Basketball Intelligym computer game improves on-court basketball skills

There’s an overwhelming body of evidence that the brain, much like any other part of the human body, can be trained for improved performance in a host of different ways. Now a computer game that uses technology originally developed to help train fighter pilots is getting remarkable results in helping aspiring professional basketballers improve their real, on-court game.

We find it ironic that the humble computer game, which like many popular pastimes of youth over the ages has been greeted with the jaundiced viewpoint of the previous generation, looks like becoming one of key enablers of improved real-time decision-making.

The Basketball IntelliGym software program looks like an innocent computer game – but much more is actually going on. As the player manipulates simple movements on the screen, “shooting” ammunition at moving targets, the system is busy analyzing skills and customizing a training program for the player. The computer will then administer to the player the tailor-fit training program, monitoring his or her progress at every stage and reacting to every improvement or setback. As the player progresses through the regimen, the system gently introduces one building-block after another while monitoring and quantifying the performance at all times. As the player becomes better, the activity becomes more and more demanding.

“Basketball is not about who runs faster or jumps higher, but who makes better decisions and fewer mistakes,” explains long-time NBA coach Hubie Brown. “I’m in the business for 50 years and the Basketball IntelliGym is the first training tool I have seen to actually improve game intelligence skills.”

Featuring a computer-game facade, the Basketball IntelliGym trains the part of the brain controlling complex basketball related tasks including; decision making; pattern recognition; tactics adaptation and switching; peripheral vision; attention control; situational awareness; teamwork, and spatial orientation. It strengthens the brain, just like the weight room builds muscles. What it means to players is more assists, blocks and steals, less turnovers and better shot selection.

The Basketball IntelliGym was an integral part of the training for four Indianapolis high school basketball teams this season -- Carmel, Franklin Central, Indy Tech and Zionsville.

Two players on each team were awarded an IntelliGym scholarship and all four teams had successful seasons and, according to their coaches, the players training with the system showed dramatic improvement. The players underwent an average of 8-12 training sessions with the Intelligym software training program during the season.

Mark Galloway, Head Basketball Coach, Carmel High School credits the Basketball Intelligym for a record-breaking season for his point guard. He helped lead our team to a 22-3 record this year including MIC Conference Champions, Sectional Champions and Undefeated at Home.

“Our program benefited right away from implementing this product,” said Coach Galloway. “Our starting point guard trained diligently with it, and as promised we saw great strides from his play. Personally, he had an amazing senior year breaking our single season (188) and single game (15) assist records. His assist to turnover ratio was an impressive 188/81. He was 1st Team All-State and Metro North Player of the Year and earned a scholarship offer to play for Division 1 Boston University.”

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