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...]
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...]
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...]
3 Tips On How To Condition for Basketball
Getting physically and mentally ready for the upcoming season is one of the major pillars for success. We've all seen teams that are not properly conditioned wear out during the latter stages of the game and get run off the court. The truth is that today's basketball is a game of movement, transition, and driving to the bucket for layups or kick-out three point opportunities. This style of basketball requires that your team is conditioned well and can get up and down the court without … [Read more...]
How Technology Has Affected the NBA
Technology has positively permeated virtually every sector including sports. This piece takes a look at the various ways through which NBA has benefited from the proliferation of technology. Wearable Chips and Sensors Wearable sensors and microchips have become valuable additions to the playing gear of many teams in the NBA. The teams use the technology to keep tabs on athletes in different ways. Using the technology, the technical bench for the teams will be able to take note of … [Read more...]
The Lynchpin to Team Cohesion
Player leadership is crucial to creating a winning team culture. You long to have a few players on the team with the courage to step up and lead on the court or field and in the locker room. But there's another role that is equally important to team cohesion and creating a solid team culture. In the video below, Derek Sivers calls this person the "first follower." Check out the fascinating video about how to start a movement in under 3 minutes, then look over the key points and finally, … [Read more...]
Coach’s Wife Annoyed with Women’s Basketball Culture
This is a must-read article published over at The Sports Digest by the United States Sports Academy. Written by the wife of a D1 basketball coach, it touches on area's of the game that are lacking today. Area's such as discipline, accountability, work ethic, and much more. And though written by the wife of women's coach and dealing with the women's game, this in no way is relegated to women's basketball alone. The men's game has the same issues as does high school and youth … [Read more...]