Saturday, August 4, 2012

COACHES SHARE 8-4-12

Coaches help coaches by sharing.

Today's Coaches Share question has been debated by coaches for years.  Coaches are encouraged to add their thoughts/opinions by sending a quick email to dietelgreg@gmail.com and have your response added to tomorrow's blog. 

Situation:  Your team is ahead by 3 points. 8 seconds left in the game.  There is a timeout.  Your team is on defense, and the offense has to go the length of the court.  Both teams are in the bonus. 

QUESTION:  Do you have your team to foul and not give them a chance to tie the game with a three point basket? 

Email your response to dietelgreg@gmail.com and be part of the discussion.  Your response is then posted in tomorrow's blog.

Friday, August 3, 2012

2-ON-2 POST ENTRY DRILL



The 2-on-2 Post Entry combines many different skills into one drill.  Ultimately it gives your players a chance to work on their 2-man game on one side of the floor. This drill is ideally ran in groups of four to ensure your players get as many reps as they can.

2-on-2 POST ENTRY DRILL
-post up technique
-post entry passing
-defensive closeouts
-post defense
-2-man game





ALIGNMENT
Two defenders start out on the baseline.  1 is an offensive player in the post and 2 is an offensive player on the wing.  One defender starts with the basketball.

EXECUTING THE DRILL 
The drill starts with the defender passing the ball out to 2.  As soon as the pass is made to 2 both defenders will hustle out to the players they are defending.  X2 will perform a closeout, while X1 will defend the post per your defensive philosophy (1/2 front, 3/4 front, full front, or play behind).

Once 2 catches the ball the drill is "live".  If 1 is open in the block 2 will pass the ball inside.  2 could also dribble once or twice to get a better passing angle.  If 1 receives a pass they need to have the mentality of attacking the basket by using a post move.

If 2 decides to attack the basket 1 must move to an opening.  A drive to the baseline will allow 1 to find an opening by sliding up the lane.  A drive towards the middle of the lane will give 1 a chance to slide a step or two towards the short corner to get open.

Offense and defense switch after each rep.  If you have three groups of two players (6 total players) then rotate defense-offense-out.

Make sure to move the drill to the other side of the floor halfway through the allotted drill time.




Wednesday, August 1, 2012

PRACTICE SYSTEM TO PROMOTE OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING

There are a number of different type of hustle plays in the game of basketball that can help gain an advantage for your team.  One example is to offensive rebound at a high level.  It takes a lot of effort, energy, and desire to be a good offensive rebounding team.  Getting those extra possessions throughout a game can be a real difference maker in getting the outcome to be in your favor.

Coaches have different philosophies when it comes to offensive rebounding.  Some will send only three players to the boards, some four, and I know some that send all five players to the glass.  Regardless of what your philosophy is the main thing a coach needs to do with their team is to emphasize offensive rebounding every single day in practice.  You can't expect your team to become a great offensive rebounding team just on game nights.  It has to be a part of the team's mentality, and to get to that point it has to be done each day.

One way to emphasize offensive rebounding to your team is to reward it as part of a scoring system in practice.

Example...

Set up a scrimmage situation.  It doesn't matter if your scrimmage is controlled, full court, half court,  or an all out game-like scrimmage.  Keep score as you normally would in any team scrimmage.  The one difference would be to add +1 point to a team's score for every offensive rebound they get throughout the scrimmage.  Using this scoring system a team could realistically win a scrimmage to five points without ever putting the ball in the basket.  Obviously this would not be ideal, but it will really get your players to attack the boards with a higher level of aggressiveness.

Adding points for offensive rebounds can also be added to your drill work (when it is applicable).

By implementing points for offensive rebounds in your practices you are helping make offensive rebounding a big part of what you do as a team.  It takes more than just telling your players to attack the boards harder, it has to be a part of the mentality of your team.

  

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

SHOW YOUR TEAM THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING LOW AND ATHLETIC

Low man (woman) wins!  This statement has been used by coaches for many years on basketball courts.  We all know the importance of our players being in an athletic stance while they are on the court.  Wide base, knees bent, backside down, back straight, head up.  Being low helps players remain in an athletic position, and gives them the best chance to be quicker and stronger.   

As a coach it is important not only to remind your players of this, but you also need to show them. The following is a very basic, almost elementary, visual you can give your players that will show them the importance of staying low and athletic.

Here's how...

Choose one player to stand out in front of the team.  Ask that player to stand with their feet slightly less than shoulder width apart, and keep their knees straight.  Now tell that player that you want them to hold their ground while you push them at their shoulder. What will happen is that the player will be unable to hold their ground and they will lose their balance.  Repeat this twice so the players can see the player lose their balance both times.

Next, have the player get in a low athletic stance.  Feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart, knees bent, and backside down.  Let the player know that you are once again going to be giving them a push with the same force as before at their shoulder,  and that you want them to hold their ground.  You will notice that the player will not lose their balance. They will remain strong and in place.  Push even harder and the player will do a better job of keeping their low position and balance.

To finish this visual have your players partner up and go through it together.  This way every player on your team gets a chance to actually feel the importance of staying low and athletic.

This activity might only take you three minutes, but it could be an extremely valuable three minutes as your players get a visual as to why it is important to stay in a low and athletic position on the basketball court.

Monday, July 30, 2012

SET PLAY FOR A POST PLAYER vs 2-3 ZONE

This set play is designed to get one of our post players a chance to score near the basket against a zone defense.  Alignment: 1 starts with the ball on top. 2 and 3 are on the wings, free throw line extended. 4 will start on the left mid-post, and 5 will start on the right mid-post.





The play begins with 1 dribbling over to the right side towards 2. As the dribble begins 2 will come in to set a screen on the top elbow defender. 3 will cut behind the zone all the way to the corner as 1 dribbles to the wing.  Also, 4 must cut hard to the mid-post to the opposite side. 4 must occupy the middle person of the zone because the bottom zone defender will have to pay attention to 3 coming to their corner.



After setting the screen 2 will float to the top of the key.  Once 3 clears the lane area, 5 will now find the backside zone defender, run at them, engage the defender and seal them. 1 will pass over the top of the zone to 5.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

COACHES SHARE RESPONSES-What did you do this summer to make yourself better as a coach?

Coaches, THANK YOU once again for your responses.  Sharing ideas with other coaches is what it is all about.  Coaches Share will be each Saturday and responses posted on Sundays.  Feel free to share your ideas next week!

"Our coaching staff met with the coaching staff of a successful program in our part of the state.  They were willing to share their philosophy with us.  Both staffs learned from each other."
~Coach T (TX)

"I buy two coaching DVD's each summer and use them as almost a coach's clinic at home."
~Coach Gary (UT)

"This summer I worked at basketball camps for the first time in five years.  Long days, but well worth it.  Being surrounded by other coaches with such passion for basketball re-energized me."
~Coach M.L. (NY)

"1. Worked at a basketball camp.  I learned from other coaches while there.  2. Ran a camp for the players in our program. 3. Read Coach K's book Leading With The Heart."
~Coach T.R. (WI)

"The most important thing I did this summer was I broke down our game films again from our previous season.  Polished up my notes on our opponents and our own returning personnel."
~Coach D (AR)