Explosion Training Camp Week One Highlights

Published on February 28, 2009 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Snohomish County Explosion News Release


Monroe, WA. - February 28th, 2009 - Snohomish County Explosion players aren't the only ones getting in early work for the upcoming season. Explosion head coach Chris Weakley and his staff are implementing a new program and outlook during training camp - the team is retooling from the ground up after losing in the first round of the playoffs last year.

So while the players finish week one many changes have already been established, weight room and on-court workouts, Weakley is busy laying the foundation for what he hopes will be the first post season winning season for the franchise and a trip to the second round of the playoffs.

"Today's IBL player have to come to camp in pretty good shape," said Explosion Coach Weakley, who estimated he's taken part in nearly 20 training camps. "So you're working on stuff and installing and watching a lot of film from the previous years."

IBL training camps are significantly shorter than those of the other major sports, most lasting about three weeks if exhibition games aren't included. They are often closed to the public, tucked away in understated locations and bunkerish by nature.

The Snohomish County Explosion has a camp early in the season for rookies and then invites in the veterans to join camp, training camp begins two months before the first game of the regular season, unless the team is playing abroad. Training camp and the exhibition schedule must fit into this window.

When camp begins, Explosion holds two-a-day practices for only the first six days and can't exceed four hours per day, including stretching and cool downs. One of the sessions must be noncontact, which means no scrimmaging. After the first week, The Explosion basketball team opens up a bit more and holds one practice a day under the same time constraints.

Whether once or twice per day, practices are usually mind-numbing: shooting drills, walking through plays, scrimmaging and weight training. Training camp is perhaps the most humdrum portion of the season from the players' perspective. Many teams have their starting lineups and rosters all but set heading into camp, but for the Explosion this year the roster is completely open.

The Explosion team has been very active with drills and running. During this week Center Mike Jones has announced his retirement. Mike has been with the Explosion team since 1996 and will be around the organization but not on the court. Also back-up point guard Mike Boyle who played with the Explosion last year is struggling to hang on to his position with four point guards in camp.

This first week has had many bright spots the "Run and Gun" tempo has worked perfect for point guard Anthony Slater (5-9, 170) from Florida Atlantic college and former Highschool All-American nicknamed "The Wizard", along with former University of Washington center Jeffery Day (6-11, 216) both have had a great first week and are leading contenders for starting at each of their position. Week two starts today look for a round of first cuts early into next week.

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International Basketball League Stories from February 28, 2009


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