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 and explains what he believes to be the 5 qualities great coaches demonstrate. I don't think you can go wrong with any of these qualities: Ability to communicateDependabilityLoyaltyEncouraging your playersTeaching the game Watch below to learn how you can better implement these qualities into your coaching style … [Read more...]
Bob Knight on Coaching Your Players to Be Better
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 IQ -- getting them to think the game during practices and transferring those thoughts to the court. Coach also shares a couple of ideas on including and empowering your players to have a role in decision-making and leadership. … [Read more...]
Mentally Dominate Your Competition
The following video was recently shared with me from the producer of it, Philip Solomon-Turay. There is a lot of good stuff in this video as Philip digs into the psychology of basketball. In this video, he looks at the NBA and dives into the champion mindset that is an all-important mental skill teams need. He shares a bit how to possess these traits and how coaches can add this to their teams. Watch via YouTube: … [Read more...]
Definitive Guide to Shooting a Basketball
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...]
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...]
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...]
Why Every Basketball Player Should Meditate
At first glance, basketball and meditation seem like they couldn't be further apart. One is an ancient practice with roots found in the Eastern religions of Hinduism and Buddhism, the other a massively popular sport played all around the globe. But the truth is that regular meditation can bring a marked improvement in athletic performance. If you are a bit skeptical about mindfulness and meditation, that's understandable. However, recognize that Phil Jackson, one of the NBA's most … [Read more...]
The Hook Shot
[Ed. Note: The following article is borrowed from a 1962 Sports Illustrated "Book of Basketball". Video links within and at the end of the article have obviously been added to use video to show the hook shot.] The great advantage of the hook shot ... is the fact that it is almost impossible to block when executed reasonably correctly. The great drawback of the hook is that it is a very difficult maneuver. It requires utmost precision and concentration, which must be acquired through long … [Read more...]
4 Ways to Motivate Your Players
by Doug Campbell | Dr. Dish Standing in front of your team, you make a promise to your players. You swear to offer something that videogames and a river of texts from their friends can't give them – athletic skills and a showcase for their talents and a team-based work ethic. You make this promise despite knowing most young people will succumb to the adrenaline rush of online gaming and the comfort of their couches. Easy, right? You can successfully compete for attention spans of your … [Read more...]
7 Tips for Motivating Basketball Players
One of the most important things in anything you do is the issue of motivation. When times were tough, one of the greatest conquerors of all time, Napoleon, used to ride in front of his men in order to boost their morale. Still, as a basketball coach, you are not allowed to enter the court and play instead of your center. Luckily, there are many other things that you are allowed to do in order to motivate your players, and here is a short list. Make Them Understand It is a known fact, that … [Read more...]