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You are here: Home / Archives for Hoops U.

Definitive Guide to Shooting a Basketball

By Hoops U.

Would you like to learn how to shoot a basketball? Do you need a better understanding of how to shoot a basketball correctly? This article from Sasa Cvetkovic at Basketball Phantom is one of the more in-depth guides to shooting we have come across. He'll give you the basics, the mentality, and the form ... but he also gives you tips for fixing mistakes, shooting drills, and how to track your improvement. Everyone knows the team with the most points at the final buzzer wins the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coaching Tips & Tactics, Player Tips, Youth Coaching Strategies and Tactics

Full Court Pass and Catch Drill

By Hoops U.

Purpose: To teach passing, catching, dribbling, and shooting in a full court, fast break type of situation. Drill: The team should have four players on the court as shown with O1-O4. Half of the remaining players will be under one basket and the other half will be under the other basket. Two balls required for this drill. The first player in each line on the baseline starts by passing the player on his side of the court. The passer will then sprint up the court between the receiver … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Full Court Drills, Youth Full Court Drills

Elbow to Elbow Shooting Drill

By Hoops U.

Purpose: A shooting drill to teach moving quickly, getting into the shot motion quickly, and squaring up to the basket. Players will also work on making good passes and hustling. Drill: 3 players and 2 basketballs per basket. A rebounder is under the basket with a ball. A shooter starts on the elbow. A passer is on the opposite wing of the shooter with a basketball. On 'Go', the shooter sprints quickly across the lane to the opposite elbow. He will receive the pass from 'P' (passer), … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Shooting Drills, Youth Shooting Drills

1-on-1 Backdoor Flash Dive Defense Drill

By Hoops U.

Purpose: To help teach the off-ball defender the responsibilities when applying pressure defense. Drill: A coach or manager or another player will start at the top with a basketball. The offensive player and his defender are on the wing as shown. Because the focus is on applying pressure defense, the defender should denying the pass. When the player with the ball signals, O1 will cut backdoor and through the lane. X1, again overplaying the pass, will pivot through the lane to deny the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Individual Basketball Defense Drills

Zipper Top Dribble Drive

By Hoops U.

Use this zipper action to give a player a quick dribble drive from the top. Potential multiple kick-out pass options will also present themselves. If you like running these plays, check out our other Zipper Set Plays ... for both members and non-members of Hoops U! O1 dribbles to the wing as O2 zipper cuts to the top off the screen from O5. As O2 zipper cuts, O4 is clearing to the ballside corner. O1 passes to O2, who looks to drive right off the catch and looks to score. O3 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Quick Hitters Tagged With: Zipper Plays

Creating the Perfect Basketball Player

By Hoops U.

Basketball coaches are always on the lookout for the next big thing, but developing a young talent is not a perfect science. There are many different skills that a top NBA star can bring to the game, and while few players can combine excellence in every department, the goal of coaches and talent spotters is to find players who tick as many boxes as possible. Young hopefuls who want to develop their ability in several areas can learn much by studying the careers of the greats and the particular … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog

Four Corner Passing Drill

By Hoops U.

Purpose: To practice and shooting. Also a good pre-practice and/or pre-game warm-up drill. Drill: The drill begins with four lines in the corners of the half court. Lines should have equal number of players. The ball starts in O1's position. O1 passes to O2 with a chest pass. O2 passes to O3 with a bounce pass. O3 passes to O4 with a skip pass, and O4 passes to O1 with a short bounce pass or a flip pass. After O1 makes the pass, he steps towards the middle and then cuts hard, timing his … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Passing Drills, Youth Passing Drills

Custom T-Shirt / Jersey Key Chain

By Hoops U.

Now in the Hoops U. Store -- Custom T-Shirt / Jersey Key Chain!     Get this t-shirt / jersey key chain customized and personalized for yourself, your coach, your team, your player, your program....any and all fans of basketball!! Our custom t-shirt / jersey key chain makes a fantastic gift for anyone who loves basketball! This is a key chain with the silver metal surrounding the 'shirt' and a clear acrylic plastic on each side to protect and view your custom logo, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog

Wall of Culture

By Hoops U.

Do you have a "Wall of Culture"? Or even a board? Or a paper? I know 'culture' is the 'it' word nowadays ... every coach using it to emphasize the 'culture' they want for their program. Nothing wrong with the word...it's just used a lot :) Basically, it's your philosophy. But culture is so millenial :) Coach Porter Moser has a 'wall of culture' at Loyola-Chicago and, well, it must be helpful as they just made the NCAA D1 Tournament for the first time in over 30 years! Anyhow, I think … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog

Custom Basketball Key Chain

By Hoops U.

Now in the Hoops U. Store -- Custom Basketball Key Chain! Get this basketball key chain customized and personalized for yourself, your coach, your team, your player, your program....any and all fans of basketball!! Our custom basketball key chain makes a fantastic gift for anyone who loves basketball! This is a metal basketball key chain with the silver basketball on one side and your custom logo, mascot, photo, etc on the other side. Your image will be printed on high-quality … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog

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The Latest in The U…

5 Qualities of a Great Basketball Coach

February 26, 2020 By Hoops U. Leave a Comment

A basketball coach ... a great basketball coach ... will certainly have many great qualities. That is, after all, what makes them great! In this video, Coach DeHaven shares … [Read More...]

Bob Knight on Coaching Your Players to Be Better

February 18, 2020 By Hoops U. Leave a Comment

There are many ways we can coach and teach our players to become better and smarter players. Coach Knight, in the video below, offers one method of building some basketball … [Read More...]

Control The Controllables

November 21, 2019 By Breakthrough Basketball Leave a Comment

Author: Ryan Thomas Many successful people carry the mantra “failing to prepare is preparing to fail”. This could not be more true. Great achievement is almost always a … [Read More...]

3 Questions to Basketball Success

November 17, 2019 By Breakthrough Basketball Leave a Comment

Author: Ryan Thomas As a serious basketball player, student, or in a professional career you should always evaluate and reflect on your performance with an improvement … [Read More...]

Dribble Quick Hitters

November 5, 2019 By Michael Lang Leave a Comment

Here are a few quick hitting plays initiated by the dribble and/or pick-and-roll. Designed to get an easy look at the basket, these plays can be incorporated at any level! … [Read More...]

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