As a coach and teacher for about 40 years, I have learned a few things for myself. Learning is a fascinating thing, and yet I think some of us take it for granted. “Life” itself is a tremendous journey filled with constant learning, to help us improve our position in life, hopefully have a respectable good life, and survive to the end in all aspects of life. Learning helps us make decisions for which we hold ourselves accountable, whether they are right or wrong.

The power to ‘choose’ is probably the greatest power we have in life. Everything we do can be traced back to a thought and then a choice that ultimately leads to a destination. I don’t want to philosophize too much here, but ultimately this article is about making an impact through visual symbols that possibly last a lifetime.

Charles Garfield once said, “A key to self-management is self-observation. It is important to realize that self-observation is not the same as excessive criticism, critical judgment, or paralysis by analysis. It is rather consistent monitoring. of one’s own performance “.

Another reason I am writing about symbolism is that the greatest teacher in all Jesus Christ taught in parables and symbols and if these parables and symbols left lasting impressions on my mind, then I hope they will have some effect on you, reader.

Throughout the many years of teaching, I have found that I have increasingly used visuals or symbols to help students possibly see what I see. Another teaching tool such as an overhead projector that projects an image onto a screen. There is a visual right there. We seem to get on the same page faster.

Here are 4 reasons why I use symbols in my training methods.

1. Symbols create images that help you remember important concepts.
2. Symbols can represent and create feelings that we can control.
3. Symbols can teach different principles according to personal disposition to learn or improve.
4. Symbols can possibly speed up learning by clarifying imaginary pictures or images.

As I’ve said before, when it comes to shooting free throws in an excellently consistent and efficient way, it takes more than just “being a human being.” You must become a “human doing”. Shooters are not born. They are done. So the first key is to find your max ability as a free throw shooter by learning what your best max line average is. If the best in the world, namely the NBA players, average around 72%, you can measure yourself with those numbers that are really very mediocre for a skill that is so simple and repetitive.

William James was the author of this comment which is perfect for my message. He stated: “A mind once stretched by a great idea or a new understanding will never fully return to its original dimensions.” That’s why once you hit 90% of the line, you won’t go back to 70% anymore. You will respect the changes you have made to raise your numbers through cognitive learning.

Since there are about 25 scientific principles to adhere to when shooting a free throw or a triple, I have found that almost all of the principles carry some symbolism with them. Don’t forget that every principle has some scientific attachment and there are few or no shortcuts. Try defying gravity. Try drinking unleaded gas. These are scientific principles that we all respect, whether out of fear or out of knowledge, it is irrelevant. The result is the same and that’s what we want, positive reinforcement and instant gratification.

Symbolism for the trigger mechanism.:

1. The ‘life’ of a free kick which is only about a second or so is a symbol of “life” itself. The free kick lasts one second and the average life is about 75 years depending on whether you are a man or a woman. Females are more blessed and average a few more years according to scientific studies. To shoot a perfect free kick you need a goal. IS the goal. It takes motivation, desire, dedication, knowledge, and the endless practice of perfect principles to achieve the desired result, which is perfection.

Leading an almost perfect “life” requires the same process. The goal is heaven or eternal life. (Apologies to atheists and non-believers. My intention is not to hurt anyone’s feelings). Search and diligently acquire the appropriate knowledge, application of the principles learned, desire to follow a certain planned path (which can be good or bad), personal motivation, dedication, practicing and applying principles and values ​​that provide the desired result. Tell me if it is more difficult to dominate the second to shoot a free throw in the game of basketball or the 75 years to dominate in the game of life?

2.Hand-ball relationship. Not only should the hand with the index finger be positioned 90 degrees from the seams (the seams are not crucial here, but the index finger in the middle of the ball is). The hand should be as wide as possible to remove the palm of the ball and it will be easier to maintain a level of consistency with the wide hand.

The symbolism here is that of writing with a pen or pencil. Can’t you get your fingers to be positioned the same way each time on the writing utensil and don’t write with your fingers and not with your arm and the largest muscles in your body? The fingers walk. The yellow pages ad may ring a bell.

3. The guiding hand. This is the supporting hand that stabilizes the ball during the lift or catch.

The symbolism here is the image of the space shuttle ready to blast off into space. Moments after the rockets were fired and spewed megatons of fire and smoke into the ground and atmosphere, the supporting metal scaffold is seen slowly being peeled off to allow liftoff.

Same as the left guide hand, which after stabilizing the ball in the ‘shooting cavity’, is lifted a couple of inches to allow the shot to be fired unhindered just before pulling the trigger with the right hand. (Opposite for left-handed shooters).

Four.The ‘shooting pocket’ is the area of ​​the body near where the ball stops briefly after picking up the ball just before it is released. Depending on the size and strength of the shooter, this is where the shooting pocket may be. It can be near the abdomen, chest, or right side of the face, or even behind the top of the head.

The symbolism here is the cocked trigger, before the trigger is pressed.

If there is no pause before pulling the trigger, then the shot can be called a ‘pull’ or push. A shot is disciplined and a ‘throw’ or lunge is undisciplined. This pause generally separates males from females simply for lack of strength.

5. The shooting arm It includes the part of the anatomy from the shoulder joint to the wrist joint. When you straighten or “lock” the elbow during the shot to give the whole arm a straight look, you are actually symbolizing the barrel of a rifle with the bullet in the chamber just before firing.

6. Monitoring which is the final stage of the shot and is simply the hand wide open starting in a position with the palms up facing the ceiling (holding the ball) to end with the hand wide open with the palm down looking down at the floor.

The symbolism here is like closing the (hinged) lid of a cookie jar rather than putting your whole hand in the cookie jar. The hand remains somewhat curved without bending the joints except the wrist.

7. The broad finger was extended before and after the shot. Ensures consistency in ball delivery by limiting any excessive movement by keeping all finger joints in locked mode. The only joint that bends over the hand during a shot is the wrist.

The symbolism here is like a duck’s webbed feet that are always kept wide for maximum traction while paddling. Imagine rowing a boat with a broomstick instead of an oar. Same principle. No direction or power with fine tracking.

8. Shooting bow it is usually the same as the launch angle, which is also equal to the angle of entry of the ball into the basket.

The symbolism here for the bow is to imagine yourself shooting from the top of an old British red telephone box. You definitely don’t want your tracking to be at forehead level or close to your ear.

9. The ‘full follow-up’ it is the holding pattern during the shot at least until the ball hits the ring. This is the full arm extended with the wrist bent and the hand parallel to the floor and with no bent joints.

The symbolism here is the Statue of Liberty holding the burning torch proud and tall and for quite some time. (Hold the tracking for the life of the shot or until it hits the rim.)

10.The inner edge of the shooting doll. If you have the perfect shot pocket just a couple of inches above your forehead and the inside edge of your shot wrist will be in line with the front center of the hoop.

The symbolism here is that the inner edge of the firing wrist is compared to the sight on the tip of a rifle or shotgun. Therefore, when you have the perfect line, you will have the center of the front of the rim, the inner edge of the shooting wrist, and the eyes will form a perfectly straight line, like the barrel of a long rifle.

Frank Andrews made a good final statement for all of the above symbolism when he said, “Mindfulness is the practice of directing your attention, moment by moment, in the direction of your purpose. It is called mindfulness because you must keep your purpose in mind while watch their attention. Then when you notice that your target has drifted, calmly realign it. ” Absolutely perfect.

Copyright 2009, Ed Palubinskas. All rights reserved.