Defense is a critical component of basketball success, and in this blog, we will provide you with valuable insights and effective drills to enhance your players’ defensive skills. From mastering defensive stance and closing out to excelling in rebounding and pressure defense, we have curated a collection of individual defensive drills to help your team elevate their game.
Whether you’re a coach looking to sharpen your coaching strategies or a player seeking to improve your defensive prowess, our blog is your go-to resource. Let’s dive into the world of individual defensive drills for better basketball performance!
Essential Individual Defensive Drills for Better Basketball
To maximize our practice time, it’s crucial to allocate the first 3-5 minutes to warm up our athletes mentally and physically while focusing on fundamental techniques. By repeatedly executing and reviewing the basics throughout the season, we can build a solid foundation for continuous skill development. Here are the skills I plan to emphasize during these individual defensive drills:
Stance
Closing out
Chinning a rebound followed by a good outlet pass
For the initial week and a half to two weeks, I’ll prioritize these drills daily. Building upon the previous segment, let’s move on to the next set of drills:
Defensive Drill: 1-on-1 Box Out
Coach starts with the ball on the wing, offense on the opposite wing, and defense in helpside.
The coach shoots, and the defense boxes out, pursues the ball, and rotates to offense. Intensity increases gradually as defense improves.
Defensive Drill: 1-on-1 Full Court – Force Sideline
Start in the baseline/sideline corner, with the ballhandler attempting to beat the defender to the middle of the court.
The defender’s task is to stay on the inside hip of the ball handler, forcing them up the sideline. Proper positioning is vital.
Defensive Drill: 1-on-1 Pressure the Passer
Offensive and defensive players positioned on wings, with the remaining players forming lines on the blocks.
Defense applies pressure without fouling for 5 seconds as the offense holds the ball. The offense then attempts an entry pass into the post while the defense aims for a deflection.
Defensive Drill: 1-on-1 Jump to the Ball
Offensive and defensive players start on each wing, with a coach at the top of the key. The offense passes to the coach, and the defense jumps towards the ball.
The offense then V-cuts down to the block while the defense prevents them from cutting in front of their face. Intensity increases progressively.
By incorporating these individual defensive drills into your practice routine, you’ll lay the groundwork for better basketball performance. Remember to focus on technique, gradually increase intensity, and provide feedback to enhance your players’ defensive abilities. Stay tuned for more valuable basketball insights and drills!
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
Welcome to our guide on teaching offensive skills, plays, and offenses for better basketball performance. In this article, we present six progressive steps designed to enhance your coaching approach and help your players play better basketball on the court.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to introduce new skills effectively, ensure proper execution, increase speed, incorporate teamwork, integrate defensive elements, and ultimately apply the learned techniques in real-game situations. Whether you’re a seasoned coach or just starting out, this guide will provide you with a solid framework to teach and improve offensive skills, contributing to overall better basketball performance. Let’s dive in!
6 Steps to Teach any Offensive Skill, Play, or Offense for Better Basketball
It’s often been said that basketball is the most over coached and under taught sport on the planet. In order to help change that, here are six progressive steps that can be used to teach any offensive skill, play, or offense.
Introduce the Skill or Play
Start by introducing the specific offensive skill, play, or offense to the players.
Demonstrate the movements, positioning, and timing involved.
Use a coach or experienced player to demonstrate the skill correctly.
Alternatively, utilize a video clip that clearly shows the desired execution.
Help players form a mental picture of the skill or play being executed perfectly.
Execute the Skill at a Slow Pace
Allow players to start executing the skill at a slow pace.
Ensure that all players have the opportunity to master the required techniques and mechanics.
Pay close attention to footwork, which often determines the success of a skill.
Increase Execution Speed
Transition to executing the skill at game speed.
Focus on executing quicker and quicker.
Use highly specific and well-designed breakdown drills to accomplish this.
Simplify the drills to minimize overthinking and maximize execution speed.
Repeat and Practice
For individual skills, emphasize repetition, repetition, and repetition.
For plays or offenses, combine multiple parts and involve more teammates.
Develop mental and physical quickness, teamwork, and coordination.
Example: Add the “picker” when teaching the pick and roll instead of driving around a stationary cone.
Add Defensive Elements
Introduce defense to make the learning process more enjoyable.
Avoid skipping the previous steps and going directly to this one.
Focus on executing all the individual parts while reading defensive reactions.
Apply in Game Situations
Incorporate the newly learned skill, play, or offense into actual game scenarios.
Utilize five-on-five situations to create a game-like environment.
Avoid overlooking or taking this step for granted.
Address any difficulties in carrying skills and actions from drills to game situations.
Remember to periodically review the steps even after progressing through all six. Continual improvement is always possible, regardless of skill level.
Ep 1759 Five Skill Every Player Should Work on During the Summer
Youth Basketball Coaching Made Easy
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
Building a solid foundation in basketball skills is crucial for any player’s success on the court. Whether you’re a coach looking for fresh drills or a player eager to improve, these basketball skill development ideas will provide the tools needed to excel. From shooting techniques to defensive strategies, get ready to elevate your game with these practical and effective practice tips. Let’s dive in!
5 Skill Development Ideas for Basketball Practice
Believe it or not there used to be only one basketball season every year. Those players who had some extra time on their hands and wanted to play a little more would go to the closest park or city gym and play in pickup games. Sometimes those games were five-on-five full court but more often than not they would be half court three on three or four on four. Since only a relatively few players actually played in the off season, those that did were noticeably better than their peers when the official basketball season eventually started up again.
Of course, now things are noticeably different. There are two separate and distinct basketball seasons – school season and club season – and it seems that as soon as one ends the other begins immediately. As a result it’s very common for players to compete in upwards of 80 games a year! Some players benefit greatly from so many games while others just end up reinforcing already bad habits without improving at all.
If you are playing game after game after game and not improving like you want to or need to then it might be time to reevaluate your training schedule. Here are 5 things to consider when working out in the offseason. They are ideas adapted from Doug Lemov’s book for classroom teachers called “Practice Perfect.”
1. Encode Success
Fighting through adversity might make you mentally tougher and much more resilient but it’s not always the best way to develop basketball skills. I’m not saying everything you work on should be easy but instead of doing flashy, complicated drills focus on those things that are simple and game like.
Train yourself to be successful and once you have mastered a skill or movement then and only then move on to something more complicated. If possible, constantly look at pictures or watch videos of someone correctly executing the skill you’re trying to perfect. Think of it as “positive brainwashing.”
2. Practice the 20
The Pareto Principle states that 80 percent of your results will come from 20 percent of your actions.
Assuming that this principle is true, if you are serious about becoming a better player you should focus on getting real good at those things which produce the most results. If it doesn’t happen in a game – and often – why are you practicing it?
3. Objectives before Drills
The majority of young players that I know prepare for an individual skills workout by thinking: “Today I want to play these two shooting games and then do these ball handling drills, and then if somebody else is in the gym maybe we can get in a few games of one on one or two on two.”
Advanced players think something like this, “I’ve been missing slightly to the left lately so I need to work on my follow through and I can correct it by using this particular drill. Then since my crossover needs to be a little tighter I’m going to get out the cones and place them really close together so my ballhandling has to be tighter and quicker. I want to improve my attacking and finishing moves from the wing so I’m going to get someone else to come to the gym and defend me 25 times.” Notice the difference? It’s huge.
4. Make Your Strengths Even Stronger
The summer is a great time to add new skills and dimensions to your game but just make sure you don’t neglect the things you already do well.
I know a local high school girl who was an outstanding shooter but didn’t drive very well or very often. She evidently worked all summer on her attacking and finishing skills because when I saw her in college she was relentlessly attacking the rim. However, she never looked for her outside shot and when she did her shot looked completely broken. After an entire summer of working out she wasn’t a better player, just a different one!
5. Drill to Develop Skills
Scrimmage to Evaluate. Playing 60 games a summer is not going to help you develop a new skill or improve a weak one. What the games will do is give you the opportunity to implement those things you’ve been practicing.
If you’re not practicing during the week then you’re just playing on the weekends! Fun? Absolutely! But not necessarily conducive to becoming a better skilled and talented player.
Ep 1759 Five Skill Every Player Should Work on During the Summer
Youth Basketball Coaching Made Easy
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
In today’s post, we delve into a crucial aspect of coaching that can greatly impact player development. Basketball coaches play a pivotal role in shaping their team’s performance, but at times, unintentional actions can hinder player progress. By exploring the four common practices that inadvertently hold back players, we aim to provide valuable insights to coaches at all levels. Join us as we shed light on these factors, enabling coaches to empower their athletes and create an environment conducive to growth, success, and fulfilling their true potential on the court.
4 Things Basketball Coaches Do To Hold Back Their Players
Years of recruiting potential players has given me the opportunity to observe more high school and club practices and games than I can possibly count and having four kids of my own has let me do the same with grade school and middle school teams. Watching all of these coaches in action has taught me a great deal in terms of X’s and O’s, practice organization, and game management both in terms of what to do and what not to do. One of the things that I have discovered is that while most of us mean well there are several things that many basketball coaches do that are actually holding back our players and preventing them from reaching their full potential.
1. We keep our players (and our teams) “safe.”
When it comes to individuals basketball coaches often dictate to a player what he can and can’t do on the court. One common example is that we often decide early on that a certain athlete is a post player and thus should never dribble the ball, even in practice. After all, we tell ourselves that we don’t want that player at risk of turning it over and so handing it off to a guard is a “safer” strategy. While that may be true in some instances it also keeps that particular player from developing an extremely useful skill.
Coaches do the same when it comes to scheduling. Many won’t venture out and schedule any team that is historically “better” than their own team. Why? So they can keep their team’s record and self esteem safe by reducing their risk of losing.
Growth and improvement often comes after stretching ourselves and getting out of our comfort zones while staying safe and comfortable often leads to stagnation.
2. We overemphasize skills instead of qualities.
I fully realize that as long as they keep score results are important. However, constantly praising a player just because he is a good shooter or because she is a great ball handler can be detrimental to both the individual and the team. Instead we should be praising a player’s work ethic, loyalty, and commitment.
When skills are overemphasized a player may not make the correlation between work and improvement and may falsely believe that a player either has “it” or doesn’t. Don’t praise the skill or the result; praise the process that produced the skill.
3. We bail our players out too early.
One of life’s greatest lessons is that “no one is coming to the rescue” and the sooner our players realize that the better. The problem is that many of our players come from families where their parents “fix” every single problem for them and so they expect us to do the same. Unfortunately, many of us do.
As a college coach, I am constantly in awe of how many times I hear from a freshman, “I never had to deal with that before because my high school coach always took care of it.” By all means we should help our players but there is a huge difference between helping them and completely taking care of it for them.
4. We don’t walk the walk.
I am a firm believer that most players mirror their coaches both on and off the court. Therefore, coaches need to be what they want their players to be and they need to act how they want their players to act. I don’t think you can insist that your players put in extra court time if you’re the first one out of the gym every day.
You can’t realistically expect them to take care of themselves physically if you don’t do the same. If you teach and coach at the same school, your players aren’t going to take their classes seriously if you don’t. Make a list of everything you want your players to do and to be and then make sure you are doing the exact same things. Actions always speak louder than words!
I hear coaches say all the time that the first step in winning is to make sure you don’t lose. Well the first step in helping our players reach their fullest potential both on and off the court is not to hold them back. Overcoming the four roadblocks above is a definite step in the right direction.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a coach, you understand that success is not solely determined by talent or skill, but also by consistent and effective training routines. Developing and maintaining proper workout habits is the cornerstone of athletic progress, enabling players to enhance their strength, endurance, agility, and overall performance. Join us as we delve into the significance of workout habits, share expert insights, and provide practical tips to help you and your team establish a solid foundation for success through dedicated and purposeful training.
6 Essential Workout Habits
Any serious player will surely tell you that there is a huge difference between just hanging out in the gym and actually working out. But what is that difference? How do you know if you’re taking the right approach and getting more out of your gym time than just fun? Here are 6 essential habits that can turn gym time into a productive workout?
Meticulously schedule every facet of your workout.
Plan out in advance the days, times, and length of your workouts as well as the skills you’ll be practicing. Decide beforehand what areas you want to improve and then map out drills that will help you achieve your objectives. Once the plan is made treat it like you’re going to work and don’t let anything keep you from carrying out your plan.
Use a workout partner.
Working out with someone else accomplishes three things. A) It forces you to be accountable. It’s hard to miss a workout or even take a short cut when someone else is counting on you. B) Practicing with someone else, even if it’s just a friend or a parent, allows you to use more complex drills; drills that require a passer, rebounder, or defender. C) Having a workout partner can add a competitive component to your sessions as you work to excel at every drill and to “beat” your partner.
Workouts should always include warming up and cooling down.
There are almost as many ways to warm up as there are players. I know players who swear by the benefits of active stretching and jogging while others are convinced they benefit most from jumping rope and stationary ball handling. The important thing is that you do something to elevate your core body temperature and to prepare your muscles for high intensity work. Afterwards, stretching for at least 10 minutes or more will help get rid of any lactic acid build up and will help reduce muscle soreness.
Keep a workout journal.
Write down everything – specific drills, repetitions, who you worked with, time spent, etc. Keeping detailed records will help make every practice session seem more important and will allow you to visually track your progress. Even more importantly, the information you record in your journal can and should be used to plan future workouts.
Do more than just shoot.
Working on improving your shot is absolutely necessary and should be taken very seriously. However, you mustn’t neglect everything else if you are serious about elevating your game. Current Clippers assistant and renowned skill development trainer Kevin Eastman says that every workout should include shooting, ball handling, and conditioning at the very least. If that advice is good enough for NBA players then its good advice for you too.
Use various speeds to accelerate improvement.
It may sound blasphemous to some players and coaches but “game speed” is not always the best speed. When skills are first being learned going slower is usually more effective than going too quickly. Then once the skill is learned the speed of the repetitions can be increased. As execution improves the speed continues to increase until it is actually faster than “game speed.” Eventually making things harder in practice will make things easier in games.
There’s nothing wrong with hanging out in the gym and socializing with your friends while you put up a few shots. To me it’s a lot more fun than playing video games or watching television and I know it would be for you too. However, if you’re serious about getting better then develop these 6 habits and spend some time hanging out and some more time working out!
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a coach, you serve as the guiding force behind your players, shaping their development not only as athletes but also as individuals. Effective leadership goes beyond X’s and O’s for basketball coaches. It encompasses qualities like communication, motivation, and the ability to inspire greatness in others. Join us as we explore the profound influence of leadership in coaching, and discover practical strategies to enhance your leadership skills on and off the basketball court.
5 Leadership Musts for Basketball Coaches
To be successful today, coaches need a thorough understanding of relevant X’s and O’s; they need to be an expert in individual player development; and they need to master some very specific leadership skills. In fact, in the long run these leadership skills may win just as many games as the other two requirements!
Here are those leadership requirements in no particular order:
Must be Goal Oriented
A great coach knows exactly what he is trying to accomplish and has a vivid mental picture of what success looks like. He is driven to turn that image into a reality and keeps moving forward regardless of setbacks and disappointments. (And there will definitely be setbacks along the way!) Long term success never happens by accident and you can’t lead your athletes if you don’t know where you are going.
Must Lead by Example
As you know already there are a myriad of time demands that coaches face every day. To have the necessary time and energy to lead others, coaches must not only be focused on their goals but must also be constantly planning and prioritizing their future course of action. “Do as I say not as I do” does not work with today’s athletes and so a coach must mirror the behaviors that he wants to see from his players. If the players are working harder and longer than the coach then that team is ultimately not going to be very successful.
Must be Personally Accountable
Not only is it easy but it’s a widely accepted practice to blame anyone and everyone else for our failures. The players are lazy, the refs are horrible, the gym floor is slick, the other coaches cheat, etc. The truth of the matter is that we don’t always get what we want but we usually get what we deserve. If you make a mistake, admit it. If you are lacking in a certain area then own up to it and do something about it! Great coaches should always take a little less credit than they deserve and should even shoulder a little more of the blame than they earned.
Must have Good People Skills
The days of the “run thru that wall because I said so” coaching dictators are long gone. There may be a few still out there but odds are they spend more time battling their players than actually leading them. Off the court team members want coaches who can relate to them and talk to them as people and not just as players. On the court they want to know why you are doing things a certain why and how that will increase their overall chance of success. Coaching basketball is as much a people business as it is about offenses and defenses and those leaders who lack the ability to positively interact with their players are going to struggle.
Must be Able to Influence Others
World renowned leadership expert John Maxwell has often said that leadership is influence – nothing more and nothing less. Players are generally going to do things for their own personal reasons. But great coaches are able to influence nearly every single decision and action made by a team member. As a result, these coaches (and their teams, of course) are able to produce more and better results than the majority of their competitive counterparts – and when all is said and done, the end results often become the leader’s legacy.
Young athletes need solid leadership now more than ever before. So many players are being influenced more by their friends, their music, the internet, etc. than by adults who really care about their best interest. A coach who possesses these five leadership skills will be able to win more games. And will also be able to make an impact on his players’ lives that will last a lifetime.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a coach, you understand that developing your players’ physical skills is only part of the equation for success on the court. The ability to navigate through challenges, overcome setbacks, and maintain focus in high-pressure situations is what sets truly exceptional athletes apart. Basketball is a sport that demands players be mentally tough. Mental fortitude shines through split-second decisions and relentless competition can push players to their limits. However, it is in these crucibles that champions are forged. Whether you’re a seasoned coach or a passionate player seeking personal growth, this comprehensive guide will equip you with 20 invaluable strategies to cultivate mental toughness and resilience.
In his book, Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else, author Jon Gordon presents Twenty Ways to Get Mentally Tough. This book is a valuable resource for coaches, but here’s a look at the strategies to develop that necessary mental fortitude.
20 Ways to Get Mentally Tough
When you face a setback, think of it as a defining moment that will lead to a future accomplishment.
When you encounter adversity, remember, the best don’t just face adversity; they embrace it, knowing it’s not a dead end but a detour to something greater and better.
When you face negative people, know that the key to life is to stay positive in the face of negativity, not in the absence of it. After all, everyone will have to overcome negativity to define themselves and create their success.
When you face the naysayers, remember the people who believed in you and spoke positive words to you.
When you face critics, remember to tune them out and focus only on being the best you can be.
When you wake up in the morning, take a morning walk of gratitude and prayer. It will create a fertile mind ready for success.
When you fear, trust. Let your faith be greater than your doubt.
When you fail, find the lesson in it, and then recall a time you have succeeded.
When you head into battle, visualize success.
When you are thinking about the past or worrying about the future, instead focus your energy on the present moment. The now is where your power is the greatest.
When you want to complain, instead identify a solution.
When your own self-doubt crowds your mind, weed it and replace it with positive thoughts and positive self-talk.
When you feel distracted, focus on your breathing, observe your surroundings, clear your mind, and get into the The Zone. The Zone is not a random event. It can be created.
When you feel all is impossible, know that with God, all things are possible.
When you feel alone, think of all the people who have helped you along the way and who love and support you now.
When you feel lost, pray for guidance.
When you are tired and drained, remember to never, never, never give up. Finish strong in everything you do.
When you feel like you can’t do it, know that you can do all things through Him who gives you strength.
When you feel like your situation is beyond your control, pray and surrender. Focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t.
When you’re in a high pressure situation and the game is on the line, and everyone is watching you, remember to smile, have fun, and enjoy it. Life is short; you only live once. You have nothing to lose. Seize the moment.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
Long gone are the days when a basketball player could take the summer off and then worry about getting in shape once school starts. Now, if you’re not in decent shape when school starts then you are already behind. The following summer running program will let you start school physically ready for your team’s Fall workouts and will also increase your speed, stamina, and mental toughness.
All sprints are to be done with 100 percent intensity. You can rest longer between sprints if you need to but don’t reduce your intensity level! This is very important!
Variation: Every other Tuesday change directions on your sprints. For example, instead of sprinting 20 yards in a straight line, sprint 10 yards down, turn around and sprint 10 yards back.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
The pick and roll (PNR) is one of the oldest and most popular plays in the history of basketball. Teams that master the skills involved in the pick and roll can become virtually unstoppable. However, a huge difference exists between mastering the required skills and just running through them.
There are four main reasons why the pick and roll has been so effective for decades:
Creates size and/or speed mismatches
Forces two defensive players to defend one offensive player which causes defenses to rotate and cover up
Gets opposing defenders in foul trouble
Lets you play your best offensive players regardless of “position”
5 Phases of the Basic Pick and Roll
Now most players think there are only two steps involved in the PNR – the pick and the roll – but in reality there are five separate and distinct phases. These phases include:
Set up
Pick
Drive
Roll
Pass
Phase 1: Set Up
The set up required in executing an effective pick and roll on a stationary defender is much different than executing one on a moving defender.
If the defender is stationary, such as when the offensive player catches the ball on the wing, the picker must initiate the set up. However, if the defender is moving, such as when running a pick and roll in transition or out of the Horns set, it’s crucial that the ball handler initiate the set up by taking the correct angle.
Phase 2: Pick
The pick should be set with your knees bent and your feet wider than shoulder width. Guys should have their arms extended down over the groin with one hand placed over the other. Girls should have their arms placed in an “X” so that each hand is placed on the opposite collar bone and the chest is protected. Either way all hands and elbows need to be positioned and kept inside the body to reduce the risk of getting an offensive foul.
Don’t lean into the defense, If the ball handler does not take a good angle and drive his defender into the pick, the picker should never overcompensate by moving.
Phase 3: Drive
A pick and roll is only going to consistently work if the ball handler has the mind set of driving to score first and passing second! A driver who is not a constant threat to score will never force two defenders to guard him which will greatly reduce the effectiveness of the play.
The biggest mistake players make is driving too early before the picker has come to a complete stop and established a legal position. When this happens it almost always results in an offensive foul called on the picker.
Get as low as possible on the drive. Work on getting your inside shoulder as low or lower than your teammate’s (Picker) hip. Drive so close to your teammate that you actually make contact with his hip.
Once you clear the pick, the goal is to execute a straight line drive to the basket. The defense may hard hedge to throw you off line but you should keep your dribble alive, recover as soon as possible and attack the rim. Remember, the shortest distance between two points is always a straight line!
Phase 4: Roll
Once the ball handler has cleared the pick, the picker should open up to the ball and roll in the same direction as the drive. The key to a highly effective roll is to maintain contact with the defender as long as possible.
Many on ball defenders, especially younger ones, will usually take the path of least resistance and try to slide underneath the pick. When this happens a quick and physical roll will essentially serve as a “moving screen” and keep the ball handler’s defender completely out of the play.
Phase 5: Pass
The first four steps can be executed perfectly but if the ensuing pass is thrown poorly the entire sequence becomes a total failure. Since the pass must be thrown quickly and accurately a one handed bounce pass thrown right off the dribble is usually the best option. Chest passes are usually deflected or stolen in this situation and lob passes are often thrown too short or behind the roller.
Pick and roll duos like Stockton & Malone and Parker & Duncan have made this play look much easier than it really is over the years. Don’t let its simplicity fool you into thinking than anyone can do it by just walking out on to the court.
Each of the five steps takes hundreds of repetitions to master but once you do you will be able to impact every game you enter.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
There are a variety of different basketball sets that a coach can run. Some like the 1-4 high looks, some like Box sets, and some like to change it up through all their sets. If a coach has been leading a team for any length of time, they have tried a variety of different set options. Some coaches change them from year to year. This article is going to be looking at three different Point Motion basketball sets that a coach could implement with their team.
We implemented these sets last season for a few reasons. First of all, we had 2-3 players who were really strong with the ball in their hands and going downhill. These sets got our best players in positions where they and our team could be successful.
Second, it clears the lane up for those players to drive. Third, it allowed us to put players who may not be the best ball handlers but are good shooters, defenders, or valuable in other roles for us and keep the ball out of their hands as these drives.
Lastly, we had a solid 5 who could play on the perimeter, shoot the ball a little, and drive to the basket as needed. As you will see in these sets, it helped having a skilled 5 who could do a variety of different things of things on the court. The 3 sets are described in detail below.
Basketball Offense: Point Motion Away
Point Motion Away allows any basketball coach to get a great cutter cutting to the basket and looking to make plays off the catch. This is a really good action if you have a player is great at the LeBron-Catch-and-Go idea that you are starting to see make the waves on attacks.
If the cutter isn’t open, the 1 could be open on a screen and pop or the 5 could do some dribble handoff actions on the strong side of the court.
Basketball Offense: Point Motion Middle
This is a great set if you have a guard (especially a 1) who is a skilled post player. It starts with the 5 flashing and the 1 going into the lane for a cut/post opportunity. If that is not open, it continues with a down screen for the 1 to the corner and the screener could slip.
If neither of those are open, the play wraps up with a dribble handoff with 1 going downhill. The 5 needs to be able to be adaptable to many situations in this set.
Basketball Offense: Point Motion Over
This is quite possibly the most simple of the sets. This is a great opportunity to get the ball into your 1‘s hands. It gets them going downhill and make reads. They could go to the basket or hit a corner shooter for a 3.
A counter to this play would be the 5 keeping the ball and spinning and going opposite. This is a great example of why you need a 5 the opposing team needs to respect because if they don’t the lane will be clogged for the 1.
Kyle Brasher | Gibson Southern High School
Lady Titans Basketball Coach
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources. All laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a youth basketball coach, one of the most important skills you can develop is effective communication with your players. Good communication can help your players feel more confident, engaged, and motivated, while poor communication can lead to confusion, frustration, and disengagement. Communicating with youth basketball players remains key to any team building and development.
Here are 10 tips to help you communicate effectively with your youth basketball players:
10 Tips for Communicating Effectively with Youth Basketball Players
Be clear and concise: Use simple language and avoid jargon or complicated instructions. Make sure your players understand what you are asking them to do.
Use positive language: Focus on what you want your players to do, rather than what you don’t want them to do. For example, say “keep your elbows in” instead of “don’t let your elbows stick out”.
Provide feedback: Let your players know what they are doing well and what they can improve on. Be specific and provide examples.
Use demonstrations: Show your players what you want them to do. This can be especially helpful for younger players who may not understand verbal instructions as well.
Use visual aids: Use diagrams or videos to help explain concepts or strategies.
Be patient: Youth players are still developing their skills and may need more time to understand what you are asking of them. Be patient and offer additional explanations or demonstrations as needed.
Ask questions: Encourage your players to ask questions and clarify their understanding. This can help them feel more engaged and invested in the process.
Use positive reinforcement: Praise your players for their efforts and progress. This can help build their confidence and motivation.
Give players ownership: Let your players have a say in the team’s goals or strategies. This can help them feel more invested and engaged in the process.
Listen to your players: Pay attention to your players’ feedback and concerns. This can help you identify areas where you may need to adjust your coaching style or strategy.
By using these tips, you can improve your communication skills as a youth basketball coach and help your players develop their skills and confidence on the court. Remember, effective communication is a key component of successful coaching at any level.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a youth basketball coach, I’ve seen players of all levels and abilities. While there are many skills that can be valuable for players to learn, there are five essential skills that every youth player should focus on. In this post, we’ll discuss these five skills, along with specific tactics and reasoning for each one, and explain how they can be helpful for youth basketball players.
Essential Youth Basketball Skills to Develop
These five essential skills are critical for youth basketball players to learn. Ball handling, shooting, defense, passing, and rebounding are fundamental skills that players will use in every game.
Ball Handling
One of the most fundamental skills in basketball is ball handling. Without good ball handling skills, players will struggle to move around the court, protect the ball, and make passes.
To improve ball handling skills, coaches can encourage players to practice dribbling with both hands, practice changing direction while dribbling, and incorporate cone drills to work on agility and control.
Shooting
Shooting is another essential skill that all youth basketball players should learn. Accuracy is critical for players to contribute to their team and score points.
Coaches can help players improve their shooting skills by encouraging proper form, incorporating shooting drills, and helping players develop a consistent shooting routine.
Defense
A good defense can make a big difference in a basketball game. Youth basketball players should learn how to play good defense, which includes staying low, moving their feet, and keeping their eyes on the ball.
Coaches can help players improve their defensive skills by incorporating defensive drills, practicing closeouts, and encouraging communication on the court.
Passing
Passing is another essential skill that all youth basketball players should learn. Good passing skills can help players move the ball around the court, find open teammates, and create scoring opportunities.
Coaches can help players improve their passing skills by practicing different types of passes, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and timing, and incorporating passing drills.
Rebounding
Rebounding is an important part of basketball and can help a team gain an advantage on both ends of the court.
Coaches can help players improve their rebounding skills by teaching proper technique, encouraging box-outs, and incorporating rebounding drills into practice.
As coaches, we can help players develop these skills by incorporating specific drills and exercises into practice, emphasizing the importance of good technique and consistency, and providing positive feedback to encourage improvement. With these skills, youth basketball players can improve their performance and make valuable contributions to their teams.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a youth basketball coach, it’s essential to design drills that help your players develop the skills they need to succeed on the court. These drills should be challenging, fun, and age-appropriate. In this post, we’ll discuss the top 10 drills for youth basketball players, along with specific tactics and approaches coaches can use to ensure their players get the most out of each drill.
10 Youth Basketball Drills
Designing effective drills for youth basketball players is essential for helping them develop the skills they need to succeed on the court.
3-on-3 Half-Court Scrimmage
This drill is excellent for improving team play, communication, and defensive skills. Divide the team into two groups of three and have them play a half-court game with no dribbling. Encourage players to communicate with each other and work together to defend and score.
Full-Court Layup Drill
This drill helps players develop their speed and agility while practicing their layup technique. Have players line up at one end of the court, then sprint to the other end while dribbling and finishing with a layup. Repeat this drill several times, alternating which hand the players use to dribble.
Shooting Relay
This drill helps players improve their shooting accuracy and speed. Divide the team into two groups and have them stand at opposite ends of the court. Each player takes turns shooting and running to retrieve the ball. The first team to make all their shots and return to the starting line wins.
Zig-Zag Dribbling Drill
This drill helps players develop their ball-handling skills and improve their footwork. Set up cones in a zig-zag pattern on the court and have players dribble the ball through the cones while maintaining control and speed.
Defensive Slide Drill
This drill helps players improve their lateral movement and defensive skills. Have players start at one end of the court and slide laterally to the other end while staying low and keeping their eyes on the coach. Repeat this drill several times, alternating the direction players slide.
Basic Rebounding Drill
This drill helps players improve their rebounding skills and timing. Have one player stand under the basket while the coach shoots the ball from various angles. The player must jump and grab the rebound, then quickly pass the ball back to the coach.
Two-Ball Dribbling Drill
This drill helps players improve their ball-handling skills and coordination. Have players dribble two balls at the same time, alternating which hand each ball is in. Encourage players to keep their eyes up and maintain control of both balls.
Line Passing Drill
This drill helps players improve their passing accuracy and speed. Have players line up facing each other, then pass the ball back and forth while walking down the court. Encourage players to use different types of passes, such as chest passes and bounce passes.
Pick and Roll Drill
This drill helps players improve their teamwork and pick-and-roll skills. Have two players set up a pick-and-roll, with one player setting a screen and the other player dribbling and using the screen to get past a defender. Encourage players to communicate and work together to execute the play.
Hot Potato Drill
This drill helps players improve their reaction time and hand-eye coordination. Have players stand in a circle and pass the ball quickly to each other, trying to keep the ball away from a defender in the middle. The defender tries to steal the ball, and if they do, they switch places with the player who lost possession.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
Basketball is a physically demanding sport that requires strength, agility, and endurance. As a youth basketball coach, you know that your players need to be physically prepared to compete at their best. Strength training is a crucial component of physical preparation for basketball players of all ages. In this post, we’ll discuss the importance of strength training for youth basketball players and specific tactics and examples coaches can use to incorporate strength training into their team’s practice and games.
Benefits of Strength Training for Youth Basketball Players
Strength training offers a range of benefits for youth basketball players. It can improve overall strength and power, increase endurance, reduce the risk of injury, and enhance agility and coordination.
Strength training can also improve confidence and self-esteem, which can translate to improved performance on the court.
Incorporating Strength Training into Practice and Games
Coaches can incorporate strength training into their team’s practice and games in several ways. One way is to include strength exercises as part of the warm-up routine. Dynamic warm-up exercises that focus on balance and stability can also help to improve overall strength and reduce the risk of injury.
Another way to incorporate strength training into practice is to use bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, squats, and lunges. These exercises can be modified to suit players of all ages and skill levels and can be done without the need for specialized equipment.
Coaches can also incorporate strength training into their team’s games by using drills that require strength and power, such as rebounding drills or defensive drills that focus on quick lateral movements. These drills not only improve strength and power but also help players develop basketball-specific skills.
Building Team Culture through Strength Training
Strength training can also help to build a positive team culture and foster a sense of cohesion among players. Coaches can use strength training as an opportunity to encourage players to support each other and work together towards a common goal.
Strength training can also help to build confidence and self-esteem, which can improve players’ attitudes and approach to the game.
Incorporating strength training into youth basketball practice and games offers a range of benefits for players. It can improve overall strength and power, reduce the risk of injury, enhance agility and coordination, and build confidence and self-esteem.
Coaches can use strength training as an opportunity to build team culture and foster a sense of cohesion among players. By incorporating strength training into their team’s practice and games, coaches can help their players develop the physical and mental toughness they need to compete at their best.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a youth basketball coach, you know that parents play a critical role in their children’s development as basketball players. However, many parents may not realize the importance of their role in building a positive team culture and fostering a sense of cohesion among players. In this post, we’ll discuss some specific tactics and examples of youth basketball parent involvement. These roles parents can use to support youth basketball team building.
5 Roles for Youth Basketball Parent Involvement
For any youth basketball coach, getting the right mix of parent involvement remains important. And for parents, sometimes it’s hard to find the line between support system and nuisance. Here’s a look at five roles any parent can play in their athlete’s youth basketball team.
Encourage Positive Attitudes
As a parent, your attitude can have a significant impact on your child’s experience as a basketball player. Encourage a positive attitude by focusing on your child’s effort and improvement, not just the outcome of the game. Avoid criticism or negative comments about other players, coaches, or referees. Your child will pick up on your attitude and approach, so modeling positive behaviors is crucial.
Volunteer and Get Involved
Volunteering your time and getting involved in your child’s team can be an excellent way to support youth basketball team building. Offer to help with team events, organize team snacks, or assist with transportation. Your involvement can help build relationships with other parents and players and foster a sense of community among the team.
Support Your Child’s Coach
As a parent, it’s essential to support your child’s coach and the team’s goals. Avoid questioning the coach’s decisions or criticizing their strategies in front of your child. Instead, offer constructive feedback privately and communicate any concerns directly to the coach. Supporting the coach creates a sense of unity and shows your child the importance of respecting authority figures.
Model Good Sportsmanship
Good sportsmanship is a crucial component of youth basketball team building. As a parent, model good sportsmanship by showing respect for opposing teams and their players. Avoid gloating or celebrating excessively after a win, and encourage your child to do the same. Teach your child to play with integrity and respect the rules of the game.
Celebrate Team Success
As a parent, it’s essential to celebrate your child’s team’s successes. Celebrate not only when they win but also when they demonstrate good teamwork, effort, and improvement. Focus on the positive aspects of the game, and avoid dwelling on mistakes or losses. Celebrating success builds confidence and reinforces positive attitudes and behaviors.
Parents Play a Key Role
Parents play a critical role in youth basketball team building. By supporting positive attitudes, volunteering and getting involved, supporting the coach, modeling good sportsmanship, and celebrating team success, parents can help foster a sense of community and cohesion among players. Remember that your role as a parent extends beyond your child’s individual performance on the court and that your support can make a significant difference in the success of the team.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a youth basketball coach, you’re responsible for not only teaching the game but also helping your players develop the skills they need to succeed both on and off the court. One of the most critical factors in building a winning team is the ability to foster a positive team culture and create a strong sense of cohesion among players. In this post, we’ll discuss some specific tactics and examples you can use to build a successful youth basketball team.
5 Tips for Youth Basketball Team Building
Here’s a look at five specific approaches to youth basketball team building for any coach to incorporate.
1. Define Your Team Identity
To create a strong team culture, you need to define your team’s identity. Ask yourself, “What do we want to be known for as a team?” Whether it’s a fast-paced offense or a relentless defense, defining your team identity will help your players understand their roles and work together toward a common goal.
2. Set Goals and Expectations
Setting clear goals and expectations is critical for building a successful youth basketball team. Make sure your players understand what’s expected of them both on and off the court. Create team goals that are challenging but achievable and track progress regularly. Celebrate when milestones are met, and adjust when necessary.
3. Encourage Team Bonding
Team bonding is an essential part of youth basketball team building. Encourage your players to get to know each other outside of practice and games. Consider organizing team dinners, movie nights, or other activities to help build camaraderie and foster a sense of belonging.
4. Practice Good Communication
Effective communication is crucial for building a winning youth basketball team. Encourage your players to communicate with each other both on and off the court. Teach them to listen actively and speak respectfully. Good communication builds trust and understanding, both of which are essential for team success.
5. Build Mental Toughness
Basketball is a physically and mentally demanding sport. To develop a winning team, you need players who are mentally tough. Encourage your players to stay focused, even when things get tough. Teach them to bounce back from mistakes and setbacks quickly. Help them develop a growth mindset that embraces challenges and sees failure as an opportunity to learn and improve.
Building a winning youth basketball team requires more than just coaching skills and strategy. It requires the ability to build a positive team culture, foster strong relationships among players, and help your team develop the mental toughness they need to succeed. By using these specific tactics and examples for youth basketball team building, you’ll be well on your way to developing a winning team that not only performs on the court but also supports each other off the court.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
As a coach, I have learned that the value of teamwork in youth basketball cannot be overstated. In basketball, as in life, success is rarely achieved through individual efforts alone. It takes a team working together, sharing the ball, and supporting each other to achieve victory. When players trust each other and understand their roles, they can accomplish great things on the court.
Beyond the game of basketball, the lessons learned from teamwork are invaluable. They can be applied to any aspect of life, from the workplace to personal relationships. As a coach, I strive to instill the value of teamwork in my players, knowing that it will serve them well both on and off the court.
Developing Teamwork in Youth Basketball
1 – Establish Clear Roles: Each player on the team should have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities. This will help ensure that players are working towards the same goal and minimize confusion and conflict during games.
2 – Encourage Communication: Effective communication is crucial for any team to function successfully. Encourage your players to communicate on and off the court. This can be done through drills, team meetings, or simply setting aside time for players to chat before and after practices.
3 – Build Trust: Trust is essential for effective teamwork. You can build trust by being transparent with your players, encouraging them to be honest with each other, and holding team-building activities that help players get to know each other better.
4 – Foster a Positive Environment: Creating a positive environment can help your players feel more comfortable and confident, which can lead to better teamwork. Encourage positive reinforcement, set realistic expectations, and celebrate successes, both big and small.
5 – Emphasize Collaboration: Collaboration is the cornerstone of teamwork. Encourage your players to work together to achieve a common goal. This can be done through drills, team-building exercises, and encouraging players to support each other on and off the court. By fostering a culture of collaboration, you can help your team achieve success both on and off the court.
Teamwork Must Come from the Team
In the book Game Plans for Success by Ray Didinger, Coach Marty Schottenheimer talks about how coaches can only do and say so much when it comes to instilling values such as teamwork.
“That direction is much more effective coming from a player that coming from a coach. Players get tired of listening to coaches. When the guy at the next locker verbally kicks a player in the butt, it makes an impression. . . . .
A coach can scream and holler about teamwork, but the teams that really have it are the ones on which the players live it and demand it every day. It comes with a mutual respect and internal leadership.”
I would have to completely agree. Teamwork that is “forced” upon the players is usually short lived and insincere. The only enduring and effective form of teamwork must be genuine and must come from the players.
If you coach a K-8th grade team, we have hundreds of resources all laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system to save you time and money. Check out coachingyouthhoops.com today!
In his book, Game Strategy and Tactics for Basketball: Preparing to Win the Sideline Battle, coach Kevin Sivils discusses how to plan strategy and tactics for basketball for an entire season or an individual game. Coaches often focus on X’s and O’s and overlook how and when a particular offense or defense should be applied and used during a game. Sometimes, though, getting a win comes down to making the right calls when substituting your basketball team’s reserves.
Here’s a look at two rules of substituting to win your basketball games!
Substituting to Win in Basketball
The first rule of substituting in basketball to win is that you as the coach must know your team inside and out. You must know each player’s strengths and weaknesses and how each of their skill sets mesh with those of their teammates. Without this thorough understanding, effective substituting is a crap shoot at best!
The second rule of substituting to win is easier to understand, yet for many, much harder to put into practice. That rule simply says that any and all substitutions must only be made to improve a team’s chances to win the game. In other words, until the game is decided beyond a shadow of a doubt, you shouldn’t play someone (anyone) just to play him! Stay out of the grey area!
It shouldn’t matter how much you like him or that he hasn’t played very much the last couple games. Also, it shouldn’t matter that his mom is the president of your booster club. It shouldn’t even matter how hard he has worked in practice lately. The only thing that should matter is if he can help your team win!
Here is a great competitive half court offense drill that allows you to work on your offense while also emphasizing your defense. Teams play “live” 5-on-5 starting at half court. (If you have 12 players, you could have three groups and play 4-on-4).
Defensive team starts out by working to get a single stop. (A stop means gaining possession of the ball either by a steal, a defensive rebound, or by an offensive turnover.) After getting one stop, the defense then attempts to get two stops in a row, then three, then four and finally five straight stops.
If the offense scores then they get to play defense. The two teams alternate back and forth until one team gets five stops in a row.
The drill can also be done backwards with each team staying on defense until they get five straight stops. When both teams have stopped five straight then they compete to get four straight stops, then three, then two, then one
“Stops” A Half Court Offense Drill that Emphasizes Defense
Half court man defense versus halfcourt man offense. 5-on-5 with both the offense and defense playing “live.” This drill is done halfcourt only. Be sure to discuss with your defense your specific approach to switching screens.
The defense must get five stops in a row. A stop means getting possession of the ball or off of a turnover by the offense. The defense is allowed only one foul. If a second foul is committed, the five stops count resets to zero.
After five stops, the defense gets to switch to offense. The drill then begins again, but the switch counter goes from five to four. Each time the drill resets, the counter drops. This half court offense drill allows for an emphasis on half court defense.
One gripe you hear on social media, talk radio, and from various coaching outlets is the following: “The fundamentals of the game are lost!” The question then comes back to this: Why are basketball “fundamentals” lost? And if that truly is the case, what can be done to fix it?
As all coaches (and parents) know, what you emphasize is what you believe in. As coaches, if we do not emphasize the fundamentals then your players will not work on the fundamentals. The next question to this conundrum is what exactly are basketball “fundamentals”?
Fundamentals can be defined as the basics of the game, skills all players need to have to be successful basketball players. I believe the fundamentals center around three skills: shooting, passing, and dribbling. In our practices and drills, we strive to do things to improve our players abilities in these three areas. Below are 3 “fundamental” drills that help to teach these three skills with some fundamental principles.
Drills to Practice Basketball Fundamentals
Drill 1 (2 Foot 2 Hand Drill)
This is a super fundamental drill that will have players working on attacking a defender’s hip, landing on a 2 foot jump stop, and finishing strong through a padded defender.
Drill 2 (4 on 3 Passing)
This drill brings in the lost art of the “pass fake.” In this drill, the offense’s goal is to complete 10 clean passes without a defensive steal or deflection. The key is each offensive player must keep a foot on either the block or the elbow (whichever they were assigned). This also works on an important part of both offense and defense:communication.
Drill 3 (Perfect Passing)
This is a great drill to make sure our passes are hitting our teammates in stride, it works on our communication, and we can even test how our players do in a little more difficult situation when we randomly changedirections in the middle of the drill.
I hope you enjoyed looking through these three fundamental drills!
Kyle Brasher | Gibson Southern High School
Lady Titans Basketball Coach
Switching screens on defense is a crucial tactic in high school basketball that can make a big difference in the outcome of games. It involves players seamlessly exchanging defensive assignments to disrupt the opposing team’s offensive flow and reduce the chances of giving up easy points.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into the world of switching on defense, exploring the benefits of this strategy, key principles to keep in mind, and tips for executing switches effectively. Whether you’re a player or a coach, this guide will help you master the art of switching on defense and take your team’s performance to the next level.
Switching Screens on Defense
The topic for this blog comes from a question asked by fellow coach in Idaho. Last week JT contacted us regarding switching screens in his man-to-man defense. Although the answer seems simple, the underlying message is one that I think every coach could benefit from.
JT’s question: “What is the real point of switching screens in a typical man-to-man defense?”
Now like many of you when I first read this question I started to immediately think of reasons why a coach might call a “switch everything” defense.
Switching screens allows your players to stay in the passing lanes and gives them a better chance to get a steal.
Switching puts your players in a better position to take a charge.
Switching screens might surprise the ball handler forcing him or her to pick up their dribble.
Switching screens gives the offense a different look and challenge that could easily disrupt their offensive momentum and flow.
Switching neutralizes those offenses that rely solely on screens to start their offense or to free up their shooters for open shots.
The real answer to JT’s questions is that you switch screen in hopes of taking something away from your opponent. You are adjusting your defense in hopes of causing panic and frenzy for the offense that will in return result in more possessions for your team.
Pros and Cons for Switching Screens
Switching on defense can be a powerful strategy in high school basketball, but it also has some potential downsides. Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Pros:
Versatility: A switching defense can be effective against a wide range of offensive schemes, as it allows defenders to quickly adapt to different players and situations.
Communication: Switching requires players to communicate effectively and work together as a team, which can improve overall cohesion and trust on the court.
Disruptive: A well-executed switch can throw off an opponent’s rhythm and force them into taking difficult shots or committing turnovers.
Cons:
Mismatches: Switching can sometimes lead to unfavorable matchups, with smaller or weaker defenders matched up against larger or stronger opponents.
Fatigue: Constant switching requires a lot of movement and can be physically demanding. This could potentially lead to fatigue and reduced effectiveness over time.
Overall, the decision to use a switching defense should depend on various factors. Among those: the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, the team’s personnel and abilities, and the coach’s philosophy and preferences.
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail! Quickly create, organize, & manage your practice plans all in one place to help win games.
Create detailed practice plans! Add drills, notes, diagrams, videos, & groups with an easy-to-use interface to create a detailed practice plan in no time!
Basketball is a sport that requires both offensive and defensive skills. And while flashy scoring gets much of the attention, a solid defense is equally important to winning games. In basketball, one of the key aspects of defense is on-ball defense, which involves guarding the player with the ball and preventing them from scoring or passing effectively.
In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 fundamentals of on-ball defense according to coach Ernie Woods, including techniques, strategies, and tips for becoming a more effective defender on the court.
10 Points for On-Ball Defense
Ernie Woods has have long been recognized as having one of the best defensive minds in the game of basketball. The following 10 points come from the chapter entitled “On Ball Defense” from his book Advanced Basketball Defense.
Ball pressure is the single most important element of team defense.
To be successful, players must possess a working knowledge of the basic defensive concepts and fundamentals.
“On Ball” defensive fundamentals are comprised of three basic components: Pressuring and attacking the player with the ball, containing a dribbler and attacking the picked up dribble.
Pressuring the ball handler makes dribbling and passing more difficult, and increases the chances of an offensive mistake.
When guarding a player with the ball, the defender should attack and take away the “Triple Threat” options by forcing the opponent into dribbling.
The defenders should influence ball handlers to the closest sideline or baseline push point. In keeping the ball out of the middle of the court (“Red Zone”), it not only reduces the offensive operating area, but it also creates help side defense.
On dribble penetration, it is important that the defender protect the “Elbows” and “Blocks”. Do not allow the dribbler penetration into the three second area.
Defenders should constantly anticipate and immediately attack any player that picks up their dribble.
Defenders must have a hand up and contest every shot. Since shooters know where the ball is going as soon as it leaves their hand, they must be boxed out.
Taking a charge is a really big play in basketball. However, in taking a charge, players need to be taught to absorb contact by tucking their chin in and executing a shoulder roll.
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail! Quickly create, organize, & manage your practice plans all in one place to help win games.
Create detailed practice plans! Add drills, notes, diagrams, videos, & groups with an easy-to-use interface to create a detailed practice plan in no time!
For many High School programs across the country, summer basketball stands filled usually with team camps, summer games and individual workouts. Many view summer as the ideal time to work on your basketball weaknesses and turn them into strengths. As such, most coaches and trainers put individual development as a top priority. This might involve strengthening their athletes’ off hands, increasing their shooting range or improving their physical strength and athletic ability. The goal evolves quickly to make as many improvements as possible before school starts.
With so much emphasis and concentration on developing top notch athletes, some coaches often neglect the importance of strengthening the overall team chemistry. The summer can often make or break a high school team and while I agree that individual development is extremely important, I’m convinced that coaches should also give equal attention to the meshing and bonding of their team.
Summer Basketball: The Perfect Time for Team Bonding
One common myth is that team chemistry is best built during the spring because it allows the kids to interact everyday with each other at school. However, there are many others that argue this is not true. Here are two reasons why the summer may be the best time of the year to develop team chemistry:
Because school is out, many of the everyday distractions such as homework, teenage social drama and “non teammate” friends will be out of sight and out of mind.
Summer is also a time when it is easier for your athletes to view you and your staff as being coaches and friends who have their best interest at heart rather than teachers and authority figures. In other words, kids seem to bond better and quicker in more relaxed atmospheres.
10 Options for Team Bonding
Because of the current economy, many coaches are hesitant to promote team bonding with the use of expensive activities may prevent some athletes from participation. Here are several inexpensive yet fun and effective activities that you and your team can do this summer.
Overnight camping trip
Team hike
Day on the river or lake
Pizza Party and watch the big game (NBA playoffs, Major League baseball, World Cup soccer, WNBA)
Video game competition
Conduct a clinic or summer camp for younger kids
Play city league softball or soccer
Movies
Frisbee Golf
Service project for boosters (yard work, painting, hauling debris)
The possibilities here are endless. The important thing is to spend some time together and to have fun. Guaranteed it will pay off next winter!
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail! Quickly create, organize, & manage your practice plans all in one place to help win games.
Create detailed practice plans! Add drills, notes, diagrams, videos, & groups with an easy-to-use interface to create a detailed practice plan in no time!
Other than parents, coaches have a bigger impact on the lives of young people than just about everyone else. As coaches we know and understand that fact and are often quick to point out to others how our influence has helped the weak become strong, the average become good, and the good become great. Even though we don’t publicly keep score, many of us take detailed mental notes of how many athletes are obviously better off both on and off the court because they participated in our program.
However, what many don’t realize or admit is that there have also been some athletes who are not better off because they were coached by us. In fact, some of these players leave us worse off than when they started!
How does that happen? The answer can often be found in the principle of self fulfilling prophecy which basically says that when someone strongly believes something about themselves, they often adjust their behavior to make those beliefs come true. Because of our position and influence, we as coaches often play a huge role in the development and nurturing of these beliefs even if we don’t realize it at the time.
How We Sabotage the Success of Your Own Players
We usually do this in four incremental steps. The results can either be an upward spiral that leads to improvement, fun, and success or a downward spiral that leads to stagnation, frustration, and failure.
Step 1: Early Impressions
The first step takes place when we form our early impressions and expectations of each of our players. Sometimes this is done during tryouts and other times it takes several days and even weeks of careful observance. Occasionally we even form our impressions and expectations based on the information given to us by others.
Regardless of exactly how and when it is done, we eventually establish a mental picture of the potential value and corresponding expectations of every one of our players.
Step 2: Revealing Our Expectations
The second step occurs when we both directly and indirectly reveal those expectations to our players. This happens directly by telling each player what you expect his or her role to be. Then, constantly telling them specific ways to expand those roles. Expectations can also be indirectly revealed as well by spending more time coaching the better players and less time with the others.
Many coaches also seem to naturally develop stronger, more personal relationships with their top players. That leaves more casual, business like relationships with the bottom of their roster. Soon, players know their worth to the team by how their coach interacts with them.
Step 3: The Weight of Those Expectations
The next step in the cycle finds the athletes responding either positively or negatively to the way they are treated. The special few, the ones author Tim Grover calls “relentless,” ignore the expectations and treatment of others because they have such high expectations of themselves.
However, the majority of players gradually start to mirror whatever the coach expects of them. Those with great expectations become great. Those with lesser expectations seem to get worse as the season progresses.
Step 4: Confirmation Bias
The fourth step takes place when the coach tells himself something like “I knew he would become one of our best players.” Or, “I’m not surprised. I knew she would never amount to much.” Once that happens, either higher or lower expectations get re-established and then revealed by the coach. The behavior of the athletes then adjusts to reflect the new expectations, and the entire four step process is started over.
Obviously not every player can be the team’s leading scorer or rebounder. But every player can be treated with respect and given the necessary support and encouragement to maximize his talents and to reach his full potential. Like it or not, nearly everything you say or do influences your players in one way or another.
Don’t be satisfied that you’ve had a positive impact on some of your players or even most of your players. Make the commitment that you won’t be satisfied until you’ve made a positive impact on all of your players.
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