Cornhole - A Game Fun For People of All Ages

The name of the game is officially cornhole. It is known by different names across the nation. Some of these names include the following: corn toss, bean bag toss, baggo. Whatever it is called, it is popular. The game has recently received national attention through articles in the Wall Street Journal and other popular newspapers. The game is addicting. Just give a bag a toss and you will find out for yourself.

Cornhole is quickly replacing horseshoe at parties and events around the United States. You basketball find people playing almost anywhere in the midwest (block parties, backyards, tailgate parties, bars, college campuses). It is also catching steam across the rest of the US. What makes this game so much more fun and multigenerational then horseshoes? Cornhole is easier to play. All you need is two boards and 8 bags. The bags typically weigh between 14-16 oz. People of all ages can hold basketball that weighs a pound. You take the bag and pitch it (toss it) toward the boards that are set up 33 feet apart (from hole to hole). The one pound bags are a lot lighter then the heavy horseshoes.

Cornhole is also more portable. You can play it on almost any surface and any location. Most tailgate parties have a cornhole game set up as part of their activities.

Only time will tell if cornhole maintains its popularity. Although horseshoes have been around a long time, cornhole offers something new and exciting to people of all ages. if you have not tried the game, you should.

Rebecca owns and operates http://www.beccasports.com, a website dedicated to offering affordable, quality cornhole, corn toss, bean bag toss board and bag equipment.

Three Simple Steps to Success for Young Coaches

Starting a basketball coaching career can be an intimidating experience. A game that once was thought to be easy as a player becomes much more difficult from the bench. Three simple but imperative steps can be followed by any rookie hoop coach to get off to a good start in coaching.

The learning curve is very sharp for the first time basketball coach. The inclination is to give the players a lot basketball drills and information, thinking they can handle it. In time though, your players will be confused and you may be a basket case. These three key steps apply not basketball to the roookie coach but the seasoned coach also.

1. Teach only what you know. If your are not able to teach a concept in basketball, don't consider it until you have mastered it. Some coaches think that coaching is making kids go through drills and yell directions at them. That is not teaching, that is not having a clue. Remember, the best coaches are the best teachers. The best coaches also present basketball as an easy game and one that all players can grasp from an individual and team standpoint. The best way to minimize a player's play is to confuse them.

2. Keep the game simple for the players. It doesn't matter how much you know as a coach but it does matter how much the players know and UNDERSTAND. Players must first know what to execute before they can actually perform on the floor. Good coaches explain why certain skills and drills are used and make up the team's style of play.

3. Be on a constant search for information from other coaches, go to clinics, read and find things on the internet. You can be the best coach that you want to be! As the saying goes, "When you are done learning, you are done." Growing as a coach depends on a constant desire to improve and analyze your own coaching. Some coaches get set in their ways and style of play after a few years. A growing coach will always look to tweak, refine, and adjust his or her coaching to maximize their effectiveness as a coach.

In my extensive college coaching career I can say that the best coaches I've every seen are the coaches that teach a simple game. Clarity is the goal for players and coaches and cannot be understated. Less is more when it comes to effective coaching and is the ultimate challenge of all basketball coaches.

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA appearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com.

Ideas to Jump Higher in Basketball

It is very important to jump higher in basketball so that you can score a perfect goal. However, many basketball players are not able to acquire this skill even after so much of practice. Some might not have their very own coaches to help them. Others simply don't know how to start the training. Hence, it is very important that you learn exercises for jumping higher in basketball.

Always start up with the warming exercises before proceeding further. Warming up will help your body to adjust to the movements of the exercises that will follow much later. Jumping exercises usually follow after the initial warm-ups. Crouch down with your knees up to your chest and your back straight. Then quickly, jump up basketball high into the air as you can and try to land in the same position as you started. Repeat this exercise until you feel that you have relatively increased your jump. Try to jump an inch higher everyday.

Toe raising exercises will also help to increase your jumps and maintain the right balance while playing. It also adds strength and precision to your footing and thigh and calf muscles. Try this exercise by standing on flat on your sole and slowly standing on your toes. Most athletes with high jumps recommend jumping rope basketball Jumping ropes help your sprinting, ankle and calf muscles, preparing these for higher jumps on the court.

When it comes to choosing a bandwagon for training program, don't choose the first training program that comes your way. Make sure that that you do your research and pick a proven program. All quality programs are backed by professional trainers who have trained many athletes.

These exercises are not sufficient. But if practiced regularly and religiously over a period of weeks and months, can give you really good results.

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The Fundamentals of Designing a Successful Basketball Offense

Every basketball team should have an organized basketball-offense attack, and a "system" of play with solid back court players. In this way, every player will know what is expected of him. He'll know where to go. Moreover, a system play will often overcome individual weaknesses of one or more players.

Over basketball years, basketball coaches have devised many kinds of basketball offenses. In general, they fall into two groups; those designed to defend against the man-for-man defense and those put together to crack the zone.

These basketball offenses have many characteristics. Some are slow and deliberate, involving a series of "set" plays. Others are of the slam-bang variety, sometimes referred to as "race horse" basketball.

Regardless of how the basketball offense is paced, it must basketball "sound" to be successful. By that we mean that the offense must have certain features; it must give its players short, medium and long shots. It must give the team good rebound strength off the offensive board. It must be able to switch to defense quickly in the event the ball is lost.

Most of all, the basketball offense must include passing "options." If player A wants to make a pass to player B to start a screen play and suddenly finds B covered, he should have the option of starting a play with another teammate. And without stopping the attack.

What Kind of Offense?

Ideally, any basketball coach would like to have players suited to every position; however, it doesn't always turn out that way. The type of players you have as a coach will dictate how the offense is to be shaped.

This places the responsibility of selecting an offense on the coach. The coach must be imaginative and sensible when he sits down to plan his basketball offense. He has to carefully analyze his team of players and come up with an offense that will take fullest advantage of the type of players that make up the team.

If a team is small, for example, a "possession" type of offense would be best. The offense should be designed to keep the players moving constantly, to give them plenty of good screens; screens that will lead to medium and short range shots. This team wants to rely, too, on specialty and spot shooting. A possession game and a good shooting percentage will go a long way toward making up for lack of size.

If the team has one or two big players, the basketball offense can be built around a single or double post system (against man-for-man).

Since the principles of the man-for-man defense differ from those of the zone, the principles involved in the attack against each of these defenses differ too.

Attack Against Man-for-Man Defense

In any attack, the objective of the basketball offense is to make the defense move; to get it out of position so that an offensive player can have an opportunity to shoot.

In the man-for-man defense, the guards play the man. To move the guard, you must move the offensive man. In moving the offensive man, however, you must maneuver the defense out of position. The best way to do this is to set up a series of screens,a "pattern."

What kind of pattern you establish for your offense depends on the kinds of players making up the team. Let's assume you have three players of average height who are fair outside shooters and better than average drivers. Let's also assume the remaining two making up the first five are big men that are poor from the outside.

The pattern might take this form. The two big men establish post positions on either side of the foul line. The other three bring up the ball. From this three-out, two-in pattern, you can devise all sorts of screens. It will give you a long, medium and short attack. It will give you rebound strength and defensive strength.

In building up the pattern, remember that the offensive players must keep moving in order to move the defense. To get continuity of movement, the passing pattern must include several options. In order for a basketball team and its players to be successful, it must have a basketball offense that can handle any and all kinds of defense that an opposing team throws at it.

You can find more FREE basketball resources including videos that will help you improve your basketball skills and your knowledge about the sport by visiting http://www.basketball-drills-and-tips.com