Small Forward Performance Profile
Performance profile helps in understanding the fundamentals of player’s physiology, movement, as well as tactical and technical requirements. The approach assists in avoiding injuries, which appear because of improper actions. In addition, the player acquires a possibility to use the full advantage of opportunities, while working on a specific risk that has a threat of injuries. Thus, it is crucial to analyze small forward’s maneuvers and actions, which illustrate an athlete’s performance. The current paper analyzes small forward’s performance, the jump landing, dribbling, and blocking techniques, as they appear to be the major elements of player’s performance profile. Moreover, the paper provides a feedback on a basis of the presented analysis.
Traditionally, organized basketball teams require five basketball positions. The small forward position is probably the most flexible and adaptable among other major basketball spots. Flexibility and versatility appear to be highly crucial for small forwards because of the character of their function in basketball. Despite the fact that the position resists other players that stand for the power forward, it is frequently more similar to a shooting guard. In fact, shooting guard and small forward positions are frequently replaceable and outlined as wings.
The facts reveal that small forwards appear to have a multitude of assets, including inner strength and velocity. One collective connection among all types of small forwards stands for a capability to “get to the line” and draw fouls by aggressively trying (post up) plays, slam-dunks, or lay-ups. Therefore, exact and precise foul shooting is a typical capacity of small forwards, while they register a huge quantity of their points from the foul line. In addition, they also appear to be good shooters from long-range. Moreover, a number of small forwards have perfect passing capabilities, which allow them to accept point guard liability outlined for point forwards. Therefore, small forwards are supposed to be capable of performing a small quantity of every duty on the court, usually performing the functions as defensive specialists and swingmen.
Small forward playing position is analogous to the position of shooting guard in a physical dimension. Nevertheless, the small forward appears to be slightly taller and physically stronger, and has to sustain the hastening and velocity of a shooting guard. There are two spheres of physical performing, which frequently divide the possibilities of players within the forward position. The first one stands for an athlete’s capability to bounce defensively and offensively. Players in the small forward position frequently appear to be too slight, which makes bouncing a hazardous activity. The second one stands for the fact that players in the small forward are frequently expected to be guarding players across numerous playing positions. It has to be rotation grounded. For instance, when a team appears to be short in depth within the shooting guard or power forward position, the small forward will be supposed to guard both positions on a regular basis. The approach asks for the appropriate mixture of strength, speed, and defensive competency for encountering the requirements appropriately as a minimal tentative.
In regards to tactics, a small forward will have to be inclined to create individual scoring possibilities using the whole perimeter and areas surrounding the keyway. Thus, a player will have to put the ball on the floor to create off the dribble, and not merely make shots when the situation provides possibilities. Thus, it is typical for a small forward to incorporate on-ball screening situations similarly to the dribbler.
Jump Landing
Basketball appears to be a game of unexpected alterations of direction with continuous jumping and jump landing. Regrettably, the actions elevate the likelihood of the basketball players, especially small forwards, suffering from an ankle sprain. Jump landing entails a variety of actions for small forwards in basketball. A small forward may appear in a situation, which requires him to jump stop, over-jump some player, and jump in a group of players in attempt of catching and passing the ball. The aforementioned activities require a knee bent landing, which is one of three major fundamental techniques of basketball jump landing. A small forward under analysis has had three knee injuries while performing jump stops, two of which were caused by the fact that he landed stiff-legged. It means that that the player failed to bend knees while landing to absorb the affecting force during jump landing. Moreover, the third injury was a result of the player failing to execute small jumps before landing into jump stop. As the player jumped too high, it provoked off-balance landing. Jump stop stands for an action, during which a player performs stop landing on both feet in a controlled position. The main reason why players have to land simultaneously on both feet is the fact that they are capable of using either foot as their pivot foot. The jump stop allows small forwards to stop on a basketball court without travelling. It is also important to mention that small forward should land in a triple-threat position. It means that the player should be in a low, balanced stance, while the ball should be located in a specific shot-pocket, allowing either dribbling, passing, or shooting. In fact, there are three major important points to take into account for adequate jump stop performing. Firstly, the player should bend his knees to be low and balanced. Second, the player’s head should be up to observe the court and all players around. Finally, the player should execute small jumps into the jump stop to maintain the balance on the court.
The player under analysis suffered from five ankle inversion sprains during layups, rebounds, and defensive player-to-player contacts. It was caused when the small forward landed on the foot of the opposing team player, provoking the foot rolling on to its outer edge. The primarily immediate management of the sprained ankle required the RICE regime, which incorporated rest, ice, compression, and elevation. The treatment is essential for restricting the pain, bleeding and swelling in and around the ankle joint. The existing history of ankle sprains provokes future injuries of the same kind due to proprioception shortages, muscle vigor imbalance and impairments, resistant ligament weakness, lowered muscle flexibility, and joint movement. Therefore, a player under analysis sustained a number of ankle injuries, as the first ankle sprain provokes the possibility of the following ankle injuries. Despite the fact that the small forward cured the injury and took a course of rehabilitation, the chances of future ankle sprains are high. Nevertheless, the previous injury experience of the analyzed small forward helped him learn the appropriate procedure of landing, which he frequently practices to avoid seduction of landing on one foot (provoking ankle sprain) or stiff-legged (provoking knee injuries).
The current small forward player does not reveal the signs of broadly dispersed patella tendinitis, which define a jumper’s knee. Bounding, landing, and jumping movement can lead to micro tears to the tendon, causing the pain directly underneath the knee. Because the player appears to have minor issues, the control of jumping and landing technique helps him avoid severe traumas.
Dribbling
A small forward back defender should be capable of dribbling the ball in and out of tight spaces in order to create space for the team. A small forward should adhere to appropriate technique while performing the action to avoid possible injuries. Firstly, the legs have to spread apart wide, which allows bending knees and dipping down low. Secondly, the action should start with the ball in non-preferred hand at the same time maintaining it as low to the ground as possible. The dribble should be stable while crossing the ball into the center of player’s body. Thirdly, a player should dribble the ball back between legs until the only possible way of maintaining the action stands for reaching behind with preferred hand to get the ball. The technique allows switching the ball to preferred hand, rotating it around the outside leg until a player returns to the front. Heavy dribbling performed by the player under analysis provoked a carpal tunnel syndrome. It stands for a condition, in which the ligament band that runs from fingers through the arm and surrounds the muscles and nerves is constricted. The condition is highly painful, restricting the player’s possibility to perform wall passes, self-shooting, and fast break shooting. Nevertheless, the player had a possibility to rest for more than two weeks, icing the wrist, and immobilizing in during the night period to treat it in the best manner. He currently uses specific over-the-counter splints in order to secure the wrist during the game. In addition, the player constantly performs stretching and strengthening exercises for the forearm, wrist and hand to restrict the possible repeating of the condition. Nevertheless, dribbling can also result in such overuse injuries as stress fractures and tendinitis. In addition, it can also cause Osgood-Schlatter syndrome, which stimulates tumescence merely below the patella, or Sever’s syndrome, known for the aches in the heel’s growth plate. Due to the existing history of knee, ankle, and wrist injury, the player under analysis developed a special playing style, which avoids the risky situations and the possibility of severe traumas, which can lead to the termination of basketball career.
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Blocking
Blocking a shot stands for one of the most important defensive actions in basketball performed by small forward. The technique can seriously affect an opposing team in psychological manner, giving them a sense of rejection, and leading to doubting their scoring capacities. The analysis demonstrates that the small forward player executes all blocking actions adhering to laws and regulations, which forbid shoulder and elbow charges. Thus, the player does not create shoulder-to-shoulder or other hand and body contact with the opposing players in the attempt to block the shot. Inappropriate blocking can lead to serious rotator cuff issues, causing tears and strains. Moreover, illegal blocking techniques, which incorporate shoulder and elbow charge, can result in traumatic injuries from collisions and falls, affecting shoulder joints, bones, muscles, nerves and connective tissue. The small forward under analysis practically does not use illegal aggressive blocking, as it results in fouls. Nevertheless, the facts show that shot blocking performed by the player can result in the tendinitis. It means that the tendons or muscles of the rotator cuff reveal a tendency to stretch and break, provoking swelling, irritation, and muscular frailty. In addition, shot blocking can also lead to bursitis, when the bursa surrounding the shoulder joint in hurt. In fact, stiffness or shoulder pain might elevate during movement, particularly when raising the arm above the shoulder height. Therefore, the small forward under analysis should warm up before the game; perform stretching and strengthening exercises, especially in his left arm and right leg that he previously injured.
Feedback
The current analysis and assessment demonstrates that the small forward is a professional player, who is capable of quick reaction, defensive rebounding and efficiently guarding players in different playing positions. Therefore, the small forward is capable of adequately performing the necessary functions. Nonetheless, the analysis revealed that the player has several issues connected to his jump landing and dribbling. The previous mistakes in jump landing primarily concern jump stops. Due to failures of complying with necessary techniques while performing jump stops, the player suffered from three knee injuries from stiff-legged landing and neglecting the small jumps before landing into jump stop. The experience helped the player to practice the proper procedure of landing. The injuries also vividly demonstrated the reasons to avoid landing stiff-legged. In addition, the player had high number of ankle injuries during layups, rebounds, and defensive player-to-player contacts. There are situations when the player cannot avoid landing on one foot. Nevertheless, five ankle strains prove that the treatment and rehabilitation process was not sufficient after the first trauma case.The player sustained the analogous injuries again. Thus, he should secure right ankle with specific bandages in order to immobilize it. The ankle injury history reveals that the player has to dedicate more time and efforts to strengthening the ankle to avoid the possibility of anklebone breaking. Therefore, jump landing needs additional training. Secondly, the dribbling technique reveals that the overuse of the action led to carpal tunnel syndrome. Despite the fact that the condition has been appropriately medicated, all of the techniques involving wrist and fingers, including wall passes, self-shooting, and fast break shooting, require careful execution adhering to proper regulations. The approach will ensure avoiding the possibility of developing severe traumas. Finally, the small forward does not reveal any serious problem in blocking, as the maneuvers appear to be very complicated and hazardous, leading to fouls when performing illegal block techniques. The approach helps avoiding serious shoulder, elbow, and back injuries. Nevertheless, as blocking stands for overused technique, relevant training, strengthening, and stretching is necessary to avert tendinitis and bursitis. The analysis vividly demonstrates that the small forward requires several minor amendments in his strategy to enhance his regular maneuvers and prevent future injuries.
