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...]
Balance for the Basketball Player
Concepts Balance leads to Quickness. Most players violate the 5th Principle of Balance and thereby greatly impede their quickness. Balance, along with Footwork, must precede all fundamental teaching. It is interesting that the only coach who seems to have fully emphasized the Principles of Balance in his teaching was arguably the most successful coach in the history of college basketball. UCLA’s John Wooden, Coach Wooden wrote, “Any physical activity and particularly basketball, … [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...]
10 Defensive Tactics When Guarding the Basketball
Individual defensive techniques are very important in your overall defensive scheme. These ideas and tactics should be emphasized with your players as you teach one-on-one skills within your overall team defense. We know the importance of helpside defense and how a good team defense can utterly disrupt an opponent, however, each individual defender must also understand his responsibility for controlling his own man. The following tactics should be emphasized, taught, and discussed with your … [Read more...]
Throw-In Break the Press Drill
Purpose: To teach players how to get open to receive the pass against a press. A simple drill, but necessary to help players learn to get open when closely guarded in the full court. Drill: Divide team into two lines; line 1 are the inbounders and line 2 are the receivers. The first player in line is the defender. (If you have large numbers or want to utilize time, use more baskets). O1 will attempt to pass the basketball inbounds to O2 before the 5 second call. O2 can utilize any number of … [Read more...]
3 C's for Improved Free Throw Shooting
It's the part of the season where coaches and teams prepare for the post season. You should have your eyes on the ultimate goal of making a run in the playoffs and winning that championship. If you are not in a position to make post season play, then you want to be able to finish the season strong and try to develop some momentum for next season. With teams battling for playoff position it becomes more and more important to limit turnovers, control the boards, play great defense, and make your … [Read more...]
5 Tips To Beating Someone Off the Dribble
Players like Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, and Derrick Rose have the uncanny ability to beat defenders off the dribble. They are great athletes, but they are also very skilled at ball handling and having good footwork. Below I have 5 tips on how to make a dribble move to beat someone off the dribble. Stay low When I'm taking players through drills I am constantly telling them to get low. Players that are learning this technique for the first time really struggle with this concept. I start them in a … [Read more...]
10 Commandments of Basketball Practice
This list of 10 Commandments for Practice makes for a great handout or addition to your player handbooks. Use it as-is or tweak it to fit your philosophies. THOU SHALT PRACTICE HARD we will come each day with energy and enthusiasm we will put supreme effort into every drill because we know that the habit of practicing hard will carry over to playing hard we will finish by pushing through fatigue for we know the best improvement comes upon the heels of being tired THOU SHALT PRACTICE … [Read more...]
Diagonal Downscreen Drill
Purpose: To teach proper offensive downscreen techniques. Can also be drilled for defensive teaching purposes as it is useful in helping your players learn to defend and fight through the downscreen. Drill: Two offensive players, two defensive players, and one coach or passer needed for this drill. O1 starts near the top of the key with a basketball while the O2 starts on the opposite low block. A defender guards each offensive player. The coach is on the wing. Offensive Concepts: O1 … [Read more...]