Nutts Basketball

Funds finally received but short

2009-11-19T10:41:00.001-04:00

You could imagine my excitement last Friday, when after a period of
much patience and restraint, I was finally able to receive from
treasury the much needed funds for the improvement of the basketball
equipment in Vieux Fort (this check has been attached for your
temporary enjoyment).

My elation that day floated me to the bank where I promptly deposited
this check on my credit card account, hoop dreams wafting through my
thoughts... Until today, 6 days later and after much research, I am
shocked to realize that the funds are grossly deficient.

The initial proposal, which is still available at our website
(http://www.vieuxfortsports.org/main.asp?sID=4&page=new_basketball_supports),
was submitted two years ago. Now the cost of these items have
increased collectively by more than $1000USD.

So what do we do now folks, since local businesses have been
complaining about economic problems and another grant from the
government may take at least half a year to receive approval.

What do we do now?

I had dreams of assisting our neighbouring courts in Black Bay and
Laborie with replacing basketball rims, and had already began talks
with concerned persons from each of these communities. But sadly, this
idea will have to be scrapped. We just don't have the money for it.

I have alerted the Director of Sports on this issue and hope to get an
audience with him soon.

So for now text, phone, email me your ideas. We have to find a way to
work this out.

--
REMY*AVRIL*JR.**

7 Ways to Avoid Mental Self-destruction

2009-07-05T09:27:00.001-04:00

By Gale Bernhardt
For Active.com

In a past column on Cerebral Fitness, I wrote about using mental fitness to improve your training and racing. Additionally, in many of my past columns on the training process, I have included at least one tip on employing positive mental skills to boost performance.

However, while I prefer a positive outlook, sometimes it helps to drive home a point by having a negative example. I have worked with a few athletes that did not believe their thought process was getting in the way of their success. In addition to athletes, I have worked with a few people on lifestyle and health skills that felt the same.

The common thread in both groups of people is that they were convinced they were heading toward health problems or poor race performances, in spite of data showing no evidence of any negative health or performance issues.

In the case of the lifestyle folks, they were convinced that they were doomed to negative health issues, even early death, due to family history even though medical tests did not support this belief.

In the case of the athletes, they were convinced that they were going to have a poor race performance. There was no proof that a bad effort was looming, rather it was each athlete's belief system that a good performance was not possible due to a self-designed list of training criteria. Some of these criteria included a specific amount of training volume, training pace for a certain amount of time, and a specific body weight, among others.

Though other athletes had been successful with less training volume, lower volumes of speed work and higher body weights, these athletes were not convinced it would work for them.

Because they were struggling with the concept of the Pygmalion effect—otherwise known as self-fulfilling prophecy—I decided to share a story with them. In all cases, the passage had a positive effect on the negative thinkers.

The following excerpt is taken directly from Empires of the Mind by Denis Waitley:

The Voodoo of Pessimism

I share with many audiences a true story about a man named Nick. Nick, a strong, healthy railroad yardman, got along well with his fellow workers and was consistently reliable on the job. However, he was a deep pessimist who invariably feared the worst. One summer day, the train crews were told they could quit an hour early in honor of the foreman's birthday. When the other workmen left the site, Nick, the notorious worrier, was accidentally locked in an isolated refrigerated boxcar that was in the yard for repairs.

He panicked. He shouted and banged until his voice went hoarse and his fists were bloody. The noises, if anyone heard them, were assumed to be coming from a nearby playground or from other trains backing in and out of the yard.

Nick reckoned the temperature in the car was zero degrees. "If I can't get out," he thought, "I'll freeze to death." He found a cardboard box. Shivering uncontrollably, he scrawled a message to his wife and family. "So cold, body's getting numb. If I could just go to sleep. These may be my last words."

The next morning, the crew slid open the boxcar's heavy doors and found Nick's body. An autopsy revealed that every physical sign indicated he had frozen to death. But the car's refrigeration unit was inoperative. The temperature inside was about 61 degrees and there was plenty of fresh air. Nick's fear has become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Power of the Mind

Nick, the man in the story, had so forcefully imagined doom that his body exhibited the physical signs of freezing to death. If the mind can talk the body into dying, it is easy to see how negative self-talk can produce poor health, a bad training session, or a bad race. The power of mind is an extraordinarily strong force.

How often do you say any of the following things to yourself?

My mother or father had a health problem (bad knees, died early of a heart attack, had cancer, etc.), I must have it too.
I'm not training enough hours to do well at my race.
I am not fast enough to do an X-minute per mile pace.
I don't have the body shape it takes to be a fast athlete.
My genetics are bad; I'll never get on the podium.
The others in my age group are much (better, faster, stronger, leaner, richer, have better job situations...etc.) than I am. They will always beat me.
Other negative self-talk?

Mentally Focus on the Positive, Create a Positive Reality

In addition to the story above, here are a few tips to help you move to a more positive mental state. These tips are focused on athletics; but, they can be used in many other aspects of your life.

1. Speak well of your health. Don't dwell on aches and pains or they will reward you by visiting more often or staying longer. If you have an injury that needs attention, seek a medical professional that can help you take steps to heal and eliminate the problem. Others have healed and you can too.

2. Visualize and speak well of your athletic abilities. I'm not telling you to be a bragger and spend all your conversations talking about how great you are; but do accept compliments on your abilities. Don't dwell on training sessions or races that didn't meet your expectations. Everyone has a bad day now and again.

3. Look for incremental successes and believe you can improve. Beginners often see huge gains in fitness and performance. As you gain more experience as an athlete, the gains are smaller and often more difficult to attain. Sometimes, small improvements in race performance come from improving other aspects of your life (Job, relationships, sleep habits, nutrition, etc.). Look for small ways to improve yourself each day.

4. Set your own standards of success. Yes, if you plan to make the Olympic team or get a podium spot, you will need to compare yourself to other athletes. However, look at where you are right now and begin brainstorming what steps are necessary to achieve your dreams. Can you take one small step today?

5. Write it down. First write down all the things that are positive about your health, you as an athlete and you as a human. Next write down your goals. The third step is to begin working backwards from the goal to present day. Jot down the steps you will need to take to achieve your goals. Notice how Nos. 3, 4 and 5 are synergistic.

6. Spend time with friends that are optimistic and seek personal improvement. Spending time with negative people that always look for what is "wrong" with any situation can pull you down. In turn, don't pull other people down with negative comments. Seek out people that are optimistic and looking for self-improvement.

7. "Live to great success, not to avoid failure." This concept comes from the Denis Waitley book mentioned earlier. I've used this same concept many times in the past and it is to put dreams and goals in positive terms. Avoid putting goals in negative terms. For example, "I want to complete my race with a time goal between XX:00 to YY:00" is better than, "I don't want to be last." Aiming for a goal time is better than avoiding last place.

As you make your way through today, this week and this month, take note of how many times you begin to visualize failure or poor performances. How often do you think poorly of your abilities or training performance? How often do you imagine the boxcar is freezing, when it is not?

Do not allow mental self-destruction. Recognize damaging self-talk and begin to take steps to change those thoughts and your actions into positive images geared toward achieving dreams and goals.

For a look at how human willpower is attributed some incredible tales of survival, read the blog: The Pygmalion Effect - Are You a Believer?

Gale Bernhardt was the 2003 USA Triathlon Pan American Games and 2004 USA Triathlon Olympic coach for both the men's and women's teams. Her first Olympic experience was as a personal cycling coach at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Thousands of athletes have had successful training and racing experiences using Gale's pre-built, easy-to-follow training plans.

Jumper's Knee

2009-05-25T11:23:00.001-04:00

A popular malady among athletes, especially basketball players, is Patella tendinitis (Jumpers Knee). Below is an article on the subject by Kurt E. Jacobson, M.D. of Columbus, Georgia

....................................................................

Patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper's knee, is a relatively common inflammatory condition that causes pain in the anterior (front) aspect of the knee. The extensor mechanism (Fig.), which includes the quadriceps muscle and patellar tendon, connects the patella (kneecap) to the femur (thighbone) and the tibia (shin). Patellar tendinitis begins as inflammation of the patellar tendon where it attaches to the patella. It can also progress by tearing or degeneration of the tendon.

Jumper's knee is an overuse injury that results from repetitive overloading of the extensor mechanism of the knee. Microtears to the patellar tendon often exceed the body's ability to heal the area unless the aggravating activity is stopped for a period of time. Jumper's knee occurs in many types of athletes but is most common in sports such as basketball, volleyball, or soccer, which require explosive jumping movements. Eccentric loading, which is contraction of the muscle while it is lengthening, occurs when landing from a jump or decelerating. In fact, knee loads up to 7 times body weight occur in a soccer player during kicking and between 9 and 11 times body weight occur in volleyball players during landing. These eccentric loads are thought to be the primary cause of overload in jumper's knee.

Patients with jumper's knee have pain in the area of the patellar tendon, usually near its attachment to the patella. It typically starts as a dull ache but can gradually increase over a period of time. Initially, the soreness is usually felt following a game or workout, but as the condition worsens, one may feel stiffness, grinding, and swelling in the knee. From a diagnostic standpoint, the symptoms can be divided into 4 stages. In stage 1, pain occurs only after activity. The condition does not seem to bother the person before or during the activity. In stage 2, pain is present at the beginning of an activity, seems to dissipate after warming up for a while, and then reappears after the activity. In this stage, the athlete's play is not usually affected. In stage 3, pain occurs during and after activity, affecting performance. In stage 4, the tendon ruptures, causing a chronic weakness of the tendon.

Most patients with jumper's knee, especially those with stage 1 and 2 symptoms, can be treated effectively with nonoperative measures. As with any tendinitis, resting the injured area until the symptoms have subsided is very important. The RICE regimen (rest, ice, compression, elevation) can also help alleviate soreness. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, and ice massage after activity can help control the swelling and inflammation. Strengthening the quadriceps helps to balance the forces across the patella and take pressure off the patellar tendon. Also, hamstring stretching is extremely important to take pressure off the anterior structures of the knee. Once the inflammation is controlled, the patient with mild to moderate jumper's knee can begin an exercise program focusing on eccentric strengthening exercises. Neoprene sleeves or braces similar to the ones worn by tennis players with tennis elbow can help decrease or disperse the forces on the patella.

The outcome of treatment in patients with jumper's knee is usually very good, especially for those patients in stage 1 and 2, Sometimes in stage 3, the nature of the injury and how it will respond to nonoperative treatment are a little more unpredictable. Even so, few of these patients go on to require surgical intervention. Surgery is reserved for patients who experience debilitating pain for 6 to 12 months despite close adherence to their doctor's instructions. Patients with stage 4 disease who have suffered a complete tendon rupture also need surgery. The overall goal of surgery is to remove the damaged tissue from the tendon and stimulate blood flow to promote healing.

Maximizing quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength and flexibility is the best way to prevent knee injury. Preseason conditioning should concentrate on a gradual increase in repetitive eccentric quadriceps contraction so the tendon can begin to withstand repetitive loading. These measures will help to prevent this inflammatory process. As always, the best treatment is prevention. ....................................................................

See the article at Hugston Health: http://www.hughston.com/hha/a_13_4_4.htm

Need $2000EC!!

2009-04-17T16:23:00.001-04:00

I'm sure most of you know by now about the South Coast Basketball tournament starting July 11th.

My wish is to have this tournament played on 3 courts: Vieux Fort, Black Bay and Laborie. To this end I'm looking to renovate the basketball structures on each of these courts.

For Vieux Fort a new pole system is already in the works and sponsorship has already been acquired. For Black Bay and Laborie, however, we need to install new rims and these cost on average $200.00 USD each. The rims should be streamlined for the three arenas to minimize the difference in equipment. The one I have in mind is located here:
http://www.robbinssports.com/sporting-goods-store/gared-sports-8800-endurance-breakaway-slam-basketball-goal-p-5810.html

Take a look at it and give me your opinions/suggestions. The reasons why I chose this one are:
* Durability
* Encourage exciting play
* Soften rim for shooters

So I need $800 USD or $2000 ECD. Contributions are invited.

I'm looking to get all of these in the same order before April 30th.

Order would include:
2 x Spalding BPI Rectangular Fiberglass Basketball Backboard
2 x Spalding BPI OD658 Enforcer Outdoor Basketball Pole
6 x Gared Sports 8800: Endurance Breakaway Slam Basketball Goal
6 x PermanNet

What's going on with the Warriors

2009-04-08T18:00:00.001-04:00

REALLY! What's up with the Warriors. Training sessions are being called and most times no one or just one person turns up. Mind you, even though it's just one person I can find something for that one person to do, enough that this person would leave truly satisfied working towards their own development. But as a team, this is terrible.

The Warriors apparently, have given up. Just now! Warriors?...give up? Can you rightfully use those in the same sentence? Well, it seems you can with this team. And what of the other disparaging remarks about the Warriors over the season? Are the Warriors truly a waste?

Well I didn't think so. I continuously called training sessions because I believed this team was getting better. Yeah we're 0 and 6 now, as we've succeeded in beating ourselves out of a win in each of our last 6 games. But as 'Bashment' would put it, in the next two games we would be 2 and 0. The season is not over.

There are two more games to be played. April 18th versus #4 Dennery Dolphins and April 23rd versus #8 Canaries Moon River Champ. We are at the bottom of the table, #9, with two more games to go. So what are we doing? Giving up? REALLY! If we did that what COWARDS we would be.

I know this world is changing and the values I hold dear -- integrity, honesty, perseverence, honour, diligence -- are as few and scarce as the crayfish in out rivers, but do we really want to come off as a bunch of cowards to the rest of the island? Guys, there is still enough basketball left to end this season on a good note. Remember, there is next season. Yeah, we will no doubt be religated to the second division, but if we don't complete this season relegation would be the least of our worries.

What would the Federation do about the Warriors dishonorably bowing out at the last minute? Everything they can to discourage that kind of behaviour in the future.

Every Warriors player and team official from this year's tournament who registers to participate in the league next year would receive a stiff fine. It would not matter which team you decided to play for, you would have to pay the money or not participate. Or, even worse,
the Warriors would be banned for a few years from participating in the league and still, the players and team officials would be either banned as well or receive a stiff fine to play for another team in the league.

Guys, leaving this way would jeapodize the integrity of the league to the public and the sponsors. We can't expect the Federation to take this lightly. And as the current Chairman of the Vieux Fort Basketball Development Committee, I would need to take steps as well.

Please be advised that any player who refuses to assist the Warriors in completing this seasons' premier league will also be fined or banned from participating in our local league this July. Why?

The VFBDC is an affiliate of the Federation. Any tournament organised by us would need to be sanctioned by the Federation in order for us to receive resources, such as development clinics for coaches, players and officials. Also, the National Basketball Officiating Committee is an affiliate of the Federation, so you can imagine who would be approving the officiating assistance for our tournaments.

Guys, alot is riding on the Warriors completing this season properly. Let's not jeapodize the future of basketball in our community by making a cowardly decision.

Southern Warriors Making it Exciting

2009-03-12T14:16:00.004-04:00

As true as it has been of our love/hate relationship with the West Indies cricket team, the Southern Warriors have made their 2009 Premier League appearance very interesting. The Warriors are now 0-2 and can ill-afford to lose another match in the tournament. What waits for the Warriors at the end of a poor season: RELEGATION! YES!

The St. Lucia Basketball Federation's Premier League debuted this year with 9 teams, however, next year's tournament will display a much different format. The suggestion is that the Premier League would include only the 7 best teams from this year's tournament. The remaining two teams will be relegated to next year's second division tournament. Any team not in this year's tournament will join the league at the second division.

That is why I said this will be an exciting tournament for the Warriors. It's going to be blood. sweat and tears and every point for or against us is going to be emotional.

Let's hope this week is more productive

2009-01-26T21:27:00.002-04:00

Another week has passed with no work done with the Warriors team for the LIME Premier tournament. I've been tied down with all amounts of work and family business. Truly its been disappointing for me. I always prefer being prepared.

Ok! So its a go.

2009-01-17T21:41:00.002-04:00

From all your emails (thank you for the emails) it's a general agreement that we should go for the uniforms. I agree and I have already emailed the SLBF that we want them.

The burning question from everyone is when are we starting practice. I must confess that the delay for practice has been mainly my fault. Not that I am not interested, everyone who knows Nutts knows that I am all about practice. My problem has been for the last 4 months I was so involved in VFCSS basketball that I neglected family and business and now I have had to catch up. But I am determined to get us started this week.

So on Monday, January 19Th, approximately one month to the start of the tournament, the Southern Warriors will begin practice. I am determined to give you guys at least 3 solid days of 2 hour practice sessions, starting at various times between 5pm and 8pm, the times to be notified before hand. Come expecting to work out and burn out.

The disadvantage of starting practice later than 5pm is that we have to do all our physical workouts on the hard court surface. If we can start at least two of our sessions every week from 5pm, at least I can take you guys to the field, beach or other venue to start our sessions. And these types of sessions help to improve the camaraderie between players which helps a lot on the court during play. At least it works for the school team.

So our first session will be Monday at 5pm. Look out for announcements in another email.

SLBF Offer for LIME Winnings

2009-01-13T01:00:00.003-04:00

Guys, the SLBF made us an offer after the meeting on Saturday, January 10th, 2009, concerning our winnings from the Lime Invitational Tournament in December of 2008.

After reclaiming funds for the subsidizing of our transportation (total transportation cost was $1200 ECD), we are left with a balance of over $300 ECD (not sure of the exact amount).

The offer is to either accept the balance of our winnings or, the brand new uniforms which we played with during the tournament (which was sponsored by LIME and has only been worn by us 3 times).

My choice would be to go for the uniforms, since we will need a set of home uniforms for the tournament next month. Our expense would then be only the cost of printing the team name/logo, amounting anywhere from $120 to $240 ECD for the full set, depending on the type of print used.

Otherwise, we would have to purchase a new set, amounting $720 ECD or more. Then the cost of printing the numbering, $120 or more. Then the cost for the team name/logo $120 to $240. Meaning we could spend upwards of $1000 ECD for a new set of uniforms!

I believe the offer is very attractive, but you guys have to decide. Please email or leave a comment in the blog.
--
REMY*AVRIL*JR.**VIEUXFORTSPORTS.ORG

2008-12-20T10:39:00.002-04:00

Sorry about the mis-information guys. The big sweat with Darren Mastropaolo is today, December 20th, at the Blackbay court starting from 4 p.m.

I'm trying to build up as much hype about this as I can.

Big Sweat!

2008-12-19T01:38:00.003-04:00

Big sweat on Saturday, December 20th and I mean big. Coming to the Black Bay court is 6' 8" former Bucknell University big man, Darren Mastropaolo, brother of Micoud Secondary Coach, Ryan Mastropaolo.

All athletes with hoop dreams are encouraged to come over and experience this event. It's an opportunity to meet someone who has played at that elite level and who can possibly give valuable insight.

Play starts at 4:30pm. Black Bay does not have lighting so please be early.

--
REMY*AVRIL*JR.**VIEUXFORTSPORTS.ORG

Should we consolidate?

2008-12-17T08:52:00.003-04:00

The SLBFED has asked us to confirm how many teams will enter the LIME 2009 Premier Tournament from the South.

Two spots are available to us, however, are we able to field two complete teams with team executive members, coaching staff and officials?

I, for one, will go for consolidating. Based on the turnout for training in recent weeks and the problems with players not getting time off from work or being otherwise engaged on match days, combining to form one team will at least increase our resource of available players and support staff.

Please let me know where you stand.

December Invitational

2008-10-21T01:51:00.003-04:00

The shape of the slated SLBFED invitational regional tournament in November has changed. To date only Guadeloupe has agreed to participate in this tournament. The SLBFED has, therefore, decided to postpone this tournament to December 11-13, 2008 and to restructure the tournament with the team from Guadeloupe and three local teams. The SLBFED would like one of these teams to come from the South. The uniforms for this tournament as well the transportation fees will be provided by SLBFED.

A meeting for all players interested in participating will be called soon.

--
REMY*AVRIL*JR.**REMYAVRIL.COM

SLBFED Meeting Recap

2008-10-05T22:28:00.001-04:00

Just a recap of what was discussed at the SLBFED meeting on the Blackbay court on Saturday, September 27th, 2008.

- The next National Tournament will begin February 2009. This will be a premier tournament featuring ten teams from around the island. The tournament will be administrated with a high level of professionalism and will become the signature annual tournament for basketball in St. Lucia with a lucrative payoff for the leading teams.

- The National tournament will run for at least 3 months. After this tournament the top 4 teams will participate in a playoff at the Beausejour indoor facility. A basketball All-Star day will be held in August.

- In the second year there will be two divisions, with the bottom four teams from the previous year relegated to the lower division.

- Registration for the tournament is expected by December 2008. Two teams will be expected to emerge from the south, however, it is still the first 10 teams to register by December who will participate in the tournament. To qualify for registration teams will have to present a full structure for their organisation including:
-- the teams executive;
-- the teams manager;
-- the teams head coach and coaching staff;
-- the teams officiating assistants;
More information on the requirements for registration will be presented when received.

- In November this year a regional tournament will take place in St. Lucia, featuring teams from Antigua, St. Vincent and the remaining Windard Islands. Representing St. Lucia will be an under 23 team which has been in training since July of this year.

- A meeting will be called next month around the same date for all administrators, coaching staff and managers of southern teams.

More info will be sent when received.