Advanced Trash Talking

Little did I know yesterday there'd be an article
in the Gainesville Sun the next day on ...

You guessed it. Trash talking.

Seems I've tapped into some cosmic theme that's
in the air, so I'm going to run with it some more.

First of all most will agree it's not appropriate at
all for kids. It will be more of a temptation
around the time of middle school, and coaches
you need to have a plan for dealing with it.

Remember too for it to be effective talking trash
needs to become an art form and a skill, not a
crude bludgeoning. And it is absolutely not
baiting or taunting your opponent. That or
obscenities will (and should) get you a quick
technical.

In fact, official high school rules disapprove of
any form of speech or gesture which is
intended to embarrass, ridicule or demean
others.

And remember you don't have to do it. Star
shooter of the Florida Gators Lee Humphrey
doesn't. Humphrey is currently hitting about
70% from 3 point land in SEC play.

Humphrey says, 'If you talk trash, other people
talk trash back. If you don't, most won't
continue to.'

Even when he's on a hot streak like now other
players rarely try to intimidate or psych him
out.

If it's born out of the heat of competition
though, and respectful or humorous, many
coaches at the high school level and above
don't mind it. Florida's Coach Billy Donovan
says:

'Anytime you've got two people competing
against each other there's going to be a level
of jawing. And don't forget basketball is a
contact sport. I don't think it's anything
malicious about it.'

Senior forward Chris Richards agrees when
he says, 'I don't think it's anything personal
because once the game is over everyone is
cool and happy for each other. I think we
want to get in each other's head and try to
take each other out of our game. We just do
it out of competitiveness.'

And the good ones become adept at not
getting caught. They know how to pick their
spots.

Shoot For The Stars,

Coach Dean - The Dean of Shooting Hoops

P.S. There are other ways to intimidate your
opponent and get into his head too.

Patrick Chylinski recommends you show your
offensive confidence as early in the game as
possible. Don't do something outside the flow
of your offense, but make it a point to show
your defender you're a force to be reckoned
with. He may still stop you at times, but he'll
know he's in for a fight. And if he's not up to
the task you're probably going to have a big
night.

That's just part of one idea. There are more
than 50 in Patrick's action-packed report on
"How To Be A Big-Time Scorer." Take
advantage of Patrick's knowledge and
experience today at:

http://www.deandelker.com/20ppg.html

Make Every Shot Count

P.P.S. As always I don't mind you copying
installments of this blog and sharing them,
but please include each in it's entirety, and
don't spam anybody with it. Thanks much.

P.P.P.S. I also welcome feedback and
comments at dean@deandelker.com

Trash Talking 101

They call me the bus driver because, son, I'm
gonna take you to school.

- cell phone commercial

Do you remember the commercial where the
uncool baller with an ugly headband is talking
trash while he dribbles at the top of the key
trying to take his buddy one-on-one?

He ends up opting for the long jumpshot, but still
his friend rejects the ball right back into his face.
The next day he shows up at work with what
looks like a broken nose, and it's all been caught
on a advertiser X's camera phone.

Like that guy we all instinctively know it's the
most insecure players who do the most talking.
Just like its the little dogs who do the most
barking. And just like Shakespeare said of Lady
Gertrude in 'Hamlet'. 'Methinks the lady doth
protest too much'.

So if you're talking trash constantly its probably
not going to work. It may even motivate your
opponent to play better and shut your mouth.
But if your coach let's you there's still a place for
a strategically placed barb or two in psyching out
your opponent. Larry Bird used to be the
absolute master of that, but the key is he knew
how to pick his spots.

He never did it to humiliate or taunt a fellow
player. He had too much respect for them to do
that. He just did it to plant that seed of doubt in
their mind. You don't have to showboat or show
off to do that. You can do it with a whisper if
you've got the goods.

Shoot For The Stars,

Coach Dean - The Dean of Shooting Hoops

P.S. Coach and former pro player Patrick
Chylinski shows you how to psych out your
opponent and let him know you are an
offensive threat to be reckoned with from the
tipoff in his action-packed e-report on 'How
To Average 20 Points A Game'

Get it now while your season is still in full swing
at:

http://www.deandelker.com/20ppg.html

Make Every Shot Count

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