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Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group

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Welcome Back NBA & Shawn Windle from the Indiana Pacers

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Nov 28, 2011 7:13:00 AM

 

BSMPG is proud to announce Shawn Windle from the Indiana Pacers as a speaker at the 2012 BSMPG Summer Seminar.  Shawn joins Jay DeMayo from the University of Richmond as our two speakers within the Basketball specific educational track.

Keynote speakers will be announced later this week so stay tuned to BSMPG for complete details!

REMEMBER: Save the Date - May 19th and 20th, 2012.

 

Shawn Windle

 

Read an interview by Shawn HERE.

Watch interview with Shawn HERE.

 

 

Watch the best of the NBA from the 2010/2011 Season.

 

Topics: Basketball Related, basketball conference, Shawn Windle

Olympic Lifts and Triple Extension by Sam Reffsin

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Nov 26, 2011 7:41:00 AM

 

 

by Sam Reffsin CSCS, USAW

 


Although there are many attributing factors to the mastering of an Olympic Lift, the main focus of this article centers on the Triple Extension factor.

As strength and conditioning coaches, we strive to address the main objective with Olympic movements and to teach our athletes how to achieve triple extension (ankles, knees and hips).  We cannot let our athletes develop poor extension or to acquire flawed habits when working with the Olympic lifts. For example, while we should all encourage our athletes to “move the bar fast” when performing these movements, we can’t fall into the trap of being distracted by the bar speed and ignoring any extension.

Over the course of the past few months I have taken a new approach in my progressions and have taught my athletes the proper way to execute these complex lifts by exercising a stronger emphasis on the “scoop” technique. 

The following videos should provide an accurate depiction of the correct and incorrect Olympic lift movements.

Video of Zero Extension

I am clearly achieving zero extension at the ankles, knees and hips.  I am developing poor motor patterns in this video.  When I see an athlete doing this I ask them if this is how they jump or tackle in a game and I make sure they understand the importance of triple extension in order to get that carry over effect during competition. 

I put together a progression that has worked with my athletes.  I’ll leave the amount of time in each phase up to your coaching judgments.

Phase One
Once your athlete is proficient in the conventional deadlift, he/she will be prepared to learn the power shrug. 

Power Shrug Video

You’ll notice once I clear my knees in my “first pull”, I violently extend my hips by banging the bar off my mid thighs.  This is called “the scoop”.  If there is one idea I would like you to take away from this article, it’s understanding how vital the scoop is during Olympic movements.  I believe a violent scoop is the only true way to achieve consistent extension at the hips.  Athletes understand how to extend their ankles and knees quick enough, but without teaching a proper scoop, it is hard to expect them to fully extend their hips through every Olympic movement.   Initially, athletes will slow down right when the bar comes in contact with their mid thighs because they are timid of the pain, and it might hurt at first but they will get used to it and eventually scoop hard and violently.  At the peak of the scoop, I encourage my athletes to squeeze their glutes together as if they were holding a coin between their cheeks for a split second.  I also teach my athletes to keep their toes in contact with the ground at all times for the simple reason that once you leave the ground, you lose the ability to generate force.  Once my athletes have mastered the scoop on the power shrug I then move them onto a power high pull.

Phase Two

Power High Pull Video

Good hard scoop and then pull up.  Once they master the power high pull, I then get into power snatch progressions.  I choose power snatch instead of power clean because you must emphasize the scoop for the power snatch more so than a power clean.  Don’t get me wrong, you can scoop hard and have a beautiful power clean, but I think athletes tend to cheat the power clean more so than the power snatch. 

Phase Three

I’ll bring them back to basics on a power shrug using a snatch grip.  This will get them familiar with the wider grip.

Power Shrug Snatch Grip Video

Phase Four

Once they get some experience with that snatch grip I will then bring them into a power snatch.  At first it will look and feel awkward, which is why I use lighter weight with them for the first 3-5 weeks to ensure safety, but if they still apply that violent scoop than they should get right into it with ease. 

Power Snatch Video

I cannot stress enough how important it is to master the scoop while training athletes in the art of Olympic Lifts.  Without a hard and violent scoop, the athlete will never be able to generate the maximal force they are capable of.

If anyone has any further thoughts, or a more successful way of getting triple extension, please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail at sreffsin@gmail.com.

Sam is currently the Men’s Basketball and Women’s Softball Strength & Conditioning Coach at Webber International University located in Babson Park, FL.  He can be reached at sreffsin@gmail.com.

Topics: Strength Training, Guest Author

BSMPG Announces 2012 Summer Seminar Date!

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Nov 21, 2011 7:03:00 AM

BSMPG 

 

BSMPG is proud to announce the finalized 2012 summer seminar date to our basketball community first!

Be sure to mark your calendars for May 19th and 20th, 2012.  Our basketball specific speaker set has been assembled and will be announced over the coming weeks.  The 2012 set includes the best strength coaches ranging from the Big 12 to the A-10 along with current and former NBA strength professionals.  Don't miss out on another world class basketball seminar this coming May 19th and 20th in Boston MA. 

In addition to these great basketball specific speakers, attendees will also be able to enjoy keynote speakers from around the world throughout the entire weekend.

Stay tuned over the next months for continued updates on speakers and complete conference details.

 

See Jay DeMayo, Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Richmond speak at the 2012 BSMPG Summer Seminar.

 

Jay DeMayo

JAY DEMAYO

University of Richmond

Jay DeMayo has been the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Men’s and Women’s Basketball at the University of Richmond since October 2005. His studies as a sport performance specialist combine general strength and movement training with a progressive approach to the specific through out the athlete's career. 

At the present moment, Jay is working with different specialists to design bench marks and progressions for special exercises to improve movement from the general to the specific and technique of movement to improve performance. 

 

 

Topics: Basketball Related, Jay DeMayo

Packing the Neck by Craig Liebenson

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Nov 19, 2011 9:05:00 PM

 

Click HERE to read this article.

 

Be sure to save the date for the 3rd annual BSMPG Basketball Specific Training Symposium in Boston MA, May 19-20, 2012.  Full speaker set to be announced soon!

Topics: Health & Wellness, Craig Liebenson

Ready for Blast Off - An Interview with Jennifer Jones

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Nov 14, 2011 7:41:00 AM

 

 

Click HERE to read this article originally published in Training & Conditioning featuring BSMPG advisory board member and  Strength Coach for the 2011 NCAA Women's Basketball National Champions.

Topics: Strength Training, Strength & Conditioning, Jennifer Jones

Monitoring Training Load

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Nov 4, 2011 9:58:00 PM

With the start of the college basketball season less than a week a way, this article comes at a perfect time for strength coaches, athletic trainers and sport coaches who are looking to make their push deep into March.

 

Read this article by Aaron Coutts, Lee Wallace and Katie Slattery by clicking HERE.

 

 

 

Topics: Basketball Related, Guest Author

Best Of Luck This Basketball Season

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Oct 30, 2011 4:58:00 PM

Best of luck this coming basketball season from BSMPG and from all of the Everything Basketball Advisory Board Members.

 

To celebrate another basketball season, BSMPG brings you some of the best from our previous basketball posts!

ENJOY!

 

everything basketball

 

 

Weight Gain for the Basketball Athlete by John Berardi

In-Season Basketball Training by Brijesh Patel

The Hip Hinge: The Best Exercise You're Not Teaching In Your Rehabilitation Program by Art Horne

Interview with Corrective Exercise Specialist, Bill Hartman & Training the Tall Guys by BSMPG

Interview with Stu McGill by BSMPG

20 Basic Training Tips for the Highschool Basketball Players by Ray Eady

NBA Summer League: Making an NBA Roster by Art Horne

The Beginning Of The Off-Season: The First Three Weeks by Brendon Ziegler

Topics: Basketball Related, Guest Author

The Vertical Jump Program - Part III by Jay DeMayo

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Oct 22, 2011 6:27:00 PM

 

 

Click HERE to read this article by Jay DeMayo, Strength Coach for the Richmond Spiders.

 

 

 

Topics: Strength Training, Jay DeMayo, Vertical Jump Training

Why T4TG Stuff Works by Charlie Weingroff

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Oct 22, 2011 6:21:00 PM

 

 

t4tg

Click HERE to read this article by Charlie Weingroff

 

 

Topics: Basketball Related, Charlie Weingroff

How An Injury Affects Shooting by Brian McCormick

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Oct 15, 2011 12:01:00 PM

 

by Brian McCormick

I played in a rec-league basketball game for the first time in two years tonight. Two weeks ago, when I moved into m condo, I tweaked my back lifting my bed. When I grapple, I feel weak on my left side and am occasionally hopeless when I need to generate force on that side to try and roll or shrimp to improve my position. I can play, and I do not feel injured, but I know it’s there.

This often happens to young athletes, especially with ankle injuries. They hurt something or tweak something, but they are not hurt so bad that they cannot play. However, the injury, if left untreated, affects their performance.

When we warmed up for the game tonight, I shot three-pointers. I felt my body twisting as I shot. My body is usually pretty still as I shoot. However, I turned to the left.

There are two possible explanations in my mind: (1) I was compensating because my legs are not as strong as they used to be; or (2) the weakness through my core on my left side inhibits my ability to stabilize my body through a dynamic movement. I cannot resist the force to maintain a stabile position throughout my shot.

With ankle injuries, the same thing occurs. Players hurt their ankles, but continue to play. However, their range of motion decreases, and they favor one leg. If this goes unnoticed for long enough, this compensatory motor pattern becomes their “normal” motor pattern. Trying to return to the original motor pattern now feels awkward because the player has adapted to the pattern borne from the injury and the compensation.

In my case, I need to lift more and find ways to strengthen my back without hurting it further. I do some light core work, but grappling twice a week and demonstrating weightlifting lifts twice per week to my class prohibits a full recovery, but that’s a decision that I make.

For a player with an ankle injury, I advise players to stand on one leg and draw the alphabet in the air with the other. This is a classic rehab exercise that works in two ways: (1) it is a single-leg balance exercise and studies show that the ability to stand on one leg without any perturbations reduces one’s likelihood of injuring his or her ankle; and (2) by writing the alphabet with his or her foot, the player works through the full range of motion and breaks up any scar tissue or anything affecting the full extension or flexion of the joint.

This is one example. When a player’s skill performance changes negatively, often it could be as a compensation for something else. Before instructing more or worrying about the skill execution, we need to address the movement and reduce the injury or lingering effects of an injury to prevent a compensatory motor pattern from becoming normal.

 


Brian McCormick, CSCS, M.S.S.
Author: Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development

Director of Coaching: Playmakers Basketball Development League
Clinician: 180 Shooter 

 

Topics: Basketball Related, Brian McCormick