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Santa Says Youth Basketball Drill

Posted on December 15, 2010 at 7:30 PM

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It's fun and silly youth basketball drill... but it's also great for training

your kids to pay attention and listen to the coaches

instructions.

== Set Up ==

Spread your entire basketball team out on one side of the court.

Each basketball player should have two-arms length separation

from everyone else.

Coach stands at the front of the group with a Santa

Claus hat on.

(okay, if you're "too cool" to wear the Santa Hat, it's not

totally necessary :-)

== How It Works ==

The game is similar to "Simon Says."

Coach will call out an instruction.

If it's preceded by "Santa Says" - the basketball players should

follow the instruction.

If it's NOT preceded by "Santa Says" - the players should

hold tight and not do anything.

For example....

You can start out with some basic calls:

"Santa Says clap once!"

-> All the players should clap once

"Santa Says clap twice!"

-> All the players should clap twice

"Clap three times!"

-> You didn't say "Santa Says" that time, so all the players

should hold tight. Any players that do move are eliminated

from the game.

(they should shoot free throws on the side baskets while the

game finishes)

Continue with new instructions, trying to trap the kids into

making a mistake and being eliminated.

The last kid standing is the winner, and gets a small prize

for the honor.

The other kids get candy canes as the consolation prize.

== Variations ==

You can use this drill to practice any technical basketball skills

you want.

Start by demonstrating the skill, making corrections, and

making sure each player on your team gets it.

Then, test their knowledge and technique using Santa Says.

For example, here are some more suggested calls you can use

WITHOUT a ball.

"Santa Says defensive stance!"

"Santa Says box out!"

"Santa Says block the shot!"

"Santa Says slide to the left!" (or right/back/front)

"Santa Says set a screen!"

"Santa Says front pivot!"

"Santa Says reverse pivot!"

"Santa Says dive for a loose ball!"

Here are some calls you can use WITH a ball.

"Santa Says triple threat position!"

"Santa Says one quick dribble!"

"Santa Says two quick dribbles!"

"Santa Says dribble low!"

"Santa Says dribble high!"

"Santa Says left hand dribble!"

"Santa Says right hand dribble!"

"Santa Says crossover dribble!"

"Santa Says behind the back dribble!"

"Santa Says reverse dribble!"

"Santa Says power dribble!"

Try this if you want to work on form shooting.

"Santa Says balance!"

"Santa Says eyes on the rim!"

"Santa Says elbow up!"

"Santa Says follow through!"

This sequence works well for practicing new post moves:

"Santa Says drop step!"

"Santa Says up and under!"

"Santa Says jump hook!"

And so on. Be creative and have fun with it!

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Anatomy of a Basketball Time Out

Posted on December 15, 2010 at 7:23 PM

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The Anatomy of a Timeout with Tom Izzo

• Try to save timeouts in the 1st half so you can utilize them in the second half

• See what your opponent is doing and think

1. What do I want to do?

2. What do I need?

• NBA is a great resource if you are looking for Sideline Out of Bounds plays (SLOB's)

• In his first two basketball seasons at MSU, they lost 14 games by 1 to 4 points

• Izzo reflected on what he could do to become a better coach and help his teams win those games.

• He took a football view to coaching his team in that there were 3 phases of the game; offense, defense, and special teams

• He felt that if they focused on Special Teams that they could gain an advantage that would help them win the close basketball games

• Izzo views timeouts and all other dead ball situations as Special Teams

• Special Teams

1. Jump Ball

2. Timeout

3. BLOB's

4. SLOB's

5. Free-throws

• It's not necessarily the play you run that is important, but the theory/philosophy that is

important.

• Need to make sure you're focused on what's going on the floor every second of the game

• Aggressive approach – never relax

• Special Teams Objectives

1. Score

2. Go inside or outside?

3. Attack a player in foul trouble?

• SLOB's – usually tries to score inside-out

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Basketball Coaches Guide to Substitutions

Posted on December 15, 2010 at 7:15 PM

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The art of substitution is a key ingredient in becoming an outstanding basketball coach. Some coaches have a real knack for how and when to substitute, whereas others struggle to make the right decisions.

Correct substitution is never mastered, but if a coach will study when and how to substitute by watching other coaches and getting to know the real strengths and weaknesses of his own team, the coach can become very good at substituting. One basic rule must be used as a guide.

Substitutions should be made to strengthen the team's chances of victory! Whether the substitution is to relieve a tired regular or to withdraw a basketball player who is performing poorly, the replacement should be made with this basic rule in mind.

To correctly substitute, one prerequisite is necessary. A coach must know his basketball players-- their strengths, their weaknesses, and their condition, both physical and mental. If better rebounding is needed, he must know which of his reserves best meet this necessity. If better shooting is needed, he must know which of his reserves is the most dependable basketball shooter. The same is true if a better defender is needed, or more speed, or better ball-handling.

The times and situations where substitution is necessary include:

1. To replace a tired player

2. To replace a player who is playing poorly

3. To replace a player who is in foul trouble

4. To convey information

5. To maintain morale

6. To make a defensive or offensive substitution

7. To set up a press

8. Because of an injury.

9. To maintain discipline.

10. When players mentally are not ready to play.

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Is The Hand Really Apart of The Ball?

Posted on December 14, 2010 at 5:46 PM

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Question 1. When is ball out of bounds when it hits or goes over the goal? Goal support is out but what about tops, sides and bottom and when ball goes over the backboard but does not hit anything?

Question 2. Explain "hand is part of the ball" when playing defense. If you steal ball but make contact with player's hand

but not wrist or arm is that legal or a foul?

Different leagues have different rules and you should consult your leagues rule to find out specifically how the rules would apply to you.

In most cases the top of the back board is considered out of bounds and once a ball breaks that plain the play is considered dead regardless of whether or not the basketball touches anything or not.

"Hand is a part of the ball" refers to an offensive player who is holding the ball and a defensive player makes contact with his hand in an attempt to steal or strip the ball. In most cases a defender will get called for a foul regardless of whether they hit the hand or the arm of an offensive player if the defender is not directly facing the offensive player when contact is made.

Watch the video below for some great tips on how to properly steal a basketball.

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Youth Basketball Talent VS. Effort

Posted on November 11, 2010 at 2:38 PM

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Which is better? Having basketball talent or playing basketball with 100% effort? Which will help your youth basketball player succeed and improve the fastest? As a youth basketball coach it is imperative that you establish a coaching philosophy that defines the answer to this question before you ever set foot on the basketball court with your youth basketball players. Consider this:

Focusing on talent can be a trap.

Carol Dweck of Stanford University, author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (and a PCA National Advisory Board member) has identified two different mindsets that possess enormous implications for youth basketball players.

The first is the "fixed mindset," in which one sees one's ability in basketball as set. Either you are a talented youth basketball player athletically or you aren't. Either you are smart or you aren't. This mindset is a dead-end because whether you succeed or not is determined by something totally outside your control.

The other is the "growth mindset." You believe in your ability to grow and improve, regardless of where you start. This is a wonderful thought for any young person: "I can get smarter (or better at learning a foreign language or excelling in a sport or...) if I work hard at it." If your teen does something well, either on the playing field or in the classroom, Dweck’s research offers clear guidance on how to respond.

For example, you might say, “Wow, that was a great play. You are really good!” This focus on talent reinforces a fixed mindset and the idea that your son or daughter has little or no control over his development. A tough challenge in the future then becomes even tougher because talented people aren’t supposed to be stumped by a challenge.

On the other hand, you could say, “Wow, that was a great play. You’ve really been working hard, and it’s paying off.” This reinforces a growth mindset that her good play is a result of her effort, which will more likely cause her to try harder in the future when faced with a challenge that stymies her initially.

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How to use an Agility Ladder in basketball

Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:41 PM

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There are many types of drills you can perform with an agility ladder. Here are some of the most basic ones:

The one foot hop-this involves going through each box by hopping on one foot at a time and then repeating the whole course with the other foot.

The two foot hop-this is exactly the same as the one foot hop, only this using both feet. High knees-this involves going through the boxes while lifting your knees up high.

Two feet in each box-this involves running through the ladder by first stepping into a box with your right foot and then placing your left foot into the same box, going through all the rest of the boxes in this manner

One foot in each box-this is the same as the “two feet in each box” drill, but with only one foot landing in each box.

Sideways one foot in each box-this is done by sliding to your side while putting one foot in each box.

Sideways two feet in each box-this is the same as the above drill, but this time both feet hit the ground in each box.

Check out the free basketball agility ladder video below and click on the link to the Basketball 360 store for the best prices on agility ladders and other strenght and conditioning equipment for basketball players.

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9 Youth Basketball Coaching Tips

Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:08 PM

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* Pressure is only a factor when you are underprepared.

* You're only as good as your best players (best listener, hardest

worker, etc.).

* To reduce turnovers, teach passing skills and make the easy pass.

* Teach players that, if all their teammates are overplayed, PENETRATE,

then someone will be open.

* Entry passes to your offense must receive DAILY work.

* Make every effort to eliminate one-hand passes in your offense.

Players see Jason Kidd do it and they think they can. But they have not

put the hours and hours of preparation that Jason has.

* Teach your players to be aware of "baseline drive dangers."

* You probably know your best shooters, but make sure you know who

your best ball-handlers are also.

* "Offensive free-throw fundamentals are one of the worst taught funda-

mentals in the game. Teach it in practice daily"

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Attitude is Everything in Basketball

Posted on September 27, 2010 at 12:47 PM

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What makes one person a winner and other people losers? How they think! Your self image determines your ability and your success. You will be ready mentally if you are thinking success. For instance:

A WINNER is always ready to tackle something new... a loser is prone to believe it can't be done.

A WINNER isn't afraid of competition... losers excuses themselves with the idea that the competition can beat them.

A WINNER makes a mistake and says, "I was wrong"... a loser makes a mistake and says, "It wasn't my fault," and blames someone else.

A WINNER is challenged by a problem and goes through it.. a loser does not want to face it, tries to go around it, but never gets by it.

A WINNER realizes there is no time like the present to get a job done... a loser is prone to procrastinate with the hope that things will get better tomorrow.

A WINNER thinks positively, acts positively, and lives positively... a loser usually has a negative attitude and a negative approach to everything.

A WINNER says "Let's find out..." a loser says, "Nobody knows."

A WINNER makes commitments... a loser makes empty promises.

A WINNER says, "I'm good, but not as good as I should be..."· a loser says, "I'm not as bad as a lot of other people."

A WINNER learns from those who are superior... a loser tries to tear down those who are superior.

A WINNER credits his "good luck" for winning-even though It isn't good luck; a loser blames

"bad luck" for losing-even though it isn't bad luck.

A WINNER knows how and when to say "Yes" and "No"; a loser says, "Yes, but' and "Perhaps

not" at the wrong times, for the wrong reasons.

A WINNER Isn't nearly as afraid of losing as a loser is secretly afraid of winning.

A WINNER works harder than a loser, and has more time; a loser Is always "Too busy" to do what is necessary.

A WINNER shows he's sorry by making up for it, a loser says, "I'm sorry," but does the some thing the next time.

A WINNER knows what to fight for, and what to compromise on; a loser compromises on what he shouldn't and fights for what isn't worthwhile fighting about.

A WINNER listens a loser just waits until it's his turn to talk.

A WINNER, would rather be admired then liked, although he would prefer both; a loser would

rather be liked than admired, and Is even willing to pay the price of mild comtompt for It.

A WINNER feels strong enough to be gentle; a loser Is never gentle-he Is either weak or petty tyrannous by turns.

A WINNER feels responsible for more than his Job: a loser says, "I only work here."

A WINNER says, "There ought to be a better way to do It," a loser says, "That's the way It's always been done here."

A WINNER paces himself; a loser has only two speeds: hysterical & lethargic.

A WINNER works hard to achieve his goals, a loser just gets by.

SO IF YOU, WANT TO BE A WINNER, THINK LIKE A WINNER... ACT LIKE A WINNER... AND SOONER THAN YOU THINK, YOU'LL BE A WINNER TOO!

Basketball Coaching Adjustments

Posted on September 27, 2010 at 12:44 PM

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Even under stressful and threatening conditions, the coach must

remain poised at all times. This means to keep a calm, confident

look on your face, a neutral pitch in your voice, and uprightness

in your posture. Body language is a very important indicator of

confidence.

At the same time, over-confidence can kill your team, leading to a

lack of aggressiveness and initiative. By highlighting the other

team's strengths, and by giving the opposition their due credit,

you will remind your players that the competition is not going to

be easy. Basically, you want to arouse a fear of defeat and then

immediately provide the solution for winning.

If your team is the under-dog, its time to inspire them with

stories and profound language. You can even lookup some famous

quotes and say them out loud to inspire your players. Words of

encouragement and strength are needed in this situation, and let

your players know that the outcome of the game is in their hands,

not in the opposition's hand.

>> At Half-Time

Okay, so the game is underway and its half-time. Its time to make

some adjustments, but more importantly, its a time of relaxation...

Take 5-7 minutes for complete relaxation, without a word, without

any emotion. Let your players relax and cleanse their minds. Have

someone provide towels and water immediately, and set the

environment for relaxation.

Then, once every player looks to be settled in, start off by

encouraging them and pointing out the good things, and then go into

the negatives. At this point, explain the strategy of the second

half but only choose 2 key points and drive them home. Keep it

simple. Drill a couple of concepts in your player's minds and let

them focus on that. You may have 20 things in your mind, but your

players cannot handle that much information. Pick 2

things...Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize!

Remind your players at this point that no matter what happens, you

will judge whether they won or lost by their effort. If they play

hard and give it everything they've got, you should judge that as a

victory. Tell them to focus on the process, not on the outcome.

"Just Play" is the motto you need to drill in their heads at

half-time.

>> After the Game

Once again, right after a game, let your players relax for 5-10

minutes and clear their minds. You can only deliver the proper

message if they have come down from their emotional high. Once

they've relaxed, tell them honestly how they performed. If they

played well and lost, let them know that you will get the win next

time. If they played bad and won, tell them they got lucky and

there's a lot of things that need to be worked on.

Don't get into much detail right after the game, wait until the

following day or practice.

Now, as the coach, you should take notes right after the game and

write down everything you noticed about your team, strengths and

weaknesses...

Becoming A Well Rounded Basketball Player

Posted on September 27, 2010 at 12:21 PM

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Being a well-rounded player is one of the ways you'll set yourself apart from your teammates and your competition. Sounds simple right? But how many players really think through, and then go out and do, what it takes to become a true, well-rounded player?

Not as many as you might think. You're reading this newsletter and so you're part of an elite, motivated group of players (or coaches) looking to improve their game or help their players improve their game. But you'd be amazed at how many players out there don't think through their game, don't think about the areas they need to work on, and don't have a plan on how to improve.

A lot of players just do what their coach tells them to do in practice, and then when they're working out on their own, simply go through the motions, take a few jump shots, and call it a day. But to be a great player, you've got to work on developing your all-around game. I was recently working with a post-player in a private coaching session. We were going through a workout and I had him going through some foot-speed, balance, and dribbling drills.

He looked a little confused and finally asked: "Why am I doing these drills? I'm a post player." I didn't mind the question, and my answer was simple. I told him that part of being a good post player was being a good, all-around player. I told him that developing solid ball-handling skills, good balance, and quick-feet would all help to make him a better post player.

And I also told him that he might no always play the post. As he progresses from one level to the next, he might become a wing player, or even a shooting guard, and so the things we were working on would help him to that end. Point being: work on your overall game while focusing on position-specific skills. Keeping both of these in mind will help you stay on track to improving for your current position and role, while improving your overall skill-set.

Choosing A Basketball Defensive Strategy

Posted on August 5, 2010 at 11:27 AM

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Okay, before choosing a specific defensive formation, you have to

keep these 4 points in mind:

1) Make sure the offensive team never advances without strong

defensive pressure.

2) Never limit yourself to one single defensive strategy...be more

diverse.

3) Choose whatever defensive style works against the opponent's

offensive style.

4) Fully understand the defensive formation you choose and make

sure that you can clearly teach it to your players.

And, the defense you choose should be:

- Fundamental, at an individual and team level

- Flexible enough to counter many offensive styles

- Simple for your players to learn

- Complicated for the opponent to figure out

One of the advantages of having multiple defenses is that gives

your opponent's difficulty in scouting your team. Good coaches know

the competiton...they scout them...they watch them. If you have

different defensive styles in the course of a game, the opposing

coach will have to prepare for your many styles in their own

practice, and they won't have a clear strategy against you.

All teams should be able to press, especially at the end of

quarters and in the late stages of the game. Pressure and

aggressiveness forces the other team to make mistakes, and it takes

them out of their comfort zone.

War is deception, and a competitive basketball game is very similar

to a war. You want to trick the opposing coach, surprise them and

confuse them. By switching to defensive variations in the second

half that weren't used in the 1st half, you'll throw off the

opposing team.

Being able to move quickly from offense to defense is a quality

trait of all winning teams. The game of basketball is played at a

rapid pace. A simple rebound and outlet can start a quick

fast-break, and your players need to be very alert and responsive.

When on offense, your team should have the following roles:

- 3 offensive rebounders to crash the boards and create 2nd shot opportunities

- 1 "mid-fielder" who decides to either rebound or step-back for defense

- 1 defensive safety who never crashes for offensive rebounds

The "mid-fielder" and the defensive safety are ready to quickly

move from offense to defense, and stop the opponent's from scoring

easy baskets. The other players should also be prepared to move

from offense to defense at a rather quick pace.

------ Preparing for Defense ------

When you start preparing your team for defense, its important to

stress the fundamentals and develop general guidelines that all

defenses should follow, which are:

- Practice double-teaming opponents, from both man-to-man, zone, &

press formations

- Teach proper off-the-ball defense, mainly preventing backdoor

plays and cuts

- Teach your players not to allow easy passing. Stay in the passing

lanes, keep hands out, try to intercept passes.

- Emphasive attention to detail from each and every player.

- Correct mistakes immediately, and insist on perfect execution.

- Spread defensive drills out throughout the practice and maintain

variety

- Reward good defensive play

----- Choosing the Right Defensive Formation -----

In general, your team will fall into one of the following groups,

and the best type of defense to choose is as follows:

1) Five Taller than Average Players - For a man-to-man defense, it

should be generally loose, defending the basket and the paint and

not pressuring too much. For a zone, it should be passive as well.

If you need to pressure, a half-court press will work better than a

full-court press. You want your opponent to take more outside shots

while shutting down their interior opportunities.

2) Four Taller Players & One Small, Quick Player - Similar to the

above lineup, this group should focus more on a loose and passive

man-to-man and zone defense. A 1-2-2 zone can work well, in which

the smaller player is given freedom to move freely, apply pressure,

and intercept passes. The main goal with this lineup is to protect

the paint. In a press situation, stick with a half-court press.

3) Three Tall Players & 2 Small Players - A fairly balanced lineup,

in which a typical man-to-man defense works best. For a zone, the

2-3 will work very well, and for pressing, a 2-2-1 full court press

is suitable.

4) Two Tall Players & 3 Smaller Players - You can use a variety of

man-to-man defenses, infact, a man-to-man defense is best with this

lineup. A 3-2 zone can be employed or a 1-2-2 zone. For pressure,

this team can use full, half, or a 3/4 press. Very versatile lineup.

5) One Tall Player & 4 Smaller Players - Leave the tall player near

the basket at all times, while the 4 small players play a switching

man-to-man defense, in which the players switch off screens, and

they switch on any lateral movements of the offensive player from

one side of the court to the other.

6) Five Smaller Players - Pressure, press, pressure! Playing loose

is not an option. A tight man-to-man half court defense works best.

For zones, the only real options are a zone press and a match-up

zone. All 5 players must crash the defensive boards hard. For

pressing, an aggressive full-court press should be utilized with

active hands.

>> Now, the only thing left for you to do is pick 2 or 3 specific

defensive formations based on the strengths and weaknesses of your

team...and then choose a nice set of plays and drills to run in

practice...

Quality Basketball Team Uniforms at Proball

Posted on July 15, 2010 at 5:15 PM

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Proball has been the leading manufacturer of basketball team uniforms since 1983. With a Proball team basketball uniform, you tell us what you want and then we make it to your precise specification, no matter what that is or how different it may be.

Our comfortable lightweight athletic team basketball uniforms are customized with tackle twill lettering and numbering. These basketball team uniforms are durable, breathe well, and are comparable to NBA and NCAA quality. Click to see team basketball uniform examples.

Basketball team uniform sizing charts are available from this site. When taking measurements ensure you use actual readings as we do allow 'room to move' when adjusting for your size. - sizing chart in centimeters | in inches

Proball men's and are designed, as always, with comfort and fit in mind but also with an awareness of fashion and style that is so important in today's game. We take a long, hard look at other our entire line of uniforms, shooting shirts and warm-ups each year to ensure that we stay on the cutting edge of basketball team uniform design. We maintain a comprehensive library of team uniforms worn by NBA and NCAA basketball teams to enable clients the opportunity to design similar style uniforms. It is generally believed that if players look good and feel good that performance will be enhanced. The outstanding fact is these quality uniforms fit the budget conscious coaches and administrators for Youth Basketball Uniforms.

Basketball team uniforms are generally manufactured in nylon/polyester fabric such as mockmesh, dazzle and micromesh. Most colors are available. Check at the time of ordering for your preferred color.

Proball has commitment and focus on customer support. This strategy enables Proball to maintain our delivery promises as well as providing great looking basketball uniforms at affordable prices.

Great Basketball Teams Focus on 6 Key Areas

Posted on June 10, 2010 at 10:29 PM

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1. Get back on defense. (There is a reason that is No. 1)

2. Play half-court defense. Protect the basket.

3. Rebounding the defensive board. Eliminate 2nd & 3rd shots.

4. Utilize the fast break. Make an effective transition from defense

to offense.

5. Play half court offense. Know your limitations. Do the things you

are capable of doing.

6. Rebound the offensive boards. Designated rebounders must go

to the boards EVERY TIME.

If you do these things well:

3 areas -- 50% winners

4 areas -- 60-70% winners

5 areas -- Great Team

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Man to Man Basketball Drills

Posted on June 10, 2010 at 10:20 PM

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Manager 1 on 1:

2 Managers/coaches (or chairs) stand 35 feet out from the baseline with one about 7 feet away from the sideline and the other feet inside of that.

On coaches “Go”. the defensive player sprints to run around the chair/manager closest to the middle of the court while the offensive player runs dribbling the ball around the outside chair (closest to the sideline). Once around the chair, the offensive player attacks the rim and the two play 1 on 1.

Inside the Three 1 on 1:

Two players begin underneath the hoop. The defensive player begins with the ball and he dribbles to any spot inside the three point arc to place the ball down. Once the ball is placed down, the offense runs to pick it up and the two play 1 on 1 live.

You can control where you want this drill to happen if you make the defense put the bail only in the paint.

Turn and Run 1 on 1:

Drill starts like a zigzag bail handling defensive slide drill but the defense allows the offensive player to beat him off the dribble up the sideline. The defensive player works on his speed and recovery to get back in front and square up the offense. Once the defensive player gets in front of the offense, the ball handler throws the ball to a manager/coach at the top of the key. The defensive player jumps to the ball in Help side and when the offensive player catches it again, the two play 1 on 1 live.

Baseball:

This is a 1 on 1 drill that uses two teams playing 1 on 1 vs members of the opposing team counting the score like a base ball game. Start from the top of the key with a member of team 1 guarding a member of team 2 – if the defense gets a stop. then that’s 1 Out. If the offense scores than they get 1 run and there are no outs. On the first foul, you re-check the ball. On the second, the offense gets a point. When three outs are up. You switch offense defense. When each team has gone for 3 outs, then you have

just played one inning. You can do this drill from any spot on the court and can facilitate post players by allowing coaches to feed them w the post instead of playing 1 on 1 from the perimeter.

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Double Screen 1-4 Offensive Play

Posted on June 10, 2010 at 10:06 PM

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#1 dribble chases #3.

#3 runs a back door cut and if he does not get the ball he will move back to the ball side corner.

As #1 reaches the wing position (free throw line extended) #4 will set his defender and fill the point.

#1 will make the pass to #4 and #4 will complete the ball reversal by passing to #2.

On the pass from #4 to #2, #1 will run a shuffle cut

off a back screen set by #5.

If #1 is open, #2 should get him the ball.

As soon as #1 cuts past #5, #4 and #5 will set a staggered double screen for #3.

#3 will act as if he is going to fill the point, but instead he will curl round the screen and cut down the middle.

If #3 is open on this cut, he should get the ball from #2.

#4 sets his screen and then replaces himself at the point.

On the pass from #2 out to #4, #5 will screen into the lane, and #3 will use the screen to free himself on the back side wing.

#5 will set the screen into the lane, and then post hard.

#4 and #2 will set a staggered double for #1 who will use the screens to try and free himself at the point.

#3 may have a shot, drive, a post feed to #5, or a pass out to #1 cutting to the point.

If #1 does not have an offensive move or a shot, the players are in position to repeat the play entry, or #1 can call out another play entry.

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The Grinnell Basketball Offensive System

Posted on May 28, 2010 at 4:43 PM

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The Grinnell basketball system is named after Grinnell College in Iowa. Coach Dave Arsenault developed the system to help the team get a winning season for the first time in over two decades. Coach the Grinnell system by emphasizing speed and shooting.

Step 1

Forget traditional basketball. Coach the Grinnell system by choosing players who are very fast, have a decent shot and think quickly to make the best of transitions.

Step 2

Coach two or three press combinations for defense. One of the key components of the Grinnell system is to force turnovers of the basketball (aim for 32 turnovers per game). Players should transition to the press quickly and play it as tightly as possible.

Step 3

Coach shooting from all angles and all spots on the floor. The object of the Grinnell system is to take at least 100 shots per game, with over half of these being three-pointers.

Step 4

Run and rotate players on quick shifts. The success of Grinnell basketball depends on speed of the kind that wears out and dazzles the opponent. Rotate five fresh players every one-and-a-half to two minutes.

Step 5

Work on offensive rebounds. Because the system emphasizes so much shooting, players need to follow their shots and others on the team need to re-bound.

Step 6

De-emphasize traditional defense. This means the other team scores a lot, but your team scores more. You want enough players out of the key, even on defense, to be in place for the long shot when your team gets the ball.

See the Grinnell basketball system in action with this short video...

Have you heard of Coach Dave Arsenault and the

Grinnell college pioneers?

You might have seen him featured in Sports Illustrated,

or ESPN The Magazine... or on ABC Sports?

Over the past 17 years, they've won 13 NCAA scoring

titles and 4 MWC conference championships.

What's their secret?

A zany, frenetic style of play known simply as

"The System."

How does it work?

=> For starters, you try to get up 100 shots per game...

with at least HALF of those as three-pointers.

If you're open... jack it up... ideally within the first

12 seconds of the shot clock.

=> You also train your kids to crash the boards like a

pack of crazed bloodhounds.

And, on defense, run an intense full-court trapping

press from tip-off to buzzer.

=> You'll need to keep your players' legs fresh. So

you can use "hockey-style" 5-man line substitutions.

Sounds strange, I know... but it works like crazy!

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Basketball Defense; Individual Effort

Posted on May 28, 2010 at 3:59 PM

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It all starts with the individual. The 1st step is to teach each

player these defensive values:

1) Desire & Pride: Skills and fundamentals don't mean anything

unless the player has a lot of desire to shut down the offensive

player, and a lot of pride in being able get stops. A good

defensive players works extra hard, hustles, and makes it a

personal goal to stop his man...even when tired. Tell your players

that there is no greater satisfaction than tiring, frustrating, and

shutting down a talented offensive player.

2) Alertness & Agressiveness: Remaining sharp is the key to

defense. You have to aware of every little thing so you can react

quickly. Moreover, a player has to be able to react immediately

from offense to defense so they can eliminate easy scoring

opportunities. May players think that defense is passive, but this

is not true. The more active & aggressive a player is, the better

defense will be played. Aggressiveness forces the offense to become

passive.

3) Anticipation & Adaptability: Anticipating an offensive play or

an offensive move is very valuable. It allows the defender to

adjust beforehand, which causes nightmares for the offense...passes

can be intercepted, double-teams can be made quicker, easy scoring

opportunities can be prevented. Adaptability is the ability to

change. If the offensive player adjusts his/her game, the defender

should adjust as well. Be ready to change as its demanded.

4) Speed & Quickness: Speed allows a defender to get from one side

of the court to the other side faster than the offense, and it

enables a player to get into proper defensive positioning quicker.

Speed & quickness also allows a player to recover quickly from

mistakes, and prevent fast-break baskets. Hand quickness is equally

important, as it allows for deflections, steals, and blocks. Since

the majority of defense is played within 18 feet of the basket,

foot quickness is probably more important than breakaway speed.

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Youth Basketball Two Minute Shooting Drill

Posted on May 28, 2010 at 3:50 PM

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The Two Minute Drill is one of our favorite basketball shooting drills. It develops:

1. Ability to shoot free throws under pressure

2. Conditioning

3. Footwork coming off of a screen or cut

4. Three-point shooting

5. Mental Toughness/Competitiveness

6. Making shots under pressure

Basketball players are highly competitive people by nature; therefore it is beneficial to design baketball drills that provide an opportunity for players to compete against other players or against themselves. The competition increases the player's enthusiasm for the basketball shooting drill and results in better intensity during the training session.

The Two Minute Drill requires only one player. The players compete against themselves for their best score. However, it is extremely helpful to have someone timing the drill. Many players practice free throws by shooting 100, 200 or possibly more in each practice session.

While volume shooting is an important part of developing confidence and rhythm on free throws, this type of practice does not subject the player to the same conditions that exist while attempting free throws during a game. Pressure and fatigue are just two factors that may affect free throw percentage.

To be a successful free throw shooter in games, players must be able to step to the line a make two in a row while fatigued and under pressure. The Two Minute Drill is designed for player to do just that. Players must step to the free throw line and make two pressure free throws while fatigued.

The objective of the Two Minute Drill Game is for the player to move from level one to the highest level possible. In order to advance from one level to another, the player must make a power lay-up, a spin-and-catch intermediate shot and a three point shot.

The player must shoot until he/she has made each shot, even if s/he misses each one four times, the level is not completed until each of the three shots goes in. After making the three-point shot the player immediately (with no rest!) steps to the free throw line to shoot a one-and-one free throw.

If the player makes both free throws he/she advances to the next level and repeats the same sequence. If the player misses a free throw he/she must remain on that level. The drill is timed for two minutes. The stopwatch only runs while the player is shooting shots from the field, like a game.

It does not run during free throws. If there is no one to time the player can wear a sport watch to time him/herself. The timing of the drill is very significant to its effectiveness because the clock pushes the player to run hard after rebounds and to shoot shots that are more game-like.

However, if no timer is available, the player must push him/herself to go hard. To make it competitive, the shooter can be limited to a total number of misses or to commit that the first missed free throw will end the game. Players compete each practice session against the highest level they have ever achieved.

They may also compete against other players by seeing which player reaches the highest level in a given amount of time. The game may be altered to more benefit to post players.

Post players may choose to substitute the three-point shots or the intermediate shots with jump hooks or other post moves. It is easy to come up with several other variations to keep the drill from becoming monotonous.

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Fast Break Outlet Passing Drill

Posted on May 14, 2010 at 8:30 PM

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This drill encourages players to look up the floor and pass, rather than dribbling. You develop skills for rebounding, pivoting, jump stops, bounce and chest passes, lay-ups, power and speed dribble.

We like this drill because it utilizes so many skills and keeps our team moving up and down the court. We also turn it into a team competition against the clock that encourages everyone to work together. Instructions

Set up: two balls needed. Divide your team into four or five equal groups (if you have extra players put them by basket in rebounding line). Start the first near the basket in rebounding position with the rest in a zig-zag pattern down the court (The first group is under the basket, second group takes the outlet pass near the side line about half way to the half court line. The third group should be on the other side of the half court line on the opposite side and the final group at the free throw line extended). should be a group near the half court line and a group .

Coach takes shot or throws the ball off the backboard.

3 rebounds the ball passes to 5.

3 follows his pass to the next line.

5 comes toward the ball, jump stops ,pivots, passes up the court to 7 and follows the pass to the next line.

7 comes toward the ball, jump stops ,pivots, passes up the court to 9 and follows the pass to the next line.

9 comes toward the ball, jump stops ,pivots, and dribbles towards the hoop for the lay up. After the lay up, the next group starts.

9 grabs the rebound and power dribbles to the sideline then speed dribbles down court, coming to a jump stop on the sideline at the foul line extended. The player passes the ball back to the coach and returns to the rebounding line. Points of Emphasis:

Variations:

Allow two or three dribbles before each pass.
Compete against clock to make a certain number of lay-ups in three minutes.
Move last line to baseline or foul-line extended by three point line.
Player cuts, catches pass at foul line, squares to bucket and shoots jump shot.
Remove the coach. When the power dribbler reaches the three-point line, she dribble drives to the elbow, pulling up for a jump shot. Player under basket rebounds the shot and passes to outlet.