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...]
What is the Secret Behind Becoming a Better Finisher?
The NBA has quite a few effective finishers. These are the kinds of players that defenses dread seeing since they know they have the power to get to the rim and then make something happen. Derek Rose and Tony Parker were feared in their prime, and guys like LeBron James, John Wall, and Russell Westbrook still drive defenses crazy. These offense-focused players can score at the rim on their own, but they can also create open shots for their teammates. When they're on the floor, the entire … [Read more...]
Learning From the Best With Tom Crean
Coach Tom Crean, in this article, shares what he learned post-Indiana...and he learned a ton. He learned from other great coaches in a variety of sports to build on his leadership, management, and teaching skills. Do take the time....there are some good coaching and teaching nuggets in here! On the second Sunday of his unemployment Crean attended a 76ers practice. Freed of responsibility, he could look and listen and watch how others performed in his line of work. “Something clicked,” as he … [Read more...]
Disruptive Players?
I came across the below article from Positive Coaching Alliance. I know many of you are probably involved with PCA ... or at least have heard of it to some degree. If not, do check them out. This is fairly common sense, however, I wish I had come across these ideas and methods when I first started coaching! Definitely great methods to diffuse those little 'battles' with some players who can't seem to help but disrupt practice. There are 3 principles. I would have attempted #2 personally. … [Read more...]
Effective Leadership Ideas
If you are a coach, you are a leader. This Q&A article with business leader Cleveland Hughes is fantastic! Mr. Hughes shares great concepts on being a leader. And we want you to be a great leader!! Kudos to Stan Linhorst and Syracuse.com for the questions and article. The following is a great takeaway of leadership ideals from the article. There are, however, many more in the complete article so be sure to read it!! What's your advice to somebody who is a new leader or aspires … [Read more...]
Learning Lessons in a Comeback
By now, you have probably seen and/or heard about Nevada's improbable comeback against New Mexico. Or...you're living under a rock, perhaps. As a quick refresher, Nevada was losing by 25 points midway through the second half. They were still losing by 19 points with about 4:00 minutes to play. And, with just over 1 minute to go in the game, they were losing by 14 points. 14 points!! Here...watch for yourself (and we'll talk more below the video): It's pretty obvious that the biggest … [Read more...]
Tom Crean Cut Series
The Tom Crean Cut Series is a drill that that comes to us via his "Individual Improvement Drills" video. The drill is shown below in diagrams along with a video clip below the diagrams. We are now watching this video in the Hoops U. Members Area and you can watch the entire video in our Film Room. Purpose: To work on the skill of getting open to receive a pass but then having the ability to make a scoring move once pass is received. Drill: One offensive and one defensive player on the … [Read more...]
Secrets to Defensive Success? Big 12 Coaches Discuss Bill Self & Jayhawk Basketball.
Want an idea from opposing coaches what makes a great defensive team? In the below linked article, Big 12 basketball coaches discuss what makes Coach Bill Self and his Kansas Jayhawk basketball team so good at defending. A few takeaways from his fellow coaches as to why Coach Self always has a good defensive team: Limit layups Ability to adjust Hold players accountable Detail-oriented Attitude of competitiveness Fundamentally sound Play defensively as a team Here ... … [Read more...]
Pat Summitt Moving Without Basketball Drills
With the recent passing of Coach Pat Summitt, we wanted to do what we can do here at Hoops U ... and what we can do is share the legacy of one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time. Below, you will find 2 drills from Coach Summitt. Also, be sure to check out her 'Definite Dozen' from our Motivating Stories section. For members of The Hoops U. Basketball Coaching Academy, you can watch Coach Summitt's video, "Building a Championship Defense" in our Basketball Coaching … [Read more...]
Coach Bess’ Precepts of Basketball Coaching
At a used book store recently, I purchased a copy of a book titled, "Gene Bess: College Basketball's Winningest Coach". I couldn't tell much about the book as it was still in shrink wrap, but since it was basketball-related and I like to read ... well, now I have it. As I started reading the book, there is a spot in the first chapter where the author shares Coach Bess' precepts for coaching. I want to share these with you because I think they are important rules and reminders for … [Read more...]