Getting better has always been about hard work and the desire to get better at whatever you put your mind to. In the book The Hoops Whisperer, the author and trainer starts preparing soon-to-be NBA all-star Chris Paul for the draft. They start doing drills that simulate game situations and the training gets more intense in order to prepare Chris for the NBA. "In order to play in the NBA as a regular-size person, you have to become quick and fast, but you also have to become comfortable with contact - finding it and taking it" (82).
"I created a few drills for Chris to acclimate him to the contact he faces in every game, the pushing and slapping he can expect from defenders" (82). This relates to me because I have started to use these same drills in my training because I'm a regular size guard playing against bigger opponents. I have incorporated these drills into my training to get better in game situations. I have used many different types of equipment to change the way I train to improve my game. In the drills to simulate game situations, I dribble the ball at cones as if they're defenders and practice moves to get around them just like in a game. I am also starting to work more on quick footwork to improve my speed. I almost always try to go game speed which is the main change I've made. This helps me get used to anything and be able to play faster and at a higher tempo.
When have you ever needed to change your training style to improve in something?
Ravin, Idan. The Hoops Whisperer: On the Court and inside the Heads of Basketball's Best Players
When I had to change my training style to improve something was when I wanted to run track; to sprint faster I had to change my workouts on using and retaining short bursts of energy rather than preserving my energy to sprint. Sprinting events requires bursts and force more than consistent speeds of endurance running. I was used to consistent speed and endurance when I started sprinting and I changed that training style when I started sprinting.
ReplyDeleteGreat comment, I understand where you are coming from with the track and that's great that you changed your workouts. This makes a lot of sense when your having to improve.
DeleteGreat post Ben! This really opened my eyes to how similar the principals of training can be between sports. Your training methods derived from NBA stars, while mine derive from MLB stars. Both require immense amounts of discipline and focus. Fascinating!
ReplyDeleteMLB players have the same problem just like in any sport, great comment Alec. Especially MLB players because of how they have to hit a tiny ball going 90mph.
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