Jr. Olympics Soccer, Basketball, Track & Field and Tennis
We completed our Jr. Olympics Soccer, Basketball, Track & Field and Tennis and the winners, by sport, gender and age-group were:
Soccer
Boys 8/9 - Danny Zweben
Boys 10/11 - Binyamin Edelstein
Boys 12/13 - Yonatan Abrams
Girls 8/9 - Nesiah Ely
Basketball
Boys 8/9 - Danny Zweben & Mory Gould
Boys 10/11 - Yaakov Fink
Boys 12/13 - Yonatan Abrams
Girls 8/9 - Nesiah Ely
Track & Field
Boys 8/9 - Mory Gould
Boys 10/11 - Binyamin Edelstein
Boys 12/13 - Yonatan Abrams
Girls 8/9 - Nesiah Ely
Girls 10/11 - Elianna Weissman
Tennis
Boys 8/9 - Bennett Bramson
Boys 10/11 - Binyamin Edelstein
Boys 12/13 - Aharon Komarow
These are athletes (above) by sport that will be advancing to the regional Jr. Olympics Soccer, Basketball, Track & Field and Tennis events on Sunday, June 15th, at Layhill Village Park. We'll keep you updated to their upcoming challenge!
Jr Olympics Soccer, Basketball, Track & Field and Tennis
Jr. Olympics Prep
For what it’s worth, I received some e-mails asking for some training and strategic suggestions, so, here’s my ten cents worth.
First, though most every athlete at the upcoming event will be relatively talented, so are you. Do not be intimated. Matter of fact, please do not focus on the other kids. They’ll take care of themselves. You need to focus on you. So, prepare mentally (e.g. know what you’re going to do) and prepare physically (e.g. practice what you’re going to do). Then, come June 15th, stay relaxed and simply do it. With that in mind…
Soccer
Danny Zweben, Binyamin Edelstein, Yonatan Abrams and Nesiah Ely
This competition is based on the fastest time (with a 3 second penalty for missing the goal). So,
1- Score - If you can, don’t miss the goal with your three shots.
2- Minimize dribbling, maximize shooting - The ball moves faster than you can run. Especially with the ball at your feet. Thus, optimally, you want to dribble from where the ball starts on the 30 yard line (FYI, it doesn’t matter which of the three balls you start or end with. Just do what you’re most comfortable with.) to just inside the 18 yard line and shoot (and score). Then, don’t stand and admire your goal. Immediately after your shot, you want to run to the 2nd ball, dribble to just inside the eighteen yard line and shoot (and score) again. Again, no time to admire your shot. Run immediately to the third ball, dribble to just inside the eighteen and score the third and final goal. Don’t dribble too close to the goal before you shoot. Dribbling takes up too much time. You want to dribble to just inside the eighteen yard line and then shoot as soon as you know you are able to reach the goal and score. Hopefully, that will be just short of the eighteen yard line. If you need to dribble until you’re 15, 13 or 10 yards from the goal in order to score, so be it. Just try to minimize your dribbling as much as you can.
Basketball
Danny Zweben, Mory Gould, Yaakov Fink, Yonatan Abrams, and Nesiah Ely
This competition is based on points scored and is much more strategic and subjective than the soccer competition. i.e. You need to know “your game”. Optimally, you should only shoot five-pointers and make them all. But, if your long-shot is weak, you’ll miss them all and this won’t help you. In other words, shoot the shots with the highest point value that you think you can make.
With this said, if you can make the 3- and 5-pointers, go for it. Only the top point-getters nationally are going on to the national championships and some 5-point wizard in Indiana, Kentucky or otherwise is going to be shooting and making those 5-pointers so… Why not go for it! Shoot all 3- and 5-pointers. If you can, go for it. Again, shoot the shots with the highest point value that you think you can make.
Track & Field
Mory Gould, Binyamin Edelstein, Yonatan Abrams, Nesiah Ely and Eleanna Weissman
This may be the toughest event to prepare for. The last thing you want to be thinking about during this event is having a high foot turnover, high knees, a good lean, etc. You just want to relax and… Express your natural talent. With this said, if you insist on preparing for this:
1- Broad Jump – Just practice the broad jump. Use your arm swing (back to front, 1 and 2 and 3 and… Jump) to get a rhythm and gain momentum and jump for a point that is about 45 degrees from where you’re standing. Jump up and out.
2- 50 Yard Dash – Work on your start. On your mark, get set, GO! At GO!, you should start low and explode. Spring out of the gate, find your stride and run through the finish. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRQYbQXVmqo&NR=1 If you want to train specifically for this race, focus on sprints and short runs, not distance. i.e. do lots of short runs, not 3 mile runs.
Tennis
Bennett Bramson, Binyamin Edelstein and Aharon Komarow
The key to this contest, like the name connotes, is getting and maintaining a rally. Having your serve hit the target and hitting the ball hard is certainly helpful, but the key is starting and maintain a rally. So, for this reason, you should practice starting and maintaining a rally.
First, though most every athlete at the upcoming event will be relatively talented, so are you. Do not be intimated. Matter of fact, please do not focus on the other kids. They’ll take care of themselves. You need to focus on you. So, prepare mentally (e.g. know what you’re going to do) and prepare physically (e.g. practice what you’re going to do). Then, come June 15th, stay relaxed and simply do it. With that in mind…
Soccer
Danny Zweben, Binyamin Edelstein, Yonatan Abrams and Nesiah Ely
This competition is based on the fastest time (with a 3 second penalty for missing the goal). So,
1- Score - If you can, don’t miss the goal with your three shots.
2- Minimize dribbling, maximize shooting - The ball moves faster than you can run. Especially with the ball at your feet. Thus, optimally, you want to dribble from where the ball starts on the 30 yard line (FYI, it doesn’t matter which of the three balls you start or end with. Just do what you’re most comfortable with.) to just inside the 18 yard line and shoot (and score). Then, don’t stand and admire your goal. Immediately after your shot, you want to run to the 2nd ball, dribble to just inside the eighteen yard line and shoot (and score) again. Again, no time to admire your shot. Run immediately to the third ball, dribble to just inside the eighteen and score the third and final goal. Don’t dribble too close to the goal before you shoot. Dribbling takes up too much time. You want to dribble to just inside the eighteen yard line and then shoot as soon as you know you are able to reach the goal and score. Hopefully, that will be just short of the eighteen yard line. If you need to dribble until you’re 15, 13 or 10 yards from the goal in order to score, so be it. Just try to minimize your dribbling as much as you can.
Basketball
Danny Zweben, Mory Gould, Yaakov Fink, Yonatan Abrams, and Nesiah Ely
This competition is based on points scored and is much more strategic and subjective than the soccer competition. i.e. You need to know “your game”. Optimally, you should only shoot five-pointers and make them all. But, if your long-shot is weak, you’ll miss them all and this won’t help you. In other words, shoot the shots with the highest point value that you think you can make.
With this said, if you can make the 3- and 5-pointers, go for it. Only the top point-getters nationally are going on to the national championships and some 5-point wizard in Indiana, Kentucky or otherwise is going to be shooting and making those 5-pointers so… Why not go for it! Shoot all 3- and 5-pointers. If you can, go for it. Again, shoot the shots with the highest point value that you think you can make.
Track & Field
Mory Gould, Binyamin Edelstein, Yonatan Abrams, Nesiah Ely and Eleanna Weissman
This may be the toughest event to prepare for. The last thing you want to be thinking about during this event is having a high foot turnover, high knees, a good lean, etc. You just want to relax and… Express your natural talent. With this said, if you insist on preparing for this:
1- Broad Jump – Just practice the broad jump. Use your arm swing (back to front, 1 and 2 and 3 and… Jump) to get a rhythm and gain momentum and jump for a point that is about 45 degrees from where you’re standing. Jump up and out.
2- 50 Yard Dash – Work on your start. On your mark, get set, GO! At GO!, you should start low and explode. Spring out of the gate, find your stride and run through the finish. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRQYbQXVmqo&NR=1 If you want to train specifically for this race, focus on sprints and short runs, not distance. i.e. do lots of short runs, not 3 mile runs.
Tennis
Bennett Bramson, Binyamin Edelstein and Aharon Komarow
The key to this contest, like the name connotes, is getting and maintaining a rally. Having your serve hit the target and hitting the ball hard is certainly helpful, but the key is starting and maintain a rally. So, for this reason, you should practice starting and maintaining a rally.
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