In order for players to get better they must have an effective skill development workout. I see a lot of players in the gym that say they are working on their skills, but they are really just wasting time and energy. A lot of players are never really taught how to workout on their own. Listed below I have some tips on how to make your skill development workout effective and efficient. Keep workouts short and intense. There is no need to be in the gym for 3 hours when you can get done what you … [Read more...]
30 Offensive Rules for Championship Basketball
We love to play up-tempo basketball. Our style of play is to run and attack! We push the ball up the court at every opportunity. As we push the ball up the court, we look to score - primary break to secondary break, secondary break to one of our set offenses. Our primary goal on offense is to play "Team Basketball." To us, team basketball is about not forcing shots, making the extra pass, and attacking the basket to pass, not shoot. When five athletes are playing as one on the court, basketball … [Read more...]
Coach K Notes on Practice Planning
The following notes were from a Coach K basketball coaching clinic some time ago. This is all great information you should think about as you plan your basketball practices. Goals and Philosophy Work Hard Concentrate Communicate Compete 3 Systems when Planning a Practice Offensive Defensive Communication HEAR - You Forget SEE - You Remember DO - You Understand Don't Talk Too Much -- What you know is important, but the most important thing is…… "How do your players respond under game … [Read more...]
Detecting and Defending Individual Weaknesses
Every basketball player has a weakness. Yes, even the great players have a weakness ... or at least something they are not as good at in comparison to what are their obvious strengths. To find these individual weaknesses, it does take careful observation. A smart coach and intelligent player will detect these weaknesses and adapt his or her defense to take advantage of them. You may detect these weaknesses through prior scouting or you may need to detect them early in the game. For help in … [Read more...]
How to Frustrate Your Opponent
It is probably a foregone conclusion that in at least several games you have coached, you have reached the point of frustration because of something your opponent did during the game. Certainly we have been frustrated by our own players when they've had a bad shooting night, played with no intensity, and/or made too many mental mistakes. The frustration I'm talking about here, however, is a tactical move made by the opposing coach that wreaks havoc on your team's ability to perform and your … [Read more...]
9 Principles for Attacking Pressure Defenses
Expect pressure. At one point or another, your offense can expect pressure. It may be from an opponent that pressures the entire game or simply a team that employs pressure to help them get back in the game. Regardless of how teams pressure and when they choose to do so, expect it to come. Now that you can expect it to come, make sure you prepare for it. Pressure will kill you if you're not prepared for it. Therefore, drill against pressure in practice and teach your players concepts that will … [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...]
10 Ways to Get Your Star Player Open
It's not every season you have that one star player that can seemingly score at will, however, it will happen. There is also a good chance that some opponent will attempt to contain whoever your best offensive threat may be, regardless if he is a that one special player. If you expect to get the maximum contribution from your best offensive threat, you must be prepared for every situation. Your entire team must know how to help their pressured teammate. The following 10 pointers will help you … [Read more...]
When to Take a Time Out
Taking a time out is often a strategic part of the game. Sometimes they seem to help and sometimes they do not. How do we as coaches know when to call for a time out? When is the right time? Why take one at all? Below are 5 times when taking a time out may be necessary and essential to winning a game. Take a time out... When you need to counter an unexpected strategy used by your opponent. One example might be when a team employs a junk defense such as a box-and-one against your offense. … [Read more...]