We are offering an discounts called “Build your Package – Select your Dates.  We will also be returning to Northern Illinois University and will be offering some events in the Western Suburbs at Willowbrook High School.

We look forward to another season……..

The 2011-12 schedule has also been posted on our website and we are returning to NIU this season.  We will also be hosting events at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park.

Have a great summer and look forward to seeing you soon.

Athletes report:
1. Greater liking of school
2. Being less likely to dropout
3. Having higher grade point averages
4. Being more likely to attend college
5. Being less socially-isolated
6. Attaining greater occupational success
7. Having greater increases in self-esteem through high school.

In 2006, Dr. David Conroy, Associate Professor of Kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University released a research paper, Enhancing Motivation in Sport. In it, he talked about youth’s motivation in sport. The psychological research in this area, he explained, is a product of on-going research conducted on elite Olympic and professional athletes. He wrote, “Millions of youth participate in organized sports annually…sports psychology focuses on how organized sport experiences can be used to foster optimal performance.”

Along with his research on motivation, he promoted the value of youth sport participation amidst a steady decline in participation rates in youth ages 10-13 years. He discussed how the total benefits of youth sports participation affect youth’s physically and psychosocial development. Dr. Conroy expressed his concern, based upon school curricula cutting daily physical activity, about the childhood obesity crisis in America. He promoted youth sports citing, “The greatest single source of organized youth sport participation appears to be recreational sport programs, such as those sponsored by community recreation departments.”

Aside from the physical outcomes of sports participation Dr. Conroy states, “Sport is also a powerful context for youth psychosocial development.” In one example he states youth report higher abilities to concentrate when involved in organized sports activities. This is even better than during time spent playing with friends in unstructured settings or even structured settings such as school.

Overall, Dr. Conroy believes youths sport participation to be a positive developmental experience. He admits variables such as the roles coaches and parents play can widely affect youth’s experience in sport.

This article was originally posted here.

One-legged jumps are done like this: leap as high as possible off of one foot, then come down and immediately leap as high as possible off the other leg. Repeat this for 10 to 15 jumps.

Two-legged leaps are done like this: squat down so you are in the triple threat position. Now explode up and off the ground as if you are reaching for a rebound. Come down, gather yourself for a second or two, then leap up again, as high as possible. Do this 8 to 10 times.

Remember, vertical leap is part leg strength and part explosiveness. In fact, the explosiveness part is the more important of the two. It’s not about the size of your leg muscles, or how much weight you can put up in the gym. It’s about your athletic ability, coordination, and your ability to explode up and off the ground.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/366820-the-best-basketball-shoes-for-boys/#ixzz1SCAbdGY5