IPLFansite

New Everton loan signing Philippe Senderos knows he has a challenge to break into the side but believes he can fulfil his “high hopes”.

The 24-year-old agreed a temporary move from Arsenal at the weekend and the paperwork has been formally completed this afternoon.

“I am delighted to be an Everton player for the remainder of the season,” said the Swiss international.

“I can’t wait to get stuck in and play for Everton. Hopefully I can get some first-team football in during my time here.”

He added: “I am here with high hopes and hopefully I can fulfil them.”

Senderos spent last season on loan at AC Milan, for whom he made 15 appearances.

He arrives at Everton just as their injury crisis appears to be easing, with the club on a seven-match unbeaten run in the Barclays Premier League.

“I have spoken to David Moyes and he hopes to give me opportunities here,” he told evertonTV.

“Hopefully I can grab that opportunity and stay in the team.

“Everton’s form over the last few weeks has been better and they are getting stronger.”

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is in contention for Tuesday’s trip to Wolves after returning ahead of schedule from injury.

The England international was expected to be sidelined for at least a fortnight after sustaining a hamstring problem in the FA Cup exit to Reading on January 13. However, he returned to action at the club’s Melwood training ground over the weekend and could play at Molineux.

“He was training on Saturday and then a full training session on Sunday, and Monday was the same,” said manager Rafael Benitez.

“Normally he’s someone who, if available, can play.

“We’ll decide Tuesday but I think he can be available.”

Tyrone Braxton

Youth Football Plays

Our youth football plays are designed for teams looking to improve their offensive and defensive performance. If you are coach football, at any level, this downloadable playbook is worth a look! Designed by 13 year starting PRO Tyrone Braxton, the book includes full color plays, hot route reads, tips, diagrams, drills and strategies to prepare your athletes. It’s also connected to Wristband Interactive, “Football’s Greatest Invention”

Our youth football offensive plays are basic enough that the developing players can grasp and execute the play scheme, but they are also complex enough to challenge the defense and defeat the formation that the defense has chosen.  The combination of basic and yet complex is what the playbook chapters in the book are all about. 

An entire section is devoted to tips for young players as well.  The earlier a young player begins to develop the techniques for effective play, the sooner these effective techniques become a habit and are ingrained for the remainder of a player’s football career.

TB’s Playbook includes:

 Plays to beat man coverage
 Plays to beat zone coverage
Defensive plays and strategies
 Tips for defensive backs
 Tips for receivers
 Tips for quarterbacks
 Stories about his Journey

 

Braxton played college football at North Dakota State University where he earned all-conference honors as a senior and won 3 National Championships in 4 years. He was a Defensive back and punt return specialist who earned all-conference honors as a senior after posting 128 tackles, one INT and two FR. He led the conference with five INTs and a punt return average of 15.0 as a junior. He was a member of the North Central Conference champion outdoor 400-meter relay squad and competed in the national championship. Braxton was drafted by the Broncos in the 12th round of the 1987 NFL Draft.

Two important skills in basketball are faking and moving without the ball. Both should be practiced well.

Faking

In order to be an offensive threat you must be able to elude your guard whether you have the ball or not. A fake is an act designed to throw your guard off balance, so you can drive past him or free yourself for a shot. Do this by faking with your head, eyes, feet, shoulders, and body.

The fake drive-and-shot is designed to throw the defensive player off balance and force him back to make room for the shot. Feint a dribble around the guard, using the front foot to force him back.

The offensive player then comes up to position for the shot. Any feint will produce some recoiling action on the guard’s part. The fake shot-and-drive is a maneuver in which the player with the ball fakes a shot at the basket to draw the guard close to him so he can dribble around him.

When you are faking, keep the ball protected and in position for the dribble. The first stride should be a long one with the right foot if going right, placing the ball well out in front while driving by the guard.

A double fake is executed by faking a drive with a deep step to the right, causing the guard to drop back a little. The offensive man then moves his front foot a bit back and poises for a set shot.

As the guard comes up on his toes to stop the shot, the offensive man lowers his body and drives off his front foot, placing the ball well out ahead and drives in for the goal. To go to the right side, the deep step is faked to the left with the right foot. The shot is faked, then comes the drive to the right. A left-handed player will use his left foot as the forward foot and follow the same technique as above.

In starting a fake, a player never knows whether it will be a single or a double fake. This will depend on the action of the guard. Sometimes a guard commits himself on the first fake. If he is not fooled on the first fake, then try the double fake.

A common fault of many players executing feints is that they do not allow enough time for the defensive player to “fall for” the deception. Shooting or driving too soon simply means that the deception is wasted.

Moving without the ball

Players often do not know how to act offensively when they do not have the ball. In my coaching experience I have found this to be especially true of young players. Too frequently they do nothing. They stand around watching the man with the ball, waving their arms for a pass even though he is closely guarded. The easiest man to guard is the player who stands around and moves slowly and aimlessly. Basketball is a team game and all five players must work as a unit to get the best results.

A player without the ball can do the following:

1. Move at all times to prevent the defense from double- teaming a teammate.

2. Keep the middle of the court open to permit plays down the middle.

3. Set up a screen for teammates.

4. Be alert to cut in for a possible play.

Situations change with every pass of the ball. Watch for weaknesses in the defense so you may take advantage of them.

It is important to know what you intend to do. Indiscriminate running will only tire you out. Never run straight or in circles. An opponent can easily guard you. Deception and change of pace will help you elude your guard.

Learn to fake and also to move without the ball, and you will become a much more valuable player for your team.

Visualization is a powerful method used by global sports superstars to programme their minds for success.

It has been proven by such celebrated individuals as the great Maxwell Maltz that if an individual can use the body’s psycho-cybernetic system to its full potential, then they will achieve things that others felt was impossible.

Our minds require a target in order to operate at maximum capacity.

From a basketball perspective, many players who are getting ready to shoot the ball are allowing thoughts of self doubt enter there mind. Thoughts like ‘I hope I don’t leave it short’, ‘miss it’ etc.

If these are thoughts you are allowing to enter your mind, then you are in effect programming your mind for failure.

Most often the last thought you permit to occupy your mind, is what is going to happen to the ball.

I play a lot of Golf and I can tell you no where is the effect of the mind more evident than on the Golf course. If you play remember when you are faced with a shot over a lake or with a tree in front of you? If you feared hitting the tree or ending in the lake, that is what usually happens.

Basketball is no different. Sure you won’t lose your ball in the lake or have the fear of the ball ricocheting off the tree and hitting your face, but you will still miss the target.

If you are a serious basketball enthusiast and you have a real hunger for improvement, then the following tips will help you no end.

Tip #1 Visualize your shot to improve your distance control.

An essential element in shooting hoops is to apply the correct force behind the shot such that the ball will fall through the net as opposed to falling short and flying beyond the back board.

A great drill in practice is to shoot the ball with your eyes closed. This summons the incredible power of your sub conscious mind to the fore and I guarantee your shooting distance control will improve no end.

So go through the process of setting up as normal, use your usual technique, shoot the ball and then after releasing the ball open your eyes and enjoy seeing your ball fall through the basket.

This will be frustrating initially but with practice the results will shock you. Its like athletes who run with tires strapped to their waists, they make training more difficult. Then when you remove the ‘tire’ (shoot with opened eyes) it suddenly appears so much easier.

Tip #2 Develop a pre-shot routine This may sound like golf lingo to you but sports psychologists agree that it is an essential ingredient for success in every sport.

By pre-shot routine I mean in the moments right before you shoot the ball, you should perform a consistent sequence of events.

For example you might dribble from the left hand to the other, bounce the ball 3 times and then shoot.

It is essential that you take this exact routine and apply it consistently whether in practice or tournament play. This settles your mind, makes you feel in control and reduces pressure because if you always use the same routine, your mind will treat every shot the same and thus your technique will not be stressed under the pressure of tournament play.

Tips #3 Mentally visualize shooting hoops in your spare time.

A famous study was conducted by the University of Chicago many years ago with basketball players to prove the power of visualization. It consisted of three basketball teams.

Team 1 were instructed to go to the gym every day for one hour and practice throwing free throws. Team 2 were instructed to go to the gym every day, but to lie down and visualize themselves successfully shooting instead of physically practicing. Team 3 were instructed to play no basketball whatsoever neither mentally or physically for the month.

At the end of the month, the three groups were tested to determine their shooting proficiency.

The team who didn’t practice had deteriorated in their shooting ability. The team who practiced physically had improved by 24%. Amazingly the team who had only visualized themselves throwing successful free throws had improved by 23%.

This study proves that you maximize your success by visualizing your free throws at every available opportunity. It is a powerful supplement to physical practice.

So to conclude, never rule out the power of your mind. If you think negatively or with doubt you use you must powerful resource against yourself. Think positive and visualize and it will bring you along way to success.