Message to the young ballers.

If you truly love the game, don't wait until you are too old to work on your game. I'm 39 now and have been playing the game on a regular basis since I was 15, or 1991. But I didn't truly work on my game until I was about 30. There is a difference between playing pick up games and working on your game, by yourself, to get better. All I know is if I could do it over again, I would've worked on my game at 15 instead of waiting until I was 30.

The bottom line is that you are only young once. You have your natural athleticism, reflexes and stamina up until a certain age before it goes downhill. If you truly love the game and want to be as good as you can be, don't do what I did and wait until it's too late to work on your game.

For some, just playing pick up games is fine. It's fun, great exercise and you just play. But if you are like me and have a true love for this game and don't want to ask, "what if", when you get my age, put in the work now and see how far you can go. Yes, bball is a game of natural talent but it's also a game of skill. The more you work on your game, the better you get. See how good you can be while you are still young.

P.S. I would still ball most of you youngsters up right now. Lol.

I am 11 years younger than you. I am only active in playing basketball during the month of February to May. But Hopefully we are going to have a basketball league in the month of December.

I'm in the same boat. I didn't play organized basketball when I was younger but started getting into basketball when I was 30. I started coaching and learned ways to get better and started getting more skilled. My body doesn't work as well as it used to but it seems like lack of experience still kind of gets me in some situation. I can get by guys but don't always know what to do when I get there lol

[QUOTE=01amberfirewv]I'm in the same boat. I didn't play organized basketball when I was younger but started getting into basketball when I was 30. I started coaching and learned ways to get better and started getting more skilled. My body doesn't work as well as it used to but it seems like lack of experience still kind of gets me in some situation. I can get by guys but don't always know what to do when I get there lol[/QUOTE]

I actually played high school ball and was pretty good despite not seriously dedicating myself, mostly due to my athleticism. Being a shade under 5'8", I was very quick and could blow by guys and keep guys in front of me on D. But what i would give to have the athleticism, reflexes and stamina of my youth to combine with my current skill level. I would be ripping it up against most people. It's much harder when you are playing against guys who are much younger, faster and have better stamina. So you need to out think and out skill these guys to impact the game. It works most of the time but when you play a guy who is taller and more athletic AND can play the game, that's when I feel my age.

[QUOTE=Lebron23]I am 11 years younger than you. I am only active in playing basketball during the month of February to May. But Hopefully we are going to have a basketball league in the month of December.[/QUOTE]

So you go months without playing the game? I couldn't do that. If I don't play for a few days straight, I start getting that itch. The game is a huge part of my life. If you took away the game from me, I would be hurting a lot. I'll play this game as long as I am physically capable of playing.

[QUOTE=ClipperRevival]So you go months without playing the game? I couldn't do that. If I don't play for a few days straight, I start getting that itch. The game is a huge part of my life. If you took away the game from me, I would be hurting a lot. I'll play this game as long as I am physically capable of playing.[/QUOTE]

I play twice or thrice a month during the off season. I just play basketball every night when we have a basketball tournaments, and work much harder.

We are planning to join 3 basketball tournaments this Coming March to May.

basketball is a waste of time to be honest. 1-2 times a week for excersize is good, but if your practicing hours a day or every other day then you are just wasting time.

[QUOTE=nathanjizzle]basketball is a waste of time to be honest. 1-2 times a week for excersize is good, but if your practicing hours a day or every other day then you are just wasting time.[/QUOTE]


How is it a waste if its something you enjoy doing. People spend hours in front of the walking, lifting weights or other forms of exercise. Shooting basketball can be therapeutic. How much time do you spend on your phone, watching TV, playing video games or even worse drinking or using other drugs?

I put some ankle weights in both of my legs. Just run around the court for more than 30 minutes. Just need to improve my stamina. Today I am going to practice shooting from three's, and attacking the basket. Midrange game is still solid.

[QUOTE=Lebron23]I put some ankle weights in both of my legs. Just run around the court for more than 30 minutes. Just need to improve my stamina. Today I am going to practice shooting from three's, and attacking the basket. Midrange game is still solid.[/QUOTE]
Thats no way to improve your stamina. Best way is to run for 20 to 30 minutes without stopping or doing calisthenics.

[QUOTE=Bandito]Thats no way to improve your stamina. Best way is to run for 20 to 30 minutes without stopping or doing calisthenics.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, running is naturally good for stamina. I don't think 20 minutes is enough though unless if you are running fast, like 7 minutes a mile. I usually run about 5 miles in about 42-45 minutes.

[QUOTE=ClipperRevival]Yeah, running is naturally good for stamina. I don't think 20 minutes is enough though unless if you are running fast, like 7 minutes a mile. I usually run about 5 miles in about 42-45 minutes.[/QUOTE]
I agree with you. I can run a mile in 7 min so that is why maybe thats enough for me

Also listen to your body. Don't do what I do and NOT listen to it. At 30, I was playing at my local rec 5 times a week. I would be there everyday from 5-9. Sometimes I would even go on sat or Sunday mornings when no one was there and just listen to music while shooting 300+ shots. My routine in the evenings was running 3 miles on the treadmill (everyday), and then playing ball until the place closed. Well after about 6 months of this, I started feeling soreness in my feet. The pain would last until the next day, around 1-2pm, and then it would be gone. I'd play again the next day. Rinse and repeat. This went on for months. Here I was thinking that I my ligaments were sore in my feet, and that it was like a sore muscle, just getting stronger.

WRONG

I developed plantar fasciitis, and a very bad case due to a strength imbalance between my calves and feet. There was so much scar tissue buildup that I had to use electronic shock therapy. It took 2 years to be able to play again, and months of physically therapy.

It's very hard to keep an individual that was playing 4-5 days a week and running 15 miles a week on top of that out of the game. This shit had me sidelined, and it will sideline your ass too if you aren't careful.

There are things that you can do to strengthen your feet, like picking up marbles with your toes and dropping them in jars and squeezing your toes in. Research this shit and do it. Do not neglect this routine. If the bottoms of your feet are hurting, stop playing ASAP and get them checked out.

Practiced my jump shooting and 3 points shooting during the weekends.

[QUOTE=ClipperRevival]Yeah, running is naturally good for stamina. I don't think 20 minutes is enough though unless if you are running fast, like 7 minutes a mile. I usually run about 5 miles in about 42-45 minutes.[/QUOTE]

Runners high and 2nd wind is no joke. Capitalize on a 2nd wind after 4 games in the same night and you can do some serious damage to the opposition.

[QUOTE=Straight_Ballin]Also listen to your body. Don't do what I do and NOT listen to it. At 30, I was playing at my local rec 5 times a week. I would be there everyday from 5-9. Sometimes I would even go on sat or Sunday mornings when no one was there and just listen to music while shooting 300+ shots. My routine in the evenings was running 3 miles on the treadmill (everyday), and then playing ball until the place closed. Well after about 6 months of this, I started feeling soreness in my feet. The pain would last until the next day, around 1-2pm, and then it would be gone. I'd play again the next day. Rinse and repeat. This went on for months. Here I was thinking that I my ligaments were sore in my feet, and that it was like a sore muscle, just getting stronger.

WRONG

I developed plantar fasciitis, and a very bad case due to a strength imbalance between my calves and feet. There was so much scar tissue buildup that I had to use electronic shock therapy. It took 2 years to be able to play again, and months of physically therapy.

It's very hard to keep an individual that was playing 4-5 days a week and running 15 miles a week on top of that out of the game. This shit had me sidelined, and it will sideline your ass too if you aren't careful.

There are things that you can do to strengthen your feet, like picking up marbles with your toes and dropping them in jars and squeezing your toes in. Research this shit and do it. Do not neglect this routine. If the bottoms of your feet are hurting, stop playing ASAP and get them checked out.[/QUOTE]

You were over doing it. Almost like the pounding a professional would take. I usually get on the court 3-4 times a week to work on my game or play pick up games. But I seldom went hard like 3-4 straight days. Your body needs rest.

[QUOTE=Straight_Ballin]Runners high and 2nd wind is no joke. Capitalize on a 2nd wind after 4 games in the same night and you can do some serious damage to the opposition.[/QUOTE]

I've been running regularly since I was 20 when I joined the military, so yeah, i can relate. Given my advanced age, when I know I am going to play full court games, I run 5 miles (with some hills) two days before the game. My legs just need that shock factor to go through that discomfort and grind. Without the harsh pounding from the run, my legs would feel like jello against the young legs. That's really the only way I can still stay with the young legs and still impact the game. Without that run, I would be much less impactful. Stamina is a crucial factor the older you get.

Yea I didn't start to really work on it as a craft until I was 21 and that was because I got injured and had to focus on other things outside of sheer athleticism. All I cared about up to that point was getting a higher vertical and being athletically imposing. Of course I loved the game, just was more into the physical measurable. Once injured however, it forced me to look at different aspects of the game. Now at 27, I am all about tactics, energy efficiency (efficiency in general), flow of the game, etc. I wish I had been able to gain this passion and knowledge when I was in High School because I would have no doubt been able to play in college. I'm fine with the way things worked out though because it's really hard on the body.

[QUOTE=Swaggin916]Yea I didn't start to really work on it as a craft until I was 21 and that was because I got injured and had to focus on other things outside of sheer athleticism. All I cared about up to that point was getting a higher vertical and being athletically imposing. Of course I loved the game, just was more into the physical measurable. Once injured however, it forced me to look at different aspects of the game. Now at 27, I am all about tactics, energy efficiency (efficiency in general), flow of the game, etc. I wish I had been able to gain this passion and knowledge when I was in High School because I would have no doubt been able to play in college. I'm fine with the way things worked out though because it's really hard on the body.[/QUOTE]

Damn, I wish I was 27 again. You are still in your physical prime. You might be too old to play college ball but not old enough to dominate your local parks.

I fukking hate that my body now gives me trouble just because I got older.

Not a single injury in my 20s, not one broken bone EVER, then all of a sudden knees, back begin to hurt.:facepalm

I agree. Try to improve even if never play any organized ball. It gives you something to get excited about. Also you will appreciate the discipline and process of getting better, and can apply it to other things in life

[QUOTE=Straight_Ballin;12218368]Runners high and 2nd wind is no joke. Capitalize on a 2nd wind after 4 games in the same night and you can do some serious damage to the opposition[URL="https://walmartone.me/"].[/URL][/QUOTE]

Pretty cool.

Thank you for this message, i hope it will help to young ball players, in this days young players do not understand that they have to put work in something to get result.