Basketball Ireland is delighted to launch a new ‘Athlete Development Series’, from the Basketball Ireland Athletic Development Team, led by Pete Madsen and Kevin Foley. There will be regular articles to help keep all our players in shape, no matter what level you compete at.

“Sport in general is physically stressful on our bodies and each sport would essentially have a range of physical demands - sprinting, jumping, twisting, turning et cetera - in which every athlete needs to meet in order to compete.  In other words, no matter if you are an underage basketball player looking to enhance specific physical qualities for on-court performance, or you are a masters basketball player seeking to prolong your playing days, every athlete should engage in some form of physical preparation.” Madsen says.

“Strength and conditioning is not about creating muscle bound athletes. It’s about consistently working on weaknesses, so they become strengths”, Foley added.

Kevin Foley (left) from Basketball Ireland's Athletic Development Team

Madsen, Foley, or a member of the Basketball Ireland Athletic Development Team will submit articles related to Strength & Conditioning/Physical Preparation. They aim to provide information and advice in these specific areas.

Here are some examples of the articles to come in the coming months:

• Youth athletes growth & maturation considerations
• What is ‘overtraining’ and how recognise the signs
• Strength training in basketball
• The importance of mobility and flexibility
• Improve your basic movement mechanics
• Basic sports nutrition
• Sleep for performance
• Weight training myths
• Building robust and resilient athletes
• Injury reduction
• How to incorporate physical preparation into a ball session

In addition to the above titles, we want to reach out to the wider Irish basketball community and will answer questions related to S&C. Please email any questions to pedercmadsen@gmail.com, with the subject title ‘Ask the S&C coach’.