The following 7 coaching tips on the fast break come to us from Hall of Fame basketball coach, Jack Ramsay. Fast break and transition basketball is part of the game. These 7 tips and concepts will help guide you as you develop a better ability to teach and run the fast break. You don't have to be a "fast-break team" to incorporate a fast-break offense ... there are plenty of times during a basketball game that having the ability to transition quickly and effectively from defense to an attacking … [Read more...]
Basketball Coach Game Preparation Checklist
It is a smart idea as a basketball coach to have a game checklist that can be reviewed prior to every game and throughout the season. It is not uncommon to overlook an area that should be addressed prior to facing a specific opponent or even throughout the entire season ... having a checklist will help to ensure that you are teaching all of the in-game and program essentials. We will post the entire checklist here ... you will also find a .pdf version at the end of this article so you can … [Read more...]
Basketball Shooting Concepts and Fundamentals
Concepts Shooting is Repetition “The difference between a good shooter and a great shooter is about 30,000 shots in the summer.” – Dick Motta This repetition is even more important than the fundamentals. There have been great shooters who have glaring flaws in their fundamentals. The consistency of the repetition, however, overcame the poor fundamentals The best scenario, however, is to develop proper fundamentals and then also make the commitment to repetitious … [Read more...]
Creating a Preseason Basketball Camp
I get insanely jealous of football every year. They have spring practice, passing leagues, constant team workouts in the summer, a week of preseason camp, a scrimmage game, a bye week, and large coaching staffs to prepare their team for the upcoming season. Basketball coaches on the other hand have three weeks if they are lucky to conduct tryouts, condition, and prepare to play. Granted, high school athletics have become year-round for most sports. We are able to conduct individual workouts, … [Read more...]
Pre-Season Basketball Coaching Checklist
The job of a high school basketball coach is much more than practice and game strategy. Oftentimes, it also includes being a manager of operations, counselor, and janitor. Use this list to aide in your preparation for the season. It is much better to be busy in the pre-season than on game night. Do the busy work now so you can enjoy game night! Confirm Schedules. This might also be the time when you schedule your JV and middle school contests. Check your schedule with other winter … [Read more...]
Getting the Most Out of Your Timeouts
Many team's waste timeouts by not being prepared for their timeout. By the time the players get to the bench, get settled, and get water, the horn is blowing for them to get back out on the floor. Here are 5 simple tips to get the most out of your timeouts: Everyone has a place - When the timeout is called, the players first have to get to the bench and the players on the bench must get off the bench. Our players know that the first 5 seats on the bench are where they are to go when … [Read more...]
Pete Newell’s 9 Baseline Post Moves against Tight Defense
The following 9 post moves are designed to take advantage of the open baseline when the defender is playing close and to the middle. The moves are either on the catch or created through solid footwork. Baseline Power Move 1 When looking over the inside shoulder, the post player sees that the defender is playing close and on the high side. The post player reads that the baseline is open. With the back vertical and a low center of gravity, the player makes the pivot and takes a long step … [Read more...]
Starting a Basketball Coaching Round Table
What is a Coaching Round Table? A number of years ago I heard about a coach in Illinois who got a bunch of coaches together to talk hoops. I thought it was a great idea so I copied it and the Twin Cities Round Table was born. All during the spring and summer of 2013 a group of us got together and talked about a variety of topics from attacking zones to handling players. It was a very informative experience – even more informative than most clinics I've been to. This is true for several reasons. … [Read more...]
10 Tips to Better Rebounding
Rebounding is an essential part of winning basketball games. I won't say it's overlooked, but I think many coaches don't emphasize the importance enough. Games are won and lost in a variety of ways but if your team consistently loses the rebounding battle, you will find yourself on the losing end more frequently. Rebounding is a skill but it is also a mentality. The best rebounders understand how to rebound but they will also do whatever it takes to secure the rebound. Rebounding is all about … [Read more...]
Shoot Like Steve Kerr: Five Things Great Shooters Do that All Other Shooters Don't
At all levels of basketball there is a fine line between shooting ability. There are great, good, average, and awful shooters yet most all of these think they are in the “good” category at a minimum. In my 34 years of coaching I've worked with all types of shooters and scorers. As a graduate assistant working for Lute Olson at Arizona from 1985-1987, I had the opportunity to spend hours rebounding for Steve Kerr late at night; when great shooters are made. Kerr was a star at Arizona and enjoyed … [Read more...]