Play Head’s Up in 2009!
Play Head’s Up in 2009!
During my Federal Law Enforcement Training one of the most important tools they taught us in self defense class was awareness. The best way to stay safe in any situation, day or night, was to be always be aware of your environment. The classic victim of violence is the person who is caught unaware. They are completely taken by surprise by their attacker and never see it coming. It is ironic that one of the best self defense tools isn’t marital arts, a weapon, or whistle, but simply “Keeping Your Head Up.”
The same principle applies in the fundamentals of basketball. One of the hardest skills for a youth to master when they begin playing is to dribble the basketball without looking down at it. Before a young player can have any court awareness they have to learn to dribble with their head up. Once they can dribble with one hand, “Keeping Their Head Up,” their skills almost double overnight. It is a small jump to dribbling a ball in both hands simultaneously, and their can passing, receiving and shooting skills are dramatically better. Their court awareness skills develop and suddenly instead of having five individual players on the court, the “team” develops as they play more cohesively. Of all of the slogans and saying I could have put on the gym bags I gave my team after winning the YMCA Valleywide Youth Basketball Tournament in Arizona was, “Keep Your Head Up.” It is a great life lesson to keep playing, “Heads Up Ball.”
As we look a little further into the concept of “Keeping Your Head Up,” let’s do a simple exercise. Dip your head down to your chest and notice what you feel. Slowly lift your head up and as your chin hits parallel with the ground notice the switch in emotion. As you keep lifting your head higher, notice how your shoulders drop and relax, slowly your posture straightens, you feel better, and more confident. Do the old sayings of, “Look forward towards your future, Lift your head up and rejoice,” and “Look towards a brighter tomorrow” carry a deeper meaning now?
I would ask that as you move into 2009, keep looking forward in anticipation of a brighter year than 2008. Put your shoulders back in a state of confidence and relaxation. Raise your game by building your skills and mastering this simple fundamental skill. It will raise your level of play in life and help you build exciting and more dynamic teams around you. You will not be a victim in life that is easily surprised or taken unaware but an individual who is alert, confident, and able to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves. No matter what your dreams, goals, hopes, and desires in 2009, “Keep Your Head Up!”
I wish you a New Year and a New Life this next year. Have a Peaceful, Powerful, and Prosperous 2009.
To your continued success,
James
