First, try working on your footwork... some agility drills... then maybe incorporate some gym sessions into the routine. You’ll also need to pick up some minimalist footwear online—those zero-drop shoes where you're essentially walking on your toes. Since you're playing on elevated surfaces, they should provide decent traction for your takeoff...
Back when we used to train years ago, we had a handful of drills in the gym...
We’d set up two equipment chests where the medical supplies used to sit. We would position the first chest, but strip away one tier—they were the kind that let you pull out individual sections like drawers. Behind that, we’d stretch a thin resistance band. Then came the second chest, though this one would be a tier higher. There wouldn't be anything behind it; instead, after the jump, you'd land right under the hoop. You’d finish the drill with a few quick jumps toward the backboard or the rim... The sequence was simple: jump onto the first chest, drop down to the band, leap onto the taller chest, hit the floor, and then wrap it up with three or four jumps at the hoop or ring. All in one fluid motion. We only ran this specific takeoff drill about once a month... just using the chests and a heavy-duty band. It was more than enough to sharpen our spring...
The second option also features a string, though it’s the thickest one... you would position it beneath the rim, then jump toward the backboard with the ball, or better yet, if you can manage it, directly at the hoop...
Now there’s one more exercise to tackle, though I’m not entirely sure if I can explain it clearly enough...
Grab a small stool. Place one foot on it while keeping the other planted on the floor. Now, jump as hard as you can. Start with one leg up, then switch to the other for the next set... that is how you get your reps in...
A friend of mine found that combining that specific drill with a weighted rope really helped his explosive power on takeoff...
The two best exercises are gym-based, but that’s exactly where the issue lies... you probably don't have access to a gym...
I just hope we don't run into the Germans in the quarterfinals... or maybe the French... that's really all I want to avoid. Anything else is fine by me... whether it's the Poles or the Icelanders... doesn't matter much at this point...👍
Man, I’m just straight-up embarrassed at this point... honestly, if you ask me, we should just start with mandatory castration as the first option... and then for the second? Throw them straight into a gas chamber with a quick, no-nonsense execution process... because those absolute morons aren't even fans, they're just bottom-of-the-barrel losers.
No, no, no—I'm telling you, those people aren't fans, they're total idiots... complete morons, and I swear, I don't care if they're cheering for the Americans or any other group, I've got nothing but contempt for them.👎
Robert Cooper41 said:If there aren't any massive upsets in the quarterfinals, the semifinals should look something like this: Yugoslavia vs. Russia, then Canada vs. USA... after that, anything can happen! We actually lost to the Russians in the group stage, but honestly, it was a total fluke—they scored a pathetic "golden goal" from 15 meters out, so it’d be about time we finally left them in the dust.
hmmm. I don't know about that... I'm thinking the odds for a Russia-Greece matchup are pretty much a coin flip at 50/50...😉
Vanja said:I’m officially done hoping for anything from our water polo team anymore. Total joke!!!
Honestly, I gotta wonder if they even watched how those Mexicans absolutely crushed the Canadians??? They really should take notes, it would do them some good. That's what fighting for your country actually looks like!
They can both just get lost, the whole squad and the coach who put them together 😠
restlessviper20 said:Not a chance, though I wish it were true. Vienna has an incredibly intense club scene, and that’s that. Berlin is definitely stronger, and don't even get me started on New York City.
Personally, I think New York City is the powerhouse... alongside Barcelona... and Berlin... when it comes to a high-quality club scene. Even Amsterdam shouldn't be overlooked...
electricviper8 said:That the era when those extremist songs were written doesn't excuse anyone from singing them today. It’s not a valid justification. 🙄
Why would anyone need to write such hateful anthems because of a war in the first place? 🙄 🙂
They shouldn't be singing about how much they "love" those old American warlords and generals... the ones who led the charge against us... come back anytime, we'd love you...
Or maybe, Mr. General... just remember what happened at the battle... if you can even think straight anymore... 🙂
Honestly, someone should just toss him out a window... :2up:
Harold King54 said:...hehe...how much do you really know...🙄
Fine then, show me some actual proof where he publicly declared himself a white supremacist... then we can move on...
As for you hating that chorus about how someone would burn down the whole Midwest just for a glass of wine... well, I loved that line back in '91, '92, '93, '94, and '95... you can keep your opinion to yourself... :2up:
Though, looking back... perhaps it all sounds a bit too extreme now...😉
Honestly, I feel for him... I didn't attend his concert, nor do I plan to... but regarding these views, my stance remains firm... because the biggest idiots are those at the concerts... claiming to be ultra-nationalists... whereas he, as far as I know, never identified that way...
And as for all the songs... whether it's Anica, Cavoglavi, or Ljute Trave... I stand by every single word... considering the era they were intended for...😉
Well... I don't know... but I heard all those songs long ago... they weren't exactly written just now...😉
And again, I am not a fan...
This whole topic is pointless... because if all the handball players demanded Thompson... every single one of them... then you can go ahead and complain all you want, since nobody asked for your opinion...
banderas said:Even the coach, Bogdan, joined this mass delusion with his comments back in the semifinals, claiming only true Americans could pull off something like this... 😕 ...could actually do it. I can't help but wonder how Jumba felt during all that, and I'm sure Smajlagic wasn't thrilled either. Neither of them are even REAL Americans... they aren't even part of our culture at all. If it were up to me, they'd be out of the national team immediately.
Oh, please... just give it a rest. What is Jumba if not an American? Who else was he playing for... maybe Canada? Just like Pipe... as if he'd ever make us World Champions...
Honestly, just drop the attitude... the coach might have been a bit heated after everything people were saying about him... the mockery... yet look what he achieved...
And as for Thompson... every single player wanted him there. Every one of them. If you don't like it... you didn't have to watch...
Regarding that matter... I don't listen to Thompson personally. But I will say... most of it is fine... though some songs carry problematic undertones... but remember when they were written... they were written when we were being slaughtered... when bombs were falling on our cities... not now... they were from '91 to '95...
Sending greetings from Pero... and the entire national team is thinking of you all 🙂 🙂 😁 😁
No, no, just kidding...
Good grief... my heart was racing at 200 beats per minute... right from the start of the second half....
I knew we were going to lose to those punks... because they've already butchered us enough in club handball....😠
But... man... I had to... change the channel a few times just to keep from having a breakdown... and there were moments I seriously wanted to smash the TV....😲 😁 Especially after we had a three-goal lead with only three minutes left... and then they forced overtime.....
And watching them... with such resentment... when they pulled ahead by two, I snapped... I started jumping... shouting... losing it... I was completely unhinged.......🙏 🙏
Then came the relief.... and it was massive....... and now I'm kicking myself for not putting them on my parlay....
Anyway... tomorrow .... is going to be intense.... and I suspect the Germans might suffer the same fate the Swedes did in Atlanta....
We win tomorrow..... without a doubt..... or as the Germans say, we're going to clean up like crazy......(I winced when he said that... what a nutcase)....😁
ironjackal40 said:I actually mentioned on another thread how much I can't stand the Spanish 😠 — I’m just waiting for them to lose (for my sake, 😁 )
Of course, once that happens, our expectations will skyrocket and we’ll all be demanding gold 😁 , but honestly, aside from those first two games, the guys have looked impressive. They fought hard and beat the best. In my book, they’ve already earned a 🙏 regardless of what happens next!
And to everyone who was talking trash about them... you all played a part in this... maybe while you were relaxing and surfing the web, you stumbled upon this forum, saw the front page, and decided to show these IMF amateurs what we're really about...😁 😁 😁