how to be an captain in basketball

Team Captains are just as important as coaches on a basketball team, and are just as respected by the team. The Team Captain position is one that cannot just be handed out, as it will have to be earned, and is an on court extension of the coaching staff. The position comes with certain responsibilities that must be taken seriously and that must not be abused. Some people think that being a team captain is like winning a popularity contest, which could not be further from the truth. You are the general of your team, the on court coach that keeps things flowing and relays information around from the bench and to the bench.
Team Captains are taken very seriously because of the way their positions can be used to help a team. Proper Team Captains will be able to motivate their team when it is needed, rally it out of the slump with a quick few words, and work with the coaches to solve any on the court issues that might be observed.
Coaches also have to assist a team captain with his leadership development. Just like players need tips on how to better their playing styles, team captains will need guidance when learning the ropes of leadership. No one will ever do it perfectly, but all a coach can ever ask for is the best effort someone can offer put forward. As well coaches will ensure that the team captain adheres to the responsibilities of his position and doesn`t abuse it.
The role of a team captain doesn`t end at on court duties, they are also there to help players off the court, weather it is with game skill improvement, or possibly personal issues. While a coach is there and is definitely willing to help, it is always good to have a few options open to your players just so that all the bases are covered. Some players may not feel comfortable going to a coach with certain problems, but may have an easier time going to a fellow teammate who happens to be a friends, that they know they already can trust and won`t be scared to give the whole story too.
While some people believe that not every team needs this, and think it amounts to nothing more than glorified babysitting, they need to play a game of basketball in a competitive environment. Everyone gets upset, something gets under their skin, and they need to let off some steam and just vent. Bottling it up constantly can just lead to further problems down the road, and while a coach is there to help, a team captain is usually able to handle these problems, freeing up a coach to deal with other matters and splitting up the workload, which helps everyone out in the long run.
Teams that have a respected team captain and a coach that work well together, have one of the biggest key elements to a successful team. When your team captain and coach work hand in hand, it makes the whole machine run so much smoother.

how to be an excellent basketball coach

If you want your youth basketball team to have an All-Star experience all season, there are a wide range of ideals you need to focus on to make the experience as positive as possible.

Here are five ways that you can be an All-Star basketball coach.
All-Star Qualities

    Sportsmanship - Remember basic courtesy and good manners? Use your practices and games to reinforce these basic principles. Make sure your players can give a firm handshake with eye contact to officials and opposing coaches, as well as a high five to opposing players.
    Teamwork - Teach your players that "we over me" is what most often leads to "us over them," in team sports competition. Encourage your players to be selfless and supportive teammates in both losing and winning efforts.
    Positive Attitude - Life is not fair and basketball is worse. Help your players get over it and still do what they need to do to succeed. Playing sports is one the best ways to practice overcoming adversity and preparing to handle tough times in life. Humor helps!
    Respect - Pay it forward and get it back. How a coach interacts with other adults--coaches, parents and officials--will naturally influence the behavior of your players. Be mindful that you are a role model and are always being watched. Insist that your players respect coaches, officials and opponents--like you do. Have the courage to enforce your rules with every player and parent involved with your team.

Coaching

    Philosophy - Want a surefire way to be a great youth coach? Lighten up! Here's a tip. Not one of your games will be Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Billions of people don't even know you exist, let alone feel that your practices and games are important. Recreational league and even elite travel team coaches should understand that kids want to play sports and to have FUN! Let your players figure things out. Ask questions, but don't give instruction or answers. Stop teaching so much and give your players a chance to learn. Watching them grow will be fun for you too!
    Communication - Have a team meeting to start the first practice of the season, or as soon as possible thereafter. Limit your postgame analysis to positive things that occurred in the game and deal with what went wrong by establishing a specific goal to work on starting at the next practice. Ask parents to delay or even eliminate the dreaded postgame interview with their child. When you need to correct a player, use the "compliment sandwich" State something positive the player did well, give a very specific correction, then restate the first positive thing.
    Continuing Education - All-star coaching requires continuing education. I have been privileged to learn the game of basketball from seven coaches who are in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Each one of them was always striving to learn more. In your efforts to learn, make sure the substance of the material is appropriate for the skill, age and maturity level of the players that you coach.
    Use Resources - There are several organizations that offer assistance to youth coaches. Do an online search for youth coaching information sources like iHoops.com. Read books, watch videos and attend coaching clinics in-person whenever possible. One hour online could make you a better coach.

Practices

Play to learn, play to practice, and you will win when you play in games. Remember how much fun you had growing up when you used to just go outside and play with your friends? We advocate using the "compete to learn" approach to practice--it lets kids play and have fun while competing. This type of practice, using competitive drills, does a better job of preparing players to compete in real games. Technically, this is called transference. What you do in practice carries over into what you do in games.

    Individual Skills - Want to improve your team's ball handling? Games like dribble knockout are very popular. Every player must have his or her own basketball. Coach starts the game. Every player must dribble constantly, stay in-bounds and try to knock the ball away from all other players in the game. Lose control of your basketball or go out-of-bounds, and you're eliminated. Boundaries for 10-12 players could start as half the court. After several players are eliminated, the boundary is reduced to only inside the 3-point area. Boundary is reduced again to the free-throw lane. Finally, when there are just two players left, they play the "finals" in the free throw half circle.
    Team Concepts - Run half your offense by playing 2-on-2 or 3-on-3 restricted to one side of the floor. For example, make even (by size/ability) teams and conduct a 10-minute tournament using an action like the pick and roll. Allow for 20-second timeouts and allow players teach themselves how to make the play work.

Game Strategy

    Keep It Simple System (KISS) - Basketball is a simple game. Keep it simple! If you are a regular reader of instructional material, you might think that you need to have lots of practice drills and a complicated or intricate system to win games. No, you don't. Establish one or two alignments and three or four actions, and that's it. At the youth level or even in the NBA, most successful coaches try to have their team master a few simple things. 8-10 year olds can do this successfully. Try KISS at your next practice and even in your next game, your team will show instant improvement!
    Simple Transition Offense (Fast break/press break) - Score a lay-up in less than five seconds without dribbling.
    Simple Half-Court Offense (Ball movement/teamwork) - Everyone must catch and make a pass before anyone can shoot!
    The Best Offense Ever Designed - Give the ball to Michael Jordan and get out of the way. You can't get much more simple than that! However, that is an actual "play," as it is part of the "complicated" triangle offense. The triangle is a patterned motion offense that has several basic actions such as give and go, pick and roll and give the ball to Michael and get out of the way -- otherwise known as a clearout. By the way, that offense has won nine NBA championships and you, even as a youth recreational league coach, can run some of its actions to win games in your league.

Make All-Star Memories

The experience of playing on a youth sports team can affect a child's development as a person. How will you affect your player's communication, cooperation, goal setting and work ethic? How will your players remember this experience 10 years from now? Most won't remember the score.

If your team employs the ritual of getting together after every game for ice cream or pizza, takes a field trip to a college or pro game, or attends a movie together, your players will remember those good times long after they forget the score of the game. Parents sometimes enjoy these social events more than the kids.

how to be an effective basketball coach

The basketball shooting information provided on this page is completely invaluable, however the best advice I can possibly give on how to shoot a basketball is study the book Basketball - It's All About The Shot offered on this website.

You must warm up before basketball practice, a basketball game, or before shooting a basketball.  Each basketball coach and each athletic trainer have special ways to warm up and I do not wish to discount what your basketball coach or athletic trainer practices.  I am providing you with guidance only on warming up your shooting arm and your basketball shooting form.  If you need guidance on pre-game warm up and stretching check this page. 

After your normal warm up/stretch routine grab a ball and begin your basketball shooting drills; shoot ONLY lay ups.  That's right, your basketball shooting drills are lay ups.  BUT - SHOOT THESE LAY UPS ONLY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BASKET FROM YOUR SHOOTING HAND, YOUR DOMINANT HAND (right handers shoot the basketball only from the left side, left handers shoot the basketball only from the right side).  Shoot these lay ups with your dominant hand.  Shoot these lay ups flat footed.  Shoot them with a little hop in your delivery.  Shoot these lay ups jumping.  Shoot a minimum of 50 and really, you should shoot at least 150.  If you want to learn how to shoot a basketball then use these free basketball shooting tips to lock in your basketball shot!

Thinking, while shooting a basketball, is not advisable.  Basketball shooting drills condition both body and mind.  Drills form habits.  Drills performed improperly create bad habits.  Proper drills performed perfectly create good habits.  Habits allow us to perform without thinking.  Now, think about this.  Poor shooters must have developed bad habits.  Good shooters must have developed good habits.  The good thing about a bad habit is that it proves you can develop a habit; and bad habits, like rules, are meant to be broken.  So, let's break a [bad] habit...

The drill that reforms bad shooting habits is a shooting mechanics drill.  There is an easy way to learn shooting mechanics - a drill that’s easy to understand, easy to implement, and comes naturally.  Simply stand under the basket like you're going to shoot a flat footed lay-up (a flat footed layup is a shot you shoot while standing, flat footed a little to the right or left of the basket).  Regulation size backboards have a box on them just above the rim.  Shoot the ball, hit the backboard near the upper outside corner of the box and the ball will go in the basket.  I didn't say hit the corner exactly, I said near the corner.  Of course you are aiming for the corner, but all you need do is hit somewhere near it and that's good enough to get the ball to bank into the basket.   Shoot the lay-up with your dominant hand - and - if your dominant hand is your right hand, shoot from the left side.  If your dominant hand is your left hand, shoot from the right side.  If you're right handed your right foot should be in line with the left side of the box on the backboard.  If you're left handed your left foot should be in line with the right side of the box on the backboard.  We will call this spot on the court, shooting mechanics drill position #1.  This is not a shooting drill.  This is a shooting mechanics drill.  When a basketball player uses proper shooting mechanics that form should be repeatable.  The object of this shooting mechanics drill is to develop natural shooting mechanics and burn proper shooting mechanics into muscle memory.

Muscle memory (habit) is ingrained with repetition and success.  When a player is burning in muscle memory it is imperative that the muscle memory be correct muscle memory.  What do I mean?  I ask you this; does practice make perfect?  The answer is NO! -  Perfect practice makes perfect.  So to burn in proper muscle memory you must repeatedly shoot using perfect form and with a high degree of success.   When shooting lay-ups with your dominant hand from the opposite side of the basket from your dominant hand your success rate will be somewhere around 100% and you will be developing perfect natural mechanics for your body and your build.  You see when shooting from the opposite side, shooting mechanics drill position #1, you naturally tuck in your elbow, place your shooting hand in the proper position under the ball, and support the basketball naturally with your non-dominant hand.  If you flex your knees you are using the exact shooting form you should be utilizing from the free-throw line.  If you jump you are using the exact shooting form you should be utilizing with your jump shot.  If you are standing on the proper spot on the court, shooting mechanics drill position #1, the rim forces you to do all this.   Shoot 100 to 200 times in this basketball shooting workout.  You should have a shooting percentage of 100% while practicing perfect mechanics.  Now that's burning in muscle memory!

After shooting 200 or so from position #1, take one step towards the foul line away from the basket, we'll call this shooting mechanics drill position #2, and shoot another 50 or 100.  If you miss even one time, go to your position #1 and shoot another 50, with 100% shooting accuracy.  Then take that one step towards the foul line to position #2 again and shoot 50 without missing.  When you shoot 100% from that position take one step towards the free throw line, we'll call this shooting mechanics drill position #3.  Put up another 50.  If you miss even one, go to position #1 and start again -
S L O W L Y . When you're successful shooting 100% from all three positions then go to the other side of the basket.  Take up position #1 on that side of the basket and do it all over again from that side.  Since this new position is on your natural side and you’re using your dominant hand you should shoot 100% from all three positions the first time out.  If you do not - be grateful!!  Why???  Because you have discovered immediately you are doing some part of your mechanics wrong.  It's great catching this in the beginning, before developing a bad habit.   You simply go back to your original position #1 and start again  -   S L O W L Y - and repeat all of the above.   This basketball shooting system is great to do for the rest of your life.  This basketball shooting workout will keep your shooting mechanics, or shooting form, in check.  You, your team, and your basketball coach will all be happy.



Why the opposite side?  Shooting a lay up on the opposite side, standing on position #1, naturally forces your elbow in front of you, and in turn forces you to be aware of your elbow positioning.  Shooting a lay up on the opposite side, standing on position #1, forces your shooting hand to the best natural position behind and beneath the ball.  To practice your free throw shooting mechanics, shoot the opposite side lay up as a set shot, imitating your free throw shooting stance.  To practice your jump shot shooting mechanics shoot the opposite side lay up while jumping, imitating your jump shot motion.  The opposite side lay up sets up a self policing naturally individualized mechanical shot.  USE THE EXACT SAME SHOOTING MECHANICS FOR YOUR JUMP SHOT and USE THE EXACT SAME SHOOTING MECHANICS TO SHOOT YOUR FREE THROW.  Now that you're physically and mentally warmed up, and your shooting form is locked in, because of these basketball shooting drills, move out 1 step and put up a few shots as you move around the basket.  Then move out another step and throw up a few as you move around the basket.  As you continue moving out from the basket, 1 step at a time, you will eventually reach a point on the court where your shooting percentage drops below 70%.  When that happens, return to position #1, put up a few until you're feeling natural again, then quickly work your way back out.  Return to the 'opposite side lay up' to reestablish your basketball shot, your shooting form, your shooting technique, before moving out again.  This is the ONLY way you should warm up for shooting a basketball.  If you come out after your normal warm up/stretching routine and begin shooing a basketball from behind the three point line, or shooting from the free throw line, or any silly shots, you do yourself a terrible injustice. 

For obvious reasons my favorite basketball shot is the lay up, and after practicing these basketball shooting tips the lay up should be your favorite basketball shot too.  Not only is the lay up the most accurate shot on the basketball court, it is the most repeatable.  It is the EXACT SAME SHOOTING FORM YOU USE FOR YOUR JUMP SHOT, and the EXACT SAME SHOOTING FORM YOU'LL USE TO SHOOT A FREE THROW.  So as you're practicing that measly little 'opposite side lay up' you are actually reinforcing muscle memory for your entire basketball shooting arsenal.  Muscle memory is reinforced by success and by standing under the basket and shooting hundreds of "opposite side lay ups" in a row, with somewhere near 100% shooting accuracy, you are radically reinforcing muscle memory.  Repeatability is the reason basketball shooting mechanics, shooting technique, or shooting form is so important.  We all hear basketball shooting coaches harping on elbow positioning.  Well, if your elbow is not in front of you when you're shooting, that means your elbow is somewhere off to the side.  When your elbow is in front of you and your elbow and upper arm are in a locked position, that motion is repeatable, and since it is repeatable it can, and will eventually become muscle memory.  If your elbow is "somewhere" out to the side, that exact motion is not repeatable.  'Opposite side lay ups' naturally enforce and then reinforce your elbow positioning, and your hands natural positioning.  

Why, you may be asking, is muscle memory so important?  When you're in the flow of a basketball game, thinking is actually the last thing you want to do.  You need to be relying on instinct and muscle memory to be controlling your actions.  Normally the pace of the basketball game does not afford a basketball player time to actually think.  Which is a reason ball basketball coaching staffs repetitively drill you and drill you over and over on the same issues.  A coach wants learned behaviors to rule your play during a basketball game.  A coach wants you to predicatively react to situations presented during a basketball game.       



A basketball shooting coach will tell you he wants you to shoot free throws at the end of practice while you're tired, to simulate basketball game conditions, your basketball coaching staff keeps a real close eye on the shooting form you display at this time because this specific basketball shooting training exercise is when perfect practice makes perfect.  So, before you begin shooting these late practice free throws, take a moment and shoot a few from position #1, to reestablish your free throw shooting technique.

 The best advice I can possibly give on how to shoot a basketball is study my NEW FREE Basketball Shooting Book, Basketball - It's All About The Shot offered on this website.

how to be an assistant basketball coach

What makes a good assistant basketball coach? I have been asked this question a number of times and have finally put together some of my thoughts here. I have been assistant varsity coach for our very successful high school boys and girls teams for several years, so I am speaking directly from that role. This article addresses mostly high school basketball assistants, as responsibilities may differ considerably for youth level and AAU assistants.
Loyalty
The first and most important attribute is to be completely loyal to your head coach. You are on the staff because of his/her invitation. This is a privilege and an opportunity given to you. Do everything you can to learn the head coach's system. Help "sell" the program and philosophy to the players, parents and fans. Make the head coach's job easier.
   


Most of us have seen examples of a young assistant trying to undermine the head coach in an attempt to advance his/her own coaching career. This usually results in disaster for the current team and players, and is almost always detrimental to the assistant as well. Remember that oftentimes when you are applying for your own head coaching job, it's usually your head coach that can help you get that position, and will recommend you to others.

This is not to say that you should just be a "yes man" and never disagree with your head coach. You should always be looking for new things that might help the team, and discuss these ideas with the head coach. Sometimes the head coach will agree and adopt your idea, and oftentimes he/she will not. Many times I have submitted what I thought might be a pretty good play, only to have it "filed away". You have to be willing to check your ego at the door and accept that he/she is in charge. Discuss your ideas with the coach, but never behind his/her back, or with parents or players. Be humble and don't make the mistake of trying to impress others that you are smarter than your head coach.

Keep an open mind and always be willing to learn
Be a student of the game. Being an assistant is an excellent opportunity to learn about coaching... like an internship. Don't come into the position thinking that you already know about everything there is know about basketball! If you keep an open mind, you can learn something new almost every day... not only the coach's general system, but how to teach and conduct practices, run drills, motivate, deal with players, parents and administration. It's not all X's and O's by any means. A good assistant coach is one who is willing to listen more than talk, and as a result, becomes more and more knowledgeable each year. Ask questions. Keep a notepad at practice and jot things down.

Understand your role
Just what is your job? What does your head coach want you to do? When I first started as assistant several years ago, that was my first question for my head coach in a summer camp. He answered, "Just learn and teach."

Your role is defined by your head coach, and the number of assistants that he has. Your role may evolve over time as you are entrusted with more and more responsibility. Don't expect to come in on day one and start running practices or calling the shots from the bench. At first, you must be willing to spend most of your time listening and learning the system. Once you have learned things pretty well, you are in a better position to teach and discuss things with the head coach.

Your role as a practice coach will evolve. For example, if your expertise is post play, your head coach may want to do breakdown drills with you on one end teaching and working with post players, while he/she takes the perimeter players. In full-court drills, get on the opposite end to help spot things and teach.

Understand your role on the sideline during games. Some head coaches will want your input and advice, especially after you have learned the system. Others may want you to be silent. There can never be dissension on the bench. The head coach must make the final decision always... respect that. Help maintain a positive, upbeat attitude with players on the bench. Encourage and teach. As assistant, you may want to keep track of player fouls and time-outs (yours and your opponents). Look at the opponent's strengths and weaknesses, and who are their best and worst free-throw shooters. Be ready to help with player first aid and injuries. Your head coach doesn't have time while coaching the game, to apply bandages, tape, stop nosebleeds, get ice, etc.

Understand your role in the locker room before the game and at halftime, in team meetings, and during time-outs. Don't speak unless your head coach invites you to do so. Keep track of the time at halftime. There is little time in a time-out... have the clipboard and marker ready, and be quiet and let the head coach do the talking.

Positively interact with coaches, players, parents and fans
By far, my greatest reward as an assistant coach are the friendships and relationships that I have enjoyed over the years with the coaches, players, parents and fans... oftentimes people I would have never otherwise gotten to know. Respect and develop your special relationship with other assistant coaches. It's a lot of fun if you are all on the same page and work together. It's no fun and it's detrimental to the program if the assistants are at odds with each other.

Get to know your players. Earn their respect. Be a role model by demonstrating good values and principles. Ask them about their schoolwork and classes, and stress how education is far more important than basketball. Help teach them how to be part of a team. Sometimes players will come to you instead of going directly to the head coach. You can serve as a "buffer", and sometimes you get to be the "good cop". Listen, understand, explain, encourage, teach. Help each player on the team to feel important, even the 15th man. From time to time, I will take aside a player who is not getting much playing time and explain to him/her why I think he/she is important to the team, and that it's important to me that he/she is having fun. Everyone likes to feel needed and appreciated, and no-one likes feeling ignored. Help maintain a positive, competitive atmosphere, and have fun with your players. But still be tuned in to recognize any early signs of player dissension or problems, and report immediately to your head coach.

One advantage of being an assistant coach is not having to directly deal with parents, and their questions about playing time, strategy, etc. Instead, I try to get to know the parents as a friendly liaison, occasionally explaining in a general way why we do certain things the way we do. Mainly, I try to compliment parents on the great kids that we get to work with, and I like to relate amusing or touching anecdotes about their own child... something that happened maybe in practice that they would like to hear. But I never get caught in a confrontational conversation with a parent... politely bow out and explain that they'll have to discuss things with the head coach. Fortunately, 90% of interactions with parents are positive, and most parents are good people who are just concerned for their own child, as they should be.

Professionalism
Look and act professional. Be clean and dress neatly. Conduct yourself in a positive, friendly manner. Get along with others. Do not be adversarial with opposing coaches, players and fans. Be cordial to the officials. Demonstrate good sportsmanship. Always be on-time for meetings, practices, games, etc.

Specific tasks
Below are some specific tasks that an assistant could be involved in... again, depending on just what your head coach wants you to do, and whether there are other assistants and managers to help as well.

Communication with the scorer's table... keep track of your time-outs, fouls, etc.
Pre-game player match-ups... while our head coach is visiting with the opposing coach and officials, from the scorer's table get the opponent's starters, observe them in warm-up drills, and create your defensive match-ups (assuming you play man-to-man defense). Review these with the head coach.
Pre-game drills... some teams seem to require an assistant under the basket barking at them to get them to work up a sweat in their pregame drills. Help get them ready to play.
Keep stats... the shot charts, rebounds, assists, turnovers, etc. You may designate your statisticians and coordinate their activities.
Scorebook... make sure the roster has been entered correctly, and that the scorer's table knows your starters before each half begins.
Clipboards, markers... make sure you have them ready on the bench, during time-outs, and in the locker-room both pre-game and halftime.
Chairs... we often have 15 players on our roster. Count the number of chairs on the bench before the game and make sure you have enough for all coaches, players and managers.
Uniforms, towels... help keep track of and collect uniforms. At games, we keep an extra "blood uniform" that a player can quickly change into, in the event of extensive blood on a uniform. Have a good supply of dry towels on the bench.
Water... make sure players have water available on the bench.
Medical, first-aid kit... make sure you have it at games and practices, and that it is well-stocked. Know where to find ice.
Basketballs... make sure your practice and game balls are properly inflated. Collect the balls at the end of each practice and secure them.
Forms, money... your head coach might want you to help collect medical forms, and forms/money for special camps or clinics.
Scouting... your head coach may ask you to help scout other teams.
Help with youth clinics... help your head coach build the program by running clinics for young players... your future.
Run practices... there may be times when your head coach is unable to attend a practice. Be ready to step forward and have a well-organized practice ready. Teach what your head coach expects you to teach (although I will jokingly tell coach that I'm going to put in a whole new offense).
Maintain a playbook... this of course is a natural for me. If you have the time and desire, offer to create and maintain a team playbook (if there is none). Also, if you have the computer skills and resources, offer to create a team website (password-protecting sensitive areas).
Communication... help team communication by keeping a list of all player and coaches phone numbers, and establish a "phone tree" for calling each other.

Being an assistant is a lot of fun... enjoy and appreciate the privilege.

how to be amazing at basketball

Basketball Tips

Enjoy these 753 Basketball tips created by Ray Lokar, our exclusive Basketball Guru and industry expert contributor. If it's Basketball information you're looking for, you'll find it here with 50 different categories ranging from Author Intro to Vertical Jump.
Pressbreak 5 dribbles to half

Dribble against a defender, using a variety of moves in the back court, trying to get to half court in only 5 dribbles. Puts an emphasis on GOING SOMEWHERE with the dribble.
Pressbreak 1 on 2

Dribble against TWO defenders, using a variety of moves in the back court, trying to advance the ball to half-court. Puts an emphasis on the back dribble and other “escape moves”
Dribble Knockout Drill

Start with the entire team inside the 3 pt arc, each player with a ball. The players attempt to keep their dribble alive while knocking away another players ball. Put players in the key when the group is down to 5 or under, then in the circle when it is down to the final 2. Emphasis is on keeping the head up and protecting the dribble.


Basketball Tips

Enjoy these 753 Basketball tips created by Ray Lokar, our exclusive Basketball Guru and industry expert contributor. If it's Basketball information you're looking for, you'll find it here with 50 different categories ranging from Author Intro to Vertical Jump.
Pressbreak 5 dribbles to half

Dribble against a defender, using a variety of moves in the back court, trying to get to half court in only 5 dribbles. Puts an emphasis on GOING SOMEWHERE with the dribble.
Pressbreak 1 on 2

Dribble against TWO defenders, using a variety of moves in the back court, trying to advance the ball to half-court. Puts an emphasis on the back dribble and other “escape moves”
Dribble Knockout Drill

Start with the entire team inside the 3 pt arc, each player with a ball. The players attempt to keep their dribble alive while knocking away another players ball. Put players in the key when the group is down to 5 or under, then in the circle when it is down to the final 2. Emphasis is on keeping the head up and protecting the dribble.
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Jumping Drills

Basketball is one of the few games that requires jumping as a skill. Not that you cannot play without being able to jump, but it becomes a fundamental part of being able to consistently score (and show off).

In order to get better at jumping, you'll want to start integrating some jumping drills into your regular exercise plans. To help you get started, here are some exercise drills that you can use to gain height in your jumps.

NOTE: Make sure to stretch before, in the middle of and during your drills

1) Jump Squats

Stand with your feet together, jump up as high as you can. When you're feet touch the ground, bring your butt all the way down until they touch your heels, then spring back up into a standing position. This exercise can take some practice, so pace yourself, but continue to increase the quickness of your repetitions.

2) Long Jump

You'd be surprised, but jumping at an increasing distance, can also help you jump higher. It's a great way to strengthen your leg muscles and your confidence. You can do long jumps in several ways. The easiest way to get started, is simply with some chalk. First, draw two lines on the concrete. Make them three to five feet apart. stand and one end and jump to the other. As these drills become easier, increase the distance between the lines of chalk.
How to play basketball better

Success on the court requires learning the fundamentals of basketball. Basketball shooting fundamentals will be one of the first things you will learn. But there are several keys to success on the court that you will have to learn, practice, improve and perfect. The main keys to success on the court are dribbling, body control, ball control, shooting and both a good offensive and defensive techniques. Dribbling: you will keep your weight over the balls of your feet, control the ball with your fingertips and use your wrist and forearm for better control. Shooting: you will stand with your feet shoulders width apart, your weaker side foot slightly forward, your weaker hand stabilizing the ball and your stronger hand positioning the ball will you push up and forward with your hand and forearm toward the net and releasing with a final push from the wrist. Foot Control: you will need to continuously keep your weight on the balls of your feet, this gives you additional control of your body to maneuver and advance against your opponents. Your coach will teach you how to play basketball better by running drills during practice, but it is up to you as to how far you will allow these practices and techniques to take you in the sport. Practice is for the purpose of giving you the tools to improve, if you only work these tools during practice you will not be able to take full advantage of everything you are learning. Play a little every day both by yourself and with others when possible. You will learn a lot from your teammates.
Basketball dribbling skills

Basketball dribbling skills are something that you have to work at to obtain, maintain and improve. Most everyone knows how to dribble a basketball, but not everyone can dribble like a pro. When you first begin to learn dribbling techniques you will learn that you don’t dribble with the palm of your hand, dribbling a basketball is done with the tips of your fingers. You will use your forearm and wrist to balance the ball as you learn to dribble with using the tips of your fingers. Your coach will usually put together a different basketball practice plan for the team each practice. This will assist each player individually and as a unit to improve both their individual and team skills. Don’t just stop with scheduled practices if you truly want to improve your skills and control on the court. On your own you can start by running dribbling drills. Remember to keep your weight on the balls of your feet and in the ready position. As you continue to learn and improve your foot and dribbling control on the court as an individual player, you will begin to show your improved skills as a team player. Your team members may also want to run drills with you after practice, or just play for fun. These are other ways for you to learn potential opposing team types of moves and learn different offensive techniques. A team works together toward the goal of winning, but they also work together offensively to help prepare each other for what the opposing team may be bringing to the court.

how to be accurate in basketball

Basketball shooting form is arguably one of the most debated topics in basketball when it comes to shooting the ball properly. This is because there is the traditional way of shooting and the unorthodox way of shooting. How you choose your shooting form will depend how comfortable you are with it and how accurate. Most successful basketball players employ the traditional way of shooting as it has been proven in time again and again that it is the most effective way to shoot.

The shooting form in basketball is very important because it allows the player to shoot more accurately. There are times, however, that players forget their shooting form during the game because they are only focused in scoring and not in shooting. If a player wants to perfect his shooting form without ever thinking about it, it is important that he performs this shot over and over again until he develops this move into muscle memory. Developing muscle memory is not just about shooting the ball many times; it is the repetition of the same move with a consistent shooting motion.
The traditional way of shooting the ball is actually broken down into several parts – power, alignment, balance, and follow-through.
Power is considered as the energy or force that drives the ball towards the hoop. To have enough energy to shoot while maintaining good control of the ball, it is important that you generate it from your lower body and going towards the upper body. Never use your upper body strength alone to drive the ball towards the hoop as this will not only cost you more energy, but your release will not always be consistent as the release is sudden and not in a smooth flowing action.
Alignment can be likened to aiming as you need to align your shot towards the target, which is of course the hoop. When aligning your shot, it is suggested to have your elbow at 90 degrees as much as possible because this will provide you a smoother shooting action.
Balance is provided by the non-shooting hand so that the ball does not fall off the shooting hand. This helps to make the shooting hand aim better without ever having to adjust its position just to keep the ball at rest.
Follow-through is a key factor when shooting the ball because the ball will always go to the direction where your arm is pointed at. It is also important to remember that when making a follow-through that it is the index finger of your shooting hand that last touches the ball after the release. This will give you a more accurate direction as to where you want to release the ball towards at.

how to be a winning basketball team

Review by Tom Lyons
“Basketball on Paper” is a recently published book (Brassy's, Inc. 2004) that attempts to use statistical analysis to distinguish what is truly important to winning basketball games. The book also provides ways to analyze individual player performance. The jacket describes the author, Dean Oliver, as “a former basketball player, assistant coach, and collegiate scout” who founded the online “Journal of Basketball Studies” (www.rawbw.com/~deano/) and who has contributed to Basketball Digest and the Association for Basketball Research. Oliver attended college, played basketball and coached at Cal Tech. He has a Ph.D in engineering from North Carolina. Oliver worked for Bill Bertka's scouting service for four years. He has paid the bills as a computer consultant and risk analyst. Oliver is now with the Seattle Supersonics putting his basketball theories into practice. (As of the 2005 All-Star break, the Sonics were 35-15 and 10 games up in the new Northwest Division. Last year, they finished 40-42, 19 games back in the Pacific Division). Referring to Michael Lewis' book about the Oakland Athletics' use of statistical analysis to run their team, Oliver has called his book the “Moneyball” of basketball.
It is to some extent a compendium of material previously published on his website or elsewhere. One article on the website seems to be a revision of one chapter of the book. It is well written and appears to be a very thorough attempt to use a lot of data, mostly from the NBA, and, in some cases, very complicated formulas* to arrive at its conclusions. In that sense, the full-blown analytical methods themselves are not very useful for coaches unless you have a ton a data about your team and individual players as well as the ability to draft a computer program that uses that data. The book provides a detailed explanation of how to record data about a team manually. Oliver says on his website that he has developed an analytical program named “Roboscout” that he uses with the Sonics but it is generally not for sale.
Oliver believes his conclusions apply equally well to women's basketball, but he does not have the wealth of data there that he has for the NBA. Oliver has some WNBA data and states he is involved in a long-term project analyzing WNBA data but he does not have many conclusions from that analysis yet. Nonetheless, nothing in the data he has indicates his conclusions do not apply to women's basketball. His conclusions are useful and enlightening, at least to me. (Even if you already know them, you can now say science confirms them). Here are Oliver's main points.
Based on statistical analyses, the four most important keys for team success in basketball and their relative weights, in parentheses, are:

1. Shoot a high field goal percentage (10).
2. Do not commit turnovers (5-6).
3. Get offensive rebounds (4-5).
4. Get to the foul line frequently (2-3).

Teams that consistently win basketball games do at least three of these things well. If a team doesn't shoot well, it better do the other three things very well. I should note that Oliver says these factors should be considered on the basis of the number of a team's possessions compared to its opponent, not in absolute terms. In other words, he looks at efficiency, for example, the number of made shots per possession, or the number of turnovers per possession, not total points or turnovers, which can vary greatly depending on the pace of the game.
Obviously, these keys could also be stated from the defensive perspective, i.e., prevent easy baskets, cause turnovers, do not give up offensive rebounds, do not foul, etc. However, I have put them in the offensive perspective because of another of Oliver's conclusions: In the NBA, at least since the 1970's, offense wins playoffs and championships more often than defense . The difference in success between strong offensive teams and strong defensive teams is not large, but the data contradicts the old adage that defense wins championships. I suspect this may be even more accurate at lower levels of basketball where offensive skills are more rare than defensive skills. [On the other hand, in a one-game playoff, it is possible for a team or a critical player to have a bad shooting night, whereas defense may not be as variable].
But, if defense does not necessarily win championships, where did the idea originate?  With Bill Russell's Celtics who were the best defensive team ever and won 11 of 13 championships during his tenure.  They had Hall-of-Famers coming off the bench.  Of course, basing the idea on those Celtics is like looking at Michael Jordan's Bulls who won 6 titles in 8 years and saying shooting guards win championships. The fabulously exceptional team or player is still the exception.
Oliver offers some comments on why he thinks these factors appear so important. The benefit of a high shooting percentage is obvious, especially since most missed shots result in defensive rebounds (and potential fast breaks). Oliver cites one study that found that the NBA team with the higher field goal percentage won 79 percent of the games.
Turnovers are important because a team cannot even shoot, never mind score, if it turns over the ball during a possession. The NBA team with fewer turnovers wins about 58 percent of the time. If field goal percentages are about equal, the team with fewer turnovers wins 69 percent of the time. In an email to me, Oliver commented that turnovers are even more important below the NBA level.
Offensive rebounding can make up for a poor shooting percentage, particularly as shots off of offensive rebounds generally are more likely to result in scores than initial field goal attempts. Oliver refers to a study of WNBA offensive rebounds done by an official with the Charlotte Sting. The study found that offensive rebounders increase their field goal percentage from 41 to 48 percent and their points per play from about .80 to .94. That improved the team's points per play from .80 to .90, which Oliver says is a huge difference. In the NBA, if shooting percentages are about equal, the team with more offensive rebounds wins 63 percent of the games. (This also emphasizes how important it is for the defense to box out).
Oliver discounts to some extent the value of defensive rebounding. He notes that 70 percent of missed shots result in defensive rebounds so they do not take much special effort or ability. Also, defensive rebounds are to a large extent the result of good defense making the offense shoot a low field goal percentage. In that sense, factoring in defensive rebounds is like double-counting the same affect.
Interestingly, it is more important for teams to get to the foul line frequently than it is for them to hit a high percentage of their foul shots. Perhaps, this is because lots of foul shots means the other team's starters are in foul trouble. Again, if shooting percentages are equal, the NBA team that commits fewer fouls wins 67 percent of the games.
Oliver also has some other observations based on his NBA data. Good offensive players are more important than good offensive systems. Oliver offers numerous examples of good scorers who succeeded regardless of the system in which they played and “good” offensive systems that floundered without a good scorer(s). Think of the Bulls' triangle offense with and without Michael Jordan. Think of Shaquille O'Neal in Orlando and Los Angeles. On the other hand, Oliver does note that a few NBA coaches have had offensive success with more than one team: George Karl, Phil Jackson and Don Nelson. This may be because they are good at recognizing and using scorers well, not necessarily because of any particular system. In other words, adapt the system to the players rather than vice-versa. However, I should note that Oliver believes offensive systems are more important at the college ranks and below but he cannot prove it.
Offensive efficiency is more important than pushing the pace of the game. Oliver quotes Dean Smith who said: “The biggest reason I'm against simply running the ball down and shooting the first shot available is that the defense doesn't have time to foul you.” And, as noted, getting fouled and shooting lots of foul shots is a key to success. Slowing the game (reducing the total number of possessions) down does not seem to increase defensive efficiency (the percentage of stops), though, as will be described below, it does make the outcome of individual games more variable.
Good offensive teams have both inside and outside scoring, however, no single position is key to offensive success. A team does not have to have a great point guard or a great center to score efficiently. However, it does have to pass well. Most offensively successful teams have a high percentage of assists on their scores. Assists lead to higher quality shots and a higher shooting percentage. The NBA team with the higher number of assists wins about 72 percent of games.
Height is more important to offensive success than defensive success, though it is not critical. Statistically, the top offensive teams in the NBA have been somewhat taller than average, whereas the top defensive teams have been shorter than average. [Of course, the reason could be that shorter teams had to play tougher defense because they had a hard time scoring]. While there is a correlation between having a top shot blocker and having a very efficient defense, there is no correlation between a high team total of blocked shots and defensive efficiency. Oliver surmises that height may be more important at the high school and college level where there are greater variations in size among the players.
Contrary to what some coaches and commentators think, it is not easier for offenses to rebound three point shots. Oliver looked at numerous NBA games between 1999 and 2002 that included several thousand missed shots. The offense rebounded 33 percent of two point misses and 31 percent of three point misses. Generally speaking, the rebounds on three point shots do not go farther from the basket than two point shots. Also, many two point field goals are shot close to the basket and the shooter often has the best chance to get the rebound.
There is no such thing as a “hot hand.” Oliver cites two studies of NBA players and one of college players that showed no indication that any particular players were more likely to make a shot if they had made the previous shot. The NBA studies were of the Philadelphia 76ers' field goal attempts during the 1981 season and the Celtics free throw attempts during the 1981 and 1982 seasons. If anything, the players were slightly more likely to make a shot if they had missed the previous one. Of the twenty-six college players only one was significantly streaky.
Underdogs should adopt a “risky” strategy even if no particular strategy is clearly better. A risky strategy is one that changes the dynamics of how the game would normally go. Examples of risky strategies are pressing, attempting many three point shots, slowing down the pace of the game, playing a zone, fronting the post, sending guards to the boards to rebound, releasing the guards on defense for a potential fast break, and playing oversized or undersized lineups. If one such strategy is clearly better, such as pressing a tall team with poor ball-handlers, then the underdog should use that strategy. However, even when no particular risky strategy is better, the underdog should still use one.
Oliver notes that the slow down strategy works by reducing the number of possessions each team has. This reduces the better team's advantages and makes the outcome more variable. Similarly, the other risky strategies make results more variable in different ways. For that reason, the otherwise superior team should avoid risky strategies. Oliver describes how Rick Pitino's talented Kentucky teams may have lost some games by pressing.
With respect to evaluating individual player's performances, Oliver says the goal is obviously to determine how well a player helps a team do the things that win basketball games. From an offensive perspective, the player should:

1. Shoot a high field goal percentage or help teammates shoot a high percentage through assists and playmaking.
2. Avoid turnovers.
3. Get offensive rebounds.
4. Draw fouls.

At the defensive end, the player should:

1. Make offensive players take low percentage shots.
2. Cause turnovers.
3. Box out and prevent offensive rebounds.
4. Avoid fouls.

Oliver discusses several different ways of evaluating individual offensive and defensive performance including his own methodology. Suffice to say, most of them, including his own, require much detailed data about what a player does in the game and a good computer program. However, if a coach does not have those resources, she can still pay close attention to these four factors.
Even using Oliver's methodology, individual defensive assessments in particular require a lot of subjective judgment. Which defender gets credit for causing the offense to take a bad shot, especially if the defense is in a zone? Which defender caused a turnover, the one harassing the passer or the one who stole the pass? Who failed to box out the offensive rebounder? Whose fault is it if a help defender picks up a foul? Should the credit or blame be split between two defenders? And, to what extent does the coach want to delegate that judgment to someone else?
Team chemistry is very important though it is more difficult to quantify. Chemistry has two parts: having a team that has well-balanced skills and having players who are willing to contribute to the team's good balance. If you already have several good shooters, you may need more ball-handling and defensive skills, otherwise, you will have too many turnovers and give up too many points. On the other hand, if your team dribbles and defends well, but cannot put the ball in the basket, you need shooters. Oliver discusses some statistical analyses to determine your team's needs.
The second part of chemistry, players with good attitude, is very important but very difficult to quantify. Oliver says that an important issue is giving players credit for the contributions they do make. He describes psychological studies about people's concepts of “fairness” that are not purely rational. He notes that very few players are willing to play on a team where one player takes all the shots and gets all the credit no matter how much better he or she is than the others. Good coaches have to find ways to balance players' abilities and give credit to maximize individual efforts and team success.
While the second part of Oliver's book may not provide much specific help to coaches who lack a substantial support staff, it does provide a lot of fodder for basketball buffs to debate. He has a huge amount of statistical analyses of individual players. The first part of the book has a large amount of data comparing NBA teams, past and present. For example, his analysis indicates that the most dominant professional basketball player in the last 25 years is not Michael Jordan, it is Cynthia Cooper. (Who volunteers to tell Mike?). Arguably, the single best offensive season for a male professional player in that period belongs to…..Reggie Miller in 1991. As great as he was, a good argument can be made that Jordan did not shoot the ball enough. Ditto for Cooper. Allen Iverson should shoot less. Who was a better NBA player, Bird or Magic? Well, statistically, it's a dead heat, for second place, behind Jordan. The top offensive NBA teams, compared to their competition, have been the Denver Nuggets of 1982, the Chicago Bulls of 1997 and the Dallas Mavericks of 2002. The top defensive teams were the Knicks of 1993, the Bullets of 1975 and the Jazz of 1989. Cooper made the Houston Comets simply unbeatable at either end of the court.
Oliver's book and website are very useful for coaches at all levels. Coaches who have the resources to gather substantial data on their teams and opponents and analyze it will have very helpful information. They can use that to evaluate their players, pick optimal offenses and defenses for their teams and decide good match-ups or combinations of players on the courts. Even coaches who do not have those resources can use this information as guidelines for making more intuitive decisions.

how to be a volunteer basketball coach

Basketball is a fast paced, action packed game requiring a wide range of different skills and abilities. It has long been one of the worlds most popular team games, and is easy and practical to play, as it requires a minimum amount of equipment and a relatively small playing area.

The popularity of basketball abroad has undergone something of a resurgence in recent years, thanks in no small part to changing attitudes among basketball leagues and coaches overseas. Professional basketball coaches abroad have started to place more emphasis on developing players who possess a wide variety of skills and attributes, rather than simply looking at players who, literally, stand head and shoulders above the others! The days when professional basketball was reserved purely for 6 foot 10 inch giants with size 20 shoes are long gone, and this has made the game more accessible to children around the world.
Volunteering abroad by coaching basketball is about more than simply developing the sport itself. It is about engaging the children that you work with and giving them the chance of a better future, from both playing the game directly and also from ideas and notions that are developed through basketball, like teamwork, discipline and fair play.

Volunteer Basketball Coaching with Projects Abroad

If you have a passion for basketball, then you could volunteer abroad on one of our Basketball Coaching projects in the developing world. You do not have to be an experienced coach to get involved; all you need is a solid knowledge of the intricacies of the game, and a desire to impart this on others. You can volunteer overseas on a Basketball Coaching project on your gap year, career break or as part of an extended vacation.
Basketball is an incredibly easy game to pick up, but there are many complexities in the rules and tactics, which volunteer coaches can introduce to enthusiastic students, not to mention the individual skills that can be developed. The progress that your students make under your guidance will give you an immense feeling of satisfaction, particularly when you see them in competition against their local rivals!
Other cultures tend to have different approaches to coaching the same sport, and it will be very interesting for you to see the differences between Basketball in Mongolia, for example, compared to your home country. It is sure to be beneficial for your students to have some creative input from another culture, and you may find you learn a few things yourself!
You will work with a project supervisor, with whom you will decide on a structured program dedicated to the basics of basketball play. You can use your time to practice man to man marking, improve accuracy of passing or even have sessions on trying to score three pointers. The main goal is working to expand the ability of young players, whatever level each individual is at, and to make learning rewarding and fun.
In whichever destination you choose to volunteer abroad, you will be gaining experience of sports development that will be of great benefit if choose to study or work in this area in the future. Plus, you will have a fantastic time and make an impact on the children in the community you are visiting!

how to be a walk on in college basketball

The most important thing to know about walking on to a college or high school basketball team is that anything’s possible. You can make your dream of playing competitive basketball for your school a reality if you want it badly enough and follow the right steps.

 Unfortunately, the second most important thing to know is that, as a walk-on candidate, you’re behind each of the returning and scholarship players already on the team. To walk on, you must outwork, out-hustle, and out-perform these players, and prove to the coaching staff that you’re a valuable asset.
Get in Superior Physical Condition

Showing up for practice in better shape than anyone else on the floor demonstrates your commitment, work ethic, and drive. The coaches will quickly realize you’re serious about making the team. It also gives you the ability to keep playing hard — you’ll go strong after rebounds and knock down jump shots when other players are getting tired. For these reasons, getting yourself in the best shape of your life is the most important step for a walk-on player.
Run, Run, Run

A walk-on must run for conditioning, endurance, and strength. He must make up his mind that he’s going to make the team over a returning player who’s in poor condition. This means:

    Find full-court pick-up games with the best players in your area: Going up against great athletes four or five times per week will quickly get you in excellent condition, while letting you work on your game.
    Run 21 miles per week, every week: This works out to three miles per day. You must be willing to run until a three-mile run seems easy. Begin working on this goal at least six weeks prior to tryouts to have strong legs when practice begins.
    Find a hill, mountain, or gym stands to climb: Go hard up this obstacle everyday or as often as possible. Hill conditioning builds strength and endurance in the core basketball muscles. It’s the best cardio workout a basketball player can find.

Strength Conditioning

Develop a strength conditioning program and stick to it. A good strength conditioning program isolates areas of your body that are essential for basketball, and then alternates them with an emphasis on rest and recovery.

If you’re a post player, concentrate on your core, back, and legs. Perimeters players should focus on fast-twitch muscle exercises, primarily from the waist down. Every player should have the upper body strength necessary to handle physical full-court play.
Lay-ups & Jump Shots

Regardless of your position on the floor, emphasize making lay-ups with both hands and jump shots from within 15 feet. A surprising number of returning players show up for practice clearly having not worked on these skills during the summer. Have the fluid motion with both hands — and from everywhere on the court — that demonstrates that you’ve been working on this part of your game.

Tryouts and early-season practices are full of three-man weaves and three-on-two drills that emphasize having a soft touch to finish the play. Don’t be the player that executes every part of a drill right and then misses the open shot to cap the drill off.
Talk to the Coach

The easiest step to overlook is talking with the team’s coach. This lets the coach know what your intentions are, and it gives the coach an opportunity to tell you exactly how you can make the team. The coach can realistically assess your chances and give you a step-by-step walk-through of what you need to excel at in order to get on the floor.

Ultimately, talking with a coach lays the groundwork for your effort and gets you pointed in the right direction. It also makes sure that you remain on his radar leading up to and during try-outs.
Play with Returning Players



Playing pick-up games with the returning players also lets you know what the team might be lacking, and the role your coaches might need you to fill. Don’t hesitate to adjust your game to fill the needs of the team — show your coaches how you can help the team win.

Contact the returning players on the team and find out where and when they play during the off-season. This gives you the advantages of getting to know the players and finding out what you need to work on.

If you believe you’re good enough to walk on to the team, you must believe you’re good enough to compete against the returning players on the team. Show them that you’re talented enough to run with them, while also learning how to improve your game.
Clear Your Schedule

Allotting enough time to play basketball on a daily basis is another vastly underrated step for walking on to a team. You must set aside the time to practice and the time to rest. The physical demands of trying out for most teams make juggling basketball, a job, a heavy academic load, and other responsibilities very difficult.

This includes being a good student and staying ahead of the game with classes. Nobody wants to miss out on basketball for academic reasons. It’s important to prepare in advance of tryouts by maintaining good grades and keeping up with assignments. Let the coach’s decision on your candidacy be based solely on your performance on the floor.
Be Confident & Have Fun

When basketball becomes an all-consuming goal, it’s far too easy to forget that it’s a game. Have fun, enjoy your time on the court, and play hard. Let the preparation and hard work you’ve put into basketball be the deciding factor, and don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself during every shot, practice, or game.

It’s important to remember that many roster decisions come down to the final days of practice or tryouts. Anything can happen — a returning player can sprain an ankle or someone’s poor conditioning can land him in the coach’s doghouse. Stay confident no matter what the situation appears to be and remember to have fun!

how to be a top basketball prospect

This article contains important fundamentals that every outside player should learn. Coaches, for breakdown drills, see Motion Offense Breakdown Drills and Guard Breakdown Shooting Drills.

Know how to jump stop off the speed dribble, and how to receive the pass with a jump stop (see Learning the Jump Stop).
Perimeter moves when you have the ball.
When you receive the ball, immediately get into "triple threat position". This gives you the three options of being ready to shoot, pass, or drive. Additionally, getting into triple-threat position helps you to see the floor, your teammates, gives you a good look into the post, and helps you to see the defense. 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 distance. Do not catch the ball and then immediately start dribbling, or even worse, bounce the ball once and lose your dribble. You go from being a "triple threat" to no threat at all! You have lost the dribble option; shooting will be difficult with the defender closing in on you, and the passing lanes will be blocked by defenders playing "deny".
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).
    triple threat position
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 the defender drops back, or stays up. If he/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 the vulnerable side and that's the side you attack. 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/her arm position... the arm that is up high is almost always the same side as the 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 extended too far forward as this results in your weight being forward on the jab foot.
Which foot becomes the pivot foot and which is used for the jab step?
We teach that the left foot is the pivot foot for right-handed players, and the right foot is the pivot foot for lefties. We feel this is less confusing, simple and more athletic for most players.
How to get into triple treat position when catching a pass on the perimeter
There are two techniques in receiving the perimeter pass, depending on the amount of space between the receiver and the defender.
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. Your left foot now is your pivot foot (for right-handed players), and jab step with the right 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, extend the inside foot (closest to the basket and defender) with back to the defender and 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 pivot and facing the defender. Make a quick, hard pivot into triple threat position (while protecting the ball). (Note this will be a front pivot if the pass is coming from the point and you are on the left wing O3 position, and a reverse pivot if you are coming from the right wing O2 position). You can now make the jab step, and if the defender is up close on you, you can often take it to the hoop.
3. "Catch and Go"
Here is a move you can make when receiving the pass with the defender up close. I call it "catch and go". Once again, move toward the pass, and catch the ball, protecting it with your body. Quickly reverse pivot and this time, swing the ball "over the top", and make the quick step and drive in a straight line to the hoop.
Five basic outside moves from triple-threat position:
1. Jab 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. Jab 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 his/her arms and feet (see above tips). If the 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 the defender's 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. Jab 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 the arms and feet (see above tips). If his/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 the defender's right shoulder.
4. Shot fake and drive.
After you've hit a couple outside shots, the defender is susceptible to this fake. Make a shot fake with the ball, your arms and eyes. The ball doesn't need to get any higher than your shoulders or face. When the defender jumps up to contest the shot, drive to the hoop.
5. Shot fake - one dribble (left or right) - jump shot.
This is especially effective if the defender is "flying" at you on a close-out. When you are wide open on the perimeter and receive the pass, the defender will oftentimes "fly" at you with arms up, trying to defend your shot. Usually the defender's momentum will cause him/her to fly right past you. This often happens on a skip pass from one wing to the opposite wing when your defender is in helpside and must rotate out quickly, or the zone must shift over quickly. Recognize this situation and when the defender runs at you, make a shot fake. As the defender goes by you, make a one or two dribble adjustment and then shoot the open shot. You may even have an open lane to the hoop.

Or if you have made an outside shot or two and the defender is playing up close, you can use the shot fake. From triple threat position, make a good shot fake to get the defender in the air or up on you. Then take one or two quick dribbles right or left and hit the mid-range jump shot. Learn to make a good shot fake... you have to "sell it" to the defender.
Drive and dish...
When you drive to the hoop, read the defense. There are three options:
1. Take it to the hoop for the lay-up.
2. Pull up in the lane for the short jumper.
3. Pass off to an open post player, or to a wide open teammate on the three-point arc ("inside-out").

The first option is the best if the lane to the hoop is open. But the interior defense may set up to take the charge. You must recognize this, jump stop and pull-up for the short jumper in the lane. Thirdly, a good, defense's helpside post defenders will pick you up as you drive. As the help defense comes up to defend you, find the open teammate where the help came from, and dish the ball to your teammate 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.

Also read the perimeter player info on the "Basic Concepts of Motion Offense" page.
Perimeter moves when a team-mate has the ball... reading the defense... getting open.
Learn to read the defense. There are three situations to recognize:

1. You are one pass away from your team-mate and the defender is denying the pass to you.
Make a fake outside, and then a quick, hard backcut. 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 open.
Set a screen either for the ball-handler or the low post. This is often a good way to get yourself open. After setting the screen, seal the defender and roll. The defense often switches this and you get open for the pass.

See "Setting Screens", "Cutting and Faking".
    defender overplaying, use the back-cut
use the V-cut to get open

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 the video clips of ball-handling and dribbling drills.

See: "Ball-handling", "Dribbling", "Stationary Dribbling Drills", "Sideline Dribbling Drills", and "Full-Court Dribble Moves Drill".

Learn how to set screens, pick 'n roll correctly and how to back-cut. 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 help-side defense. If you learn these concepts, you will have no problem learning to play various zone defenses. See "Basic Defense".

This is a lot of stuff but are all "musts" for any complete player.

how to be a successful basketball team

This article discusses some thoughts how to build a basketball program for your school and community. This is not the same as building a college program, which involves many other things not discussed here, such are recruiting, fund-raising, program promotion and others.
Before taking on that new head coaching position, ask yourself these questions:

    How will it impact my family?
    Will I have the support of the school's administration, faculty, and the community?
    Do I have a passion for the game?
    Do I have the energy, the desire, and good health to take this on?
    What will I get from doing this? How will this benefit me?
    What can I give to others by doing this?
    What are my priorities and goals? What's important?
    What is my coaching philosophy?

   


These questions are not meant to scare you away! We need dedicated coaches willing to help young people down the right path, while teaching the game of basketball. But these are things you should consider.
Taking over a program
First, make sure you have the support of administration. Hopefully, they feel that what you want to accomplish is important for the school and their students.

Taking over a successful program... perhaps the old, beloved coach just retired. You are the new guy or girl in town. You may feel more pressure to win in taking over this kind of a program. You may feel more strapped into following a certain style of play... the style that has been successful here for the past number of years. I know of a nearby town that won the State Championship over 30 years ago, playing 2-3 zone defense. Well, the 2-3 zone has been played there every year since then, and I think if a new coach tried man-to-man defense, he'd be run out of town (not unlike the movie "Hoosiers"). Of course the advantage of taking over such a program is that much is already in place. Talent is there, community pride and support, and that winning attitude are already on board. Players know what it's like to work hard, and will work in the off-season.

Taking over a win-less program... in this situation, usually there is less pressure to be immediately successful, and you can insist on being in charge of things. But the school and community must know that things do not improve in one season (usually), and that you need a time commitment of several years to bring the program along.

Having a "system"
Here we are talking about your basketball coaching philosophy. How do you want to play the game... fast tempo, full-court pressing, or more of a slow-down deliberate style. Or are you willing to completely change from year to year based on the talent you have? Whatever is your style, you must have your own "system". Teach this system all the way through your program, including at the junior varsity and freshmen levels. But don't be over-bearing. Allow your other coaches to put in some of their own plays too.

Selecting coaches, assistants, creating your organization
Hopefully your school's administration will allow you to have major input in selecting the junior varsity and freshmen coaches, and will allow you to select your own volunteer assistants. A very large part of developing a successful basketball program is surrounding yourself with good people who share the same coaching philosophy, the same passion for the game, are knowledgeable, and above all, are loyal to you and want to help you succeed (see "The Assistant Coach"). You certainly don't want an assistant or a JV coach who tries to undermine you and your authority, in hopes of getting your job. Such a person should be gotten rid of immediately.

You are the leader of the program and must provide that leadership. Tell people what you want, what you expect, what type of basketball system should be taught to younger players, etc. But don't try to do it all yourself! You would be surprised how many people are willing to help you as volunteers. Use your resources, involve others. You need assistants, managers, and statisticians. You will probably need a person who films games and will edit them for you. You need someone to run the clock and the scoreboard, and someone to do the scorebook. You need an announcer, and someone to organize the music at games. Who's going to sell the popcorn and pizza?

Get your middle school coaches on board and involved. Meet with them before the season starts and point out some things that you would like taught to the younger kids. But don't stifle their own coaching creativity. Part of the fun in coaching is putting in a few of your own plays and strategies. So don't be over-bearing and take that away from them. In fact, be open to ideas and you might learn a trick or two from them.

There will be some knowledgeable parents who want to help. Oftentimes, they will be willing to help in coaching youth teams in your community. Meet with them and explain what you would like the kids to learn. Put on a coaching clinic to help them. Don't worry about them teaching the wrong things... just getting the kids in the gym and playing is helpful. If you acknowledge these youth coaches as important to the success of the program, you will make them feel that they are a part of the team, and they will be less likely to become your critics instead.

Developing talent and work ethic
It starts with teaching fundamentals and having a good work ethic. In youth and middle school practices, probably 80% of practice time should be devoted to learning fundamentals. As kids get older, the percentages change a bit with more time spent on team skills. But even at the varsity level, we spend at least 50% of our practice time working on fundamentals. Planning practices is vital.

Each player (and coach) owes it to the others to practice and play as hard as he/she can. Players must be willing to work in the off-season. Players must develop the discipline to do every drill in every practice the right way, and to compete every day in practice. Of course this doesn't always happen... but it's a goal.

We start with little kids clinics, 2nd-4th graders (boys and girls). We run 90-minute sessions every Saturday morning for six weeks during the season, teaching fundamentals. A few of our varsity players come in and help. This is good for our varsity players to "give something back", help kids, and to be involved in building the future. The young kids benefit from their instruction and example, and of course, there is the "hero-worship" thing too. Being around their heroes, they want to become basketball players. The campers all get to play at the halftime of a JV or varsity game, and this is fun for them, their parents, and the fans.

Summer camps, team camps, individual camps are all important. We encourage the kids to just get out in the driveway and practice outside when the weather is nice.

Changing attitudes
A team that loses a lot expects to lose. Winning teams expect to win. When taking over a program that has not been winning, attitudes have to change... and this can be a huge obstacle. Changing attitudes involves many things and takes time. Losing will no longer be "accepted", but something to learn from. Players, parents, and the community must believe that with hard work, learning fundamentals, and good coaching, things can and will change. There must be a dedication to the cause, a belief in the "system", a commitment to the "team" (rather than the individual), and a singleness of purpose. Use motivational quotes if you find that helpful. Celebrate victories, large or small, team or personal. Impart a positive, upbeat approach. Be someone the kids like being around. Have fun. Make everything competitive... games, practices, drills, etc.

Develop pride in your system and your school. We call ours "Rayder Pride". There is pride in representing your school and community. We expect all players to exhibit sportsmanship, respect others, be of good character, and follow the rules. Kids make mistakes, but that's what we strive for.

Dressing up for games is important. We have our boys varsity players and our coaches wear our school sweater vest with logo, a white shirt and tie, and khaki slacks. It's an honor to wear that sweater vest. Players feel a sense of pride when they dress up for games. Each player also gets his own shooting shirt with his number. I have been told by an opposing fan that we always look very "professional" when we walk into a gym. Our girls varsity teams also dress up with skirts and logo-ed polo shirts.

Building a "legacy"... after you begin achieving some success and have a few winning seasons, you want to promote this from year to year and keep it going. We talk about developing our legacy... not just one or two good teams, but good teams year after year. Former players will come back from time to time to watch a game, or to practice with us, or scrimmage against us. They are encouraging and helpful to our players, and help instill that sense of pride. Sometimes they give us a good laugh and tell stories about the time coach did this or that, etc.

Setting goals
Set challenging goals for your program, your teams, and individual players. Then have a plan to accomplish each of these goals. These goals will depend on where you are with your program. Winning the state championship...maybe not. Winning the conference... maybe. Winning over 50% of your games this year, conference title next year... yes! Whatever they are, have something you are looking to achieve.

Communicate
Rumors and suspicion oftentimes start because of poor communication. Let people know what you are thinking (in general, without a lot of specifics).

Communicate with your players as a group and one-on-one. The coach-player relationship is a vital aspect of your entire program. Players need to know that you care about them, not only as players, but as individuals. Maintain an "open door" policy. Before the season starts, meet with each player individually about goals, expectations, etc. Have occasional team meetings to discuss "issues". Ask players for their input.

Communicate with your coaches and assistants. Encourage them to offer their ideas, but not to be offended if you stay with your own thoughts. You don't want "yes men"... you want assistants who come up with ideas, but at the same time realize that what the boss says goes, and are willing to support you and accept your decisions.

Communicate with your school's administration and athletic director. Keep the faculty informed and gain their support. Ask them to inform you of players not attending class or not completing assignments. A motivational talk from you and a few extra sprints and lane slides, or some bench-time, can help revive a student's classroom attitude.

Get the student body involved by speaking at pep rallies and student assemblies. Let them know how important their support is to the success of the team... they are the "6th man". But reinforce the importance of good sportsmanship.

Keep the lines of communication open to parents. We have a parent meeting just before the start of every season, and a banquet at the end of the season. At the initial meeting, coaches are introduced, expectations, goals, policies, rules, etc are discussed. We explain that the only thing that is not "on the table" is discussing playing time, because parents can seldom ever be objective in this regard. 95% of parents are good people who care about their kids. Always respect that, and try to be on good terms, always showing concern and caring for their child, whether he/she is a great player or not. Unhappy parents can make you unhappy.

Keep the community informed. If you are asked to speak at a local service organization, do it. Don't ignore the media. Before or after a game, radio commentators often want an interview. Make yourself available. Keep all comments positive and upbeat, even after a loss. As you become more successful, television reporters may come knocking on your door. Do the interview. It's an opportunity to promote your program, school and community. If they want to interview a player with you, allow it. It's a good learning experience for the player on how to respond "on camera", and this interview may give him/her some exposure, especially if a college scholarship is a goal.

Maintain balance
The late coach Al McGuire once said, "Don't let coaching become your mistress." In other words, maintain balance in your life and don't always choose basketball over your family, and everything else. Also remember that at the high school and middle school levels, kids and parents may not be as fanatical, or "gung-ho", about basketball as you are. It's not like a college program where players must "love it" or hit the road. I have seen a young coach come on so strongly and intensely, that he frightened away several good athlete's, and they opted to play other sports instead. Allow them to be kids and have balance in their own lives.

how to be a starter in basketball

In this article today I'd like to talk about several tips, tricks, and techniques that anybody can use to become a starter on their basketball team.

Basketball is the most exciting game in the world, unfortunately there are only five spots on the team and everybody else sits on the bench. Competition for those five spots can be fierce, so how do you make sure that you are one of the starting five? That's exactly what I'd like to talk about in this article today.

Basketball coaches are looking for just a couple of things when they pick their teams. First they're looking for athletic ability and second they're looking for skill. Anything you can do to improve your ability in these two areas can help guarantee your spot on the team.

Over the years I've developed a near foolproof method that people can use to become a starter. It takes an incredible amount of work, but it's worth it.

In lower levels of basketball such as junior high and high school, athletic ability is not as prevalent as it is in college basketball and in the NBA. So if you can stand out as an incredibly athletic person then right away you've got a better chance than everybody else on your team. There's a fairly simple way to become more athletic and that is through distance running.

You should get in the habit of jogging every morning before school. Ideally you should focus on 4 mile jogs but it may take you a while to build up the strength for that so begin by jogging 2 miles and slowly build up to three and four or even five miles. This can be incredibly difficult for most people but if you stick to it you'll be amazed at the results. If your school has a cross country running team then I suggest you join. Cross country season is usually in the fall before basketball season starts making this a great way to gear up for the season and get in shape quick.

Next you need to focus on your skills and this means practicing everyday. You should focus on shooting for at least 2 to 4 hours every day after school. Pick 10 spots on the basketball court and shoot baskets at those spots until you make 10 in a row at each spot, then move on to the next spot. This may be very difficult to begin with so you may have to start out making only five in a row from each spot and then gradually upping it to 10 in a row. Choose a variety of different spots all over the floor including three pointers. You should also make 50 free throws every single day to bulk up on your free-throw shooting skills.

These two things; building your stamina through cross country running and building your shooting by practicing making 10 baskets in a row from various spots on the floor will have an amazing effect on your overall game and almost guarantee you a starting spot on the team no matter what. The hard part is having the discipline to stick to the plan but as long as you do good things will happen.

Tim Breundle runs a bath towel sets web site where he also reviews the best floral bath towels for the ladies. He has been an article writer online for well over 14 years and also enjoys fishing and racing.