In game pointers...

[Coltdoggs]

I do a lot of lower level games...I'll do anywhere from 4-6 games on a Saturday....Sometimes my mind get's clouded with everything going on...Sometimes there is so much going on (crowd yelling, other courts whistles blowing, coaches talking to us, confiring with partner, reporting to table) we can have a brain fart/memory lapse and I've tried to do a few things to keep myself sorted out mentally...

Tip off...If not doing the toss, I tell myself "blue left"...meaning blue team is going left and I focus on weather or not they get the tip then proceed to lead...If I'm doing the toss, I just wait til they clear out...

On fouls so I know which two players are involved, I always say the offenders number first, then the number of the offended to myself....for instance (25/15)...25 is who I am reporting and 15 is my shooter (if applicable). How many times have you went to report and the number escapes you....not a good feeling...

For my lower level stuff...if we have a TO and the ball is coming in on the endline, I will place the ball on the court to remind myself we are going to the other end...if it's staying at that end, I will place the ball OOB. This is in the case where I am going to talk to my partner or coach or something...

I'll keep a spare whistle in my pocket to keep track of the AP arrow...Facing the table, it goes in the pocket of the direction the ball is going on the next AP...

So anything you do to keep yourself in line...

[tomegun]

It just sounds like you need to work on your focus. I think we all had, or are having, a time in our basketball careers where we need to move to the next level with our focus. I think we all work things out differently in our heads; my thought process might seem like a bunch of garbage to you. Considering that, I can't really say how to go about improving in these areas. I can say that once improved, you are really thinking less and reacting more. Right now the only thoughts (self talk) that go through my mind are the numbers of the (normally) two defenders in my area when I'm off ball. It might be totally worthless, but I work really hard to know, or have a really good idea of, foul counts and the AP without looking. This goes back to little games we used to play to improve our game awareness. Nevada probably knows, we wanted to really know the foul count before looking up at the big scoreboard in Reno.

[Adam]

I agree with Tommy. It really is about developing focus. It's something I'm going to work on this year; being totally focused on the game at hand. That, and

Oh look, a squirrel.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I agree with Tommy. It really is about developing focus. It's something I'm going to work on this year; being totally focused on the game at hand. That, and

Oh look, a squirrel.

Really? Rocky's friend Bhuck?

[Adam]

No, Bullwinkle's friend Rocky.

[Coltdoggs]

I agree about it being a focus thing....

I guess I'm just being cognisent that I know that when doing mulitple games there can come times when that focus can fade or be tested for whatever reason....fans, unruly coach, being tired etc....I find some of my "tricks" to help me stay focused, even when I have a lapse!

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Coltdoggs

I'll keep a spare whistle in my pocket to keep track of the AP arrow

I've said it before, but it's still a valid suggestion. If you really want to impress the hot chicks at the game, use a Hickory Farms beef stick for this.

(Hey Chuck - no Larry Craig joke here - happy now?)