The Real Athlete Blog

Know Your Role

by Alan Stein 12-09-2010 10:07 PM Athlete Career Development | Coaching

2536 Views

Does every player in your program know what their role is? Are you sure?

A major factor in your team’s success is getting every player to:

Know their role
Accept their role
Have pride in their role

Coach Jones takes a unique approach. Prior to our first game, he conducts a 15 minute meeting with every player and their parents. He offers his thoughts on their first 3 weeks of practice, he clearly defines their role on the team, he estimates how much playing time they will get, and he outlines his expectations.

The Passing of a Legend: Mack Lewis

by Matthew Allinson 12-02-2010 11:48 PM Athlete Career Development | Coaching | Human Relations | News

5622 Views

From the Editor's Father, Arthur Allinson.

It would be right with the many other testimonials bestowed on the beloved and greatly respected Mack Lewis that I comment on the legendary boxing trainer and manager's recent passing. Mr. Lewis, who died at the age of 92 on November 12, spent his lifetime mentoring and tutoring at-risk youth in East Baltimore at The Mack Lewis Gym. He guided them successfully in their teenage years and through adulthood as they encountered the many temptations and challenges presented by inner-city life. Through boxing, he offered an alternative life that brought success to hundreds of deserving young men. Mr. Mack would often say "I don't care if you become a world champion, as long as you become a productive member of society."

Make Time

by Alan Stein 12-01-2010 11:52 PM Training | Athlete Career Development

2357 Views

As a basketball player or coach, you may start to feel overwhelmed now that the season has begun. It can be tough to balance school, practice, games, and quality time with your family and friends. It may seem difficult to fit everything in and live a balanced life.

Know this - you will never find time for anything during the hectic season. You have to make time for the things that are important to you. If you truly love something, you will make the time for it. Time is never the problem… after all… each of us gets 24 hours in a day. Lack of passion and focus is the real problem!

Youth Training

by Alan Stein 11-27-2010 04:47 PM Training | Athlete Career Development | Coaching

2434 Views

Will lifting weights stunt your growth? At what age should you start lifting weights?

Let me put an end to this lingering myth once and for all…

Proper strength training does not stunt growth! In fact, you can actually begin a safe, age appropriate training program as young as 8 or 9 years old.

For all of the 13 and 14 year olds who email me or hit me up on Twitter or Facebook asking when they should start strength training… my answer is… today!

Playing in College

by Alan Stein 11-08-2010 11:51 PM Athlete Career Development | Education

2641 Views

I am honored to receive hundreds of emails per week from coaches and players around the world… almost all of which offer kind words and support (for which I am truly grateful). I also get asked a lot of questions. The three questions I get asked most often by players are:

What is the best way to improve my vertical?

How do I get a college scholarship?

Will lifting weights stunt my growth?

LeBron James' "What Should I Do?" Nike Commercial

9089 Views

I see nothing wrong with this message from LeBron James, especially since he appears to be answering the critics whose perspective was championed by Charles Barkley. I strongly disagree with what Barkley and his supporters were saying about the future implications of LeBron’s team selection, and I believe Charles’ reasoning was historically irrational and misguided. Essentially, Charles said LeBron should have chosen to stay with the Cavaliers primarily because that would’ve allowed him to be the undisputed leader rather than just a super cog. Furthermore, Charles argued that by not staying in Cleveland, LeBron was somehow dishonoring the cultural status of NBA basketball by rejecting the notion of competing with superstars like D-Wade for the top NBA dog spot. According to Charles, this was the true effect of LeBron joining a team that already featured another player of roughly equal star status. Never mind that Charles, who never won an NBA championship, was thinking about his own ego needs, and wasn’t really speaking from first-hand knowledge of what makes LeBron tick.

What The Greats Do

by Alan Stein 11-01-2010 12:35 AM Training | Athlete Career Development | Coaching

7546 Views

As I have mentioned numerous times, the game of basketball has afforded me the opportunity to meet some amazing people, travel to some amazing places, and have some amazing experiences. All of which I am thankful for.

One of those remarkable people is shooting coach Dave Hopla. Coach Hopla has worked in the NBA for several years (Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards). My right hand man Blair O’Donovan has worked with him the past 5 years in China at the Nike All-Asia Camp and they have become great friends.

Lessons for Athletes: Hedo Turkoglu, Carmelo Anthony, and Kobe Bryant

by Zak Romanoff 10-26-2010 09:21 PM Lessons for Athletes | Athlete Career Development

8149 Views

My name is Zak Romanoff and I will be contributing a weekly column, "Lessons for Athletes". The primary purpose of the column is to give athletes tips and guidance to enhance their career development. This column will include quotes from athletes from various sports, my commentary, and a lesson for athletes. For the first column, we have 3 quotes from NBA players, as we gear up for the much anticipated 2010-2011 season kicking off tonight.

Can an ex-NFL star achieve a balanced portfolio?

by Matthew Allinson 10-20-2010 12:40 AM Finance | Life After Sports | Trusted Athlete Educator | Athlete Career Development

37256 Views

MSN Money recently rolled out a new online reality series called The Invested Life. Over the next 9 months, it will feature the stories of 7 real-life investors who will be working with financial coaches to transform their portfolios and lives. Among these investors is former NFL linebacker Winfred Tubbs who played in the League for 7 seasons (Saints and 49ers) and retired in 2000. Tubbs is paired with his long-time confidant and Financial Advisor Ed Butowsky, and is on a quest to manage his money properly and have a balanced portfolio now that he is entering the married life and preparing for his daughter's college education.

The “Hidden Secret”

by Gregg Swanson 10-17-2010 06:44 PM Training | Athlete Career Development | Sports Psychology

2299 Views

“I always stress condition with my basketball players. I don’t mean physical condition only. You cannot attain and maintain physical condition unless you are morally and mentally conditioned.” —John Wooden, college basketball coach

It’s been awhile since the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and they were simply amazing to watch, weren’t they? I had so much awe and respect for these elite athletes as I watched them sled, ski, jump and skate, with speed, precision and grace.

It’s not just the Olympics; I have this same feeling when I see an amazing catch in football, or a precise move in dancing, or even an “invisible” technique in the martial art of Bujinkan.

In observing these elite-level athletes, their physical and technical prowess is glaringly evident, and their endurance and technical precision is obvious to anyone who watches their performances.