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SKLZ–Basketball Training System for Elite Basketball Performance

October 26, 2011 By Head Coach Leave a Comment

The Basketball Training System includes 3 tools that will get you a step ahead of the competition. Develop first-step quickness and lateral speed with the Lateral Resistor. Improve offensive and defensive technique with Reaction Belts. And boost your vertical with Hopz.

Lateral Resistor:

Develop first-step quickness and lateral speed
Strengthen key muscles for fluid movement and proper positioning
Improve athletic stances and quick movements
Heavy duty nylon webbing, and adjustable Velcro® ankle cuffs fits most athletes
Removes quickly to change up training or swap between athletes

Reaction Belts:

Develop evasive offensive skills
Refine lock-down defensive technique
Simulate one-on-one coverage through a variety of shadow drills
Includes two belts,, three sets of velcro breakaway leashes (4, 7 & 10 feet) and carry bag

Why Players need Jaw-Joint Protection

July 21, 2011 By Head Coach Leave a Comment

If you are serious about reducing Concussions "Protect the Jaw"

Why is it we have protective equipment for almost every joint in the body, including knee pads, thigh pads,shoulder pads, hip pads, elbow pads, etc. but the one joint that has direct access to the brain is left unprotected. Upper only mouthguards leave the vital Jaw-Joint complex at risk.

Unless your lower jaw is secured you are at risk of serious injury.

Studies have shown the majority of serious concussions stem from lower jaw impacts. When an upper mouthpiece is coated with saliva the body’s natural lubricant it allows the lower jaw to actually slide easier and the only place the jaw can go upon impact is to the jaw-joint and base of the skull and brain.

A new category has emerged in sports equipment " Jaw-Joint Protection"

Upper only mouth guards allow the lower jaw to move freely and can not stabilize the jaw, therefore putting the athlete at risk of jaw-joint injury and concussions. The reason this joint is so important to protect is the brain sits directly on top of the joint and is separated from the end of the lower jaw bone by the thinnest bone in the body (the glenoid fosa) which is about the thickness of a potato chip. The bones of the jaw-joint complex house and port cranial nerve trunks as they exit the brain. They also house the main blood supply to the brain and the hearing and balance mechanisms , among others.

We can no longer ignore the existence of the body’s most vital joint…the risk is far too great.

Overwhelming data points to the fact that jaw-joint injuries are occurring at an alarming rate in the sports arena.

Jaw-joint injury, seen in children as young as eight year old, and is one of the hazards uniquely associated with contact sports such as football, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, martial arts and boxing to name a few. The most frequent cause being repeated blows to the head, chin or jaw during aggressive exchanges. In practically all instances the bones of the jaw-joint and base of the skull are damaged. Even in helmeted sports hits to the facemask and helmet are transmitted to the base of the skull via the chin cup. Players are told to pull the chin strap nice and tight to keep the helmet from moving, however when they do they force the jaw bone up into the Jaw-Joint Complex. This is constant pressure in the joint and many players complain of headaches after and during games.

Jaw-Joint Protection reduces the risk of head injuries.

Tests have shown that the

Brain-Pad® Jaw-Joint Protector™ prevents needless head injuries and reduces the risk of impact to the vital jaw-joint structure. The Brain-Pad® Jaw-Joint Protector™ is engineered to create a buffer zone or safety space between the bones of the jaw-joint This is achieved by repositioning the lower jaw into a downward and forward position and securing the upper and lower teeth into the bite surface of the protector. This positioning creates an opening in the protector which facilitates breathing and speech and stabilizes the jaw and jaw-joints during impact

Concussions have frightening consequences that don’t always end when symptoms subside and can last long after playing careers are over.

Please visit www.brainpads.com and view studies and tests

Filed Under: Athletic Performance, Football Gear, Hockey Equipment, Performance, Protection Tagged With: Concussion Prevention, Concussion Reduction Technology, Jaw-Joint Protection

Why is it so important to stay properly hydrated?

June 26, 2011 By Head Coach Leave a Comment

With the hot summer months approaching it’s important to think about staying properly hydrated. Whether you’re a serious athlete, recreational exerciser or you enjoy spending a lot of time outside, it’s important to make sure you get the right amount of water. With exercise your focus should be before, during and after exercising. Water regulates your body temperature, lubricates joints and helps transport nutrients for energy and health. If you’re not properly hydrated, your body will be unable to perform at its highest level, and you may experience fatigue, muscle cramps, dizziness or more serious symptoms.

So the question we ask ourselves, how much water should we drink? There are no set guidelines for water intake while exercising because everyone is different. Sweat rate, heat, humidity, exercise intensity and duration are just some of the factors that must be considered. A simple way to make sure you’re staying properly hydrated is to check your urine. If your urine is consistently colorless or light yellow, you are most likely staying well hydrated. Dark yellow or amber-colored urine is a sign of dehydration.
Follow the basic water intake guidelines below for people doing moderate- to high-intensity exercise:

· Drink 17 to 20 ounces of water 2 to 3 hours before you start exercising

· Drink 8 ounces of water 20 to 30 minutes before you start exercising

· Drink 7 to 10 ounces of water every 10 to 20 minutes during exercise

· Drink 8 ounces of water no more than 30 minutes after you exercise

How do you know you have a Concussion–Mayo Clinic

June 9, 2011 By Head Coach Leave a Comment

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that alters the way your brain functions. Effects are usually temporary, but can include problems with headache, concentration, memory, judgment, balance and coordination.

Although concussions usually are caused by a blow to the head, they can also occur when the head and upper body are violently shaken. These injuries can cause a loss of consciousness, but most concussions do not. Because of this, some people have concussions and don’t realize it.

Concussions are common, particularly if you play a contact sport, such as football. But every concussion injures your brain to some extent. This injury needs time and rest to heal properly. Luckily, most concussive traumatic brain injuries are mild, and people usually recover fully.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of a concussion can be subtle and may not be immediately apparent. Symptoms can last for days, weeks or even longer.

The most common symptoms after a concussive traumatic brain injury are headache, amnesia and confusion. The amnesia, which may or may not be preceded by a loss of consciousness, almost always involves the loss of memory of the impact that caused the concussion.

UNEQUAL TECHNOLOGIES–EXO Skeleton Body Armor

June 8, 2011 By Head Coach Leave a Comment

All new EXO Skeleton™ was born on the battlefield and forged on the gridiron. EXO™ is the world’s first line of supplemental full-body, protective performance padding with ballistic grade DuPont™ KEVLAR®** that helps to protect athletes from blunt force trauma (BFT). Athletes usually experience devastating and debilitating BFT from body slams, wild baseballs, slap shots, projectiles, high sticks, loose bats, fly balls, and bone crushing blitzes. Handmade to exacting specifications, patented EXO is two independent, shock-absorbing systems in one. It dampens shock at the point of contact and then disperses most of the remaining BFT laterally away from the head or body. Traditional pads that are up to 3+ times thicker can’t come close. EXO designs easily conform to and cradle the head and body, while providing unequaled protection for athletes of all skill levels across all sports and activities.* EXO is so effective it was used in both the 2011 Super Bowl and the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. All EXO products are ultrathin (3 mm to 6mm), lightweight, flexible and very comfortable to wear. You, your family, your game may never need this level of protection, but isn’t it good to know you’ve got it?

EXO Skeleton™ CRT™

EXO Skeleton CRT (concussion reduction technology) Pads help reduce the possibility of injury to the head. CRT pads, constructed with the shock-blocking [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baseball Technology, Football, Football Gear, Performance, Protection Tagged With: Concussion Reduction Technology, EXO Head and Body Armor, Unequal Technologies Body Armor

Krossover–Sports Intelligence Platform

June 6, 2011 By Head Coach Leave a Comment

Krossover Intelligence is a New York City based technology company with a focus on the online video search industry. The company’s first vertical of choice is the sports world, with the aim of helping to raise the level of competition through technology innovation. Krossover’s flagship product, the Krossover Sports Intelligence Platform is the first of its kind, allowing coaches to search through their video footage, and dynamically generate statistics, all in an online platform.

Krossover is a company built on a passion for sports, and our dedication to bringing out the best in teams, is what truly sets us apart. To that effect, Krossover is enabling sports teams around the world to use their video intelligently and to analyze their players and competition like never before. Krossover is changing the way athletes play the game, and giving fans the ultimate experience.