If you are a high school basketball player in the United States, you are probably about to start (or have just recently started) official practice for the 2009-2010 season. As the season gets underway and you begin practice, don’t be surprised if your body is overwhelmingly sore the first couple of days in particular. This is normal! This does not imply you aren’t in great shape; it’s just your body’s way of adjusting to the new demands placed on it. You are finally going full speed with contact on a daily basis; which is understandably more intense than anything you did in the pre-season.

In particular, your low back
may be constantly tight and your ankles, knees, and hips may get sore. It is very important you take care of your body throughout the season, but especially now, while these are minor issues. For these little nagging aches and pains, you should apply ice after practice (unless told otherwise by your athletic trainer). With parental consent, you can also take an occasional ibuprofen or Advil to help alleviate soreness. Foam rollers are another great tool for recovery and restoration. Make sure you eat well, get lots of rest when you can, and properly warm-up and cool down before and after every practice. If you incur any major injuries or issues, make sure you tell your coach, athletic trainer, and parents immediately so you can get the proper help. It is important to address these issues when they are small so they don’t turn into something big!


However, as far as the minor aches and pains, you have to tough it out. Basketball is an intense sport and if some part of your body isn’t sore, then you probably aren’t playing hard enough anyway. Learn to be comfortable with minor discomfort.

Make sure you enjoy this time of year as it is an important part of the journey. There is no time like the present, as playing well and competing during practice is the reason you put in so much time over the spring, summer, and fall working on your game, lifting weights, and running sprints. This is the time real players thrive.


Regardless of how things start during the first week or two of practice, you have to keep in mind that it is a long season. If you get off to a rough start, don’t throw in the towel, there is plenty of time to turn things around. Most high schools don’t start playing games until the beginning of December, so you still have a few weeks to show what you can do and try to earn some playing time or a starting position. And if you have started off hot, don’t get cocky or complacent as staying on top is one of the hardest things to do in sports. Don’t take anything for granted. Continue to play hard every practice.

Here are some tips to make sure you play your best this season:


1) Get rest whenever you can, your body and mind need it! Try and get to bed early and sneak in naps whenever possible (on the weekends; not during class!). While the off season regiment is tough, there is nothing harder on your body than in-season practices, games, and travel.


2) Eat well and stay hydrated. Your body is a machine and it needs to be properly fueled. Make sure you eat a healthy breakfast every morning and try to eat a light snack an hour or so before practice. This will ensure you are well fueled without making you feel full and lethargic. You also need to re-fuel immediately after practice. And don’t forget your body does everything better when hydrated, so drink water constantly.


3) Warm-up and stretch properly before all practices and games. Hopefully your team has a standardized warm-up, but if not, you need to make sure you do. This will ensure your body and mind is ready to compete and help reduce the likelihood of injury.


4) Continue to strength train during the season. Strength is an attribute that is quickly diminished. In as little as three weeks you begin to lose functional strength on the court if you don’t continue to strength train. So if you don’t train during the season, you will be physically at your weakest come playoff time. All you need to do to maintain strength is one or two brief (but quality) workouts per week during the season.


5) Get in extra shots before/after practice and before games. Shooting is all about rhythm and repetition. The more game like shots you can take in practice and before games, the more automatic you will be when you play. The best players in the world get in shots before practice and stay after practice to do the same.


6) Be a good teammate. Do the little things to help your teammates and be very positive and enthusiastic, even when things aren’t going so well. The teams that play well together and communicate effectively with each other win more often. Period.


7) Talk to your coach. Your coach is the leader of your team and it is important you show proper respect at all times. No exceptions. If you don’t agree with something your coach says or does, or if you have questions on certain things (like why you aren’t playing as much, what your role on the team is, etc.), it is important you communicate effectively, appropriately, and maturely. Most coaches are more than happy to talk with you if you have an issue.


8) Stay on top of your school work. I know how hard it is to balance a busy schedule during the hectic season, but as a student-athlete, your academic work must always be a priority. Don’t let issues in the classroom distract you from handling business on the court. And don’t do the bare minimum just to stay eligible, do your best to in every class, every day. Creating that standard of excellence will carry over to every aspect of your life.


I wish each of you the absolute best this season. Please keep me posted to how you are doing and drop me an email if I can be of service in any way (Alan@StrongerTeam.com).

For daily coaching points, motivational quotes, and videos of the “exercise of the week”, please follow me (and subscribe) to:


www.Twitter.com/AlanStein

www.YouTube.com/StrongerTeamDotCom

www.Facebook.com/AlanSteinJr

Train hard. Train smart.

Alan Stein

www.StrongerTeam.com

Monday, November 9, 2009

Father/Son Basketball Clinic This Weekend

Posted by Lee Miller | Monday, November 9, 2009 | Category: | 0 comments

Elite Hoops will be hosting a Father/Son Basketball Clinic Saturday November 14, 2009 at the Pleasant Hill Community Center in Roswell. The clinic is for boys in grades 3-8 and dads of any age. The clinic will run Saturday from 9am-10:30am. Fathers and sons will work together on passing, ballhandling, and shooting. Dads, don't be afraid...you don't have to be a great basketball player or be in shape to have fun at the clinic! Most of the drills will be stationary and will focus on form not speed.

The price of the clinic is dependent upon the number of sons participating.

1 Son-$50
2 Sons-$70
3 Sons-$85

The Father/Son clinic is limited to the first 10 Father/Son combos that sign up.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Interview with Emory and Henry Coach, Steve Kenner

Posted by Lee Miller | Thursday, November 5, 2009 | Category: , , | 0 comments

Steve Kenner, Women's Head Coach at Emory and Henry College and longtime Elite Hoops Camp Coach, recently sat down for gowasps.com to discuss his first year as a Head Coach and his goals for his team. Kenner said he will stress the importance of academics and community involvement as he motivates the girls to excel on and off the court. Kenner stated, "the players know that I place a high premium on being good student-athletes, and I remid them that the word 'student' comes first." Taking a quote from the Elite Hoops summer camps, Kenner's goal for each girl is "to get 1% better each and every day."

To see the full interview click HERE.

Thanksgiving Skills Clinic headed to Peachtree City

Posted by Lee Miller | | Category: , , | 0 comments

November 5, 2009 – Elite Hoops announced today that their Fayette County Thanksgiving Basketball Skills Clinic will be held at the Kedron Fieldhouse in Peachtree City, Georgia. The clinic will be held on Saturday and Sunday November 28-29, 2009. Boys and girls in grades 4-9 are invited to register as there a limited number of spots available. Players will work on many of the same training drills that are taught at the NIKE Skills Academy Camps such as ballhandling, passing, perimeter moves, and shooting form. This will be a great way to prepare for upcoming basketball teams, and leagues. All Elite Hoops clinics, camps and training events maintain a minimum 8:1 player to coach ratio. This clinic will be staffed with Elite Hoops coaches as well as local coaches from the local metro area. The cost of the clinic is $50 and includes a NIKE Tshirt. For more information, visit www.EliteHoopsBasketball.com or call 678-468-4169

To visit the full press release click HERE

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Hot Start for Williams

Posted by Chris Langley | Wednesday, November 4, 2009 | Category: , , | 0 comments

Lou Williams, Elite Hoops Hall of Famer and point guard of the Philadelphia 76ers, is off to a great start this NBA season. One year removed from coming off of the Sixers bench, Williams, now a starter, finds himself as one of the top scoring point guards in the Eastern Conference and amongst one of the best in "efficiency" in all of the NBA. Read more about Lou's hot start from these 2 articles: