Purpose: To develop greater power and speed into acceleration. Improve first step quickness and explosiveness. Drill: Hold a medicine ball in front of chest and squat down to a 1/2 squat position. Drive from your heels to your toes as you explode forward off the ground at approximately a 45 degree angle, extending the arms and pressing (throwing) the ball as far as possible. Upon landing from the explosive launching start, accelerate and chase (sprint) past the rolling medicine ball. Coaching … [Read more...]
5 Principles for Basketball Success
There are many paths you can take to achieve success as either a basketball coach or player. No one path is necessarily the best as there are many twists and turns along the journey to success. The following 5 principles, however, can guide you to greater success on the basketball court. If these 5 principles are a part of your foundation, you will be able to withstand the bumps along the way. These 5 principles will give you the best opportunity to succeed; not only in winning games, but in … [Read more...]
Box Diagonal Play
This out of bounds play starts out in a box set and utilizes a diagonal backscreen to create a layup opportunity. When the official hands the ball to O1, 4 cuts hard to the corner. 4's defender will usually go with him because he is on the ball side. If 4's defender stays inside, 4 will be open for a jump shot. At the same time, 5 makes the diagonal cut and sets a screen on 2's defender as 2 cuts to the weakside low block. After setting the screen, 5 rolls to the basket on the ball side. If … [Read more...]
Individual V-Cut Drill
Purpose: To learn how to make a fundamentally sound V-cut. This drill incorporates footwork, 1-on-1 moves, and shooting useful in developing the ability to get open and being able to make an scoring move once you have the basketball in your hands. Drill: The player begins in one of the corners. Cones can be placed on the court as shown, but are not necessary. They are mainly used to demonstrate the spots on the court where the player will begin each V-cut. The player begins by placing the … [Read more...]
Doublestack Doublescreen Play
This quick hitter begins in a doublestack set, as shown in the diagram. It can also be run on either side of the floor, if so desired. The play is initiated when 2 cuts out to the wing. 1 passes the basketball to 2. After passing to 2, 1 sets a diagonal screen for 5. 5 uses the screen and cuts toward 2 to set an on-ball screen. 1 pops out to the opposite wing after setting the screen. 2 uses 5's on-ball screen and drives toward the middle / top of key area. 4 and 3 set a staggered or … [Read more...]
Stop the Opposing Star Player with Your Offense
Many of your opponents will have one player who is considered their star player. This is THE player that does the bulk of the scoring and/or dictates their offense. How do you defend him or her? There are many methods you can utilize to defend the star player but that isn't the point of this article. It certainly is important to devise a defensive game plan to stop or minimize the damage that one player will do against your team. However, you can also attack their star player with your … [Read more...]
3-Player Competitive Rebounding Drill
Purpose: To have the players go strong after the rebound and to provide a competitive, game-like situation so that the players will get some opposition as they go up for the rebound. Drill: Form 3 lines of players, as shown in the diagram, about 10-15 feet away from the basket. Use more baskets if available. The first player in line 1 takes a shot and goes for the rebound. As 1 shoots, 2 and 3 also go for the rebound. After one of the players secure the rebound, they rotate to the end of a … [Read more...]
1-and-1 and Run Free Throw Drill
Purpose: To practice free throw shooting in a pressure situation. Drill: The 1-and-1 and Run drill can be done at the end of practice as an actual drill, or the coach can pick players out during practice. The premise of the drill is simple; if a player misses the front end of a 1-and-1, the team will run a 10-second drill (full court down & back sprint). If he misses the back end of the 1-and-1, the team will run to half-court and back. To perform this during practice, at random times I … [Read more...]
9 Winning In-Game Basketball Coaching Strategies
As basketball coaches, we are constantly required to make quick decisions during the course of a game. The things we planned and prepared for may change. Maybe your opponent is playing in a different manner than you anticipated. Or maybe your team is not playing well -- or maybe they are playing great in an area you didn't expect. The difference between winning and losing is often determined by the ability to make quick decisions. It isn't possible to specifically cover every situation as each … [Read more...]
Middle Drive Staggered Kickout Play
This set play utilizes an on-ball screen so the point guard can penetrate into the lane, creating either a shot for the point guard or a kickout for 3 should the defense over-help. 1 begins by passing to 3 on the wing and following his pass for a handoff from 3. After handing the basketball back to 1, 3 will set a diagonal downscreen across the lane for 4. 4 flashes to the basketball. 1 does have the option of passing to 4 in the lane if he is open. 4 then sets an on-ball screen for 1, … [Read more...]