All-American recreation

BASKETBALL DRILLS

1 Drills: table of contents

Stretching…………………………....…....3-4

Warm up and Footwork………….…….…5

Shooting………………….……………….6-8

Ball Handling…...……….……..….....…...9

Passing…………………………..….……..10

Defense…………………………...……….11

Rebounding…………………....……...…..12

Team Concepts and Drills…..…..………...13-15

Conditioning………………………….…...16

Offensive Plays….…………..……...……..17

Defensive Strategy...……………….……...18

2 stretches

The Exercises

Purpose: The purpose for stretching is not only for prevention of injury, but to instill the importance of stretching so that the players may stick with it for years to come. Use the following quick and easy stretches to prepare for practice.

Chest Stretch

· Stand tall, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent.

· Hold you arms out to the side parallel with the ground and the palms of the hand facing forward

· Stretch the arms back as far as possible

· You should feel the stretch across your chest

Biceps Stretch

· Stand tall, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent.

· Hold you arms out to the side parallel with the ground and the palms of the hand facing forward

· Rotate the hands so the palms face to the rear

· Stretch the arms back as far as possible

· You should feel the stretch across your chest and in the biceps

Shoulder Stretch

· Stand tall, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent.

· Place your right arm, parallel with the ground across the front of your chest

· Bend the left arm up and use the left forearm to ease the right arm closer to you chest

· You will feel the stretch in the shoulder.

· Repeat with the other arm.

Shoulder and Triceps Stretch

· Stand tall, feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent.

· Place both hands above your head and then bend one arm at the elbow and try to touch the back of your neck.

· Use the opposite hand to push or pull the elbow down towards your lower back.

· You will feel the stretch in the shoulders and the triceps.

3 stretches

Hamstring Stretch · Sit on the ground with both legs straight out in front of you

· Bend the left leg and place the sole of the left foot alongside the knee of the right leg

· Allow the left leg to lie relaxed on the ground

· Bend forward keeping the back straight

· You will feel the stretch in the hamstring of the right leg

· Repeat with the other leg

Calf Stretch

· Stand tall with one leg in front of the other, hands flat and at shoulder height against a wall.

· Ease your back leg further away from the wall, keeping it straight and press the heel firmly into the floor.

· Keep your hips facing the wall and the rear leg and spine in a straight line.

· You will feel the stretch in the calf of the rear leg.

· Repeat with the other leg.

Groin Stretch

· Sit with tall posture

· Ease both of your feet up towards your body and place the soles of your feet together, allowing your knees to come up and out to the side.

· Resting your hands on your lower legs or ankles and ease both knees towards the ground

· You will feel the stretch along the inside of your thighs and groin.

Quadriceps Stretch

· Lie face down on the floor, resting your forehead on your right hand.

· Press your hips firmly into the floor and bring your left foot up towards your buttocks

· Take hold of the left foot with the left hand and ease the foot closer to you buttocks

· Repeat with the right leg • You will feel the stretch along the front of the thigh.

4 Warm ups & footwork

Purpose: The purpose for the warm-up and footwork drills is to increase each player’s coordination, agility, and even speed. It is also used to continue to prepare your players for practice.

Drills

1. Basic Jogging. Have the players run a couple of laps.

2. High Knees. In normal jogging movement, lift knees high and force feet to ground with force and quickness. Be light on your feet and spend short amount of time on ground. Drive arms up and down with movement of legs. Quick, sharp movement is the goal. Do 2 lengths from the baseline to half court.

3. Butt Kicks. Jog forward while kicking heels to butt. Players need to stay on their toes and have quick feet. Arms should be moving in running motion. Do 2 lengths from the baseline to half court.

4. Defensive slides. Good defensive position with back straight, staying low to the ground and both arms out. Slide to half court and back 2X’s. Variation: During every second slide step the players must ro- tate or turn there body 180 degrees and be facing the other way.

5. Carioca. The carioca step is a way to move sideways at a constant speed. Your left foot crosses in front of your right, your right foot steps right, your left foot crosses behind your right, then your right foot steps right, and the pattern repeats. 2 times

6. Slide and Sprint. Face me. We'll slide along sideways, and each time I say "sprint," we'll sprint for- ward until I say, "slide," at which time, you'll face me and slide again. 2 times.

7. Backwards Run/Sprint. Player will begin backpedaling and at half court will turn and sprint through the baseline. 2 times.

8. Power Skipping. In a running motion a player should take a right step and explode into a jump and land back down on the right foot followed by a left step that goes into a jump and the player will land back on the left foot. Follow this format until the player reaches half court. 2 times.

9. Box Drill. Either use lines or cones for four corners. Players must sprint straight to the first cone and jump stop and power slide to the next cone and jump stop once more and back pedal to the third cone and jump stop and slide back to the beginning cone. Go 4 times around.

10. Coaches Direction Drill. Have the players in a single line. Coach stands at half court. The player will sprint towards the coach and on the coaches decision he will point a direction. At that time the player must jump stop and take 2 slide steps and sprint to the sideline and jump stop once more. Each player should go through the line 3 times.

5 Shooting

Teaching the Fundamentals of Shooting

BEEF is the easiest way to teach proper fundamentals for shooting. B = balance E = eye contact with the rim. (Emphasize either the front or the back of the rim, not the whole rim at once. E = elbow up. (Emphasize that the elbow should be up, in, and pointed to the basket) F = follow through. (Emphasize popping the wrist like they are reaching into a cookie jar on a high shelf)

Other key points in shooting are making sure that the player’s shoulders and feet are square with the bas- ket. Also make sure the players use their legs, which may be one of the most important parts to the shot as it is. With hand placement on the ball make sure that they are spreading their fingers and are in line with the seams of the ball. Only a little palm should be touching the ball. Make sure on the follow through that every part of the body is fully extended from head to toe.

1. Form Shooting. a. Procedure: Have the player’s right next to the rim (maybe one to two feet outside). Each player should start low either using one or both hands. The player should make sure he/she is in proper position and then shoot the ball. Each player should hold his or her follow through until the ball hits the ground. b. Purpose: to get good work on form in a controlled manner. c. Variations: With one player start in front of basket. With two players move them to one on each side in front of the block. With three or more players form lines behind the two players above and each player should shoot one rebound and give the ball to the next person in line. d. Goals: i. For players to make certain number in a row as a team. ii. Each player should make a certain desired number (set goals) Personal Bests. iii. Each player should work to make one number out of 10 or 20. 2. Lay ups. a. Procedure: Have the players start on the block. Teach them that on the right side the shot is made with the right hand and the right arm pulls up the right leg as if there were a rope tied from the elbow to the knee. Make sure they follow through. While on the block the players should take one step without dribbling and perform the lay-up. After they go through a couple of times move them back a step. Still without dribbling they will take a right/left steps and perform the lay up. Move the line back until they are further back than the three-point line. b. Variations: i. Have the players shoot the lay up, rebound, and dribble out to the other side and then perform the left-handed lay up. Work them further and further out. ii. Have a team goal of a number in a row. iii. Time limits iv. Personal Bests.

6 shooting

3. Crazy 7 Shooting. a. Procedure: Spread your players out to goals in groups of three. One player will set up in the short corner, one player on the elbow, and one player on the opposite wing. Each player will take a shot one at a time and rebound his or her own shot and give an outlet pass to the next player. The ball should go from the short corner to the wing to the el- bow and back to the short corner. b. Goals: i. Have each player trying to make a certain number. ii. Have the players concentrating on good form and sharp passes. c. Variations: i. Have the team compete against the clock and the other groups. ii. Have the players in each group compete against each other with the number of made shots. 4. Mikan Drill a. Procedure: You will need one ball and one player. Player should start on the block with the ball. The player will perform a lay up and take the ball out of the net and take either one step or a jump stop to the left side and perform a lay up on that side. The player will continue this process back and forth for a desired time limit, number or makes, or number of repetitions. b. Variations: i. Compete within team during a time limit ii. Number of makes in a row. Players shoot until they miss. 5. 2 ball contest a. Procedure: You will need two player teams and one ball. Designate spots on the floor and give them point values such as 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10. Each player can only shoot one shot before the next player must shoot. They can rebound and pass however they like. Goal is for the team to try to get as many points as possible in a 2-minute time limit. b. Variation: i. Number of shots instead of time limits ii. Give points for attempts and makes. iii. Designate how they rebound and or pass. 6. Wing Shooting a. Procedure: Two lines one on the wing and one on the opposite block. Coach will start the drill be passing to the wing. This player will have the option to take a three point shot, pump fake and go right or left one dribble and shoot, or jab step and go left or right to the basket for a lay up. The rebounding player will pass out to the wing. The players will switch lines. b. Variations: i. Have the players stay in there lines until the line makes a desired number of shots. ii. Have the team compete against the clock. 7. Gotcha a. Procedure: Have the players form a line at the free throw line. The line should be single file with two balls with the first two players. The first player shoots followed by the second player. After a player shoots from the free throw line they may shoot from anywhere they like. The first player must make the shot before the second player or he or she is out and must pass the ball to the next player in line. Basically the first player shooting is trying to make the basket before the player behind them or they are out. b. Variations: i. Have the players shoot from different spots on the floor.

7 shooting

8. Kentucky Shooting Drill a. Procedure: Two lines and two balls. One line at the top of the key and the other in the corner outside the three-point line. The players on the three-point line are going to perform a V cut to the block and then pop out to the three-point line on the wing. They should catch a pass pump fake and take two dribbles into the paint and take a jump shot. The passer should rebound and pass out to the shooter and they should give the ball to the next player in line. The shooter switches to the passing line and the passer switches to the shooting line. The next player should be cutting as the first player shoots. Have the players shoot in the paint, from the elbow, a three pointer, and a back door lay up. b. Variations: i. Give and go from the passer to the shooter and back to the passer for a lay up. ii. Shoot against a time limit with the team having to make a certain number of shots. 9. Line shooting a. Procedure: Two lines anywhere you want them. Each line is a team and needs one ball. They are competing against the other line. The lines could be either short corners or elbows, or they could be one on the elbow and one in the short corner. Each player takes a shot, rebounds and passes to the next player in line. b. Variations: i. Where the lines are and how many needs to be made. Such as lay ups for one line and wing shots for the other. The lay up line has to make 20 before the wing line makes 10. ii. Time limits 10. Speed Dribble Shooting a. Procedure: Start players at half court with four balls in the line. Players should speed dribble to the three point line either at the top of the key or the wing and get under con- trol and take one or two more dribbles towards the basket and pull up and take a jump shot. The player should rebound dribble out and pass to the next player in line. The next player should start as the first player reaches the three-point line. b. Variations: i. Number of makes by a player or team ii. Time limit iii. Add defense starting at the three-point line. 11. Post Entry with Cuts a. Procedure: Two lines, one under the basket and one on the wing. The line on the wing needs two balls. The first player in the line under the basket steps out to the block. The player on the wing passes into the post and makes a cut to the baseline or the elbow. At that time the player receives a pass from the post and takes a shot. The Post rebounds and passes to the next player in line. Both players switch lines. b. Variations: i. Add a defense ii. Make cuts off the post and perform lay ups. iii. Goal is to teach players to relocate.

8 Ball handling

For Ball Handling make sure that the players understand triple threat position, staying low in an ag- gressive position, and they use their fingertips to control the ball not their palms.

1. Stationary Dribbling a. Procedures: Spread players out on the baseline and have them in triple threat position. Start by right hand dribble making sure they keep the ball below their waist. Have play- ers come back to triple threat and perform the left hand dribble. Repeat these steps and use high and low dribbles along with the normal dribbling. Complete the cycle by have the players cross the ball over back and forth from the right hand to the left hand. 2. On the Move Dribbling (Relay Races) a. Procedure: Split the players up into equal groups and have them form lines on the baseline. They will start in triple threat and dribble with their right hand to half court and perform a jump stop and pivot on the left foot. They will dribble back with their left hand and jump stop at their line and hand the ball to the next person in line. 3. Change of Direction Dribbling (Partner Zigzags) a. Procedure: Have the players form a line in the corner. Each player should have a ball. The players should take two to three dribbles with their left hand and cross over to the right hand and take two to three dribbles and cross back to their left hand. Repeat these steps until the player reaches half court or the baseline. The players need to drib- ble over to the other side and come back down. b. Variations: i. Add a defensive player to work on staying in front ii. Add trapping situations with a 2 on 1 or 2on2 or even 3on2. iii.Add different dribbles such as between the legs or behind the back. 4. Knockout a. Procedure: Put all the players in a designated area such as the free throw lane with a ball for each player. The goal is for the players to protect their ball while trying to knock the other players balls out of the area. The last player standing wins. b. Variations: i. Designate which hand they must dribble with. 5. Follow the Leader a. Procedure: All players in a line and they must follow the leader whatever the leader does the other players must do or try as well. The leader can be a player or a coach. b. Variations: i. Weave around the court like a snake ii. Have the players spread out and just copy the leader that will be out in front. 6. Non Dribble Drills a. Around the World- have the players go around their legs, then the waist, and then the head. Then put it all together for it to be around the world. b. Wall Bounces- Have the players stand a foot away from the wall with the ball in either hand straight up high. They must dribble the ball against the wall with their fingertips. c. Figure Eight- have the players weave the ball around their legs in and out while meeting each time between their legs. d. Quick Hands- has the players start the ball between their legs. They must catch the ball behind their legs and then back in front of the legs. Don’t let the ball drop.

9 passing

When the players are passing make sure they understand how to put backspin on the ball by pushing their thumbs through or flicking their wrists. Make sure they know to make crisp and sharp passes. Finally make sure the players are stepping into their passes.

1. Basic Passing a. Procedure: Line the players up with a partner a certain distance apart. Have them perform the chest pass, bounce pass, overhead pass, and the right and left hand passes. b. Variations: i. Add defense to the ball, like monkey in the middle ii. Number of good passes in a row without any mistakes 2. Slide Passing a. Procedure: Have two lines, one on each side of the free throw land. The players should defensive slide down the court passing back and forth. When they get close to the goal they should make the lay up, switch sides and come back and make the lay up on the next end. 3. Sprint Passing a. Procedure: Same as Slide passing but the players will be running down and back in- stead of sliding down and back. 4. Five Star Passing a. Procedure: Have the players form 5 lines. Form one line on each wing, one line at the top of the key, and one line in each short corner. Designate which line passes to whom and slowly add more balls until they can’t keep up. Once a player makes a pass he or she should follow that pass to the line passes to. b. Variations: i. Adding balls ii. Designating which pass to make. 5. Passing off the Dribble a. Procedure: Form two lines and have them partner up with the player opposite them. The outside player will start dribbling and on the second dribble the player will make a right-handed pass to the other player running along side. This player will dribble two times with the right hand and make a pass with the left hand. When players get to the baseline they need to jump stop and pivot and come back. b. Variations: i. Add a defender trying to catch up or play the passing lanes.

10 defense

Make sure the players understand proper defensive position. One hand mirrors the ball; one hand stays low keep the back straight and on your toes with knees bent. Make sure the players know to look at the belly button of the offensive player. This helps the defensive player stay in good position because the offensive player can’t go anywhere without their mid section.

1. D slides a. Procedure: Have the players spread out and face the coach. On your command of “defense” the players will slap the ground and say “defense” and be in good position. As you move or dribble the players must move that direction keeping their feet apart and staying low. b. Variations: i. Add drop steps going at an angle ii. Taking Charges 2. Lane Slides a. Procedure: Have players line up on one side of the lane. They must be in good posi- tion and slide from side to side quickly. Designate a number of touches or time limit. b. Variations: i. Make it a contest to see who gets the most touches ii. Have them stay together to build team unity. 3. Partner Zigzags a. Procedure: The players must partner up and one will dribble and force the defender to slide and drop step and work on staying in front. b. Variations: i. Trapping ii. Pressuring the ball 4. Shell Drill a. Procedure: Have the offensive players be on the outside with one post inside. Teach the defense where to be when they are one pass away; two passes away, three passes away, or on the ball. Defense is played as a team. Emphasize dropping down and step- ping towards the ball and being able to see both ball and man. b. Variations: i. Passes must go to the person next to them ii. Skip passes iii. How to defend the cutters 5. Around the World Defense Procedure: This is the shell drill for the lower age groups. Just have the players shadow there men, and when there player doesn’t have the ball tell them they should step to the ball and play loose. Use the same procedure as the shell drill and use the variations if possible.

11 rebounding

Teaching proper rebounding techniques are difficult to do. Make sure the players know that rebounding is mostly heart and knowing where the ball will go based on where the shot is coming from. Teach them to catch the ball at a high point and get good position by boxing out and not getting to close to being under the basket.

1. High Point Rebounding a. Procedure: Toss a ball off the backboard and have each player step up and try to catch the ball with two hands at the highest point of their jump. b. Variations: i. Face another player and box out when the ball goes up. 2. Circle Rebounding a. Procedure: Have the players run in a circle with certain ones designated as defense and other offense. When the coach shoots the ball the defense must try to box out and rebound. The goal is for the defense to get 5 rebounds before the offense gets 3 re- bounds. b. Variations i. Have two players play one on one, but they must shoot a jump shot outside the lane. When the shot goes up the players running in a circle must box out and rebound. If the offense gets the ball they must outlet to the offensive player of the one on one. If the defense gets the rebound they outlet to the defensive player and now everything will be switched up. 3. Bound and Outlet a. Procedure: A full court, two goals one on each end, one ball, and two players. One player is standing on the wing and the other next to the goal. The player next to the goal tosses the ball off the backboard and rebounds and outlets to the wing. The wing- man dribbles to the middle and the rebounder fills the lane outside and gets a pass and lays the ball up. The players switch roles and come back the other side while the next group starts as well. b. Variations: i. Add defense trying to catch up ii. Have the defense waiting for a 2on1 opportunity. 4. Rebound Shooting Teaches game like shooting and rebounding. Part 1- Select two players to play one on one. The offensive player has 3 dribbles and must then take a shot. The defensive player while keeping his/her hands behind the back must try to stay in front of the offensive player. The player must shoot a jump shot outside the paint. Part 2- After you select two players the rest of the players are divided up into offense and defense and must rebound the shot that is taken in part 1. While the offensive player in part 1 is dribbling the players in part 2 must be running in a circle similar to that during the training camp. The defense must get 4 rebounds before the offense gets 2. Switch the offense and defense up and also the players in parts 1 and 2.

12 Team concepts

Team Concept Drills are very important and your players will probably get the most out of these drills because they are more game like and can encompass all the fundamentals within one drill if necessary. Below are the team drills in the coach’s practice sheets and a few extra for fun.

1. Floor Positions a. Procedure: It is very important for your players to know the positions on the floor in order to create spacing and awareness. Talk with your players about the dimensions first including the free throw line and lane, the blocks, the three-point line, the elbows, the baseline and sidelines, half court, how high the goals are and distances of the court if you like. Next explain the positions and who usually would be occupying these posi- tions. Start with the top of the key for the point guard, next move to the wings which will be the free throw line extended out to the three-point line and your shooting guard and forward will play here. Next you will identify the elbows and blocks and make it know that most of the time the power forward and centers will be here. The last spots on the floor are the short corners and the corners outside the three-point line. Now that you have gone over the locations begin to put players in the spots and have them just move the ball around the floor. 2. Setting Up a. Procedure: Have 5 players start at half court and tell them their positions. On your command they will run to their spots, the point guard will dribble down and make a pass to the wing and the players will need to make 5 passes and then take a shot. b. Variations: i. Have the players pass and pick or switch with the player away from the ball. Ex. Point guard passes to wing and then switches with the other wing. In the mean time the post on the ball side switches with the post away from the ball. ii. Add a defense 3. Give and Go’s a. Procedure: Two lines with the ball in one line. The lines may be anywhere you like, but to start you may want to use the top of the key and a wing. The line with the ball needs to make a pass to the opposite line and take two steps away and then make a hard cut towards the basket or open lane. The ball should be passed back to the passer for a lay up. Keep the players moving and you can move the lines wherever you like. b. Variations: i. Adding a defense ii. Number of makes in a row without a turnover iii. Give a sharpest cut award 4. Dribbling Out a. Procedure: Have the players setup in the positions of the floor including the top of the key, the two wings, and the two posts. Have the point guard come down and dribble at either wing. This tells the wing to go around the post and up to the top of the key or to go all the way around while the off wing replaces high. Have dribble outs completed 4 times per group before a score. b. Key points: i. Make sure they know this is for when the point guard can’t get the ball to the wings because of the defense. This allows a good transition so that the players don’t get all crowded up in one small area. c. Variations: i. Add a defense

13 Team concepts

5. Setting Picks or Screens a. Procedure: Have the players form two lines straight across from one another. The coach needs to act as a defender on one line. The other line needs to identify the coach as the defender and come to the coach and set a pick. Player’s hands should be together low or crossed high and the feet should be a little wider than shoulder width with knees bent. The other player needs to take one step in either direction and run the coach right into the screen where a player or a coach will deliver a pass for a lay up or shot. b. Variations: i. Adding a full defense. ii. Setting picks for posts, wings, or point guard iii. Picks set for shots away from the ball iv. Picks are set on the ball for the beginning of a pick and roll. v. Teach Back door screens vi. Teach players to curl off the screen, flare off the screen, and/or come off normal. 6. Pick and Roll a. Procedure: Two lines one on the elbow and the other on the wing but at half court. Have the wing line dribble down the sideline while the elbow line pops over to the wing and sets the pick. The dribbler should loose the defensive player and come back around the screen. Immediately the picker should pivot on the left foot and seal and roll to the basket. The dribbler should make the decision to shoot, drive, or pass. b. Variations: i. Add a defense ii. Change the angles and locations of the pick and roll. 1. Top of the key 2. Wing 3. Out high between half court and the three-point line. 7. Transition Drill a. Procedure: Two lines spread out, one on the baseline and the other on the free throw line and extended. Each player should be in front of another player. In other words 5 players on the baseline and 5 players on the free throw line extended each facing a player opposite of them. The Coach should be at the three-point line with a ball. The coach will pass the ball to a player on the baseline. The player opposite this person must come and touch the baseline and catch back up. When the coach makes the pass the baseline team will transition down the floor 5on4. The defensive team cannot guard the player that is in front of them. Each player must guard someone different and stop the ball for the player behind to catch back up. The offense is looking for that open man. Once the offense scores or the defense rebounds, switch them up and come back down the floor. b. Variations: i. Keep track of turnovers vs. points during 10 trips. If the turnovers are more than the points then have them run, do push ups, or do sit ups.

14 Team concepts

8. Three Man Weave a. Procedure: Three lines, two one the outside lanes and one in the middle. Ball starts in the middle and makes a pass to either wing and goes behind the player he or she passed to. That player makes a pass across to the other outside player and goes behind that person. This player passes to the player that started the drill and goes behind. The key is pass and go behind while running. There should be no dribbles. Make the lay up on one end and come back down the floor. b. Variations: i. Tight passing and running. Down the Free throw lane. ii. Down in three passes and back in two passes. 9. Five Player Weave a. Procedure: Same principle as above but the players will go behind two players instead of one. 10. Three on One a. Procedure: Have players in three lines, the same as three man weave. They will pass back and forth staying in their lanes down the floor. When they get to almost the three- point line the middle can dribble and there will be a defender starting at the free throw line. Players should get a lay up. The shooter stays on defense and the next three play- ers come down. The defender and the other two players should sprint back down and hop back in a line. b. Variations: i. Defender starts at half court and can’t leave until the players get to just before half court. ii. Defender starts 5ft. behind the baseline and tries to catch the three offensive players. 11. Three on Two a. Procedure: The procedure and variations are the same as three on one except the two defenders will come back down the floor two on one against the shooter and the two players left will be the next two defenders. 12. Three Man Weave Shooting a. Procedure: Start the three lines at half court. There will be two players that start just outside the free throw lane on the baseline. The three players will three man weave with the middle player shooting a lay up. The two other players will have crossed and receive a pass from the baseline players for a jump shot around the elbow or wing. The jump shooters will replace the two passers and the player shooting the lay up will jump back in a line. 13. Fast Break Situations a. Procedure: Start players running in a circle inside the lane. The coach will toss a ball off the backboard. A post player should rebound with the point guard getting to the free throw line extended on which ever side the rebound is on. The other players should be transitioning down the floor on the outside not the middle. The rebounder outlets and trails. The guard takes the outlet and pushes the ball up the floor. The team should go up the sideline if there is no long pass for a lay up and then a post entry and score or look for the trailing post. b. Variations: i. Add a defense running in a circle outside the three-point line. ii. Keep track of turnovers verse points.

15 conditioning

Conditioning is an important part to basketball. The quicker fatigue sets in the worse your players are going to play. Below are few of the best ways to condition your players outside of scrimmaging and full court drills.

1. Suicides a. Procedure: Have the players on the baseline. On your whistle the players must touch the first free throw line and come back to the baseline, then go to half court and back, then to the other free throw line and back, and then to the other baseline and back. b. Variations: i. Time the suicides and if they do not make the time they run it again. 2. Seventeen’s a. Procedure: Players are on the sideline and must run sideline-to-sideline seventeen times and they must do this from anywhere from a minute to a minute and a half. 3. Free Throw Penalties a. Procedure: Line the players on the baseline. One person at a time steps out and shoots two free throws. For each miss they run a down and back. Go through all the players. The down and backs should be done immediately after each players second shot. After all players have shot have one player step out and shoot. If he makes it your done and if he misses the team must run 3 down and backs. Repeat this step until a player makes the final shot.

16 Offensive strategy

Physical Makeup of Your Team (article taken from “Ken Lindsay’s Guide to coaching sports” on-line)

The type of offense to be chosen is determined by the physical makeup of the team. In general, a team fall into one of the following groups:

Five Taller Than Average Players. A team composed of this group should not use the fast break unless two players are quick and one of the five qualifies as a ball handler. This team should use a set offense, shooting over screens. If they have one good ball handler, I would recommend the stack offense. If they have two good ball handlers, they could use a two-three offense, with the low men screening for each other and watching for the easy inside shot. Four Bigger Players and One Small Player. Assuming that the small man has good or better-than- average speed and ball handling ability, this team should use a controlled fast break with a set offense. The set could be a two-three if one of the taller men can handle the ball. It could also be an unorthodox offense devised by the coach, taking advantage of the overall team size and using low double screens for the bigger players. Three Bigger Players and Two Small Players. This is normally the ideal type of basketball team. The team can use the fast break and/or a set two-three offense in which the three big men stay in close for of- fensive rebounds. Two Bigger Players and Three Small Players. The fast break is recommended for this team. They can use a three-two offense with the two big men as a double pivot, side by side, or in tandem. They could also use a one-three-one set offense. One Big Player and Four Small Players. This team should use a controlled fast break, followed by a good quick-shot secondary attack, transitioning into a good set offense. A good set offense could be a four -man weave, using the one big man as "big dog" and a moving pivot. You can also use a one-three-one offense with the big man as the high pivot and the next tallest player as an inside man moving toward the corners. Another good offense for them is a three-two with flash pivot players. Five Small Players. This team's offense should incorporate aggressive defensive tactics as an offensive weapon. Depending upon the player's speed and ball handling ability, their offense should be designed to penetrate toward the basket quickly as possible. They can use a three-two moving offense or a five-man weave offense. The players should only take good high-percentage shots from within the eighteen-to- twenty foot area.

What are the offensive positions on the court and how do I decide which player should play which position?

Guidetocoachingbasketball.com

Where do I find some good diagrams of basic offenses that I can use with my team?

Havenport.com

17 Defensive strategy

Where can I find information on basic Defensive Strategy and step by step principles on how to set up defensive formations with my team?

www.basketball-drills-and-plays.com

Reasons for causing ball holders to dribble the ball in a particular direction Compare these two images. A player holding the ball while leisurely watching for open teammates, con- sidering whether to shoot, and reading the defender’s position while contemplating a possible dribble to a scoring position or improved passing lane. A player frantically dribbling with a weak hand at full speed toward defensive helpers in a desperate attempt to escape defensive pressure. If you are defending which image would you prefer? We attempt to cause the latter for the following reasons:

1. Causing ball holders to dribble the ball in a particular direction is accomplished by having a defender crowd the ball holder sufficiently both to cause the ball holder to begin dribbling in the desired direc- tion and to cause the ball holder to continue dribbling in the desired direction. 2. A player passively holding the ball presents the three threats of passing, shooting, and dribbling to improve passing lanes and shooting position. Causing the player to dribble in a particular direction removes most of the listed threats. 3. Most shooters practice catching and shooting rather than shooting off of the dribble. 4. Most players who practice shooting off of the dribble practice at speeds slower than the speed at which they must dribble to escape a crowding defender whose purpose is to cause the offensive player to dribble. 5. With sufficient pressure, the ball holder’s concentration will be on escaping defensive pressure rather than on looking for the team offense’s options and cutters. 6. By causing the dribbler to dribble in a particular direction the dribbler can be forced into undesirable passing lanes, undesirable shooting positions, and defensive help. 7. Defensive players are better able to accomplish a task when they have responsibility for a single per- missive task (causing or permitting the ball holder to dribble in a particular direction) than when they have uncertainty about their task in the particular situation (prevent the shot, prevent a pass to a par- ticular opponent, or prevent a dribble in a particular direction).

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