BASKETBALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 100, 30 April 1938, Page 7

BASKETBALL

KEEPING FIT VALUE OF TRAINING HINTS TO PLAYERS One of the highest qualifications in any game is to be physically lit, and particularly is it so in basketball because of its high standard of activity, speed and alertness. These three factors should be borne in mind by every individual player. To become lit means preparation, time and training. Some players may be taking part in some physical culture class which is paving the way in the right direction towards health and lifting the body to become active, alive and able to endure any long-continued effort. Others again perhaps, through different circumstances, are deprived of such a privilege. They are surely handicapped and will find it hard to keep up with the pace of the game, and so may become the weak links in the team.

If the game is worth playing, then it is surely worth training for, both as.individualists and as a team. Apart from taking part in any physical culture class, the team should never be minus a player on a training period. In addition to training together, each individual should spend at least five or ten minutes a day, at some time most convenient—for preference in the mornings—doing some form of exercise that will keep the body in good trim, and also open vf the chest and respiratory organs. V/cien breathlessness and fatigue occur through inattention to training, then you are looking for trouble. Following are some hints which may assist players to become physically fit. Breathing. Becoming breathless (or out of wind) is a very sore thing, and is a heavy strain on heart and lungs. This can be overcome if, when walking, you concentrate on breathing in and out through the nose—say, four or five steps to inhale, and the same number to exhale. Cultivate the habit of breathing through the nose while playing, and always keep the mouth closed.

Morning Exercises.— (1) Raise arm forwards and upwards and up to above the head, rising on toes, breathe in. Lower sideways and downwards and breathe out. Do this six times. (2) Interlace fingers on top of head, slightly pressing down. Raise left shoulder so as to stretch ribs on left side and breathe in. Lower shoulder and breathe out. The same with right shoulder, and then with both shoulders three times each morning and night.

Jumping and Leaping.—This Is a most important part of training, to be able to use the feet, which are the springs of the body, and to use them to the best advantage. First of all. skipping with high knee raising, with straight leg raising forwards, with heel raising backwards, endeavouring to kick the hips—also the rocking step and high jumps. Continually change the movements, and gradually quicken all movement so as to limber and loosen all the muscles of the legs and hips and so train to move quickly. Leaping Practice. —Jumping up high as in defence work, a good plan is to make a mark on the wall higher than you can reach, and keep bouncing with straight legs and arms; then increase the height. Another practice is leaping sideways, running two or three steps and either leaping sideways or frontways, in all of these movements using the balls of the feet.

NGA TOA CLUB

TEAMS CHOSEN FOR TO-DAY The following players will represent the Nga Toa Club in their respective divisions to-day:—A team v. Past Students at Queen’s Park School at 3.30 p.m.: Goalies, B. Barnes, I. McKenzie, N. Sullivan. Centre, E. Elston, N. Gifford, P. Rose. Defence, J. Ching, E. Harris, R. Rosemergy. Emergency, M. Croom. B team v. Technical College, at Technical College No. 2, at 2 p.m.: Goalies, M. Croom, J. Siddell, P. Wadsworth. Centres, M. Down, F. Jackson, M. McGrath. Defence, P. Gilbert, B. Sherriff, J. Stapleton.