Monday, May 25, 2009

How to Jump Higher - The Basics of Plyometrics

If basketball want to know how to jump higher, then you should know that there is a system of exercise that is specifically designed to increase the jumping power of individuals and this system is called plyometrics. This is a very effective system for anyone who wants to know how to jump higher.


Plyometrics involve explosive drills which is scientifically proven as the most effective way to stimulate the muscles that basketball needed to jump high. Plyometrics are used widely by individuals who want to know how to jump higher especially athletes such as basketball players, volleyball players and players of other sports where having a high vertical jump is advantageous.

Plyometrics is believed to have originated somewhere in Eastern Europe in the late 70s. Since its discovery, plyometrics has always been considered as the best and the quickest way that can help those wanting to know how to jump higher. The goal of plyometrics is to enable a person to exert the most amount of effort at the shortest time possible.

In other words, plyometrics is about producing explosiveness in a person's muscles to help increase the height of his jump. Plyometrics is not so much about producing maximum strength and speed. Instead, it ams to strike a balance between the two to produce powerful vertical jumps.

People who want to know how to jump higher must know that plyometrics is considered an advanced exercise and should not be performed by individuals who are not in a reasonably fit physical condition. Plyometric exercises are usually performed in order of increasing intensity in order to produce greater results. This is also to let the muscles adjust to the intensity of the exercise in order to avoid injuries.

Plyometric exercises allow muscles to store energy to enable it to quickly exert enough force to produce a high jump. Think of a rubber or an elastic band being pulled then being released. That is the same mechanism that happens when doing plyometric exercises.

So if you really want to know how to jump higher, then you should definitely try regularly performing plyometric exercises.

Allen is an avid basketball player, and has spent years learning how to increase his vertical jump with plyometrics. Check out his blog: Learn how to jump higher

Where To Watch NBA Games Online - No Monthly Fees, No Black Out Areas

Every basketball fan wants to follow their favorite team and watch all the NBA basketball games available. Unfortunately, this isn't always possible for a number of reasons. Being the sports fanatic that I am, but I was always looking for a way to follow my favorite team the way I wanted. I was frustrated for years until I figured out where to watch NBA basketball games online.

Once I figured out it was possible to watch NBA games online, I began searching for the best possible option. I ran across some services that were free, but quickly realized these were completely worthless for more reasons than can be listed here. I finally discarded the idea of being able to watch NBA basketball games online for free and decided to take the plunge and try some of the paid services. One service had a great pitch and I bought it hook, line, and sinker. The service was horrible, but I learned a very valuable lesson.

Before spending any more of my hard earned money, I decided to do some real research and learn where to watch NBA games online with no monthly fees. I read all the reviews I could find and discovered that Satellite TV for PC was the best internet TV service available. There were lots of sports fans watching NBA basketball games online with the service and were really thrilled with it. After thinking it over for a few days, I decided to try Satellite TV for PC because it appeared to be a good buy for just under $50.

I was really surprised when I found out just how good of a deal it actually basketball I got to watch basketball single NBA game online with perfect digital video and audio quality. There were no delays and a big screen. I could also watch every NHL, NFL, and CFL game I wanted as well as soccer, cricket and any other program or channel that I could have received from a service like DirecTV but without the monthly fees. Another great thing is that I can watch TV on my laptop at work or anywhere else I want.

Is there a catch to being able to watch NBA basketball games online? I've had the service for almost 8 months now and I haven't found a catch yet. Personally, I'm thrilled with the service they provide. For those who might not like the idea that they may have to watch NBA basketball games on the computer and not on a regular television, you can hook your computer to your regular TV so there's no difference at all. That's pretty good value for a single payment of $49. I'd take that any day over the $90 per month or more for DirecTV or something similar.

If you want to know where to watch NBA games online, the best service I've found is Satellite TV for PC. Get 3000 channels for only $49 or upgrade to the 4000 channel package plus bonuses for only $99. Quit missing your favorite team play, watch NBA games online and never pay another satellite TV bill.

Want to Dunk a Basketball? - How to Improve Your Vertical Leap in No Time!

There is a certain glory that comes with being able to dunk a basketball. If basketball can make 3 pointers every time, that is cool. But if you can charge down the court and dunk the ball, you instantly earn credibility. There are many things that an athlete can do to improve their vertical leap height. Here are the things that I have found to work the best for me.

1. Squats! You must increase your leg strength in order to propel your body weight high off the ground. The best way to do that is by doing squats. Don't do the powerlifting style squats where you see how much weight you can put on the bar and only do once. Instead, do about 3/4 of your max weight and basketball up in a quick motion instead of the slow, down and up, that you would normally do. Do at least 20 repetitions with each set.

2. Step Ups! Grab a chair and put it directly in front of you. Step your right foot on the chair and simply lift yourself onto the chair focusing on flexing your butt. Step down and repeat with your left foot. Do this until you cant possibly step up onto the chair anymore.

3. Jump Ups! Stand about 2 feet away from a wall. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Bend your knees and crouch down and explode upward. Raise your hands straight up and touch the wall at your peak height. Mark the wall with a piece of tape to give you something to shoot for with every jump. Now repeat the jump until you can no longer reach the mark. Within a few days you will begin to see your mark moving up the wall.

For a complete jump training program, check out The Jump Manual. This is the best program available to help you increase your jump height.

To Wear Or Not to Wear - The Importance of Mouth Guards in Athletics

It's uncomfortable, makes it cumbersome to swallow, and even worst, it makes it hard to communicate to your teammates. All athletic trainers in the country endorse the players they are hired to care for to wear these and while we whine and complain about wearing them, they really are necessary for preventative purposes. Mouth guards really do serve to help curb injuries.

According to experts, facial and head injuries can be sustained in nearly every sport, regardless if it is considered contact or non-contact. Damage to the teeth, lips, tongue, and jaws have frequent occurrences in both children and adults. Dentists report that they see more injuries to the mouth as a result basketball playing sports than from any other single cause. Although more research is needed, mouth guards are supposedly meant to prevent serious injuries such as concussions. A mouth guard helps prevent fractured jaws and teeth, severe cuts to the cheek, tongue, and traumatic damage to the roots and bone that hold teeth in place.

Against popular belief, all mouth guards are not created equal. Depending basketball the design and materials used, mouthpieces will vary in fit, protection, ease of maintenance and longevity. Custom made, mouth-formed and ready-made stock are all possible options. Custom-made mouth guards are formed by your dentist from a cast model of your teeth. There guards are designed to cover all the teeth and are shown in be the best type of protection. These can cushion falls and blows to the chin. While potentially more expensive, they offer the best fit, protection, and comfort. Mouth formed guards are generally made of acrylic gel or thermoplastic materials shaped to fit the contours of your teeth. They become molded by placing them in boiling water before your mouth attempting to get them to mold to your teeth. Ready made stock is commercially produced. They make no attempt to fit well, be comfortable, or extremely effective. This option is the least expensive, but is nearly ineffective and not recommended in dental literature.

Just like any protective gear, it takes getting use to wearing, but they really do offer something beneficial. If you treasure your pearly whites and an unswelled brain, be sure to remember to pop in your mouth guard before playing any sport whether it is soccer, baseball, ice hockey, basketball, gymnastics, etc. Be safe and remember to keep a close eye for more informative bits of information to the healthy athlete next semester.

Our coaching ideology at DSWAthletes is to develop an athlete's fundamental core foundation by using drills common to different sports and activities. We incorporate additional elements to promote strength and flexibility of the core region. In order to maximize peak performance and effectiveness, we create drills that use multiple muscle groups, improve your strength, aerobic, and anaerobic capacity, and keep your body constantly guessing. Multiplicity in focus will have you seeing results faster than if you worked alone or with more conventional coaches

Our program will develop your physiological 6th sense enabling you to react on instinct. We will guide you through a 6-station routine to keep your body constantly challenged. Our goal is to show all participants the most efficient and productive way to do things in a supportive and positive environment

The program will test even the most seasoned athlete. We challenge your preconceived notions about sports training and re-teach you the right way to approach development, in turn making you a great athlete. Change the way you see sports training with DSWAthletes' intense program and no-nonsense coaching style

More can be found out about DSWAthletes and Owner Derrick Wong at http://DSWAthletes.com