NEW YORK -- The best thing young players can do for their basketball careers is not play too much basketball.They should participate in other sports and delay specializing in just basketball until they are at least 14 years old. They should also take at least one day off from organized competition each week and extended time off at least once a year for proper physical and mental recovery.Those were among the guidelines announced Monday by the NBA and USA Basketball to begin Jr. NBA Week. The Jr. NBA is the leagues youth basketball participation program for boys and girls ages 6-14. The research and recommendations come from panels of medical experts, former players, and coaches and administrators throughout basketball.They found that athletes who have the most success played multiple sports at a young age and didnt focus on a specific one until late adolescence.The idea of sampling and participating in other sports does not mean youre getting behind, said Dr. John DiFiori, NBA director of sports medicine and UCLA team physician. They actually provide a strong foundation for success in your sport.LeBron James, perhaps the NBAs best player, played football through his junior year of high school. But those who focus on basketball too soon face some risks that can last well beyond their teen years.Theres a concern that single sport specialization may contribute to injuries and may also contribute to basically loss of interest in the sport from sort of the repetition of incessant participation in one activity, DiFiori said, adding there are cases of young athletes developing overuse injuries specific to a certain sport.NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has made player health one of his biggest concerns, working to create a schedule that allows more time for rest and recovery. The league went further earlier this year by looking into the youth levels.Working groups were created in the areas of health and wellness, playing standards, and curriculum and instruction. Their guidelines stressed the importance of time away from the court, with recommendations on amount of practice and game time, and even amount of sleep.I think sometimes parents and coaches can forget that there are only so many hours in the day and that when you have someone whos going to high school and theyre at school from 8 oclock to 2 oclock, or to 3 oclock and then theyre at practice for a couple of hours and they need time to study, they need time to eat, they need time to commute back and forth to school and practices, they need time to sleep, DiFiori said. They need time to recover and its important that people actually look at that and realize that you cant pack everything into one day and still necessarily have a healthy situation.The guidelines suggest limiting high-density competition, such as tournaments that feature multiple games in a short period of time.DiFiori noted the guidelines apply only to organized competition, saying that individual practice time or pickup games are beneficial. They have been endorsed by numerous youth organizations, athletic apparel companies and supported by the NCAA.Were sending a message to families, young athletes, coaches about rethinking how we do things at the youth level, he said.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney Cheap Nationals Jerseys China . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. Brian Goodwin Jersey . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. http://www.cheapnationalsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-daniel-murphy-jersey .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Sean Doolittle Jersey . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. NEW YORK -- The Texas Rangers waited over seven hours to get their 50th win. They quickly recorded their 51st victory.How will Texas get its next victory?The Rangers will look to make it three straight wins over the New York Yankees Wednesday night when the teams continue their four-game series at Yankee Stadium.Texas began this series by scoring four runs in the ninth inning in a 9-6 victory in a game that began at 7:26 pm EST Monday night and concluded at 2:44 am EST Tuesday morning following a rain delay of three hours, 35 minutes.It was believed to be the latest ending to any game in Rangers history according to the teams game notes.For our guys to stay so engaged through the rain delay that determined to out on the field and have their shot at finishing the game in a competitive matter on the field was in my opinion second to none, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said Tuesday afternoon.Adrian Beltre factored into the win with a two-strike, two-run single Monday/Tuesday. On Tuesday it was all Cole Hamels with a little help from Beltre.Hamels pitched seven shutout innings while Beltre hit a two-run home run in the first inning and drove in three runs in a 7-1 victory.Those performances gave Texas eight straight road wins, 15 wins in its last 18 road games and 29 wins in the last 37 games overall.I think everyone comes in every day, were just excited to be here, Hamels said. Were having fun with each other. Were really pushing each other to I think another level, emotionally and physically. I think for all of us and thats exciting to see because we have an unbelievable balance in this clubhouse and out on that field that nothings going to push us over the top and nothings going to take us all the way down. So were always going to be in it. Were always going to believe that were in and were just going to keep doing it as long as we can.The Yankees dropped their fifth straight home game to Texas and dropped to 3-4 on their nine-game homestand. New York has lost nine of its last 16 games and Tuesdays loss also was costly as Carlos Beltran injured his right hamstring after getting a single in thhe first.dddddddddddd.Beltran has been New Yorks best hitter and was injured running out of the batters box. The Yankees said he had a tight right hamstring, they said the MRI showed cramping and he is day-to-day.Even if he avoids the disabled list for now, Beltran is unlikely to play Wednesday.Alex Rodriguez returned Tuesday after being benched against right-handers Tyler Duffey and Chi Chi Gonzalez. He was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and drove in New Yorks only run with a sacrifice fly.When Rodriguez was benched the previous two games, Beltran was the designated hitter. Rodriguez could be in the lineup Wednesday or manager Joe Girardi could use Rob Refsnyder as the designated hitter while Aaron Hicks plays right field.Regardless of what the lineup looks like the Yankees know they have to start winning more consistently.Obviously were not playing the way want to, CC Sabathia said. But we have to turn it around.Nick Martinez will make his third start of the season for Texas and will be pitching in a familiar area. Martinez was an 18th-round pick by the Rangers in 2011 out of Fordham University in the Bronx.He last pitched Friday and took a no-decision in an 8-7 win over Boston. Before the Rangers won in their last at-bat, he allowed four runs and six hits in six innings while squandering a 6-0 lead.Martinez has faced the Yankees three times and is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA. He opposed New York May 23 in Yankee Stadium and allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings in a 15-4 rout.Martinez has struggled on the road for the last year, going 0-5 with a 7.82 ERA in his seven outings since June 20, 2015.Masahiro Tanaka will pitch for the Yankees and will be doing on four days rest. Numbers show he has had difficulties on regular rest as Tanaka is 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA in six starts on regular rest this season.Tanaka last pitched in Fridays 5-3 win over Minnesota when he allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings. He also tied his season high by striking out seven. ' ' '