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Once upon a time, smack-dab in the middle of the Victorian Era, a female physical education teacher named Senda Berenson introduced the game of basketball to a group of students at Smith College for girls in Northampton. This new game was invented a year earlier (1891) by James Naismith, a Canadian-American physical education teacher and coach. Teaching the 13 official rules of basketball didn’t seem necessary. Although the newly created game of basketball was gaining fast popularity among men, it was only of interest on the women’s campus as a winter exercise option. An unladylike game involving a basketball and… Read more »
Author: Grant Riley
There’s rarely anything better than a group of friends getting together on the court to enjoy the fun and physical challenge of a great game of basketball. Boys and girls dream early about growing up to be a professional basketball player. They cut their teeth on youth leagues and tirelessly practice jump shots in the family driveway long after the other kids have gone home for the evening. The story of basketball is an amazing one to tell, actually. Dating back to 1891, the game was invented by James Naismith, a Canadian American physical education teacher. He crudely created the… Read more »
The players and owners are taking the strike to a new level and it’s not all that funny – or fun for us basketball fans who are missing the games we love to watch! So what can we do? Well, I collected a few (pedestrian, g-rated) jokes to share with all your basketball buddies. Not all of them will tickle your fancy, but when the kids are getting unruly, you can at least pull them out for a few yuks … Question: How do basketball players stay cool during a game? Answer: They stand near the fans! Question: What’s the… Read more »
More than 20 years ago, a slightly more wrinkled but still interested basketball player stepped up to the proverbial free throw line to advocate for all the other wrinkled athletes. This basketball lover’s name was John H. Morgan Jr. And he made history in 1987 by founding The Huntsman World Series Games for athletes over age 50. That first year, 500 athletes from around the United States happily packed a suitcase and made their way to St. George, Utah to participate. This much interest- especially during the very first gathering- convinced Morgan that he was on the right track. There… Read more »
We hear a lot in the media about childhood obesity and we all understand the importance of watching our kids’ diets and controlling their junk food intake. (Sometimes that is easier said than done, isn’t it?) But we don’t frequently hear about the fact that physical activity isn’t valuable just to avoid excessive weight gain. Physical activity is directly related to the overall development of your child. Beginning around age two, when your child has mastered crawling and climbing and folding her hand around a favorite doll or grasping a spoon for meal time, she is beginning to develop muscles.… Read more »
Athletes are not only devoted to their sports. They realize that a conditioning regiment is crucial. Sports is part of our weekly routine, we work it around our individual responsibilities and we understand that carving out a schedule for practice time is part of life. So it goes without saying that a healthy diet is also a must. But when we consider what an athlete should grab to drink when he needs hydration, we find some reason for confusion as well as alarm. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, when most athletes exercise longer than 45 minutes, they… Read more »
Ok, so this was a new one on me – but it makes perfect sense. You know I am not a fan of the portable basketball goals – for me, there are several reasons: 1. They are not durable: two-piece poles erode and break and the plastic “weight” on the bottom cracks. 2. They are not cost-effective: as children grow and the elements take their toll on the materials from the goals are constructed, families have to spend more money to replace the goals. 3. They are dangerous: The supposed “weight” of water filling the reservoir is not enough to… Read more »
No matter if you are gearing up to shop for the holiday gift-giving season, a birthday or a general, “You’re a great kid” present, The Basketball Goal Store has some terrific ideas. Everyone likes big presents and parents like presents that kids will get a lot of use out of – which is why I think your basketball-loving kid would count the days to get outside on their Goalrilla Basketball Goal home court if they found a Goalrilla G Trainer under the tree with their name on it. Of course, one of the best things about the Goalrilla Trainer is… Read more »
Blustery fall has arrived with the winds whipping down the streets and along with the errant papers, basketball goals being blown about; at least those portable ones that are really meant to be taken down and sent back to the garage every day! In fact, my neighbors have one that they purchased for their three boys and, just like most all others, it stays outside all the time. They found that it moved around a great deal in play and as the boys got bigger – and rougher – they got stakes and bungee cords to secure it to the ground.… Read more »
Fatigue is a real thing in basketball for players at all levels. Think back to the 2011 playoffs when LeBron James stats starting dropping game by game. He appeared winded and questions about fatigue starting to surface. Even for ballers who are kids learning the fundamentals, all the youthful energy after hard play and needs to be replenished. Building endurance is one of the top priorities for coaches of kids’ teams. That’s why drills so often focus on consistent movement. Even for short 1 – 3 minute drills, pressing with full on intensity is tiring – and builds endurance practice… Read more »
The Defensive Slide always looks easy on a seasoned basketball player, doesn’t it? Closing out and transitioning into another stance or direction almost seems like a natural movement. You can bet the farm that it wasn’t like for the player when he was a beginner. There is just so much to learn and master in the beginning. Beginners really benefit from a Goalrilla Goal Basketball hoop. The height can be adjusted so they learn the fundamentals without straining and the safety and durability of the one-piece pole system makes mom and dad happy because they can get years – in… Read more »
There are just so many ways for beginners to progress in basketball – so many skills to learn! The Spot-Up Shooting Drill is one that can address a few areas: shot prep position shooting – handling endurance strength development of non-dominate side The beginner level is a bit different than the advanced level of the drill, concentrating mostly on the shot prep position and making it through five shots at the five different positions – each corner, each wing and the free-throw line. All shots are taken at the mid-range level and if you are lucky enough to have a… Read more »
Besides teaching beginners the fundamentals so they develop good skills, there is usually a period of strengthening that is needed. Beginners often favor their dominant side on the basketball court. Even with a height adjustment on the Goalrilla Goal Basketball system, right handed beginners will go to the right side of the court and shoot with their right hand most often. One drill we recommend here at the Basketball Goal Store is the Wall Ball Dribble Drill. Especially for beginners, this drill will help to strengthen the non-dominant side hand, wrist, arm and shoulder. Not only will the player develop… Read more »
Well, the lockout continues and there is talk of a major contraction in the number of teams that will survive until the end. Sad. It makes me think that the fans have the opportunity to take back the game. To their driveways, in their living rooms and in gyms across the nation. Let those who have made it a business remain mired in thigh-high stagnancy – the rest of us – let’s make it a game again! Here at the Basketball Goal Store we know how much fun families can have playing basketball. The Goalrilla Goal is perfect for families… Read more »
“One day of practice is like one day of clean living. It doesn’t do you any good.” – Abe Lemons You might ask, “Who was Abe Lemons to make such a claim?” Well, Abe Lemons is an Oklahoman who put Oklahoma City University on the map – basketball wise. He was also the president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 1977 and was named the National Basketball Coach of the year in 1978. The man ranked 5th among the winningest active collegiate coaches. He had a little experience, I think! The WWII veteran had a perspective on life… Read more »
What lock out? College ball is not far away and watching the building of teams is exciting – there are so many combinations of strong players being set that strong championship contenders are not a sure slam dunk for any one team. Some graduating seniors left holes that are being filled with big shoes like Andre Drummond joining UCon. On ESPN, Coach Jim Calhoun said his team is more talented right now than last season’s. Big statement. You know that players who are making names for themselves today in college ball were kids spending hours drilling and shooting baskets –… Read more »
In the heat of a basketball game, low post moves can account for baskets and scores that mean the difference between winning – and losing. Being ready if an opportunity arises takes a good “basketball sense” but also by having prepared for the eventuality that you know will come. The Low Post Moves Drill is a great way to prepare and to learn new moves on your Goalrilla Goal Basketball home court. If you have someone who can toss the ball to you, that’s great. If not, a wall can serve that purpose so this is one drill you can… Read more »
Rebounding is a big part of a basketball game. Coaches want players to grab the ball with both hands, power through and maintain a good well-balanced and stable body position. The Backboard Ball Touches Rebounding Drill does all that and more. All you need is a basketball and the basketball goal. Players of all sizes can be successful with this drill with the height adjustable Goalrilla Goal Basketball goal. It adjusts from 7.5 to 10 feet so players of all sizes can practice this drill for intermediate and advanced level players. The Basketball Goal Store is the largest on-line retailer… Read more »
Ah, patience. Beginning basketball players usually don’t have any, do they? That’s one of the reasons why drills are so good for beginners and drills with shooting elements – well that just makes their hearts race. Because in the beginning, basketball is all about shooting baskets and little else. Parents tell us all the time how excited kids are to make baskets and how the Goalrilla Goal is great for everyone in the family because you can adjust the height of the hoop. That’s one of the first things we hear about when we answer the phone at the Basketball… Read more »
If you have ever heard mothers of very young children when said child has a drinking cup in front of him, you will undoubtedly hear, “Use two hands” as they allow the child to drink on his own. The same can be said when it comes to passing in basketball. Use both hands. Two hand passes come in a variety of forms, but mastering the fundamentals of all of them will result in peak performance on all basketball courts, even the Goalrilla Goal Basket Goal court you have at home. Let’s look at the fundamentals of a Two Hand Bounce Pass.… Read more »
