So ya dig sports but need some help with your game? Don't understand some of the rules of football, basketball or soccer? Got a gripe about P.E. class, teammates or coaches, or anything? Why not ? The Kidzworld Coach can help ya work out team problems or give ya tips and advice to improve your game - all ya gotta do is ask!
Hey Coach,
I play basketball and when I'm with all my friends and my team scrimmaging, I am really good. Then, when we play a real game, I totally freeze. I dribble, and someone steals the ball from me within like two seconds because I forget everything I know. Please help, I have a big game coming up!
SpoiledQT52
Hey SpoiledQT52,
Sounds like you have a case of "the chokes." That's what happens when an athlete, who usually plays great, has a crappy game when it really counts. It happens to athletes all the time in every sport - even the pros who get paid millions of dollars not to suck in big games. Barry Bonds always hits homeruns during the regular season - but once the playoffs start, his big bat disappears. Another member of the Choker Club is France's soccer team which was a favorite to win the 2002 World Cup but couldn't even score a goal once the tournament started.
The best thing for you to do is relax and visualize yourself playing a great game before you step on to the court. Picture yourself making a smart pass or scoring a basket. Just pretend you're out playing a scrimmage game with your friends. If you're confident and keep telling yourself you'll play well, you're more likely to have a good game. Playing well in sports is as much about being mentally strong as it is about physical ability.
Hey Coach,
Recently, I've been playing lots of basketball. I'm an awesome three-point shooter and several people from our high school girls' b-ball team have told me to try out, but I don't think they know I've never played on a team. Is it realistic for me to make a high school girls' varsity basketball team, when I have no team experience, or should I just not try out?
Live_Acoustic
Hey Live_Acoustic,
Go for it. It doesn't matter if you've never played on a high school team before and what do you have to lose by trying out? If you've got game, show the coaches what you can do and don't worry if you've never played on a team before. Teenagers develop skills, co-ordination and interest in sports at different ages. Just because you've never played on a high school basketball team before, doesn't mean you shouldn't try out now. If you don't make the team, no big deal. You can still play basketball with your friends and continue perfecting your three-point shot.
Do you have a question on sports, P.E. class, fitness or health? to the Kidzworld Coach. Keep in mind peeps, the Kidzworld Coach isn't a doctor or a professional athlete or anything like that. He's just a dude who digs sports, plays 'em and knows a lot about 'em. You should always talk to your 'rents, a doctor or your school gym teacher before starting a new sport or a new exercise.
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