tips for improving posture and balanced positioning?

[jkjenning]

Just finished with the first camp of the summer and have compiled a list of target areas (i.e. pick out the major areas of concern "I was told about") and am planning how to address each area. One major need is undoing 40+ years of walking with posture that is defined by a sagging head. I'm going to google this topic but thought this forum would be a good source of insight into how to address posture. I am moderately tall (a tad over 6'1", which means I look like one of the really short guys on an NBA court!).

The only back pain I've ever experienced is when I try to "stand tall" during games, which tells me I am probably 'standing tall' incorrectly, but figuring out how to correctly stand tall is a bit of a challenge [too old to join the military!]. I find it to be a bit disorienting to hold my head high because I am used to having the floor directly under me in my peripheral vision, but now that's gone!

The other piece that seems to go with posture is standing with balance. I have gotten much better at this, but still notice some tendency to lean rather than move my feet for the best angle. I think that if I work on a balanced stance then I will conquer any tendency to lean... I believe that working on posture is a good step towards standing with balance. I do feel a bit disoriented, which is distracting, and there is muscle tension, etc. which I take as a sign that I do not quite have it right yet. My search of threads on this forum did not turn up anything specifically useful.

Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.

[ChrisSportsFan]

Couple of ideas from someone who's 6'6". If you're a member of a healthclub that has huge mirrors, you can look at your posture there while walking/moving. As far as leaning, that's just a bad habit you've got to break. Take some games in a local summer tournament and tell youself that's what your going to work on today. After 2-4 games, you can take care of it if you focus.

[Junker]

I had to work on slouching early on myself. I never had any back pain as a result, so I'd hate to comment on that part. To fix my posture, I just concentrated on keeping my shoulders back while I ran. I agree with the other post that tournaments where you work 3 games or more in a day are a great time to work on this stuff. I find that when working a ton of games in a day, it helps build the habits. I often tell my partner or partners what little thing I'm working on and ask them to keep a bit of an eye out for it. Then during dead ball situations I'd ask if they've seen improvement. This worked will with my posture and my facial expressions (I'm a teacher and have a tendancy to look a little grumpy out there). This summer I'm working on calling violations and fouls with my courtside hand.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Junker

This summer I'm working on calling violations and fouls with my courtside hand.

I wonder if everyone knows what you mean; I use different terminology, but the same thing.
This is a small thing, but something worth working on IMO. Out of 100 games, maybe 10 evaluators will notice it and only 3 will care, but it will not hurt.

[Junker]

I was at a camp over Easter Weekend and that was one of the few mechanics comments I got. It can't hurt to work on it. I'm getting more comfortable with it already already. I consider it a small thing that might set me apart from some other officials in some evaluator's and assignor's eyes.

[Snake~eyes]

Originally Posted by Junker

I was at a camp over Easter Weekend and that was one of the few mechanics comments I got. It can't hurt to work on it. I'm getting more comfortable with it already already. I consider it a small thing that might set me apart from some other officials in some evaluator's and assignor's eyes.

Agreed, I don't think it will hurt you but some evaluators will notice and it could help you out.