Basketball is taking over me. While checking my students' attendance for their required cheering classes in preparation for UAAP, our dean found the only available teacher to volunteer for a TV segment. It just so happened, I was around and I can't exactly refuse the boss' request. He asked if I knew how to play basketball. I obviously answered in my usual uncertain response regarding basketball. I even tried looking for other basketball teachers. We have a lot of them in the college. But, it had to be the volleyball teacher to do it. None of the basketball teachers were around and I thought to myself that this would be really weird. I know my competence in basketball. Despite playing better in the last league I joined, I still couldn't be comfortable with my basketball skills. Nevertheless, the boss said so and I just couldn't say no. So they had me take off my glasses, and requested if I could change my shirt to a sleeveless orange gym shirt. So there I was in front of cameras performing my... er, call it... basketball skills. A lay up here and there, a freethrow shot that I could barely see. A few dribble and crossovers here and there. It was for TV5's Rescue 5 Show hosted by Paolo Bediones. The topic was on basketball sports injuries.
After watching the show, I felt that the show had gone by quickly and was a crash course to preventing injuries. I'd give a tip that I did learn from my professors in my college about one of the most common season ending injuries.
The ACL injury is all too common nowadays. Concentrate on the activation of the hamstrings and strengthening it. This is in contrast to your quadriceps which are more common to muscle activation especially to those who are unfamiliar to the use of the hamstring muscles and glutes. Also, learn how to move and pivot correctly. Be conscious in learning your movement during training, so that the correct movement will be natural during game time. Remember always be safe... while playing basketball.
