Expert Contributor: Alan Stein
Biography
Alan Stein is the owner of Stronger Team and the Head Strength & Conditioning coach for the nationally renowned, Nike Elite DeMatha Catholic High School boys basketball program. He spent 7 years serving a similar position with the Montrose Christian basketball program. Alan brings a wealth of valuable experience to his training arsenal after years of extensive work with elite high school, college, and NBA players.
His passion, enthusiasm, and innovative training techniques make him one of the nation’s leading experts on productive training for basketball players. Alan is a performance consultant for Nike Basketball as well heavily involved with Nike SPARQ Basketball. He is the head conditioning coach for the annual McDonald’s All American game, the Jordan Brand All American Classic, and the Nike Summer Skills Academies. Alan is a Camp Coach at the prestigious NBA Player’s Association’s Top 100 Camp as well as the Chris Paul CP3 Elite Backcourt Camp. Alan has filmed over a dozen DVD’s on improving performance and is a sought after lecturer at basketball camps and clinics across the world. He has been featured in Winning Hoops, Time Out, Dime, SI.com, SLAMonline.com, American Basketball Quarterly, Stack, Men’s Health, HOOP, and FIBA Assist Magazine.
Most Recent Articles
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Training vs. Working Out
by Alan Stein 09-02-2010 01:00 AM Training
It’s been exactly one month since my last blog post. I am refreshed, re-energized, and completely refocused on my commitment to offer quality insight on basketball strength & conditioning, coaching, and motivation.
In addition to spending quality time with my wonderful wife Rebecca and my twin sons Luke and Jack (23 weeks old), I read a dozen books on leadership and watched numerous DVDs and YouTube clips on performance enhancement. I combed through notebooks of my own notes and took time to reflect and evaluate my entire program. Most importantly, I developed my plan for this coming pre-season.
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Active Rest
by Alan Stein 08-01-2010 11:41 PM Camps | Training
With such a rigorous schedule, your body is banged up, fatigued, and broken down. You need to get in some quality active rest between now and when school starts. Honestly, scheduling an adequate period of active rest is very important!
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Competing
by Alan Stein 07-18-2010 12:26 AM Athlete Career Development | Training
Having had the opportunity to be around the most talented players in the country, I noticed there is a key factor that separates the good from the great. That is the ability to compete.
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Can He Dunk? Project
by Alan Stein 07-11-2010 12:44 AM Training
Do you think we can get 7 high school basketball players to dunk after 10 weeks of training?
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NBA Footprints
by Alan Stein 07-04-2010 04:57 PM Athlete Career Development | Training
I had a chance to learn from the NBA's best...
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NBA Stories
by Alan Stein 06-26-2010 11:52 PM Sports Psychology | Athlete Career Development
Top 5 Stories from the NBPA Top 100 Camp
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3 Keys to Success
by Alan Stein 06-22-2010 12:53 AM Sports Psychology | Athlete Career Development
You need talent, luck, and persistence. Pick any two if you want to be successful.
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Steve Nash
by Alan Stein 06-03-2010 11:26 PM Athlete Career Development
Steve Nash represents everything that is right with the game of basketball.
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Athletic Testing
by Alan Stein 05-30-2010 01:55 AM Training | Athlete Career Development
I get hundreds of emails per month from youth basketball coaches around the world asking questions about proper training. One of the main topics they ask is about athletic testing.
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Ankles & Feet
by Alan Stein 05-18-2010 01:50 AM Injury & Rehabilitation | Training
A basketball player’s feet are important. Let me rephrase that. A basketball player’s feet are extremely important.
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Comfort Zone
by Alan Stein 05-12-2010 01:46 AM Training
One of the most significant ingredients to success is your ability to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
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Brand You
by Alan Stein 05-01-2010 07:12 PM Trusted Athlete Educator | Image Branding
If you want to be successful, both on and off the court, you need to start viewing yourself as a brand.
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Great Players
by Alan Stein 04-26-2010 05:44 PM Training
The players who have the best chance to excel at the next level (whether college or the NBA) are those who combine natural talent, solid fundamentals, an unparalleled work ethic, and a fantastic attitude.
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Montrose Team Workout
by Alan Stein 04-12-2010 11:23 PM Training
See how one of the nation's top high school basketball programs prepares for a national tournament.
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Off-Season Part II
by Alan Stein 04-01-2010 10:47 PM Coaching | Training
About a year ago I adopted the tag line, “the best players are in the best shape.” Think about it. Who are currently the two best players on the planet? Kobe and LeBron. Have you noticed what kind of shape they are in?
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Off-Season Part I
by Alan Stein 03-28-2010 01:15 AM Training
Hopefully most of you know, my main goal and number one priority is to help as many basketball players and coaches as I can. I am very thankful for the myriad of people who have helped me along the way and I am always looking to give back.
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Successful Coaches Part III
by Alan Stein 03-07-2010 11:47 PM Sports Psychology | Coaching
This is the third and final segment of “Traits and Habits of Successful Basketball Coaches.”
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Successful Coaches Part II
by Alan Stein 03-01-2010 01:06 AM Sports Psychology | Coaching
As a reminder, this series is the edited transcript from a phone interview I did with my friend Andy Louder from Hoop Skills Academy (www.HoopSkills.com).
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Successful Coaches
by Alan Stein 02-23-2010 12:16 AM Sports Psychology | Coaching
This blog is the first of a two-part series on a subject that I hold near and dear to my heart: “Traits and Habits of Successful Basketball Coaches”
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Adversity
by Alan Stein 02-19-2010 01:18 AM Sports Psychology | Training
If you have read my last three blog posts (“Losing Sucks,” “Lesson Learned,” and “Want To”), you know the Montrose Christian boys basketball team has been experiencing some adversity lately.
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Want To?
by Alan Stein 02-14-2010 12:26 AM Sports Psychology
Before you can win, you have to understand why you lose.
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Lesson Learned?
by Alan Stein 02-08-2010 01:07 AM Human Relations | Sports Psychology
This is a spontaneous follow-up to my last post, “Losing Sucks.” Why a follow up? Because this past Saturday night we were very lucky to escape with a 4-point overtime win against Kecoughtan High School from Hampton, VA.
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Losing Sucks
by Alan Stein 01-27-2010 12:33 AM Sports Psychology
Chris Paul said it best during a talk at his camp last summer, “I hate losing more than I like winning.”
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No Guarantee
by Alan Stein 01-19-2010 09:40 PM Sports Psychology | Training
Nothing in life is guaranteed... especially in sports!
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Random Thoughts...
by Alan Stein 01-10-2010 10:29 PM Training | Athlete Career Development
Here are several random thoughts to start 2010!
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What We Do
by Alan Stein 12-31-2009 05:07 PM Sports Psychology | Athlete Career Development | Training
One of the key ingredients to long lasting success in any field is proper preparation. A player, team, or program that knows how to effectively prepare will have a greater rate of victory. Proper preparation is the cornerstone of WHAT WE DO.
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Twenty Ten
by Alan Stein 12-31-2009 04:35 PM Training | Athlete Services | Image Branding | Special Event
This post will give you some insight to the myriad of new programs, events, and products I plan to launch in 2010 (Twenty-Ten). I am going to take my game to the next level this coming year and I hope to assist and motivate you into doing the same!
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Mission Accomplished
by Alan Stein 12-21-2009 11:38 PM Other | Athlete Career Development
One year ago, almost to the day, I set the lofty goal of reading 50 books in 2009. And here, in my 50th blog post of the year (strangely coincidental), I am proud to announce… mission accomplished!
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Questions To Ask
by Alan Stein 12-13-2009 12:59 AM Sports Psychology | Training
Self-reflection and evaluation doesn’t need to be a long process. I recommend taking 30 minutes (with no distractions… no TV, no cell phone, and no computer) and honestly answering each of the following questions...
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Giving Thanks
by Alan Stein 11-26-2009 12:42 PM Other
“The more thankful you are for what you have; the more you will have to be thankful for.”
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Motivational Quotes
by Alan Stein 11-25-2009 01:02 AM Sports Psychology
I use quotes as tools to motivate my players as well as to motivate myself. While I am a strength & conditioning coach by trade, my overall goal in life is simple—to inspire, to motivate, to influence and to help anyone who is passionate about basketball.
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Start of the Season Part II
by Alan Stein 11-16-2009 12:45 AM Athlete Career Development | Training
Some tips to make sure you play your best season.
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Start of the Season
by Alan Stein 11-15-2009 11:28 PM Training
It is imperative you realize the road to a championship starts now!
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2009-2010 Montrose Preview
by Alan Stein 11-10-2009 11:26 PM Coaching | Training
The expectations are super high for our 2009-2010 Montrose Christian boys basketball team .
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Top 10 Moments
by Alan Stein 11-02-2009 02:05 PM Sports Business
To pay homage to David Letterman and ESPN SportsCenter, below is a list of my Top 10 moments from the past ten years.
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Choices
by Alan Stein 10-28-2009 10:30 PM Athlete Career Development | Coaching
Every single aspect of our lives actually does come down to choices.
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Professional Development
by Alan Stein 10-18-2009 06:04 PM Athlete Career Development
How hard do you work on your craft? Whether you are a player, a coach, or a trainer… how much time and effort do you put into your own development and improvement? An honest answer to this question will ultimately dictate your overall success.
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Pre-Season Training Part III
by Alan Stein 10-11-2009 06:39 PM Training
This is the third installment of a three-part series on pre-season basketball training.
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Dinner With A Legend
by Alan Stein 10-04-2009 11:34 PM Special Event | Coaching | Camps
Hubie Brown is 76 years old and has been involved in high-level basketball for over 50 years. He, literally, has seen and done everything in this game.
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Pre-Season Training Part II
by Alan Stein 09-27-2009 11:04 PM Training | Nutrition
This post will serve as checklist to gauge how well you are preparing for the season.
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Pre-Season Training
by Alan Stein 09-15-2009 12:42 AM Training
It is crucial you are doing everything possible to get in great basketball shape. Whether you are a question mark to make the JV team or a potential All American, being in anything less than outstanding basketball condition is unacceptable.
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Failure Is A Good Thing!
by Alan Stein 09-14-2009 12:29 AM Sports Psychology | Training
Failure, if handled appropriately, is a key ingredient to being successful.
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Fall Preview
by Alan Stein 08-31-2009 10:41 PM Training
A sneak peak at what's to come for my blogs in the fall.
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Chris Paul Camp Recap
by Alan Stein 08-22-2009 07:40 PM Training
This past weekend I had the privilege of working the 2nd Annual Chris Paul Elite Guard Camp. The camp was held in CP’s home town of Winston-Salem, NC. This “invite only” camp featured 30 of the top high school guards in the nation.
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Vertical Jump Follow-Up
by Alan Stein 08-16-2009 01:23 AM Training
This is a follow up to my Vertical Jump Con Artist blog post a couple of weeks ago.
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Summer Training Tips
by Alan Stein 08-01-2009 02:19 PM Training
This blog is collection of thoughts and suggestions to make sure you maximize your workouts over the next several weeks.
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Jamaican Basketball Camp Recap
by Alan Stein 07-26-2009 11:43 PM Philanthropy | Camps | Athlete Career Development
My involvement with the Nike Star Search Camp in Kingston, Jamaica over the past two years has been a life-changing experience.
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Vertical Jump Con Artists
by Alan Stein 07-22-2009 01:49 AM Training
I was inspired and compelled to write a blog from the heart about my feelings towards a growing group of internet con artists who claim to be “vertical jump improvement” experts.
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LeBron James Academy Recap
by Alan Stein 07-10-2009 01:55 AM Camps | Athlete Career Development | Training
Nike set the standard for youth basketball development and the LeBron James Skills Academy and accompanying King City Classic have been heralded as the premier events of the summer.
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Paul Pierce Academy Recap
by Alan Stein 07-07-2009 02:44 AM Camps | Athlete Career Development | Training
This year’s Paul Pierce Nike Skills Academy was held right outside of Boston, Massachusetts and included the nation’s top shooting guards.
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Vince Carter Academy Recap
by Alan Stein 07-07-2009 02:13 AM Camps | Athlete Career Development | Training
The goal of the Nike Academies is to positively impact the lives of elite players by providing superior instruction, personal mentorship, and a once in a lifetime experience.
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NBPA Top 100 Camp Recap
by Alan Stein 06-30-2009 05:23 PM Education | Camps | Athlete Career Development | Trusted Athlete Educator
From the opening staff meeting the goal of the camp was made crystal clear; make this the best basketball camp in the world.
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Leadership
by Alan Stein 06-20-2009 10:34 PM Human Relations | Sports Psychology
I think leadership is an important topic for me to touch on as I truly believe there is a tremendous lack of leadership in today’s game; specifically with today’s youth.
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NBA Player Interviews and Book Reviews
by Alan Stein 06-18-2009 01:12 AM Book Reviews | Training
I am excited to announce two new series of blogs I will begin posting weekly in addition to my normal posts - NBA interviews and book reviews.
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NBA Draft Process, Part II
by Alan Stein 06-16-2009 09:36 PM Training
A further look at the NBA draft process and combine tests, along with a look back at some past draft busts and successes!
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NBA Draft Process, Part I
by Alan Stein 06-15-2009 01:19 AM Athlete Career Development | Training
An in depth look at the NBA draft process, particularly the pre-draft combine tests.
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60,000 lbs in 60 minutes
by Alan Stein 06-09-2009 01:31 AM Training
Here is a great strength training challenge for the off-season; see if you can lift 60,000 lbs in 60 minutes!
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NBA Myth
by Alan Stein 05-28-2009 03:37 PM
Do you think NBA players only play hard in the playoffs? I don't!
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NBA Strength & Conditioning
by Alan Stein 05-20-2009 10:50 AM Coaching | Camps | Training
Whether you are in high school or college, if you aspire to play in the NBA, I hope you take your strength & conditioning seriously now, because you will need to when you get to that level!
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Dedication
by Alan Stein 05-15-2009 01:24 AM Athlete Career Development | Training | Camps | Coaching | Sports Psychology
Dedication and commitment are essential for success in any endeavor, but especially in basketball.
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NBA Pre-Draft Workouts
by Alan Stein 05-10-2009 03:32 PM Special Event | Training
Get an inside look at NBA pre-draft workouts...
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Brand You
by Alan Stein 04-28-2009 12:37 PM Marketing | Image Branding | Athlete Career Development
You are your own brand!
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Jordan Brand Experience
by Alan Stein 04-22-2009 02:00 AM Sports Psychology | Special Event | Camps | Athlete Career Development | Training
Insight on the Jordan Brand All American Classic and Quotes from Michael Jordan for young players
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Success
by Alan Stein 04-13-2009 02:00 AM Sports Psychology | Athlete Career Development | Training
3 ingredients of being successful...
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Great Players
by Alan Stein 04-06-2009 02:00 AM Training | Sports Psychology | Athlete Career Development
Insight on what makes basketball players great...
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What's To Come
by Alan Stein 03-30-2009 02:00 AM Special Event | Training
Insight on Final Four, McDonald's All American Game, and the first ever NHSI Tournament!
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Planning Your Off-Season, Part II
by Alan Stein 03-16-2009 02:00 AM Athlete Career Development | Athlete Services | Sports Psychology | Training
More valuable info on your off-season basketball training program...
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Planning Your Off-Season, Part I
by Alan Stein 03-09-2009 02:00 AM Athlete Career Development | Coaching | Sports Psychology | Training
This blog post will cover the importance of rest and recovery, the evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses, and examining your spring & summer schedule.
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Having Fun
by Alan Stein 03-09-2009 02:00 AM Coaching | Sports Psychology | Training
If you are sensing your players are miserable, have lost motivation, and aren’t having any fun…you can find ways to make things more enjoyable for everyone in the program and it will result in improved performance on the court.
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Glue Guy
by Alan Stein 03-09-2009 02:00 AM Human Relations | Sports Psychology | Training
Who is the glue on your team? Who holds your team together? Who keeps the team focused when times are tough? Who does all of the little things to make your team successful?
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March & April Blog Preview
by Alan Stein 03-09-2009 02:00 AM Training
Alan Stein, head trainer at Montrose Christian, outlines his blog schedule for the next few months.
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The Montrose Basketball Strength & Conditioning Program
by Alan Stein 03-08-2009 03:00 AM Training | Sports Psychology
Alan Stein, head trainer at Montrose, reveals his program's strength and conditioning program. No wonder Montrose is one of the best high school team's in the nation and produces the likes of Kevin Durant and other D-I players.
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Evaluations
by Alan Stein 03-08-2009 03:00 AM Human Relations | Sports Psychology | Training
What is the first step to improving as a player? It is identifying your weaknesses. Before you can truly improve, you have to establish what needs improvement. This can only be done through evaluation.
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Next Level
by Alan Stein 03-08-2009 03:00 AM Athlete Career Development | Sports Psychology | Training
Long story short, if you want to get to the next level, whether that is college or the NBA, you need to do the little things. Doing the little things add up to a big deal! And remember, someone is always watching.
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Mental Training
by Alan Stein 03-08-2009 03:00 AM Sports Psychology | Training
There are four things that determine if a basketball player will be successful: physical ability, physical training, desire, and mental training. But how many players spend time on the last one: the mental side?
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Oak Hill Game Recap
by Alan Stein 03-07-2009 03:00 AM News | Sports Psychology
My thoughts on last night's game between Oak Hill and Montrose....
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Letter To Team
by Alan Stein 03-07-2009 02:00 AM Human Relations | Special Event | Sports Psychology
This is the letter I wrote to my team for the Montrose Christian-Oak Hill game on Friday, March 6, 2009. I gave a copy to each player at the end of a quick upper body lift after practice.
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Finishing Strong
by Alan Stein 03-06-2009 03:00 AM Sports Psychology | Training
To be a great basketball player, you have to learn how to finish!
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Instant Classic
by Alan Stein 03-06-2009 02:00 AM News | Special Event | Sports Psychology | Training
A look at Oak Hill vs. Montrose Christian
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Player/Coach Relationships
by Alan Stein 02-25-2009 02:00 AM Athlete Career Development | Coaching | Human Relations | Sports Psychology
Alan Stein, head trainer of Montrose Christian Academy, looks at the importance of relationships in basketball and how vital they are to a player's individual success.
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Proper Preparation
by Alan Stein 02-15-2009 02:00 AM Training | Sports Psychology
Alan Stein, owner of Stronger Team and Head Trainer of Montrose Christian Academy, talks about how vital preparation is to success and gives you an inside look at an elite high school basketball team's regimen.
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2009 Access Athletes Blog Preview
by Alan Stein 02-11-2009 02:00 AM Training
Alan Stein, who is the owner of Stronger Team and the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the nationally renowned, Nike Elite Montrose Christian Mustangs boy’s basketball program, drops his introductory blog in his weekly blog series.
