Coaching Basketball Is Not Always Fun And Games

I wound up volunteering to coach basketball, a game I new nearly nothing about. Shortly after I wound up with the job, a parent approached me and asked what sort of coaching style I was going to use. After I managed to clear up the blank look on my face and stammer out some lame answer, I drove quickly to the privacy of my own home to avoid any more questions, and thus, not let my inexperience be known, for I knew after that question that I was in way over my head.

At the time I was probably more suited to coach football, but basketball was what I was dealt. A buddy of mine who had played basketball in high school told me that his coach had used a hands-on coaching style. The coach played with the athletes, showing them the different techniques to use, and what situation to use them in, etc…However, he also pointed out that coaching basketball is more than just playing basketball with the kids like his basketball coach did, but coaching is also about teaching fundamental skills that the players will use for life, as well as team work.

Feeling even more hopeless and confused after this conversation I set out to do heavy research on the topic of coaching basketball. I immediately realized that a large list of references existed to help me, which gave me a great feeling of relief. I had never thought of such concepts as team play, sportsmanship and sharing in regards to coaching sports before, but from my reading I began to get familiar with the topics and ideas. I quickly learned that basketball was about more than just putting a ball through a hoop.

As part of my research I began reading articles that focused on building skills and confidence level in young athletes while coaching. I did my best to absorb everything, but still felt that I might be a little out of my element coaching a basketball team. I had to constantly reassure myself that I could do it. The whole experience ultimately taught me that before you can coach other people you must be able to coach yourself, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

I’ve been coaching for six weeks now. I feel I’ve done a fair job of helping my players build skills and confidence levels they can use on the court and in the real world. This experience has taught me much about myself and about coaching. In regards to coaching, I have learned that it is not all fun and games, but a huge responsibility; however, I think I’ve prepared myself for the challenge. After all, my team is 5 and 1.

While coaching a team might seem a very attractive job to many a sports fan, it is not easy. I only coach at the Junior High level and it’s exhausting and stressful. I can’t imagine what it is like at the professional level, and I don’t want to. If you are interested in being a coach, make sure and give it some serious thought.



July 21, 2009
By Joe Goertz
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Boxing Through The Ages

Boxing has been around longer than most would think, both as a sport and as a form of entertainment. It can be dated back to the antiquities where the beginning of sporting competitions was first referenced. There have been many punches thrown throughout the centuries, with many a bad intention behind them.

There is proof that the Greeks took part in boxing events. Of course, it was not referred to as boxing, but it was the first competitive fighting event where fighters wore gloves. They were not padded as we see in our more modern boxing matches. Rather, the gloves that were worn in ancient Greece were much simpler than what we see today. They were just simple, cloth wrappings around the hand, and that was it.

The first time the word boxing was used was not until the eighteenth century in England. The term boxing was derived to create a difference between competitive fighting, and fighting as a result of a problem between two or more people.

Currently, boxing as we know it, is a match between two people dressed in boxing gloves, and proper protective gear. This may include a cup, a mouthpiece, and even padding around the head. There are very specific rules and goals to be followed in the ring where the boxing match occurs.

The boxers face each other in the ring for a number of rounds or until one boxer is knocked out before the other. There is a referee in the ring with the two boxers. His job is to make sure that all the rules are followed, and to insure that the match is conducted in a safe, sane manner.

Boxing has been primarily a man's sport, although there is evidence of female fighters as far back as the eighteenth century. It is still the case today; even though many more women are currently approaching it. What may be contributing to this is the changing reasons for engaging in the sport. It used to be solely a competitive sport rather than a leisurely one. Nowadays, people are taking interest in boxing for its physical benefits as a prime consideration.

Since the nineteenth century, boxing has stayed relatively the same. But we have seen the development of new and different competitive fighting organizations and sports. This has taken some practitioners away from boxing, as one has so many choices when looking to join a martial arts fighting league. There's Kung Fu, Judo, kickboxing, mixed martial arts fighting, wrestling, and many more to consider. What we have witnessed as a result is that far less people are choosing boxing, creating a decline in the number of competitive boxers out there.

What has not changed is boxing as a form of entertainment. Out of all fighting sports, boxing matches still bring in some of the largest audiences. Interest in matches hasn't waned much, even if interest in practicing the art is on the decline. Sadly, there have not been a lot of great champions in a while, capable of making people everywhere want to put on a pair of gloves and be a hero for a while. Where oh where is the next Mohammed Ali?



July 16, 2009
By Sebastian Marders
Sebastian Marders loves writing about a variety of things and sharing the website that inspires each piece with his readers. If you would like to browse a selection of quality boxing equipment including boxing robes, boxing shoes, and Twins boxing gloves, then please visit.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/boxing-through-the-ages-454941.html