Basketball Tips & Strategies – February 2012

HoopTactics Newsletter

The Importance of Defensive Stops
Protecting a Valuable Lead
Fouling & Clock Management
Free Court Diagrams

Coaching Tips: The Importance of Defensive Stops

Defensive Stops are the determining factor of any game. A Defensive Stop is a possession in which the opposing team does not score. Defensive Stops occur as result of offensive turnovers and defensive rebounds. Defensive Stops don’t just happen. They are a product of solid defensive play.

• Defensive Stops are a key element to all offensive runs. It doesn’t do much good to score, if you don’t keep your opponent from scoring. 14 to 2 and 10 to 0 blitzes are a result of combining defensive stops and scoring.
• Defensive Stops allow you to play through adversity. Defensive Stops during a game buy you critical time when your offense is performing badly and not scoring. If you should experience a four or five minute scoring drought, Defensive Stops will keep you in the game and minimize the hemorrhaging. Instead of falling behind by double digits, you may only lose 2 or 4 points.
• Defensive Stops neutralize and erase offensive mistakes. Offensive turnovers or bad shots, no matter how severe, can be simply “erased” or cancelled out just by hustling back on defense and making a defensive stop. The only turnovers that hurt are the ones that the opponent scores after.
• Defensive Stops are vital after bad calls and offensive charging fouls. A bad call by an official, no matter how bad, can be simply “erased” or cancelled out just by turning up the defensive intensity and making a defensive stop on the ensuing possession. During a game a charge/block foul can be a 50/50 call. Anytime an offensive charge is called, it can be “erased” or neutralized with a defensive stop.
• Defensive Stops are a must after allowing offensive rebounds. Increasing the defensive intensity and determination and making a defensive stop is crucial after giving up an opponent rebound. Like turnovers, the only opponent offensive rebounds that hurt are the ones that they score after.
• Defensive Stops are also crucial in catching up at the end of a game. All the scoring in the world will do you little good if you don’t keep the other team from scoring.
• Defensive Stops are also crucial protecting a hard earned lead at the end of a game. End of game leads can evaporate quickly without defensive stops. The best way to protect the lead is by making defensive stops.

 Coaching Tips: Protecting a Valuable Lead

When ahead late in the game the clock becomes your ally; however, you must use it wisely. Keep it running and do not stop it (unless in very serious trouble). Coaches may elect to spread the court on offense to take time off the clock and cut down on the number of opponent’s offensive possessions. However, if you do so, be sure to continue to make basket cuts and attack the basket. Holding the ball for the sake of trying to run time off the clock will allow the defense to get more aggressive and disruptive. You must attack the basket. Learn more about highly successful and proven spread court offenses – Click Here

End of Game: Fouling & Clock Management

Fouling plays a critical part in the out come of the game, especially when it comes playoff time. Fouls were added to the basketball rule book to penalize; however, intelligent players and teams can use fouls to their advantage. However, when it comes to fouling to gain a competitive edge do not assume that players know how and who to foul at the end of the game. If you just tell a player to go foul, they are most likely to grab or hammer an opponent, and pick up an intentional foul.

• Players need to be know how, when and who to foul.
• Players need to be taught the technique of going for the quick steal or trap, and when unsuccessful, to foul immediately.
• Players must practice this art of fouling and clock management

Learn more about fouling and clock management – Click Here

FREE Printable Court Diagrams

College/HS, NBA, International court formats. Choose from 36 different styles: Full court (12), half courts (18) and combinations (6 ). Click Here