The invitation for this years summit was sent out last night and I stumbled in on the Canadiansportforlife webpage where they have a great blog. Below you can find an extract from the blog entry “Monitoring Growth in LTAD”:

In order to track growth, coaches need to collect data on a longitudinal basis. Measurements should be done quarterly – every three months – and standing height (stature), sitting height and arms span should be measured. By these measurements coaches can identify what part of the body is growing faster; legs are usually first, arms are second, and the trunk is third.

By measuring standing height and sitting height the tempo of growth of the legs and the trunk can be identified, which yields important information to the coach. During the growth spurt the centre of gravity is rapidly changing and it has a negative effect on skills and often on speed (acceleration, deceleration, change of direction) and other capacities.

Read the whole article >>>>

The new arena in Kaunas, ZALGIRIO ARENA, with a capacity of 15000+ was also the arena of the Finals in this years Eurobasket a month ago. Returning here for the Euroleague premier did not only the fans but also a lot of the players from both teams. Many stars met again in a well-played and intense start of the Euroleague year, but the brightest star on the court was Andrei Kirilenko (17 points, 15 rebounds, +37 Rkg).

Many teams are filling up their rosters with NBA players and depending on the lock-out situation in the NBA we have to see how long time the players will stay in Europe. But right no there is no use of thinking so far ahead but instead enjoy all the great games ahead of us.

Video – Get ready for the new season!

After the final in FIBA Asia today the five continental FIBA Championships of 2011 have finished. This means the direct qualified teams for next year’s Olympics in London have been decided. The Olympic Tournament is the toughest one to get a ticket to because only 12 teams participate compared to 24 teams in the FIBA World Championship. Basketball is a huge sport in the world which can be seen at this picture of how the teams qualifies to London. From Europe and from America two teams qualify directly and from Africa, Asia and Oceania only one team can book a ticket to London.

The qualified teams are:

• FIBA World (2010) winner: USA
• Host of Olympics: Great Britain
• Eurobasket: Spain and France
• FIBA America: Argentina and Brasil
• FIBA Africa: Tunisia
• FIBA Oceania: Australia
• FIBA Asia: China

The following teams have qualified for the Olympic Qualification Tournament which contains of 12 teams fighting for the last 3 spots:

• Eurobasket: Russia, F.Y.R.of Macedonia, Lithuania and Greece
• FIBA America: Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela
• FIBA Africa: Angola and Nigeria
• FIBA Asia: Jordan and Korea
• FIBA Oceania: New Zealand

The conditions vary a lot when comparing the different continental championships. In Europe the competition is enormous, or what do you say about last year’s runner’s up in the World Championships – Turkey, the best European team last summer. They didn’t even reach the quarterfinal and had to settle for a 11th place. Then we can glance at FIBA Oceania where only two teams participated – Australia and New Zealand – one goes to London and one has a second chance in the Olympic Qualification.

The place and host of the Qualifying round has not yet been decided but it will for sure be an interesting and high level competition. I would guess the Europeans Teams are slightly in favor for at least two of the three spots in my opinion. But we have to wait for another article later on looking into this.

This means that the National Teams season’s in the world (Men’s basketball at least) are finished and the eyes are at the club competitions. This week the qualifying rounds for the European club competitions starts. Here in Sweden in Norrköping the home team will play Oostende for a place in EuroCup on tuesday. Next weekend the Euroleague qualifying tournaments take place - 8 teams fight for one spot in Vilnius and 8 other teams fight for the other spot in Charleroi. More basketball in Lithuania and Vilnius – the question is if Lietuvas Rytas will have enough home crowd support to take the Euroleauge spot?

But this is sport, and anything can happen, and if you are not there 100%, you are also not 100% in control of the outcome of the game. 15000 people in the stands, fans hoping, believing and dreaming about making history and success in Lithuania, the “home of basketball”. I don’t think that Lithuania underestimated F.Y.R. of Macedonia. Every team reaching the quarterfinal is of course a good team worth earning that spot. But I think that maybe the Lithuanian team expected an outcome of the game where they would win with about 10-15 points. That I believe everyone of the Lithuanian fans in Kaunas Arena also thought.

So, what about expecting an outcome, can’t it just be changed during a game when the game by itself moves in another direction than everyone expected? I don’t think so, and this is the complicated part of expecting things in advance. If things don’t develop in the expected way it is very difficult to change. First you think that it will be okay, the team just need to get a few points and a few stops and the margins will be in your side, everything will be fine, and the expected result will be there. But then when the game is still close, when you haven’t created that gap you needed, then you start to feel stressed, and then it’s getting dangerous.

You hope you will make shots instead of just making them. You hope to get stops instead of going out and making stops in defense. You are getting passive instead of being active. And this, is what is happening in a stressful situation, you loose the power of playing in the moment, enjoying every single part of the game, you become afraid of loosing instead of hungry to win. And sadly, this is what happened to the home team last night, Lithuania just weren’t playing enough in the moment, they were worrying, they were hoping, like everyone in the Arena, that things will go their way. I remember one part with one minute left of the game when Jankunas went to the FT-line for a bonus shot. He made it and they were up 4 points – 65-61 – at least one shot in between…. and it felt they were creating that gap that would mean victory and everyone might have relaxed just a tiny little bit. And then McCalebb scored a layup, 65-63…. and then the crucial three pointer by Ilievski with 11 seconds to go.

Lithuania only went to the free throw line 8 times, which is one proof of them becoming too passive. 2 out of 15 three-pointers shows that in another way. Maybe it was just me, but I felt they had found a weak spot when Songaila scored short distance 2 points shots around the lane in the second half, but they never really stayed with it, he was out again shooting long distance shots…

On the other hand F.Y.R. of Macedonia played without pressure, they kept shooting even if they missed and they just kept attacking the basket. What can you say about Bo McCalebb? He is just slicing up each defense with his penetrations and he really got skills when you talk about finishing close to the basket.

Even though this is a big set-back for Lithuania in this competition the tournament is not over and the chance of reaching the Olympics is still there. Coach Kemzura said “It’s a huge disappointment for us but we have to show character. Our European Championship is not finished.” The fight for the 5th and 6th spots will be crucial because these two spots means two tickets to the Olympic Qualifying Round prior to next year Olympic games in London. Finally I must say that I’m impressed by young Jonas Valanciunas, after the loss he was the one clapping his hands for the crowd and showed his appreciation to all of the fans – that was big!

The last game tonight between Russia and F.Y.R. of Macedonia was a well-played game I must say. F.Y.R.O.M had the best start (8-0) and Russia had to fight to get back in the game. Half-way through the first quarter they were back, 11-11.  Russia was up 3 points at half-time and the defense of Russia was the key so far. They forced F.Y.R.O.M to at least three 24-seconds violations. An interesting thing in Russias defense is that they force the post-player to the middle (not baseline as many teams do) and they double from the middle. This may lead to quick passes out from the post and open shots, but Russia handles the rotations well and they don’t give up so many open shots. But I must give credit to F.Y.R.O.M – they really play well, they move the ball, and share it with extra-passes. A lot of good things happen when McCalebb (16 points) attacks the basket. He can really break down a defense with his quickness and ball skills. He also had a few beautiful splits of Pick and Rolls. In Russia Alexei Shved had a great game (in the picture to the right) with 16 points, 4 assists and 6 rebounds, that kid got game! Anyway, the score was really close all the way to the end. Russia was trailing with one in the last seconds, 60-61, and F.Y.R.O.M used their team fouls to cut down the time……. but Monia got the ball and shot on the buzzer to nail a 3p of the glass. Game Over!

This means the following quartefinals:

• Spain vs Slovenia (14/9)
• F.Y.R of Macedonia vs Lithuania (14/9)
• France vs Greece (15/9)
• Russia vs Serbia (15/9)

All 8 teams above have done a great job reaching the quarterfinals, but now is when the real fun starts! The top two teams don’t only fight for the gold medal – they secore a spot in the London Olympic Games next summer. The teams 3-6 will get a ticket to the Olympic Qualifying round which means that there is a lot at stake when we enter the last part of Eurobasket 2011.

In the first game I believe Spain is just much deeper and stronger than Slovenia. Spain is a candidate for the gold medal – Slovenia is not – they have to fight for the 5-6 spot and they have to focus on the 2013 Eurobasket in Slovenia.

In the second game Lithuania will have their hands full with F.Y.R.O.M. But I think the home-team with a packed Kaunas Arena just can’t loose this game. Lithuania will go through!

The third game is tougher. France has played excellent basketball but are they mentally tough enough? I don’t know. Greece has showed that they can play, they are tough. I still think that the atletisism of France and the depth of the team will keep them on top, but it will be a close game!

I think the last game will be really physical. Two teams that don’t build their game on quickness but on strength and smart basketball. Russias defense is really solid and Serbia has so far been very up and down. In this game I trust my gut feeling, there is just something I really like in this Russian team, and I have already predicted that they are the dark-horse in the fight for medals, so I must just say they will win this game!

To sum it up, I think Spain, Lithuania, France and Russia will be the winners of these four quarterfinals and the four teams that will fight for the medals. If I’m right or wrong the future will tell, but that’s my guess.

Anyone who thinks something else? What do YOU say – who will win these four games?

Brett Kilka is talking about “building physical intelligance”. Sefu Bernard talks about “Physical literacy“. The descriptions might float together, but what it is all about is that in every sport there are some basic movement patterns needed to be learn; jumping, running, starting, stopping, throwing and catching etc.

With great fundamentals the athelete can later reach for higher levels in the chosen sport where he or she might want to strive for excellence. But it is not only about striving to reach the top, with great fundamentals the chances for a kid or teenager to stay in sports or when they get older try another sport are much higher.

Here are the five (5) questions any coach or young post player must be able to answer ‘Yes!’ to in order to be able to be a contributor on their basketball team.

Can the young post player…
1) Score in the fast break?
2) Control his body balance on an offensive rebound?
3) Make his foul shots?
4) Handle contact?
5) Be in the right position on defense?

Ettore Messina says that if s/he can accomplish these skills that post player can now stay in the game and be a positive contributor to the team. As a basketball coach, it’s our job to protect our developing ‘bigs’ by developing these skills in them so that they can be in a position to develop.

Read the whole article on http://thellabb.blogspot.com/2011/07/ettore-messina-5-things-post-player.html

So what is so special about him? Well, first of all he is a skilled big player, 210 cm, with a nice post-up game and he can shoot the ball from distance as well. He has good positioning in defense and rebounds well on both sides of the floor and he works super-hard all the time. But the skill I like the most is the way he sets screens. That was what caught my eye the most last summer in U18. He is constantly setting screens, sometimes 4-5 screens in the same offense even if he wouldn’t get the ball. He will continue doing this over and over, game in and game out. That is impressive! Then add that he has great hands and the skills to finish in the paint with good timing no matter if he gets hit on the way, and you will understand that he of course also gets his share of points after setting screens.

What is impressive is that he did not only do this last summer at the junior level, but he has continued doing it all year in Euroleague and now he does the same in Eurobasket and the lithuanian fans just love him! Below is a video with some clips from last summer’s U18 European Championship and tonights game in Eurobasket. Unfortunately his heavy dunk (after a screen and roll) is still not up on FibaTV, but I hope you will enjoy it anyway

Euroleague kvartsfinal: Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv vs Caja Laboral
Live från Tel Aviv och Nokia Arena kommer här en halvtidsrapport från den fjärde kvartsfinalen mellan Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv och Caja Laboral. Maccabi hade med sig 2-1 i matcher i kvartsfinalsserien som avgörs i bäst av fem matcher.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL. I tisdagens match, kvartsfinal nr 3, var det fullsatt i Nokia Arena, 11000 personer som fick se sitt Maccabi köra över Caja Laboral efter en magisk andra halvlek. Publiken strömmar in i Nokia Arena och det hettar till. När Caja Laboral presenteras sätter buropen igång. Dags för Maccabi och det hettar till nu. På skärmen syns bilder på nedräkningen till final4 och godbitar från de tidigare matcherna, exempelvis Pargos matchvinnande skott i match 2 i Vittoria i förra veckan.

Perkins som skadade knäet rejält i förra matchen (korsband & menisk) hälsade från sjukhusbädden på jumobtronen och säger “take care of it now” och det kokar härinne. Nationalsången ‘Hatikva’ spelas och det är dags för uppkast.

Matchen börjar intensivt och Lior Eliyahur drar i några patenterade inside-avslut. Maccabi börjar piggast. Monsterblock av store Sofo, domaren ger foul, kanske rätt, kanske inte, oavsett vilket det är hans andra foul och Oleson drar i två straffkast. 10-8 till Maccabi. Teletovic drar i en lång och hög 3p och Pargo svarar med en 3p. 14-13. Tv-time-out.

Perioden fortsätter vara jämn, Barac missar några straffkast. Teletovic ytterligare en 3p. I Maccabi är Pargo uppe i 10 p. 25-23 efter första perioden. Det är jämnt och intensivt och hela Nokia Arena kokar.

Andra perioden börjar jämn men vid ställningen 31-36 efter att Caja gjort en liten mini-run, 5-0, tar coach Blatt i Maccabi. David Blu kommer ut och drar i en 3p och Maccabi tar en charge därefter, det som krävdes nu kokar det igen. Maccabi som byter mycket på screens även när store Sofokles spelar försvar på screen-sättaren hamnar ofta på guardsen och det är häftigt att se “Sofo” spela defense på Logan och Logan tar sig inte förbi. Blu drar i ytterligare en trea och det kokar, men Oleson svarar med en 3p – 37-43 och Caja har ett litet grepp.

Båda lagen plockar upp i banan och Maccabi mixar man-man med 2-2-1 press medan Caja plockar upp man-man. Guy Pnini, som får spela mycket mer nu när Perkins är skadad, drar i två raka 3p. Hela publiken har nu rest på sig. Caja attackerar, men missar, loss ball… den rullar ut och hamnar i Cajas händer – ytterligare en 3p – 49-49. TIme-out för Maccabi och 32.4 sekunder kvar, Pnini attackerar och dishar av till Macvan som lägger i 2p, nu är det 17 sekunder kvar och time-out Caja. Maccabi har 2 fouls att ge och väntar länge med första och foular. Använder sista foulen med 3.5 sekunder kvar och det är legenden Sharp som drar en foul för att hindra ett sista skott. Caja har bollen vid sidan och får in den till Teletovic som undviker att bli blockad genom att skjuta högt högt högt… och 3p går såklart i – 51-52 och halvtid.

Ny blow-out i tredje perioden – Maccabi till Final 4
Jag börjar där jag slutade mitt förra inlägg. Halvtidsvilan gick åt att skriva ihop vad som hänt i första halvlek i en mycket händelserik match där båda lagen scorade mycket. Andra halvlek blev dock en one-team show när Maccabi drog ifrån i tredje perioden och bokade en biljett till Barcelona!

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL. Andra halvlek började jämnt och lagen följdes åt, men efter att Eliyahur lagt i en läcker reverese-layup tog Caja Laboral time-out, ställning 62-56 med 5.36 kvar av tredje perioden. Frågan jag ställde mig var – kommer det ett nytt tredje-perioden-ryck precis som i match 3? Vad ska Caja hitta på?

Men, det är magiskt, Arenan kokar… Pargo sätter 2 poäng, Maccabi stoppar och bollen är på väg utanför planen, Eliyahur räddar den och kastar sig ut över linjen, bollen studsar dock i Batistas händer som passar ut den till Teletovic som är öppen för 3… men missar. Maccabi vänder snabbt till anfall och attackerar, dishar, extra pass… till en öppen Pnini, 67-56 till Maccabi. Ny time-out.

Men Maccabi trummar på och stoppar, stoppar och stoppar. 72-56 och Ivanovic vill inte ta en tredje time-out. Maccabi fortsätter att ånga på. 77-60, 1.34 kvar. Blu har dragit i 3p, Pargo attackerat, och Hendrix avslutade med att dunka i 2p. Burstein byter ut Pargo som är uppe i 21 poäng nu. Hendrix avslutar med att blocka Cajas sista skott och Maccabi hinner inte få iväg ett sista skott. Maccabi leder med 79-62 efter en magnifik tredje period…. igen!!!!

Fjärde perioden börjar med att Hendrix blockar Batista tungt. Caja fortsätter att missa 3poängare, men Maccabi är där nu med en hand på varje skott, mycket bättre än i första halvlek. Pargo drar i en 2p reverse layup, och sätter därefter en 3p i långt ut med Teletovic hårt markerat, 84-62. Caja går in med bollen till Barac (220 cm), som ofta hamnar med en mindre kille på sig genom byten på screens som Maccabi gör. Maccabi foular och ger inget gratis.

Pnini drar i ytterligare en 3p, han blir även matchens lirare och frågan är om det inte är hans bästa euroleague match nånsin? Direkt eftersåt stoppar Pnini Barac i 3-sek och stealar bollen – Pnini byts ut till stående ovationer. Barac dunkar i två poäng, men i nästa anfall sätter David Blu en till 3p. Kan maccabi missa?

Nu har man Final-4 känsla i hela Nokia Arena – publiken dansar, 95-70, vågen går runt i Nokia Arena. Hela publiken står upp! 2 minuter kvar och Derrick Sharp byter in, publiken jublar över sin hjälte. Slutresultatet skrivs till 99-77 och hela arenan bryter ut till fest efter slutsignalen. (Bilder och Video kommer upp senare)

Nu tackar jag för mig och för Tel Aviv för den här gången. Dags att åka till flygplatsen och hoppa på planet hem till Sverige.

// David