2004 Youth Basketball Coaching Starter Kit

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BEGINNER YOUTH BASKETBALL DRILLS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------WWW.BASKETBALLPLAYS.COM WWW.BASKETBALL-PLAYBOOKS.COM [email protected] This e-book contains 64 Beginner Youth Basketball Drills for youth coaches to use at practice to help prepare their team for gameday.

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SECTION ONE: REACTION DRILLS --------------------------------------------------------------------------DRILL: QUICK PURPOSE:

IMPROVE OVERALL QUICKNESS AND REACTION TIME

PROCEDURE:

In a circle, coach in middle. The kids copy you running on the spot, jumping etc. When you say quick they get into the defensive position. However if you say get down they continue to do what they were beforehand. They are only out if you see them.

DRILL: HEADS UP DIRECTION CHANGE PURPOSE:

PROCEDURE:

IMPROVE OVERALL REACTION TIME

Along the center court line space out 4 to 5 players facing you. You should be off the court at center court. Instruct your players to move while dribbling in whichever direction you move - side to side, forward and backwards. Change direction without words so they have to keep their eyes on you. As they progress change directions more quickly and move faster.

DRILL: REDLIGHT-GREENLIGHT #1 PURPOSE:


This youth basketball drill starts with everyone at the baseline with a ball. When the coach says 'green light', the player starts to dribble and walk. When the coach says 'red light', the player stops. PROCEDURE:

For the younger kids just learning, tell them this is not a race. When 'red light' is said, let them pick-up their dribble. As the level of play increases, different variations could be things like walking backwards, making it a race, using opposite hands, or any errors in dribbling having the player to go back to start. You can also use a whistle; one blow signifies 'green light' and two whistles mean 'red light'.

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DRILL: GOPHER BALL PURPOSE:

PROCEDURE:

IMPROVE OVERALL QUICKNESS AND REACTION TIME

Players start at 1/2 court circle or free throw circle. Teach players to react quickly to loose ball. - Go quickly into Offense. Players lay down on stomach with eyes closed. Toss ball into air and blow whistle. Players scramble for ball.

DRILL: REDLIGHT-GREENLIGHT #2 PURPOSE:

PROCEDURE:


Have a group of kids start at one baseline, don't bunch them too closely together. Each child in the group has a ball. When the COACH shouts green light the children dribble forward, blue and they dribble left, yellow they dribble right, and of course red they stop. All during this youth basketball drill the children keep dribbling.

DRILL: BALL SCRAMBLE PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

On command, everyone drops ball and runs to half court or bleachers, etc. and returns. While the players are running, coach removes one ball. Player without ball is out. With fewer players, start to reduce area.

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SECTION TWO: DRIBBLE DRILLS --------------------------------------------------------------------------DRILL: SPEED DRIBBLE PURPOSE:

IMPROVE OVERALL DRIBBLING SKILLS

Players start at 1/2 court or baseline. Each line or player has a ball. Objective is to reduce the number of dribbles. PROCEDURE:

Let the players cover the required distance and count their dribbles. Have them cover the same distance and reduce the dribbles by 1. Repeat and reduce by 1 again. Continue reducing until you have increased speed. DRILL: KEEP IT BOUNCING PURPOSE:


While dribbling try to tap the other players ball out of bounds. Second dribble is not allowed. When your ball goes out of bounds you must do 5 push ups or run one lap, after you did that you can join the group again. PROCEDURE:

Make sure the kids keep there head up, use both arms. The more the try to tap away other players balls (in stead of just protecting there own ball) the better dribblers they become.

DRILL: 2-BALL DRIBBLING DRILL PURPOSE:

PROCEDURE:

IMPROVE BALL HANDLING SKILLS WITH BOTH HANDS

Each player has two balls. Start off with stationary dribbling about waist high, as one ball goes down the other ball comes up. Then have the players quick dribble about 4 or 5 inches off of the floor. Finally have the players move up and down the court slowly at their own pace.

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DRILL: HEADS UP PURPOSE:


Minimum of two players spaced 5-8 feet apart (depending on age level). Each player has a basketball and one has a wiffle golfball or ping pong ball. PROCEDURE:

Dribbling with your good hand (proper form required) you underhand pass the ping pong ball back and forth while dribbling. If you miss the ping pong ball dribble to get it and continue the drill. Switch to your off hand and continue drill (5-10 min drill total)

DRILL: BEAN BAG GAME PURPOSE:


Using half court place one team at center court, and one team at the corners of the baseline. Each team has one ball. Place bean bags in key circle in a pile. On coaches command one player from each team dribbles into the key, while still dribbling the players must bend down and pick up a bean bag each. PROCEDURE:

They must then dribble back to their team while still dribbling deposit the bean bag and give the ball to their next team member. This process continues until all bean bags are gone, and then they are able to steal bean bags from the other teams. After two minutes the team with the most bean bags wins. NOTE: Only one bean bag is able to be taken at a time.

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DRILL: LINE DRIBBLING DRILL PURPOSE:


Player's form 4 lines at one end of the court. Players dribble up the court, and at designated spots (e.g. freethrow line extended, center line), or on a whistle, make one of the following designated moves.

PROCEDURE:

1. Change from speed dribble to control (protection) dribble 2. Crossover 3. Fake crossover 4. Reverse dribble 5. Stutter step

DRILL: SPIDER DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Players start with the ball between their legs. Keeping the ball between their legs they dribble with the right hand in front of the leg, then the left hand in front of the leg, then the right hand behind the leg, then the left hand behind the leg, then repeat. Continue the drill for 3 minutes.

DRILL: STATIONARY DRIBBLING DRILL PURPOSE:

PROCEDURE:


Start with players spread out and facing the coach in two or three lines. Have them begin in ready position dribbling in place with their dominant (Strong) hand while protecting the ball with their non-dominant (weak) hand. Move among the lines and check their balance, make sure their butts are down, backs straight and heads up (not watching the ball). When you shout "change" have them cross the ball quickly over to their other hand. Check their balance, stance, and head again.

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DRILL: TERMINATOR DRILL PURPOSE:


Vary space used depending on the size of your group. For groups of 8 to 10 players the area inside the three point line works well.

PROCEDURE:

Each player starts off with a ball and must continually dribble within the designated area while trying to knock away the other player’s ball. When a player loses control of their ball or goes outside of the designated area they are out of the contest and should step out of the designated area. As the number of remaining players is reduced you further restrict the area of play.

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SECTION THREE: LAYUP DRILLS --------------------------------------------------------------------------DRILL: SPEED LAYUP DRILL PURPOSE:

IMPROVE LAYUP SKILLS

Coach times player for 1 minute; team counts aloud number of shots made and encourages player along the way.

PROCEDURE:

Player with a basketball stands to the right of the basket, coach says 'GO' and player shoots a layup (using backboard) from right side... then miss or make goes to left side. She continues to alternate sides, team counts how many are made in one minute. Coach may decide to give stronger players 45 seconds, weaker players 1 minute +.

DRILL: SIDELINE LAYUP DRILL PURPOSE:

PROCEDURE:


The O's pass to the outlet line. The line to their left if they are going to shoot left handed lay ups and vice versa. The O then runs the floor to receive a bounce pass at the other end. X throws a baseball pass down the sideline. Then pass to the foul line, the x at the foul line gives a bounce pass to O for the lay-up. X's always follow their pass to the next line. X at the foul line get the rebound of O and are the next shooters. With two balls, shoot to get 20 ma kes in two minutes with 4-6 graders. Try 25 in junior high and 30 with Varsity players. Double this when adding the third and fourth ball.

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DRILL: QUICK LAYUP DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Place a ball on each lower block of the free throw line. Place one player outside of each ball. Place a player in the middle of the lane three feet behind the balls. On go the player in the middle of the lane goes to the ball on the right hand side of the basket, picks it up and makes a layup, then immediately goes to the ball on the left hand side of the basket, picks it up and makes a layup. The players on each side of the basket get the rebound and place the ball back on the block so that the player in the middle can continue working from side to side making layups. See who many layups each player can make in a minute.

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SECTION FOUR: PASSING DRILLS --------------------------------------------------------------------------DRILL: PCPP PURPOSE:

IMPROVE PASSING SKILLS

Three players are lined up in a straight line approx. 30ft. apart A player on either end starts with the ball. This players slap on the ball starts the drill and is a signal for the player in the middle to cut towards him to receive a pass from him.

PROCEDURE:

The middle player cuts towards the passer, receives the pass that is thrown to him and completes a legal stop (jump stop or one two stop). After making the catch and stop, this player makes a legal pivot and passes to the player on the other end. After this pass is caught by the ender the middle player cuts towards the ender and receives a return pass from him where upon the middle player again completes a legal stop, pivot and passes to the player on the other end. For youth players I would switch the middle man after he has made anywhere from 5 to 10 passes or or you could do the drill for 30 to 45 sec. and then rotate players so that everybody in the drill gets a shot in the middle especially.

DRILL: HOT HANDS PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

You cannot dribble the ball in this game! The player who receives a pass can take two steps and then has to pass the ball to someone else. As soon as the player receives a pass, he/she is requires to count out loud the steps he/she takes. If the player exceeds the two steps, the coach stops the game and this player is replaced by someone on the bench (if there are any).

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DRILL: PASS ANTICIPATION DRILL PURPOSE:

PROCEDURE:


This drill requires 4 players and one ball. Setup one offensive player on the right block, one offensive player on the left block, one offensive player at the top of the key with the ball and one defensive player three steps ahead of the two offensive players on the block in the middle of the key. The defender should stand in the defensive "ready position" (Defensive stance) with hands ready and focusing on the person with the ball. The offensive player with the ball throws the ball to the person on the left block. The defender must anticipate the throw and step into the passing lane and catch the ball before it reaches the offensive player. Once the defender catches the ball, the player will pass it back to the point player who will then try to make a pass to the right block. Again, the defender should read the pass, step into the passing lane and catch the ball before it reaches the offensive player. At first you can let the defender know which block the pass is going to be made to. Once the defender becomes more experienced at reading the pass, the pass should be made to either block without letting the defender know where the pass is going. Make sure the defender is stepping into the passing lane and not running at the offensive player. Rotate players through so that each has an opportunity to pass, receive and play defense.

DRILL: BULL RING DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Form a circle with players standing at least four feet from each other. Place one defensive man in the middle. The object of this drill is to pass the ball to each other without the defensive man touching, deflecting, or stealing the ball, The passer who turns the ball over becomes the defender and the defender takes the passers place. Do not allow passes to a player on either side of the passer.

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DRILL: CATCH AND PIVOT DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Eight players are at one end of the court with one ball. Players form a box with two players in line at each corner of the box. One player starts on the block, one player is at the side of the free throw line, one player is even with the free throw line extended out at the wind, and one player with the ball is on the baseline extended out from the block. A second player stands behind each of the four players. Passing begins counter clockwise with the first player in line stepping up to receive the next pass, pivoting away from the basket and passing to the next spot in the box. After passing, players follow their pass to the end of the line they just passed to. After a few minutes reverse the direction of the passes and pivots.

DRILL: 50 PASSES DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

This is a half court drill. Split team into even groups. Players are not allowed to dribble the ball. Each team must complete fifty passes to win the game. Possession changes whenever a violation occurs - dribbling, steal, out of bounds (regardless who it goes out on). When a team regains possession they continue their count from where they left off.

DRILL: 5 CORNER PASSING PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Players form five lines in a star alignment. Two players in the front of the line have balls. The players must pass to the player in the front of the line two lines to the right of them. They must hustle and follow their pass to the end of that line.

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DRILL: 4 LINE PASSING DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

This is a full court drill. Line players up in four lines and one baseline. Players progress the ball down the court by passing and moving in their line only. Players in line one are passing to players in line three. Players in line two are passing to players in line four. As players get to the free throw line extended at the opposite end outside players cut to the basket for a pass and lay-up. Inside and outside players exchange lines and players return back down court as outlined above.

DRILL: HEADS UP DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Minimum of two players spaced 5-8 feet apart (depending on age and skill level). Each player has a basketball and one has a wiffleball or ping-pong ball. Dribbling with your strong hand with proper form, you underhand pass the ping-pong ball back and forth while dribbling. If you miss the ping-pong ball dribble to get it and continue the drill. Switch to your weak hand and continue the drill.

DRILL: OUTLET PASS DRILL PURPOSE:

PROCEDURE:


Line up all players at the free throw line. Position one player at the three point line even with the free throw line. The first player in line throws the ball off the backboard, rebounds the ball with arms extended, turns and makes a strong pass to the outlet man standing at the three point line. The outlet man then passes to the person in the front of the line. The rebounder goes to the outlet position and the outlet man goes to the end of the line and the drill continues.

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DRILL: PARTNER PASSING DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Have players pair up facing each other between the free throw lines. Each partner set has a ball. The pairs begin by chest passing the ball accurately and quickly to one another. Make sure players are stepping forward, giving targets and calling for the ball. Then repeat the drill doing bounce passes.

DRILL: PASS AND RUN DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

This drill starts with two lines underneath the basket. The lines should be just outside of the free throw lane. A coach should be positioned three feet in front of the basket. A player should be placed on each side of the coach. The first two players in each line have a ball. On the whistle the player on each side of the coach heads to the basket, the first person in line makes a pass to the cutting player for a layup. As soon as the person in line makes the pass, he should run around the coach to the other side and cut to the basket and receive a pass for a layup. The player who shoots should get their own rebound. After each player has gone through the drill from each side, the coach should move back to the free throw line and the drill continues. (No dribbling is allowed).

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DRILL: PEPPER DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Divide team into groups of 5 players. Player's form a semi-circle around one player. (Note that the player in the middle is one step inside the semi-circle, this ensures that the player must use their peripheral vision to see the players on the ends of the semi-circle). The player in the middle and the player on one end each have a ball. Working clock-wise the player in the middle passes to the next player in the circle who does not have a ball. Once the player in the middle makes the pass, they look for a pass from the first player in line who has a ball. They then pass to the next player in line who doesn't have a ball. This continues until they reach the last player in the semi-circle and then they return in the opposite direction. Rotate players so that each has a turn to be in the middle.

DRILL: SHOTGUN PASSING DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Six players are at each end of the basketball court. In each group, one player stands with a ball at the free throw line, facing away from the basket. The other five players position themselves in a semicircle from one side of the free throw line to the other, facing their teammate out front in the shotgun position. One player among the five in the semicircle has a basketball. The drill begins with the player in the shotgun position throwing a chest pass to one of the four players in the semi-circle who does not have a ball. As soon as the pass is made, the player in the semi-circle who began the drill with a ball, chest passes the ball to the shotgun. This drill continues for 1 or 2 minutes and then players rotate clockwise so the player on the right moves to the shotgun position and the shotgun position moves to the left side of the semi-circle.

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SECTION FIVE: REBOUNDING DRILLS --------------------------------------------------------------------------DRILL: CIRCLE BUTT DRILL PURPOSE:

IMPROVE REBOUNDING SKILLS

PROCEDURE:

Create a 10 x 10 circle. Put two players back to back, butt to butt inside the circle. On the whistle each player tries to back the other player out of the circle.

DRILL: POLLACK DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Three players line-up in the paint. Coach shoots, players rebound and try to put it back in the hoop. No rules within reason. Player who makes it win's and stays in. The other two player's must run one sprint or lap and go to the back of the line. After rebounding player's can not dribble. They must shoot from where the ball is rebounded. Variation, players must make the outlet pass back to the coach

DRILL: REBOUND ATTACK DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Divide your players in to teams of three. Two teams line up inside the circle at the free throw line. The coach shoots the ball high up in the air above the circle. The two teams battle for the rebound, the team that rebounds has 7 seconds to get a shot off. If the shot is missed the teams rebound the miss and try to put it back in. The first team that scores stays in and plays the next team.

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DRILL: 3-ON-3 BLOCK OUT DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Line up three players on top of the free throw line. Line-up another three players just inside of the free throw line. The three players closest to the goal need to block out the other three players. Each team gets a point for a rebound, first team to three wins. Winners stay in and switch to the other side.

DRILL: TIP DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Line up players at the free throw line in a single file line. First man in line throw the ball against the backboard and goes to the end of the line, next man follows and with arms fully extended (use wrists) tips the ball back against the backboard, each following player continues to follow and tip the ball against the backboard with arms extended and then goes to the end of the line to repeat.

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SECTION SIX: DEFENSIVE DRILLS --------------------------------------------------------------------------DRILL: BUMP THE CUTTER DRILL PURPOSE:

IMPROVE DEFENSIVE SKILLS

PROCEDURE:

One offensive player lines up outside the three point area with the ball, one offensive player lines up in the opposite corner. The defender adopts the flat triangle position in the key. The offense attempts to cut to the ball. The defender must meet the cutter in the lane, bump the cutter and deny the pass in the key. If the offense gets the ball then one on one is played, offense gets no more than two dribbles. Position cutter and pass at different positions of the court and rotate players through so that everyone has a chance to pass, receive and play defense.

DRILL: CLOSEOUT AND RECOVERY DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Divide your players in to teams of three players. Line up defensive players underneath the basket with their backs to the floor - one player in the middle and one on each lower block. Line up three offensive players just inside the three point line. One player at the top of the key, and one player on each side of the key even with the free throw line facing the basket. The defense keeps their backs to the floor so they can't see where the offense is positioned. The coach stands out of bounds and makes a pass to one of the offensive players, who once they catch the pass, play to score. As soon as the pass is made the defenders turn and closeout the offensive players. The possession continues until the offense scores or the defense gains possession of the ball. New offensive players rotate in and the offensive team becomes the defense.

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DRILL: DENIAL DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

This drill requires a passer, a defender and an offensive player. Have the defender try to deny the inside pass. If the pass is completed, the defender should attempt to defend against the offensive player's post moves.

DRILL: DROP STEP SHUFFLE DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Match up players in pairs. One person has a ball and the other will play defense. Have the player with the ball zig-zag up the court. Each time the player with the ball changes directions and hands, make sure that they keep their body between the ball and defender. The defender should make a drop step with the left leg when the offensive player moves to the left and then shuffle along with the offensive player and then make a drop step with the right leg when the offensive player moves to the right.

DRILL: FILL THE LANE DRILL PURPOSE:

PROCEDURE:


Set-up two defenders at the top of the key (spaced evenly the width of the backboard), three offensive players even with the foul line - one in the center and the other two at the wings around the three point line, and one guard at half court. Have the guard bring the ball across half court and make a pass to one of the three players, the two defenders must communicate with each other and try to intercept the pass.

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DRILL: IN AND OUT DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

This drill requires four players and one ball. Setup one offensive player on the right block, one offensive player on the left block, one offensive player at the top of the key with the ball, and one defensive player two steps ahead of the two offensive players on the blocks and in the middle of the triangle created by the three offensive players. The player on top of the key will try to pass to either player on the blocks. The defender must try to intercept the pass. The defender should not jump at the offensive player, but rather should step in front of the offensive player.

DRILL: MASS DEFENSE DRILL PURPOSE:


Player's spread out on the court facing the coach who is standing in front of them. The coach can use visible or audio cues to make the player's do the following: (Visual cues are better, but younger player's may respond to audio cues initially) PROCEDURE:

1. Get into their defensive stance. 2. Footfire or pitter patter with their feet (conditioning) 3. Defensive footwork any direction (e.g. left or right slide, drop-step and slide, retreat step, close out). Change hand position - coach might move ball around and have players trace ball, challenge shot, etc.

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DRILL: PRESS DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

This is a full court press drill. Line-up your defensive players as follows: 1 - starts on the foul line, 2 - is on the left side at half court, 3 - is on the right side at half court, 4 is in the center at half court, 5 is on the opposite foul line. Once the ball is inbounded, 1 plays defense on the ball. When the player starts to move to a side and is nearing half court, 2 or 3 depending on which side of the court the ball is on will step up and try and trap the ball. If the ball is on 2's side then 3 will move closer to the ball and watch for a pass back or to the middle. 4 will shuffle back a bit, but stay in the middle of the court, waiting to steal any passes down court to the middle or cross court. 5 is still on the foul line unless there are players deep in which case he will move back with them but stay in the middle. 1 and either 2 or 3 try to stop the dribble. Once the ball is stopped, then they try to steal it. If the press is broken then transition to your regular defense.

DRILL: RATTLE DRILL PURPOSE:


PROCEDURE:

Start players in defensive stance (hold for a few seconds). On go players must move their feet as fast as they can. Player's must be talking and yelling. When coach points in a direction, players quickly move to face that direction and then quickly face back to the center, keeping their feet moving the entire time. Each time the coach points in a direction the players should yell.

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DRILL: SHELL DRILL PURPOSE:


Four players assume offensive positions at guards, wing and corner positions. Four players assume defensive positions based on the following:

PROCEDURE:

1. If your man has the ball play the ball - push to sidelines, no penetration. 2. If your man is one pass away - play deny stance in the passing lane. 3. If your man is two passes away - play in the key in help position. 4. If your man is more than two passes away play on the split line in help position. On ball movement all defensive players move to the correct position. On receiving the pass the offense must always catch and face. When learning this drill have the offense hold the ball for two-second count before passing.

DRILL: SHUFFLE DRILL PURPOSE:


Players stand under the basket in a defensive stance and;

PROCEDURE:

• • • • • • • •

Shuffle up to the midpoint of the foul line. Slide to the right until they reach the end line. Shuffle back to half court Slide to the left until they reach the end line Backstep to the half court line Slide to the right until they reach the end line Slide to the left until they reach the half court line Backstep until they reach the end line

Players should keep their butts down and their heads up. Make sure they don't cross their feet.

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DRILL: 3-MAN TAKE THE CHARGE DRILL PURPOSE:


Player one has the ball at the top of the key. Player two stands in the foul line extended area. Player three is a defensive player guarding a chair or cone on the box. Player one passes to player two and makes a v-cut to the basket (give and go). Player three makes an up switch into the path of the dribbler (player 2). Player three must not switch to soon. PROCEDURE:

OR Player one has the ball on the side of the key. Player two is the other offensive player and stands at the foul line extended area. Player three is the defensive player guarding player two. Player two comes up to set a screen on player one's imaginary defender (or the coach). As player one comes off the screen with the dribble, player three up switches into the path of player one and takes the charge.

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DRILL: 2-ON-1 NO REACH DRILL PURPOSE:


Teaches players to stay in good defensive position. (So many player's don't play good defense, that is they don't move their feet and keep good defensive position but rather they reach in and try to make the steal every time as their man goes by them. We teach our kids to keep in good defensive position and to get the offensive player out of the triple threat position. We will make our steel on the pass or when the offensive player loses control of the ball.) PROCEDURE:

Line up three players at half court. One with the ball on offense and the other two are defenders. The two defenders are not allowed to reach for the ball. They must move their feet and keep good defensive position between their man and the basket using the side lines and the baseline as their extra defenders. Offensive player gets to repeat as offense as long as they make it to within 8 feet of the basket without losing the ball or picking up their dribble. Continue drill until all three player's have had an opportunity to play the offensive position.

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SECTION SIX: GENERAL MISC. DRILLS --------------------------------------------------------------------------DRILL: BALL CIRCLES DRILL PURPOSE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

PROCEDURE:

Each player has a ball and circles it around different parts of the body, exchanging the ball from hand to hand, clockwise and then counter clockwise. On the coaches command players will circle the head, mid section, right leg, left leg and then figure 8 around and through the legs. Move in reverse order back up to the head.

DRILL: CHILL DRILL PURPOSE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

PROCEDURE:

Each player has a ball and star in the corner of the court with the ball in the right hand. halfway to midcourt players should execute and inside out move (fake crossover), at half court players execute a reverse spin, and are now dribbling with the left hand. At the far corner players should quickly back dribble five steps, and then continue back to the corner. Moving along the baseline players should execute a crossover dribble and continue to the other baseline corner. At the baseline corner, players should execute a reverse spin and continue back up court, at half court players should execute a stutter step and crossover.

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DRILL: FOOTWORK DRILL PURPOSE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

These drills are designed to improve footwork for offensive and defensive skills. Emphasize that it's not a race, it's more important to do the exercises properly than hurriedly. Insist on proper form. Slide steps Run this drill from one baseline to half court. The essence of this drill is to progress sideways from baseline to half-court and back, never crossing the feet and always facing perpendicular to the baseline. The knees should be bent and the butt kept low in a defensive stance. Keep the palms up. No hopping. Make your players face the same sideline both ways.

PROCEDURE:

One leg hops Players hop on one leg all the way to half court, then use the other leg back. Focus on height not distance. Two leg hops Same as one leg hops, but jump off both feet. Quick feet Players take short, quick steps up on their toes. Stutter steps After four running steps, players stutter step to a halt in a defensive position. High knees Players run from baseline to half court and back keeping their knees high. Power steps Jump forward off the left foot and use the hands and right leg going forward as far as possible. Land in a jump stop, repeat off both legs.

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DRILL: HORSESHOE SHOOTING DRILL PURPOSE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

PROCEDURE:

Players form two lines on the baseline on each side of the key. The first player in one line has a ball, the second player in the other line has a ball. The coach stands on the middle of the free throw line. The player in the front of the line without a ball (player 1) makes a v-cut around the coach and calls for the ball from the player in the other line (player 2). Player 2 passes the ball to player 1 who shoots the basket and rebounds the ball. After rebounding the ball, players pass the ball to the player in front of the line opposite where they came from. As soon as player 2 passes the ball to player 1, the player takes off and makes a v-cut behind the coach and calls for the ball from the front player in the other line and the drill continues.

DRILL: KNOCKOUT DRILL PURPOSE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

PROCEDURE:

Line entire team up in a single line at the free throw line. The first two players in line have a ball. The first player in line shoots a free throw, the second player in line shoots immediately after the first player, if the first player misses their free throw, they must rebound the missed free throw and make a shot or layup before the first second player makes their shot, if the second player makes a shot before the first player does then the first player is out. If the first player makes their shot before the second player then the first player passes the ball to the next player in line, and goes to the back of the line. The next player in line then tries to make their shot before the second player. This continues until their in only one player left. Players who get knocked out must run two laps.

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DRILL: LEG CIRCLES DRILL PURPOSE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

PROCEDURE:

Give each player a ball. Make sure that each player has a three foot radius of space in which to dribble. Players should all face the same direction, with the coach in front of them. Have the players dribble the ball around one leg at a time, using the right hand to dribble around the right leg and the left hand to dribble around the left leg. After a few minutes in one direction have them switch and dribble in the opposite direction.

DRILL: MUSHBALL DRILL PURPOSE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

Line up one player on each lower block, the rest of the players form a single line at the free throw line, the first person in line has a ball. The shooter shoots free-throws until he/she misses, scoring one point for each made shot. PROCEDURE:

Free throw lane rules are followed. On a miss all three players play to score. The person who rebounds is on offense, the other two are on defense. A field goal is worth two points. Players are not aloud more than one step out of the key. Play continues until some one scores, the ball goes out of bounds, or their is a violation of a player leaving the key. Then players rotate, the player who started on the right block moves to the left block, the player on the left block goes to the back of the line, the free throw shoot goes to the right block and play starts over.

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DRILL: PASS, SHOOT & REBOUND DRILL PURPOSE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

PROCEDURE:

Divide players into groups of three. One player starts as the passer, one player starts as the shooter and one player starts as the rebounder. The rebounder starts with the ball to begin the drill. The rebounder passes to the passer, the passer passes to the shooter, and the shooter shoots, the rebounder rebounds and the sequence is repeated. Run the drill for a certain amount of time and then rotate players. Continue until all players have played each spot. Make shooter relocate after every shot and make the passer find the shooter.

DRILL: PIN BALL DRILL PURPOSE:

PROCEDURE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

Players start in a confined area. Each player has two clothes pins clipped on the back of their jersey about shoulder blade level and each player has a ball. On command, everyone goes after clothes pines on everyone else. Players must continue to dribble while attempting to take clothes pin from other player. Player can not remove clothes pin if they lose their ball. Winner is the player with the most pins. Works on ball handling, hustle and aggressiveness.

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DRILL: POSSESSED DRILL PURPOSE:

PROCEDURE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

All players line-up on the baseline with a ball to start the game. One player (possessed) is positioned at half court without a ball. The object of the drill is to dribble from one baseline to the other without losing the ball, having it stolen or being forced out of bounds by the possessed. Once a player loses the ball, has it stolen or is forced out of bounds they immediately become possessed. When it gets down to 7 on 3 or 8 on 2 you will be surprised how creative the dribblers can become. Emphasizes ball handling, head up, using both hands, protecting the ball, stutter step, crossover. Defensively, using the sidelines, recovering and trapping.

DRILL: PRIDE DRILL PURPOSE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

PROCEDURE:

Drill starts with a 5 on 0 offensive transition and score. On the score, all players sprint to defensive positions and get into defensive stance and execute "foot-fire" or defensive "pitter-patter" until coach passes one of them the ball. Once they receive the ball they return to offensive transition and repeat. After two or three repetitions swap out to new team or bring in fresh players.

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DRILL: QUICK HANDS DRILL PURPOSE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

PROCEDURE:

Bent at the knees and waist, holding the ball between the knees with one hand in front of the body and one hand behind the body, the player releases the ball and quickly reverses their hands and catches the ball between the legs before the ball hits the ground.

DRILL: SIDEWINDER DRILL PURPOSE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

PROCEDURE:

Place two cones ten feet apart. On coaches signal, players move laterally to touch one marker and then move in the opposite direction to touch the other marker. To make it competitive count the number of times each player touches both cones in a set amount of time.

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DRILL: 10 FINGER DRILL PURPOSE:

GENERAL MISC. DRILL

Players form two lines outside the three point line. All players, except for the first in each line have a ball. The first player in each line runs into the key and vcuts back to the ball.

PROCEDURE:

Players "show ten fingers" and call to receive the ball from the next player in line. After receiving the pass they square up to the basket and either shoot, dribble / drive for lay-up or dribble into jump shot. Passer can repeat the move once the shooter has gone to the basket or shot the ball. Shooter rebounds their own shot and dribbles quickly back up the court to the end of the line.

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2004 Beginner Playbook

Table of Contents: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

8 offensive plays against a man defense 3 inbound plays against a man defense 1 "last second shot" play (full-court) 1 "last second shot" play (half -court) 2 transition offense plays Basic Practice Drills Motivational Tools

Set Play # 1 vs. Man Defense

(#1) passes the ball to (#3) off of a double stack. (#4) comes from the low block all the way to the top of the key. (#2) comes off of (#4's) butt straight to the foul line. After passing to (#3), (#1) jab steps and misdirects toward (#2) then comes hard toward (#3). (#1) should be clearing toward (#3) by the time (#4) reaches the top.


(#2) must seal off and ask for the ball at the elbow, which will bring his defender to him from the bottom. (#3) will jab step toward the baseline, then dribble full speed toward the top and (#1) will come behind for a hand off or short pass. (#2) will be set at the elbow asking for the ball (decoy). (#4) will remain high way above the top of the key. (#3) will flip the ball to (#1) then go straight off of (#2's) pick at the foul line. (#5) flashes to strong side corner on the pass to (#3) also asking for the ball.


(#5) will already have cleared out to the corner as (#3) received the ball to clear out the paint. (#5) must ask for the ball to bring his man out (decoy). As soon as (#1) gets the ball from (#3), he will dribble toward the basket and pull up as (#3) will pop open off of (#2's) pick for a lob and dunk or an easy lay-up. (#3's) pass will be whatever; a lob, a straight chest pass, or a bounce pass, but it better be there for a score because (#3) will be open.


If (#2's) man switches and defends (#3), then (#2) must seal and roll down the strong side lane for an easy entry from (#1). (#1) also has the lane for penetration and a pull-up jumper. These are secondary options if the defense switches. Then we make them pay for switching.


We start out in double stack, (#5) picks for (#3) to get open out on the wing and (#4) picks for (#2). (#1) makes the pass to (#2) on the wing.


After passing to (#2), (#1) frees himself up for a return pass from (#2) immediately. (#4) after picking rolls up to the elbow asking for a pass from (#2) and / or (#1), but just as a decoy.


(#2) makes a back door cut after passing back out to the top to (#1). (#4) drops down to the opposite block and picks for (#5) to come up to the elbow then (#4) pops out above the arc on the left side of the floor. (#1) passes to (#4) across the top. (Be patient - this motion sells a great play in yet another lob and easy score).


(#5) cuts back down to pick for (#2) to pop back out to the wing again. (#1) cuts right down the middle of the key and (#3) pops down to pick for (#1) looping back around (#3's) pick to get the ball back from (#4) on the left wing. (#4) has time to pass fake to (#2) on the right wing until (#1) comes around (#3's) pick. (#4) passes to (#1).

Inbound # 1 vs. Man Defense

(#5) upscreens for (#2) who goes to the corner. (#4) screens across for (#5). (#5) comes off of (#4's) screen. (#4) steps to the ball. (#3) pops to the corner. (#1) may pass to (#3), (#4), (#5), or (#2).


(#3) pops to the corner and (#2) fades behind. (#4) slides across lane and (#5) comes high.


(#4) and (#5) screen in. (#2) and (#3) cross and go off inside of screen. As (#2) and (#3) go off screen, (#4) and (#5) step to the ball. (#1) may pass to (#2), (#3), (#4), or (#5).

Last Second Play #1 - Full Court

(#5) and (#3) are on the free throw line and face (#1) and (#2). On the slap of the ball or when the official hands the ball to (#4), (#5) and (#3) set double screen. (#1) and (#2) step in then break off double screen. (#1) goes over the top and (#2) goes out behind (#5). (#3) steps back and (#5) goes to the basket. (#4) passes to the open player for the quick shot.

Last Second Play #1 - Half Court

On the slap of the ball, (#3) goes deep on the fly. (#2) breaks to the elbow. (#1) starts to mid court then loops around (#5). (#4) looks first at (#3), then for (#1) on the sideline. (#2) is the last passing option. (#1) makes catch and calls "time out".

Transition Play #1

The Transition Game evolves from a traditional fast break! That's the beauty of it! We also run this if we know we don't have the numbers for a fast break, but instead we still use is as a controlled break. Important note: All positions are interchangeable. Ideally, you would like to get the ball to your point guard (#1) after a rebound before half court and have your best ball handler and decision-maker leading your break. If not then anyone can occupy the middle of the break. Al so, it is important for the players leading the break to "hit the rails" or fill the lanes all the way extended to the sidelines when running a traditional fast break. If the players leading the break "hit the rails" then the guard in the middle (#1) automatically has improved passing angles. Likewise, (#3) and (#4) also have better angles cutting to the basket. The defenders back are forced to work harder. This transition game can be run right out of a fast break or as a controlled break. (#1) always has the traditional fast break options in passing to (#3) or (#4) cutting to the basket, or certainly the foul line jumper. If no pass is made to (#3) or (#4) then they both occupy the blocks. (#2) and (#5) trail the break and time their movement to the arc to receive a release pass from (#1). This is Rick Pitino's vintage method of receiving a pass stepping right into the arc for a 3-pointer (if your trailers can knock it down). Let's assume (#5) receives the pass from (#1). Odds are he's not a 3-point shooter, but this is an option immediately - stepping into a trey.

Transition Play #2

As soon as (#1) hits the trailer (#5) with the pass, he cuts and angles his cut down the side of the key which he passed the ball to then peels off to the opposite corner. If (#5) doesn't step into a 3-point shot then he immediately reverses the ball to (#2). (#2) could be stepping right into a 3-point shot depending how the defense reacts and also depending on the pace the ball was brought up the floor. (#2) may have to misdirect and v-cut back to the ball to receive the pass from (#5). (#4) recognizes that the fast break didn't happen and immediately we adjust to the transition game. He'll time a pick on (#1's) defender to release (#1) to the left corner wide open. (#2) most definitely looks for the 3-pointer, but if it's not there (#2) then swings the ball to the corner to an open (#1) coming off of (#4's) pick. (#1) has the ball in the corner and we have the floor spaced perfectly for two-on-two game with (#1) and (#4). But first, (#1) may very well be wide open for an uncontested 3-pointer. If not, (#1) now gets into a triple threat position and gets a good read on (#4). (#4) could seal off in the low post and (#1) makes an entry pass to the block for (#4) to make a power move. (#4) can come out and pick for (#1) on either side for an old-fashion two-on-two game, or (#1) can even entry pass and make a quick cut. The two of them will explore their options. If nothing happens after (#1) receives the ball in the corner, we've got lots more happening away from the ball. (#3) sort of floats and reads his defender who may be providing weak side help, so (#3) may flash the middle if his defender gets lost.

Recap of Transition Game * It can be ran every time down the floor tied into a traditional fast break that didn't provide any scoring opportunities or as a controlled break when you don't have the numbers for a traditional fast break. * It's a great controlled break for three point shooters trailing the break...you'll get a lot of passes to the trailers for the very 3-point shot that you should be practicing in your skill drills - "stepping right up to the arc; receiving the pass, ready to score" * It creates great floor spacing and two-on-two opportunities on both sides of the court. * The bullet above makes it a great break to motivate your post players to get out in front of the break because they know they are going to get rewarded with two-on-two games when the ball gets to the corner. * It truly extends the defense from one sideline to the other. That is always one of my goals. If you can extend the defense like that on any offense - you win the battle of angles on the offense end of the court. If you understand angles in basketball at the high school level, you'll out-coach just about every opponent. * The transition game created just about every possible scoring opportunity - from 3-point shots; to post moves from the block; to pick and roll games and dribble drives; to sealoffs with mismatches on the blocks; to pass-and-cuts; to give-and-go's; to short jumper off of picks - it's just a great concept that creates countless scoring opportunities in transition.

Basic Drills: Ball Handling 1 Start - Stop - Back Up - Speed - Control Repeat (Part I) This drill practices controlling the dribble in a variety of situations. Full court speed dribble, stopping on the dime, retreating with the dribble when trapped, change of direction, crossover, etc. Use the extended free throw lines and the half court line as markings on the court. The first four players start their dribble until the first extended free throw line. They dribble full speed to the FT line.

2 Start - Stop - Back Up - Speed - Control Repeat (Part II) When they get to the line they break down in a stance and stop on the dime with the ball. They will now take (3) retreat dribbles with the ball behind them and the other arm protecting the dribble. This is simulating facing oncoming defenders in a press situation, where you may have two players coming at the dribbler trying to trap him.

3 Start - Stop - Back Up - Speed - Control Repeat (Part III) After making the three retreat dribbles, the players come out of their breakdown stance and speed dribble to half court. Once these players begin their speed dribble to half court, the next four players in line attack the free throw line at full speed.

4 Start - Stop - Back Up - Speed - Control Repeat (Part IV) At the middle line they make again a quick stop and 3 retreat dribbles in a stance, protecting the basketball and ready to explode to the next line, (free throw line extended).

5 Start - Stop - Back Up - Speed - Control Repeat (Part V) The line behind them is repeating the same steps at each line marker. You can have as many rows of players you like or as many players in a row you would like.

6 Start - Stop - Back Up - Speed - Control Repeat (Part VI) After the first group reaches the baseline it waits until all groups have arrived before starting again to go the other way. You can have them use: • all left hand • all right hand • switch hands with a crossover dribble after backing up (3) dribbles and heading in the other direction with the other hand • between the legs dribble when crossing over after backing up (3) dribbles and heading in the other direction with the other hand. • Great warm-up drill, conditioner, camp drill, as well as a fundamentally sound drill.

Basic Drills: Shooting Setup: Have three players and two balls at a basket. Use the side baskets too. Each group has a shooter, rebounder, and passer. Players should shoot from areas where they usually shoot from in a game. Wing-to-Wing Motion: (Diagram A) The shooter starts at the right wing with a ball, the passer at the free-throw line with another ball, and the rebounder in the center of the lane. The shooter shoots then sprints to the opposite wing, spots-up, and shoots again. He/she keeps repeating this, going wing-to-wing without dribbling. The rebounder rebounds each shot, passes to the passer, who passes to the shooter. Run this for 1 minute. Then change roles, with each player taking a turn at each of the three positions. Important Points: Make sure the shooter is squared up each time and stationary, not moving sideways. Avoid dribbling. Make crisp, sharp passes. No dogging it -- sprint. You can make a competitive game out of this drill by keeping score.

Baseline to Free Throw Circle Motion: (Diagram B) The shooter moves back and forth from the baseline to the free throw circle. Corner-to-Corner Motion: (Diagram C) The shooter moves from corner to corner. For a variation, have the shooter fake the shot. Have the defender "fly" at the shooter, and then the shooter dribble adjusts and shoots the jumper.

Motivational Coaching 1. Remind your players before each match to enjoy their experience. 2. A crisp, 90- minute training session beats a dragged-out, two-and-a-half-hour session every time. 3. On match day, step back, quiet down and enjoy watching the fruition of your labor (when the whistle blows, it's very much your player's show). 4. Real power comes from serving your people well. 5. Where there is a will, there is not always a way - but sometimes there is. 6. Find a kind way to tell your players the blunt truth. 7. Athletics participation is important, but it is just a temporary, wonderful phase to pass through on the way to real life. 8. Don't second guess yourself - make the best decision you can and move on. 9. Speak succinctly. Don't lose track of the value being uncomplicated. 10. Balance praise and criticism - too much of either can be harmful. 11. Set your standards early and don't compromise them. 12. Speak freshly, avoiding the gagging inane clichés, such as "stepping up," "moving to the next level" or "giving 110 percent." 13. In these sullen, win-at-all-cost times, enjoy the occasional belly laugh. Delight is the wage of living. 14. It's unnecessary to raise your voice to be heard if your players believe you have something important to say. Your impact is greater with a whisper than a roar. 15. Teach your players the wonderful freedom that comes from learning to lose with grace and dignity and without excuse. 16. Winning is overrated, and the singular quest for it leads to unhappiness. 17. Keep things simple - everything added is something lost. 18. Greeting each player personally at the beginning of training every day and saying something sincerely positive publicly about each player during the training session pays dividends.

19. Letting your players know that you care for them, and that they can trust you, is critical. 20. Cervantes was right: "The journey is more important than the arrival." 21. Teach your players that peace of mind is a result of giving all that they have. 22. Let your actions coincide with your beliefs. 23. Convey to your players your love of the game. 24. Don't posture - a confident person need not convince anybody of anything. 25. Don't allow one or two players to ruin things for the rest of the players. 26. The joy of winning fades immediately and precipitously. 27. Have the courage to say "no" when the answer is "no". 28. Don't script your training sessions down to the minute - allow room for spontaneity. 29. Convey to your players the intrinsic honor that comes from training and playing hard. 30. It's as important to have your players work on their strengths as well as their weaknesses. 31. Show some passion on occasion. They have to know you care. 32. Don't overanalyze. Sometimes, as Freud told us, "A cigar is just a cigar." 33. Run an absolute meritocracy. The better they play and the harder they work, the more they play. 34. If you don't know, say so. 35. Learning through self discovery is ego enhancing and more likely to last. 36. Introduce a service component to your program - it's good for everybody. 37. Even in these politically correct times, don't neglect the spiritual aspects of coaching.

Beginner Youth Basketball Playbook- Part II -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.

1-3-1 Offense: EASY 1-3-1 1-4 Offense: BACKDOOR 1-4 Offense: OVERLOAD 1-4 Offense: HIGH PICK- N- ROLL Box Offense: BACKDOOR Box Offense: STACK Flex Offense: FLEX III Man Offense: Celtic-3down Man Offense: Wild-Cat Transition Shuffle Offense: Koru-Strong Shuffle Offense: Shuffle-Black Option Zone Offense: Corners Zone Offense: Double Stack Low Motion Offense: Arrow Motion Offense: F-VILLE MOTION Triangle Offense: TRIANGLE PRINCIPLES Triangle Offense: CIRCLE OPTION Specialty Offense: Triangle and 2

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(#1) 1-3-1 Offense: EASY 1-3-1

Start position is a 1-3-1 with two wing players a High post and a Low post.

The play should start on the weak-side. If this is not possible we play an overlay (square out-fit), or the low center frees the side. As the first option the guard cuts to the basket using the (High post as a screen) The other forward fills the place of the guard.

The next option is decided by the player on the high post. a) simple CUT to the board followed by posting up in the low post. The low post cuts to the basket and takes the high post position.

If both center playes are posting up on the ballside we can play a strongside square.

(#2) 1-4 Offense: BACKDOOR

Starting in the 1-4 position the ball is passed to a high post. 3 makes a v-cut and cuts to the basket.

3 gets the backdoor pass from 5 and scores.

(#3) 1-4 Offense: OVERLOAD

1 dribbles to either side after calling "O" 2 and 3 step-slide with 2 going to the corner and 3 step-sliding around arc keeping good spacing. The opposite post (4) crosses over and post up on the block. Option 1: Our first option will be to see if we can hit 4 on the cut or 5 in a solid postup position on the defense. If we cannot get the ball inside or the 4 or 5 kick it back out, we now have the option of a shot or to start reversing the ball.

Option 2: When the ball goes from the wing to the top of the key, the 5 will screen the middle defender in the zone as 4 cuts. If 4 does not get the ball for the easy

shot, then 4 continues on to the high post. After making the solid pick, the 5 will finally release and go to the low block.

Option 3: If the pass is not made to the middle, then the 3 will start dribbling over to the other wing with the 1 following by step-sliding and filling 3's spot. The 2 will cut to the opposite corner as soon as he sees the 3 taking the ball to the other wing. This now sets us up in the overload on the other side and we continue running our cuts and rotation until we score.

(#4) 1-4 Offense: HIGH PICK-N-ROLL

1 pass 2. The 1 - 2 and 4 are making a triangle. 5 sets a side screen. 3 and 5 are playing pick and roll. This option is only used after another option is played. The defense has to be broad in its motion.

(#5) Box Offense Play: BACKDOOR

When facing tough man-to-man pressure, this backdoor quick hitter is a good play. The #2 and #3 men break out quickly to the wings. When the pass goes from #1 to #5, #3 immediately cuts backdoor for a layup. This is more effective than playing it from a 1-4, due to the movement of 2 and 3.

(#6) Box Offense Play: STACK

1 dribbles to top of key 3 goes through double screen 4 and 5 set double screen 2 goes up and then cuts back door As the defense is focused on the stack 1 passes to 2.

(#7) Flex Offense: FLEX III

This offense can be used against man-to-man, zone or box-and-one defenses. 1 can pass in either direction, preferably towards the strong side.

Pass from 1 to 4, 1 cuts to the corner with the help of the screens set by 3 and 5.

4 takes his jumper or look for 1 in the corner or 5 in the low post. If nothing is there, 4 passes to 3.

Pass from 4 to 3, 4 cuts to opposite low post with the help of the screen set by 5. The moment 4 passes, 1 takes 4 position.

3 can takes his jumper or passes to the open guard.

1 can takes his jumper or passes to 5 in the low post.

(#8) Man Offense: CELTIC-3DOWN

1 is the Point Guard, 2 is the Off Guard, 3 is the Small Forward, 4 is the Power Forward and 5 is the Center.

1 dribbles to 2. 2 cuts up high to free throw line extended and receives pass from 1. At the same time 4 sets a pick for 3 who curls up to the free throw line.

3 has three options: 1) 3 can shoot the jump shot. 2) 3 can dribble to the basket for layup or look to pass to 4 off the dribble or to 2 for a jump shot. 3) 3 can pass to 4 who is posting up.

(#9) Man Offense: WILD-CAT TRANSITION

To run Wildcat Transition you must first understand if you are a post player or perimeter player. (4) & (5) are post players (1), (2) & (3) are perimeter players Next you must always know where the ball is...

1. The first perimeter player (2) down will go to the ball side foul line extended. 2. The first post player (5) down will go to the box - ball side

3. The last perimeter player down (3) goes to weak side corner. 4. The second post player down (4) goes to weak side wing.

5. As soon as ball handler (1) can make a safe pass to (2) -he should. 6. (2) immediately looks to box for post player (5). He should also look for open shot. 7. (1) then fills in on ball side top. This is our 4 out/ 1 in transition set. Remember - (4) & (5) are interchangeable. (1), (2), & (3) are interchangeable.

(#10) Shuffle Offense: KORU-STRONG

Pass to 2 on strong side. 1 cuts off 5.

5 rolls down to low post. 3 replaces 1 at the top.

1 goes to corner. 2 passes to 4.

5 goes to work, with 4, 3 and 1 in receivers spots, and 2 as safety. You can start with the 3 and 4 swapping positions.

(#11) Shuffle Offense: SHUFFLE-BLACK OPTION

(#12) Zone Offense: CORNERS

This play is designed to give a you variety of options and can be used against any 2-1-2 or 2-3 zone. -The players are spaced out along the perimeter which will prove to be important.

This play has two sides to it.The point gaurd can call this play and say "left" or "right" to run it on either side.In this example, we are running it on the right (your left). -2 and 4 screen the nearest defender.2 screens a high defender, 4 screens the low post defender. 4 should look to post up the defender if he is open. -Make sure to set good screens because this is possibly the most important part of the play.

-2 and 4 complete their screen. -2 should try to screen the defender with good position so he can't stop the point guard.

The point guard dribbles around the first pick and conitnues until stopped by the defense.

-The defense shifts over and stops the point guard. At this point 4 will be open.

The point guard has a few options here. -An entry pass into number four for an open layup or short jumper. -Look for 3 and pass to him for a mid range jumper. -2 will be wide open if the defender he screened tries to stop the point guard. The point guard is in good position for a jumpshot. The main option is the entry pass to 4. The next sequence shows this option.

4 can dribble into the key and shoot an easy layup. -If 4 gets too far under, power out and then shoot. -Look to draw the foul. Use pump fakes.

All five players on offense should be able to get into a good area for the rebound or at least step in some. Important tips: -Coaches should teach all options of this play to their players. -Emphasize good screens. -Players will learn to roll off their screens.

(#13) Zone Offense: DOUBLE STACK LOW

This is a simple zone play intended to get a jump shot from the weak side. The play starts off with Player 1 (This should be your best jump shooter) bringing the ball to the middle.

Player's 2 & 3 pop out to the wings to receive the ball

Player 1 passes the ball to Player 2. Once the two low post players sees where the ball is being passed to, the Player on the same side of the court where the ball is passed (Player 4) goes to the opposite low post and sets a double screen.

Player 1 cuts to the basket, looking for a pass from Player 2. If the pass isn't available the play continues. Player 3 moves to the top of the key at the same time Player 2 is cutting to basket.

Player 1 goes behind the double screen set by Players 4 & 5. The ball is passed back to the top of the key to Player 3.

Player 3 passes the ball to Player 1 for the jump shot. Player 2 drops down to help rebound.

(#14) Motion Offense: ARROW

As 1 moves from right to left the even 2 and 4 side moves up toward the ball. 3 Moves down into the lane to set a screen for 4. If it is a zone then pick the man in the elbow. Immediately after the screen cut down and through lane. Hurry up because 1 will be cutting behind you.

Option A: The pass goes to 4. 1 Cuts between his man and the ball for a give and go. When you reach the basket cut to your right to set a screen for 3. 5: As 1 makes his move down the lane, you should pop out and, if they are playing a man to ma n, your defender will follow opening up the lane for 1.

4: If you are being double teamed on closely guarded you can break down the lane after 1 or pass to 5. But this is not the first choice.

The first choice is 5 coming back to the mid Block and receiving a pass. 1 cuts out of lane and picks for 3.

3: You MUST CUT LOW, under and away from the middle of the lane to the corner. You'll do a curl up the 3-point arch in case 5 needs to pass the ball outside.

4 needs to fake a cut toward the middle of the lane and back out to the point on the triangle. At this point 5 has either taken a shot or passed it back out. If you can stall and go into a Triple Threat position amazing things are about to happen. 1 and 2 will pick for each other. 2 will do a back door taking the pick from 1 and running behind the defense. 1 pops up to the foul line.

If none of this works. Kick it back out to 1 to reload the offense.

(#15) Motion Offense: F-VILLE MOTION

Set up with two low posts and two wings. Then the point guard passes to either wing.

The wing with the ball looks to pass to the player in the post. While that is happening the point after passing has turned and set a pick for the opposite wing.

The wing without the ball runs off the screen to replace the point and cover saftey.

If the pass can't go inside the wing waves the post away. The post then rolls and sets a screen for the opposite post. The wing now has two options: 1) Pass the ball back to the point guard, who then passes to the other wing player. The wing player is then looking to get the pass into the post player after he has screened.

Option 2) Hold the ball and wait for the player to come of the screen.

If the pass can't be made the ball is then passed to the point and the play is reset. The essence of this play is that the passes/ball rotation needs to be quick and the screens need to be set & used well.

(#16) Triangle Offense: TRIANGLE PRINCIPLES

In the triangle offense 4 and 5 are the only players to play the post position. 1,2 and 3 are interchangeable at the various perimeter positions (point guard, strong-side wing, weak-side wing and corner position). The shape of a triangle is formed on the ball side by the post player, the wing player and the corner man. The triangle can be forme d on either the right or left side; it can be initiated by either a pass from the point guard to one of the wing men or by the point guard dribbling over to one of the wing positions. Whichever player ends up with the ball in the strong-side wing position becomes the "trigger man" what he does with the ball determines the offensive movement. The offense begins with 4 and 5 located at the elbows and the two wing players on the lower blocks, as shown. When the point guard reaches the bottom of the mid-circle, 4 and 5 then downpick for 2 and 3 to get them open in the wing areas for a pass from 1, as shown in the diagram.

Another way to begin the triangle is to have 1 dribble to either wing position with the wing player then v-cutting down to the corner position and the strong-side post player moving to the high-post elbow position, as shown here. (We'll be showing only the wing pass entry in our play option examples, but all plays can also be initiated by the point guard dribbling over).

Either of these two ways to begin the offense will result in the triangle being set up. In this example, where 1 has passed to 3 on the wing then cut through to the corner, the triangle is set on the right side with 3 on the wing as the trigger man, 1 in the corner and 5 in the ball-side high post area. 2 moves up to the point area for defensive protection and 4 moves out to the weak side wing area.

(All of the triangle offense options shown in the following pages can be run from either the right side or the left side - it doesn't matter which side the play begins on.)

(#17) Triangle Offense: CIRCLE-OPTION

When the trigger man calls out "CIRCLE" then the corner man knows to run quickly and "circle around" to the opposite side corner. In this example, 3 is the trigger man. Upon calling out "CIRCLE", 1 runs to the opposite corner leaving 3 and 4 alone on the left side. ("Circle" can also be called out by the point guard. In this case if the point guard calls "CIRCLE" and he then passes to the wing, he will then cut through to the basket and continue out to the opposite corner area. If the point guard instead dribbles to the wing then the wing man clears out to the opposite corner area.)

This results in a 2 on 2 game. 4 then sets a screen on the baseline side of 3's defender, then rolls to

the basket after setting the screen. 3 dribbles off the screen from 4 and can either look for his own shot or pass to 4 rolling to the basket. 1 and 5 look to CRASH the boards if a shot is taken. 2 stays at the point for defensive protection.

(#18) Specialty Offense: TRIANGLE AND 2

1/4 Set against triangle and 2 2 & 3 are defended in m/m 1 passes to 4/5 5 cuts to ball side low post 1 replaces 5

4 passes to 1 for shot (1st option)

4 dribbles towards the center of the floor 1 & 5 cut towards the basket

2 & 3 screen down on the triangle 2 & 3 will now occupy 2 defensive players

1 & 5 use the screens set by 2 & 3 1 & 5 can even cross under the bucket to create more movement 4 passes to 1 or 5

Intermediate Youth Basketball Playbook ------------------------------------------------------------------------------1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.

1-3-1 Offense: OFFENSE 1-3-1 1-4 Offense: 1-4 HIGH 1-4 Offense: 1-4 PERSONAL Box Offense: BLUE 2 Flex Offense: FLEX II Flex Offense: KENNY’S F LEX Man Offense: MAN 14 Man Offense: BIG MAN Man Offense: DOUBLE-SCREEN-CORNER-SHOT Shuffle Offense: Shuffle-1ST OPTION Shuffle Offense: SCREEN-AWAY Zone Offense: TEMPO Zone Offense: ZONE A Motion Offense: 2 OUT 3 IN MOTION Motion Offense: MOTION RECIEVERS Triangle Offense: C-OPTION Triangle Offense: REVERSE-OPTION Specialty Offense: PRESS-BREAK-BASELINE-BOMB

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(#1) 1-3-1 Offense: OFFENSE 1-3-1

It is important that the wing players stay out wide at all times. This to allow maximum use of the court. The one will pass the ball to the three and the four will cut to the sideline.

The three passes the ball to the four and then cuts towards the basket. If the three is open, the four will bounce pass to them and the three will drive for a layup. As the three is cutting to the basket, the one takes the threes place and the two takes the ones place. The five follows after the three as a second option to the four making a pass.

If there is no pass available to the three or five, the four passes the ball to the one to start a reversal of the basketball. The three continues through the lane to the other wing. The five is following through the lane as well.

The one passes the ball to the two at the top of the key. The three makes her way to the other wing while the five makes her way to the elbow.

The two passes the ball to the three for the open jumper.

The four runs the baseline to look for a pass if the open jumper isn't there. The five is back at the foul line looking for the ball if the open jumper is not there.

The three takes the open jumper. If there isn't an open jumper, then the three passes to the four and cuts towards the hoop. The five and four crash the boards for the rebound if the shot is taken. The five follows the three through the lane if the pass is made instead of the shot, the two takes the threes place and the one takes the twos place, and the cycle starts again from the left side. If the rebound is there either put it back up or kick it back out to start the cycle over again.

(#2) 1-4 Offense: 1-4 HIGH

Point guard (1) has the ball. Wings (2 & 3) are at free-throw line extended, outside three-point line, near sideline. Posts (4 & 5) are at high posts (elbows).

Option 1 - Pass to Post This option can be run to either side of the court. If post (4) is being defended from behind, point (1), passes to post (4).

Option 1 - Pass to Post (continued) Ballside wing (2) goes hard backdoor looking for pass from post. This pass will be with the posts outside hand (left in this case). Post is pivoting on inside foot. Point guard (1) fills wing spot. Weakside post (5) screens for weakside wing who cuts to fill point position.

Option 1 - Pass to Post (continued) If wing (2) doesn't get backdoor pass he continues through to the basket and hooks back looking for another pass from the post. This pass from the post will be after he has pivoted towards the basket. If the second pass is not available the wing (2) continues through the key to fill the weakside wing spot. Weakside post can cut to the basket to look for pass, or return to high post. If ball is passed back out to new point (3) the offense is reset.

Option 2 - Dribble Entry This option can be run to either side of the court. Point guard (1) indicates dribble entry with verbal call or other signal. Posts (4 & 5) set up-screens, point guard runs his man into screen. Ballside wing (2) cuts to basket looking for pass. If not on he flares to the corner. Ball side post rolls to basket looking for pass. Weak side wing moves down to corner.

Option 2 - Dribble Entry (continued) If pass from point (1) to post (4) is not available, post (4) should seal defender and point will look for pass to weakside post (5) for high-low to low post (4).

Option 3 - Pass to Wing This option can also be run to either side of the court.

On the pass from the point (1) to the wing (2), the ballside post cuts to basket looking for pass. Weakside wing (3) moves to top to fill point position. Point (1) cuts to weakside. Weakside post (5) sprints across key.

Option 3 - Pass to Wing (continued) Post (5) sets screen for wing (2) who drives to basket looking for layup. Post (4) moves across (out of way of drive). Point (1) moves to free throw line as possible receiver of dish pass from wing (2).

(#3) 1-4 Offense: 1-4 PERSONAL

Player 1 passes to the 2, player 3 is going to make a screen for 4 and 1 sets a screen for 5.

Player 2 with the ball has the following options a) give the ball to the penetration 4 b) pass the ball to 5 for a three points shot.

If player 2 cannot pass the ball to 4 he passes to player 5.

The 5 passes to 1 and uses the screen of 3 to enter the bucket, at the same time 4 sets a backscreen for 2 which also enters the bucket.

Player 1 can pass short to 5 or long to 2

Player 4 goes back for the defensive balance. 5 moves to the forward positon of 4. 2 goes to the low post postion.

The 1 player can pass to 2 for a shot from the corner or back to 4 so the play can start over again.

(#4) Box Offense: BLUE2

As 1 calls Blue, 2 and 3 jab step/v-cut to middle then break out free throw line extended. 1 passes the ball to a side (doesn't matter which side just need to change it up and don't always go one way)

If the ball goes to 2's side 4 flashes up the lane to free throw line. 5 posts up for a count of 2, then if he doesn't get the ball jab steps to middle and goes out towards the corner.

2 passes the ball out to 5 and then goes through looking for a pass back.

If not open 4 rolls down lane pauses and post up big on block then continue through to other side (ensure that 2 has cleared the area)

If no one is open 1 rotates to where 2 was and gets the ball back from 5. At the same time 3 is rotating up to the top to replace 1.

As 1 gets ball from 5, 5 cuts HARD for basket looking for the return pass.

1 passes to 3 as 2 is coming around and up towards the elbow for the pass from 3 and the possible jump shot.

If 2 doesn't have the shot look for 4 who is going to post up on the block for a count of 2 then break to corner. 2 should also look for 5 flashing to middle as soon as they get the ball. 5 go to the middle looking for a pass if 2 don't shoot. If 2 does shoot 5 is there for the rebound. REMEMBER TO CLEAR THE KEY IF YOU DON"T GET THE BALL AS YOU FLASH MIDDLE...go to the free throw line.

(#5) Flex Offense: FLEX II

The offense starts in a stack...

The guard (1) chooses a side, it doesn't matter which, and drives to the elbow. When

the guard is doing that, the forward (3) flashes up to receive the ball. The center (5) moves to the three-point line to make room for the action that will take place in a few seconds. On the other side the center (4) moves also to the three-point line.

After the guard (1) passes the ball to the forward (3), the center (4) flashes over the screen that has been set by the forward (2) and the guard comes down to set the screen for the other guard (2). Make sure that when the center (4) comes over the screen he shows his hands to receive the pass inside from the forward (3). When the forward (2) has set the screen, make sure he also shows his hands to the forward with the ball (3) so that he can receive the ball from him.

When the forward (2) runs to the elbow and receives the ball, the guard runs to the three point-line. The center (4) sets the screen while the other center (5) takes it. Actually it's kind of the same, during the rest of the play, it's always the same!

When the ball can't be passed to the elbow, the center (4) moves out to the three point line and gets the ball from the forward (3) or whoever is on the elbow, in this case the forward (3). After he has given the ball, he gives a DOUBLE SCREEN AWAY. First on the other forward (or who is on the other elbow) and after that on the person that is at the three point line. And you get into the flex.

(#6) Flex Offense: KENNY’s FLEX

1 dribbles in and sends ball over to 2 while 4 kicks out and 5 sets a screen for 3. Keys to success: - set good screens - don't set screen too soon - ball fake before pass - low player's ability to finish under pressure

2 passes the ball down to 4 and makes a basket cut before setting a screen for 1 4 is looking for 3 as he is cutting across the key. A quick pass down low should allow 3 an easy basket.

1 is free for a reverse pass if 3 is heavily guarded or double-teamed. Or 1 could use the screen and cut toward the basket for a short feed from 3. Double Down Option: 1 and 2 set double screen for 3 who circles to the elbow for a quick shot.

Once the ball goes back to 1 the play is ready to be reset from the opposite side.

(#7) Man Offense: Man 14

Starting positions play 14 (call = 14) 1 starts the offense when everybody has taken his position by calling "Go"

When 1 calls "Go" 2 and 3 cut to the side line, but stay 1 meter away from the sideline. 4 and 5 cut to the free throw line, so that a 1-4 alignment is created. 4 and 5 should show their hands high, so that they can receive a pass from 1.

If 4 and 5 cannot receive a pass, the ball goes to 2 or 3.

2 and 3 must keep cutting to get free.

After the pass to 2, 1 cuts over the screen of 4 and if possible receives the ball from 2. 3 takes the place of 1 and become s the safety. If 1 doesn't get the ball he takes the place of 3.

If 1 didn't receive the ball, 4 sets a screen on the defender of 5.

5 cuts over the sc reen and if free receives the ball from 2. In case 5 didn't receive the ball the goes to the low post on the non-ball side.

If 5 doesn't get the ball: After the screen 4 rolls to the ball and then the to basket. If free 4 receives the ball. If 4 doesn't receive the ball he goes to the low post of the ball side. If none of the options worked the ball goes to 3 and we are in starting positions to restart the offense.

(#8) Man Offense: Big Man

-2 v cuts to foul line extended -1 passes to 2 -4 picks for 5 -5 goes to block -2 passes to 1 -4 picks down for 3 -3 goes to foul line extended -1 passes to 3 -4 picks for 5

(#9) Man Offense: DOUBLE-SCREEN-CORNER-SHOT

1 brings the ball up the court and calls Play 1.

4 and 5 screen player 2 defender. Player 2 goes to the 3-point line wide open.

Player 1 gives the ball to player 2 who has an open 3-point shot.

5 then screens off player 3 defender and 3 goes to the basket.

2 either shoots the 3-point and 3 gets the rebounds or passes to 3 for an open lay-up.

(#10) Shuffle Offense: SHUFFLE-1ST OPTION

1 passes to 2 and runs shuffle cut off 5 2 looks for entry to 1 3 and 4 form double screen low

5 will step out and screen and role with 2 2 goes hard to middle and looks at options: - 2 for shot - 5 on the roll - 1 coming off double screen

2 reverses ball to 1 4 steps to corner

3 screens 5 (trying to force switch)

If completed succesfully we now look like this To balance into offense again: 5 steps up to post 1 dribbles ball to allign with post 4 steps high

We are ready to run the offense again...

(#11) Shuffle Offense: SCREEN-AWAY

2 comes hard off double screen and goes to post 5 pops high 3 flares wide 4 makes the read

If completed succesfully we now look like this To balance into offence again: 2 steps up to post 4 reverses to 5 3 and 1 balance out

(#12) Zone Offense: TEMPO

This play should be used against a 1-3-1 half court defense which your opponent may use to try to change the tempo of the game.This is an excellent counter and will give you a quick basket.

3 sprints over to the opposite side of the floor near the baseline.

2, 5, and 4 screen the nearby defender. -5 and 4 should do v-cuts before the screen so the defender doesn't see it coming. -If you are 4, watch 3 in the key.

As you can see 3 is open for the lob.

If you are 3, jump to the ball if nessecary.

3 dribbles in until picked up by the defending #5.

4 should spin off his defender and be open for the entry pass.

4 lays it in.

3, 4, and 5 are in decent position for the rebound. 4 should try to step out of the paint momentarily to get a fresh 3 seconds.

(#13) Zone Offense: ZONE A

4 is at the high post. 1 passes to the weak side ( the side with no center).

The high post (4) cuts to the ball and then to the basket. If 4 is free he will receive the ball. 3 cuts behind 4 to the free throw line.

If 3 is free then 2 can also pass the ball to him/her

If the ball is not passed: 4 sets a screen for 5. 5 flashes towards the ball and if free gets the ball.

If none of the cutters is free the ball goes back to the guard.

The guard dribbles towards the wing. At the same time 5 gets another block from 4 and cuts free at the baseline.

5 can shoot directly from the pass, or can play a 2-man-game with 4 at the baseline. As an alternative another pass at the back of the zone is possible after 3 has blocked for 2.

5 shoots and 4,2 and 3 all go for the rebound. 1 is the safety.

(#14) Motion Offense: 3 OUT 2 IN MOTION

Whenever the ball is passed on the wing the strong side post player goes to the elbow.

5 can receive the ball or cut to the weak side elbow. 1 sets a down screen (and rolls to the basket)

for 3 who goes to the top or back cuts to the basket. If 3 cuts to the basket then 1 rolls & goes back to the top.

5 drops down for the second cutter to the basket. If there is no pass to 5, 4 passes back out to 3, then goes & sets a screen for 5. We are now back in our original 3 out 2 in.

3 can now pass to 5.

(#15) Motion Offense: MOTION RECIEVERS

PRINCIPLES OF MOTION OFFENSE: There are many principles in regards to running a motion offense, some are: - to score - ball reversal - get inside the key (via dribble or pass) - receivers - reading the defense MOVEMENT + PATIENCE = BASKETS MOVEMENT WITH A PURPOSE With any penertraion the receivers spots must be filled. They are shown above with the "X", in addition to this we must always have an offensive man spot up opposite and a defensive safety.

RECEIVER SPOTS: Setup 1. If you are below the # spot of the key you must always get to a receiver spot unless you are on the same side as a player posting up. #3 dribble penetrates into the key, #5 steps into one receiver spot while #2 steps into another. #1 repositions as the defensive safety while #4 is spotting up opposite.

Setup 2. #1 has dribble penetration form the point. #5 and #3 fill in the receiver spots (low) while #2 moves into the spot up opposite position and #4 becomes the defensive safety. #4 while having a long way to run to fill their spot will ensure that the floor remains balanced. Plus the rule of do not fill a receiver sport if you are on the side that their is a post position filled.

Setup 3: #3 has penetration at the elbow. #5 and #4 step into the receiver spots. #2 takes up the position to spot up opposite. While # 1 will fill in as the defensive safety.

(#16) Triangle Offense: C-OPTION

The "C" option stands for Clear. When the trigger man, 2 in this example, calls this from the triangle position then 5 and 1 immediately and quickly go to the other side of the floor. They "clear-out" to the opposite side leaving 2 to take his man one-on-one to the basket. (Remember, we must be good actors in basketball so 5 might act like he's screening for 4, and 4 might act like he's screening for 1, who could act like he's coming off the screen from 4 - you don't want to just turn and watch 2 with the ball because the defense will then quickly figure out the play). If a shot is taken, 1, 4 and 5 CRASH the boards while 3 stays at the point for defensive protection. ("C" can also be called out by the point guard. In this case if the point guard passes to the wing then he cuts through to the basket and continues out to the opposite corner area. If the point guard dribbles to the wing then the wing man clears out to the opposite corner area.)

2 takes his man one-on-one trying to get all the way to the basket. If he can't beat his man then the triangle is reset, either on the same side or on the opposite side. (Another option may be, instead of calling out "C" every time for this play would be to start the clear out play by calling out any color.)

(#17) Triangle Offense: REVERSE-OPTION

In this example the triangle is set up on the right side. 2, the trigger man, reverses the ball to 3 who quickly passes to 4 on the weak side wing. As 3 is beginning to pass to 4, 5 steps up to set a screen on 2's defender. 2 v-cuts and flashes across the lane looking for the pass from 4 and the shot. If 2 shoots everyone except 3 CRASHES the boards. 3 stays back for defensive protection.

If 2 doesn't get the ball he continues through the lane to the left side corner. After screening for 2, 5 then sets a screen on 1's defender. 1 v-cuts across the lane looking for the pass from 4 and the shot. If 1 shoots, everyone except 3 CRASHES the boards.

If 1 is not open, then 4's final option is to pass to 5 who, after screening for 1, then rolls to the basket looking for the pass. If 4 does pass to 1 and he is not open for a shot, then 1 has the option to pass to 5 who is rolling to the basket. If 5 does not get the pass he then stays inside looking to get good rebounding position.

If 4 does not pass to either 1 or 5 he then hands the ball to 3 coming over to the wing, 4 then moves down to the high-post area, 2 is already in the left corner area.

And the triangle has now been reset to begin again on the left side with 3 as the trigger man. 1 has moved up to the point area and 5 moves out to the weak side wing.

(#18) Specialty Offense: PRESS-BREAK BASELINE BOMB

After scoring the defense sets up a press. This is a play to inbound the ball. 4 and 5 go for a screen on 1 and 2. Only 4 makes a fake screen and cuts back behind the baseline.

1 cuts towards the ball. 4 cuts behind the baseline.

Player 3 has two options: Pass to player 1 or to player 4.

If player 1 is not free the pass goes to player 4. When passing to player 4, player 3 must make sure that player 4 is completely out of bounds; otherwise the ball is turned over. Note that this is only allowed after the opponent made a basket.

When the ball is at player 4. 3 sets a screen for player 1 who cuts to the ball. 5 cuts towards the offensive half. 2 v-cuts towards the ball.

FREE BONUS MATERIAL

Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... 1 Using the documents ................................................................................................................... 10 Daily fundamentals you can do at home (Homework)... ............................................................. 11 Footwork Fundamentals .............................................................................................................. 13 Offensive Stance..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Pivoting ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Changing Direction and Speed............................................................................................................................................. 14 Jumping..................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Faking and Cutting.................................................................................................................................................................. 15 The jab step.............................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Defensive Footwork................................................................................................................................................................ 15 Defensive Stance.................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Defensive Slides ...................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Footfire and Slide drill..............................................................................................................................................................16

Close-out on the ball receiver................................................................................................................................................ 16

Basic Offensive Tips .................................................................................................................... 17 Cutting and Faking ....................................................................................................................... 19 Ball Handling ................................................................................................................................ 22 Finger Grabs ............................................................................................................................................................................ 22 Pound the ball.......................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Circles ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Figure Eights............................................................................................................................................................................ 22 Tipping....................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Drops ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 23

Dribbling... .................................................................................................................................... 24 Control Dribble......................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Speed Dribble.......................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Crossover Dribble.................................................................................................................................................................... 24 In and Out Dribble ................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Hesitation Dribble ("Rocker Move") ...................................................................................................................................... 25 Behind the Back Dribble, Through the Legs Dribble......................................................................................................... 25

The Lost Art of Passing ............................................................................................................... 26 Passing into the Post...............................................................................................................................................................28 Passing Drills ..........................................................................................................................................................................28

The Basic Shots -- the Lay-up ..................................................................................................... 29 Learning How to Shoot ................................................................................................................ 30 The Jump Shot............................................................................................................................. 32 Outside (Perimeter) One-On-One Moves.................................................................................... 33 Triple threat position............................................................................................................................................................... 33 A few tips on the jab step....................................................................................................................................................... 33

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Which foot becomes the pivot foot and which is used for the jab step?......................................................................... 33 Three basic outside moves:................................................................................................................................................... 34 Perimeter moves when a team -mate has the ball... reading the defense...................................................................... 34

Inside (Post) Moves ..................................................................................................................... 36 Get Position.............................................................................................................................................................................. 36 Low post moves....................................................................................................................................................................... 36 1. Drop step to baseline. .........................................................................................................................................................36 2. Drop step to lane (jump hook).............................................................................................................................................36 3. Turn and face defender and jab step...................................................................................................................................36 4. Up and under move.............................................................................................................................................................36 5. Flash to the elbow or free throw line....................................................................................................................................37 6. Back door lob......................................................................................................................................................................37 7. Learn to read the defense...................................................................................................................................................37

Playing the High Post. ............................................................................................................................................................ 37

Becoming a Good Free Throw Shooter....................................................................................... 39 Setting Screens (Picks)................................................................................................................ 41 Important elements in executing an effective screen........................................................................................................ 41 Types of Screens..................................................................................................................................................................... 42 1. Front screen........................................................................................................................................................................42 2. Back screen........................................................................................................................................................................42 3. Down screen.......................................................................................................................................................................42

Transition Offense........................................................................................................................ 43 How to practice in the off season... ............................................................................................. 46 Defensive Tips ............................................................................................................................. 48 Basic Defense.............................................................................................................................. 50 Slides......................................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Close-out on the ball receiver................................................................................................................................................ 50 On the Ball................................................................................................................................................................................ 50 Denial........................................................................................................................................................................................ 51 Help-side................................................................................................................................................................................... 52 Defending the Low Post......................................................................................................................................................... 52 Trapping (setting the double-team)...................................................................................................................................... 53

Rebounding .................................................................................................................................. 54 Defensive Rebounding ........................................................................................................................................................... 54 Offensive Rebounding............................................................................................................................................................ 55

How to make the team... Tryouts!................................................................................................ 56 Things to think about.................................................................................................................... 57 Attitude, the "Right Stuff" ............................................................................................................. 59 When you don't have the ball... ................................................................................................... 60 The Exceptional Player ................................................................................................................ 61 The Role Player ........................................................................................................................... 62 Playing the Point guard Position.................................................................................................. 64 Communication........................................................................................................................................................................ 64 Court Balance, Passing, Half-Court Offense...................................................................................................................... 64 Control the Tempo................................................................................................................................................................... 65

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Know the Game Situation...................................................................................................................................................... 65 Leadership, Attitude................................................................................................................................................................ 66 Skills Necessary to be a Good Point Guard........................................................................................................................ 66

Coaching ... game strategy.......................................................................................................... 69 Game plan................................................................................................................................................................................ 69 Game Tempo ........................................................................................................................................................................... 69 Type of defense....................................................................................................................................................................... 69 When to press, or stop pressing ........................................................................................................................................... 70 Using time-outs ........................................................................................................................................................................ 70 Substitutions............................................................................................................................................................................. 70 Yelling at the players............................................................................................................................................................... 71 End of quarter strategy........................................................................................................................................................... 71 Late game strategy................................................................................................................................................................. 71 If you are ahead......................................................................................................................................................................71 If you are behind......................................................................................................................................................................72 If the game is tied and you have the ball.................................................................................................................................72 If the game is tied and you are on defense..............................................................................................................................72

Planning Practices ....................................................................................................................... 74 Sample Practice Plan............................................................................................................................................................. 76

Coaching Young Players ............................................................................................................. 77 Coaching a young team......................................................................................................................................................... 78 Here are some articles that may help.................................................................................................................................. 80 Running a youth clinic............................................................................................................................................................. 81

Running a Youth Basketball Clinic .............................................................................................. 83 Conditioning ................................................................................................................................. 86 Conditioning Drills ................................................................................................................................................................... 87

What to Eat Before a Game or Practice...................................................................................... 88 About Food Supplements... ......................................................................................................... 89 Creatine..................................................................................................................................................................................... 89 Androstenedione..................................................................................................................................................................... 89

Basketball Terminology ............................................................................................................... 91 Basketball History ........................................................................................................................ 95 Teaching Man-to-Man Pressure Defense................................................................................... 97 Force Sideline and Baseline.................................................................................................................................................. 97 Keeping Pressure on the Ball, On-Ball Defense................................................................................................................ 97 Defensive Positioning off the Ball, Deny, Helpside, Help and Recover.......................................................................... 98 Defending Post Players .......................................................................................................................................................... 99 Defending Cutters .................................................................................................................................................................100 Defending Screens................................................................................................................................................................100 Defending Baseline Out-of-Bounds Plays with Man-to-Man Defense..........................................................................103

Zone Defense............................................................................................................................. 104 Advantages of zone defense...............................................................................................................................................104 Disadvantages of zone defense..........................................................................................................................................104

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Basic pointers for all zone defenses ..................................................................................................................................105

2-3 (or 2-1-2) Half-Court Zone Defense .................................................................................... 106 Covering the Skip Pass.........................................................................................................................................................107

1-3-1 Half-Court Zone Defense ................................................................................................. 108 1-2-2 and 3-2 Half-Court Zone Defenses .................................................................................. 110 Match-up Zone Defense ............................................................................................................ 113 1-3-1 Match-up Zone Defense................................................................................................... 116 2-2-1 Half Court Press............................................................................................................... 120 Defending a team with a “star” player, “Junk” Defenses........................................................... 122 Man-to-man defensive adjustments against a “star” player ...........................................................................................122 1. The “star” is the point guard.............................................................................................................................................122 2. The “star” is a wing-forward player...................................................................................................................................122 3. The “star” is a low post player..........................................................................................................................................123

Junk Defenses .......................................................................................................................................................................123 “Box and 1”.............................................................................................................................................................................123 “1-3 and a chaser”.................................................................................................................................................................124 “3-1 and a chaser”.................................................................................................................................................................124 "Diamond and 1"....................................................................................................................................................................125 “Triangle and 2”.....................................................................................................................................................................125

Two Half-Court Defensive Strategies ........................................................................................ 126 Deny the Wing Pass?...........................................................................................................................................................126 Double Teaming the Low Post............................................................................................................................................126

Defense for the Last Few Seconds of the Game...................................................................... 128 Transition Defense..................................................................................................................... 129 Preventing the fast break.....................................................................................................................................................129 Defending the paint area......................................................................................................................................................129 Full-Court Press Defense.....................................................................................................................................................130 Some basic principles apply to all presses.......................................................................................................................130 Trapping..................................................................................................................................................................................130 Gapping (zone press)...........................................................................................................................................................131 Types of full court presses ...................................................................................................................................................131 Man-to-Man Press.................................................................................................................................................................131 Zone Presses ........................................................................................................................................................................131

Drills:........................................................................................................................................................................................131

Full-Court Pressure Defense..................................................................................................... 132 “41 Deny” ................................................................................................................................................................................133

2-2-1 Zone Press ....................................................................................................................... 134 2-2-1 Zone Press Variations ...................................................................................................... 135 2-Up Zone Press ...................................................................................................................................................................135 2-2-1 "Deny" Defense...........................................................................................................................................................135

3-1-1 Zone Press ....................................................................................................................... 136 1-2-1-1 Zone Press – "Diamond Press".................................................................................... 138 Coach Sar's 1-2-2 Zone Presses............................................................................................... 140 4

Basic Concepts of Motion Offense ............................................................................................ 143 Basic rules:.............................................................................................................................................................................143 Spacing.................................................................................................................................................................................143 Triple threat position and patience........................................................................................................................................143 Players may dribble only:......................................................................................................................................................143 Player Movement ..................................................................................................................................................................144 Passing .................................................................................................................................................................................144 After passing, players must do one of these:.........................................................................................................................144

Read the defense..................................................................................................................................................................144 Situations for Perimeter players:...........................................................................................................................................144

Situations for post players:...................................................................................................................................................144 Post players working together:............................................................................................................................................145

3-2 Motion Offense Options ....................................................................................................... 146 “1 UP”......................................................................................................................................................................................146 "2-UP"......................................................................................................................................................................................146 “4-Down”.................................................................................................................................................................................146 “3-Cross”.................................................................................................................................................................................147 “3-Corner”...............................................................................................................................................................................147

3-2 Motion Offense Options, More! ........................................................................................... 148 Wing-Low Post Motion..........................................................................................................................................................148 Post-Post Motion...................................................................................................................................................................148

3-2 "Hi-Lo" Plays ........................................................................................................................ 149 3-2 Motion Offense Plays .......................................................................................................... 151 3-2 Motion Offense Plays -- "Red, White and Blue".................................................................. 152 "Blue".......................................................................................................................................................................................152 "Red" .......................................................................................................................................................................................152 "White".....................................................................................................................................................................................153

Weave Screen Plays.................................................................................................................. 154 3-2 “Reverse” ............................................................................................................................. 155 3-Out, 2-In “Options” Series....................................................................................................... 156 Double Up vs Man-to-Man Defense .......................................................................................... 158 Double-Up Vs. Zone Defenses .................................................................................................. 160 Open Post High Offense : Basic Motion ................................................................................... 162 Post Entries for the Open Post (5-Out) Motion Offense............................................................ 176 4-Out, 1-In Motion Offense ........................................................................................................ 178 41 "Flash". .................................................................................................................................. 179 41 "Slip" ...................................................................................................................................... 180 41 "Swing". ................................................................................................................................. 181 41 "Fist". ..................................................................................................................................... 182 The Shuffle Offense. .................................................................................................................. 183 Swing Offense............................................................................................................................ 187 Zone Offense ............................................................................................................................. 193 How to Attack the 2-3 (or 2-1-2) Zone Defense ........................................................................ 195 5

Simple 2-3 Zone Attack ............................................................................................................. 200 How to Attack the 3-2 Zone Defense ........................................................................................ 205 How to Attack the 1-2-2 Zone Defense ..................................................................................... 207 How to Attack the Box and 1 Defense....................................................................................... 209 How to Attack the 1-3-1 Zone Defense ..................................................................................... 211 Transition Offense...................................................................................................................... 213 Transition Offensive Concepts............................................................................................................................................213 Running the primary fast break...........................................................................................................................................213

Secondary Break, Transition Offense ....................................................................................... 215 After the opponent scores ....................................................................................................................................................215 After a rebound......................................................................................................................................................................216

Coach Sar's Secondary Break................................................................................................... 217 Beating the Full Court Press...................................................................................................... 219 Beating the 1-2-1-1 Full Court Press......................................................................................... 221 1-2-1-1 Press Breaker................................................................................................................ 223 Four Across Press Breaker........................................................................................................ 224 Simplified Version of the 4-Across Press Breaker...........................................................................................................225 Another Version of the 4-Across Press Break..................................................................................................................226

Half-Court Press Breakers......................................................................................................... 228 1-3-1 Motion Offense, "1" .......................................................................................................... 233 1-3-1 Motion Offense, "2" .......................................................................................................... 234 1-3-1 Motion "3" ......................................................................................................................... 236 Play "23" (or "32") ...................................................................................................................... 237 Isolation "2" ................................................................................................................................ 238 Back-Door Play "Baseline 3" ..................................................................................................... 239 1-4 Stack.................................................................................................................................... 241 1-4 High Post Pick and Roll ....................................................................................................... 242 1-4 Stack, Post-Point Pick ‘n Roll .............................................................................................. 243 1-4 Stack Low ............................................................................................................................ 244 Michigan ..................................................................................................................................... 246 Delay Spread Offense -- “Butter"............................................................................................... 249 Rules of the "Butter" (or 4-Corners) Offense............................................................................. 249 3-on-3 Plays ............................................................................................................................... 252 Sideline Out-Of-Bounds Play..................................................................................................... 256 Sideline Out-Of-Bounds Play #2................................................................................................ 257 Out-of-bounds play #1, or "Box" ................................................................................................ 258 "Stack" Out-of-bounds Plays ..................................................................................................... 259 “Stack 3”................................................................................................................................................................................260

"3" Out of Bounds Play .............................................................................................................. 261 6

Out-of-bounds play #5, or "Line-Up", or “4-Down” .................................................................... 262 Out-of-Bounds Play “54” ............................................................................................................ 263 Out-of-bounds play – “Spread” .................................................................................................. 264 Out-of-Bounds Plays Vs the 2-3 Zone....................................................................................... 265 Play #1, “Splitter”...................................................................................................................................................................265 Play #2, “Stack Screen”........................................................................................................................................................265

Out-of-bounds Plays “Box 1” and “Box 3” ................................................................................. 267 “Box 1”.....................................................................................................................................................................................267 “Box 3”.....................................................................................................................................................................................267

Out-of-Bounds Play “Double Stack” .......................................................................................... 268 Out-of-Bounds Play, “3–Across”................................................................................................ 269 Out-of-Bounds Play “Pinball” ..................................................................................................... 270 Zone Option............................................................................................................................................................................270

Offense for the Last Few Seconds of the Game....................................................................... 271 Desperation, Last Second Full-Court Play ................................................................................ 272 Defense 1 on 1 Drill ................................................................................................................... 275 Full-Court Drill ............................................................................................................................ 275 Defense Close-Out Drill ............................................................................................................. 276 Defense Z-Drill ........................................................................................................................... 277 Defense Shell Drill ..................................................................................................................... 278 DMan-to-Man Defense Breakdown Drills .................................................................................. 280 Defense Man-to-Man Positioning Drill ....................................................................................... 286 Deny, Corner Trap Drill .............................................................................................................. 287 Piston Full-Court Offense-Defense Drill .................................................................................... 288 Take The Charge Defensive Drill .............................................................................................. 289 Learning the Jump Stop............................................................................................................. 291 Footwork Drill ............................................................................................................................. 293 Pick Drills.................................................................................................................................... 294 Drill #1. Pass and screen-away. .........................................................................................................................................294 Drill #2. Front screen set for the ball-handler. ..................................................................................................................294 Common Screening Errors ..................................................................................................................................................295

Drills for Teaching the 3-2 Motion Offense................................................................................ 296 Transition Offensive Drills .......................................................................................................... 301 Rebound and outlet pass.....................................................................................................................................................301 Filling the Lanes.....................................................................................................................................................................301 Pointers:..................................................................................................................................................................................302 Finishing the break................................................................................................................................................................302 3- on-1, 3-on-2 Drills .............................................................................................................................................................303

Pitch 'n Fire Full-Court Drill ........................................................................................................ 304 7

4 on 4 Transition ........................................................................................................................ 305 4-On-4-On-4 Drill ....................................................................................................................... 306 The Rebound-Outlet-Break Drill ................................................................................................ 308 11-Man Drill (Full Court) ............................................................................................................ 311 7-Man Half Court Drill ................................................................................................................ 312 Low Post Offensive Drills........................................................................................................... 313 Single Person Drills...............................................................................................................................................................313 Mikan Drill .............................................................................................................................................................................313 Roll and Retrieve, Power Lay -up Drill....................................................................................................................................313

Three Person Drills ...............................................................................................................................................................313 Drop Step Drill .......................................................................................................................................................................313 Jump Hook to the Lane Drill..................................................................................................................................................314 Turn and Shoot Drill ..............................................................................................................................................................314 Power Shot Drill ....................................................................................................................................................................314

Basic Dribbling Drills .................................................................................................................. 315 Dribbling Eights......................................................................................................................................................................315 Up and Downs .......................................................................................................................................................................315 Kills ..........................................................................................................................................................................................315 Circle Dribbles........................................................................................................................................................................315 Back and Forth Between the Legs .....................................................................................................................................315 Crossover Dribbles................................................................................................................................................................315 V-Dribble in Front..................................................................................................................................................................315

Sideline Dribbling Drills .............................................................................................................. 316 Sideline Moves Drill...............................................................................................................................................................316

Full Court Dribbling Drills ........................................................................................................... 317 Variation #1, Hesitation Move. ............................................................................................................................................317 Variation #2, Finish the Lay-up Against Pressure............................................................................................................317

Dribbling Moves Drill .................................................................................................................. 318 Dribble Tag Ball Handling Drill................................................................................................... 319 2 Man Shooting Drills ................................................................................................................. 320 Drill #1, Catch and Shoot....................................................................................................................................................320 Drill #2, Ball Fake and Shoot Jumper................................................................................................................................320 Drill #3, Fake and Drive for the Lay-up..............................................................................................................................320 Drill #4, Anything Goes!........................................................................................................................................................320 Drill #5, Elbow Shooting.......................................................................................................................................................320

Pairs-Shooting Drill .................................................................................................................... 321 Close-out Shooting Drill ............................................................................................................. 322 2 on 1 Drill .................................................................................................................................. 323 3 Man 2 Ball Shooting Drill ........................................................................................................ 324 Three Line Lay-up Drill............................................................................................................... 325 Free Throw Shooting Drills ........................................................................................................ 326 Low Post Power Drill.................................................................................................................. 327 Pairs Passing Drills .................................................................................................................... 328 8

Chest pass..............................................................................................................................................................................328 Bounce Pass..........................................................................................................................................................................328 Overhead Pass......................................................................................................................................................................328 Pairs Shuffle Drill (passing on the move)..........................................................................................................................328 Pairs Full-Court Dribble-Pass Drill......................................................................................................................................328 Pairs Passing, Find the Receiver........................................................................................................................................329

Rapid-Fire Passing Drills ........................................................................................................... 330 One-Ball Rapid Fire...............................................................................................................................................................330

3 Man Passing Drills .................................................................................................................. 331 "Monkey in the Middle".........................................................................................................................................................331 3 Man Weave (passing on the move)................................................................................................................................331

Laker Drill -- Full-Court Passing and Lay-up Against Pressure................................................ 332 Passing Drill 3-on-3.................................................................................................................. 333 5-Man Weave Passing and Transition Drill ............................................................................... 334 Triangle Passing Drill ................................................................................................................. 335 Press Break Passing Drill .......................................................................................................... 336 Circle Box-Out Drill .................................................................................................................... 337 Rebounding 2 Man Drill ............................................................................................................. 339 3-Man Rebounding, PowerUp Drill............................................................................................ 340 Rebounding War Drill................................................................................................................. 341 Hustle Drills ................................................................................................................................ 342

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These basketball documents have been created for your personal use, to further your knowledge of the game. Most of these documents contain knowledge that the author has learned from others, and thus he does not claim the knowledge as his own. However, in recognition of the large amount of work done in organizing, editing, designing and writing these materials, the author requires an acknowledgement for any of the topics reproduced. These documents may be used for your own personal use. You may print them and copy them for your players and the coaches in your own organization. You may use them in your team play book. You may not distribute these documents freely to other organizations without the written permission of the author. You may not use any of these materials on your own web-site without the written permission of the author. You may not sell or use any of these materials in a profitable way. Disclaimer: The author’s thoughts and opinions should not be construed as absolute truths, but instead are simply a compilation of things that have been learned over a lifetime, and hopefully you will find them helpful. But you should consider consulting other even more knowledgeable coaches and sources. In using these documents, you agree not to hold the author liable for any actions, consequences or problems associated with your using these documents. Additional Files: Please note that there is an Appendix to this file. This appendix contains a number of useful coaching forms, such as a practice planner, several scouting forms, stats sheets, court diagrams, etc.

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Daily fundamentals you can do at home (Homework)... , The following tips are things that you can do at home, by yourself, to become a better player. These skills are very important not only for beginners, but for players at all levels. No matter how good you think you are, you can always improve on these basic skills. (These tips are from Sidney Goldstein, author of "The Basketball Bible", and other basketball books...check his web site: http://www.mrbasketball.net/) Hold The Ball Correctly The most difficult skills, including shooting, passing, catching, dribbling, and rebounding, involve holding the ball. Work on these skills every day. Here is how to practice holding the ball: 1. Make both hands into claws. Growl like a lion and move the claws forward like you are going to rip something apart. 2. Make sure your fingers are far apart. 3. Put the ball between the claws and hold the ball securely. Your only contact with the ball should be your finger ends, not the pads. The palm and other parts of the hand do not touch the ball. Overdoing the hold this way is most beneficial. 4. Hold the ball as long as possible at home while watching TV or listening to the radio. Before practice, hold the ball for a minute or two and at every other opportunity. Use Your Wrists In Shooting, Passing, and Dribbling The wrist skills, which include shooting, passing, and dribbling, involve the motion of the hand and wrist. Waving good-bye is an example of wrist motion that needs to be practiced. This rarely practiced motion reaps incredible benefits. Not only will you improve, but you will permanently improve. Here is how to practice: 1. While standing, put your arms straight up overhead, palms facing forward. Keep your elbows straight and do not move your arms throughout the exercise. 2. With your hands slightly clawed, flick your wrist backward and let it come forward without additional effort. Continue to flick your wrists backward. You are doing this correctly if your hand and wrist go back and forth like a wet noodle. Make sure to keep your hands in a slightly clawed position. 3. Continue doing this for one to two minutes. Initially this motion will be very difficult. 4. This first part of the exercise helps with shooting and passing. For help with dribbling, lower the arms to the side with the palms facing backward. 5. With elbows straight and arms stationary, flick the wrist forward and let it come back without effort. Continue doing this for one-two minutes. Make sure the hand is slightly clawed. 6. Do these exercises as often as possible. Make them part of your normal practice warm-up. The more difficult this exercise is to do, the more you need it. It may take one month or more to do these exercises properly. Pivoting Is A Key To Many Other Skills Many players and coaches underestimate the importance of pivoting. Every movement with the ball initially involves pivoting. Players routinely pivot to shoot or pass. What is not so obvious is that all moves, most fakes, and driving to the basket all depend on the ability to pivot. Poor pivoters do not have moves and cannot drive well to the basket. You must be able to pivot forward and backward using either foot. So each exercise must be repeated four times: left foot forward; left foot backward; right foot forward; right foot backward. The pivot foot is the foot that stays in place. Actually only one part of the foot, the ball of the foot, stays stationary. As you turn, the rest of the foot rotates about the ball of the foot. If you slide or change your pivot point after you have the ball, officials call a walking violation. Your team loses the ball. 11

Here is how to practice pivoting: 1. Start with the left foot as pivot foot. If you have a ball, hold it in the exaggerated claw position during this exercise. 2. Pivot forward 15 times like you are stomping on bugs as you go. As you find your balance, increase the rotation to a half turn. 3. Repeat rotating backward 15 times. 4. Switch pivot foot. Repeat forward 15 times. 5. Repeat backward 15 times. Have a bystander or friend watch for several things. You must keep your head up like you would in a game. a. Your pivot point must not change. b. Your pivot foot does not slide. Defense Is Easy To Learn Your stance for defense and dribbling is very similar. In both positions you need to be ready to run full speed in any direction. Tap dancing on your toes while in position helps you to practice tap dancing: How to get in position: 1. In a standing position, move your feet to slightly greater than shoulder width apart. 2. Bend your knees, keeping your back straight and vertical, not bent, till you are down as far as you can go. Then come halfway up. 3. Move the arms slightly outward from the shoulders and move the forearms parallel to the ground. 4. The hands should be slightly clawed in what I call the "ready" position. What to do in position: 5. Tap dance by quickly bringing the knees slightly up (one-two inches) and down one at a time. 6. Count to 20, one tap at a time. 7. Then sprint four steps forward. Tap and count to 20 again. 8. Pivot around and sprint four steps backwards. Face the original direction, and tap and count to 20 again. 9. Continue for five minutes, moving back and forth and then left and right. Practice shooting from one foot, rather than from greater distances. Unless you shoot with the proper technique, practicing from great distances distorts your shot. Improper practice makes your shot worse. So, practice from one foot while you develop your shot. Here is how to practice: Take 10 one foot shots from the right side of the basket, then 10 from the left, and then 10 from the center. Use the backboard from all three positions. You can repeat this many times

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Footwork Fundamentals , Basketball is played on the fingertips and the balls of your feet. Everything you do involves footwork. Some players are naturally quicker than others. But a player's effective quickness can be greatly enhanced if he/she uses proper footwork. A naturally quick player who lacks good footwork skills can be beaten (or contained) by a player with sound footwork fundamentals. Offensive Stance You always want to be in a good "basketball position" or stance. From this position, it is easier to start and stop, change direction and pace, jump, shoot, pass, catch and dribble. You should have your weight on the balls of your feet (the front part of the foot near the toes) and the feet should be shoulder width apart with the knees flexed. The head is centered above the lower body, and your hands are about chest high with your elbows bent and your arms close to your sides. When you actually have the ball on the perimeter, use the triple threat position so you are in a position to either pass, shoot or dribble. Pivoting When you are stationary on the court, the rules say you can move one foot around, as long as the other foot (the "pivot foot") remains planted on the floor. This is the essence of pivoting. All players must be skilled at pivoting. There are two types of pivots, the forward pivot and the reverse pivot (or drop-step). All pivoting is done on the ball of the foot. You do not want to become flat-footed or have your weight back on your heels. The ball of the pivot foot must be in contact with the floor at all times and must not slide sideways. When you pivot, just actually spin around on the ball of your pivot foot. If you pick up your pivot foot, or change your pivot foot to your other foot, you will be called for a traveling violation. When starting your dribble, the ball must leave your hand before you lift your pivot foot. When shooting a jump shot, you may jump and your pivot foot may lift off the floor, but you must release the ball from your hand before you land again on the floor. Which foot should be my pivot foot? Well, it could be either depending on the game situation. Outside, perimeter players most often will use their non-dominant foot as the pivot foot when facing the basket. For example, a right-handed player facing the basket will most often plant the left foot as the pivot foot and make a jab step with his/her right foot (see Perimeter Moves), and just the opposite would be the case for the left-handed player. Now a low-post player who has his/her back to the basket is often wise to receive the ball with both feet planted (as after a jump stop). This now allows the player the option of selecting either foot for pivoting, depending on where the defender is located (for either a drop-step to baseline or a move to the lane -- see Post Moves). You must be able to pivot forward and backward using either foot. Pivoting drills: 1. Start with the left foot as pivot foot. Pivot forward 15 times like you are stomping on bugs as you go. As you find your balance, increase the rotation to a half turn. 2. Now backward pivot 15 times. 3. Switch pivot foot. Forward pivot 15 times. 4. Backward pivot 15 times. Pointers: 1. You must keep your head up with eyes forward. 2. Have your knees bent a little. 2. Your pivot point must not change. 3. Your pivot foot does not slide.

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How to Stop There are two ways to stop, the one-two step landing and the jump-stop. 1. When doing the one-two step landing (after a sprint or speed dribble), one foot lands first (the back foot) and then the second foot lands. The back foot becomes the pivot foot. When stopping, let the second foot to land extend wide from the back foot for better balance. 2. When doing the jump-stop, both feet land simultaneously. The last step should be a hop and when you land, have your weight leaning backward a little to help slow your momentum. Using this stop, you are now free to use either foot as your pivot foot. There is confusion over the rules and what is legal and what constitutes a traveling violation. The following is taken from the National Federation of State High Schools web-site in regard to this rule. "The traveling rule has not changed. What has changed is the common use of the jump stop as an offensive move. Officials and coaches are having difficulty determining the difference between a legal and illegal move. The key to making this determination properly is first finding the pivot foot. Then, if the player moves a foot or the feet in any direction in excess of prescribed limits while holding the ball, a traveling violation has occurred. The limits follow: 1. A player who catches the ball with both feet on the floor may pivot, using either foot. When one foot is lifted, the other is the pivot foot. 2. A player who catches the ball while moving or dribbling may stop and establish a pivot foot as follows: a. If both feet are off the floor and the player lands; (1) Simultaneously on both feet, either foot may be the pivot. (2) On one foot followed by the other, the first foot to touch is the pivot. (3) On one foot, the player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on both. Neither foot can be a pivot in this case. b. If one foot is on the floor; (1) It is the pivot when the other foot touches in a step. (2) The player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on both. Neither foot can be a pivot in this case. 3. After coming to a stop and establishing a pivot foot: a. The pivot foot may be lifted, but not returned to the floor, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal; b. If the player jumps, neither foot may be returned to the floor before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal; c. The pivot foot may not be lifted, before the ball is released, to start a dribble. 4. After coming to a stop when neither foot can be a pivot: a. One or both feet may be lifted, but may not be returned to the floor, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal; b. Neither foot may be lifted, before the ball is released, to start a dribble."

See Jump-Stop Drill. I have tried to combine several of these moves into one drill. See Footwork Drill. Changing Direction and Speed To change direction, plant the opposite foot (the one opposite the way you want to cut), and then push off the inside part of that foot in the direction you want to go. For example, if you want to make a sudden cut to the left, plant the right foot and push off from the medial (inside) part of your right foot, changing your direction to the left. Learn to change speed from a fast run, to a slow hesitation, and then accelerate to full speed again. See the "hesitation dribble" on this page. Jumping Lot of players and coaches think that jumping is some skill that you are born with...either you have it or you don't. Well this is not entirely true. You can improve jumping ability 14

considerably, otherwise our Olympic high-jumpers would never practice. Jump rope and run sprints to build your legs and agility. Practice jumping every day for 5-10 minutes. Two-footed jump. Get under the basket and jump straight up and see how high you can get on the backboard or net. Bend at the knees and waist, weight forward a little on the balls of the feet. Lower your hands alongside the outside of your knees. Then spring upward with simultaneous force from not only the thigh muscles, but you also can get a lot of lift from springing off with your feet and ankles... pushing off the tips of your toes (you can't jump flatfooted!). At the same time your legs are working, your hands and arms are swinging up as high as possible... the upward force of the arms swinging may provide more lift, and you need to get them stretched as high as possible to get that rebound (or dunk). Do this jumping drill a number of times, until your legs get tired, and then try it again later. One-footed jump. You can also do a jumping drill where you run in from the wing at a 45 degree angle and leap as high as you can and touch the backboard (or net). When you jump, just like doing a right-handed lay-up, you plant your left foot and go up with the right knee, pushing off the left toes. Be sure to go vertically, and not lose a lot of your elevation by going forward. Faking and Cutting You should learn to that just about every offensive move (and some defensive ones too), should be preceded, or "set up" by a good fake to get the defender to lean the wrong way. This is true, whether you are making an offensive jab-step, or you are coming off a screen, or even just about to make a pass. A little "mis-direction" move, like making a ball fake, shoulder or head fake, foot fake, or just an eye fake can open a lane for you to drive, cut, shoot or pass. Learn how to get open by making a front-cut, a V-cut, a back-cut, or a curl (see Cutting and Faking). The jab step Outside, perimeter players should learn the jab step (or drive step) as a fake to set up either the drive to the hoop, or to create spacing for the outside shot. This move is explained in detail on the Outside, Perimeter Moves page. Defensive Footwork Defense is played mainly with the feet. You must move your feet quickly to stay in front of the offensive player. You must use a correct defensive stance. You must know how to slide (sideways, forward and backward). You must know when to turn and sprint. You must know how to "close-out" on the offensive man and play good "on-ball" defense. Defensive Stance Your weight should be on the balls of your feet (not your heels), and your feet should be about shoulder width apart. Keep your knees bent and your back straight. Keep your head up, eyes forward, arms out with your palms up and elbows bent a little. Force to the sideline with the outside foot back, and the hand on that side is in the passing lane. The opposite hand is the "dig" hand, for trying to swat the ball from below (don't hit down on the ball). Focus on the offensive player's belly-button... it will always go in the direction that the player is going.See also. Defensive Tips. Defensive Slides When guarding your opponent, slide your feet sideways, using quick, short steps, and don't get your feet crossed. Don't hop. If you get beaten in the open floor, don't reach-in and swipe at the ball like a matador (I call it the "o-le" move), as the opponent moves by you. And don't just yell for help... turn and sprint after your opponent. Once you get in front of her again, get back into your defensive stance. 15

Footfire and Slide drill Have your players spread out, lined-up in two lines. Players are in a good defensive stance position. On "go", all players start the "footfire" with rapid moving of their feet up and down on the balls of their feet. After 10 seconds, call out "slide left" and the players slide several paces to the left. Then call "go" and they resume the stationary footfire. Have them move right, left, forward and backward using correct sliding and stance, and no crossing of the feet. Also see Z-Drill. Close-out on the ball receiver Defenders must learn to "close-out" on the player with the ball. Once the offensive player receives the pass, the defender should rush toward the ball-handler in a low stance. The last several steps should be quick, choppy steps to stop your momentum (so the defender doesn't dribble around you). Your baseline line foot should be back in order to force the ball-handler toward the baseline. As you approach the ball-handler, snap your shoulders and head back to help slow yourself down. See 1-on-1 Drill , 2-Man Shooting Drills, and Close-out Shooting Drill Copyright 2002, James A. Gels, all rights reserved.

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Basic Offensive Tips , 1. Practice, practice, practice shooting. Work with your shooting form, the "platform", "L", "hinge" and "gooseneck" so that you learn to shoot with your fingertips and get backspin on your shot ("rotation"). You may not be strong enough yet to do this, but most good shooters eventually learn this. To perfect your shooting technique, practice shots within just a few feet of the basket, every day. Then practice lay-ups, free throws, 2-pointers, even 3-pointers, and eventually learn to shoot a jump shot. Don't be afraid to take a good shot. Look for a chance to shoot. But don't force bad shots. Learn the "triple-threat" position, the proper stance so you will have the option of being able to shoot, pass or dribble. 2. Become a good dribbler and ball-handler. Dribbling and ball handling are the foundation skills for almost any offensive move with the ball. Practice dribbling drills and moves for 15 minutes every day (see Dribbling, Basic Dribbling Drills, and Sideline Dribbling Drills) 3. Learn the "triple-threat" position, the proper stance so you will have the option of being able to shoot, pass or dribble. See "Perimeter Moves". 4. Be a good passer. Bad passing and turnovers will destroy a team faster than anything! Make good, short, quick, crisp passes...they're hard to intercept. Avoid long cross-court passes, unless your teammate is wide open. Learn to use your peripheral vision and avoid throwing the ball to your opponent. Make a good pass that your teammate can easily catch. A really good passer can pass to a teammate without looking directly at her. Avoid telegraphing your passes (more in practice). Learn how to make good bounce passes. Learn when not to pass and avoid passing into a crowd. See also: Pairs Passing Drill, 3 Man Passing Drill. 5. Court awareness. Always know where the ball is, don't turn your back on the ball. "Survey" the court. Look for the open teammate with your peripheral vision. Look to the "weak side" of the floor for an easy "back-door" pass and lay-up. Learn to "cut" and find an open area on the floor, where your teammate can pass to you for an easy shot. 6. Except for the point guard, go hard for the offensive rebound. Many easy baskets are scored on second and third chances, if you can get the rebound (see Rebounding Tips). The point guard, 1, should stay back out on top to prevent the other team's fast break (if they get the rebound). If 1 drives to the basket for a shot, 2 (or 3) should stay back. Also, get in the good habit of following your own shot after you shoot. Many times, if your shot is too short or too hard, it will come off the rim right back toward you. Expect this when you shoot, and go get it! You may get a second chance to make that basket. Three of the five players should always go hard for the offensive rebound, one is half-rebounding and half-preventive mode, and one is always back to prevent the opponent's fast break. 7. Get the ball down the floor quickly, fast break whenever possible and beat the defense down the court. But play under control at all times. Don't try to go faster than you are able!--you'll lose the ball or make a bad pass. It's difficult even for high school kids to learn how to play with quickness and speed, while still staying under control. Remember: "You must be quick...but never hurry." 8. Avoid too much dribbling as this just allows the defense time to reset. Quick passing and cutting is the secret. But never give up your dribble without being able to pass or shoot the ball. John Wooden, a retired famous coach from UCLA, told his players, "You should always end your dribble with either a pass or a shot." Don't stop your dribble until you can do either. Learn how to jump stop at the end of your speed dribble (see Learning the Jump Stop). 17

9. Post players (4 and 5) must learn two basic post-up moves, the drop-step, and the jump hook. Ask your coach to teach you these moves. After learning these basic moves, you can develop other variations of these moves. 10. Move without the ball. Don't stand still. Set picks, make cuts through the paint, or "backdoor". Be ready to rebound. (See "When you don't have the ball...", “Cutting and Faking”). Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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Cutting and Faking , There are 10 players on the floor. Only one player has the ball. That means that 90% of time, you won't have the ball, and that only 10% of the time you may actually have the ball (a little less for post players, a little more for guards). So you have a limited number of opportunities to score from an individual move when you are the ball-handler. Good scorers find ways to get open for an easy pass from a teammate, and an easy shot off the pass reception. Good scorers never just stand around and watch. They are always trying to find ways to get open by coming off screens, or faking and cutting to open areas of the floor (within their shooting range). The keys are timing, cutting to open areas, setting good screens, and maintaining good spacing. In regard to cutting, there is a saying "get open, or get out!", which means that if you are not open, or don't receive the ball within a couple seconds, move out and maintain motion and spacing. Passing is easier if offensive players maintain a spacing of 12 to 15 feet apart. Don't get bunched up. Faking Faking is an important skill that is often overlooked and not taught. Good faking is an important key in just about every offensive basketball skill, whether it is an on-ball perimeter or post move, or throwing a pass, or cutting. A fake simply is a deception or decoy move to throw the defender off balance, or get him leaning the wrong way just long enough so the offensive player can gain a step or two on him, or so a passer can open up the passing lane. A good passer can "look" the defender off his receiver by looking the opposite way that he intends to pass... example: look left, pass right on a fast break. Fakes can be a simple "look away", or can be as subtle as moving your eyes opposite the way you want to pass, or cut. A fake can be a jab step to get the defender leaning, and then you move quickly in the opposite direction. You can fake with a shrug of your shoulders, or a bob of your head in the opposite direction that you plan to cut. You can use a "sleep fake", where you pretend you are winded and tired, and you bend over with your hands on your knees, like you are catching your breath... the defender relaxes too, and suddenly you make your hard, quick cut. You can use a verbal fake... yell the ball-handler's name loudly and wave your arms to get the defender (who is help-side defense sagging toward the paint) to come out on you. That may open up the lane for a clean cut by a teammate. In this case you don't actually get the ball, but you made the lane available for your teammate to cut through. Have a team agreement... if you yell "ball!" you really want the ball, if you yell a name, it's a decoy. To be a good faker, you need a little acting ability! Cutting There are a number of different types of cuts that can be made, in addition to making the correct moves in running a specific play or set motion offense, and in addition to setting and cutting around screens (see Setting Screens). Here are some tips in making a good cut: 1. A key in making an effective cut is timing. Try to "time" your cut, so you arrive at the correct time to receive the pass. 2. Make a good fake and cut hard. Often I see kids make a quick fake, and then a somewhat slow cut. Do just the opposite... make a slow, sleepy fake followed by a quick cut move. 3. This is another important tip: kids often try to avoid contact with the defender and try to run away from him. In trying to get open, go right up to the defender and make contact with him, then quickly "bounce off" in the direction of your cut. He won't be able to react fast enough to your quick first step.

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In addition to the cut moves described below, don't forget this move: slip behind the defender (who may be in "deny" and over-playing the passing lane) and move below him toward the baseline. The defender should always see the ball. Try to slip out of his field of vision, so that he loses you briefly... then you can get open. Types of Cuts Front cut The front cut is a cut made with the defender behind you, on your back. This is the typical "give and go" cut (see Diagram A, FC). Back cuts A back cut is when you cut behind the defender. Make a fake toward the ball, then cut quickly behind the defender. Back cuts can be a "ballside" back-cut (see Diagram A, BBC), or a "weakside" back-cut which means on the side opposite the ball, or "back-door" (see Diagram A, WBC). V-cut A cut made in the shape of a "V". The first leg of the "V" can be slow. The last leg of the "V" is quick (Diagram B, VC). When making the V-cut, plant the inside foot hard, and step off quickly with your other foot in the direction of your final cut. L-cut A cut made in the shape of an "L", often along the lane (or "lane cut"). Diagram B, LC. The cut can be made up the lane, or down the lane (from the wing position). Use footwork similar to the V-cut. Curl-cut A curl is a somewhat circular cut often made around a teammate (Diagram B, CC). Button-hook A quick cut made with a quick stop, a pivot toward the ball, sealing the defender on your back side, and receiving the pass from your teammate (Diagram B, BH). Shallow cut A perimeter cut used to exchange positions with another perimeter player who dribbles into your position, while you “shallow cut” to his/her vacated position (Diagram C, SC). Deep cut A cut from the perimeter all the way to the basket and out to the side (Diagram C, DC).

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Flash Cut A quick cut made often made by a post player up to the high post (free-throw line) toward the ball (Diagram D1, FC). Jam-Down, V-Cut First walk your defender down to the block area. Then plant the inside foot and quickly make the Vcut back out to receive the ball (Diagram D, JDVC). Jam-Down, Back Cut (Diagram D, JDBC) First walk your defender down to the block area. Then plant the inside foot and quickly make the V-cut back out. But this time the defender is ready and is in front you, over-playing the pass. So now plant the outside foot, and go back-door with a quick back-cut. So that the ball-handler knows which way you are going, use a hand signal. For example, if you are going back-door, hold your inside (receiving) hand up high. See also: When you don't have the ball Setting Screens

Copyright 2003, James A. Gels, all rights reserved.

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Ball Handling , Learning to become a good ball-handler, and developing a feel for the ball for vitally important in becoming an excellent all-around player. Hold The Ball Correctly The most difficult skills, including shooting, passing, catching, dribbling, and rebounding, involve holding the ball. Work on these skills every day. Here is how to practice holding the ball: 1. Make both hands into claws. Growl like a lion and move the claws forward like you are going to rip something apart. 2. Make sure your fingers are far apart. 3. Put the ball between the claws and hold the ball securely. Your only contact with the ball should be your finger ends, not the pads. The palm and other parts of the hand do not touch the ball. Overdoing the hold this way is most beneficial. 4. Hold the ball as much as possible at home while watching TV or listening to the radio or music. It is said that the great Pete Maravich slept with his basketball and held it during his sleep! Do ball handling drills at the start of nearly every practice and throughout the entire season. Players can really improve their ball handling skills by the end of the season. Very importantly, these drills can also be done at home, in the off-season, without the rest of the team. We have one of our better ball handlers lead the drill, and face the team. All the other players line up in rows facing the leader, and spread out so they don't get into each other's way. Everyone has a ball. These are the drills: Do each one about 30 to 60 seconds and then move to the next one. With all of these drills, try to keep your eyes forward, without looking at the ball. Finger Grabs Hold the ball with the fingertips, squeezing it while rotating it back and forth from hand to hand. The ball should not touch the palms of the hands. Pound the ball Pound or slap the ball hard from hand to hand. Circles Move the ball in a circular motion around one leg, then the other leg. Then circle around the back. And then circle around the head. Then combine them and move the ball in circles around your head, then down your body, down around your knees, and then around your ankles. Then come back up again. Be sure to use your fingertips, not the palms. Figure Eights Spread your legs out wide with the ball in front of you. Move the ball around through your legs in a figure-of-eight motion. Keep your eyes forward and don't let the ball hit the floor. After 30 seconds, reverse the direction. Tipping Tip the ball back and forth from one hand to the next, starting with your hands straight up over your head. Then gradually move the ball down, while continuing to tip it back and forth. Go down to your chest, then your waist, knees, and ankles, and then back up again.

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Drops Put the ball between your feet and grab it with both hands. Start with the left hand behind your left leg and your right hand in front of your right leg. Drop the ball and let it bounce once. Quickly, move your left hand in front of your left leg and your right hand behind your right leg, and catch the ball as it bounces up. Drop it again and switch your hands back to the original position (left behind, right in front) and catch it. Repeat this motion continuously. For a more difficult variation, try catching the ball before it actually hits the floor! Overhead Toss, Catch Behind Back Toss the ball straight up. Then while the ball is in the air, pivot around and catch the ball with both hands behind your back. See also: basic dribbling drills. Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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Dribbling , Dribbling is one of the most fundamental skills that must be learned. Not only is it important to learn how to dribble well, but it is important to know when, and when not, to dribble. One player who over-dribbles can kill a team's offensive motion and momentum. To become a good dribbler and ball handler, you must practice dribbling as often as you can, using both hands. You may dribble: 1. To advance the ball up the court. 2. To drive to the hoop. 3. To get open for a shot. 4. To open up a passing lane, to have a better chance of completing a pass. 5. To get out of a trap. 6. To kill the clock at the end of a game. How to Dribble Use your fingertips, not the palms of your hands.. Basketball is played on the tips of your fingers and the balls of your feet. Use your forearm and wrist to bounce the ball. Don't look at the ball... keep your head up and eyes forward. You must learn to use either hand. So when doing drills, always work both hands. Control Dribble When a defender is close guarding you, you should use the "control dribble". Keep in a somewhat crouched, bent over position. Keep your body between the ball and the defender. Keep the ball low to the floor, and close to your body. Keep your other arm straight out in front of you, as a guard against the defender. You can't push off, or grab the defender, but you can keep a "stiff-arm" to keep the defender from reaching around you. Do not stop, or give up, your dribble until you can either pass or shoot. Once you stop your dribble, you are "dead in the water" (a boat with no engine)... and the sharks (the double team) will close in on you soon. Speed Dribble To move the ball quickly down the floor use the "speed dribble". Push the ball forward, ahead of you several feet. Bounce the ball at least waist high. As always, keep your head up, and visualize the whole court, so you can find the open teammate. Move as fast as you can, but never faster than you can control the ball. You must always be in control. As Coach Wooden has said, "You must be quick, but never hurry." Often a jump stop at the end of the speed dribble will allow you to maintain control and avoid a traveling call (see Learning the Jump Stop). Crossover Dribble Simply, the crossover dribble has you switch dribbling from one hand to the other, by bouncing the ball in front of you across to the other side. Then the other hand picks up the ball and you are now dribbling with the opposite hand. You can use this dribble to quickly change your direction on the court. For example, you could be on the point, dribbling with your right hand to the right wing, then suddenly crossover the dribble to the left and drive up the lane. In and Out Dribble The "in and out" dribble is a good fake move to help you get around a defender and take it to the hoop. With this move, you make one bounce in front of you as if you were going to crossover, but instead of picking the ball up with your other hand, you just roll your dribbling hand over the top of the ball, and bring it sharply back and go hard around the defender. For example, if you are dribbling right-handed, make one dribble to the left in front of you and "dip" and put your weight on your left foot. To the defender, this looks like you will crossover and go left. Instead, roll your right hand over the top of the ball and bring it back quickly to the right, push off the left foot, and go hard around the right side of your opponent. 24

Hesitation Dribble ("Rocker Move") This is another fake move to help you get around the defender in the open court. You speed dribble up to the defender, then suddenly come to a stop by putting your inside foot forward and "rocking" backward onto your outside foot. Then as the defender closes, you blow around his side, resuming the speed dribble, straight to the hoop. For example, you are speed dribbling with your right hand. As you approach the defender, you stop suddenly by putting your left foot forward, and then rocking back on the right foot. This hesitation throws the defender's timing off. Then push hard off the right foot, and speed dribble around his right side. You can also use this move and combine it with a crossover dribble and go hard left. Behind the Back Dribble, Through the Legs Dribble You used to be considered a "hot dog" if you dribbled behind your back, or through your legs. But not any more! These moves are very useful when used correctly, in the right situations. A good use for these dribbles is in the open court, such as a guard bringing the ball down the floor against pressure from a defender. As you are dribbling right with your right hand, the defender gets position and over-plays you to the right. Quickly, you do a behind the back, or between the legs dribble to crossover to the other hand, and change your direction to the left, leaving your defender in the dust! Why not just do an easier crossover dribble? -- because the defender is right in front of you and could steal the crossover. By going behind the back, or through the legs, you can better protect the ball by keeping your body between the ball and the defender. To do the behind the back dribble, dribble the ball once behind you and pick up the dribble with the opposite hand. For example, you are dribbling with the right hand. Get your body ahead of the ball on your right side, then crossover bounce it once behind you over to the left hand. The between the legs move is similar, except with one bounce through the legs to the other hand. To see animated demonstrations of dribble moves, visit Steph's moving dribbling drills. See also: Basic Dribbling Drills Dribble Tag Be sure to visit Steph's Ball Handling Drills Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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The Lost Art of Passing , Remember the line, "Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?" For this topic, it's "Where have you gone Magic Johnson?" Magic was a great, unselfish TEAM player who may have been the greatest passer of all time (although John Stockton is pretty good too). Television focuses on watching the pros doing their one-on-one moves and slam dunks. Kids see this too. Team skills and delivering the perfectly timed and accurate pass aren't as flashy. Besides, who wants to do passing drills... everyone finds them boring, both players and coaches. I am at fault too... this passing article is the last one I have written in the "Player Development" section of this web-site. On the other hand, excellent passing is the essence of outstanding team play, and it is really fun to watch a perfectly timed and delivered pass for an easy lay-up (or dunk). Poor passing and turnovers will kill your offense quicker than anything. A bad pass results in a turnover, no shot taken and an opportunity to score is lost. Players must become better passers and we coaches must continue to find ways to teach them to become better passers. Passing seems very easy when you have two players facing each other practicing chest passes or bounce passes. But put a defender on each one of them, and it becomes really difficult. So, I think that once you get beyond the early formative stages in a player's development, you must do passing drills with defenders involved to simulate game situations. A good pass is one that is caught by the receiver. Successful passing involves two parts, making the pass and receiving the pass. The receiver should have “soft” (relaxed) hands, catch the ball with both hands and look the ball into his/her hands. The receiver should, in most cases, be moving toward the pass... "meet the pass". Most of the time, the receiver should not be stationary. The receiver must learn to get open by making V-cuts and back-cuts, and setting screens for other teammates and then sealing the defender and "rolling" off those screens (see Cutting and Faking, Setting Screens). A receiver should always know where the ball is. A big part of passing is making correct decisions with the ball. If a defender is in the passing lane, you don't force the pass. You should not pass into the defense, or "into a crowd" where your receiver is surrounded by defenders... sounds obvious but I see it all the time. Pass away from the defense. Do not pass into a situation where your receiver is not in a good position to receive the ball. An example of this would be passing up the floor against a press where your receiver has his/her back turned away from the hoop and there is a defender coming up on the blind side. This next point is very important. A good passer knows how to open the passing lanes by making a fake in one direction, and then passing the opposite direction. Making a ball fake, head bob, pass fake, or just looking the opposite direction ("looking the defender off") will often open the desired passing lane. Do not look right at your receiver or “telegraph” your passes. Use your peripheral vision and keep your eyes forward and know where your teammates are at all times. Bad passes can result from dribbling with your head down, and then at the end of the dribble, making a quick pass... often to a defender who slips into the passing lane. A good passer knows how to deliver the ball with "touch"... that is, with just the right velocity and angle to make it an easy catch for the receiver. A pass can be in the perfect location, but if it is too hard, it is uncatchable by your teammate and you lose the ball. If your pass is too soft and easy, the defense can intercept it. You must learn to "anticipate"... that is, pass the ball to where your teammate will soon be, not where he/she is right now. You must lead the receiver, and not pass behind him/her. Good 26

passing involves timing and communication between the passer and receiver. That's why it really is not an easy skill to master because it involves two players working together. Both the passer and the receivers must learn to read the defense. Learn to “drive and dish” where you make a penetrating dribble move, but then at the last moment when you have drawn the defense to you, you either make the bounce pass to a post player under the hoop, or you kick it out to the wing or corner for a three-pointer. Just like shooting, you must be under control when you make a pass. You should be balanced with both feet on the floor. When speed-dribbling down the floor on a fast-break, keep your eyes forward and stay under control so you can deliver the pass to the open teammate at the precise, correct moment. I see the following subtle passing error made occasionally on the fast break. The player speed-dribbling the ball up the floor, when making the final pass on the break, will sometimes at the end of the dribble bring the ball back on the hip to get more velocity on the pass. A hustling defender comes up from behind and pokes the ball loose from the passer… it usually goes out-of-bounds, but you have lost a chance to score a lay-up. When making this pass, keep the ball in front of you. Don't get into the habit of jumping when you pass. If you jump when you pass, you have no other option but to pass, and if the defense closes the passing lane while you are airborne, you're in trouble. Let's take a few specific instances: Point Guard to Wing pass. The wing player should first make a V-cut and the passer should time the pass for when the receiver breaks back out of the V-cut. If the defender is back off the wing player, pass the ball right into his/her numbers, or on your teammate's side toward the hoop, so that he/she is immediately is position to release the shot. If the pass is made to the outside, the receiver must first pivot and square up before he/she can shoot. Now, if the defender is up closer, make the pass to the outside of your teammate. If the defender is in the passing lane, your teammate should make a back-cut to get open... if not, he/she has no shot and you should look to pass elsewhere, or make a move yourself. Another point... the pass to the backcut can be a pass straight to your cutting teammate, or often a nice bounce pass leading the receiver will do the job here. Perimeter Passing. Contrary to what is often taught, the chest pass is not real good here. To make a chest pass, you must have a clear passing lane directly in front of you. If the defender is in front of you, a pass that comes from your chest area is easily deflected. The bounce pass is usually too slow on the perimeter and can easily be intercepted. Instead, use either the lateral pass or the twohanded overhead pass. In making the lateral pass, you fake opposite and then cross your opposite foot (the foot which is away from the direction of the pass) in front of you and step in the direction of the pass. You deliver the pass with some "zip" on it so it cannot be intercepted. For example, if you want to pass to the right, you make a fake to the left and then cross your left foot over in front of you while pivoting on your right foot and make the pass to the right. This is almost like a chest pass except the pass is not released from the center chest area, but more from your side. The two-handed overhead pass is often used as an outlet pass off a rebound, or for a "skip" pass (a cross-court pass over a zone defense). It can also be used to quickly move the ball around the perimeter. Your target is your teammate's head... a little higher than the chest. In making this pass, do not bring the ball back behind your head… keep it straight up (or slightly in front) and over your head.

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Passing into the Post Timing is very important here. The pass should be made as the post player is coming into his/her post position. A bounce pass is often effective and easy to catch, but is slower than the two-handed overhead pass. Once the ball is on the wing, the pass to the low post should be made quickly before the defense is set. The passer should be able to clear the passing lane by making a good fake, and should also learn how to make the "step-around" pass (fake an overhead pass, and with the non-pivot foot make a long stride around the defender to improve the passing angle. One error I see in making the step-around pass is when the player is making the actual step-around, he/she will bring the ball around the back or hip, as if to protect it. This slows the timing of the pass and gives the defense just enough time to react and possibly intercept the pass. When the low post is fronted, a lob pass over the top can be attempted, but only if your post player has a clear advantage... this pass is often unsuccessful. Passing Drills See the menu of standard passing drills on this web-site. In addition, I would incorporate passing drills where defense is played against the pass. Passing is easy and boring with no defenders involved. It becomes a very difficult skill once defenders are in place. You can design your own simple drills. One would be to practice the pass from point to wing and back, using one or two defenders. Teach the V-cut and back-cut. Teach the point guard how to make a nice leading bounce pass to the back-cutter. Another drill practices the wing to low post pass using two defenders. Teach the passer how to fake and open the passing lane and how to make the "step-around" bounce pass (see above). He/she must also recognize the correct target. If the defender is playing on the baseline side, make the pass to your teammate's hip on the lane side. If the defender is playing on the lane side, put the pass on your teammate's baseline hip. You can also front the low post and practice the lob pass "over the top". Another drill is to put your offense in a half-court set against a man-to-man defense, and have them pass against this defense... no dribbling allowed, unless it is a one or two bounce dribble to attack the hoop, or a drive and dish. After five possessions, switch offense and defense. Make sure your receivers are making good V-cuts or back-cuts and they come to the ball when receiving. Here also is an opportunity to stress the importance of setting good screens. All passes are caught with two hands with the receiver in triple threat position. Also practice passing against various zones, again with no dribbling... get them to move the ball quickly in order to over-shift the zone. Use the two-handed overhead pass and skip passes. Get them to recognize the gaps in the zone. Use the bounce pass into the post, and make good inside passes. Not only do these drills help your passing, but also help your team to learn how to break zone defenses down... and it's a lot more fun than just doing simple partner passing drills. Another drill in transition would be to simply run your press-breaker against a press defense, and allow no dribbling. Copyright 2002, James A. Gels, all rights reserved.

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The Basic Shots -- the Lay-up , The lay-up is the easiest shot and the first shot you should learn. It's not as easy as it looks at first, as a lot of kids have difficulty getting the correct footwork, and shooting off the correct foot. Then you must also learn to use either hand, and eventually do the reverse lay-up. Footwork When dribbling toward the basket, move slightly to one side of the hoop to create the proper angle. If you're on the right side, dribble right-handed, and plant your left (inside) foot and jump off that foot, and finally shoot with your right hand. As you raise your right hand, your right knee should also elevate. Pretend there is a string attached to your right hand and your right knee. Reverse this form if shooting from the left side. As you approach the hoop, take a half step with your outside foot, then take a full stride with your inside foot pushing off the court. When jumping your outside knee should be bent. Go directly toward the basket, with your head up and eyes focused on the backboard. Go up strong and straight to the hoop. Don't shy away if there is a defender, just go strong to the hoop. You may get fouled and get a three point chance. Aim Always use the backboard ("use the glass") when shooting lay-ups from either side. Aim for the top corner of the box on the backboard. Focus in on this area; don't watch the ball. Keep your head up. The Push Release Younger players who are not yet strong enough for the underhand release should use the push release. Release the ball with the back of your hands facing you. Extend your shooting arm, as you push the ball to the hoop off your fingertips. You should go up with two hands, then release the ball with your outside hand. A very young player may need to shoot the ball with two hands. Underhand Release As you get stronger, you should develop the underhand shot. This release results in a softer shot, and more control when you are moving at high speed. Release the ball with your palm up and arm extended. Let the ball roll off your palm and then your fingertips, and lay the ball softly off the backboard. Use two hands going up, but then release the ball with your outside hand at the top of your jump. Be strong and concentrate... "finish"! Here is a simple drill or technique to help teach the footwork. Have the players get into a line near the right side of the basket (to shoot the right-handed layup). Each player takes a turn. You can use more than one basket if you have enough assistants to watch each player's technique. This drill works on correct footwork. Have the player (with a ball) face the right side of the backboard with both feet together. Then have her take one step forward with the inside (left) foot, plant that foot and jump off of it and shoot the right-handed lay-up. When jumping, the right thigh comes up with the knee bent. Have each player work on this technique. Then try it on the run (without dribbling), and then with dribbling. Do the left side also... on this side you step forward and plant the right (inside) foot, and raise the left thigh and leg. See also: 3 Line Lay-up Drill, Full Court Dribbling (and Lay-up) Drills 29

Learning How to Shoot , Years ago we used to think that some kids were just "born-shooters"... either you had the knack or you didn't. Nowadays, I believe everyone can become a good shooter with correct instruction on the fundamentals of shooting, combined with drills and practice. This article discusses the fundamentals of good shooting form. The principles discussed below should be used as guidelines, not absolutes, and may be helpful in correcting or teaching a player who is struggling with his/her shooting, or is just learning to shoot. Coaches should resist the urge to change a player's shot if it works for that player. We can all think of great shooters who didn't have perfect form. So, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Stance Have your feet about shoulder width apart. Your knees should be bent a little as your thigh muscles will provide power for your shot. If you shoot right-handed, your right foot should be slightly forward, and your weight should be on the balls of your feet (not the heels). Your shoulders and body should be square to the hoop, although some great shooters are more comfortable with the side that the ball is on turned a little toward the hoop (find out which is most comfortable for you). Probably the important thing here is that when you jump to shoot, jump straight up (or slightly forward), but not sideways or backwards. Stay balanced. Holding the ball Use both hands to hold the ball, but only your shooting hand will actually propel the ball forward. Don't shoot two-handed. Your shooting hand is the "platform" and should be underneath the ball with your wrist cocked back. Your other hand helps support or balance the ball, but does not enter into the actual shooting of the ball. Your non-shooting hand should actually come off the ball just before you release the ball, so that you are shooting with one hand, just your shooting hand. Use your fingertips, not palms, to hold and release the ball. Here is a method to learn what the correct "platform" is. Extend your shooting arm straight forward with your palm facing up and let the ball sit comfortably your hand (fingers comfortably apart). Now in one motion, bend the elbow while rotating the forearm, wrist and hand outward and upward, and under the ball so that the ball is now resting on your hand above your right shoulder with the wrist cocked back. The shoulder is the "hinge", the elbow points toward the hoop and an "L" is formed by the forearm and the arm (looking from the shooting arm side). Your elbow should be in and pointing at the basket. The position of the shooting hand's thumb is important. The shooting thumb should be pointing upward at about a 45 degree angle left (right-handed shooter). This will cause the elbow to naturally fall under the ball. I have seen some young players with the thumb too far under the ball and pointing straight leftward, which causes the elbow to fly outward. So if your shooter's release looks a little goofy, has side-spin, or the elbow is flying, look at the position of the thumb... a very simple concept that's easy to fix. Set Point The set point is where you position the ball just prior to releasing the shot. If you are righthanded and shoot with your shoulders and feet square to the hoop, have the ball to the right of your face, a little toward the right shoulder. Don't line the ball up in the center of your face, as this may result in your shooting elbow flying away from your body, and could actually cause your wrist to turn sideways (supinate) when you release the ball, imparting a side-spin. On the other hand, if you are more comfortable shooting with your body turned in toward the shooting side, then the set point can be more in front of your face. You will have to find which method works best for you. 30

Also, it is best that the ball is as high as your forehead, or even higher (if you are strong enough or close to the basket), in order to keep your shot from being blocked. But do not cock the ball back over the top of (or behind) your head. This results in a "slinging" motion and a flatter shot. Finally, younger players who have less strength will have a lower set point, perhaps even below the shoulder, in order to get more power. As the youngster matures, the set point should move higher. Upward Force Most of the power in your shot should come from the upward force of your jump (in the jump shot), or the upward force from your thighs moving upward (in the free throw). You should not try to power up longer shots with your arm, wrist or hand muscles. Let the big muscles in the legs do the work. Release your shot on the upward force of the jump, not on the way down. Aiming the ball Pick out a spot to aim at... either the back of the rim, or just over the front of the rim, or the backboard (if you are shooting a bank shot). Concentrate on this spot, and don't look at the ball, or the flight of the ball. Releasing (shooting) the ball Use the shoulder as a "hinge". Your shooting arm extends forward toward the hoop (keep the elbow in), the elbow extends (straightens), and then you release the ball with a snap of the wrist, with the ball rolling off your fingertips. This will imparts backspin ("rotation") that all good shooters have. Backspin makes the ball land softly on the rim, and often creates a favorable "shooter's" bounce, resulting in a score even though the shot was not perfect. Shoot the ball high with an arc. Don't shoot a flat, line drive, type of shot. An arched shot has a better chance of going in, since the hoop is actually bigger and wider for a ball coming in from above, than from a line drive. Don't "push" the ball with the heel of your palm; let it come off your finger-tips. Make sure that you extend (straighten) your elbow... don't "short-arm" the shot. The release should be repeatable. Don't sling the ball up for more power on long shots... use the power from the up-force of your jump, or lower your set point for more power. Don't pull the ball back behind your head before releasing it, as this results in a flat, line-drive type shot. On shorter shots, release the ball more at the top of the jump with a higher set point (arms extended up over your head). Follow Through This is important in getting the proper rotation (back spin) on the ball. Your fingers should be pointing toward the hoop, and your wrist bent forward, in a "goose neck" fashion. Another analogy is if you were "reaching into the cookie jar" high on the shelf. Hold this release after your shot until the ball hits the rim. You will notice that with a proper follow-through, the palm of your hand will be facing downward toward the floor. If it is turned sideways with the back of the hand facing outward (as if you were going to shake hands with someone), then you are incorrectly twisting your wrist during the release. Keep your eye on the target... don't watch the flight of the ball. Form Shooting is an excellent drill for developing correct shooting form. Start with shots directly in front of the basket, just a few feet away, to develop correct technique. Shooting further away does not allow the shooter to focus on this repeatable form. Do this drill for just 5 minutes every day. Even experienced good shooters who are going through a "shooting slump" find this drill helpful in restoring their shooting mechanics and confidence. Move farther away as you get better, but do not sacrifice correct technique. Practice shooting from locations where you will likely shoot from in a game. 31

The Jump Shot , The jump shot is the most common shot used today. It revolutionized the game back in the late 50's and 60's. Most games used to be very low scoring until the arrival of the jump shot. With the jump shot you don't have to be stationary and open (like with a set shot). You can score on the move, and in traffic, by jumping and extending your shot over the defender. Be sure that you don't start shooting a jump shot until you are physically strong enough. If you start too young, you will sacrifice good technique Gripping the Ball, Footwork Receive the ball in the "triple threat" position, where you are ready to either shoot, pass, or drive. Young kids have difficulty shooting the jump shot because they are not strong enough yet. They will often use a two handed method. But you must develop the correct technique to be effective. First start with shots only one foot from the basket. Gradually extend your range out. If you get too far out, your technique will fall apart and you will develop bad habits. If your shot is suffering, try to fix it by going back to the basic one foot shot near the basic, using proper release, backspin ("rotation") etc. Gripping the ball and the shooting motion are the same as in the set shot. The shooting hand acts as a "platform" and is under the ball. The other hand is used to balance the ball and should be on the side of the ball. Receive the ball with your knees bent and feet shoulder width apart. Use your legs to provide the power for your shot. Be sure that you are squared up to the basket, with your shoulders squared up to the hoop. Alternatively, some good shooters prefer to turn the shooting side in toward the hoop with that foot forward. Whichever method you find most comfortable, make sure that you are in balance before releasing the shot. Spring off the floor with both feet and do not drift sideways or backwards. Go straight up, or slightly forward for longer shots, and shoot the ball just before you reach the height of your jump, especially on outside shots, where you need the extra power of the upward force from the jump. On short shots in the paint, shoot from the top of your jump. This will allow you to shoot over a defensive player. When going up for the shot, the shooting arm forms an "L" with the elbow pointing toward the hoop, and the forearm vertical, with the ball up over your head. Release Focus on your shooting spot, either the back of the rim, just over the front, or a section of the backboard. Concentrate on this area and don't watch the flight of the ball. When shooting, the shoulder acts as a "hinge" as you extend your arm upward. Fully extend (straighten) the elbow while keeping the elbow in. Failing to extend the elbow results in "short-arming" the shot. Release the ball with a snap or the wrist, letting it roll off your fingertips. Then extend your fingers and wrist in a "gooseneck" fashion, or like you were "reaching into the cookie jar" high in the cupboard (see diagram). See also: Learning How to Shoot Close-Out Shooting Drill Pairs Shooting Drill Power Drill

Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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Outside (Perimeter) One-On-One Moves , These are some basic moves the outside player should learn. Know how to jump stop off the speed dribble, and how to receive the pass with a jump stop (see Learning the Jump Stop). When you receive the ball, be ready to shoot, pass, or drive. Receive the ball within your shooting range... if you are too far out, the defender can back off of you, since you are not a threat to score from that position. Triple threat position 1. Catch the ball and get squared up to the basket so you can see the basket, the defender and any open teammates. 2. Have your hands positioned on the ball in the shooting position, so you are ready to shoot. 3. Keep your weight back on your pivot foot (often the left foot for a right-handed player). Learn to read the defense... use a short jab step, or drive step, with your non-pivot foot. Jab the foot forward quickly, hold for 1 second and judge the defender's reaction. See if she drops back, or stays up. If she stays up, see which side is vulnerable to your drive. A few tips on the jab step... 1. Read the defender... whichever foot the defender has forward is his vulnerable side and that's the side you make your drive to the hoop. Now, we don't really want players looking at their feet... we like them to see the whole floor. So to read the defender, read his arm position... the arm that is up high is almost always the same side as his forward foot. So drive at the defender's higher arm... this way you can keep your head up and see the floor. 2. Do not rush the jab step (give it a count of one). 3. The jab step should not be too long where the player then has his weight forward on the jab foot. Which foot becomes the pivot foot and which is used for the jab step? The answer often lies in how you receive the pass. There are two techniques in receiving the perimeter pass, depending on the amount of space the receiver has created between himself and his defender. Depending on how this pass is received will determine which foot is your pivot foot and which foot you jab step with. 1. Situation #1. Plenty of space between receiver and the defender. Catch the ball in a position to shoot, squared up to the hoop. As you meet the pass, you are turning your body to face the hoop. You want to receive this pass with your shooting hand, and as the pass arrives, you "jump behind it", catch it and land with both feet squared up to the hoop. In this situation, use your inside foot now as your pivot foot, and jab step with the outside foot. 2. Situation #2. Tightly guarded with the defender up close on the receiver. The receiver should move toward the ball and catch it with both hands extended, and land on the inside foot (closest to the basket and defender) and establish that foot as the pivot foot. This way, you can protect the ball with the body. Now here's where many average players go wrong... many will immediately start to dribble here, instead of making the aggressive front pivot and face the defender. After making the front pivot (while protecting the ball), now you make the jab step with the opposite foot (the inside foot), and if the defender is up close on you, you can often take it to the hoop around him. 33

Three basic outside moves: 1. Drive step, jump shot. In triple threat position, make a drive step (jab step) and read the defense. If the defender drops off, bring your jab step foot back, toes even with your other foot, and pop the jump shot. 2. Drive step, straight drive. In triple threat position, make a drive step (jab step) and read the defense. If the defender does not drop back, read her arms-feet (see above tips). If her left foot is forward, take a long quick dribble to the right by extending your jab step forward. Go in a quick straight line off her left shoulder to the hoop. The most common mistake players make is going too wide around the defender to avoid contact. This just gives the defender time to react. Go right off the defender's shoulder and don't be afraid to make a little contact. 3. Drive step, cross-over drive. In triple threat position, make a drive step (jab step) and read the defense. If the defender does not drop back, read her arms-feet (see above tips). If her right foot is forward, swing the ball low and cross to the left. Quickly cross your right foot over to the left (do not first return your jab step back). Drive in a straight line, hard off her right shoulder. Drive and dish... When you drive to the hoop, read the defense. Take the lay-up, or easy short jumper, if you are open. But a good, helping defense will pick you up as you drive. As another defender comes up to defend you, find the open teammate that she left behind, and dish the ball to her for an easy assist. Remember, a penetrating guard who is willing to make the extra pass to an open teammate under the basket is one of the most difficult situations for any defense to stop. Perimeter moves when a team-mate has the ball... reading the defense. Learn to read the defense, situations for perimeter players: 1. You are one pass away from your team-mate and the defense is denying the pass to you: Make a fake outside, and then cut hard backdoor. The low post on that side should learn to read this situation also and clear out to the opposite side, to make spacing for the backdoor cut. See Diagram B. 2. You are one pass away and the defender is sagging off you: make a V-cut inside and come back out for the perimeter pass. See Diagram C. 3. You are one pass away, and the defender is playing good defense and you can't get free: Set a screen either for the ballhandler or the low post. See "Cutting and Faking".

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Here are additional things to work on, to become the complete outside, perimeter player. Work on your outside shooting, especially "catch and shoot" drills. Work on your dribbling and ball-handling for 15-20 minutes each day. Challenge yourself with even the more difficult drills... don't just do the easy ones. You want to make some mistakes, otherwise the drill is too easy. Twenty minutes every day using both right and left hands, and you will definitely be a better ball-hander and dribbler in just a few months. See: Ball-handling, Dribbling, Basic Dribbling Drills, Sideline Dribbling Drills, and Full-Court Dribbling Drills. Learn how to set screens, pick 'n roll correctly and how to backcut. Look at this page to learn fundamental cuts and moves for perimeter players as they apply to all motion offenses: Motion Offense Drills Also, learn the basic principles of good man-to-man defense, on-ball defense, deny and helpside defense. If you learn these concepts, you will have no problem learning to play various zone defenses. This is a lot of stuff but are all "musts" for any complete player. Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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Inside (Post) Moves , These are some basic moves the inside player should learn. Get Position Before you can make a move on the low post, you have to be able to get the ball first. You want to post-up, or receive the ball, along the free throw lane, between the center hash marks. You do not want to post up in the lane, or you may get the three-second call. You may have to fight hard to get into position to receive a safe pass. Get strong, feet wide apart, butt out, back straight. Seal the defender off. If she is over-playing you from one side, keep that arm and elbow firm to ward her off, while extending the opposite arm and hand to make a good target for the passer. When the pass comes, move toward it, to meet it. After receiving the ball, keep it up at forehead level with elbows out, to protect it. Do not actually throw an elbow, just keep them out to ward off the defender. When receiving the pass, it is advantageous to meet the ball with a jump stop. When you jump stop, you have the option of either foot becoming your pivot foot, so you can make a move either way, to the lane or to the baseline. With a one-two foot landing, you have already established your pivot foot and your options are more limited (see Footwork Fundamentals). Two things to try if you can't get open: 1. Move away off the low post a few steps, then quickly come right back. 2. If the defender stays in front of you, move her up to the high post at the elbow. Then give the passer a hand signal, and quickly cut back-door for the lob pass to the hoop. Low post moves 1. Drop step to baseline. After receiving the ball, feel where the defender is. If she is on the lane, or high side, give a fake toward the lane. Then extend your inside (baseline) foot backward, pivot on it quickly to the baseline and to the hoop. Keep your body between the defender and the ball, and extend your arms forward toward the hoop. This way, she can only block your shot by going over your back ...usually a foul. 2. Drop step to lane (jump hook). After receiving the ball, feel where the defender is. If she is on your baseline side, fake to the baseline, and drop your lane-side foot backward. Pivot quickly on that foot, and jump hook and shoot with the hand opposite the defender. 3. Turn and face defender and jab step. After receiving the ball, feel where the defender is. If she is directly behind you, that is, not toward either the lane or the baseline, but right behind you, do this. Pivot and face the defender, while protecting the ball. Give a quick jab step fake, and see what she her reaction is. If she drops back, just shoot up the baby jumper, often off the glass. This is a good highpercentage shot. If she does not back off the jab step, quickly drive around her. Go right off her shoulder... don't be afraid of a little contact, because usually she will not be planted after your jab step, and she'll get called for the foul (and you may make the basket as well). 4. Up and under move After pivoting and facing the defender, fake a shot to get her to leave her feet. Once she has straightened up, or jumped, you can beat her. Quickly duck under her on a straight line to the hoop. Again, don't be afraid to bounce off her shoulder, as this is the straightest path, and quickest way to the hoop. If a foul is called, it will be on her, since she was not obviously planted when she jumped after your shot fake. 36

5. Flash to the elbow or free throw line Cut up to the free throw line (get out of the lane to avoid a 3-second call). Receive the ball, pivot and face the defender. You can now either fake a shot, and drive around the defender to the hoop, or jab step and fake the drive, and shoot the easy shot from the free throw line area. This move is especially useful if the player guarding you is much taller, and not as quick. You go high post to get him away from the basket. Once he is away from the hoop, you use your quickness and drive around him. 6. Back door lob If the defender is in front of you, take him up to the free throw line. While he is still fronting you, seal him off, give the guard with the ball a signal, and cut back door to the hoop, receiving the lob pass from your teammate. These moves are not easy at first. They require a lot of practice... first to perfect the moves themselves... and then to learn by experience which move to use in which situation. For example, if you beat the defender once or twice with the baseline drop step, then she will be looking for that move, and you can easily get the turn around jab step baby jumper, because she will back off. Just the opposite, if you have already made a couple baby jumpers, you can drop step either to the baseline or lane, or do the up and under move, since she will be looking for your jumper. The bottom line... perfect the moves by practicing, and vary your moves in the game. Another real bonus is that frequently these moves will get the defender into foul trouble when she tries to stop you. If she already is in foul trouble, she won't challenge you, and you can easily take it to the hoop. This is also very important... since you will get fouled a lot, become a good free throw shooter... make that defender pay for fouling you! 7. Learn to read the defense. See the low post information on the Basic Concepts of Motion Offense page. 8. Drills: Low Post Offensive Drills, Low Post Power Drill, 3-Man Rebounding Power Drill Also read the post moves on Basic Concepts of Motion Offense. Playing the High Post. I added this after a coach emailed me and informed me that his post player was pretty good down on the low block, but didn't have a clue what to do up at the elbow or free throw line area -- the "high post" area. When the high-post player has the ball, he/she is in excellent position to make a pass to the opposite side (reverse the ball) or to a back-door cutter. Also, he/she can find a teammate spotted up for a three-pointer on the wing or in the corner. So being a good passer and finding the open teammate is important here. The high post player should look to score also. At the foul line and elbows, have him/her pivot and face the hoop, looking to take the open shot, or looking for the pass to a baseline cutter. If his defender is up close in his face, have him fake the shot and use his quickness to explode around him and take it to the hoop. So you see that even your big man must have the ability to shoot the shot from the free-throw line, or fake and drive, just like a perimeter player. An excellent high post move to learn is the "hop step". Let's say you are at the free throw line area and you want to dribble it inside to score. The problem is that when you dribble up the lane, you will frequently have the ball swiped away by the collapsing defense. Instead, make the "hop-step" power move, which is a one-bounce with one step move followed by a two37

footed jump stop into the lane. Make your fake and then start the dribble on your side with a one-bounce power dribble while you are making a relatively short first step. After making the short first step and power-dribble, make a long, powerful jump into the paint and land with a two-footed jump stop, and then go right up with the short jumper in the lane. It takes some practice, but this is an excellent move to have. A common error is to make the first step too long... you cannot make a strong power jump forward from this position. Keep the first step short and on-balance. The elbow shooting drill would be an excellent drill here: see 2-Man Shooting Drills. Also the #3 drill on that same page would be good too... have the passer, after making the pass to him, rush up and close out tightly on him, and then he power drives around him to the hoop. A post player is so much more effective and versatile if he/she can shoot the shot from the freethrow line consistently. Several years ago, we had a young lady who was only 5'7" and played the post. She was very quick and a smart player. In our Regional game, she was defended by a girl 6'3". The first few times, she tried to post up down low and got her shot blocked each time. Being the great competitor that she was, she didn't get discouraged, but instead of posting up on the low block, decided to take her defender up high to the elbow area. She popped in a couple quick shots from the high post area, and then when the tall girl came out on her, Liz used her quickness to beat her to the hoop for the lay-up. Now the tall girl didn't know whether to play up tight or back off. Liz had the best game of her career, scored 23 points against the giant, and we won by 7. Just goes to show you how having the versatility of posting up high, being a good high post shooter, and taking your defender away from the hoop can really pay off. Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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Becoming a Good Free Throw Shooter , First, understand how important free-throw shooting is. At least 3-4 games per year in a 20 game schedule will be determined by free-throw shooting. All close games, the ones that really count.. the close tournament games and conference championship games can be won or lost on the free throw line. Team Goals in free throw shooting. Middle school teams should strive for 60% from the line, and high school teams should look to 70% as a goal. You won't shoot as well in a game as in practice, so strive for 75% (high school) in practice. Understand that this is a team skill... become a good free throw shooting team. Encourage and work with your teammates on free throws. Take a positive, aggressive attitude in shooting free throws... take the attitude that the opponent made a big mistake in fouling you, and you're gonna' make 'em pay for it! This is much better than worrying about whether or not you will make it. How to become good free throw shooters... fundamentals, attitude and practice. In shooting free throws, develop a ritual where you do it the same exact way every time. Position yourself on the line the same way every time. Bounce the ball the same number of times every time, and take a deep breath before shooting every time. This creates muscle and mind memory, and allows you to be successful more often. Success creates confidence, and confidence creates better, more relaxed shooting. Fundamentals: 1. Line up with your right toes just to the left of center so that your right arm and ball are lined up with the basket. Place the left foot back just a little. Shoulders should be square to the basket. 2. Put your weight forward on your toes, but keep your back straight... don't lean forward. Keeping your back straight will keep you from stepping over the line. Bend a little at the knees. Your legs will provide the power with an "up motion". Alternatively, some players find it more natural if they first stand up with knees straight, but then initiate the shooting motion by dipping down and bending the knees, and then straightening them as they go up for the shot... a "down then up" motion. 3. Focus on the basket... don't look at the ball 4. Shoot with your right hand (right-handed players), and just use the left hand to help balance the ball. Release the ball from your fingertips to get good backspin (rotation) on the ball. 5. Take the deep breath, and shoot. Use your legs for power and come up on your toes as you release the ball. If your back is straight, you won't cross the line or lunge forward. If you need more power, it's OK to jump a little on your release. 6. Follow-through... Keep looking at the basket and hold your shooting hand in the "gooseneck", follow-through position until the ball goes through the net. Attitude: Make 'em pay attitude. Think and say to yourself "net" before each shot... to focus on the ball going through the net. Be confident... this comes from success, and hours of practice! Don't let a missed free throw ruin your confidence. If you miss one, just quickly analyze the miss and correct it. For example, if your shot was long, next one use less leg power. Too short, use more leg power. Off line, reposition yourself on the line. You won't make them all, so expect to miss a few, and don't let it bother you when it happens. The most important free throw is the next one, not the last one!

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Practice: Shoot free throws every practice, with the team, or on your own. There is nothing wrong with coming to practice 10 minutes early, or staying 10 minutes late, to shoot extra free throws. Each two hour team practice should allow 10 minutes for free throws. Shoot free throws in the off-season, in the summer. College players may shoot 2000-5000 free throws each summer! High school players should be able to shoot 1000 free throws each summer. Shoot 25 shots every day for 5 days of each week. In eight weeks, you will have shot 1000 free throws... but be sure your technique is correct, using the fundamentals above, and that the line is 15 feet from the backboard. For your own fun, keep track each day of how many you made, and keep your totals. Keep track of each week's stats, and see if you are getting better by the end of the 1000 shots. If you are not improving, there could be a flaw in your fundamentals, and you need to ask for help. Here's another game you can play, keeping track of your score each day. Shoot 25 free throws. Score a "swish" as two points, an "unswished" made shot as one point, and a miss as zero. A perfect score would be 50. See what your best score is by the end of the summer. Learning distance control. Here is a drill. The basket is 18 inches in diameter. Move 9 inches in front of the line and while maintaining the same distance and technique on your shot that you would use from the line to swish the shot, now continue that same muscle memory and hit the back of the rim each time (missing the shot). Then move 9 inches behind the line and hit the front of the rim each time (missing the shot). Finally, move back to the line and now swish every shot, using that same distance control. One more drill... stand at the line, look at the basket, and then close your eyes and shoot with eyes closed. You'll be surprised how many you can make once you have developed good technique! Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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Setting Screens (Picks) , A screen or "pick" occurs when an offensive player attempts to block, or "screen", a defensive player away from the man he is guarding, thereby freeing up that offensive player for an open shot or pass. Setting good screens (or "picks") is a very important fundamental part of the game. It is often assumed that players will know how to do this, but like any other important fundamental, it must be taught correctly. Screens are most helpful in freeing up a teammate against a man-to-man defense, and in out-of-bounds plays. Setting good picks are basic to most offensive plays. The "pick and roll" is still one of the simplest plays, but when done correctly, one of the most difficult to defend. The Utah Jazz's John Stockton and Karl Malone are masters of the pick and roll. Important elements in executing an effective screen. 1. The screener must make contact with (but not foul, hold or push) the defender that he is trying to block. If you do not make contact, and get up tight, the defender will simply slide around you. 2. Be strong. Get your feet wide and plant your feet solidly. Do not move your feet once you have established this position or you will get called for a "moving screen" (a foul). You must be stationary and cannot move with the defender, trying to push him away. If a defender bumps into you and you are not stationary, you will probably be called for the foul. 3. Keep your arms tucked into your chest, not only to physically protect yourself, but also so the ref can see that you are not pushing with your hands, or grabbing at the defender, or holding him with your arm. 4. The angle, or direction, of the pick and the timing of the pick are probably the most important, and most overlooked factors in setting a screen. You must have the correct angle, or position, when you set the pick. You must anticipate the direction that your offensive teammate wants to go, and then make contact with his defender in a position so that you are directly in the way of the defender, and he cannot get around you. If you don't get the right angle, he will simply slide around you. Perhaps this is best demonstrated in the diagram. In Diagram A, the screener does not make contact, and the defender slips behind. In Diagram B, the pick is too high ( a common mistake), and the defender slides behind the pick and stays with the defender. In Diagram C, the pick is too low, and the defender can fight through the screen. Diagram D shows a good pick, followed by screener "rolling" to the hoop.

5. After the teammate cuts around the screen, the screener "seals" off the other defender and "rolls" (cuts) toward the hoop. If the defense switches men on the screen, usually the "roller" will be open for the pass.

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6. The timing of the offensive player receiving the pick. The player receiving the pick must be patient and wait for the screen from his teammate to arrive. Often, I will see a player make his cut just before the pick is "set", and the defender easily gets around it (because it never had a chance to be set). You must wait for the pick to be set, and then cut hard around it. 7. The offensive player receiving the screen must cut hard, and close to the teammate setting the screen. You must "rub off" your teammate's screen... that is, brush against him as you go by. If you don't brush close to the screen, the defender will slip through the screen. 8. Remember, there are two options on the pick and roll play... pass either to the cutter, or if the defense switches, pass to the "roller". Types of Screens See diagram E. Screens can be on-ball when set for the ball-handler, or off-ball. 1. Front screen The screener is facing the defender that he is setting the screen on, often used in the open court. 2. Back screen The screener sets the screen on the defender's "blind" side, or back side. Usually the screener is facing away from the basket. 3. Down screen The screener sets the screen usually down low for a player near the block, and is usually facing the basket with his back to the ball. When completing the "roll" move, he pivots facing the ball. Diagram E. On-ball, front screen: #3 sets pick for #1, the ball-handler. Back-screen: #4 sets back-screen for #2, who goes back-door to the hoop. Down-screen: #3 sets down-screen for #5, who cuts outside for the pass from #1. See also: Pick Drills


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Transition Offense , "Transition" refers to the process of changing from defense to offense (transition offense), or offense to defense (transition defense). Your transition offense can be a slow, walk-it-up-floor transition, an aggressive fast break transition, or something in between. Each coach has to decide which is best for his team and his personnel. Do you really want an up-tempo fast game, especially if you have a strong half-court game with good post men, or if your guards are not particularly quick, have trouble keeping the ball under control, or are inexperienced? On the other hand, if your team is quick, with good, experienced ball handlers, an aggressive up-tempo style has advantages. 1. The fast break can produce easy scores. 2. Pushing the ball up the floor quickly puts pressure on the opponent, and they will be constantly worrying about getting back on defense. This thinking may cause them to be less aggressive going for their offensive rebounds, and may keep their point guard from penetrating (thinking he has to stay back to prevent the fast break). 3. An aggressive team attitude on offense will often carry over to your defense and rebounding. 4. An up-tempo game will favor the team that is well-conditioned. A poorly conditioned team will "run out of gas" by the fourth quarter. 5. The fast-break will often break the opponent's press defense. 6. A team that plays up-tempo will usually use more of its bench players, with frequent substitutions. This often creates good team harmony with many players getting playing time. An up-tempo game will favor the team with a "deep bench", with many good substitute players. 7. The players and fans enjoy a well-played up-tempo game. Transition Offensive Concepts The most important rule to inculcate in your players' minds is to always keep under control. You don't want your fast-breaking style to result in turnovers and missed opportunities to score. They have to learn to recognize when to push the break, and when to slow down and stay under control. They must learn not to force bad passes. Some teams like to push the break every opportunity they can (after a steal, defensive rebound, an opponent's score, etc). Some teams only push it up after a steal or a score, or only certain times of the game. Although this is very basic, young players learning the game must be taught how to transition from defense to offense. Kids must be taught that when an inside, tall player gets a defensive rebound, he/she should immediately look to pass to a guard, a good ball-handler, to get the ball up the court, even if you are playing a slow-down game. Teach your ball-handlers that on every defensive rebound, they must move into a position quickly where the rebounder can pass to them. Coaches often assume kids know this, but like every other fundamental in the game, it must be taught. Rebounders should be taught to take care of the ball after a defensive rebound and make a clean, simple pass to a guard. So often, I see kids work hard for the rebound, only to lose it with a careless outlet pass. Impress your kids that the opponent is often "lurking around" to steal those outlet passes. Also, some coaches like to assign the same person (usually a post player with good passing skills) to be the inbounds passer each time a basket is made, or the ball is out-of-bounds. The post players should be taught to get down the floor and allow spacing and room for the guards to bring the ball up.

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Running the primary fast break There are different ways of running the transition offense, but most methods use the idea of filling three lanes coming up the floor, a "trailer", and a "prevent" person (diagram A). The guards, or small forward should run the three lanes. One lane is straight up the middle of the floor, and the other lanes are along each sideline. Some coaches feel that it doesn't matter which player is in which lane, but just fill each lane position as quickly as possible and "go!". Other coaches teach that the outlet pass always goes to the point guard (the team's best ball handler) in the center, and the outside lanes, trailer and prevent position are assigned to individual players, so each one knows his role. We like to outlet pass to our point guard on the ballside sideline-wing area. In fact, even after we get a steal, we want our point guard to get the first pass along the ballside sideline. So often after a steal, a bad pass is made into traffic and the opponent gets the ball right back. So you have to teach your point guard to be alert and get to the correct sideline for that pass. After receiving the pass, the point guard then speed dribbles up the center lane. If the break doesn't develop, then just bring it up slowly and avoid the turnover that can happen by getting the ball into the wrong person's hands. Another rule we use... the person who gets the rebound is the last to come up the floor. When running the primary break, preferably, the ball will be in the center lane, although the break can be run from the wing and can be run with only two lanes filled (as after a quick midcourt steal). The center person should dribble the ball all the way to the free throw lane, and should not make any unnecessary passes prior to that point. The two outside lanes should cut at 45 degrees to the hoop for a pass from the point, and the lay-up. If the point guard pops the free throw jumper, the wings should crash the boards for the rebound. If neither happens, the wings should cross under the basket and fill the opposite corner or wing, and the point guard should move to the right side of the free throw circle. Next the "trailer" should cut through the left side of the lane, expecting the pass. The "prevent" player should come up the floor slowly, making sure no opponents are behind him. He prevents the opponent from taking it to the hoop should they steal or intercept the ball. If nothing develops from the break, the team then flows into its usual half-court offensive set. Starting the break Coaches differ on how to start the break off a defensive rebound. Some prefer the outlet pass to go to a guard out on the wing (free throw line extended). This guard can either pass to the other guard who is filling the center lane, or dribble quickly and fill the center lane himself. Other coaches teach getting the outlet pass directly to the point guard in the center of the floor. If you can get this pass through, this is certainly the fastest and easiest way to get the break going, and avoids a dangerous pass to the wing, and a centering pass. It also gets the ball into the hands of your best ball-handler. The point guard should come to the pass, pivot and start the speed dribble up the floor, while the other guard and small forward fill the outside lanes. We prefer to get the ball to our point guard on the ballside wing (see above). A successful fast break depends on: 1. Getting the defensive rebound. 2. A good, quick outlet pass. 3. Filling the lanes. 4. Maintaining control. "Be quick, but never hurry." 5. Recognition. Don't force the break or pass if it is not there. 44

Special Situations: 2-on-1 Break If the point guard finds a 2-on-1 situation when attacking the hoop, his/her first thought should be to score or get fouled. He/she should attack the hoop at an angle along the lane line (see Diagram below). His/her teammate should be at the opposite low block looking for the pass or rebound. If the defender comes up, or sets to take the charge, pull up and pass to teammate. See this drill.

3-on-2 Break In this situation, there are two defenders back and the offense has the middle and two outside lanes filled. Usually, one defender will stop the ball at the top, and one stays inside down low. The point guard should not penetrate beyond the free-throw line or elbow. He/she should look for the wing slashing toward the hoop and make the pass to the open wing, who then has a 2on-1 situation with the low defender and should look to score or get fouled as the first option (Diagram A below). Over-passing on the move sometimes results in a turnover and a missed opportunity. If the defender sets to take the charge, dish either to the teammate on the opposite block, or back to the point guard for the easy shot from the elbow (Diagram B).

There are several drills that will help your transition offense. See Transition Offense Drills, 4 on 4 Transition, Pitch 'n Fire, Rebound-Outlet-Break Drill When the primary fast break is not possible, consider using the secondary break (see “Secondary Break") Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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How to practice in the off season... , Some players practice all summer and never get any better, while others improve dramatically. Why? It's has to do with practicing correctly, or what you really need to practice to improve. All players need to work on (1)ball handling skills, (2)shooting, (3)work under the backboard, (4)offensive moves, (5)free-throw shooting, (6)fingertip tipping and jumping drills. Practice at home, four or five days a week. Just playing in a summer league won't do a lot to help your fundamentals. Ball-Handling Spend 10 minutes doing our standard ball-handling drills, and dribbling drills. See the Ball Handling, Dribbling Drills, and Sideline Dribbling Drills handouts. These include pinches, fingertips, slams, circles, drops, crazy eights, etc. Under the Backboard (Mikan Drill) Do this drill under the basket before your shooting practice. Become familiar with how the ball comes off the backboard, and at different angles. Start by standing right under the basket. Step on the left foot and do a baby hook lay-up on the right side, using the backboard. Catch the rebound and step on the right foot and do the baby hook lay-up on the left side using your left hand. No dribbling is allowed. Repeat this continuously alternating right and left sides for a couple minutes. This will help you with your lay-ups, both right and left-handed, and give you a better feel for the backboard. Spot Shooting See the diagram showing the more common places to shoot on the court. Spend time taking a certain number of shots from each of these spots. Always follow and rebound any missed shots with a lay-up. Start with the shorter shots, working on good one-handed technique with your shoulders square, your elbow in, proper wrist cock and fingertip release and with a nice follow through, getting back-spin (rotation). Extend your range out to the 3-point range. See the Jump Shot and 2-Man Shooting Drills handouts. Offensive Moves If you are an outside player, work on the outside moves. Inside, post-up players work on the inside, post-up moves. All around players, do them all! Outside, Perimeter Players Refer to your Outside Moves handout. Do each of these moves five times: First, from the right side of the court: make sure your left foot is the pivot foot, and you jab step with your right foot. 1. Jab step- drive – lay-up. 2. Jab step - crossover – lay-up. 3. Jab step - pull back - jump shot. 4. Jab step - drive - jump shot. 5. Jab step - crossover - jump shot. Then, repeat all five moves from the left side of the court. Make sure your right foot is the pivot foot, and you jab step with your left foot. Shoot all lay-ups from this side, left-handed. 46

NOTE: The pivot foot designated in the above drills are for purposes of doing the drills only. In a game setting, which foot becomes the pivot foot often depends on how you receive the pass from your teammate. See "Which foot becomes the pivot foot" on the Outside Moves page. Inside, Post-Up Players Refer to your Inside Post-up Moves handout. Do each of these moves five times: 1. Drop step to baseline, right side. 2. Drop step to lane, jump hook, right side. 3. Pivot, face defender, jab step, baby jumper, right side 4. Pivot, face defender, fake shot, up and under move, right side. 5. Drop step to baseline, left side. 6. Drop step to lane, jump hook, left side. 7. Pivot, face defender, jab step, baby jumper, left side 8. Pivot, face defender, fake shot, up and under move, left side. 9. Elbow shooting drill (see 2-Man Shooting Drills). Free Throw Shooting See the Free Throw Shooting handout for fundamentals, attitude, and a practice routine. Shoot 25 free throws. Keep a record of your shooting percentage. Tipping Drill Stand under the basket on the right side and throw the ball up on the backboard. Jump as high as you can, and tip the ball with your right hand fingertips 10 times. Try to tip the last one in the basket. Repeat this on the left side, using your left hand. This will help improve your fingertip control and play under the basket, as well as improving your leaping ability. Conditioning You must be in excellent physical condition to play the game well. Shooting skills, concentration, and basic fundamentals deteriorate when you are tired. In the off season, don't forget conditioning. Run a couple miles 3 or 4 days a week. Do some wind sprints, or 100 yard dashes. Jumping rope is also good for developing quick feet, as well as for conditioning. Be ready when the first day of practice arrives! Also look here for more Conditioning info.


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Defensive Tips , There are two basic types of defense: "man-to-man" defense, and zone defense. I believe all good players must learn how to play good man-to-man defense. Yet there are many times that a good zone defense can really shut down a team. It often depends on what the other team's strengths and weaknesses are. So you must learn both. Man-to-Man With this defense, each player is assigned to guarding a particular player on the other team. Each player must try her best to stop her opponent. Although it sounds individual, man-to-man is really a team defense. Every one must do his part. If 1 or 2 girls don't play good defense, the defense will fail. Although you are assigned to guard one player, you must learn to "help-out" your teammates, and learn to "slide through" and "switch" the player you are guarding with a teammate, if you or she gets picked. We used to call this a "switching" man-to-man defense. You must learn what "help-side" means. Simply, when the ball is on the opposite side of the floor from you (and the person you are guarding), you can drop off your man a little and "sag" toward the middle to help cut off passing lanes. Once the ball comes around to your side, you get back up tight on your man. When I was younger, I was taught to deny the baseline, as baseline penetration often allows an easy basket or an easy dish to another player for a lay-up. Now coaches are advised to force the offensive player to the baseline. How do you reconcile the differences in teaching? What I believe is that you force the offensive player to the baseline, but once he is there, you trap him, and prevent any further penetration along the baseline. If you allow the offensive player to go uncontested along the baseline, it's usually 2 points. "Move your feet!" You'll hear coaches yell this all the time...because it is one of the most important aspects of playing good defense. You must have the desire and the quickness to move your feet in order to stay with your man, to get into proper position to take a charge, to move quickly to the boards to box out for a rebound, etc. You must not just "reach-in" and take a swipe at the ball as the player dribbles by you (usually a foul)...you must move your feet, hustle and stay with her, and prevent her from getting to the basket by getting yourself into proper position. We'll work on this. Zone Defense There are a variety of zone defenses (2-1-2, 2-3, 3-2, 1-2-2 defenses, etc). In a zone defense, you defend a particular "zone", or area on the court. You don't stay with a particular person (like in the man-to-man). Any time the ball comes into your area, you guard that person with the ball (doesn't matter who it is, go get her!). The defense has to learn to "shift", or move, with the ball (more in practice). Man-to-Man Defense Tips 1. Most of the time, you should keep between your man and basket (but sometimes players 4 and 5, under the basket, may need to "front" a strong post-up player). 2. Guards get into a low position with your weight evenly balanced, and on the balls of your feet, nearer your toes. Don't be flat-footed. Keep your weight off your heels. The key to good defense is you must move your feet and stay between the player and the hoop. Do not reach in a take a quick swipe with your hand. You will either get a foul, or she will go right around you. 48

3. Guards out front play back off your man a couple steps, especially if she is very quick, so she can't quickly get around you. This space will give you time to react to her. If your opponent is a good 3-point shooter, then you must play her tighter. If you know she is not a good outside shooter, play back a couple steps and keep her outside. 4. This brings us to the next point...know your opponent! Know her strengths and weaknesses. If she is a good shooter, stay close on her. If she can't dribble very well, stay up close and pressure her. If she is quick and a good dribbler then stay back a couple steps. If she is righthanded and always goes to her right, over-guard her right side and force her to go to her weaker side. 5. Watch her eyes when she's passing...often she'll tell you right where she's going to throw it! 6. Watch her belly-button if she's quick and hard to stay with. She can fake you with her head, eyes, arms, shoulders, legs, and feet, but her belly-button will always go only in the direction that she is going. (unless she's a belly-dancer, or something!) 7. When they shoot, everybody "box-out" your man, rebound (see Rebounding Tips), get the loose ball, and let's get the fast-break going, if we can. 8. Hustle! Hustle! Hustle! You gotta love playing tough, hard defense. Your good defense will win many games for you, especially those games when your offense is "off". It's not so bad if your shots aren't falling, if the other team can't score either. Your defense will keep you in the game until you finally get "hot" on offense. Who said, "Good offense wins games, but good defense wins championships"? Believe it. Much of good defense is inspiration and perspiration. Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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Basic Defense , Good offense wins games... great defense wins championships. Believe it! When your offense is struggling, good defense can keep you in the game until your shots start falling. How are you going to catch up the second half if you are down 12 at the half? ... by playing great defense. Simply scoring more baskets won't do it if you allow the other team to score also. You must keep the opponent from scoring by playing good defense and rebounding, to allow your offense a chance to get back into the game. Believe me now? Everyone on the team must play good defense, because one weak link will cause the entire defense to fail, and a good offense will eventually find out who the weak defensive player is. Playing good defense involves hustle, inspiration and perspiration (sweat!). You gotta want to play good defense. Defensive skills are fairly easy to learn, unlike some offensive skills, and everyone can learn to become a good defender. If you are a poor, non-aggressive defender, you will hurt your team. These are the important elements in playing good "D" Stance and Focus Your weight should be on the balls of your feet (not your heels), and have your feet about shoulder width apart. Keep your knees bent and your back straight. Keep your head up, eyes forward, arms out with your palms up and elbows bent a little. Watch your opponent's bellybutton. Your opponent can fake you with her eyes, head bob, shoulders, a jab step, but her belly button is only going the way she is. Slides When guarding your opponent, slide your feet sideways, using quick, short steps, and don't get your feet crossed. Don't hop. If you get beat in the open floor, don't just yell for help... turn and sprint after your opponent. Once you get in front of her again, get back into your defensive stance. Close-out on the ball receiver Defenders must learn to "close-out" on the player with the ball. Once the offensive player receives the pass, the defender should rush toward the ball-handler in a low stance. The last several steps should be quick, choppy steps to stop your momentum (so the defender doesn't dribble around you). Your baseline line foot should be back in order to force the ball-handler toward the baseline. As you approach the ball-handler, snap your shoulders and head back to help slow yourself down. On the Ball Over-guard toward the offensive player's strong side. If she is right-handed, she will probably want to go to her right, so over-guard that side and make her go left. If your opponent is on the right wing, drop your left foot back a little toward the baseline and overplay her a little toward her right side, as this will give you time to react to a move to her right. You can run her to the baseline. Once at the baseline, trap her there, and do not allow any further penetration along the baseline. Keep the palm of your lead hand facing up. Try to get at the ball from below, not by slapping down it. Slapping down will usually result in a foul. Your other hand should be in the passing lane. Slide with your opponent, and try to get her to stop her dribble, and once she does, close in on her with good pressure. But don't reach in and foul her... or you'll change a good defensive stop into free throws for the opponent.

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Denial Clog the passing lane and prevent the player you are guarding from getting the ball, that is, "deny" her the ball. When guarding an offensive player who is one pass removed from the ball, you should be in denial. If you keep your player from getting the ball, you keep her from scoring, as she can't score without the ball. Play the passing lane and stay between the player you're guarding and the ball. Place your foot and hand nearest the ball slightly forward, and turn the palm of your hand toward the ball, so that you can reject any incoming passes. Be in a position to see both your player and the ball. If the ball-handler picks up her dribble, you have a "dead situation" and everyone should in close on their player, in "full-denial". In "full-denial", the defensive players should be "on the line". To explain this concept, imagine a line, or a string) extending from the ball to the person you are guarding. In full-denial, you should position yourself so that you are on this line, body toward your man, but with head and eyes turned toward the ball, and your ball-side hand up in the passing lane. If your man is a long distance, or two passes away from the ball-handler, you can play a little "up the line", that is a little ways from the imaginary line towards the hoop. The distance, or spacing, up the line depends upon the speed and quickness of the defender and the distance his man is from the ball. On a long pass, he should still be able to move toward the line and intercept the pass. He should not initially be "on the line", as his man could make a back-cut and get open. Playing a little "up the line" prevents the back-cut, and still allows for the interception. Help and Recover. Diagrams E and F below teach how to give help and recover on the perimeter. Rather than play a “full-denial”, defenders one pass away play a little up the line and step or two toward the ball in order to help stop dribble penetration. Here #1 tries to dribble-penetrate. The #2 defender gives help and #1 is prevented from penetrating, and has to dish back out to #2 (Diagram F). The #2 defender then has to rotate quickly out to on-ball defense on #2, and the #1 and #4 defenders are now in deny, a little up the line and a step or two toward the ball, while the #3 defender moves into help-side (Diagram F).

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Help-side When your opponent is two or more passes from the ball, you should be in "help-side" position. This will allow you to be in position to help your teammates against the ball penetrating the paint. This involves dropping off your man some (but without losing sight of her), and sagging toward the ball-side. In the diagrams below, I have painted an imaginary red "help-side line" which goes through the middle of the lane. Many coaches teach that if the ball is above the free-throw line, the help-side defender should have one foot in the lane (Diagram A). If the ball is below the free-throw line, one foot should be touching or staggering the help-side line. Stay between the ball and your man. Be ready to help defend against another player driving or cutting to the hoop, and "help" your teammate who may have gotten beat. Once the ball comes back to within one pass from your player, you get back into denial with her. If the ball is skip-passed to your player, you quickly get back up on her (close-out), and play "on-ball". See diagrams below.

Remember, good defense is "team defense". Man to man defense is a team defense just as much as zone defenses. Here is a good quote: "The best man defense looks like a zone and the best zone defense looks like a man. Defending the Low Post There are three ways the defender can position him/herself in defending the low post player. 1. Playing behind the offensive post player. Here the defender plays directly behind the offensive player. This may be advantageous if your post defender is much taller than the offensive player, and has a good chance of altering or blocking the post player's shot. But do not let the offensive player back you down under the basket. Use your legs (use a strong stance with knees bent) and your lower body strength to keep the offensive player out... but do not put your hands on the post player's back as you may get called for a pushing foul. 2. Fronting the low post player. Here the defender moves directly in front of the offensive post player and denies him/her the ball. The wing defender should put pressure on the ball on the wing in order to make the pass to the low post, or the lob pass, more difficult. Fronting may backfire if the offensive player is taller and can easily seal for inside position and get the high lob pass. Another disadvantage is the defender is out of position for the rebound, and the post player may be able to score just by sealing for inside position and receiving the inside pass, or by getting the rebound and putback. 52

3. Three-quarter front the low post player. This is probably the best method. Instead of directly fronting the low post player, the defender "straddles" him/her with one foot in front and one in back, standing sideways to the offensive player with one hand up in the passing lane. If the ball is below the free-throw line extended (in the corner-wing area), he/she should play on the baseline side of the post player, making contact with the post player's inside (baseline) shoulder, and with his/her arm and hand out in the passing lane. If the ball is passed out on top (above the free-throw line extended), the defender should slide chest to chest with the post player and move to the post player's highside (or lane-side) shoulder, again with a hand up at all times in the passing lane. Trapping (setting the double -team) In trapping, one defender should first stop the dribbler, often along the sideline or baseline, or in one of the "trapping zones" (see below). Trapping zones are those areas where the offensive player definitely does not want to get caught losing his dribble. It's like getting caught in a corner. Once the ball is stopped, the second defender sprints over and double-teams the ball carrier. They cut off the ball-handler's view, and get into his passing lane. Their knees are adjacent to each other to prevent the ball-handler from "splitting" the trap. The position of their hands should be at the same height as the ball. If the offensive player holds the ball high to "throw over the top", the hands should be high. If the ball is low, the hands should be low to prevent the bounce pass. Do not reach in! This only transforms a good situation into a bad one (now the player goes to the free throw line). Instead, the trapping players should deny the player from getting the pass off and get the 5-second call, or force her to make a bad pass, which is intercepted by one of your teammates.

The yellow zones catch the player in the corner. The red zones are excellent trapping zones, since the offensive player cannot retreat across the 10 second line. The blue zones are good trapping zones because the offense has to worry about the 10-second count.


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Rebounding , Rebounding is one of the most important aspects of winning basketball games. Offensive rebounding gives your team extra chances, and free throw opportunities, and frustrates the defense. Defensive rebounding is a key part of good defense in general, limiting the offense to just one shot. A good thought is "one shot and their out". Defensive rebounding combined with a quick outlet pass can be an effective offensive weapon, getting the transition game and fast break going, for an easy lay-up at the other end. All good rebounders are very aggressive on the boards and believe that every rebound is theirs. You gotta want it! You gotta be an animal on the glass! Coaches love good rebounders and will reward them with more playing time. You may not be the best shooter or ball handler, but if you are a strong rebounder and defender, you will get to play. Good rebounders are important “role players”. Defensive Rebounding The most important aspect of rebounding is getting inside position and "boxing out". The player who gets the inside position usually gets the rebound, and the opponent may "reach over" and commit a foul. These "over the back" fouls can be very costly late in a game when teams are in the bonus free throw situation. On defense, your coach will expect you to get inside position since should already be between your man and the basket. Another key is always knowing where the ball is, so as soon as you see the shot being taken you go get the inside position, and box out. There are three key ingredients in defensive rebounding. (1). Box Out (2). Attack the ball (3). The outlet pass "Box Out!" All players must learn this skill, as much as any other skill in the game. Even the perimeter players (guards) must box out their person, not only to get rebound themselves, but also to prevent the offensive guard from sneaking inside and stealing the rebound. When you box out, you must first make contact with the player you are guarding. Locate your man, get in front of him, turn facing the basket, bend over, get wide with your feet and arms out, and put your backside into the offensive player, sealing him away from the hoop. I tell my players that the reason that God gave us a butt is to box-out! Be aggressive, and don't let the offensive player push you under the basket. If you get too far under the basket, as a taller opponent with long arms, can simply outreach you for the ball. Keep him away from the hoop. Keep your eye on the ball flight, and go get it! ... which brings us to the next point. Attack The Ball! After you have sealed the opponent, or boxed him out, then you must go aggressively after the ball. Attack the ball, jumping high with both arms extended, grab it strongly with both hands, and "rip it down". Don't let a little contact bother you. You gotta be tough inside...tougher than your opponent. Once you have the ball, protect it by pivoting away from the opponents, keep elbows out, but you must not throw an elbow... a sure foul, often flagrant. The Outlet Pass Once you have the ball, think "fast break". Get a quick accurate outlet pass to a teammate to get the transition game going. If you hold onto the ball too long, the opponents may tie you up, and depending on the possession arrow, all your hard work is for nothing. So immediately pivot away from the defenders toward the sideline and find a teammate to pass to. If you are on the right side of the court, pivot on your right foot, and just the opposite for the left side. Wheel 54

around on your pivot foot and make a strong, sharp two-handed overhead outlet pass to your teammate on the wing. Only dribble if you have to, if you are in trouble and need to create some spacing to get the pass off. Pass as soon as you can safely hit your teammate. But don't make a bad forced pass, and lose possession. Those kind of turnovers can kill you. Team Rebounding Concept With each shot, try to establish a triangle of players boxing out around the basket. Have one player of each side of the hoop and one in front, so that you have a triangle of players boxing out around the hoop. Don't get too far under the basket, where a taller player can simply reach over your head for the rebound...box them away from the basket. Offensive Rebounding Offensive rebounding should be a very important part of your team offense in general. Nothing frustrates the opponent more, than for them playing good aggressive defense, and you get the one, two, or three offensive rebounds for more shots at the hoop, until you finally score. The keys are you've got to be aggressive and want that offensive rebound, and you must be quick on your feet and try to get inside position on the defender. This is a good way to pick up extra easy baskets. Some people call 'em "trash" baskets... I call 'em hard-working, smart, demoralizing baskets... "back breakers" Technique: The defender should already be between you and the hoop. He is trying to keep you outside. Make a fake one way, and quickly move your feet and slip around him on the other side. Once you are inside, box him out. Always know where the ball is and just assume that every shot will be missed. If the shot is coming from the corner, remember that most misses will go long on the opposite side, so be ready if you are on the weak side. Once you get the ball, be strong and power it right back up to the hoop, usually off the glass. There is a good chance you will get fouled, and a good chance for an "old fashioned" three pointer... a put back with a free throw. Expect contact, be strong, and try to finish the shot. Keep working the entire game, as this will be very important in a game when you are trying to come from behind, or in close pressure packed games. You can actually wear the opponent down by the end of the game. Many championship games are decided by this tough inside play... not the outside jumpers. It's not always pretty under the hoop, but all good coaches know how important this aspect of the game really is. You will hear TV commentators talk about "points in the paint" as a key in many games. Most of them are retired, very successful coaches, and they know by experience how important. Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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How to make the team... Tryouts! , I'm the coach and you are a player trying to make my team. So how do you impress me with your skills, and what is it that I am looking for in try-outs? The things I look for are solid fundamentals... don't be flashy. I like kids who play tough defense, hustle after loose balls, play aggressively (but not dirty). I love kids who box out and rebound. I like kids who are good passers, and avoid turnovers. I like team players. Don't try to impress me by dribbling between your legs. Be the first one arriving for practice and the last one to leave. Show me work ethic... be willing to hustle hard during drills, etc. Show respect for the coaches and the other players. Ask the coaches to help you with your weaknesses. We all like to practice the things we are already good at. You get better by working on your weaknesses. Are you a tall inside player? If so, impress me with rebounding, defense, and some post up moves. Example: a drop-step baseline move (see Inside Post Moves) If you are a guard, show me you can handle the ball and keep under control. If you can shoot the "3", fire some up during shoot-arounds. I like a perimeter player who can shoot the outside shot, but can also drive to the hoop, can see the whole floor and pass, and can handle the ball well. Show me your outside moves (see Outside Moves). Work on your skills at home, or at the nearby playground in the summer (off-season). Work on the correct things, not just the things you are already good at (see Practicing in the OffSeason). Be physically "in-shape" (conditioning) when you arrive at try-outs. During tryouts, don't be intimidated by better players, or players who made the team last year. There will always be a few players at try-outs who are better players and you know will make the team. But you can be an important part of the team to as a "role player" . Remember that hard work, hustle and a good attitude will impress the coach, even if your shooting is off that week. Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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Things to think about... ,

On Team Concepts: There is no "I" in "team". If you feel you are the best, or one of the best players on the team, then you must feel extra responsibility for making the team and each other team member better. A championship team, is more than a collection of five good individual players. It requires at least eight or nine teammates, who work hard together, who respect, help and encourage each other, who have a common goal, mindset and spirit, and yet who all realize their individual roles and importance to the team. It's not who starts the game; it's who can finish it. On Defense: Good offense wins games; great defense and hustle wins championships. Good defense comes from 50% good technique, and 50% inspiration and perspiration. The best way to get back into the game when you're down 10 points or more, is to play great defense and rebound. Keep the other team from scoring so you can catch up. On Personal Character and Attitude: Reputation is what you are perceived to be; character is what you are (John Wooden). The true athlete must have character, not be a character (John Wooden). In life you make choices, and your choices make you (John Wooden). You don't have to win a trophy to be a winner (me). In basketball, there is no such thing as a perfect game. Don't get upset if you make a mistake or miss a shot, keep playing hard and things will work out. Remember, a man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he gives up. Always think "next play" (Coach K, Duke). On Goals: The journey is more important than the finish line. It's the fun, work, and experiences (good and bad) along the way that ultimately will be the most valuable to your personal growth. If you have prepared, worked your hardest, played fair, and given it your best effort along the way, then no matter what happens, you can be proud and satisfied at the end. If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail (John Wooden). To be great is hard, but it's the "hard" (the difficulty) that makes it great...otherwise anyone could do it (Tom Hanks in the movie, "A League Of Their Own"). On Speed and Quickness: 57

You must be quick, but never hurry (John Wooden). Other Important "Little Things": Usually it is unwise to blindly "save" a ball going out-of-bounds under your opponents' basket. Let it go out and reset your defense. If you are caught trapped in a corner...bounce the ball off the opponent's foot so it goes out-of-bounds. Or call "time-out" if it is a crucial time in the game and a crucial possession. But don't waste all of your coach's time-outs unnecessarily. When you have a 6 (or more) point lead with only a minute to go in the game, protect the ball and burn the clock. You don't need to score any more points (unless it's an easy lay-up). Remember, "the clock is your enemy" now (Al McGuire). Slow down, run the clock, careful passing, and be prepared to have to make free-throws. There are "good fouls" (like stopping an obvious score during an important part of the game. Make her go shoot the free throw). There are really, stupid "bad fouls" (like fouling someone with only 2 seconds left in the period with the bonus in effect). Eliminate stupid fouls so you can use your five fouls for important stuff, like boxing-out, rebounding, posting-up, stopping a crucial shot, etc. A little tip on staying out of foul trouble: your number of fouls should be less than or equal to the quarter number that you are in. #Fouls D->C->B->A). If you are coaching younger players, have them move in closer so that correct shooting form is not compromised.

Drill #2, Ball Fake and Shoot Jumper. Follow the same procedure as in Drill #1, but this time have your shooter first make a ball fake or jab step, move around the defender using no more than one or two dribbles, and then shoot the jump shot. He can move in either direction, using a pump fake and moving right, or a ball fake and crossover dribble to his left. Drill #3, Fake and Drive for the Lay-up. Again, the same procedure is used. This time the receiver makes a shot fake and explodes through the defender (rub off his shoulder) for the drive to the hoop and lay-up. Drill #4, Anything Goes! Same procedure as above, but now the shooter has all of the above options and the defender plays all out defense. Drill #5, Elbow Shooting. Player #1 is the re-bounder for player #2. #2 starts at the left elbow, fakes left and cuts to the right elbow. #1 passes to #2 so that the pass arrives at the right elbow the same time #2 does. #2 plants the inside foot, squares up and takes the shot. Make sure that correct shooting form is being used and that the shooter does not "drift" sideways. #1 rebounds the shot and passes back to #2 for the shot now at the left elbow. #2 continues moving back and forth from elbow to elbow for a total of ten shots. Then the players switch roles and #1 is the shooter for ten shots. You can repeat this for as many sets as you want, getting 20, 30, 40 or 50 shots for each player. The elbow shooting drill can be modified. You can have the shooter catch the ball, make a shot fake, cross-over dribble to the middle of the paint (between the free throw line and the circle hash marks) for the short jumper. This is especially useful for your post players, helping them to acquire that "soft touch" on the short, point blank jumper. Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved. 320

Pairs-Shooting Drill , This drill will help shooting, spotting up, and will emphasize that shooters should follow their shots. In addition, this drill also helps passing skills. Set-up: Each player gets a partner, preferably with another player who plays a similar position. That is, the a perimeter player should pair up with another perimeter player, and post players should pair up together. Each pair has a ball. Use all the baskets in the gym. The Drill: For perimeter players: One player starts on the right wing (player #1) and the other starts opposite on the left wing (player #2). Player #1 on the right wing shoots, follows her shot, rebounds and passes out to her partner (#2) on the left wing. Player #1 then spots up at another place on the perimeter. Player #2 takes her shot, follows it, rebounds, and passes to #1, who is now spotted up in a different location. This rotation continues, with the players moving around to all the locations that they will normally shoot from in a game... corners, top of the key, etc. For post players: Use the same drill as above except the post players should be taking their shots inside, in the paint, around the hoop, and can actually work on their post-up moves. After rebounding, the player can dribble the ball out and pass down into the post to his partner. Make sure the shooters are squared up, using good technique, elbow in, follow through, no drifting sideways, no dribbling. Shooters should receive the ball in "triple threat" position. Make sure the passes are sharp and accurate. Players should sprint after the ball and to their shooting spots... no loafing! Do this for several minutes, blow the whistle, and have the pairs rotate baskets. For a variation, do the same drill but instead of spot stationary shooting, have the shooter fake the shot, dribble adjust, and then take the jumper. Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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Close-out Shooting Drill , This drill gets your players to practice shooting contested shots, which is more game-like. Setup: Use three players at each basket, with one ball. Use all the baskets in the gym if you need to. Have the players shoot from areas on the floor where they will usually be in a game. The Drill: Start with two players on the right wing (#1 and #2) and one on the left wing #3 (see Diagram A). #1 shoots, follows her shot and gets the rebound and then passes to #3, and defensively "closes-out" on #3 with hand up so as to contest or distract the shooter (Diagram B). Do not actually attempt to block the shot. The shooter can take one quick dribble sideways to get open. Then #3 shoots, follows her shot, rebounds and passes to #2, and closes-out. Now #2 shoots and follows the same procedure. This rotation continues for several minutes. Then you can change baskets, or change the location of the shots and use the corners, or high-low. Make sure the passes are crisp and accurate, the players sprint, the defense makes good close-outs (with baseline foot back), and the shooters are squared up, using good shooting technique with proper ball "rotation".


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2 on 1 Drill , This offensive drill helps players read the defense in a 2 on 1 situation, and helps them to learn when to take it to the hoop or pass off to their teammate. Setup: Make two lines, one with perimeter players out at half court on the left sideline. The other line is made up of your post players, and is opposite along the right baseline. There is a token defender (maybe a manager or an assistant) on the guards. One of your post players is the other defender in the paint area and will try to stop the 2 on 1 break. The Drill: Player #1 has the ball, makes a fake or jab step, and goes around the token defender. He then dribbles toward the hoop, and tries to exploit the 2 on 1 situation with the defender. Th first player in the post line along the baseline is his teammate. The guard has to decide whether to take it to the hoop, stop and pop a jumper, or pass off to his teammate. He should try to get the defender to commit himself so he can take advantage. If the defender comes up, he should pass to the post player. The post player should maintain proper spacing, and if he gets the ball, take it strong to the hoop and lay it in off the glass (or slam dunk it). If the defender lays back, the guard should take it to the hoop. In this drill, discourage the outside jumper. The offense should try to get a lay-up every time. The rotation is that #1 now starts a new line on the right sideline (see the diagram to the right). #2 starts a new post line along the left baseline. Use the same defender until all the post players have been on offense, then use another post player as the defender.


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3 Man 2 Ball Shooting Drill , Setup: Have three players and two balls at a basket. Use the side baskets too. Each group has a shooter, rebounder, and passer. Players should shoot from areas where they usually shoot from in a game. Wing-to-Wing Motion: (Diagram A) The shooter starts at the right wing with a ball, the passer at the free-throw line with another ball, and the rebounder in the center of the lane. The shooter shoots then sprints to the opposite wing, spots-up, and shoots again. He/she keeps repeating this, going wing-to-wing without dribbling. The rebounder rebounds each shot, passes to the passer, who passes to the shooter. Run this for 1 minute. Then change roles, with each player taking a turn at each of the three positions. Important Points: Make sure the shooter is squared up each time and stationary, not moving sideways. Avoid dribbling. Make crisp, sharp passes. No dogging it -- sprint. You can make a competitive game out of this drill by keeping score.

Baseline to Free Throw Circle Motion: (Diagram B) The shooter moves back and forth from the baseline to the free throw circle. Corner-to-Corner Motion: (Diagram C) The shooter moves from corner to corner. For a variation, have the shooter fake the shot. Have the defender "fly" at the shooter, and then the shooter dribble adjusts and shoots the jumper.


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Three Line Lay-up Drill , This pre-game warm-up drill helps improve players' passing, cutting, receiving and ability to make lay-ups. Setup: Two players start at the top of the key, one player in the right corner, and the rest of the players lineup at half-court near the right sideline. The first two players in line have balls. Drill: Player #1 passes to player #2 and cuts down the right sideline, then makes sharp cut to the basket. Player #2 passes the ball back to #1 who shoots a lay-up (see diagram A). After shooting, #1 goes to the top-of-the-key line. Player #2 rebounds the shot and passes to player #4 in the corner. Player #2 then follows her pass and goes to the corner. Player #4 passes to the next player in line, and follows her pass, going to the end of half-court line. See also: Lay-ups

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Free Throw Shooting Drills , Do this drill at the end of practice when players are tired. We want to simulate a game situation. Drill 1… “team competition”. Do this drill at the end of practice when players are tired. We want to simulate a game situation. Instructions: Use both ends of the court, half of the team on one basket, the other half on the other basket. Tell the kids we are pretending the game is tied at 50-50. Then first player in each line will shoot the first of a 1 and 1 free throw. If the first is made, then the player shoots the bonus. If the other team misses the first shot, they may not shoot again until the other team has completed the bonus shot. Keep track of the score with each free throw. Then the next player in each line does the 1 and 1, and so forth. The first team to say 60 is the winner. If there is time, play the best 2 out of 3 games. The losers have to run. A player from the losing team who made all her free throws can be rewarded by not having to run. Note: make sure each player gets to shoot...the above example is for 5 players on each team. If you only have four on each team, make the starting score 52 - 52 and the winning score 60, so each player gets to shoot. If you have 12 players, use 48 - 48 as the starting score, etc. Drill 2… the “1-and-1”. Have your team break up into pairs, or threes, and use all the baskets for free-throw shooting. Instead of shooting 5, 10 or 20 consecutive free-throws, have them shoot like in a game situation, shooting the “1 and 1”. If the shooter misses the first of the “1 and 1”, he/she runs a lap and doesn’t get the second shot. If the first shot is made, but the second is missed, another lap is run. Each player has to make a certain number of free-throws (maybe 10). Shooters who miss a lot, will be running a lot of laps and this is good for simulating game fatigue (and the pressure to make each shot). Drill 3. "Shooter-Rebounder-Runner" This drill attempts to simulate the game situation where the free-shooter is fatigued. Use all your baskets and break the players up into groups of three. At each basket, there is one shooter, one rebounder and one “runner”. The shooter shoots two free-throws, while the rebounder rebounds for the shooter, and the runner is sprints a lap. After shooting the two free-throws, the shooter now becomes the rebounder, the rebounder becomes the runner, and the runner (who is now tired from running) becomes the shooter of the next two shots. Continue this rotation. You can continue running this drill for a specified time period, or until each player has shot a specified number of free-throws (say 20). Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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Low Post Power Drill , Your post players must learn how to "finish" and score against a defender. See the diagram. #1 posts up on the low block. #2 plays defense. The coach or manager makes the pass into the low post player, #1. #1 executes the drop step to the baseline move (see “Post Moves”) and tries to score against the defender. Initially, have your defender allow the drop step move, but contest the shot. #1 now becomes the defender and the #2 defender goes to the end of the line. The next person in line becomes the offensive player. Variations. Next have your players rotate through each of the following moves: 1. drop step to the lane and jump hook. 2. turn and shoot move 3. up and under move. Eventually, go "live" with the offensive player permitted to do any of the moves, and the defender playing all out defense. Then move to the opposite low block and work that side of the basket.


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Pairs Passing Drills , (Note: at the bottom, read the proper techniques for the chest pass, bounce pass, and overhead pass.) You must do passing drills and never assume your players are good passers. Poor passing will destroy an offense faster than anything. Excellent, crisp passing makes it all work. Most turnovers are related to bad passing or receiving. All players must become good at the chest pass, bounce pass and overhead pass. Set-up: Have each player get a partner, and each pair has a ball, so they can "play catch" with each other. Have the partners separate about 12 - 15 feet (comfortable passing distance), and face each other. Chest pass Have the players practice each of the three basic passes, starting with the chest pass. Demonstrate the proper techniques with "stepping into" the pass with one foot forward. Snap the pass, with the thumbs going through the ball and extending toward the receiver. Make sure the players pass the ball crisply, and not "lob" their passes. Hit the receiver in the chest. The receiver should show a target with her hands extended toward the passer. Feet should be squared and shoulder-width apart. Have the passers alternate the lead foot. Bounce Pass Next, work on bounce passes. The ball should hit the ground about three-quarters from the receiver and bounce right to his chest. Again make sure players are alternating their lead foot. Overhead Pass Next, work on the two-handed overhead pass or outlet pass. Have the partners move a little farther apart, so that you are working on a longer pass. Players should snap their passes with some arc, but be sure that they are not lobbing their passes too high. The arc should be just enough to get over the extended hands of a defender, but not so high that the pass "floats". Alternate the lead foot with each pass. This pass can be thrown hard, and is effective as the outlet pass after a rebound, to start the fast break. It is also good for throwing over zone defenses ("skip passes"). To simulate the outlet pass, after receiving the ball, have the passer turn his back to the receiver, then simulate pulling the ball in, pivot, and make the overhead pass. Pairs Shuffle Drill (passing on the move) Have all the pair partners line up on one end-line. Each pair has a ball. The players are about 12 - 15 feet apart. The first pair starts, shuffling the full length of the floor in a straight line and back again, making accurate chest passes back and forth the entire way, with no traveling or dribbling. Pairs Full-Court Dribble-Pass Drill (See diagram A) Two lines on one end of the court as shown below in diagram A, with the left line players each having a ball. The first player (player A) in left line speed dribbles up to the three-point line and passes to player B sprinting up the side line, who catches the ball, speed dribbles to the half-court line and passes back to player A. Player A then dribbles to the top of the circle, passes back to player B cutting to the hoop for the lay-up. Player A gets the rebound and drill repeats going back up the opposite sideline. The second players in line start off once the previous twosome has reached half court. You can vary this by requiring a jump stop before each pass and after each reception. 328

Pairs Passing, Find the Receiver (Diagram B above) Often I see kids make a bad pass because they actually threw the ball before first locating their receiver (especially against a full-court press). Kids must learn to look before they pass! With this drill, the passer must first find the receiver before making the pass. Refer to diagram B above. Use both baskets. Have a line under each basket. The first player in line (player #1) speed dribbles out to the three-point line, make a jump stop and a reverse pivot. Meanwhile, the next player in line (player #2) sprints out to either corner (mix it up so the passer has to look to find her). The passer makes the crisp chest pass to #2, cuts to the hoop, receives the pass back from #2, and finishes the lay-up. #2 rebounds, and now becomes player #1 and dribbles out and repeats the drill. See also: 3-Man Passing Drills Learning the Jump Stop (passing drill) Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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Rapid-Fire Passing Drills , One-Ball Rapid Fire Setup: Have your players line up facing a solid wall, about two feet from the wall (or a toss-back rebounding device). Drill: Each player begins rapid fire passing against the wall, moving back about two feet with each pass until 10 feet away (5th pass). Then he starts moving closer to wall by two feet with each pass, until 10 passes are completed. Repeat this 10-pass cycle until each player has made a total 20 passes. Pointers: Make sure good passing technique is used, and passers step-into the pass. Have them practice their "no look" passes. Two-Ball Rapid Fire Setup: Use groups of four or five players. There is one passer about 6 feet away from and facing a line of receivers (the rest of the group). The passer has a ball and so does one of the receivers. Drill: On "Go", the passer passes quickly to any receiver, and the receiver who already has a ball passes simultaneously back to the passer. The passes keep going back and forth to any receiver who does not have the ball. Do as many chest passes as you can in 60 seconds and then rotate. Pointers: Use good passing technique while keeping your eyes focused forward and not directly at the receiver. Have your hands up and ready to receive the pass. Use your peripheral vision to see the incoming pass.

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3 Man Passing Drills , Form groups of three. Each group has a ball. "Monkey in the Middle" Line up the passers about 15 feet apart (comfortable passing distance). The third man in each group is the "monkey in the middle" and tries to steal or deflect the ball, while the two outside players try to pass to each other. No dribbling is allowed. No easy lob passes over the defender are permitted. The passers can work on pivoting and ball fakes to clear the passing lane. For example, the passer can fake an overhead pass to get the defender to raise his hands, then make a crisp bounce pass. Rotation: There's a couple ways of doing this. One easy way is to simply change the middle man every minute, when you blow the whistle. Each person takes a turn in the middle. Or, whenever the defender deflects the ball, the passer now becomes the "monkey in the middle". If no deflections in 30 seconds, switch defenders. Two Variations: (1) Defender plays up tight on the passer (Diagram A). After the pass is made, the defender sprints to the receiver and again tries to deflect the pass. The new passer may not pass until the defender is in position. (2) Defender plays tight on the receiver, trying to deny the pass. The group is confined to a given area on the floor. The receiver must try to get open by V-cutting, back-cutting, making contact with the defender and "bouncing off", etc.

3 Man Weave (passing on the move) This old drill is still a good one. Have each of your threesomes line up at one end-line. They should be spread out so that one is in the middle and one on each sideline. The middle man starts the weave by yelling "go" or slapping the ball, and then passing to one of the wing players. He then cuts around the back of the player he just passed to. The wing player with the ball now passes to the opposite wing player and cuts around and behind him. The wing with the ball now passes to the original middle man and cuts around him. And so it goes (see diagram). No dribbling is allowed. The ball should never touch the floor. Receivers should move toward the ball, and show a target for the passer. The players should stay wide and always cut around and behind the player they just passed to. The next three-some can start once the previous group is making their move to the hoop for the lay-up. Start a new line as the far end, and when all groups have come to that end-line, go back the other way. See also: Pairs Passing Drills, Learning the Jump Stop (passing drill) 331

Laker Drill -- Full-Court Passing and Lay-up Against Pressure , This full court drill emphasizes passing, the speed dribble and lay-up against pressure, defensive hustle, and conditioning. Drill: Use three lines. #1 throws the ball off the backboard, gets the rebound and outlets to either wing. Each player sprints up the floor, staying in his lane. After passing to a wing, the wing passes back to #1 and then #1 passes off to the opposite wing, and so it goes. Once the ball crosses half court, the wing who received it across half court speed dribbles in for the lay-up. Meanwhile the opposite wing becomes a defender and sprints to the hoop to either challenge the layup or take the charge. #1 rebounds and starts the drill back up the floor.


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Passing Drill 3 -on-3 , This drill is more game-like with defenders pressuring the passer and receiver. Setup: Use three guards and three post players. You can divide your 12-man squad into two groups and use both ends of the court. #1 is at the point. Place two defenders just above the elbows (like against a 2-3 zone). Put a defensive post in the middle of the lane, and two offensive post players half way up the lane on each side. Running the drill: Your point guard (#1), will dribble penetrate and split the two defenders and pass to either post player. The #3 defender will try to deny this pass. The receiving post player can either shoot, make a power move to the hoop, or dish off to the opposite post, who finishes the layup.


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5-Man Weave Passing and Transition Drill , Contributed by: Coach Thomas Koeller Southwestern High School Hazel Green, WI

Here is a variation of the old three man weave. In this drill, five players are used and run the traditional weave up the floor. It becomes a transition drill on the way back. Coming back up the floor, it is a full-court 3-on-2 situation. The two defenders are (1) the player who shot the lay-up and (2) the person who made the assist pass for the lay-up. These two players play defense while the other three attempt to push the ball up the floor and score.

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Triangle Passing Drill , Contributed by: Tony Gregory Louisville, KY The pairs passing drills and 3-man passing drills can become boring if done every practice. Try this "triangle" passing drill for some variety. This drill can be done well by younger players who are not yet adept at full-court drills, such as the weave drill. You can use both baskets and divide the squad into two groups. At each basket, create three passing lines about 12 to 15 feet apart. One line is at the top of the key, another in the right short corner area, and a third in the left short corner area. As an option, you can use cones or marks on the floor, so that the lines don't "creep" inward. To run the drill, start at the top of key station and either pass to right or left (can go either direction). The players start behind the cones, step out to receive the pass and pass to the next station in same direction. After the players make their pass, they sprint to the next line in the same direction as the ball, following their pass - no walking. After a few sequences, change direction and also alternate between chest passes, bounce passes, and overhead passing.

This drill goes quickly and after a few iterations they get pretty good at it. The drill keeps them moving, and provides a lot of touches in a short amount of time while improving their passing techniques. Pointers: Make sure correct passing techniques are used, that the players "step out" to meet the pass, and that the players receive the ball and place it in triple threat position.

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Press Break Passing Drill , This drill teaches players facing full-court pressure and a trap, not to panic, to locate a receiver and make a good, crisp pass. Often the first pass after the in-bounds pass is the crucial pass in breaking the press, and is also the one often intercepted by the defense This drill practices the in-bounds pass reception and the first pass up the court, either to the center on the ball-side sideline. Use three lines for the offensive players (yellow). Use three defenders (assistants). Have two set the trap, after allowing the in-bounds pass. Have the third defender play the gap between the two offensive receivers and try to intercept the pass. You could use a manager or coach to make the in-bounds pass. The offensive #1 player receives the in-bounds pass, and immediately tries to locate the open receiver and make the correct pass, with "zip". The passer should use an "air" pass if possible (as the bounce-pass is easier to intercept), and may need to use a head, shoulder or pass fake to free up a receiver. See also: Beat the Full-Court Press, Beating the 1-2-1-1 Press


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Circle Box-Out Drill , This drill has players work on their boxing out technique. Setup: Have 10 (or 12) players get into position around the free throw circle. You can really use any number of players as long as they have room to maneuver. The players should pair up with a partner. Have guards go against guards, post players against post players. Have five defensive players spread around the circle, and their offensive partners outside the circle. They should be facing each other. The Drill: The coach puts the ball in the center of the circle, gets out of the way, and blows the whistle. The offensive players try to get inside and get the ball. The defenders should immediately pivot, put their backsides into the offensive players and keep them outside away from the ball. They should continue boxing out for a count of 5. Then switch offense and defense. Make sure defenders are using correct boxing out technique (see Rebounding), and do not hold the offensive players. You can keep score and the losers run. Any holding fouls, give a point to the offensive team. This puts pressure on each player to do his part in keeping his man out. See also: “Rebounding”, “Rebounding 2 Man Drill” Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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Rebounding Box-Out Drill , Here's a good rebounding, box-out drill, as well as a shooting drill. Setup: Make two lines... the shooting line on the wing, and the defense, box-out line at the free-throw line. Drill: Give the ball to the wing player. Have the first player in the defensive line move over to defend the wing player. Have the wing take a good shot (defense should let him/her shoot the shot). Then as soon as the shot is released, the defender turns and boxes the shooter out and gets the rebound (even if the shot is made). The shooter tries to get the rebound (but no second shots are allowed as this is mainly a box-out drill). If the offensive player gets the rebound, the defender has to run a lap. They get the message soon about the importance of boxing out. As an added feature, I also want to stress the importance of making good passes. So I want to see a good pass from the rebounder back out to the next player in the shooting line. If the rebounder makes a bad pass out, he/she runs a lap! Copyright 2003, James A. Gels, all rights reserved.

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Rebounding 2 Man Drill , This rebounding drill stresses the basics of boxing out, being aggressive, and making the outlet pass, and "finishing" on the offensive glass. Setup: See the diagram. Create two rows, one on each side of the free throw lane with the players facing the basket. The first two players step forward and position themselves down by the blocks and face the next player in line, as they will be the two defenders. The next players in each line will be the two offensive players. Have a player in each corner for the outlet pass. The coach, or manager, stands at the free throw line and shoots the ball for the rebounders. For better balance, put your post players in one line, and perimeter players in the other line, so they will be playing against a player of the similar size and position. The Drill: The coach shoots the ball. The defenders work on boxing out and getting the rebound. Once they get the rebound, they make the outlet pass and the next group takes over. The two defenders then rotate to the outlet positions, and the outlet players go to the back of the offensive lines. The offensive players should be aggressive and try to get inside and get the offensive rebound. If they do, they should power it back up to the hoop. The pairs play until either the offense scores or the defense rebounds and outlet passes. Then you rotate to the next group. The offensive players are now the defenders. Make sure all players hustle and are aggressive. Make sure they are using good rebounding technique... with proper boxing out, attacking the ball, and good outlet passing of defense, and similar techniques on offense, with the addition of powering the ball back up to the hoop. See "Rebounding”, for a description of these techniques, and "Rebounding Circle Drill”. One Man Option: You can also run this drill with just one line, one defender and one outlet receiver.


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3-Man Rebounding, PowerUp Drill , This drill stresses boxing out and rebounding, as well as low post offensive power moves. This is a good drill for your inside post players. Have three players under the basket. The coach or a manager shoots the ball up. All three players work for position and go for the rebound. The player who gets the rebound powers the ball back to the hoop while the other two are on defense and try to stop him. No dribbling is permitted except for a one-bounce dribble adjust. The offensive player should be thinking three-point play (the old fashioned three pointer), the basket and a foul. This drill not only stresses rebounding fundamentals and aggressiveness, but also power offensive moves, as well as "in the paint" defense and shot blocking. Copyright James A. Gels 2002, All rights reserved.

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Rebounding "War" Drill , This drill stresses boxing out and rebounding, and running the fast break off the rebound, and has been a favorite at Michigan State. There are variations of this drill, and this article describes one way to run it. You can make your own adaptations. Setup: This is a 5-on-5 drill, so divide the team into two squads. One team starts out on defense with all five players in the paint area... two at the blocks, two at the elbows and one at the free-throw line. The offensive team starts with all five players on the perimeter arc. Running the Drill: The coach, an assistant or a manager will shoot the ball up from somewhere at the 12-17 foot range. The defenders must each find a man to box out. The defender must make contact before getting the rebound. The offensive players all crash the boards for the rebound and immediately look to score if they get the rebound. If the offense seems to be taking too long to shoot, or if someone yells "set it up", start over with the coach taking another shot. If the defense gets the rebound, they immediately look for the outlet pass and run your fast break. Once they get the ball up the floor, they too can go for any offensive rebound off a missed shot. Once the defense gets the rebound, the drill is over. Reset (as in the diagram) and the coach takes another shot to re-start the drill. Rules and Pointers: Rebound everything, including made shots. Go after every loose ball, even if it is out-of-bounds (there is no out-of-bounds in this drill). Allow a certain amount of physical play... this is "war". This obviously depends on the age group you are working with. Let it be aggressive and physical, but keep it under control so that no tempers flare and no-one gets injured. No "dirty play" is allowed. Make sure the defensive players are using good boxing-out technique (see Rebounding). Do not allow flagrant pushing or holding... if fact you can call a foul if this happens, and then reset again. Scoring: Award 1 point for a basket made, and 2-points for a 3-pointer. Award 1 point for each offensive rebound and 1 point for each steal. Subtract 1 point for each foul (but again "let them play" as much as you can). Run the drill for 10 minutes, giving each team 5-minutes on defense and 5minutes on offense. Losers run. Copyright 2002-2004, James A. Gels, all rights reserved.

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Hustle Drills , This is a good drill for emphasizing hustle and going for loose balls. It also works one-on-one offensive skills, man-to-man defensive skills, and rebounding. A "laid back" player can actually be taught to hustle, and get after the ball and the opponent. Setup: see the diagram below. Divide the team into two groups. They will be competing against each other, so even out the speed and talent. Line each team up along a sideline. Each player is given a number, 1,2 ,3, etc (see diagram). Try to align your post players into the #1 and 2 spots, and the guards further out (#3 - 5). Have the players get down on their knees, or all fours, facing away from the floor. Have a coach or manager check to make sure they don't peek! If they cheat, the other team gets a point. Starting the Play: The coach places the ball somewhere on the floor, equidistant from each team. You could place it out high, or even down in the paint. Coach then yells a number 1 thru 5. The player from each team whose number he calls, runs out and gets the loose ball. The player who gets the ball, then takes it to the hoop and tries to score, while the other player defends against her. Keep playing until the offense scores, or the defense gets the ball. Award one point for getting the loose ball, and another point if she scores. Play to 10. Losers run! Options: 1. You can call more than one number at a time... e.g. "2 and 5!", or "everybody". Be careful though, if you call too many at one time, there could be a collision going for the ball. Make sure you rotate the numbers called, so that all players are eventually called. 2. If defense fouls, have the offensive player shoot one free throw. If she makes it, it counts as a score.

Drill #2 See the diagram at below. This drill features grabbing a rebound, making an outlet pass, running after a loose ball, and then a layup.

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Start with a player in the lane on each end of the floor. The coach (C) and an assistant (A) will set up on the wings for the outlet pass. The player puts the ball up on the rim or backboard, grabs the rebound, and makes a strong two-handed overhead pass to the coach (or assistant) on the wing. The coach then rolls the ball up the floor. The player sprints after the ball, retrieves it and takes it in for a layup. Then he/she rebounds and outlet passes to the assistant on the opposite wing and the procedure repeats on that side. Run the drill in one direction (right hand layups) and then reverse it on the opposite side (left hand layups).


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