This will be my last blog of the summer.
Why?
I am exhausted.
I am mentally and physically worn-out. I have been going non-stop since late March and I need some time to rest, recover, and re-energize. In the past 4 months, I have worked a clinic or camp in 21 different cities, 16 different states, and hosted events for coaches & players from Canada, Brazil, Senegal, Egypt, Russia, and Mozambique. I have been on more planes, trains, and automobiles than John Candy and Steve Martin.
Not only that, but my wife and I welcomed our twin sons, Luke and Jack, into the world in late March as well. For those of you with children, I don’t need to elaborate on how grueling (yet unbelievably rewarding) the first few months of parenting are. And we have twins!
Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining. These past 4 months have been the most rewarding of my career. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I am eternally grateful to have had so many amazing opportunities and experiences. But nonetheless, I am dog-tired.
With pre-season right around the corner, I need to start preparing. I owe it to myself, and to everyone I work with, to be able to give my best effort in everything I do. And I owe it to my wonderful wife and sons, to spend some time at home.
In order to be at my best this pre-season, I need to rest the month of August. My blog will be back, better than ever, after Labor Day.
With that said, I am not the only one who needs to rest. Most players have been going just as hard as I have with individual workouts, AAU tournaments, summer league games, and elite camps. I know of several players who haven’t slept in their bed at home for more than a dozen times the entire summer!
With such a rigorous schedule, your body is banged up, fatigued, and broken down. You need to get in some quality active rest between now and when school starts. Honestly, scheduling an adequate period of active rest may be the most important thing you do all summer.
You need to get away from the game, mentally and physically, to re-charge your battery and be refreshed and ready to start the school year and your team’s pre-season workouts.
I recommend you take anywhere from a few days, to two full weeks, and do nothing physically active except for the 5 recovery exercises listed below. You need to evaluate your current state. If your summer wasn’t too exhausting, then take a few days off. If your summer was packed tighter than an airplane bathroom… then you should probably take an entire week or two off.
And when I say “off”… I mean off. That means no lifting, no conditioning, no shooting, no ball handling and no pick-up games. Trust me, it will do you good.
Perform the following exercises every day during your active rest period:
Lacrosse Ball Foot Massage
Why it’s important: Basketball players’ feet are constantly confined to rigid, stiff basketball shoes and ankle braces 20-25 hours a week. If your feet are constantly in basketball shoes, your ankles and feet get weaker and less mobile. Performing a “self massage” on a lacrosse ball helps loosen up the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of your feet.
How it’s done: In just your socks, balance on one foot and roll your other foot on top of the lacrosse ball. The more weight you put on the ball, the more pressure and the deeper the massage.
How many reps: Do two sets of 30 seconds for each foot.
Foam Roller
Why it’s important: It has a similar premise to the lacrosse ball. It’s a self-massage that helps elongate your muscles and rid your body of lactic acid and “knots.”
How it’s done: Start with your lower calf. Roll back and forth on top of the foam roller as if you were kneading dough. Follow the same protocol for your hamstrings, butt, outside of your hip, lower back, upper back, and your shoulder.
How many reps: Roll over each body part for 30 seconds.
Variation: You can substitute the foam roller with an over-inflated basketball.
Lunge and Reach Stretch
Why it’s important: Great stretch for the entire body!
How it’s done: Step out as far as you can into a forward lunge. Keep your ankles, knees, hips, and shoulders facing forward. Put your palms on the floor in front of you (inside of your front leg). Straighten you back leg. If your left leg is forward, keep your right palm on the ground and raise your left palm toward the ceiling (by rotating your core). Look up as you reach up. Then perform the same movement with your other hand (left leg forward, raise your right hand). Then switch legs and repeat.
How many reps: Perform 5 reps for each hand on each leg.
Assisted Hamstring Stretch
Why it’s important:Tight hamstrings can cause numerous problems.
How it’s done: Lay on your back with both legs flat. Wrap a towel or elastic band or jump rope around the middle part of one foot. Keeping both legs straight (one stays on the ground), slowly pull your foot towards your nose. Make sure your ankle stays dorsi-flexed (“toes to your nose”). Hold for 15 seconds. Then, keeping your torso and hips flat on the ground, drop your leg laterally (if you are stretching your left leg, drop your leg down to the left). For a more intense stretch, continue to pull your foot towards the top of your head. This is a great groin stretch. Hold for 15 seconds. Lastly, cross over and drop your leg to the opposite side. For a more intense stretch, continue to pull your foot towards the top of your head. This will give a stretch to your low back and IT band. Hold for 15 seconds.
How many reps: Perform 3 rounds of all 3 phases (straight, lateral, crossover… each round takes 45 seconds).
Bodyweight Hangs
Why it’s important: Helps decompress your spine.
How it’s done: Find a sturdy pull-up bar that is high enough that you can hang from it without your feet touching the ground. Then simply grab the bar and hang. Let every muscle relax and let gravity decompress your spine.
How many reps: Hang for 3 sets of 15 seconds.
If you need additional info, or a visual on how to perform these exercises, please check out the initial episodes of the Can He Dunk? Project at www.CanHeDunk.com. We performed these movements with the participants before every workout.
We will post a new episode each week for the next 3 weeks… so make sure you stay tuned to see who ends up dunking!
In addition to the Can He Dunk? videos, I just posted the remaining two videos from the Nike Basketball Skills Academies. These will be my last two YouTube videos of the summer (videos will return after Labor Day, along with the blog).
Kevin Durant Nike Basketball Skills Academy: http://TinyUrl.com/DurantAcademy
Amar’e Stoudemire Nike Basketball Skills Academy: http://TinyUrl.com/AmareAcademy
Please enjoy your last few weeks of August and get the rest you deserve.
But then get back to work. Your pre-season workouts will lay the foundation for your season.
We will be offering a very comprehensive 8 Week Pre-Season Strength & Conditioning Program download at http://Shop.StrongerTeam.com in early September. It will include everything you need to get stronger, more explosive, and in great basketball shape.
Remember… the best players and the best teams are in the best shape!
In the meantime, please let me know if I can be a resource to you for your program. You can email me at Alan@StrongerTeam.com.
Until September,
Alan Stein
