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Give ’em the Rhythm

Posted in New Posts, News on August 13th, 2010 by Troy Miles

The rhythm is the beat and perhaps the most important element in music.  It drives the players forward. It can be even or uneven, steady or unsteady, but always has a certain tempo.  Basketball, just as in music, demands that you be in tune to the rhythm of the game in every circumstance of play.  Understanding when to be fast or when to be slow allows you to operate freely inside your skill sets, yet in harmony with other individuals and the overall game action- just like jazz players or other musicians at the Symphony, perhaps.

Gustavo Dudamel

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Are You Hoopin’ or Hopin’?

Posted in New Posts, News on August 3rd, 2010 by Troy Miles

Tragically many players stand around watching (spotting up) or waiting for their turn to get the ball ?!! Is it the mission of the other players to get you the ball?

Overton receiving the Ball by johncuthbert43.

 

Venoy Overton receives a “quality touch”?

If you’re not open,  you’re only hopin’ – to get the ball.  Being kinda open won’t cut it either.  Get yourself obviously open or don’t  expect to get the rock… especially  amongst top players. Read more »

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I know You know But…..

Posted in New Posts, News on July 29th, 2010 by Troy Miles

I know you know … but  what if, all you know is only a portion of what you need to know or could know. Would you still play the role and continue to act like you know anyway, or would you seek out the information to move forward? What? You would just keep doing what you do … huh….? Really?! Okay, I get it. You must be a BASKETBALL PLAYER!

It’s unbelievable  how so many basketball players think they already “know”- at least enough (especially older players).  On top of that, they refuse (somehow ?) to believe that what they don’t know not only shows, but is ultimately vital to their success. It’s craziness. But in the world of basketball, that’s how it is for the most part, even non-players think they know. This is delusion of the most high.  No other sport is quite as bad. Sh!  If only basketball was as simple as: a ball , a hoop , a couple of crossovers, a made three-pointer here and there,  and KABAM … give me the jersey –please!

Hoop is such a glamour/warrior driven sport  that egos are clad in tuxedos. Help is for others, but not me though?

Even if you can play , you probably can’t really play anywhere near where you think you can.  The vast majority of  players think their capacities are  120+ % of their actual self. That is, they think their capability (in a certain area or overall game) is at 100, but their actual proficiency  or ability  is closer to 80 in this scenario. I will say however, that a person with true ability who thinks this way is quite dangerous, especially in comparison to capable players who think 70 or 80% of self (think they’re at 70-80 % when they’re actually at 100%) — but that’s another issue.

Many ballplayers would rather be “…ruined by praise than saved by criticism.” (Norman Vincent Peale). In fact, many people do everything in their power to  surround themselves with people who will always say positive things about them and give them approval. Understandably, people generally don’t like being criticized.  But in order to truly improve, you must find a way to embrace it, rather than run away from it. Getting approval is very easy.  Getting the “real talk” can be tough, but worth the effort.  You can always find at least one person who will tell you exactly what you want to hear.

In order to improve, you need to ask yourself what you can do to grow, evolve, and excel.  You also need to seek people  who have solution-based information.  Since everybody knows something about basketball, you must develop an effective filtering method for the information you move forward with.  Ask: Does the information giver offer a Verification Model ( Information, Demonstration, Explanation and confirmation) ? Keep in mind, that when you do receive constructive criticism (quality information),  be certain to  listen to it and apply it to your program (skills, methods, and understandings).  Otherwise, it becomes a wasted opportunity.     People who “Listen to the Message” grow.  Most players fail to learn from criticism (see: “The Brain Game” chapter 2 in the Sampler) and therefore cannot adapt in response to it.

Bottom Line: Seek optimization where you can find it and  please….

“DON’T COMPROMISE YOURSELF… YOU’RE ALL YOU GOT!”Janis Joplin


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Foot Mechanics is Quite a Feat

Posted in New Posts, News on July 20th, 2010 by Troy Miles

In just about every sport , it takes great feet to compete at a high level.

 

Proper footwork in basketball is as vital to successful play as effective skating is to quality hockey play. After all, foot control (explosive stops and starts) is a key element of body control and controlling opponents. If you cannot skate, you will never be an effective hockey player regardless of your other skills; likewise in basketball. Therefore you must understand how your feet operate. The feet are made of two parts. The balls of the feet are the Go or Push pads and are used to power your system.  The heels are the brakes and are used primarily for stopping and stabilization. Having your energy backward on your heels or operating on the brakes means you are stuck (flat) to the floor and slower to react.  (Note: Engaging the toes to the floor in a gripping fashion shifts your energy forward and keeps you on your pads.  This promotes instant forward movement or explosion…

“Every Step You Take” addresses the power of every step on earth for everyday walking. For  sports, how you operate your feet  determines your balance, stability and ability  to locomote effectively and deceptively. If you think you  are “non-athletic” or have  slow feet in your sport, check first to see if you operating on your feet properly.  Determine if your energy is typically moving towards  your “push pads” (balls of your feet) on steps or back towards the brakes (heels) .  It’s okay to have your heels touch the floor as long as your energy (from the heel) is moving away from the ground during the stride forward .

“No homo, but Ray Allen’s sh*t looks like he’s got baseballs in his legs. Ray must walk on the balls of his feet because I can’t see any amount of training that would make his calf muscles that big and leave the rest of his leg skinny.”

http://forums.projectcovo.com/showthread.php?t=1021215



I notice players with poor foot mechanics and ones with great feet for that matter. But poor foot mechanics is a major contributor in lack of athletic prowess and simply an unnecessary handicap.  Futhermore, individuals with bad foot mechanics and/or poor structure (geometric harmony) are also prone to injury.

Notice. The vast majority of players that can jump, or those with speed or quickness generally walk the same way. It’s true for the mediocre and athletically challenged as well.  The typical step of that group is  heel first walking (touching). Notice the heel first walker usually has less calf  and hamstring definition, plus less pronounced glutes.  Hmmm… who would you rather be?

When you catch people at the gym walking up on their  toes, are you really surprised when they can jump or are explosive?  I know embouchure is a term used to describe the proper approach or positioning  of the lips on the mouthpiece of an instrument, but I like to think of the feet and their grip to  the court (or earth) in that way.  I talk extensively about this in the “Virtual Game…”, “We Can Build You”-Chapter 4. Once you understand proper foot mechanics  and subsequently foot control, you’ll be able to control opponents with  greater ease; especially in basketball (with the law of leadership) or right to be first (in movement).

You have the power in every step you take to make a difference in the symmetry of your body and your physical capacity.   A whole generation wanted to be like Mike. It should include walking like him. Be cognizant of how  you walk. Soon you’ll be better equipped to walk the walk and perhaps… talk the talk.

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The Game after the Game

Posted in New Posts, News on July 3rd, 2010 by Troy Miles

Jordan Hamilton comment from “If You Can Hoop… there’s Hope”:

Growing as a basketball player with the programming of optimal default settings through Virtual Play is the most challenging, frustrating, and rewarding processes I have been a part of. Already I am able to see the infinite connections between the hardwood and the

“real world” and how easily success on the court can be translated to success in life. A virtual basketball player is unstoppable with unlimited potential.. the same is true for a virtual individual.

The Game After the Game: A player’s perspective of  Virtual Play applied outside the Hardwood.  By Jordan Hamilton (Lehigh University)

When I began “virtual” training 7 years ago, I had the simple goal of improving my basketball game.   I had no idea I would be  able to accomplish so much on and off the court.  In fact, I’m in the process of  turning a lifelong dream(s) into reality. My success in basketball can be quantified though numerous athletic  awards and a  Division 1 scholarship. My scholastic awards speak for themselves.  However, it’s hard to quantify how much I’ve changed as a person. The countless hours I’ve spent in the gym programming inside of virtual play is why I’ve gotten where I have in basketball and why I believe I will end up where I want to go in life. Much of “The Virtual Player’s Blog” focuses on virtual play in the context of basketball. I intend to take a step back and look at  how “going virtual” has taken my life game  to another level.

Becoming a virtual player has been the most challenging task I have undertaken, and one I have yet to complete. The difficulty lies in working inside the small details of complete functions. These small parts – each mathematically efficient,  are compounded together to create powerful default settings for successful play or on the everyday level- modes of conduct. The required understanding of how each part contributes to the effectiveness of the whole and greater picture is what makes virtual play difficult, but also superior to any other form of skill development I’ve experienced.

Virtual play  forces you to accept , internalize, and execute specific information. This process demands  extreme focus (in order to stay present  against the emotional distraction of the brain while dealing with  material that has not already been programmed into the system).  Each rep  must be analyzed  and necessary adjustments  must follow. Perfect reps are difficult to come by and lack of emotional control further inhibits growth.

The good news is, with each perfect rep comes development and  a strong sense of confidence and empowerment to do anything.  As long as I’m willing to work on the right things, it  gives me a huge boost on the court and a tremendous edge in the classroom.  Of course, no one has command over each area, but through programming, proficiency will improve at a rapid rate.  I’ve found these skills to be useful in every area of my life – including  relationships and daily interactions.

My Journey as a virtual player has been rewarding beyond belief.  I’m winning the greatest battle of all: the battle over the mind. Over the years I’ve steadily surpassed my peers  and  believe no obstacle is too great. I continue to improve technically and emotionally while others seem to mostly maintain or improve only physically.   I recommend exploring the world of virtual play for anyone looking for an edge in basketball and a model for successful life. Virtual play has changed my life forever and for the better.

2013

It has been a long and windy road to arrive at this point in my journey. Feeling blessed to have the opportunity to do what I love and spread soulful joy through the medium of basketball. Thank you for all that supported and believed in me along the way especially Troy Miles whose patience, knowledge, and powerful presence taught me how to play and live as a VP.

First pro contract:

J Ham Signing

Suggested link: Virtual Journey (Jordan Hamilton) 

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Virtual Player's Blog