MARCH 2006 13 Issue 1 Volume THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION OldOld SchoolSchool CoolCool TipsTips fromfrom thethe 80s80s thatthat nevernever wentwent outout ofof stylestyle ALSO:ALSO: ReflectionReflection onon thethe 20052005 CoachesCoaches StudyStudy TourTour GoorjianGoorjian andand StirlingStirling tell:tell: what what wewe havehave toto dodo toto keepkeep upup withwith thethe restrest ofof thethe worldwrold CONTENTS 3 National Intensive Training Centre EDITOR Rachel Wolters - 2005 Overseas Study Tour GENERAL MANAGER, COMMUNITY BASKETBALL Michael Haynes 12 Goorjian and Stirling - PHOTOGRAPHY David ‘Munnsy’ Munns, Nic ‘Niccolatte’ Mercer, LuxeBurrow Photography, Noel Rowsell what’s happening overseas ADVERTISING Sales & Marketing Department Tel: 02 9469 7200 14 Changes to the official DESIGN Southern Design & Print Group Tel: (02) 9587 7722 Basketball Australia Rules PRINT Paragon Printers Australasia Tel: (02) 9360 1993 CONTRIBUTIONS & FEEDBACK 16 Duncan’s Drills... for large groups We welcome news items, feedback and suggestions. If you have an upcoming event or program you would like included, or if you would 17 Book Review like to comment on any of the articles in this or previous editions, you can email us at [email protected], or submit content to us at the following address: The Editor, Xs and Os, 17 Communicating with others PO Box 7141 Alexandria NSW 2015. Photographs should be clearly marked with 18 ABCA membership caption details including credits. Xs and Os is produced by the Community Basketball applications form Department of Basketball Australia. Xs and Os is a quarterly publication with cover dates of March, June, September and December and is available only through membership of ABCA. © Reproduction of any material without written permission from the Editor is strictly prohibited. Signed articles represent the views of the author and are not necessarily those of Basketball Australia. Xs and Os is included on Sport Discus,and other information databases maintained by EBSCO. Basketball Australia What’s changed www.basketball.net.au Level 3 in 20 years? 256 Coward Street Mascot NSW 2020 1 25 components of Tel: (02) 9469 7200 Fax: (02) 9469 7201 a successful drill Cover ABCA Life Members Lindsay Gaze Barry Barnes Ian Laurie Merv Harris Dr Adrian Hurley Patrick Hunt Ken Watson Brian Kerle Ray Tomlinson Basketball Australia gratefully acknowledges its major sponsors: YOU KNOW VALUE WE KNOW HAIR 25 Components of a successful drill asketball Australia moved offices late Every coach has their own drills, but we call all waiting lines. Try to use non-active players as last year during which we found an create more intensity, enthusiasm, discipline outlets or feeders, or have them shoot free Barchive of Coaches Corner (the etc by evaluating every aspect of the drill. throws. Obviously, you’ll sometimes want them forerunner to Xs and Os) dating back to the The following principles are well worth thinking to just watch the action and listen to the early 1980s. Below is an article by Marc L about in preparing your practice drills. instructions and corrections. Comstock, which appeared in the Spring Do each drill correctly at least once every day 1984 edition, and is just as relevant today. Name your drills Never leave a drill before you have run it No matter what level of experience, every Give every drill a name so that the player will be correctly at least once. Proper execution is coach should take some time to evaluate able to identify the purpose and procedure of essential for progress and confidence. how effective their ‘drills’ are. Some of each. For example, ‘Two-Ball Powerups’ – things that are suggested in the article working inside, power moves, using two balls in Repetition sound like they require facilities or an army the lane area. Repeat all drills throughout the season. Correct of assistants to achieve, that you may not execution and repetition with intensity, develops have but perhaps there is another way to Five seconds between drills good habits. achieve the same thing – using parents, or Don’t waste time going from drill to drill. older brothers/sisters for example to help Discipline the players to sprint to the next drill No drill over seven minutes out? station in five seconds. To avoid confusion, Never allow the player to become bored or lose Coaches have to constantly evaluate the ways outline all new drills before practice. their intensity because the drill runs too long. in which to improve or get the most out of their No one stands Rather than have your players lose confidence drills. The best kinds of drills are those which in the drill, stop the drill and come back to it the Organise the drills so that they keep everyone simulate game situations or enhance the next day. In your pre-practice chalk talk, busy. Take full advantage of side baskets and coach’s philosophy. mention the critical mistakes made the day assistant coaches. Always try to alleviate before. Don’t keep stopping practice for corrections. Ask questions afterwards All coaches have players who’ll ask questions during a drill in order to get a break. We encourage questions and suggestions, so long as they’re made in the office, not on the court. Terminology Communication is essential. But coaches and players must speak the same language. For instance, we use the word “Go!” to indicate a switch; other programs use “Switch!”. Since words trigger different reactions, make sure all your players understand exactly what you mean. Gamelike situation Try to make every drill as gamelike as possible by using the scoreboard, calling fouls, citing positions on the floor etc. In short, simulate gamelike situations to assure the proper reactions. Statistics Keep stats for all practices. Evaluate them every day and post them in the locker room. Accumulative stats should also be kept to provide goals and weekly standards. By making the players aware that you’re constantly checking their states on field –goal percentage, rebounds, turnovers, assists and free throw percentage, you put extra pressure on them and force them to concentrate. Bob Turner giving instruction to his team www.basketball.net.au Official Journal of the Australian Basketball Coaches Association 1 The dust was blown off this oldie-but-goodie. Video tapes Use your video equipment to tape practice drills. The taping will enable you to see the whole court and evaluate the player’s practice performances. Even more important, it will enable you to evaluate the drill’s effectiveness. Variety Add options to all drills to give them a different look and a different emphasis. The options will generate enthusiasm and enable you to do more in less time. Eric Watterson attempting step around pass. Make drills harder than games Going 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 puts pressure on the defence, as you remove weakside help and Incorporate competition encouragement of teammates, be positive and enthusiastic. Coaches must observe the same force the defence to cover more of the court. All players love drills that put something on the rules, but add constructive criticism (e.g. Liked Disadvantage drills (2 on 1, 3 on 2, etc) put the line, like penalty sprints or push-ups. Such your effort, but here’s a better way) offence or defence at a disadvantage and forces competition generates intensity and tremendous intensity and execution. enthusiasm. Regular awards Intensity and execution Incorporate transition Encourage the players daily and weekly with positive reinforcement (verbal) and such Demand that all drills be run at full speed and Inject transition into your half court drills to awards as: Weekly Rebound (‘Chairman of the constantly check for defensive positioning and condition the players to turnovers and pushing Board’), Weekly Free-Throw, Draw the Charge breakdowns. the ball up the court. It also motivates the Champ and Weekly Defensive Player. Build confidence defence to force errors and capitalize upon them. Players enjoy transition basketball. Play like you drill Never put the players in situations in which they’re constantly being scored upon. Do Conditioning Always exert maximum effort, both mentally everything possible to build confidence in both and physically; this will prepare you to cope Drills that demand hustle and proper execution the offence and defence. with all game situations will condition players for the games. Have fun Drill to completion Philosophy End every drill with a rebound, turnover, basket, Include a fun drill in every practice – it creates Fit the drill to your offensive and defensive foul, offensive charge or transition. a positive atmosphere that helps build morale. philosophy. Believe in what you’re doing and Call all fouls practice the things you will be doing in the game. Call and penalise all fouls. We suggest a penalty of a single push-up, as it will not remove the Rules player from the drill and take just a second to Observe the following rules while running a complete. This will reinforce the concept of drill: full speed, no criticism of teammates, playing defence without fouling. 2 The Official Journal of the Australian Basketball Coaches Association www.basketball.net.au National Intensive Training Centre 2005 Overseas Study Tour In November 2005, 14 coaches traveled to programs remain contemporary to contribution toward the tour as well as the the USA, Turkey and China on Basketball international standards. state and territory associations who also Australia’s Coaches Overseas Study Tour. Basketball Australia wishes to acknowledge provide financial assistance to their coaches. Led by Patrick Hunt, this tour is an and thank the World Basketball Coaches Here are three articles prepared by coaches important aspect of ensuring that our Association and FIBA Oceania for their who participated on the tour. ANNETTE WINTON – TOWNSVILLE The following are a number of individual work- of Basketball Coaches and Townsville out drills that we saw on the USA leg of our trip Basketball for all their support and assistance.