Basketball is one of the most captivating and loved sports worldwide. The highly competitive nature of the sport prompts coaches, teams, and individual players to find ways of getting better and giving themselves a competitive edge. From muscular development training, improved dietary habits, and other training techniques, the quest for sporting improvement is an unending adventure.
Basketball is a “read and react” sport. Thus, basketball players must have quick reaction times. Reaction time is the time taken for basketball players to react to a given on-court stimulus. Basketball players face specific on-court situations in quick succession and must respond accordingly. Having a short reflex time is also handy off the court. You can easily catch falling objects and prevent day-to-day accidents if you have a quick reaction time.
Coaches can help their players improve their reaction times for better outcomes in training and on-court. One way of achieving that aim is introducing reflex light training to the players. Reaction light training is the use of automatic flashing lights to improve reaction time. Shorter reaction times mean that players can react quickly to situations. The use of reflex light training for basketball players can be the difference between winning and losing.
Why Use Reaction Light Training for Basketball Teams
Reaction training lights are electronic pods or cones that light up in several colors and serve as cues for players to perform a specific action. These lights work with an app that monitors user activity and helps players keep track of their progress. Players usually have to tap the pods with their hands, feet, head, knees, or training equipment. Coaches arrange the pods in a specific order and positions depending on the training objective.
Basketballers often have to make split-second judgments, like adjusting to the shot clock and releasing a pass. Reflex light training equipment can help players prepare for such decisions. A quick reaction can help you score a buzzer-beating point or prevent an opponent from scoring a game-winning point.
Advantages of Reaction Light Training for Basketballers
Basketball coaches can use reaction training lights to improve their teams and individual players in the following ways:
Better Balance
Basketballers need to be able to switch directions when moving with a ball. The ability to maintain your center of gravity when accelerating is an asset. Reflex training lights can help basketballers hone this valuable ability.
Agility
Basketballers are some of the world’s most agile sportsmen. Basketballers must be able to make strong leaps, go after rebounds, and make split-second steals. Reflex light training forces players to get to quick flashing lights and by doing so improve their agility.
Coordination
Basketball is a team sport that demands coordinated and almost choreographed movements among players. Players usually have to instinctively assume offense and defense positions for the duration of a game. Mastering these formations requires a high degree of individual and collective coordination. Reaction training lights enable coaches to coordinate and track team progress easily.
Specific Reaction Light Training Drills for Basketball Coaches
Basketball coaches can improve their teams’ workout sessions following these specific drills:
Reaction Sprint
Reaction sprints help improve overall reaction time and agility:
Drill
Place several reaction training cones around the room, leaving a distance of 10 meters between each pod. Set the pods to light up randomly with the app. The exercise is to sprint between the pods and tap whichever pods light up. You may want to increase the speed between the pod lighting up as you progress.
Triangular Turns
This drill improves agility and balance:
Drill
Make a triangle with three pods five meters apart. Using the app, set the pods to light up randomly. Tell the player to stand in an athletic pose at the center of the triangle. The player then proceeds to tap each pod that lights up quickly. You can increase the speed at which the pod lights up as each player progresses.
Plank Wars
This drill improves reaction time and promotes healthy competition among teammates.:
Drill
Two teammates separated by three pods within touching distance both adopt a plank pose. Activate the pods to light up randomly. Both players will race to tap the pods out while remaining in the plank pose by stretching out an arm. Whoever taps out the light most wins.
Other Ways Basketballers Can Improve Reaction Time
Basketball players and trainers can work to improve player and team reaction time by using other techniques:
Meditation
Meditation is a practice that allows you to empty your mind and concentrate. Reaction time is about the mind-body connection. A clogged mind may not react as quickly as you may want. Meditation frees your mind and allows you to concentrate on the things that matter. You can get several ideas on relevant meditative practices online.
Proper Nutrition
The relationship between a healthy diet and improved athletic performance is an open secret. Eating right is one of the keys to maximizing performance and reducing injury risk. Leafy greens like cabbage, lettuce, and broccoli should form a chief part of your meals. Also, try to incorporate fruits like apples and berries into your diet. Avoid junk food as much as you can.
Get Enough Rest
You must get enough rest. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Your body repairs and replaces worn-out cells and tissues, leaving you in peak condition for the following training routine. Inadequate sleep leaves you vulnerable to an error in your decision-making.
Practice! Practice! Practice!
There is no substitute for consistent practice. As with all things, the more you play and practice basketball, the better you get. As a trainer, you must impress upon your players the necessity of commitment and dedication to practice.
Conclusion
Getting the best out of players is the aim of every basketball trainer. Basketball demands awareness and reaction, many times within split seconds. Quick reaction is, therefore, one of the abilities every basketballer should have and try to improve. Reflex light training equipment affords coaches and basketball players fun, easy, and creative ways of improving their reaction times.