Check out my visual resume. It was very easy to create. I plan to go back and add more details but it was extremely simple to get started.

http://www.visualcv.com/dexteryoung
 

Stats in Basketball

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Basketball and stats seem like to go hand and hand. Everyone wants to know how many points their favorite player had...how many steals, blocks, and rebounds. What was the team's shooting percentage and overall record? Of the statistical analysis tools I looked at online, I liked www.hoopdata.com. Though it's a cross between an excel spreadsheet, a statistics course, and a stat sheet, it gives you every type of look at the stats that you might want. It has individual stats, team stats, daily leader board, and even a cool motion chart.

 
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Pro's

  • LinkedIn: 
  1. LinkedIn is easy to set up
  2. LinkedIn is great for networking with other professionals
  • Personal Web Site:
  1. Site hosting is easy and convenient through sites such as Weebly
  2. A personal website allows you to express and represent yourself, team, program, etc.
  • Plaxo:
  1. Plaxo helps keep track of contact information that changes frequently
  2. It also allows you to keep track of contact information from multiple places

Con's

  • LinkedIn:
  1. Linked in does not offer flexibility in formatting
  2. LinkedIn charges to send inmail to prospective contacts
  • Personal Web Site:
  1. You must pay for some of the fancier upgrade features
  2. The site may be difficult to find without knowing the web address
  • Plaxo
  1. The contact information is only accurate assuming the information is updated
  2. You may or may not know that the information is outdated (features that help with this require an upgrade and fee)
 
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Traditional methods of networking include face to face meetings, phone calls, and connecting through word of mouth. In today's world, networking seems to be happening more and more online than any other way. In this course, I have dabbled in networking strategies that I might not have otherwise tried such as LinkedIn, Facebook Fan Pages, and Twitter. In basketball, there is still value in making personal connections. The Final Four is an opportunity to network with other coaches across the country. I have also found that when players share their thoughts about you with others players they know, their word can be a powerful networking strategy as well.

 
Though I have heard of and used Wikipedia many times, I did not really know what the definition of a wiki was. I think the idea of people in different places being able to contribute to a project or body of knowledge is pretty interesting. Now that I think about it, I remember seeing a message on Wikipedia once that said the information needed to be verified. I would assume that a lot of that information should be double checked since anyone who believes that they have knowledge or expertise is able to edit the content. 

One of the articles mentioned people from across the world working on a project or presentation together using a wiki or students in a class building a wiki around a topic of study. I think these are great uses of this type of technology. Though convenient, I can certainly understand now why Wikipedia and other Wiki sites are not allowed as sources in research papers...
 
 I think your portfolio should include your bio, resume, artifacts that demonstrate your effectiveness at what you do, and a way for others to contact you. Your personal web presence can be a way for those interested in you (students, players, colleagues, prospective employers) to learn a little more about you. It can be a way to share information as well as a way to advertise.
 
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Because I do not teach, I looked for apps in coaching.  I was surprised to see the types of apps that are out there. iHoops.com had some pretty good options such as apps that allow you to keep track of real-time stats, shot charts, make scouting reports, an organization and logistics task manager, and networking (HoopCoach.org is referred to as the LinkedIn for basketball coaches). 
Some of them are free while others cost around $5. Though I haven't downloaded any, I see many positive uses for several of them. I have already looked into HoopCoach.org and think that electronically keeping track of the stats, etc. would be a time saver and a definite plus for those looking to shift from the traditional clipboard. I also found an app called Basketball  coach's  clipboard on the iTunes store. This app allows you to draw up plays on your iPad. I'm not too sold on using an iPad to draw plays during a game. I do not think this is something that I would use but I do see the potential appeal for some. The main benefit that I see is the convenience and ease with which some basketball tasks can be completed.

 
Though I am brand new to LinkedIn I can already tell that it is quite different from Facebook in a number of ways. Facebook, though used for networking, seems much more casual and personal. You see more personal pictures, bios, and comments. LinkedIn, on the other hand, displays much more formal information such as job titles/positions, degrees, skills, etc. The casual pictures on LinkedIn almost seem out of place in contrast to the professional pictures posted by most. LinkedIn also seems more appropriate for sharing formal resumes and making professional connections versus the more 
 
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Web 2.0 has features that allow for more interaction between consumers and producers. I thought the example of Web 1.0 providing information about products  in contrast to Web 2.0 allowing consumers to give ratings and leave feedback and testimonials to be interesting. I notice that I pay a lot of attention to the seller's ratings and customer feedback before purchasing items online from places like Amazon and Ebay. 

Web 2.0 is also responsible for the platform that allows us to take online courses the way we do or interact with each other. I think back to early forms of texting, instant messaging talking over the internet (internet phone calls), and early versions of social networking like MySpace and realize that we truly have come a long way.

    Author

    Dexter Young, Assistant Men's Basketball Coach & Recruiting Coordinator at Fresno Pacific University, is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Kinesiology.  

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