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Coaching Tips: Setting Goals is a Key to Success

After a long season, coaches need to take some time off to recuperate and re‐charge their batteries. However, before doing so, while it is fresh in your mind, review, analyze and evaluate the past season. Examine exactly what was accomplished, what was successful, and what needs to be improved in the coming year. Then use this information to set goals and objectives for the coming season. Caution: setting goals, like potential energy, is useless until action is taken to implement and achieve them.

In addition, basketball coaches, just like any other member of the teaching profession, need to evaluate their own personal performance. Personal evaluations are something that is generally disliked. However, they are vital to the improvement of any coach and basketball program, especially the self‐evaluations. For printable Program Evaluation forms – Click Here

“Flight Time” – The Key to Successful Rebounding

Flight Time is the time it takes for the ball to leave a shooter’s hand until it gets to a position where it can be rebounded. This normally takes 2 to 3 seconds. What players do, or do not do, during this Flight Time period will determine their success or failure in rebounding. Flight Time is when the great players excel. Instead of watching the flight of the ball, much like a great outfielder, they anticipate a missed shot and immediately move to the area where the ball is most likely to rebound and establish inside position. Learn more – Premium Members Click Here

Player Tips: Off Season

From October to April, teams are made. From April to October, individual players are made. This is the time of the year that you must develop and improve your basketball skills and techniques along with your physical attributes. However, to be successful, you must first take the time to do a self‐evaluation. Compile a list of the things you did well this past season, and the things you must or could improve. Things that you can do to make yourself a more solid, stronger, aggressive and intelligent player when you take the court this coming season. Ask your coaches for their input and specific recommendations for off season improvement. Then use this self‐evaluation to plan your off season workouts and skill development.

Basketball is like a bank. What you put into it, is exactly what you will get out of it. Prepare for the best. Bad habits can be practiced as well as good. Work individually on precise footwork, keeping your hands up, and the things you need to improve, not just your strengths. Do it yourself. You do not need to depend on coaches, parents or personal trainers. Individual improvement is not all fun and games. Much of off season skill development is repetitive, monotonous and tedious. However, remember: “If it’s going to be. . . It’s up to me.” – George Raveling.

Organize and play a lot of three on three half court competition. Since three on three provides for much more shooting, passing, rebounding, screening, and defensive repetitions, it is by far, the most efficient use of your time in practicing and improving your fundamental skills. In addition, after a long, hard season, it also saves additional wear and tear of your legs. Playing full court only reinforces current abilities.

Quick Tip: Winning Close Games

Box Out! The vast majority of games that are decided by last shots are won on put backs ‐‐ NOT the shots.

Coaching Tips: Defending Baseline Out of Bounds Situations

Coaches spend considerable amounts of practice time working on offensive baseline out of bounds plays, but spend little or no time on ways to defend them. As a result, too many easy baskets are given up during the course of the game on out of bounds plays simply because teams are not prepared to stop them.

If you analyze “Out of Bound” situations, they are unique in that it is the only time during the game of basketball where the defense actually has an advantage. Because of this numerical player advantage (5 on 4), it can be difficult for the offensive team to inbound the ball, and, as a result, numerous NCAA and NBA championships have been lost because teams were not able to make successful inbound passes in the final seconds of game. This is why many coaches like to avoid taking time outs at the end of the game.

Most coaches take it for granted that their basic half court defense applies to baseline out of bounds situations. However, this is not the case. Defending the ball when it is located out of bounds behind the defense is entirely different matter than defending the ball when it is out in front of the defense. In addition, in regular half court set offenses, defenders are mostly guarding shooters moving off screens away from the basket. On baseline out of bounds, the shooters are going directly to the basket. As a result, there is no room for error. If the defense makes an error on an out of bounds play it results in an easy basket.

Some teams will automatically zone on out of bound situations. However, zones are faced with the same problem of having to make adjustments to defend the ball being taken out on the baseline behind the basket rather than out front. In addition, zones are very susceptible to screen and roll action along with overloads, which happens to be the main staple of out of bounds plays. Learn More 

Coaching Tips: Managing Timeouts Wisely

To get maximum benefit, whenever a timeout is called, players should run to the bench, especially in the case of a 20 or 30 second timeout. Note: if a player is so tired they cannot run to the bench, they should be replaced immediately. Full timeouts should be divided into two parts with the first 30 seconds being players’ time for water, towels, etc. For the last 30 seconds of a timeout all attention goes entirely to coach. Be sure to get eye contact and every player is listening before speaking. Also, make sure only one coach is speaking at time. Too many voices during a time out can be very distracting and detrimental. During timeouts, it is common place to observe four different coaches talking to different players at the same.

Since players remember very little of what is said during a timeout, keep adjustments and changes simple. One to three things at the most. In addition, do not expect them to successfully execute anything new that you have not worked on in practice. Substitutes must also be alert and pay attention to the changes and adjustments being made.

On every timeout, be sure an assistant coach double check with the official scorer on the exact number of personal fouls on each player and time outs remaining. Official scorers are known to make mistakes in crediting personal fouls to the wrong player. However, if caught early it can be corrected. However, if a player foul discrepancy is discovered late in the game, there is nothing much that can be done to correct it.

Coming out of time out, make sure every player must knows the number of time outs remaining and team foul situation. This is extremely important at the end of a close game. Games and national titles have been lost by players taking a timeout after a team has used their last timeout and not taking advantage of having fouls to give.

Quick Tip: Intentional Missed Free Throw

Chances are good during the season that an end of game situation will be encountered that requires the intentionally missing of a free throw; therefore, teams must be prepared for it. Intentional missing a free throw must be taught and practiced. Players must know and recognize their assignments are on a “intentionally” missed free throw situation. Shooters must not only practice the intentional miss, they also need to be aware of the rule that the ball must hit the rim.

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 

Player Tips: Avoiding Foul Trouble

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 use fouls to their advantage. When it comes to fouling to gain a competitive edge there is no margin for error. The difference between fouls being your ally or your enemy rests on a single foul. If you analyze fouling, you will quickly see that every time you step onto the court you can count on receiving three basic fouls:

Foul #1 ‐ You will receive at least one bad call during the game.

Foul #2 ‐ At least one charge/block judgment call will go against you.

Foul #3 ‐ You will use at least one foul for strategy reasons.

Therefore, if you commit just one careless or lazy foul you are in foul trouble (Foul #4). You may commit a careless foul early in the game and think it is only your first foul. However, since the other three basic fouls are definitely coming it immediately puts you in foul trouble. Once you are in foul trouble you be come a defensive liability especially in the low post area. In the low post area, you will be forced to play behind your opponent with your hands up like a “prisoner” and only hope that your opponent does not score. If your opponent is smart they will take “no prisoners” and attack you at every opportunity. To learn more about avoiding fouls – Premium Members Click Here

Quick Tip: Teaching & Learning

To be successful players must gain a working knowledge of the game. What, when and why should be very clear and specific. Learning is best when it includes activities using as many senses as possible. Learners remember 10% of what is read, 20% of what is heard (75% is forgotten after 2 days), 30% of what is seen (majority of learning), and 50% of what is heard and seen. Different players learn in different ways and rates. Encourage players to learn individually, in pairs and in teams. Learning is further enhanced when it is relevant and fully understood by the learner, such as the importance of boxing out on rebounds.

Coaching Tips: Developing an Inbounder Passer

It is not so easy to inbound ball. Most players and coaches take making an inbounds pass for granted. However, in making an inbounds pass, the passer is facing a five against four defensive advantage and only has five (5) seconds in which to locate a receiver and make a successful inbounds pass. In addition, to this numerical disadvantage, by rule the inbounder cannot move, except after a made shot. This provides the defense with the opportunity to jam or smother the passer very effectively. Also, on baseline out of bound situations, the backboard comes into play and becomes a real obstacle in which that the inbounds passer has to contend.

Many of championships have been lost because teams were not able to inbound ball at end of game. Players on all levels, including the NBA and WNBA, need to know and practice the fundamental skills and concepts required in making a successful inbound pass. In additional to the physical skills involved, good inbound passers must possess a strong commitment to team play since they are taken for granted and very rarely rewarded for the efforts. However, good inbounders are vital, and a team will not win a championship without one.  To learn more – Premium Members Click Here

Disrupting “On-Ball” Screens

The number of teams that are using On-Ball screens (screen & roll) as an integral part of their offensive is increasing. Since On-Ball screens can produce a variety of quick hitting options, they pose a real threat to any team that is not prepared to defend them. On-Ball screens require a total team effort to stop. The ball handler should be influenced and forced to dribble in a direction away from the screen. The screener’s attempt to set a screen should be disrupted, and the helpside defenders must rotate over to prevent or disrupt the roll option. Therefore, communication, teamwork, and aggressiveness are key components in defending against the On-Ball screen. Learn more – Premium Members Click Here

Player Tips: Rebounding Offensively

Rather than size and strength along with teamwork that is required for defensive rebounding, offensive rebounding is an individual effort requiring anticipation, determination, and hustle. Players must develop an attitude as well as an instinct for the ball. They must be aggressive and determined, and 2nd and 3rd efforts should be common place.

The most important key to offensive rebounding is getting to the right place at the right time. In order to accomplish this, players must be active during FLIGHT TIME (the time it takes the ball to leave the shooter’s hand and descends to a point where it can be rebounded). During this time players must determine distance as well as the proper angle of rebound. However, close to 70% of the time shot will rebound off to opposite side of basket. Also, the longer the shot the longer the rebound. Once in the proper rebounding area, players then need to establish inside position by boxing out the defender and avoid going over the back of the defensive player. Since most defensive players have a tendency to watch the flight of the ball and do not box out, all the offensive player has to do is simply step around the defender to establish inside rebounding position. However, in cases, where defenders do block out, offensive players need to know how to use arm over and spin techniques to get inside. To learn much more – Premium Memebers Click Here